The Bearer of the Elder wand
Turbulent thoughts ran through Dumbledore’s head as he strode quickly through the corridors of black marble, but he didn’t let them take him over; he had a task to do. But where was Grindelwald?
There was the sudden sound of an explosion somewhere not far away. So Grindelwald had met the aurors then.
Dumbledore began to walk faster towards the site of the sound, his brain formulating a plan on how he could defeat the bearer of the Elder wand. He knew that Grindelwald possessed it; he had followed the tales of Grindelwald’s deed until he could be sure about it. Dumbledore thought back upon the time when they had been friends, plotting to put the hallows together for the ‘greater good’. What fools they had been.
Shaking himself out of his nostalgia, the blasted open the large wooden door and stepped into the hall. There in the centre was Grindelwald, surrounded by the bodies of the four aurors he had just defeated. Dumbledore could still recognise him after all these years. But the handsome face seemed much colder than it had preciously been.
“Dumbledore,” he said. “My old friend.”
Dumbledore felt a sudden surge of hatred run through him. He fled back to that fateful day; Aberforth was writhing on the floor under the effects of the crutiatus curse, pleading for Dumbledore to help. He had turned on Grindelwald and attacked. Flashes of light and poor little Ariana slumped on the floor; dead. With much difficulty he subdued the emotions raging within him.
“Ah, I see you hate me now Albus,” said Grindelwald.
“No Gellert,” Dumbledore replied using Grindelwald’s first name. “I do not hate you, but neither do I feel any great love for you. You know why I am here. Will you come quietly, or do we have to fight.”
Grindelwald uttered a cruel, cold laugh that echoed throughout the hall.
“Come quietly? Dumbledore, you know I posses the Elder wand. I am invincible!”
“No Gellert, the wand has heightened your powers greatly, but you are not invincible as I am forced to show you.”
With a flick of his wand a bright silver jet flew straight at Grindelwald. With a smile Grindelwald replied with red lightning which struck the silver jet. For minutes, both of the great wizards clasped their wands tightly in the hands as their spells tore at each other, flickering bolts of magical energy around the hall, tearing off chucks of marble. Eventually, their attacks tore each other apart, causing a lull in the fighting.
“As you can see, not invincible,” said Dumbledore as they both stood panting.
“Dumbledore, remember the greater good? We have the Elder wand; we can find the others and conquer death. You can see your family again. All you have to do is join me.” There was fear in Grindelwald’s eyes as he spoke. He knew he had met his match.
“No Gellert. The magical world pleaded with me for years to confront you, but my fears held me back. All the while you killed and killed. If I were to find the resurrection stone, I would have to bring back the people you killed while I didn’t oppose you before I could see my family again. And I would die before such a feat was complete so it would be all for naught. No Gellert; I must end you, not join you.”
“You know Dumbledore, I am sorry that Ariana died. I never meant for such a thing to happen.”
“It is good to know that.”
Both wizards prepared to fight again, but this time they did it with heavy weights which had come down on them many years ago lifted off their shoulders. Once again their spells locked and tore the hall apart.
A large chunk of marble came crashing down near Grindelwald and several small pieces broke off on the impact; one of which struck him on the head, stunning him. Dumbledore took advantage and disarmed Grindelwald, catching his wand as it came spinning towards him. He felt a strange trill of power as the wand recognised a new owner and gazed upon the dark wizard that had once been his best friend.
Grindelwald was defeated.
