Unspoken // Theseus Scamander

Chapter Forty-Two - Albus' Great Plan

Word Count: 1,003 words. 

Warnings: I had planned to publish this and the next two chapters as one big one, but decided to split it for my darling readers' enjoyment. 

I made a habit of learning the layout of Grindelwald's hideout. Eyes watched every move I made, and I watched them in return. Gellert might trust me – which was an abundantly idiotic thing to do – but no other would.

Having wandered into the very depths of the cold, stone building, I was quick to overhear a conversation that I was not invited to.

"Was there another?" Grindelwald asked.

Hugging the wall of the staircase, I ensured that I wasn't seen. I sighed in fear when Credence was the voice to reply.

"Another?" he posed.

"That night..." he dragged. "Was there another Qilin?"

My eyes widened and I held my breath. He knew of the second Qilin, the one thing that could foil his plan. Gellert would do everything in his power to ensure that the creature was killed.

I heard him move, angling my eyes towards the conversation. I watched as he drew his wand and aimed for Credence, and without hesitation, I rushed to interrupt.

Wand already in hand, I cast Grindelwald away from him. "Flipendo!"

Other hand angled towards Credence at my back, I kept the only weapon I had trained on the man in front of me. He tumbled into the water, level not high enough to submerge him completely.

Gellert's eyes turned up as he stood, carefully wading around the poor Qilin he had killed before approaching me. "He failed me," he explained, "for a second time."

I straightened. "And he will fail you again, and again, and again..." I countered. "It is what people do when they are learning." My tone was calmer than his, and that was what I prided myself on.

Credence reached for my arm, wrapping his fingers around it as though it might protect him. I hated how Gellert Grindelwald made him fearful.

"I have killed followers for less," he threatened.

I rose my wand to his throat, allowing its tip to roll along his chin. I smiled. "Gelly, I understand that you expect excellence from those who support you..." Dropping the smile into a thin line, my eyes dulled. "...but if you hurt him, or even think about hurting him, I will slit your throat with the blade you used to take that poor animal's life."

He smiled. "Is that a threat?"

"My dear, it is a warning. You do not wish to hear my threats."

Raising his own wand to dry his clothes, Grindelwald took a deep breath. "Join me for dinner tonight, Natty. We have many things to discuss." With no other words, he breezed by us and left the basement.

I dropped my wand, letting out a heavy sigh of relief as I turned to Credence. His vice grip on my arm remained, and I wished to tell him that all would be well. I would not lie to him, and so I said nothing at all.

ᵜᵜᵜᵜᵜ

There was food, a table to eat on and several chairs for guests to sit, but it was no dinner. I sat on one end of the long table, Grindelwald on the other as he delicately ate the meal before him.

I had thought that he might be enraged over my interruption earlier than day, but he seemed to have brushed right by it to the next order of business. I knew better than to believe my actions were forgotten.

"I will bring the Qilin to the vote in Bhutan," he explained. "It shall choose the worthiest leader. The enchantment I cast over the creature will ensure that."

I picked up my glass – which had been filled with some sort of wizard alcohol – mock toasting. "Clever."

He continued as I took a sip. Firewhiskey. I was not expecting Firewhiskey. "It is rather clever, but I fear that Albus might be more than clever... more cunning."

"His plan of confusion or lack thereof is mediocre at its core," I replied, sitting back in my chair. "Albus thinks that he can mislead you with overlapping, completely unrelated plans... or simply keep walking and hope for the best."

He sipped on his own drink. "I see about a dozen plans in action," he muttered. "What do you think he will do?"

"Oh, I don't think, I know," I corrected with a smile. "I know that Newt has the other Qilin and that he will have put it in his case. Albus, I have no doubt, sent someone to replicate them."

Gellert paused. "He sent that assistant... Bunty."

I successfully hid my relief to know that I was right. "And so, my theory stands. Each member of his... ranks, will bring a case to Bhutan, aim to confuse you and your forces as to who has the real Qilin."

He nodded. "And it will be with Newt?"

Letting out a gentle laugh, I shook my head. "No, but I think that you should make everyone believe that you do."

Gellert Grindelwald would never be confused, but the expression he dawned at that very moment was the closest he would come. "What advantage does that serve?"

"Albus will have the real case. He loves nothing if not his fame and power. I wager that he plans to present the Qilin to the world and have it choose him as the Supreme. We both know that it would, given the chance. Even the purest creature is blinded by his ever-so-dazzling smile," I explained, sipping on the Firewhiskey again. It only reminded me of Hogwarts. "Make him believe that you think Newt has the Qilin, ensure you kick up a fuss about destroying it and let him approach with the right case."

"And then what?" he returned, leaning forward.

I matched his movements, smiling cruelly. "Then you aim every wand you have at Albus Dumbledore, and turn him to dust."

Gellert smiled. "I think that you have hated me for far too long, Natty."

Leaning back in my chair and taking a large gulp of my Firewhiskey, I smiled in return. "I think it was the perfect amount of time to hate, Gelly."