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Hellfire, ghostly flames, piercing green eyes, and a menacing smile. It floated in the in-between, as if one move could bring it into the arms of death and another could force it to touch the grass of the mortal world. It was wrong and it was despicable, a creature such as this should not exist. It was an insult to Death but blessed by Him all the same. Grindelwald was drunk with the power it could bring him already, it had the presence of a black hole, and each step closer made almost without knowing. Somehow, the creature grinned even as it spoke, “What is it that you desire?”
Grindelwald laughed breathlessly, real-all of it was real. After the hours of research and the many sleepless nights, as he searched and searched for answers, a way out of his predicament, finally, finally, the answers were here. Finally, that world that Albus and he had dreamt up in that upstairs bedroom would be real. With a glance at the shattered blood pact, an almost sorrowful one, Gerald made his request, “Let all that do or will oppose me be not an obstacle for me, in whatever form that may be needed. Let my visions be known and my future guaranteed.”
The creature laughed, “Is that what you wish for? Not love, money, or power?”
“I have power and I do not lack money. I do not need love. What I want is a success,” yet even as he said it Grindelwald thought back to the before, the before of what Dumbledore was, before wars and politics. When they were just two boys who bound themselves with soul magic. Magic that shattered before him, disappeared as spark-filled spells canceled the other out. The last echo of hope dying with it. No, he did not need Dumbledore. Want him, desire him, yes. But an impossibility remains impossible even with a creature that could shatter past and future.
“Hm…but I do love to grant tragic loves. What a shame. But if you are sure…,” here the creature paused as if to allow for a change of mind. When none came, its eyes burned and its pull seemed to strengthen, ghostly limbs seemed to pool at its feet, echoes of the dead just a whisper in your ear. Like this, you could see why they called it a devil.
“Well then Grindelwald, you must know there is a price, something that you will not be prepared to pay. Your breath, your destiny, your legacy. Any or all of these. A dream brought to fruition that you may not be able to see. This is what awaits you. What shall you say? Will you still dance with this devil?”
A future of his desire but without himself to see it? A world where wizard kind does not frighten away from muggles, where obscurus are unheard of, where muggles know their place . Where little girls are not consumed with fear of magic and muggles boys who harm things they don’t deserve to even look at. Where little girls do not die from stray spells and two great minds could have ruled the world. Yes, he supposed even if no one were to ever know it was him it would be worth it. His hand outstretched, he whispered to himself, “For the greater good.”
And with that the deal was struck, hand in hand, claws digging into human flesh. The creature's smile twisted, except it was no longer a creature. Its edges smoothened and its lines came into focus. A boy, raven-haired with green eyes that shimmered. Tears? Its grip tightened, bones snapping. Grindelwald froze in horror as the boy hissed into his ear, “You should have done more research. Silly man, don’t you know? I don’t help dark lords, I kill them.” Grindelwald screamed. Smoke rising, past and futures rewritten on his skin, fiery words burned into flesh- “ Grindelwald's War Never Made It Pass Bedroom Walls. Grindelwald Died Young. No One Noticed. No One Cared. As Your Past Is Burned And Reformed, So That Is Your Future.” The world was being reborn with Grindelwald acting as the Phoenix for it.
And as Grindelwald twisted in agony, as his heart slowed and his mind emptied, as glossy eyes took place the Boy whispered, “You see I was once alive, beating heart and moving soul. And there was once a dark lord, having been and not, with whom I walked to death, a self-sacrificial pig brought up for slaughter. So as I stood and as he raised his wand to my chest, a green hue of that final rest, did I bear with me the hallows. And as Death and I talked, I had but one last request. May I lose everything I knew so that none of you may ever be known. So rejoice Mr. Grindelwald Sir for you are the last of my conquest and with you may I now rest.”
And so, as the world's Final Dark Lord disappeared, so did too the boy who never rested. With a sigh, he greeted eyes and hair like his and the friends he thought he’d never see again.