Harry stood back while Snape gave orders for finishing the potion. In the end Snape alone stirred and rechecked the directions from the ancient potion. "Now Longbottom the mandrake oil." He said as Neville moved to pour a vial of oil into the potion. "Now it should turn a healthy shade of midnight blue." Snape mumbled to which after a few stirs it did indeed turn to midnight blue. "Now Josiah a drop of Arathnia, but just a drop!" Severus said eyeing the American Auror as he let a drop fall of the potion he was holding. "Now we just have to wait for another ten minutes." Snape said.
"It's turning colors." Neville said.
"Yes we should end up with a smoldering dark green potion." Severus said to Neville.
Hess took Harry by the arm and led him off a bit. "Harry when Grindelwald is reborn I want you hidden along with Neville." He said looking intently at Harry. "This wont be like the fight you just had with Voldemort Harry. If the Wizards Bane doesn't work this will be a battle to the death. You'll have to sacrifice yourself in the end. Grindelwald knew love Harry. Not many know his story now but I do and fewer still would believe it. You see I am Grindelwald's great-nephew. He came from a long line of white wizards and was a fine upstanding wizard himself." Hess said. "He married the love of his life, Grindelia Black. After they were married her father set a group of dark wizards to find them and kill Grindelwald and Grindelia for he didn't approve of the match. Grindelwald went to the Ministry of Magic to appeal for help and because the Black family had strong ties to the ministry, Grindelwald wasn't taken seriously. A month later two dark hit wizards found them. Grindelwald was strong even then and defeated them but not before Grindelia was killed in the attack. He swore revenge on the Ministry and all those he considered responsible and after a time even on those who weren't responsible." Hess said lowering his head. "The bitterness and darkness consumed him. But unlike Voldemort he knows how to love. Love maybe the only thing that would have helped save him from total darkness. Dumbledore tried to help him and so did I? I was almost killed in Austria at the end of the war dueling with him. Dumbledore destroyed him but at great risk to himself. He almost died as well. If I remember right he was in St. Mungo's for months afterwards." Hess looked up. "Harry the reason I didn't want to come back is that I took my family to America when I left Europe. My granddaughter was sadly born a squib. She was injured in an auto accident a couple of years ago and is now confined to a wheelchair. Her parents came back during the first war and were killed by Death-eaters. My grandson has a family so it is only really her and I who take care of each other you might say." Hess paused and turned away. "If something should happen to me I want you to take care of her Harry Potter. Bring her back here to St. Mungo's. There is a healer there that is doing wonders with back injury patients like her." He turned to Harry. "I have left a will leaving everything I have to my grandchildren and it leaves you as executor." He said and Harry's eyebrows rose. "Dumbledore said you could always be trusted Harry. I trust you with my life on his word alone but more so I would trust you with those I love on his word as well." The older man said.
"I promise I will see that she is well taken care of." Harry said. "But you'll see her soon." He said confidently.
"Harry Potter you maybe a great wizard but you are not a seerer." Hess said sadly.
"Remember my words Harry, Grindelwald isn't Voldemort and he doesn't anger in the same way either. He will not be so arrogant and he is quite gifted as well. You see Grindelwald was once a man named Arturius Dumbledore." He said and Harry gasped. "He was also Albus Dumbledore's uncle."
"He was a Dumbledore?" Harry asked stunned.
"Yes and only Albus could match him in magic. As I said I tried and failed. Had he not shown me mercy, which was very rare for him, I would now be dead." Hess said. "He took the name Grindelwald the Wicked to remind him of his Mission. It was in honor of Grindelia." Hess said and finally turned away and walked back toward the others leaving Harry to process what he had been told. Harry noticed that Hess had also taken Neville aside now and was talking to him in private as well. Josiah noticed too and looked at Harry curiously and Harry just shrugged.
