Chapter 7
Elphias had always sensed that something was wrong with Gellert Grindelwald, but he could never have anticipated the extent to which the blond would go to get what he wanted. The events of the previous night had shaken him to his core, deepening his growing unease and suspicion towards Gellert.
As the morning light filtered through the barred windows and snow could be seen falling down from the sky, Elphias sat alone in a cold and dark room, with a throbbing pain in his head. What happened last night and why was he here? The memories were hazy, disjointed fragments that refused to form a coherent picture.
He shivered, not only from the biting coldness of the room but also from an unsettling feeling deep within him. It was as if a chilling presence had seeped into his very being, leaving him with a sense of unease and trepidation. He tried to recall the events of the Yule Ball, but everything was blurred, like a foggy mirror reflecting a distorted reality.
Elphias couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong. He knew every room in Durmstrang was cold, but this was different. It was as if the darkness of the night had lingered, casting an eerie shadow over his surroundings. He could almost feel icy fingers brushing against his skin, a ghostly reminder of the mysterious events that had unfolded.
"H-Hello?" Elphias hesitantly whispered, his voice trembling with fear. He nearly jumped out of his skin when a small and distant voice replied to him.
"I see you're finally awake..." The voice seemed to emerge from the shadows, and Elphias strained his eyes to catch a glimpse of the speaker. As the figure came closer, he realised it was a fourth-year Durmstrang girl. He couldn't discern her features clearly, and the lack of familiarity sent a chill down his spine.
Elphias glared at the girl, his fear giving way to frustration and confusion. "What do you want? Why am I h-here?" His voice wavered, betraying his unease.
The girl stepped closer, her presence casting an unsettling aura around her. "I apologise for the circumstances, Doge," she said, her voice laced with an eerie calmness. "But you possess something that our master desires." He could practically hear her smirk.
"M-Master? What d-do you mean..." Elphias stammered, his head throbbing from the blow he had received. The room spun around him, and he struggled to make sense of the situation.
"Lord Grindelwald, you idiot!" the girl snapped, frustration evident in her voice as she crossed her arms. "He despises your close friendship with the pretty Dumbledore boy so he asked us to do this."
Elphias's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Grindelwald is behind this?" The realisation struck him like a bolt of lightning, of course Grindelwald did this to him...
The girl nodded, her expression solemn. "Fortunately, you've become too much of a burden in Lord Grindelwald's plans. Your connection to Dumbledore poses a threat to his influence over him."
Elphias glared at her, his frustration seeping through. "Well, I can't control my feelings, can I? And it's not like Albus reciprocates them, so I fail to see the significance..."
A sinister smirk curved the girl's lips as she ignored his words. "The Dumbledore may think that you've returned to Hogwarts, but rest assured, he won't find you there. You've been taken to a place far away from his reach."
"No..." Elphias's voice trembled with determination. "I won't let him tear us apart. Albus deserves better than that. He will find me, no matter where they've taken me."
The girl's smirk widened, as if relishing in Elphias's defiance. "We shall see, Elphias Doge. The tides of fate are fickle."
Elphias clenched his fists, his resolve solidifying. His eyes widened as the girl raised her wand and pointed it at him. A surge of panic washed over him as a wave of drowsiness swept through his body. He fought against the overwhelming fatigue, struggling to stay conscious, but it was futile.
The world around him blurred and faded into darkness once more.
–
Albus realised with a sinking feeling that today was the monthly Duellum, the day when the castle was restricted for the boys' practices. He couldn't help but question the timing, as it fell right after Christmas, he was so used to the Hogwarts boxing day tradition.
Duellum was an exclusive day dedicated to the boys of Durmstrang, where they delved into dark magic and honed their duelling skills, preparing for future employment in the Bulgarian Ministry.
Having forgotten about the restriction, Albus had mistakenly gone to breakfast early in the morning. As he made his way through the secret passageway, he heard the echoing sounds of thousands of boots marching in unison. Totally forgetting what today was, he quickened his pace, reaching the next small window that provided glimpses into other corridors.
He couldn't help but gasp at the sight of the boys clad in their striking red fur capes, their faces etched with determination and focus. They seemed so serious about their activities, fully immersed in the practice session. However, amidst the sea of intensity, there was one exception – the blond boy closest to Albus. Gellert Grindelwald stood out, looking incredibly bored and disinterested in the proceedings. Albus couldn't help but feel his cheeks flush and quickly averted his gaze, instinctively ducking out of sight as Gellert's eyes began to wander in his direction.
Albus looked at the opposing dark wall not believing his stupidity. How did he forget that today was… He sighed and sank to the floor, thinking about last night with a smile and a blush. Merlin, he loved that stupid blond.
“Hey.” Albus looked up at the voice, his heart fluttering at the sight of those captivating mismatched eyes. His breath caught in his throat as he felt the warmth of Gellert's hand on his knee, sending shivers down his spine.
"Aren't you supposed to be out there?" Albus asked, gesturing towards the noise coming from the other corridor.
"Aren't you supposed to stay out of Durmstrang today?" Gellert tried to appear teasing but let out a sigh in defeat at Albus' concerned look and joined him on the floor. "It's unbelievably boring, Albus," Gellert confessed, his voice tinged with frustration. "I don't even want to be a part of the Bulgarian Ministry. Not in any Ministry."
Albus's curiosity piqued as he looked into Gellert's eyes. "Then what do you want to be?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Albus always harboured a burning desire to rise to power and leave an indelible mark on the Wizarding World. His yearning to be heard and recognized stemmed from the pain of what Muggles had done to his sister Ariana and the consequences his family had faced because of it.
He realised that Gellert also shared his ambitions.
As Gellert spoke, Albus's attention shifted back to him and out of his own thoughts, his gaze fixed on the blond wizard. Gellert's words resonated with his own inner yearnings.
"I understand," Albus responded, his voice carrying a mixture of understanding and determination. "I too have felt that unyielding craving for power.” he said in a voice barely above a whisper.
Gellert regarded him with a thoughtful gaze. "You're intriguing, Albus," he remarked, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. In a swift yet gentle motion, he draped his arm around Albus's shoulder, drawing him closer to his side.
Albus looked up at him with a sleepy smile, his eyes reflecting a sense of contentment. "I never would have guessed," he murmured. Gellert leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to the top of Albus's head, his fingers gently combing through the strands of ginger hair. Albus tilted his head, looking slightly concerned. "But what if someone sees us? They might report us to the teachers, and you could get in trouble," he whispered softly.
Gellert's expression softened, and he tightened his hold on Albus. "I assure you, my sweet Albus, no one will catch us," he replied confidently. "Besides, it's worth the risk. Now that the whole school knows our relationship, I couldn't resist spending this time with you."
Albus blushed at Gellert's endearing words, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. He snuggled closer to Gellert, feeling the warmth of their closeness and relishing in the moment.
“I love you.”
"I know."
–
Seriously, what is Elphias’ problem? Albus thought to himself as yet another day goes by and he hasn’t heard a word from his best friend, not even a glimpse. As the days turned into a week, Albus couldn't shake the growing sense of worry and frustration over Elphias' absence. He kept replaying their last interaction in his mind, trying to figure out what might have upset his best friend so much. The last time he saw him was right before the Yule Ball, why be totally ignored and pushed out now?
Horace's evasive responses only fueled his anxiety, but Albus didn't want to push too hard and make matters worse. "It's nothing, Albus. Don't worry about it, you should think about the second task…" Horace would say, but his troubled expression betrayed his true feelings.
Albus tried to focus on the Triwizard Tournament and his studies, hoping that busy distractions would ease his mind. But Elphias remained a constant thought, and his heart ached to know what was going on with his friend.
As another week went by and classes started again, only for Elphias to be absent from classes, Albus decided he couldn't wait any longer. He sought out Professor Dippet, hoping that the headmaster might have at least some insight.
"Professor Dippet," Albus began when he reached the staff table during dinner, trying to sound composed despite the concern in his voice. "Have you heard anything about Elphias Doge? He hasn't been attending classes, and I'm really worried about him."
“Worry not, young Albus. The Doge went back to Hogwarts as far as I’m concerned.” Professor Dippet said absentmindedly Albus felt a pang of disappointment at Professor Dippet's response. "Back to Hogwarts? But he didn't say anything to me about it," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Perhaps he didn't want to bother you with the details," Professor Dippet replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Now, do excuse me, Albus. I have matters to attend to," he said as he stuffed his mouth with food and turned his attention back to Professor Merrythought, who was discussing some administrative matters with him.
Albus nodded, though his worry only deepened. Why would Elphias go back to Hogwarts without even telling him? It didn't make sense. He decided to go back to his table and sat down beside Horace.
Across the room, Gellert sat with a smirk as he observed Albus asking the Hogwarts headmaster something. He didn't bother learning the old man's name, considering him unimportant and useless. But he just knew that Albus was inquiring about Doge. Soon, he would get over Doge and focus all of his attention on Gellert instead. He felt a sense of relief and satisfaction that Doge was now out of the picture, suffering in the coldest room of Durmstrang, being fed hippogriff food.
"What do you think we should do with him…?" Gellert heard Vinda's voice beside him. Of course, she was talking about Doge.
Gellert considered for a moment. "I don't want to kill him just yet. Let him suffer for a while longer," he said with a sinister grin. "We'll keep him in that cold room, feed him scraps, and make him think he's been forgotten."
Vinda raised an eyebrow with a smirk. "Isn't that a bit cruel?"
"Perhaps," Gellert replied coldly. "But he deserves it."
"He's Albus Dumbledore's best friend, Gellert."
"Was,” Gellert corrected, “but not anymore. He chose his path, and now he has to face the consequences." his eyes gleamed with malice as he watched Albus take his seat next to Slughorn. "Besides, it will make Albus all the more grateful for my company."
"What, making one of his best friends suffer?"
"He won't know," Gellert replied, his tone cold and calculating. "We'll keep Doge hidden away, and Albus will be none the wiser. The headmasters and school staff already think that he just left on his own."
"You're playing a dangerous game, Gellert Grindelwald."
"I thrive on danger, Vinda Rosier." Gellert said with a smirk. "And Albus is mine, he won't care about anyone else, especially not Doge since it basically seems like he ditched him."
Vinda shook her head in irony and smiled as Astrid and Isolde took their seats to her right.
–
Deep beneath the school, in an ancient dungeon that once held prisoners centuries ago way before this place was a school, Elphias found himself confined in a place where cold winter winds seeped through the walls, and water relentlessly dripped from the ceiling. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, despite the meagre and frigid bowls of soup and chicken he received each night.
The relentless visits from fourth and fifth-year students at Durmstrang only added to his misery, taunting him about Albus. He never imagined that Grindelwald himself would descend to such a dismal and desolate place. Yet, there he stood, looking down at Elphias with disdain, a malevolent smirk playing on his lips.
"Tell me, Doge, how is your stay thus far?" Grindelwald's thick German accent echoed in the dimly lit chamber. Elphias hadn't heard him speak for what felt like an eternity.
"Exquisite," Elphias replied, his voice trembling with bitterness. He hadn't uttered a word in what seemed like an eternity, the isolation and despair weighing heavily on his soul.
Grindelwald observed Elphias with a hint of amusement in his eyes. The blond wizard was wrapped in his luxurious fur cape, shielding himself from the biting cold of the dungeon. Grindelwald couldn't help but admire the irony of the situation - Elphias, who had always shown such disdain for Grindelwald's ambitions, now suffering in this wretched place.
Meanwhile, Elphias shivered uncontrollably, dressed in nothing more than a thin, sleeveless shirt and soaked pants that clung to his freezing legs. The absence of shoes and socks left his feet numb from the cold, and he couldn't fathom how he had endured this wretched confinement for so long.
Despite the harsh conditions, Elphias tried to maintain his composure, refusing to show any weakness in front of Grindelwald. But the truth was, he was on the verge of breaking, both physically and emotionally. Merlin knows what lengths he would go to get that fur cape. The thought of being trapped here, isolated from the world he once knew barely a week ago, was overwhelming.
“How’s Albus?” Elphias' heart pounded in his chest as he asked about Albus, the worry for his best friend consuming him. Grindelwald's smirk only intensified, causing Elphias to clench his fists to restrain himself from attacking the younger wizard. He knew he had to keep his emotions in check if he wanted to stand a chance against Grindelwald's manipulations.
"He's doing great, without you," Grindelwald taunted, relishing in Elphias' discomfort. It infuriated Elphias that Grindelwald seemed to take pleasure in tormenting him and trying to drive a wedge between him and Albus.
"Does he know the second task yet?" Elphias asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Grindelwald chuckled darkly. "No, but I do,"
"What is it?"
“Underwater maze…”
Elphias's heart raced with a mix of fear and anger. The dungeon's coldness seemed to intensify, chilling him to the bone. "Maze underwater... in the ice-cold lake!?" he exclaimed incredulously.
Gellert's smirk only widened, his eyes glinting with a sinister gleam. "Yes, it will be a challenging task especially with water beasts. But don't worry, I will make sure Albus comes out of it completely unharmed. He's chosen to be with me, after all, and I protect what's mine."
Elphias's blood boiled at the possessiveness in Gellert's words. "For the umpteenth time, he's not your possession, Grindelwald! You can't just claim him like that."
Gellert's smile turned condescending. "Oh, but I can, and I will. He’s mine.”
Elphias wanted to yell, to scream, to make Gellert see reason. But he knew he was powerless in this cold, miserable place. All he could do was hope that Albus would see the truth about Gellert before it was too late.
As Gellert turned to leave, he tossed a smug remark over his shoulder. "Enjoy your stay, Doge. It'll be a while before Albus even remembers you're missing."
Elphias clenched his fists, vowing to find a way out of this dungeon and warn Albus of the danger that lurked within Gellert Grindelwald. He wouldn't let his best friend be consumed by the darkness that surrounded the charismatic blond wizard. The fight for Albus's heart was far from over.
–
Dear Aberforth, 5th January, 1898
It's been some time since we last wrote to each other, and I find myself missing you and Ariana dearly as the classes of Durmstrang resumed and I assume Hogwarts lessons resumed as well. How is Ariana? Is she coping well with everything? How was Christmas for you two and mother?
Regarding Elphias Doge, I was told that he returned to Hogwarts after the Yule Ball. It's been a mystery to both Horace and me why he would leave so abruptly. I tried to inquire with Professor Dippet, but he seemed rather tight-lipped and particularly about the matter. I just don’t get why Elphias would leave me and Horace, because he went to the ball with him and everything?!
Please, if you hear anything about Elphias or have any news, do let me know. Write back as soon as possible.
- Albus