Reunion Ⅲ

The conversation grows still as they all turn towards Rowan. "And what say you, farseer?" Alastor pointedly asked.

"The vampires do not originally intervene," Rowan truthfully replied for they had never sided with Voldemort in the first nor in the second wizarding war. "However, Riddle is not a predictable opponent. He is cruel, calculating, and genius in his own twisted manner. He is an unpredictable opponent, and absolutely nothing can be discounted when it comes to him."

"You mentioned other parties, Capricorn," Fabian pensively noted. "Whatever do you mean by that?"

"There is nothing concrete at the moment," Aberforth admitted, "but it is sufficient for there be a serious cause for concern."

"Other parties," Alastor Moody muttered to himself, before narrowing his eyes. "Riddle wouldn't be rash enough to negotiate with the Acolytes, would he?"

"It is a distinct possibility," Aberforth confessed. "As I previously mentioned before Riddle will not limit himself to a single range of allies. If the Acolytes ally with themselves with Riddle is not a concern as so much if they made use of him."

"Are you saying that they might attempt a prison break at Nurmengard and free Grindelwald?!" Gideon choked in conclusion.

"It is not an irrational possibility," Moody concluded out loud. "As long-term allies neither the Death Eaters nor Acolytes will remain together for long if Grindelwald returns. There is no guarantee that Riddle nor Grindelwald will see eye to eye on their vision for the future much less wish to rule over the world together. No, far more concerning is inquiring just how desperate the Acolytes are and just what they are willing to do in exchange for Grindelwald's freedom."

"As of right now the Acolytes are not even remotely interested," Aberforth replied, "but that may change if they can see Riddle's growth in power and far more important if they can be adequately persuaded to intervene."

"My question although it seems ludicrous right now, I must ask," Fabian interjected. "No matter how faint or distinct the possibility if Grindelwald were to escape from Nurmengard, which dark lord would we need to concentrate on first, Riddle or Grindelwald?"

The four wizards in the room all turn to gaze at Rowan. Rowan hides a wary expression and truthfully answers, "Grindelwald does not originally escape from Nurmengard, but I cannot answer that question without asking a question back. Who is more dangerous the former Potentate of London or Riddle?"

Understanding dawns on Fabian's face as he mutters, "Sanderson is powerful in the manner that he has connections everywhere whereas Riddle has both power and fanatics to his cause. The question is not if they are dangerous, but rather what or who we deem more dangerous according to the circumstances."

"Precisely," Rowan quietly answered. "Gellert Grindelwald is an enemy I would never wish to face for not only his power but his ability to plan," which was true because Grindelwald actually was a far-seer.

The only reason Riddle ever won was that Grindelwald had no wand and was trapped in a magical prison for several decades. And even then, the old man resisted Riddle and lied to his face before being killed by Riddle. time. If Grindelwald had a wand, there was no telling if he would have actually lost to Voldemort. After all, Grindelwald was Dumbledore's match in power.

"And as for Tom Marvolo Riddle," Rowan paused. "He possesses great power having immersed himself further into the dark arts acquiring that much more for whatever he lacks in forethought he makes up with sheer power and malice," and the fact that he had split his soul into six Horcruxes making it rather difficult to permanently kill him off.

The chamber falls into a lapse of silence until Gideon breaks the heavy silence by idly commenting, "Well, you sure know how to pick them, Moody. Who would ever think to look in a dump like this?"

Aberforth and Alastor Moody's faces grow stone-like, before Rowan taciturnly says, "My brother and I did, Gideon. This was once the Snape family home." Gideon turns bright red in mortification, while Fabian merely shakes his head at his brother's lack of tact.

"It is rather ironic that this dump as you say once housed the descendants of Salazar Slytherin and Merlin," Rowan distantly said. "And that of Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff through my father, Tobias Snape." Her midnight indigo-colored eyes turn towards Gideon. "My father is the last of that squib line and they unlike their ancestors were poor hardworking muggles."

With cheeks stained red, Gideon apologetically bows his head towards Rowan. "There is no need for shame, Gideon," Rowan quietly continued. "I am not ashamed of my childhood nor is Severus. And though we may wish that things could have ended differently, this place still houses both the good and the bad of our past."

"Hear, hear," Alastor said in understanding. Alastor Moody came from a long line of Aurors. His own father had been an absent and often distant man. He knew his father had loved him, but it had been difficult as a child seeking his father's attention only to be pushed aside for work. It was not until he became an Auror that he began to truly understand his father's difficulties, but even then, the past at times can continue to be a source of soreness and vexation.

"It is late," Aberforth said, "and I must return the child. Is there nothing more to say?"

Fabian chews his lip, before finally speaking what is on his mind. "Farseer, why did you not warn Percius of his death?" Gideon glances in surprise at his brother, before turning expectantly towards Rowan.

"Did I not say it before," Rowan tiredly said. "There is no guarantee of a future for any of us including myself. There are things that I know and others that I simply do not. And even that which I do know, I do not even know the time, place, or even location of which or when it will come into fruition. I am not a seer, who can accurately prophesy the future, but a farseer, who only glimpse bits and pieces of what may come to be."

Aberforth's piercing brilliant blue eyes stab through Fabian, who mutely nods his head as if in apology. Seeing that no one else is willing to speak, Aberforth says, "Expect my message, Moody," before pulling up the cowl of his hood.

"Until next time," Rowan sincerely said, but whether there was a next time, she knew not. So many of those that had been here before are gone Sara Vinovich, Alphard Black, and the latest, Percius Clements. There was no guarantee of a next time.

Pulling up the cowl of her hood, Rowan follows after Aberforth, who waits at the door. The two of them step out into the falling snow before the door squeakily shuts behind them. Their footsteps fade away and soon are gone with a faint pop suggesting that Aberforth had apparated away with his passenger in tow.

Alastor shakes his head knowingly, before saying, "I'll tell you, what I told Percius when he was still angry after the death of Sara and Alphard."

"Percius?" Fabian and Gideon chorused in surprise and disbelief.

"Aye, Percius always did have a right sharp temper when it came to his friends," Alastor chuckled. "Why even at Hogwarts, he'd fight anyone who made fun of his friendship with Secundus Wilkes for being a Slytherin and he a Ravenclaw."

"Percius didn't regret the choices he made that day nor how he died," Alastor firmly said staring them in the eye. "He was one of the best Aurors I've ever met, and he died laying his life for others. It is our code and creed, so do not belittle his sacrifice as anything less."

Fabian and Gideon inhaled sharply, before letting out bittersweet sighs. There was no point in them being angry anymore. Percius was gone and they would not belittle his sacrifice.

"Come, we best get going," Alastor said causing his bones to creak loudly, before standing straight. "Quickly now, I do not wish to tarry longer than necessary."

Fabian and Gideon quickly pull on their cloaks, before darting into the snowing night. Alastor waits in silence for some before pulling up the hood of his cowl. He peeks out into the night, before striding out in the night. He would apparate thrice more from the muggle village of Cokeworth to hide his tracks. He wasn't the only one as Fabian and Gideon did the same, before each returning to their own quarters. Tomorrow would arrive soon enough with all its troubles.