Our Love Is A Weapon for Knocking Them Dead

"Alright," Gellert said. As he spoke, the blonde straightened, voice taking on a note of focused command that brought all lighthearted banter to a halt as everyone became fully focused as well.

"Let's start with a basic Protego Charm with Kreacher and Regulus casting it together at Bellatrix's sponge. I want the rest of you to watch. Try to see if you notice the magic looking at all different when the two cast it together as one. Kreacher and Regulus, I want the two of you to clasp hands in order to deepen your connection. Before you cast the spell, I need you to focus on your caring for one another, and the fact that you will use that caring to protect."

Kreacher and Regulus exchanged a glance before nodding and reaching for one another's hands. With his free hand, Regulus reached into a pocket of his silvery robe and withdrew a wand that was obviously made by Mag Snape. It looked to be around fifteen centimeters long, and comprised of a polished clear stone that appeared to be the power magnifying crystal quartz and a porous black stone. Both had six long sides, or facets, and both tapered to a point at either end of the wand. The crystal looked far smoother than the black stone that seemed, to Bellatrix's eyes, to be rough in spite of the fact that it was cut to have six facets to match the crystal. The two stones were held together in the middle by a band of silver, setting them back to back to form one solid wand, one half clear and the other black.

"Nice," Rabastan said, noticing the wand as well.

"Thank you. It's quartz and lava rock," Regulus said. "Lava rock is similar to obsidian, but it forms far slower within the volcano where obsidian forms far faster during eruptions."

"So is it really double the strength because of the quartz," Rodolphus asked, and Regulus nodded.

"It definitely is. It even makes the most difficult spells far easier."

"Don't count on it with this one," Grindelwald said, bringing the attention back to the task at hand, and away from Regulus's wand. "I want this spell as strong as you can get it, so don't lean into the extra oomph the wand gives you. Instead, put your all into it as if working a wandless incantation."

Regulus nodded. "Got it." He and Kreacher turned to face Bellatrix, and she held the sponge up in front of her like a hand sized shield.

At first, she'd wondered why these sponges weren't used more in duels, but it had to be the size. It was nearly the length of her hand, so with it extended in front of her, it left most of her body open to attack. If someone hit her in the leg or the eye with a stunner, the sponge certainly wouldn't cover that unless she knew precisely where to hold it. Which, of course, in a duel she would not. Perhaps if the sponge could be enchanted to throw itself repeatedly at any incoming magic, but that was a thought for another time and likely not practical to implement on short notice. It was, however, the sort of thing Grindelwald and Zabini crafted in their shop, so she made a mental note to herself to bring it up to them before departing the Ministry.

She held the sponge steady and stared at Kreacher and Regulus. Following Gellert's instructions, they stared at one another. Pain flickered across Regulus's face, and Bellatrix was relatively certain he was thinking of how he'd unwittingly sent Kreacher with Voldemort to nearly die in the black lake. Kreacher's expression as he looked up at Regulus was nearly desperate. He was likely recalling all of those years spent alone, or worse with Sirius when he believed Regulus had died. Unlike Regulus, the elf held no wand in his free hand, having no need for one.

"And… Go," Gellert called out.

As one, Kreacher and Regulus turned toward Bellatrix, casting Protego together. The sponge in her hand gave a small jolt as the spell impacted but otherwise remained the same with no visible change.

"Alright, Bella, as you held that sponge so professionally, I shall have you do it again while your brother-in-law and I cast Protego together," Gellert said.

"Oh goody," Bellatrix drawled, lips twitching. "It's always nice to be appreciated."

"I thought so," Gellert said, grinning cheerfully as he moved to stand beside Rabastan.

"We can skip the hand holding and soulful gazes, right," Rabastan asked and Gellert nodded.

"Most certainly we can. While I could never blame anyone for staring at me, I can't say I care to return the favor."

"I'll take that," Blaise said, moving up beside Bellatrix and removing the sponge from her hand. "We brought small envelopes from the shop to place each sponge in so that we can properly label it," he explained. As he spoke, he slipped the sponge into a small white envelope. Withdrawing a quill from his robe, he labeled it R/K. Moving to the icy case that held the unused sponges, he removed another and handed it to Bellatrix.

"On the count of three," Gellert told Rabastan.

When they cast Protego at Bellatrix's sponge, the jolt wasn't there. "There was no impact like with Kreacher and Regulus," she shared as Blaise took the sponge from her hand to label. "It sort of jumped before when the spell impacted."

Frowning thoughtfully, Gellert nodded. "Very good. That means there is a difference, which in turn means we're onto something!"

"About bloody time we had a bloody break," Blaise said, clapping Gellert on the shoulder. For a moment Zabini's reserve slipped as the two grinned at one another like lovesick loons.

"In part thanks to Bellatrix, I might add," Rodolphus said proudly. "She's the one who thought of weaponizing love as a group rather than generally, after all."

"Indeed so," Grindelwald said, giving Bellatrix a smile. "It appears you have your uses outside of the torture chamber, Mrs. Strange Bella."

Regulus held the next sponge while Rodolphus and Bellatrix cast Protego. Before they did they clasped hands and looked into one another's eyes. As she gazed at her husband, Bellatrix focused her mind on how much she loved who he was as well as the way she felt like a single unit with him.

She was just lifting her wand hand to cast Protego when Rod drew her hard against him, suddenly covering her mouth with his in a heated kiss that had her momentarily forgetting the current assignment. Making a soft sound of desire, her wand hand fell to her side as she leaned into Rodolphus's deliciously solid chest. Even as he deepened the kiss, Rod raised his wand hand, and with the other lifted hers as well. The instant he drew back he gave a slight nod. Understanding what he had in mind, she spoke the Protego Charm with him with the desire still coursing through their veins. The sponge in Regulus's hand jumped, and she gave a proud smile of satisfaction.

"Getting one another all worked up was supposed to make it stronger," Rabastan asked, making a disgusted face.

"Damn right," Rodolphus replied with a satisfied smirk.

"It seems to have worked," Regulus observed as he passed the sponge to Zabini to label. "You and Gellert are next, right? I can hold that one for you as well if you like, unless Bellatrix is of a mind to do so."

Bellatrix shrugged, leaning against Rod's side. "No," she purred. "I have other things on my mind at present. Have at it," she told her cousin.

Blaise handed Regulus another sponge and moved to stand beside Gellert. The two linked hands, and gazed into one another's eyes, faces softening as they did. As their wand hands rose to cast the charm, they dropped their clasped hands and embraced with their free arm. The sponge in Regulus's hand jumped satisfyingly as the spell struck, and Bellatrix found herself giving a little cheer.

"Why not get every romantic couple in the Ministry to work on love attacks, or whatever, as well," Rabastan asked.

"Because love isn't enough," Bellatrix said. "It has to be psychotic love, I told you. Most people have more limits than they think, even if their love is amazingly deep." She tossed her head scathingly at the thought of everyone who believed they had the best relationship ever, yet could never make a weapon from their love.

"She's right. This can have no limits if it is to work," Grindelwald agreed. "And romantic is a particular brand of love that Voldemort can never understand or relate to. Likely Delphini has this in common with him. You have to fight the enemy with what they don't know in order to win. This is the unknown."

"And what makes all your loves so strong," Rabastan asked. "This shit is weird, plus confusing," he muttered not quite under his breath.

"Because we'd die with one another and not have it any other way, while most people would eventually move on, prat," Bellatrix snapped. "Do you never listen? Didn't I explain this theory a few nights ago at dinner? This edge is what makes our love so strong."

"I guess you did. I sort of drifted in and out cause I don't really care," Rabastan told her with a cheeky grin.

"I'd like to try one final thing before the two of you get into a hexing match," Grindelwald said cheerfully.

"I'd like Rabastan to hold the sponge while all six of us cast Protego at it at the same time. Hold hands or anything else you'd like to connect properly for the spell," he said, nodding at Bellatrix and Rodolphus as he slipped an arm around Zabini's waist. Regulus and Kreacher stood close clasping hands, while Rodolphus drew Bellatrix against his chest.

"On my count of three," Gellert called out.

When the spell was cast, Rabastan staggered backward as the sponge bucked in his hand. Bellatrix gave a crow of delight as Rodolphus pumped his fist into the air. They'd done it! They'd truly hit onto something! Blaise took the sponge and labeled it while Gellert officially called it a night, praising everyone for a job well done. They all went home in high spirits.