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"Damn it." Deanna cursed while running into an alley where some guards run past after a few moments. Unfortunately, there were charms around Nurmengard Castle and they couldn't Apparate right into Austria so what they did was first Apparate to France and take a boat from there. However, there were some guards around so Deanna couldn't have a peaceful journey especially since she couldn't use magic too, and it had been over a month already, but Deanna still couldn't meet Grindelwald.

"We're at the coast already, and we just have to take the boat." Deanna slid down the wall and held her head in her hands. What was she supposed to do now?

"Hey, kid." Someone suddenly said with a French accent, making Deanna look around frantically and her eyes widened when she saw a young, tall and handsome man entering the alley. He smiled at Deanna who was looking at him with suspicion. "You said you needed a boat, right? I'm Captain Wolf, and I do steer a boat well."

Deanna stared at Fawkes while stealing glances at the guy suspiciously. "Wait, how did you find me?"

"I saw you running from the guards, nasty they are." Captain Wolf clicked his tongue in annoyance. "They've been chasing after me too before, it's best not to get caught by them."

"Why are you helping me?" said Deanna, now more in confusion rather than suspicion. "I'm just a girl who's been running around France just to get to the coasts. You should be surrendering me to the guards."

Captain Wolf looked at her for a moment and Deanna saw a sudden flicker of pain in his eyes that he quickly masked. "I... I guess I see myself in you. You don't have parents, do you?"

"No." Deanna looked down, her heart clenching at the sudden memory of her father falling slowly. "My mum died when I was born and my father died a few months ago."

"I'm sorry." Captain Wolf simply said, blinking his eyes repeatedly. "I lost my maman and papa when I was your age, and ever since, the guards have been chasing me." He cleared his throat and smiled at Fawkes who was looking at Deanna only with worry in his eyes. "Your bird... he looks beautiful."

"He is." Deanna answered softly. She stroked Fawkes' feathers before nodding at Captain Wolf. "Thank you for the offer, we'll accept it if it's fine."

"I'm glad you said yes." Captain Wolf grinned at her before picking up the bag on the floor. "So where are you off to, Miss?"

"Deanna. Please, call me Deanna." Deanna held her hand out for a handshake.

"Alright, Deanna. Where are we off to?" Captain Wolf asked her while they started on the way to his boat, Deanna was looking around for the guards while Fawkes stayed hidden in her cloak.

Deanna glanced at Fawkes for reassurance before she answered him. "We need to go to Austria. The Austrian Alps. Can you get us there?"

"Of course." Captain Wolf answered brightly and he stopped, showing off his boat proudly. It was obviously an old boat but it looked sturdy and fine so Deanna knew they'd be alright. "Welcome to the Big Boss. It'll take us a week at the least and maybe a month if the weather's bad, will that be alright?"

It was already September, and if took her another month to get there, it would be October already. She would be having 2 months without progress. It may have frustrated Deanna, but she had not choice right now. She nodded and smiled at Captain Wolf. "Please help me get there, Captain Wolf. It is a sturdy boat."

"It is my bebe, Gros Patron. Now, come on in, Deanna and let us sail into the unknown."

Captain Wolf led Deanna to the Big Boss where she observed the horizon with a smile on her face. She let Fawkes out of her cloak and let him rest on her shoulder while thinking of what was about to come. She may not know what Grindelwald might do to her or what he had, but she had trust in her father and that was enough for her.

"Into the unknown, indeed, Fawkesy."

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"How'd you get here from London anyways?" Captain Wolf asked while steering the boat up front. They had just eaten dinner that Deanna had bought from one of the restaurants. Luckily, Captain Wolf had a whole supply of food in his cellar for the coming days. The two of them were currently talking to get to know each other more. "Did you run away and find yourself here?"

"No, it's just messy back in London." Deanna explained, feeling more comfortable now with the man after they got to know each other more. "How about you? How do you speak English so well?"

"I travelled around the world." Captain Wolf smiled softly at the memories. "I've always wanted to see the world for myself. My maman and papa died when I was 18, and I've been running away from the orphanages that time. That's when I met my mentor. He was from America and he saved me from the guards."

Deanna looked at him with confusion. "I thought you got caught by the guards."

"It was that time." Captain Wolf sighed and let the wheel go for a moment, sitting down and taking out the pocket watch in his coat. "He told them he was my father despite me being just a stranger to him. He took me around the world and gave me a new dream. Sir Logan."

Captain Wolf smiled at Deanna then. "That's why I saved you a while ago. I saw myself in you, and Sir Logan would have wanted me to do the same as he did to me then. You looked troubled and lost and just exhausted. I wanted to help, even for just a bit."

Deanna's tears came into her eyes at that. How did this stranger who seemed like he knew her already for a decade get everything right about her? She was troubled. She was lost. She was exhausted indeed. Why did she always have to run when all she wanted to do was to be with Hermione?

Captain Wolf was surprised by the sound of a sudden sob and he saw Deanna's body, shaking from trying to suppress her sobs. His eyes softened then, remembering how he too broke down into tears because he missed his parents and he was just so exhausted. He walked over to Deanna slowly and wrapped his arms around her, his own body shaking from how much she was doing so.

"It must be hard, right?" Captain Wolf said gently while patting Deanna's back. "It will be all right in the end. You just have to keep fighting no matter how tiring it gets." He smiled softly and wiped away his own tears. He could see that Deanna was like an empty shell. As if she lost everything but she was still going on because there was something she needed to do. He may not understand or know what that was, but he knew one thing. He wanted to help her, give her energy. It was the least he could do.

Deanna nodded shakily against his shoulder, hugging the man back. Despite only meeting him that day, she could trust him. Odd as it may seem but Deanna trusted Captain Wolf and she knew that after this, they may never see each other again but he will be a person she will never forget as someone who understood her when she was at her lowest.

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"We're finally here." Captain Wolf stopped the boat and smiled sadly at Deanna and Fawkes. They stopped at the coast of Austria and Deanna could see Nurmengard Castle in the distance though she knew Captain Wolf couldn't see it. "Told you I'd get you here in 2 weeks."

Deanna rolled her eyes at that before turning back to Captain Wolf with a smile. "Thank you, Captain Wolf. For everything. I won't forget everything you've done for us."

Captain Wolf sniffed a little and blinked his eyes repeatedly. "That's some damn fine dust coming into my eyes."

"What fine dust?" Deanna chuckled at him despite her own tears. "Come here, you." She stepped towards him and gave him a tight hug, the growth of their relationship and the friendship they had being conveyed in that hug. Captain Wolf sighed shakily, letting his tears go. Deanna would be a special person he will hold in his heart no matter what. Deanna would always remember Captain Wolf and his wise words whenever she would need comfort.

Captain Wolf pulled back and ruffled her hair with a grin. "Le feu ne meurt jamais."

"Le feu ne meurt jamais?" Deanna asked in confusion. "What does that mean?"

"The fire will never die." Captain Wolf smiled softly and patted her back. "It means you may rest, but you won't give up. Good luck on your journey, Deanna."

"It's Deanna Dumbledore." Deanna said, laughing. Despite the two weeks they spent together, they've kept their names secret from each other just for fun. But she couldn't help it. She trusted Captain Wolf like he was her brother.

"Well then, Deanna Dumbledore. I, Captain Wolf, Vincent Clément, bid you goodbye." Vincent gave a deep bow to Deanna that she returned. He then smiled at Fawkes who was perched on Deanna's shoulder. "Take care too, Fawkesy."

Fawkes gave a loud cry that made both Deanna and Captain Wolf smile. Deanna knew it was time to say goodbye so she smiled at Captain Wolf one last time. "Take care, Vincent, Captain Wolf. Until next time."

She sent him one last smile before she turned around and started on her way to the Austrian Alps with Captain Wolf smiling after her. He stayed there until she finally disappeared, letting out a shaky sigh. "Jusqu'à ce que nous nous revoyions, kid."

When Deanna was a little deep in the mountains, she stopped and looked back, seeing the Big Boss sail back and out of sight. She held her hand to the phoenix pendant she wore and smiled. Captain Wolf was right, the fire would never die. With a determined gaze, Deanna started walking once more. Towards her fate, towards her mission. She was going to end this war even if it meant her end.

"The fire will never die, right, Fawkes?"

The cry from Fawkes was enough for her and with that, Deanna stroked his feathers and pulled the hood over her head. She was going to meet Grindelwald, finally.

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It was already night and Deanna let out a sigh of relief when she saw the castle a few meters ahead. They had stopped to eat the sandwiches that Captain Wolf gave them for a few days, but luckily, they managed to reach the castle before the day ended. Even if it started raining, they continued on and Deanna kept Fawkes in her cloak to protect him.

"Finally, Fawkesy." Deanna smiled widely, the rain too finally stopping. "We're here." She stroked Fawkes's feathers with her shivering hand and started walking towards the dark castle. She could sense how there were enchantments around them because as soon as they came close, she started feeling cold. She wanted to bring her wand out but it was not yet time, she still had a month and a few weeks more before her 17th birthday.

Deanna stepped slowly and carefully towards the entrance, making sure to keep her guard up at all times. It was an unfamiliar place and who knew if Voldemort had his own guards around the place?

"Who are you?" Someone said from behind Deanna, making the Dumbledore jump in surprise and hold her sandwich up as a weapon. It was a man who Deanna thought to be the guard. He stepped towards Deanna with suspicion in his eyes when Fawkes flew out of the cloak with a cry and flew in front of Deanna, shielding her from the guard.

"Oh." The man said in surprise, suspicion leaving his eyes. "Are you Deanna Dumbledore?"

"H-How did you know me?" Deanna asked, still holding her sandwich up. She glanced at Fawkes and shook her head, making the phoenix settle on her shoulder though he still stared at the guard with a piercing gaze.

"Come in first." The man started his way to the castle and Deanna and Fawkes exchanged glances before she followed after him, putting down her sandwich and patting the wand holster around her arm. If the man was lying, she could hex him right away and escape with Fawkes.

When they reached the castle, the man did some things with his wand, probably lifting some enchantments. Deanna observed it and realized they really protected it well to ensure Grindelwald would never escape. She wondered if her father did visit him often. He must have, considering the man knew her.

"Now, come in, Miss."

"Please, call me Deanna."

Deanna sent him a smile before entering the castle, her heart beating fast. She was just about to meet Gellert Grindelwald, a man she heard a lot about yet she never met. Her father's first love but a Dark Wizard to most. She didn't know what to expect but she just hoped he could give her the answers she needed.

"I'm Christian." The man introduced himself while leading Deanna up the stairs. "I'm sorry to hear of your father's passing." At that, Deanna just smiled, having heard those words again and again. She knew they meant well but she just couldn't help it. "Your father and I are well acquainted, and he said you might be visiting Mister Grindelwald soon."

"Really?" Deanna said in surprise though she had a small smile on her face. Her father really knew her. "Did my father say anything else about me? Or did he leave something for me?"

"Not that I know of, Deanna." Christian replied, shaking his head. "Maybe, if he did so, he left it with Mister Grindelwald. Just a little more since he's in the cell at the top."

"Did my father visit a lot?" Deanna asked in curiosity.

"No, he did, from time to time." Christian explained while he remembered Dumbledore due to the same blue eyes of the girl beside her and the phoenix tucked in her cloak. "Mister Grindelwald and I are the only people living here and thankfully, You-Know-Who does not know about this place."

Deanna simply nodded, frowning at his last statement. Soon, Voldemort would know about it since he had control over the Ministry. She too could only hope for that not to happen. But why did her father visit him from time to time? Did they have something to talk about? Something important? Or something that could help Deanna and Harry with the Horcruxes? That could be it. That's why her father sent her here.

"We're here." Christian stopped in front of the topmost cell with an iron door that seemed impenetrable and Deanna did so too. She took in a deep breath and fiddled with her hands. Christian smiled before he knocked on the door. "Mister Grindelwald? You have a visitor."

"Let her in." A voice from inside the cell croaked out. Christian nodded reassuringly at Deanna before he tapped his wand with the door and Deanna could hear some creaks and gears turning from inside the door and then, it opened slightly for Deanna to come through.

"Go on." Christian encouraged her before calling out to the old man. "I'll take my leave, sir."

"Thank you, Christian." The same old voice said. "Come in, Deanna Dumbledore."

At the mention of her name, Deanna looked at Fawkes who tilted his head at her. She was right. Her father did tell Grindelwald she was coming. She took in a deep breath before coming in through the gap and coming face to face with a blonde man whose ankle was chained to the wall, blue eyes staring through Deanna's soul.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Deanna Ariana Dumbledore." Grindelwald smiled at Deanna and to her surprise, she did not feel fear or anxiety when he did so. It was just friendly and sincere. Grindelwald was looking only at her eyes. He could see some suspicion and hesitance in them, but he could not deny it. They were his eyes. Albus Dumbledore's eyes.

"Finally, we meet, Mister Gellert Grindelwald." Deanna smiled back despite the hard beating of her heart. Gellert Grindelwald had the answers to the countless questions she had, and it was time for her to learn of her destiny, of her fate as the heir of the phoenixes.

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