When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 78

Layer Upon Layer

Gellert grimaced as the healer pressed his thumb against the still tender skin of his legs, some of it purple and puckered, and other patches appearing almost translucent. Even after almost two weeks since the injury had occurred, it was bothering him.

At times, his leg would feel numb, but at others, it would tingle uncomfortably, reminding him that he was yet fully recovered.

The healer hummed thoughtfully, his face barely an inch away from the wound.

"The infection is gone, but the skin is not being repaired. You will need to keep applying the burn salve, but I do not think it will ever fully heal. What was the nature of the fire you were burned with?"

"The flames were golden, unnaturally so," Gellert replied.

The healer nodded, frowning as he continued his inspection.

"It is a magical burn," he murmured, "but does not seem to have come from any spell I have come across. I have not seen damage like this, however, I am intrigued by the pattern."

"Pattern?"

"Indeed, the pattern almost resembles a feather, a phoenix if I am not mistaken."

"Phoenix fire?"

"It is possible," the healer conceded, "but if this was caused by a spell, then how? Phoenixes possess unique magic to them. I know of no instance that its' fire can be cast by a wizard. Unless…"

The healer stopped talking, losing himself in his own thoughts.

"Unless what?" Gellert pressed.

The healer released a deep breath, removing his glasses as he finally stood straight.

"Unless the fire did not come from the wizard himself, but his wand. Phoenix feathers are commonly used as wand cores."

That was not something Gellert had considered, but as The Serpent, would the man not have a core from a snake of sorts?

He couldn't be sure, and even with as much wandlore as he had studied since acquiring the Elder Wand, he didn't know.

What he needed was an expert on the subject, and he knew just the man, though he certainly would not be a welcomed guest.

Not that he would give Gregorovitch any choice.

The man would help him one way or the other.

"I suppose it is something to consider," he murmured.

The healer nodded.

"I can think of no other possibility, but I could be wrong," he acknowledged. "My job is to heal you, Herr Grindelwald."

Gellert nodded, already planning his trip to Bulgaria.

"Do you think you can heal it?"

The other healers that had been treating him had been unable to make any promises, each of them uncertain as to what could be done.