章 20: Chapter 20

After receiving the news, the atmosphere of celebration and holidays did not evaporate. However, the fact that it had slightly decreased is, alas, a sad fact.

But I can't say that I still had the desire to rest because the release of Gellert from Nurmengard meant that I needed to train even harder. After all, if in the case of Tom I understood how to act, Gellert is already a slightly incomprehensible map. And I had to study the history of the Magical War more carefully, if only to understand how this Magical Hitler acted.

All my free time was devoted to improving my TE abilities. In particular, I studied new possibilities of its application, at the same time I improved my control over DE. Because of this, I didn't have much time left to practice my magical abilities. And I didn't even dare to think about communication because after all the training and studying history, there was no time for anything.

The month passed pretty quickly, and a lot of interesting things happened during that time. Of these events, there were several that I personally remember, firstly, the countries tightened the conditions under which they were allowed in, and secondly, the international duel competition was canceled this year, the reason was probably Gellert's escape.

Not only this competition was canceled, but also all other international events. Although it was worth admitting that the media made it look like all those who were responsible for organizing these events decided to cancel the events themselves. But it was still clear that all the organizers could not voluntarily cancel these events.

"Adam, what are you thinking about?" Sirius asked me after we returned from Professor McGonagall's classes.

The Black family, according to my friend, felt the escape of Grindelwald more seriously. Sirius had somehow overheard the conversation of the adults and it turned out that Cassiopeia Black had once been in the Army of Grindelwald and occupied not the last place there.

The Army of Gellert Grindelwald is an informal organization, a group of people, as well as various representatives of other magical species who followed Gellert Grindelwald. From the newspapers that I found in the library, you could see the basic idea of the world that these people wanted to build. Their main goal was to create a huge magical empire in which ordinary Muggles would be slaves. The organization's motto is "For the common good."

The main force, by the way, were werewolves, to whom there was a very poor attitude in the society of magicians. The name of the detachments of these very werewolves was Wolfsklaue. The reason for choosing werewolves was probably the fact that they multiplied very, very quickly. After all, the increase in the number of their fellows through a bite is faster than conception, birth, and adulthood.

"I was just thinking about what subjects to choose in the 3rd year."

"Isn't it too early for that? Still, summer is still a long way off."

"And I have already chosen the subjects. And I would advise you to think about what to choose," Lily replied, tucking in her red hair.

Sirius wanted to say something, but I beat him to it:

"And what subjects did you choose?"

"Ancient Runes and Arithmancy."

To be honest, I was thinking about these two subjects because the opportunities that these subjects provide are very useful for me personally. Since Ancient Runes are useful not only in order to understand the writing of ancient peoples but also in creating artifacts. Arithmancy provided the basis for Rituals of all kinds, and in conjunction with Ancient Runes, it turns out to be a fairy tale in general.

"I think I'll choose the same subjects. Since Divination is a discipline that studies various types of divination and ways of interpreting various phenomena, it is not so useful for me because I clearly do not have the ability to do this. I don't need Muggle studies because I live among Muggles myself. But Care of Magical Creatures is interesting, but I'm unlikely to come into contact with magical creatures so often."

Sirius, thoughtfully, gave out:

"Quite good reasons, most likely I will also choose Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Before that, I'll ask my grandfather and uncle what to choose."

After lunch, we went towards the library where our friends were waiting for us. It was worth saying that Xenophilius Lovegood somehow joined our company in addition to Regulus.

Luna Lovegood's father turned out to be a very interesting guy, and I understood from whom she got her habits. Xenophilius was about the same kind of out-of-this-world person. If it wasn't for his diligence in his studies, I wouldn't be able to understand why he was sent to Ravenclaw.

"Hi Xenophilius, Reggie! How are you?" Sirius asked his brother and the blond man in front of the library entrance.

"Pretty good, Siri."

Xenophilius, looking at something visible, only said to him:

"Great, today I found brainwashers."

"Let's say..."

All that remained was to wait for Severus before his arrival we also met several groups of Slytherins who looked at us with evil glances. But only something didn't go beyond that.

It was worth mentioning that in the first time after the Christmas holidays, when everyone was in the castle, they tried to attack me a couple of times. But nothing worked out for them, and only they were beaten, fortunately, their pride played for me. After all, it was a shame to admit the fact that a Muggle-born orphan is stronger than purebloods.

After that, they tried to attack my closest friends, but the training had a positive effect on them, and these same kids turned out to be beaten up again. Subsequently, they stopped bothering Severus, at least so far I have not seen any attempts in this direction.

"Oh, there's Severus..."

Meanwhile, while the students were enjoying their carefree lives, the one who started a mess in the magical world appeared in front of a rather richly made house.

"Hm... It seems like it should be here," said the blond man, on whom the traces of years of imprisonment were no longer visible. "Why do you think my young brother is here?"

"Me... I do not know, my lord."

"Huh, we're here so I can get my wand," Gellert replied, moving towards the house.

As soon as he appeared in front of the gate, dozens of layers of barriers appeared before his eyes.

"Stay here, without the wand, I can't reconfigure the barriers yet. After a short pause, he continued. "Unless of course you want to know how these barriers work?"

At the same time, some bird went over the barrier and seemed to instantly rot from the inside.

"N-no, my lord."

"Hahah, good."

The mansion where Grindelwald went was one of the many houses that belonged to the Dark Lord. But no one knew about this, even his right-hand man, Vinda Rosier, had no idea about this area and the mansion.

Gellert created this very mansion in order to relax after the revolution was over. But apparently, this was not meant to happen.

"He should be here," Gellert said, moving along the walls decorated with paintings of various colors.

Pretty soon, Gellert reached the display case where his first wand was standing. The wand that Grindelwald received from Gregorovich as a child.

Gregorovich is a famous wandmaker whose skill was as great as Ollivander's. He is a man of very advanced years, at the beginning of the twentieth century he was already a famous master.

However, at the same time, he was very foolish, because for the purpose of advertising, he told his clients that he possessed the Elder Wand. At that time, he was studying the properties of the wand in order to create the greatest wand of all.

This was the very advertisement and became the end for his quiet life, as many people began to look for Gregorovich in search of the Elder Wand. However, Gellert was ahead of all these thirsty ones by stealing the wand from the master, but this did not save Gregorovich from a crowd of wizards who were ready to do anything to receive the Deathly Hallows.

After that, Gregorovich left his business and began to lead a reclusive lifestyle, avoiding people in every possible way.

"Hello, old friend..." Gellert whispered when he saw his wand.

Gellert's wand was a dark shade and had three red spike-like protrusions running along its entire length. The wand was distinguished by an unusual design, gnarled and twisted, looking as if it had recently been plucked from the tree that gave birth to it. The Wandmaker would say that such a look suited a man like Gellert because it suited a man with such an unstable character.

As soon as Gellert grabbed the wand, he instantly felt the difference between someone else's wand and his own.

"Acacia, 30 cm, phoenix feather core," Gregorovich was saying then. "Acacia is a very interesting tree that makes difficult wands, they very often refuse to work magic for someone who is not its owner, and also best serves only the most gifted wizards. Because of this sensitivity, it is not easy for her to find an owner. And the phoenix feather, the most fastidious core. When they get to a potential host. It's all because of the creature from which the core was taken, as phoenixes are one of the most independent and isolated creatures in the world. Such wands are the hardest to tame and personalize, and their allegiance is usually hard to win."

At the same time, Gellert also felt that his control over his powers had increased to a filigree level.

"And now it's time to let my young friend in."

After going outside, Gellert began to modify the barrier that he had personally erected around the mansion. Often using knowledge from ancient Egyptian schools of magic, more than one hundred people were killed in order to make these barriers. The barrier was tied to the blood of Gellert himself and should not allow those who did not have the permission of the owner of the house.

The permission was a mark on the soul of the guest, and it was impossible to put this very mark without a wand.

"My Lord?"

"You can enter, Christian, now the barrier will not see you as an enemy."

"Thank you, my lord."

After 3 weeks

France is a country of croissants, the Eiffel Tower, and the haunts of the greatest alchemist Nicolas Flamel. It was here that two men appeared, a blond and a brunette.

"Paris... So many memories..." Gellert whispered, looking at Paris.

"Which ones, my lord?" Christian asked.

"Huh, during the war."

Paris in the 1940s was a city that Gellert destroyed himself without any help from supporters. After this destruction, Gellert's black fame grew to unimaginable proportions.

"Ah..."

"Don't worry, we're only here today to get my lieutenant out of prison."

In magical France, there was a place where the French Ministry sent those who violated the laws of this society. The name of this place was very interesting La Peur Du Libre, it was the catacombs that were under the magical Paris.

Thanks to Gellert's abilities, they were able to reach the heart of France undetected. This still surprised Christian, as he saw how the Aurors did not seem to notice them.

"I've never liked this city," Gellert said, peering into the void. "It seemed too dark to me."

After that, he just silently extended his hand to Christian, and a moment later the two men disappeared and appeared in another place. They were standing in front of one of the many houses in France, the door of the house was opened by an old man with a hooked nose.

"It's been a long time since I've seen Gellert."

"Walter indeed. How are you doing here?"

Walter Schultz was one of Gellert's allies during his reign of terror. This old man's main specialty was in research, his passion was necromancy. On this basis, Schultz followed Gellert, since Grindelwald himself was a genius in this field of magical art. It is clear that Schultz's research was not without sacrifices.

The only reason the old man didn't rot in prison or get killed was that all the patients who passed through him were killed. And at the same time, he went to work for the Ministry.

"Okay, but it could have been better."

"You remember the agreement that was made between us, don't you?"

As if in response to Gellert's question, a strange string of runes lit up on Schultz's hand.

"HAH! Yes!"

"That's great," Gellert smiled, and at that moment the pain that tormented the old man stopped. "And now take me to where the Windows are locked up."

"H-good."

At La Peur Du Libre

A place that can break many, although there were no Dementors here like in Azkaban, but the lower demons that appeared in these catacombs also do not contribute to a pleasant stay. In addition to these creatures, there were also ordinary guards who watched over the prisoners. In such a place was the one who was considered the right hand of Gellert Grindelwald, a beautiful woman of aristocratic origin, Vinda Rosier.