Without even noticing, Dumbledore had pulled out his wand and looked at it. Grindelwald recognized it. "Of course you still have it. Unlike me, you've won it in a fair battle, no one can take that honor from you."
"To be honest, Gellert, your disposition is puzzling me. I honestly expected you to be bitter and hateful," Dumbledore finally admitted, , wondering about Grindelwald's shifted personality. "You were plenty bitter when you were sentenced to life in your own prison."
"Oh, I was bitter for the first ten years or so, feeling quite wronged. However, you can only keep this up for so long in complete loneliness with only the occasional guard as company," Grindelwald explained, closing his eyes for a moment. "At first I didn't notice, but over time I truly began to think about my deeds and questioned if I really should have done it."
Now Dumbledore was interested. Grindelwald had done plenty of dark deeds in his life. Could it be possible...? "And what do you think now?"
"That I deserve every single day in here. I was a horrible person and I deserve to die in this prison with all my guilt and regrets. At least I'll keep my soul to get further punishment on the other side - unlike that insane prison with soul-eating fiends your Ministry is obviously still using," Grindelwald admitted, looking even older than he already was.
True remorse. Gellert, you might not realize it, but you saved your own soul, Dumbledore thought.
"The usage of Azkaban is highly controversial outside of Britain - and even in some circles inside it. So you are not alone with that view," Dumbledore said, wanting to keep his thoughts to himself.
"Die Banalität des Bösen. Elende Schreibtischtäter," Grindelwald whispered, and Dumbledore knew he meant the British Ministry with it.
"Indeed. 'Der Weg zur Hölle ist mit guten Absichten gepflastert.' I think that expression fits best, doesn't it?" Dumbledore added, remembering how his own efforts against Azkaban in its current form had fizzled out in the Ministry.
"However... it just came to me. Maybe you can help me with something - something strange I noticed a few years ago, despite my magic having fled me." Grindelwald looked thoughtful. "I know I only felt it because I know of the dark magic in question and ever since it doesn't let me go."
"Gellert, what exactly are you talking about?" Dumbledore asked his former friend.
"I was curious about immortality many years ago and read books about it, but when reading what to actually do to gain it, I burned them to ashes. Back then I was capable of much, but even I was horrified at cutting my soul into pieces to live forever." Grindelwald clearly was disgusted at the very idea.
Now Dumbledore was very interested. "And you felt that a few years ago?"
"Yes. It was faint, but clearly someone did it and the protection activated. Albus, please tell me no one was insane enough to go through with it!" Grindelwald looked highly uncomfortable now.
Dumbledore however didn't answer for the moment, coming to a horrifying conclusion. He'd already had his suspicions, since Voldemort's seeming demise created more questions than answers, but this was the first confirmation that what Dumbledore feared had actually happened. It also meant that the prophecy was proven more correct than he would have believed.
Tom, what have you done?
...Little Whinging, July 14th...
While the garden of the Evans house was not especially big, the high fence allowed a good degree of privacy on this Saturday as the small family relaxed after another work week. Other people would go on vacation, but with Harry's young age, this wasn't an option at the moment. Also, there were other ways of relaxing at home in this weather.
"Hahaha! Wet! Wet, Unca Tom!" Harry laughed while playing with the water in the inflatable children's pool.
"Careful! While you might like getting wet, I don't!" Thomas called from where he was reading a book in his deck chair, keeping said book out of danger.
The only answer was a giggle from Harry.
"Well, one thing is for sure: it never gets boring with children," Thomas remarked, putting his book onto the nearby garden table, now that his concentration was gone.
"It sure doesn't," Veronica remarked while giving her husband a glass of cold lemonade. "You know, seeing Harry so happy... Maybe we should try for one of our own? Remember, we talked about it."
Thomas did remember.
Truth to be told, there was nothing speaking against it. Harry was a bit older now and needed less direct care, thus giving them the time for a child. His company now was flourishing due to the boom in usage of computers in companies, having expanded quite a bit, and they thus were very secure in their finances. They would just actually have to actively try for a child now.
I know she loves Harry dearly, but raising him really made her want a child of her own, Thomas remembered.
He also remembered the looks she was giving Harry - looks of longing. "I do remember. Are you sure you are ready for this? Are we are ready for this? This is quite a big step, you know?"
Veronica actually chuckled. "Thomas, we've been raising a child for almost three years now. I think both of us are more than ready for this. I also don't believe a word of the horror stories my mother told me about pregnancy."
She had never exactly said what her mother had told her about pregnancy, though it couldn't have been that bad, considering that she still wanted them to make her a grandmother in reasonable time - while she was fond of Harry, she also wanted a blood-related grandchild as well. Yes, no pressure, though she reminded them of it regularly.
The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. I can't say no to her, and I really start to feel now would be a good time to try and have one of our own.