章 38: The Trap of The Greatest Wizard
Austrian Alps,
Just as Draco Malfoy left to get a first-hand measure of Harry Potter, and the Mudblood he was traveling with, a sinister event was taking place in another part of the world.
Surrounded by snow and stony peaks, a grim fortress stood at the edge of a mountain; its high walls aged, cold, and made of black rocks. Among the various buildings, courtyard, and small houses, the cone-topped tower stood out like a thumb, its peak reaching for the sky.
Once acted as the Headquarters of the Dark Alliance during the Global Wizarding War, the fortress was built upon the orders of one of the greatest and the darkest wizards known throughout the wizarding communities of the world.
Gellert Grindelwald!
In the list of Most Dangerous Dark Wizards of All Time, he would miss out on the top spot only because Lord Voldemort arrived, a generation later, to steal his crown.
Now, he was imprisoned in his very own creation for the last 46 years; in this forbidding behemoth.
Nurmengard Castle!!
In name, this colossal structure was a prison, but it held only one prisoner.
Moreover, despite having no guards, Nurmengard Castle was the most secure prison in the world, every inch of its ominous walls and roofs being covered in magic.
However, security was a relative concept.
One could be secure against a phenomenon, while simultaneously in mortal danger against the other.
Something like that happened today.
What made it truly strange was the fact that it wasn't expected.
Kai knew it would happen sooner or later, as he had commanded for it to happen. However, even in his wildest dreams, he hadn't expected it would happen today, for it didn't make sense. Nor had the Ad Infinitum calculated any probability of it happening today. If it had, perhaps then they wouldn't be completely oblivious to it.
If that wasn't enough… then even the Timeline itself didn't know it would happen today.
And, other than the Bounded Fields, there was only one way to hide from the Timeline's gaze -
A Deep One's Protection!
At the top of the Castle's tower, there was a cell to hold prisoners.
For the last few decades, this cell had been occupied by only one prisoner.
From the barred opening, a few rays of light seeped into the cell, along with the cold. It barely lit up the inside. There was no bed here, but one could spy traces of food and water easily. In one corner of this cell, an old man sat in silence, his old blue eyes. All his golden hair had gone gray, his teeth had fallen out, and wrinkles and regret seemed to have claimed his face.
Gellert Grindelwald licked his lips.
Not because his lips had gone dry, but because of sensing the malice in the air.
As if riding the rays of light, and swimming in the ethereal cold, a presence had also seeped itself in the cell. At first, it was merely smoke. Now, it towered in front of the old man, hooded in black, oozing out the stench of death.
"You are here," Grindelwald said, his voice raspy. "Lord Ekrizdis…"
The Lord of Azkaban, the Inferi, the Herpo the Foul's Horcrux, Ekrizdis, cracked his neck, surrounded by his dark and sinister aura.
"News traveled…" Lord Ekrizdis drawled, worms crawling in his mouth, "… fast even in my times. You expecting my arrival doesn't surprise me… child."
Gellert Grindelwald gulped.
"Our kind needs you once more," the Inferi continued, his voice enticing. "All that you have and had desired, will soon come to fruition. A War is coming, the likes of which will engulf even the remotest parts of the world. From Wizards to Squibs… From Mudbloods to… Muggles."
Grindelwald's wand hand itched.
Ekrizdis craned his neck left and right as if listening to something. "But such things need efforts, child," he added, his hollow eyes gleaming red against his white skin. "So, yes. You are needed.
"Join hands with me and Lord Yellow Warlock against the ones who put you here and let us bring a new era… for the Greater Good."
Gellert Grindelwald's blue eyes shimmered.
He put his hands on the cold floor and struggled to get up, but finally pushed himself up. Like a lightning-struck tree, he looked like a broken old man. However, in his eyes, there was fire, the flames burning anew with hope and… love.
"Dumb…"
Lord Ekrizdis sniffed as the old man began uttering the name.
Before the Inferi could correct the prisoner that he didn't mean his old rival, but the Order when he was talking about who was behind his imprisonment, the slow word became a roar.
"Dumbledore!"
BOOM!!
The cell's door exploded, debris flying everywhere.
When the dust parted, Professor Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, was standing there, the Elder Wand clutched loosely in his hand.
Ekrizdis' wand flashed into his hand. "Impossible…" he muttered under his breath. "No one knew I would be coming here today…"
As if he had guessed the thoughts of the Lord of Azkaban, Professor Dumbledore lifted his wand and pointed it at him. "I was drinking sharbat," he said, slowly. "Suddenly, I felt like visiting an old friend. I've always known you will come here one day… Lord Ekrizdis."
The Inferi couldn't believe it.
He had especially chosen this night, knowing Albus Dumbledore would be busy with the Sorting Ceremony and addressing the students before the new term began. It wasn't like the Lord of Azkaban feared him. But the combination of Dumbledore and the Elder Wand was just too much for any wizard to contend against, living, dead, or resurrected.
No. Ekrizdis shook his head. This is no mere coincidence.
The first attack didn't come from the blue-robed Professor, though.
A red bolt of lightning flashed as Grindelwald waved his wand, firing an Expelliarmus Charm on the Inferi. He had cast the spell so silently that even the DEATH's favored couldn't see it coming.
Though caught off guard, Ekrizdis was still Ekrizdis.
Hiss!
A hiss resounded in the broken cell.
Before the spell could hit him, it hit a black serpent conjured between the wand and the magic. The serpent got obliterated to smithereens.
It wasn't the end.
Hisses rang, deafening the ears, as scores of serpents lunged at the Professor, their fangs sharp and poisonous.
Simultaneously, Ekrizdis became smoke, preparing to fly away. Something felt ill about all this to him. He wasn't getting DEATH's instructions anymore, either.
Centuries' worth of sealing had not only made him more prudent but also cautious. He knew his real enemy was not among these children, but somewhere else; someone much more powerful. It was better to retreat now and include Lord Yellow Warlock in his plans next time.
The Inferi was about to fly away when searing heat blasted his smoky face.
Dumbledore waved his wand and it spat flames, burning each serpent to ash instantaneously. "You can't run away…" he said, casting another spell.
The rotten, white-skinned Inferi sniffed angrily, already flying up toward the sky. "I will see how a half-blood and a bloody fool like you two alone would stop me."
It was then a womanly voice descended from up, chilling the hearts. "Who said they are alone?"
Ekrizdis had to stop mid-flight.
Under him, on the ground, dozens of cracks resounded as the Unspeakables apparated, joining the battle. Dumbledore's lower half became white-blue smoke as he flew toward the Inferi.
Above him, in the air, Madam Villanelle was flying on a copper-scaled small dragon, holding her wand in one hand and a Book in the other.
Peruvian Vipertooth!
And…
…The Third Part of the Daemonologie, In Forme of a Dialogue!!
It was the legendary grimoire that contained the secrets of magical creatures and the key to tame them.
"You dare use my own legacy against me!" Ekrizdis cried, furious. Then, for the first time, his caution and anger turned into pure panic. "I… No… How…"
Her wand and the Grimoire weren't the only things Madam Villanelle had brought to this well-planned trap laid out by the Headmaster. This time… she had come prepared. This time… she meant to seal Ekrizdis once again.
From behind Madam Villanelle, a wooden branch peeked out.
Up and up it went until the branch became a Staff, a thin crack running down its length. It came to rest at the top of her head where it bobbed up and down, rotating on its axis.
"You can't be…" Lord Ekrizdis gritted out the words in wrath… in fear.
The Order of the Immortal Lotus had finally joined the table, and the first card it played was called…
… Sage Merlinus Ambrosius!!!
*******************
AN: Break Tomorrow!
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