The shock was still fresh, however, my mind was racing. Nothing the woman had said was trustworthy information. Despite the uncertainty of the situation, I had a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach that wouldn't vanish, not even when I told myself she had lied.

I was lying on my bed in the room I was to use for however long I stayed with Robert and his family. My thoughts were scrambled, my mind jumping from one thought to the next.

If Gellert Grindelwald was my father, there must be someone who knew about it. There must be someone I can trust who could tell me the truth?

I sat up, groaning in frustration. I rubbed my tired eyes as I sighed and rested my head in my arms. What was I supposed to do? Should I believe what she had said? The part about him might've seemed quite solid, but how am I to know what was truth and what was not.

I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to quiet down my mind. And when I did, my eyes fell on the surface of the desk opposite the bed. A piece of parchment laid on top of it. ''Dumbledore,'' I muttered under my breath.

I slid off the bed and approached the desk where parchment, ink and my quill laid. I opened the bottle and scribbled a quick letter before fitting it into an envelope and heading downstairs to use the wax seal of the family Flynn.

I headed toward Mr.Flynn's study. I was sunken in thoughts as I approached the door and I didn't notice it was ajar and voices could be heard from inside until I was standing near enough to hear them.

I recognized the voices of Mr and Mrs.Flynn. They sounded earnest.

''I can't deny them, Alice. I could get fired. Besides, they know she's here.''

I gasped quietly. So the crazy woman at the cemetery really did work for the Ministry of Magic.

I heard Mrs.Flynn sigh. ''It's not fair. The poor child has done nothing wrong.

''I know. But if I don't do this they can send me to Azkaban. If we don't bring her in, I will be taken into custody for complicity in a criminal act.'' He sighed. ''Grindelwald is rallying his followers, we can't risk her going there to see him. He will do what he does to everyone, manipulate her into joining him.''

I heard a soft sob come from Mrs.Flynn and Mr.Flynn embracing her. ''When will they be here?'' she whispered. It was only from Mr.Flynn's reply that I knew what she had asked, her voice had been too soft for me to hear. ''Tomorrow at dawn,'' he said as she pulled away. Sighing once more. ''I just hope we're making the right decision,'' she said.

The letter hung loosely in my hands, about to fall, as I stared at the door with tears in my eyes. They were handing me over! How could this be possible? How could I be held accountable for what my father has done?

Footsteps neared the door and as I was ripped from my thoughts, I dashed away, heading back to my room where I would be planning my departure.

☘

That night at dinner I couldn't get myself to look any of the Flynn's in the eye. Not even...no. Especially not Robert, since he was probably the one who had betrayed me.

However interesting their conversations might've been, my silence was noticed almost immediately. ''Dear, are you alright?'' Mrs.Flynn suddenly asked me, interrupting the conversation Robert and his father were having.

How was I supposed to look up and talk to her, knowing they were about to take the rest of my life away from me.

I remained silent and stopped pricking into my food. ''(Y/N)?'' Robert asked from beside me.

I lifted my head and looked at Mrs.Flynn, fighting the tears with all my might. ''Could I be excused?'' I asked, my voice breaking halfway. She nodded slowly. I stood up, my chair scraping the floor as I pushed it back. Without saying a word I left the table and headed upstairs. And as I went, I could hear Robert explaining we had a rough day.

Once I was in my room, I leaned against the door, tears streaming down my cheeks as I slid down to the floor. I cried all my pain away until my eyes hurt and my nose was dripping. The sky had gone dark and the moon was shining through the window, plunging me in soft light.

What felt like hours had gone by and there was a soft knock on the door and a voice sounded, ''Are you alright, (Y/N)?'' It was Mrs.Flynn. She sounded genuinely concerned, but the knowledge that she was turning me in made my chest ache with betrayal.

''I'm fine,'' I replied, trying to sound as normal as possible. I didn't manage a very good voice, however, she sighed and told me they were going to bed and if I needed anything I could get it.

What I need is to get away from here, I thought angrily. I listened as her footsteps faded and the creaking of the floor betraying her location with every step.

I stared at the window with a frown and knew that now was the time. I pulled my trunk from under the bed and started packing up my stuff, getting ready to leave.

I had no idea where I would be staying, however, I did know where I was going next. There was someone I would like to talk to.

☘

The darkness was complete, and only the illuminated tip of my wand pierced it. I was standing in front of the castle. The castle I had been taught how to do magic for the past seven years.

My feet ached a little from the walk from Hogsmeade and the cold pierced my boots and froze my toes.

Now I had finally arrived at the castle I realized I didn't have any idea how to get in. My eyes started prickling at the cold and emotion overwhelming me. Until suddenly I heard a crack and turned, wand raised, pointing at the darkness.

Someone had just apparated behind me and I wasn't sure who it was. It could be someone from the Ministry of Magic for all I knew.

They were just standing out of reach from the light my wand cast. My heart was beating in my throat as I waited for the person to reveal themselves.

''(Y/N)?'' came a familiar voice. A person stepped into the light and I felt my heart lift when I realized it was Professor Dumbledore. ''What are you doing here?'' he asked as he shielded his eyes from the light.

I slowly lowered my wand and said, ''I need to talk to you.''

☘

The next moment we were sitting in his office, the fire crackling and the warmth coming over me. I felt my fingers burn slightly at the sudden heat, but I ignored it.

He beckoned at me to sit down on the chair in front of his desk as he placed his wand down on the wooden surface. ''I have an idea what this might be about,'' he said softly as he sat down himself, looking at me intensely.

I felt tears come to my eyes as I stared at him. ''Did you know that Gellert Grindelwald is my father?'' I asked him quietly, fumbling with my hands.

He sighed. ''I did.''

My expression held a mixture of anger and confusion. ''Why didn't you just tell me, instead of sending me on this quest to find my dead mother. I was almost killed,'' I whispered.

He watched me guiltily. ''I knew that the Ministry would come after you. But to be honest, I didn't expect you to find your mother by only her name. It seemed harmless at the time.''

I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath. ''I can't stay with Robert anymore. His parents were going to hand me over to the Ministry. Why are they holding me accountable for his choices?'' I asked him.

Dumbledore watched me for a moment before he said ''They're afraid you may go down the same path as him. He is the most powerful opponent the Ministry has ever had, he seems undefeatable. They are afraid you might become his successor, which is why they didn't want you to know in the first place.''

''Then why did you tell me? Now I'm a fugitive and my future is about to be taken away from me. I have nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. I have nothing. No family, no friends. What do you expect me to do?'' I asked him with tears in my eyes.

He sighed and joined his fingers together, leaning on his desk. ''You can stay at the Leaky Cauldron. It's safe now, but you can't stay there long. They will put up wanted posters soon,'' he said. He took his wand and flicked it. A small pouch appeared on the table. He pushed it toward me.

''Take it. You can get a room and eat properly.''

I sighed and took it. ''I'm truly sorry, (Y/N). This was never my intention.''

There was a silence before he said, ''Can I ask you something?''

I nodded hesitantly. ''Don't you feel any relief at all that you now know the truth?'' he asked softly, his eyes glistening in the firelight.

I shrugged and stood up, taking my trunk in my hand. ''Could you take me? I can't bear to walk to Hogsmeade again to disapparate. It's freezing outside.''

He nodded and stood up. ''Of course.''

☘

The night had been long and I was still tired as I sat up straight in the bed. Many questions remained unanswered. Yet, I felt a little weight lift off my chest. I thought of Dumbledore's words from the previous night.

He had been right. I finally knew who my parents were, even though I might not like it very much.

Maybe it's not all that bad, I thought as I swung my legs off the bed and started gathering my trousers and shirt.

''Maybe it isn't all that bad,'' I whispered to myself as I started dressing up.

As I headed down the stairs I was feeling eyes on me and it made me nervous. Did they know? Are they aware the Ministry is looking for me? Or maybe they're Aurors who are looking for me.

To my relief, they turned back to their food as soon as they realized I wasn't interesting and left me alone. I breathed deeply before I sat down at the table and waited.

Two men were sitting at one of the small, round tables in the corner of the room. The shadow fell over their faces but it was clear they were having an earnest conversation in hushed voices.

I didn't mind them until, ''...Grindelwald...''

I turned to them and watched them speak, trying to hear what they were saying but only heard fragments. ''Rally...Paris...The day after tomorrow.''

I felt my heart beating quicker and quicker.

I watched them until suddenly they were looking at me. ''Is there a problem, little lady?'' he asked as his piercing gaze bored into my eyes. I looked around and suddenly felt a rush of adrenaline as an idea entered my mind.

If there's going to be a rally, then I'll be there, I thought as I took my chair and joined the men at their table. They watched me surprised.

''I picked up something about a rally?'' I said in a hushed voice. They glanced at one another. ''Why woul' you mind? Aren' you supposed to be in school?'' one of the men asked. I glared at him. ''I recently graduated. Which is why I would like to go to this rally, I want to hear him out,'' I said as I eyed the men. They watched me suspiciously.

Then one of them leaned toward me and told me about what he had heard. ''There'll be a rally the day after tomorrow in Pére-Lachaise, a cemetery where the Lestrange Mausoleum is located. That's where it'll take place.''

I bit my bottom lip. ''Are you both going?'' I asked them as I switched glances between them. They nodded.

Am I really going to do this? I thought suddenly. It's not an everyday decision. However, I do want to see what he's like, in person.

I breathed deeply before I smiled at them. ''Well, gentlemen, you've just found yourself a companion.''