I would like to thank my beta, Kuilin.

Chapter 41.

Nurmengard, Part IV, Gellert Grindelwald: Alexander Dimitrov

1:24 pm, July 17th, 1993

As the heavy iron gate was closed behind the British envoy, and food disappeared from the dining table, Gellert Grindelwald pondered on the message the younger blond delivered to him.

According to Lucius, the biggest threat for Great Britain ever since Grindelwald himself, one Tom Riddle, was probably in Nurmengard, seeking Lord Grindelwald's biggest secret.

Well, Grindelwald wasn't too surprised about this news - the Americans, the Russians, and a large number of self-motivated dark wizards had been trying to find out about his real secret for the past fifty years.

-And they have tried, oh, they have tried. Brain, money, influence, promises about freedom, threats, potion, spells, rituals, torture, abduction... You name it.

What was a little bit surprise for Grindelwald was what took so long for this Tom Riddle to personally try his hands in Nurmengard.

-The new prison guard, Alexander Dimitrov, probably is Tom Riddle. The senses of darkness and danger smell right. I wonder if this new boy would try something new.

-As for the Brits sending me this message… Do they want me to kill off Tom Riddle as a ticket to the Mirror and the Stone?

Grindelwald briefly closed his eyes, and realized one thing: either they have no way to contact Albus, or they are not obeying Albus' orders.

-Albus believed in the "destiny-enemy" crap. Albus wouldn't let a dark lord kill another. They are running this show all by themselves.

Anger roared its way through Grindelwald's entire body; he wanted to tear the smug younger blond and every single Brit into pieces. However, Lord Grindelwald controlled himself soon enough.

-If Albus is really there to control everything, with his level of moral high grounds, he would never let me lay my hands on the Mirror and the Stone. Albus' absence is actually to my advantage.

-Yes, I shall study the Mirror and the Stone first, and then grant every single Brit a slow and painful death, starting with Lucius Malfoy, his precious wife, and his son.

Grindelwald summoned his communication coin, and started the long list of names that he needed to contact, starting with a signal to Lord Isaac Yodov - who was formerly Comrade Isaac Yodov: "I think I know the real reason that you lot haven't and shouldn't act the way you want."

-Damn Brits, you shall get it your way for a while, but Lord Grindelwald shall get back at you.

2:52 pm, July 17th, 1993 (Central Time)

Somewhere near the border line between the United States and Canada, a brown-haired man gave a jet black altar a last check, and then let it sink into the vast and almost endless wheatfield. Wearing a bored and disinterested expression the whole time, the man acted as if there was nothing surprising or taxing about erecting and burying such a magical wonder in a few hours in a Muggle farm in North Dakota.