Reckless Paradise (GGAD/Grindeldore)

4 - The Ending is but a Beginning in disguise

The Horcrux for which Albus had risked his life had been a duplicate. It angered Gellert to no end, that so much had been on the line for a fake. However, there was light on the horizon, as they were able to locate the real locket by tracking its path from Regulus Black to Kreacher, to Mundungus Fletcher, who gave it to them with a reluctant frown. It reduced their numerous problems by one, bringing the pretentious Dark Lord one step closer to mortality.

"Helga Hufflepuff's cup in one of Gringott's high-security vaults", Gellert announced one evening, after emerging from his meditations, "I was unable to discern the owner, though I would assume it to be one of Voldemort's most trusted followers - one he would be certain to give their life rather than touch his Horcrux in any way."

Dumbledore ran his hand over his face, eyes squeezed shut behind the half-moon spectacles.

"Bellatrix Lestrange", the Headmaster finally stated, "she is his Lieutenant, his most loyal Death Eater. The cup will be with her, though it is beyond me, how we will break into Gringott's. Aside from the nearly unbreachable security measures, the smallest mistake could place us under enough scrutiny to reveal your identity. Then, charges of theft would be on the bottom of our neverending list of worries."

"Perhaps", Gellert slowly began, brows knitted together in thought, "there may be legal ways to obtain the vault's contents. She is, after all, a convicted criminal. Does anyone in our ranks hold any claim to the Lestrange Vault?"

Albus paused to think the suggestion and its benefits through, considering their possibilities. "Harry is the heir to the Ancient and Most Noble House of Black, of which Bellatrix is a daughter. Considering the imprisonment and status as fugitives of the remainder of the Lestranges - Rodolphus and Rabastan - there may be a way for him to seize her possessions. However, as he is merely an heir, we will have to wait until his majority for him to claim the Black Lordship and begin the legal process that is involved in seizing the vault."

Following a nod of confirmation, the former Dark Lord hesitantly breached a controversial topic: "As we already are on the subject of Potter: I may have found a ritual that could assist us in the endeavor of extracting the Horcrux in him."

Surprise was clearly visible in those brilliant, blue eyes, wordlessly urging Gellert to clarify.

"I have to warn you, it is an incredibly dark ritual, which would earn you more than a few frowns, should its use become public", Gellert cautioned, before elaborating, "At the moment, there are two 'souls' residing in the boy's body. His own, and the shriveled remainder of Voldemort's. To my knowledge, they have not merged, existing as two separate entities.

The ritual I found is an ancient Necromancer practice - temporarily tying the soul to the body, in order to allow the venture into different realms with a clear path back. Should we succeed in tying Potter's soul to his body, while leaving the Horcrux unattached, it would allow us to rip it out without damaging the boy in any way."

There was a dark look on his love's features - contemplative, worried, doubtful. "How grave are the dangers?", he finally questioned, sitting up straighter behind his desk.

Uncomfortably, Grindelwald shifted, hands entwining in his lap before he answered: "There is a chance, that the Horcrux will no longer be dormant and attempt to take over its vessel. It is unlikely but possible."

"How would we tear out the Horcrux?", Albus inquired barely louder than a whisper. His eyes were closed, head bowed down.

"There is only one creature on earth capable of extracting souls from the human body", the Seer explained his reasoning.

In the end, the decision would lie with Harry Potter. They would support him, whether he chose to die or to have a dark ritual performed on his body, though Gellert did not doubt which choice a teenager would make.