Summary:
Previously. . . As children dream, Harry escapes the burrow to visit his manor and gets into a lengthy conversation with Gellert about Damian's sister. Hermione dreams of being abandoned and Harry speaks of running away from it all.
CHAPTER 10:
Gellert could hardly forget the day he first held his son. Damian was a healthy boy, powerful even as a simple babe, but powerful indeed. He was worthy of being his heir and Gellert had expected greatness to come for the boy in the future. He had turned to Freida, a muggleborn who his great aunt had taken in when they were children.
"Freida—"
But his joy had faltered as he saw the pale, almost gray skin upon Freida. They had known something like this would happen. Freida chose to be a woman, drank a potion to physically match the identity she had been most comfortable with. Freida hadn't felt right as a man. The thought of staying as Hubert had haunted her. That was the name, the existence of a child that has been terrified of muggles.
"I did well…" Freida breathed out.
No matter what, Freida was assigned male at birth. Her birth sex was male but the gender she chose was the one she grew comfortable with. No matter what potion she swallowed, it wasn't perfect. Freida had a womb, her DNA itself has been altered to match the identity she wanted.
The potion wasn't strong enough. Regardless of that, her body was less accommodating to a child growing in her womb compared to other women. In the future, such potions would be created to perfection that pregnancy wouldn't be much of an issue. But it was in the early 1910's…magic and potions weren't advanced enough.
They were faulty, they were flawed. Gellert had known that it would be a risk—a risk to have an heir with Freida. But no matter what he told himself, he didn't want the mother of his child to be anyone else. He wanted Freida. He wanted the person who he grew up with. He wanted the person who attended Beauxbatons and brought back so many dark arts books when he had been expelled. He wanted the person who never abandoned him no matter the cost. He wanted the one who knew the risks of having his child yet still agreed to carry his heir in her womb. He wanted Freida, and he realized such selfishness cost them both.
He held their child in his arms, a boy who had blonde, nearly white hair exactly like his. If the child had opened its eyes, he would pray that they were the same amber hues Freida had.
Shakily, he handed their son to her. Freida smiled so brightly, weakly, but Gellert thought it could compare to the sun. She giggled as she planted a gentle kiss on their son's forehead. The two of them looked right into the baby's eyes and they could clearly see the two colors. Gellert sighed hopelessly, their son looked exactly like him. He had truly hoped his eyes would be amber, the same with Freida. He had hoped their son would have the same black hair as she did.
"What shall we name him?" Gellert asked. He had entrusted Freida to carry his child; she deserves to name him. The name itself was something Gellert hoped she would choose, considering since the baby she carries in her womb for nine months looked exactly like his father.
" Damianos ." Freida whispered, "Damianos Gellert Grindelwald."
Geller was curious, "Why Damianos?"
Freida merely smiled at him, "It is Greek, meaning to tame, to conquer, to master. " She smiled at him as she held Damian gently, but tightly. "I believe that one day… one day he will conquer the world. He will bring back all of our traditions lost to muggle culture. I believe he will conquer and return what has been forgotten." She whispered, "He's your son after all."
" Our son." Gellert corrected with a solemn look.
Freida simply hummed, keeping little Damian in her arms as she hummed a soft tune. Gellert stood by her side, holding her hand as she continued to hum. Matters of minutes passed and Gellert heard Damian cry once again. Damian had only cried after the first few seconds of his birth but had suddenly gone silent. It had been five hours since then, and now…
"Thank you… thank you for staying by my side." Freida whispered as she caressed Gellert's cheek.
" Ich liebe dich, Freida. " Gellert whispered as his tears ran down his face. Freida smiled so brightly at him—it was the first time he told her he loved her. He regretted taking so long.
" Ich liebe dich auch. " She shakily whispered back, " Ich liebe dich mein Sohn ." She cried silently until Damian wailed as his mother's heart slowly stopped.
On October 31st, 1916, Gellert Grindelwald received and lost two of the most important things in his life. On October 31st 1916, Damianos Gellert Grindelwald was born. On October 31st, 1916, Freida Adelheide S̶c̶h̶n̶e̶i̶d̶e̶r̶ Grindelwald died giving birth to her only son.
Gellert stared at the cold body of his oldest friend—perhaps he had loved her, perhaps he simply saw her as a friend. Regardless, Gellert thought she was his soulmate. He cared— treasured her deeply as if no man could.
He sucked in a breath, trembling hands moving to take Damian from the arms of his dead mother. The child had pressed itself against Freida's chest, as if looking for her heartbeat. Many have said children reacted positively to their mothers heartbeat… Damian had heard his mother's heart stop.
He took the child in his arms, unable to shush him from his wailing. Damian cried and cried, as the whole of Numengard listened to the Dark Lord's heir mourn his mother's death. Gellert hugged the newborn, his son, protectively as he whispered assurances and promises to him.
He pressed Damian against his chest, surprised to see the results. His son had gotten quite, only sniffling as he listened to his father's heartbeat
Had Gellert known that Damian was fully conscious with a soul centuries old, he'd have realized why the boy cried so much.
Damianos Grindelwald had been conscious, thinking in the same manner as an adult as his mother held him. He listened to his mother's heartbeat, he heard if stop, he felt her soul withdraw from her body. He had seen Death come for his mother—Damian had just met her for goodness sakes!
But Damian always had a special connection to all his mother's—he was in their womb for months. It was different for his fathers…
Years passed and Gellert had done everything he could to heal his son's broken heart. Damian grew to despise himself, constantly telling his father he made a mistake for choosing to have a child, that it was Damian's fault his mother was gone. Gellert despised how his own son hated himself, thinking it was his fault.
Damian resented himself, unable to stand a few seconds of listening to stories of his mother before running away in tears. The Dark Lord's heir clearly favored his mother, even if she died giving birth to him. Gellert had been distraught. Vinda often told him of how some magical children bore a connection with their mother that was so deep that even death couldn't break the bond.
Damian had been seven when Gellert brought home a girl from the orphanage—the dark lord had taken a risk adopting the girl as his own. Vinda had mentioned a child with such powerful magic in an orphanage in Germany, a child clearly not a muggleborn. She had dark hair, vivid blue eyes that seemed to twinkle under the light. She was powerful but resented the world and isolated herself. A child that reminded him of Damian who looked the near polar opposite.
Ariadne became his daughter and Damian's second in command. They had hated each other at first, but it had taken only a year for them to be fiercely protective of each other. Gellert often joked that they were nonidentical twins, which his acolytes agreed to. Ariadne had somewhat looked like Freida with her dark hair. He was proud of his children and predicted a future where Damian succeeded him as a dark lord and Ariadne by his side.
Alas, Gellert never saw that day. Not when he was defeated by Dumbledore and dragged towards the prison—the home he built with his own hands. He had to watch as his children fought every auror and defence master sent their way, watched as Damian didn't even think to save himself and tried to free his father. He saw how Ariadne shoved herself in front of Damian to protect him from the green spell Dumbledore sent to her. Ariadne's body had fallen to the floor just as another killing curse was sent to Damian.
Gellert was dragged to Nurmengard in chains as his children's bodies were taken away… he had later discovered that Dumbledore had mercilessly ordered for his children's corpses to be burned and their ashes thrown into the waters near Azkaban.
"Master Gellert, Winly is thinking that you mustn't leave the manor." The house elf urged with a pleading expression.
Hadrian had explicitly told Gellert not to leave the Manor for a period of time, but the man missed his son. He spent almost fifty years rotting in the prison he once called home, and now his son was far too busy to spend time with him. He felt bitter about that.
"There will be no issue. I will simply wear heavy glamours and illusions to not be recognized. I… I simply want to see my son." He spoke resolutely. He grabbed a coat, moved to the mirror and began altering his entire appearance with the glamor.
His ever so light blonde hair—Damian had always said it was white—turned into a dark brown. His mismatched eyes were turned black, as his facial features changed to a more plain and bland appearance. It would have made him unnoticeable. He picked out the clothes that wouldn't make him stand out, as much as he hated wearing such a tacky suit.
His magic hummed within the wand he grasped. He hoped that no one would recognize his magical signature nor the wand he used—he doubted it. Those who had gone against him were either dead or too weak to move out of their homes. He was a bit disappointed to hear that Orion Black had passed, but the man had married such a vindictive woman as his wife. ( —Who was unfortunately also his cousin.)
"Come now, Winly." He ordered, "Let us depart for King's Cross."
The house elf couldn't help the loud sigh she released. Poor thing , Gellert thought as Winly diligently followed after him. The elf had been so kind, so loya, but Gellert was anxious to see his son.
With a loud crack, Gellert apparated by the border of King's Cross. He hummed as he saw the scarlet train, the Hogwarts express. It wasn't the same as Durmstrang, considering how most students of Hogwarts were from Britain and Ireland. Unlike Durmstrang, who's ship arrived to a few countries where most of its students came from— Russia; Norway; Germany; Poland—It was certainly more convenient.
When Damian and Ariadne attended Durmstrang, they had entered under the surname Nachtnebel. It had caused an uproar when they entered the school, pretending to be fraternal twins due to them being the same age.
Gellert's eyes scanned through the crowd, finally seeing a mop of black hair amongst red; The Weasleys, he thought. His magic instantly outstretched itself towards the boy, garnering a reaction immediately.
Hadrian's head snapped towards him, green eyes wide with shock. He spoke to the Weasleys with an easy smile, excusing himself before rushing towards Gellert's direction. The man sighed at the outraged expression Hadrian wore.
"What…are you doing here?!" Hadrian hissed quietly, glaring at Gellert. But he could see the worry and fear within those emerald hues.
"I wanted to see you… and perhaps glimpse at your sister." Gellert murmured. He glanced around the station, but found none. "It seems she's boarded the train already… shame…"
He felt rather glum. He came to Kings cross not just to see Hadrian, but to see the reincarnation of his daughter. Ariadne would have looked similarly to Damian, and coincidentally, Hadrian looked similar to Ariadne.
" Father— Gellert, please be careful. You don't need to see me off. I'll… I'll try to visit! Send letters every week—month, better be a month because I will be busy…" Hadrian struggled to speak, a bit flustered from what Gellert could tell. "I—I'll update you about Ari. Please… just promise me you will be safe."
"I will if you do so as well." Gellert immediately snapped.
Hadrian pouted at him, causing the man to roll his eyes and pat his son's head. "Don't die."
"I mean… Thirteen times—"
"Don't die in this life, not yet at least."
A bitter smile formed on Hadrian's lips. Death was an inevitable thing for him, his son that was somehow the master of death reincarnated. That was Hadrian's destiny after all. Gellert didn't envy his son for such power now that he's realized the consequences of the hollows, but he desperately wished he could take away his son's burdens and free him.
Gellert whispered, " Um zu leben, muss man leiden. " To live you must suffer.
And Hadrian whispered back, " Denn der Tod ist die einzige Barmherzigkeit. " For death is the only mercy.
Smiling softly, Gellert gently squeezes Hadrian's shoulder."She will remember those words." He said, comforting the boy in a way he couldn't use words.
But Hadrian wore a bitter expression, "She will… those were the last words we said to each other before dying."
Gellert shut his eyes, nodding silently. He felt sick to the stomach, knowing that the very words he told his children—words that motivated them to survive, were the last they spoke to each other.
"It was either that or töten oder getötet werden. " Hadrian snorted. Kill or be killed . Those were one of the few mottos he and Ariadne lived by.
Gellert smiled sadly. His children lived by mottos and sayings that they said over and over again to remind themselves to survive. They were born and grew up in a war. Now, as he looked at Hadrian, he was painfully reminded that even in another life, his son was born and raised in a war.
"To live you must suffer. Death is the only mercy we can desire." He reminded. It wasn't suitable words, but Gellert had lived long enough to understand Death was mercy. If he had to choose, he'd decide to have his son die rather than suffer the manipulations of his former lover.
"Go now. Bring home your sister, and glory."
Hadrian grinned, "Glory? Haven't I been doing that?"
Gellert snorted, waving Hadrian away as the boy chuckled and ran to the train. He watched as Hadrian spoke to his friends, who had glanced at Gellert with suspicious looks. He smiled pleasantly and waved at them. The two blinked in surprise, before smiling brightly and waving back.
He sighed, unknowing whether it was for relief or frustration. He watched as more parents wept for their children, mostly for students starting their first years. The station was loud, something Gellert had grown accustomed to.
As Hadrian entered the train, he watched his son's figure walk through the hallway. His eyes landed on a compartment with a girl sitting by the window. A book in hand as she pressed her wand towards the paper. Gellert narrowed his eyes, somewhat disturbed as the girl closed her book and slowly turned towards him.
He immediately froze, mouth going dry as he met silvery eyes clouded by fog. The girl smiled, waving at him as a silver chain hung off her neck. The deathly hallows symbol hangs on the chain, as the girl grinned at the shocked look on his face.
Death is mercy , he saw her mouth. Gellert took in a sharp breath before he smiled at the girl. Life is suffering , he silently said. The girl smiled brightly as the train started to move.
"Master Gellert?"
The man nodded quietly, clenching his fist as he watched the scarlet train vanish from his sight. "Let's go. Ah… never mind, let us go to Diagon Alley. I'd like to buy my children gifts."
Winly nodded happily at the prospect of buying a gift for her master. However the elf was confused as to why Gellert said children rather than child. She didn't really care, following Gellert as they apparated to the gates of Gringotts. The goblins would listen to him, after all… his son was the one who helped get rid of the sinful traitors of the bank.
"Hm… I'll need to check on some of my vaults first."
None of the Wixens took notice to him, not sparing him a second glance. He walked up to the gobling teller and quietly bowed to the gobling. This didn't go unnoticed by said goblin, who narrowed his eyes at him.
"Good morning Master Goblin." He said in a polite tone that garnered him even the smallest bit of favor from the goblin. He received a small sneer, but was acknowledged.
"State your business."
"I have come to speak to the head goblin Ragnar." He declared quietly, surprising most of the goblins in the vicinity. They had better hearing compared to wixen, something that most did not really know of.
"I see…" the goblin seemed to consider his words, no doubt thinking of Damian's abrupt appearance at the bank two months ago. The goblin turned to Gellert with a suspicious look, "What may I refer to you as?"
"Out in public… I cannot particularly say. However, I am confident enough to say I am Damianos' father." He nonchalantly said. He watched as the goblins reacted quickly. Someone was already called to inform the head goblin.
Gellert was hastily led away from the prying eyes of wizards and witches, led deep into the halls of gringotts. He saw the grand doors that would surely lead to the office of the head goblin.
"Lord Grindelwald," one of the goblins said once they were out of sight, "I am Ernok. Head Goblin Ragnar's assistant."
Gellert nodded in acknowledgment, continuing to listen to the goblin speak. "Heir Hadrian— formerly Heir Damianos, has already informed us of your release. Come, I shall lead you to sir Ragnar."
Gellert could never get enough of how his son had easily formed connections with goblins that even after his death was still intact. He was led through the many offices and busy goblins running through the halls with stacks of paper and some artifacts in hand. He heard the echo of a roar, suspecting it was the Dragon Damian had mentioned to him once.
He silently followed Ernok until he came face to face with a gold created door. The goblin knocked once and received a reply, then opened to reveal another goblin.
"Lord Grindelwald… it is nice to see you in good health just as Heir Hadrian has mentioned." Ragnar hummed, satisfaction clear on his expression as the former Dark lord took a seat in front of him.
"Now, I assume you are here for the vaults you've opened…" Ragnar paused checking the files, which Gellert was a bit surprised to see their readiness, "Seventy-six years ago. Correct?"
"Ah… yes. The accounts I had opened for Freida."
"Hm… Your heir's mother then. The money within the vaults have been doubled recently due to Sir Damian's investments that have not stopped since his death. He was rather adamant to prepare for his reincarnations within this timeline… seems like his predictions were correct and now he is Dumbledore's hope for his utopia." Ragnar snorted.
Gellert knew very well that Hadrian wouldn't be Dumbledore's little puppet. Not with the fact it was the old coot who ordered for their bodies to be burned and their ashes thrown into the murky waters surrounding Azkaban. However, he was mildly impressed with how his son had prepared so much for future incarnations. Rather silly if he could say, but the paranoia Damian had was quite useful now.
"Sir Damian has already reopened most of his vaults from… his previous life." Ragnar grinned ruefully, "The same situation with Lady Freida's vaults. Doubled, tripled… quite a lot of money due to his investments and such. Greedy for gold as usual."
A laugh escapes Gellert. Between Ariadne and Damian, his son was the most addicted to wealth. He once heard how his ideal death was to be crushed by the weight of his fortune…
"I see… his greed and paranoia has served us well then."
"Ironically. Here are the documents regarding the vault you had open for Freida Nachtnebel, which Heir Hadrian has transferred to you. It is left unnamed as he assumed you would prefer an alias."
Yet again did Gellert snort. His son was far too prepared, but then again, he wasn't complaining. He wouldn't have to stress over fake identities and documents he would use to actually walk freely amongst the wizards and witches of today. Assessing the documents, the gold indeed grew double than what it once was. The vault was originally for Freida had she survived childbirth. Gellert had always given her the choice to flee from the life he had placed her. This was merely supposed to be his gift to her.
As he and Ragnar prepare documents for his identity he quietly thought of the name he would use. His hand hovered over the parchment, quietly arguing with himself.
"Is there a chance… we could play it off as the Nachtnebel family going into hiding?"
"Unfortunately, that would require more documents of nonexistent people… except if you play it off as being a descendant of lady Freida's grandmother, sir Damianos' great grandmother."
Gellert nodded in understanding before writing down the name he would use.
"Then it shall be thus. I am a halfblood who recently found out that I was a descendant from the Nachtnebel family. As all remaining members have passed away, I shall continue on the name. Does that sound good?"
Ragnar laughed, "If you are satisfied, then we can make it work. Your father is the muggleborn who married a pureblood witch. Both are deceased." He looked back to Gellert for confirmation. The former dark lord nodded, as Ragnar happily took back the documents.
"Then… welcome back to the magical world… Felix Nachtnebel. "
"Better not announce this. The fake identity is merely a convenience to better access some of the vaults I had placed in Freida's name and my children's alias. Also to avoid suspicion from the ministry." Gellert declared as he patted at his coat.
The name he had chosen wasn't too bad, aside from the fact he would get ridiculed by Hadrian if he found out. Felix meant Lucky. Something Gellert was not.
"Thank you for your time, Head Goblin."
Ragnar stood, "No, thank you. With your return, I predict that the magical world will finally heal. Considering how Damian has time and time again expressed how you were part of his motivation."
Gellert smiled sadly. His son had been raised and taught to succeed him, it was Damian's ambition, yet Gellert had outlived Freida, Ariadne, and Damian. This time, he would prefer to see his son succeed him, regardless of the fact of who he has become.
"I speak for the goblins, Lord Grindelwald." Ragnar turned serious as he stared at the former dark lord. Such a declaration was heavy and Gellert was a bit nervous. "We believe that Hadrian Potter is better to be your successor than to be Dumbledore's protege. That boy—ancient as he has become—is the key to the revival of the olde ways. We sincerely hope that you stand by his side, guide him if he strays and is blinded by the light."
Gellert gulped. The words of the head goblin, especially when speaking for all of gringotts, had very deep meaning. The fact those words were of faith, hope, and the utter belief that Gellert was the better choice made his magic tremble. He had understood Damian;Hadrian wasn't simply a reincarnator, not simply the boy who lived. But he hadn't expected such an extent.
"Lord Death has chosen his champion, and Hadrian Potter has lived many lives fixing our world in his own way. I fear… I fear that in this life, the extent of the change he must make is greater than all of his previous lives."
Gellert nodded solemnly. "I am loyal to my son. I did not listen to him in the past and it cost all of us. This time… This time we will do it his way."
Ragnar hummed, "How cruel fate is." He paused before turning towards the ceiling of his office. Gellert followed his lead and froze. Above him was the painting of a magic circle and the stars of almost all the constellations in the sky. But in the very middle was none other than the Deathly Hallow symbol, the Peverell family's crest. "We do it his way or never at all."
The future was in his son's hands. Gellert feared the burdened Hadrian would carry, but he would support his son. Hadrian, no matter what name, blood, or gender, was his child. He could only hope that Ariadne still considered him as his father the same way he considered her as his child.
He let his eyes flutter close, gulping as he saw flashes. He saw Hadrian, a vow leaving his lips, and then the flash of red. What that meant was still a mystery but he believed his son would survive. Who else but him? Who else but Damian Grindelwald? Who else but Hadrian Potter?
Gellert didn't know who else, all he knew was that if it wasn't his son, then the world would burn.
"Who else if not him…" Gellert whispered as he looked away from the ceiling. He met eyes with Ragnar, bowing to the head goblin before exiting the office. His son had a grand future before him. Be it dark or light, it was grand, and surely his son was destined for greatness. Who else if not Hadrian indeed.
" Um zu leben, muss man leiden. Denn der Tod ist die einzige Barmherzigkeit. "
To live is to suffer. For Death is the only mercy.
Notes:
First Ren chapters have been finished!
This chapter was more on Gellert's POV, how Damian was born, and Freida, the mother of Damian died giving birth to him. Freida is trans? I guess she is, since she's amab. (I really want to have trans character representation, even if the first one I created is dead... Sorry... I'll make more! And keep them alive for how long they need to.)
Gellert's conversation with the goblins is a sign that they highly respect Damian, or Hadrian. I like to think that some goblins have prophetic abilities or they have access to certain prophecies thus the goblins highly respect Hadrian for his close ties to death.
Gellert's seer abilities only come to him in flashes. Meaning his predictions are incomplete and he has to carefully plan out everything based on his own intuition and intelligence. This is one of the biggest differences he has with Luna, (I planned to make her abilities more powerful that's why she seemed more dazed.)
Also, Damian was a greedy greedy bastard who's first love was money. I mean who doesn't like money? His birthday is indeed October 31st. I'll let you guys figure out why (◠‿◕)
The German in the text are from Google translate! Correct them if you see an error so I can change it, because I have absolutely no idea which translating app is reliable.