"Don't be nervous," Grindelwald said, draping his left arm over Alexis' shoulders in what might have been a comforting gesture—if it weren't so obviously laced with menace. "If you have any requests, you can just ask."
"Uh... I... we don't have any special requests," Alexis stammered, his mind racing.
"Really?" Grindelwald's sharp gaze pierced him, and Alexis felt a cold sweat break out.
"Really!" Alexis affirmed hastily, his voice pitching higher than he intended.
"No requests, then? Wonderful. Can I take Blake with me now?" Grindelwald inquired smoothly.
"Of course, no problem!" Alexis blurted out. "Blake hasn't committed any crimes!"
"Ah, that's excellent news," Grindelwald said, his tone light but his grip on Alexis' shoulder firm.
Alexis hesitated, glancing down nervously. "Um... can I move the wand off my waist now? It's pressing into me a bit."
"Oh, that's not a wand," Grindelwald replied, feigning innocence. "It's just my pocket watch. I suppose it must have hit you."
Alexis felt numb. Anyone in his position would. Here he was, Ale Alexis, the formidable head of the Auror Office in France, being manhandled by one of history's most infamous dark wizards. And the worst part? He couldn't muster the courage to resist.
The era of Grindelwald's dominance wasn't ancient history—it was recent enough that Alexis had vivid memories of it. As a child, he had watched his father, an Auror, suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of Grindelwald's forces. That traumatic memory had left a psychological scar, one that now pulsed painfully as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the man himself.
That Alexis could remain standing at all was a testament to his resilience. Even so, his responses to Grindelwald's probing questions were more about survival than maintaining the dignity of the French Ministry of Magic. If anything, Alexis silently congratulated himself on having negotiated with Blake before Grindelwald entered the scene. Any earlier, and the Ministry might have lost even more.
While Grindelwald was busy "conversing" with Alexis, Dumbledore approached Blake. The older wizard's face was a mix of concern and resignation. He stood in silence for a moment, as though searching for the right words. Finally, he spoke.
"You... are so reckless."
Blake stiffened, guilt flashing across his face.
Dumbledore sighed. "I only hope you'll consider the people who care about you before embarking on your next adventure."
Blake opened his mouth to respond, but Dumbledore wasn't finished.
"Most people who obtain a key to another world wouldn't dare use it lightly. Who knows what horrors might lurk on the other side? But you, Blake—driven by an insatiable thirst for adventure—you ventured in without hesitation."
Dumbledore paused, his expression softening slightly. "In many ways, you are more Gryffindor than Gryffindor itself. And yet, I understand why the Sorting Hat placed you in Hufflepuff. It's because you embody traits from all four Houses."
Blake lowered his gaze. "Sorry, Professor Dumbledore," he muttered, his voice sincere.
Dumbledore's response surprised him. "You did well, Blake."
Blake's head snapped up, his eyes wide. "I... I did well?"
He had expected a reprimand, possibly even a punishment, but praise? That was unexpected.
Dumbledore nodded. "When I first heard you were heading to the French Ministry of Magic to demand an explanation, I feared the worst. I worried you might act recklessly, leaving chaos and destruction in your wake. But you demonstrated restraint. Despite your anger, you didn't harm a single person."
There was genuine pride in Dumbledore's voice. "Blocking the Ministry's entrance may not have been the most conventional approach, but your actions stayed within the bounds of reason. And in doing so, you not only avoided unnecessary bloodshed but also achieved your goal."
Blake blinked, taken aback. Was this really Dumbledore? For a fleeting moment, he wondered if Grindelwald might have impersonated the headmaster.
As Dumbledore's words sank in, Blake felt a swell of pride. The compliment meant more than he cared to admit.
The next few days brought dramatic developments in the wizarding world. News of the so-called "kidnapping" had already reached a fever pitch, but now the narrative shifted entirely.
The Daily Prophet announced a major shake-up in its leadership, followed by a front-page article revealing the "truth" behind the incident. According to the revised account, Blake was no kidnapper. Instead, he was a brave hero who had rescued Cassandra and Fleur from a dangerous magical relic.
The story made no mention of otherworldly realms or Blake's unique abilities. Instead, it painted a picture of two young witches trapped in an ancient artifact, with Blake risking his life to save them.
For the French Ministry of Magic, this rebranding of events was a face-saving maneuver. By framing Blake as a hero, they avoided further embarrassment. The Ministry even announced a modest reward for Blake's "courage"—a symbolic gesture meant to placate the public and deflect scrutiny.
At Grindelwald's mansion, the dark wizard was practically beaming as he read the article. "Simply perfect!" he declared, slapping the newspaper triumphantly.
Blake, seated nearby, glanced at the article and sighed. "Did you write this?"
Grindelwald gave an exaggerated look of mock innocence. "Why would you think that?"
Blake rolled his eyes. "Because it's the most ridiculous story I've ever read. And somehow, it conveniently spins everything in my favor while making the Ministry look foolish."
Grindelwald smirked. "Ahem, some things are best left unsaid. But let's just say I might have had a hand in ensuring the Daily Prophet took the right angle."
"How?" Blake asked, genuinely curious.
Grindelwald leaned back, sipping his wine. "Let's just say the editor-in-chief was... open to persuasion."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Did you threaten him?"
"Not at all," Grindelwald replied smoothly. "I simply spoke to the owner of the Daily Prophet—and made a very reasonable acquisition offer."
Blake's eyes narrowed. "Did this 'reasonable offer' involve your wand at their throat?"
Grindelwald waved a hand dismissively. "Details, details. The important thing is that the paper now serves our interests."
Blake groaned. "Great. So now the Daily Prophet is your personal mouthpiece?"
"Exactly," Grindelwald said, his grin widening. "It's a powerful tool, Blake. Controlling the narrative means controlling public perception. And as you can see, I've already used it to replace your 'kidnapper' label with something far more heroic."
Blake couldn't deny the effectiveness of Grindelwald's tactics, though he found the embellishments in the article embarrassing.
Meanwhile, the ripple effects of the Daily Prophet's coverage were felt far and wide.
At the Worley estate, Cassandra's parents confronted her. "Do you... do you have a crush on that boy?" her father demanded, waving the newspaper.
Cassandra blushed furiously. "Of course not! It's all lies!" She fled the room, leaving her parents to exchange knowing glances.
At the Delacour residence, Fleur faced similar questions from her family. Her younger sister, Gabrielle, even asked, "Do you like him, too, Fleur?"
Flustered, Fleur denied everything, but her bright red cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.
Elsewhere, other reactions were less amused.
At the Granger household, Hermione stared at the newspaper, her knuckles white as she gripped her wand. "Ridiculous," she muttered, accidentally breaking a glass in her frustration.
"Hermione, is everything alright?" her mother called from outside the room.
"Yes, Mum!" Hermione replied, hastily cleaning up the mess.
At the Leaky Cauldron, Hannah Abbott absentmindedly burned a steak while sneaking a peek at the article. "Hannah!" Tom the innkeeper exclaimed. "What's going on with you today?"
"Oh, nothing!" Hannah said, hastily discarding the ruined meal.
Back at Grindelwald's mansion, Blake rubbed his temples. "Next time, let me handle my own public relations."
Grindelwald chuckled. "Oh, Blake, where's the fun in that?"
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