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

Chapter Fifty-Nine

The autumn winds of early November were what greeted Theodore and Grindelwald in the northern parts of Greece. In the city, the cold was barely felt but as they continued their journey to the mountains the chill crept to their bones, and they wrapped themselves with their coats and scarves. Theodore was used to this cold having been born and raised in its climate, his body was made for the cold that the summers were never in his favor. He would enchant his coats to give a cold breeze so he wouldn't sweat away during the humid days, but in Aeaea even his enchantments did little to none to ease the heat.

Climbing a rock, Theodore looked back and saw Grindelwald a few paces behind him. He had to hand it to the wizard, old as he was, he could still climb a mountain and keep up with Theodore's pace.

They stopped on the rock that Theodore stood, letting Grindelwald sit to catch his breath. Theodore gave the man the flask that carried their water to drink, then brought out some of the fruits and nuts he managed to collect on their hike. He was not taking any chances with Grindelwald, as fit as the man was, he can't have him dying there because of exhaustion. They have been hiking for two days now, going from peak after peak to find the grove.

"We need to find somewhere to get water." Theodore said after hearing the small squishing sound made by the flask after shaking it. "And food, we need to hunt for food."

Grindelwald turned to him, still munching on the nuts. "You know how to hunt?"

"Every man knows how to hunt."

"Not all men. Will you hunt with magic or the Mi-Magaea way?"

"Magic, no point in exerting too much energy." With a snap of a finger, Theodore killed a rabbit that hopped by and brought it to his hold. "Dinner." He said. "We'll make camp on the next place we could find."

After a few more minutes of rest, the two men continued their journey and as Theodore said, they made camp on the first safe ground they found. The tent was small and simple outside but inside, it had a large moving space for two cots, a hearth in the middle for cooking and warmth.

"I never thought you knew how to hunt and skin an animal," Grindelwald spoke as he watched Theodore remove the fur of the rabbit by hand. The young man did not respond and simply used magic to clean the pelt and made it ready for use of warmth then threw it at Grindelwald.

"I'm sure you know how to make a hat out of it." Theodore said.

Grindelwald chuckled and simply placed the pelt on the bed. "So, who shall I be when my new face arrives?"

A few weeks ago, Theodore managed to find a witch who specialized in masks, creating realistic faces that merges to the body and creating a new person, altering the voice and structure, and even the eyes. She worked in the black market of magical Athens, and it took him seven galleons for the face and three more for her silence. She promised to have the face ready upon his return.

"Whoever you want to be. The papers of your identity will not be hard to make – well, it will be easier than fining a face artist."

"Who would have thought such witches exist. Their trade is a dangerous one. They would have been useful in my time."

Theodore glanced at him for a time then chopped the rabbit, cutting it to equal pieces before throwing it in the cauldron for their soup, it was a cold night and they need something to warm their belly. He used some of the herbs he found along the way, spices he brought for the flavoring and let the heat do the cooking and used magic to enchant the spoon to continuously stir.

"Why did you do it?" Theodore sat on his cot, his eyes never leaving Grindelwald. The man hummed in question. "I always wondered what goes on in the minds of men like you to have such ideals of superiority. Why did you do it?"