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37.87% A Bend in Time / Chapter 464: Acolytes Ⅳ

Chapter 464: Acolytes Ⅳ

Keeping his face blank despite the news, Reginald further pried into the subject. "Which was what exactly, MacDuff? Do not tell me that Gellert was inclined to such perversions with mere boys that would be low even for his perverse sexual inclinations."

The two other Acolytes make faces at Reginald's words, but even they would have to admit that would be a stain across the reputation of Gellert Grindelwald. Could such a perversion truly be hidden? Why yes when one has the wealth and means to do so.

Seeing the three faces staring impatiently at him, MacDuff smirked, and said, "Patience, old friends," before continuing with his tale. "The muggle boy was not the first boy that had been brought to Gellert. At first, I thought that it was some sort of perverted or sexual driven fetish, but in each case, Gellert met with a muggle child for only a few minutes, before having them killed. This continued for several months before there were more children left to be brought before him. When I subtly inquired, Gellert replied with, 'It was for the greater good, but it is, in fact, impossible for the muggle lines to be redeemed." And paused, before adding, "That was the last of them, there will be no more."

There is another pause of silence as Krafft in disbelief whispers, "Than Gellert was trying to purify the muggle lines?"

"It is possible," MacDuff acknowledged with a shrug of his shoulders. "I cannot claim to know Gellert's thought process, but what I do know is that there were no more children brought in after that."

"And what exactly was Gellert's true purpose?" Reginald grumbled with a mixed feeling of relief.

MacDuff snickers, "After Geller's imprisonment in 1926, I was sent to retrieve some journals and destroy them. And I did destroy them all, however, I missed a single scrap of paper. What I found was this simple journal entry, 'Muggle Subject: #2, Successful, the fetus survived the magical infusion. Male child born in 1910, London. Age: 4, determined to be a squib. Conclusion: destroy the subject. Result: child unaccounted for and is believed to have perished during the muggle war in an attack on London in May of 1915."

Reginald's heart stiffens for one exact painful moment, but he still manages to maintain his composure in the face of such news. The muggle child known as Toby Snape was born in the year of 1910 in London, England. During the first muggle great war, the child had been orphaned and sent to an orphanage in the countryside. And later at the tender age of sixteen, Toby Snape was wed and a mere year later, Tobias Snape was born.

As much as he did not wish to admit it, but the timeline fits perfectly. Toby Snape was somehow the child of Gellert Grindelwald. And the words of MacDuff only served to further prove just as to how Grindelwald's bloodline had appeared in the twins. It was all because of Gellert's foul experimentation for the greater good, of course.

"Why the sudden curiosity?" MacDuff sharply asked piercing through Reginald's inner thoughts.

"There was a child that I saw many years back that greatly resembled Gellert," Reginald replied with a mixture of truth and lies. "I was so very astonished that the image stayed with me all these years until now. But as you have just stated, MacDuff, all of the children were killed and as such it must simply be pure coincidence and nothing else."

MacDuff nods his head, before saying, "Well, I am glad that I could be of help, Prince."

Reginald nods, before rising to his feet as if to turn away, before MacDuff says, "Though I am told that those grandchildren of yours are quite clever."

Reginald does not flinch nor react as he replies without turning around. "We are Prince's, and my grandchildren have inherited three founder lines and Merlin's own blood. If they were not gifted after having received all those bloodlines, I would truly be disappointed."

Reginald strides across the wooden pub floor, when MacDuff adds, "Though you never did tell us, Prince, how did you know that we were alive, and much less found us?"

The three seated wizards in the pub subtly reach for their wands as Reginald remains standing still and makes no motion of reaching for his wand. Slowly turning around to face the acolytes, his face is as impassive as ever. "The methods or means I used are irrelevant, but suffice to say, I paid very well for information, and that the informer will never speak of this to anyone. You have my word."

MacDuff tilts his head at Reginald in acceptance of the response while Grimmson leans back in his seat and relaxes, and Krafft fiercely glares at the retreating back of Regaindl Prince. The three acolytes watch Reginald depart silently into the night and vanish with a faint pop. Once Reginald has left the premise, Krafft gashes his teeth and roars, "Can you believe the audacity of that man! Summoning us like we're some sort of underling!"

Grimmson snorts and says, "The Prince has always been powerful even Gellert was wary of him to an extent that he did not protest when Prince left us. And who knows what else they know for the Prince's are the descendants of Percussor's after all, and perhaps, if pushed Prince would even have been capable of challenging Gellert. And make no mistake unlike Dumbledore's soft ways, the old Prince would have certainly tried to take Gellert's head."

"That is certainly true," MacDuff murmured in agreement recalling the raids, which they participated in and just how easily Prince slew his way Auror attacks and killed any bystander that stood in his path be it magical, muggle, innocent or not. "Though Prince did make a fine point, we should ensure that none of our own become entranced away by promises of grandeur from this false lord."

"Agreed," the other two wizards said in unison.

"And what of Gellert?" Grimmson asked. "Any news?"

"Nurmengard Castle remains impregnatable as ever," Krafft answered in resignation. "It would seem that we will not live to see Gellert ever free in our lifetime."

MacDuff purses his lips and says, "That is not necessarily true. What if we use this false lord and seek his aid?"

"Even if we accept his terms and conditions," Grimmson rumbled, "there is no guarantee that the false lord can deliver the promised good nor much less not betray us."

"That is certainly true," MacDuff mumbled. "However, it is something that we should keep in perspective."

"We shall see," Krafft finally answered not at all convinced by MacDuff's argument. The three of them toss muggle bills onto the table, before striding out. The Acolytes were still alive, and they would find a way to liberate Gellert Grindelwald even if it were to be the very last thing they ever did.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
EsliEsma EsliEsma

Mystery upon mystery.

Note: Gellert Grindelwald, well, he probably would have been a Slytherin, but then again, he was brave, charming, he could have just as easily been a Gryffindor. He was also a vehement seeker of truth and knowledge that would have placed him in Ravenclaw. And let us not forget Hufflepuff, he was most determined and steadfast to his beliefs. The thing about being sorted is based on the Sorting Hat's whim and probability, and that is not an absolute guarantee of anything as we have clearly seen.

Chapter 465: Teatime?

In the following days ever since Reginald's return from his meeting with the Acolytes, he had been rather solemn and subdued that Georgine pestered him quite often as a direct result. He knew and understood that his younger sister was concerned about him for an exceptionally good reason. But for the time being, he found it more of an annoyance than anything else with the somber topics pressing in his mind.

Within his study, Reginald's eyes once more returned to the large volume that lay open before him. The thick volume contained the entirety of the Snape Family Tree starting from the very founders. However, the volume remained open to the second to the last page, where his eyes kept lingering on the child known as Toby Snape, the father of one Tobias Snape, and grandfather of Rowan and Severus.

Tapping his finger on the page, Reginald's eyes flickered to the parents of Toby Snape, Harold Snape, and Alicia La Fey. It was rather ironic that Alicia La Fey was the muggle descendant of the infamous sorceress Morgana La Fey, and that her many great's great-granddaughters would marry the many great's great-grandsons of Merlin, her once sworn enemy. But life is like a great interwoven tapestry, and sooner or later the strings of fate will intersect once again.

Still, it was a knowledge that Reginald kept to himself. He would rather that the rest of the wizarding world were kept in the dark regarding the powerful, but dark enchantress's blood that also dwelled inside the children. After all, it was Morgana La Fey, who had had the last laugh when it came to Merlin. But in the grand scheme of things, he would rather give the credit to Morgana La Fey for Severus's human transfiguration abilities than Gellert.

And if push came to shove that is exactly what he would do. The heritage of Morgana Le Fey, the great and powerful enchantress would be seen as being distant enough and less of a threat to fear that that of Gellert. Neither Severus nor Rowan could afford to have another dark wizard in their family lineage for they had more than enough as it is.

Reginald's eyes flashed as he further recalled his memories of Gellert. Gellert Grindelwald, now that was a name that he wished he had never heard before. But like all things, he had been quite vain and arrogant in his youth. Sighing, Reginald rubs his temple with one hand as he recalls the words of MacDuff, a week ago.

"After Geller's imprisonment in 1926, I was sent to retrieve some journals and destroy them. And I did destroy them all, however, I missed a single scrap of paper. What I found was this simple journal entry, 'Muggle Subject: #2, Successful, the fetus survived the magical infusion. Male child born in 1910 in London. Age: 4, determined to be a squib. Conclusion: destroy the subject. Result: child unaccounted for and is believed to have perished during the muggle war in an attack on London in May of 1915."

Tapping his fingers pensively against his desk, Reginald stares at the name right next to that of Harold Snape, and Morgana La Fey. It was almost gray, but still present. Toby's Snape biological father in fact was Harold Snape, but somehow against all odds, Gellert Grindelwald had passed down a magical inheritance as well.

The fetus should not have survived such a magical transformation, but Gellert was an unchallenged genius when it came to the Dark Arts. He would have without a doubt been capable of such research and would have easily found that muggle lines still in fact existence despite the passage of time. And if said lines had survived there was a possibility that the magic found within these muggle descendants could possibly be reawakened by a magical out catalyst such as Gellert's own magic.

Gellert had deemed his project a failure, but Reginald was not entirely convinced that was the case. The proof lay in the fact of Rowan and Severus. The twins were not only extraordinarily powerful but had awakened the abilities of more than one of their forefathers/foremothers.

If Reginald had to guess, it was that Gellert's error had been assuming that only a single magical catalyst would be required for awakenment. Rather a second catalyst would be required, and which would need to come from another magical parent. And only then would the final product come into fruition in the children born of such a union. But there was only one such living proof in existence, Rowan and Severus.

Closing the book shut in front of him, Reginald arose and carried the volume away to be placed within the depth of his private potion's laboratory. Said knowledge would die with himself, and the Goblin King for all his suspicions would not dare voice them. For the Goblin's and the Prince's fates were intertwined and they would fall into the pits of Hell together, and there was no doubt of that.

Shelving the volume in the bookcase found within his private laboratory, Reginald emerges with a cold gleam in his eyes. If worst came to the worst of circumstances, he would aid the Acolytes in rescuing Gellert. And once there, he would kill Gellert. And he would have no qualms doing so, no matter what the cost.

Pausing to glance at the time, Reginald gazes at the clock, it was ten until three. It was almost teatime and the Mulciber child was set to arrive any moment now. Striding out from his study, he made his way to the main hall, where the slender figure of his sister, Georgine can be seen waiting.

Glancing at the tall figure of her older brother striding towards her, Georgine arches her brow and drily says, "Well, well, the sulking old wyvern has finally emerged from its lonesome cave. To what do we owe this dubious honor?

Reginald frowns at his sister's sarcastic tone of voice that still holds a hint of chastisement. Nevertheless, he was aware of his various failings and calmly replied, "I apologize for my absence these last few days, I have, however, been occupied with other pressing matters. And that those matters, for the time being, have been resolved and will pose no further problems."

Georgine clearly looks unconvinced by her brother's words, but her expression softens as some relief appears in her eyes. She had been on edge ever since her brother's return from meeting with the Acolytes. And her feelings of apprehension had only worsened with Reginald's actions of shutting himself away in his study the last few days.

Still, she had not quite forgiven her brother quite yet as Georgine loftily says, "I don't suppose that you know the reason for the Avery boy's request for tea, Reginald?"

"An apology of some sort," Reginald murmured in reply. "And the request to discuss another private matter."

"I see," Georgine slowly nodded her head in understanding. "Well, I shall be present and chaperoning the tea the meeting, but I will allow them no more than fifteen minutes alone to discuss any matter that needs to be discussed in privacy."

Reginald moves to turn away, when Georgine adds, "Though Philippe Verninac did agree to our request, Reginald, you must know that he will make things as difficult as possible for us. The man bears you more than a little ill will."

"I am acutely aware," Reginald admitted as his eyes flashed for a moment coldly at the bloody memory. After a moment, he finally replies, "I am aware of the damage that I caused to the maternal family of Philippe and will not argue at being held accountable for those actions by him. However, if push comes to shove, I will not be accommodating nor further patient with him."

"I was expecting as much," Georgine muttered, before sending another pointed glance at Reginald. "I am to assume that it will be safe to invite the Krum's, no? Then again, the Krum Patriarch was murdered by Grindelwald, while serving as an Auror in trying to apprehend him."

Reginald lips thin at the implications of the undertone in his sister's words. "It will be perfectly safe to invite his son's as there will be no guests that be considered close associates of Gellert."

"Good," Georgine pointedly declared. "Then I shall not worry about misplacing several invitations to certain families."

Reginald stiffly nods his head at his younger sister dig, before preparing to depart for the gardens, when Georgine calls out to his turned back. "And brother, with the presentation of Rowan and Severus officially into society there will be an abundance of marriage proposals. I suggest that you acquire as much information as you can to weed out their suitors and gracefully turn them down."

"I know," Reginald darkly grumbled under his breath, before storming away. It was not a subject that he liked to think about for the moment recalling how his last matchmaking attempt ended.

Perhaps, venting a bit, he rushed over to the gardens to find Tadbey. He would have Tadbey pick up the pace regarding the assigned punishment. Severus must be prepared, and hard labor would ensure and fulfill some of those objectives in mind. That and possible be a source of venting for Reginald not that he would admit to such a thing. No, he was above such pettiness.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
EsliEsma EsliEsma

Hello everyone, and thank you for voting this past month! My work schedule has picked up dramatically and as such I have made a decision, and that is that I will still post extra chapters based on votes, but I will do so every other month. Naturally, I will still post a chapter on the Holiday(s), I feel like celebrating. :D

There will be an extra chapter on the odd days of the month from August 1st to the 9th, after which chapter posting will return to a single daily chapter per day.

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