Hogwarts: Era of Darkness

Grindelwald didn't ask what we were planning when we left, only ensuring that we were prepared for all possibilities. When confirming that we had backup plans, he simply nodded, returning to doing his own thing and no longer questioning us.

Apparating that far was a weird feeling, like passing through a dark tunnel and being pulled forward by an invisible force. Before we could feel like that, we were accelerating to an unbearable level; suddenly, everything stopped, and we appeared on the exact beach we were focusing our minds on.

"Muggle technology is a great asset!" Quincy chuckled, making me grin the same way.

She was right. They say apparitions only work when we can imagine the place we are going to and see it before us. Well, muggles have this thing called the Internet, and we just have to look up images of this part of Sicily. Focus on the picture, and bam, it works. Easy-peasy.

"We still have time, let us get ready!" I nodded, and because this could be a trap, I wasn't going to take it lightly.

For starters, Quincy would turn into her owl form, and we would also use double measures to conceal ourselves. I would drink a polyjuice potion, transform myself into a woman, and then use the cloak left behind by Peverell to hide while Quincy did the same, taking up a man's appearance.

The meeting point was designated to be on the northern coast of the island, between two popular tourist spots. Behind us ran a railway and a highway while a thick patch of shrubs and trees separated them from the sea and the shallow shoreline. Quincy could easily hide between the branches of the trees while I did the same on the ground level, using the cloak to turn myself invisible. While remaining stationary, I wouldn't be noticed under this less effective prototype, yet I could see what was happening with my wand at the ready.

While we waited, the seconds turned into minutes and then hours. I thought nothing would happen when we finally heard it—a pop, then a crash, and curses. Someone appeared very close to us. Waiting, gripping the end of my wand, I heard a man groaning, climbing out of the tree line, stumbling forward, and falling again. He looked battered, slim, and had a long, disheveled blonde beard and hair, but I recognized him immediately.

"No. Fucking. Way." I inhaled, almost exclaiming out loud because it was Professor Lockhart!

I heard the flutter of wings as Quincy flew up, starting to circle high above, keeping an eye on the situation and why I used the thick treeline and my cloak to get closer without being noticed.

There was no denying it; that was Lockhart. He looked like a hobo; his clothes were dirty and patched up, and no matter how I looked, I didn't see him having a wand. What happened to him? When he finally stood up and looked around, I saw him wipe his eyes, his desperate expression betraying all of his fears. He was on the verge of crying while taking out our tattered notebook from his embrace and flipping it open, looking up at our previous messages.

"This... this should be the coordinates... I know I'm right... This should be it..."

Then I stopped, hearing another couple of pops.

"No!" Lockhart shouted, wanting to apparate once again, but the newly arriving four figures had used magic to block the area.

"Finally found you, you bastard! No matter where you run, we will hunt you down! How many people have died under your hand? It is time to bring you to justice!"

"I didn't kill anyone!" He shouted, trying to plead, holding the notebook to his chest, and the fact he didn't brandish a wand told me he indeed didn't have one anymore.

What was this...? A ploy? A trick? Did they do this just so we would be captured? Or do they not even know we are here, and they simply follow the Professor's scent?

"You are coming with us, Lockhart!" One of the four men pointed his wand at him, saying, "You will tell us everything, and then, we may grant you the mercy of getting your mind wiped and sent away as a muggle to die alone in their world!"

"I don't think that would happen." Another exclaimed, smiling, "He has too much blood on his hands. He will probably be sentenced to death!"

"Enough!" The oldest, bearded man harrumphed, probably the leader of this hit squad from the Order. "You are coming with us, Lockhart! It took us months to track you down following Sirius's discoveries. You are lucky he is not here, or you would have been dead already. We may keep your capture on the low side, or he may do something irrational... So tell us... Why have you come here? Are you here to meet with someone?"

"..."

"Spill the beans!" Shouted another, and to be honest, I was also curious as to what his answer would be.

"No..." He mumbled, finally loosening on the notebook. "I came here to run away from it all... but it seems my legs are already too tired."

"Then it is better if you take a rest." Said the first to speak, raising his wand to cast a spell, but instead of an incantation, a sharp yell left his throat while blood spurted from his wrist.

Quincy didn't wait any longer and dived down from the sky, ripping his flesh apart with her sharp claws, maiming his hand, making him drop his wand. By then, I was also out of the trees, throwing the cape off, casting a killing curse, ending the life of the closest wizard to me. While still in the air, Quincy transformed, appearing now as a middle-aged man. While landing, perfectly balancing herself, she also used the same spell as I, offing the third mage, sending a jet of green light whizzing past Lockhart.

"What?!" Roared the old mand, already clashing with my spell as we attacked at the same time.

"Stay." Quincy ordered, commanding the injured, bleeding man who suddenly found it impossible to resist, already under the influence of Quincy's imperius curse.

"Q-Qui..." Lockhart stuttered, cutting off his words as he only recognized her because of her owl form.

"Who are you?!" Shouted the last wizard standing, finding it hard to deflect my attacks yet shocked I had time to keep my attention on Lockhart and Quincy. Of course, I wasn't going to answer him. Increasing the speed of my casting, I managed to finally overcome his defenses, flinging his wand out of his hand.

"Avada Kedavra."

By the time his body fell over, I was already facing Lockhart, smiling at him.

"You... have grown... both of you!" He sniffled, fighting back his tears, already knowing who we were no matter our completely different looks. I knew he didn't mean it literally, and I won't lie... I felt a bit happy and proud... even a bit fuzzy, but I would not admit it.

"Long time no see, Professor." I chuckled, stepping over the dead bodies, patting his shoulder, and realizing how thin he had become.

"I..." He stuttered, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.

"I think we need to skip our beach time, my dear." I chortled, keeping a hold on Lockhart's shoulder.

"No worries. The moment these guys appeared, I knew it wouldn't be my day anymore!" She chuckled, picking out two vials and tossing me one. While I poured it over Lockhart's head, she did the same to the cursed, obedient man before her.

"What is it?" Lockhart asked but didn't resist the strange, cinnamon-smelling potion soaking him.

"It covers our tracks and dispels tracking magic." I explained, putting the empty vial away, "Let's talk after we are back home!"

"Home...?" he asked, but I didn't answer. I simply teleported away, holding him firmly, followed by Quincy, who was bringing along our newest prisoner.

...
....
.....

The sun was nearly disappearing below the horizon while we sat in the dining room, waiting patiently until Lockhart finished his dinner. He had already changed clothes and looked much more like his old self, with his chaotic beard shaven off and his hair smoothened out. Still, his usual pompous and cheerful appearance was gone, replaced by what I could only call the real him.

Our other guest was locked up and pacified in the cellar, thanks to the curse still being active on him. Grindelwald wasn't bothered by our visitors, remaining in his study, reading, meditating, and sometimes performing strange spells resulting from his inner research.

"When did you get the notebook?" Quincy asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Not long after, we had split up," he explained, wiping his mouth and putting down his spoon. "One of the Ravenclaw boys had it, and after what happened, he also decided not to return to Hogwarts. I met with him in Germany, and he gave it to me before disappearing for good. I have been reading it here and there... It's... comforting... Even with how it was, I miss the school and my old life."

"Sadly, we can't go back to how it was." I added with a shrug, making him nod, "What happened after? Why were you chased, Professor?"

"At first, it was fine; I managed to disappear and take up a muggle persona. I even found a job and began publishing short stories. Muggles love stories about magic!"

"No way..." we both moaned, looking at each other, making him lower his head, turning embarrassed.

"I may have written some stories that... were too vivid. Told too much and was found out by the Order. I never knew they would monitor the muggles this much! Why would they?! The Death Eaters don't do it; why would the Order?!" He cried out, pleading, knowing he screwed up, "I was lonely, okay? I missed my old life! I missed school... I miss everything..." He whimpered, holding his head, "When they found me, I managed to escape, but my wand was destroyed. I have been on the run since then... I had been reading the notebook when I noticed the clues and thought I would try it! I hoped your handwriting wasn't faked within it, and it turns out I was right!"

"You were lucky, Professor!" I chuckled, making him nod before wiping his eyes. "And... what now?"

"I don't know... I just hate being on the run." He answered honestly, making me smile, glancing at Quincy, who nodded back at me.

"Well, Professor, why not join us if you feel up for it?"

"It wouldn't be like going into the forest, promise!" He said at once, making me twitch my eyes after remembering it. "Only, without a wand, I am not much of a help."

"Don't worry about that." I smiled, standing up and looking at him. "We can solve the wand problem easily, and knowing the Professor's talent in memory alteration and extraction, I would be happy if we could team up once again~!"