Regency in Diagon Alley [Theodore Nott | Harry Potter AU]

Chapter Forty

Alexia Black curtsied before the man, "Mr. Grindewald."

Grindelwald ignored her. "Lady Black, allow me to congratulate you on your engagement."

Cedric too seems to be frozen in place as he looked at him, and the man's outstretched hand to her –

There it was, glistening under the light. The metal cuff that has nullified Grindelwald's magic for the past forty years. Even with the loss of his magical abilities that caused such destruction, Grindelwald was still a man to fear.

Gulping, Carina gave her hand to him. "Mr. Grindelwald, thank you and a pleasure to see you here." She looked around, wondering why this man was present. Why her grandmother invited him there. Tom was the first to see her situation and went to inform Regulus.

"If I may, I would like to invite you to a dance," Grindelwald said. "I know that my age is..." he chuckled. "But I promise, I simply want to make an acquaintance with the heiress of Londinium."

Carina turned to Cedric, panicked, but he too did not know what to do. Swallowing, Carina smiled and allowed Grindelwald to take her to the center for a dance. She sent a look to Roman – who had a look of panic with Blaise and Adrian Pucey – and sent a look to do something. To inform Dumbledore, who was somewhere in the room, and have the headmaster save her.

A hand on his shoulder and the other holding his own, Carina swayed with the older wizard and kept her gaze over his shoulder, keeping watch on Cedric, who was shadowing their every move. Hand holding a wand. And with him were other Aurors present, then Tonks, Regulus, Tom, James, Lily, keeping a close watch. To her surprise, even Malia and Walburga kept a keen eye on them.

"Do not worry, Lady Black, I am not here to harm you," said Grindelwald.

"Forgive me if I find it hard to believe," she whispered. She then glared up at him. "It was one of your people who killed my mother."

"Bellatrix Lestrange was none of mine."

"She followed your ideals."

"I had no intentions of making an enemy of the Blacks, your family is one of the oldest and purests ones. Besides, how can I be involved with that when I was incarcerated when the murder happened?" he raised a brow. "And the Goldsteins... let's just say that I knew your grandfather, Ned."

Carina's jaw clenched. "You tried to kill him."

"He once was a follower of mine."

"You tricked him. He thought you were going to – finally – have witches and wizards stop hiding. To let us be free."

"That was my intention."

"But truth is, you hated Muggles. Saw them as animals, and you despised any union made between us and them."

Grindelwald sighed. "I see it is obvious that your opinion of me is fixed. So, there is no need for me to waste my time in trying to persuade you."

"If you think I will do anything for you –"

"You will, because I have information that would be in your favor." He twirled her. For an old man, Grindelwald was still light on his feet. "All I need is for you to relay a message." She did not ask. Not wanting to look curious even when she was. "I want you to send word to the Duke in the North. An invitation."

"And why have me pass the message to him? Why not do it yourself? I'm not an owl, you know."

Grindelwald leaned down and whispered to her ear. "Because a man will do anything his beloved asks of him to do."