I explained to Grindelwald that Jonathan probably somehow knew about the infiltration and managed to blend in with the people we had sent, just to take the real Time-Turner and replace it with a fake. 

Suddenly, Jonathan Brook didn't feel like a helpless someone anymore.

''So you suggest that he has been working for someone else ever since joining me?''

He sighed and touched his head. His expression was troubled, and I couldn't help but notice the frustration and hopelessness in his eyes.

"It would make sense. I mean, he would never be able to come up with this on his own. I've known Jonathan for some time now.''

I tapped my temple. ''Unless he only showed you the side of him he wanted you to see. What if he hasn't been himself since he joined you? What if it's never been about the Greater Good, but something complexer? Something this boss of him wants to accomplish. We need to find out what they are going to do.''

''But before we do this, it's time to make sure everyone knows what that imbecile has done to you and that they'd better not harm you or they'll end up worse than Jonathan.''

I smiled at him. He was being so protective of me.

It had been a new sensation, that feeling that there was always someone on the lookout for me. Always someone keeping me safe.

''We'll find another way to get a Time-Turner. Don't worry,'' I said softly. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with sorrow and sadness. I wanted to comfort him, but I didn't feel like I was able to, but I could try.

''Come here, you.'' I pulled him upright from the chair and embraced him tightly. He slowly placed his hands on my back and buried his face in the crook of my neck.

''I think you could use some distraction,'' I said as I stroked his head. ''Let's go and have a nice walk together.''

He slowly retreated and looked at me with a painful smile. I could see the hurt behind his eyes, the frustration from before also lingering in there.

I knew he was trying to stay strong, but it seemed that he had been doing that for a little too long now. He needed to blow off some steam.

''Let's go,'' I said, taking his hand and pulling him towards the door and leading him out of the castle.

Lately, everything had been going wrong in my life. Queenie turned into a vampire. I found out my parents weren't dead and decided to have another child. I was being threatened by some anonymous psychopath. And let's not forget I was assaulted by some idiot that seems to be working for some mastermind. The only thing that hasn't gone wrong was Grindelwald. The small dot of light in my life.

I glanced at him and couldn't help but notice the sadness that was still in his eyes.

I took his hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze to know he was no longer alone. He had me and I had him. We had each other, and that was all we needed.

At least, that's how I thought about it.

He was the leader of the greatest movement in history, he had more things to worry about than only an owl or his feelings. He was the idol of many, but also despised by many. And those two things both bring worry and frustration with them. 

I always thought it was annoying to be a fugitive. But for him, it must be at least ten times worse. It also doesn't help that the entire world is looking for him.

He seemed to struggle with the fact that he wasn't doing anything about the present problems and was instead just walking and doing nothing to clear up the mess that had been created.

I hated that he felt like this. How long has he been hiding his feelings, pretending he never feels anything at all? I just never had anyone to talk to. He has that too, plus all the frustration from being the icon of the Greater Good. People expected things from him. Things that aren't usually achievable by one man.

Suddenly I was overwhelmed by a feeling of admiration. He had been going on. Making sure the world would become safe. For everyone. Even though so many didn't believe in him or what he's striving for. Nevertheless, he never gave up. 

He kept fighting.

I glanced at him as he was staring at his feet and watched the snow fall of his boots as he raised his foot to take another step. I listened to the soft crunching of the snow under our feet, which I found rather relaxing.

''Gellert,'' I whispered.

I halted and waited for him to look at me. ''How long have you been faking your emotions and keeping them in?''

For a moment he just stared at me and blinked. ''Why do you ask that so suddenly?''

I shrugged and took his other hand. ''It's just that I've never seen you lost your temper like that before, and I think we're more alike than we both want to admit,'' I said, intertwining our fingers.

He watched our hands and then looked into my eyes. ''I've been through much in my life, but I've learned to contain my emotions. That way, I gain people's trust, because I seem unbreakable to them.''

''I have to be a good leader. A strong leader that has no emotions or people will doubt me. For example, I would never let you die so I can be successful, but people aren't allowed to know that. They know I will have a weakness, to which I will act. People can do terrible things whenever they gain too much knowledge of someone.''

He sighed and kissed my knuckles. ''But you. You are different. I can show what I feel around you. I am surprised that you have gotten me to trust you like I do, because my trust has been shamed so many times, that I have never fully trusted anyone, except you. You're the only one I can trust.''

He took my hand again and bent down to kiss me deeply.

After a few minutes of silence between us and only kissing and hugging, we decided it was alright to return to Nurmengard.

Grindelwald thanked me for forcing him to go outside with me because it had helped relieve some of the weight on his chest.

Right before the gates, I turned around because I had felt like someone was watching me for several minutes, and I was alarmed when I heard leaves rustle behind us.

''You go ahead,'' I said softly, as I focused my gaze on some bushes between the trees.

Grindelwald watched me concerned and he softly asked what was going on. 

I didn't reply. Instead, I slowly approached the bushes.

''(Y/N)?'' he hissed. He was about to take my hand and pull me back before I glimpsed a flash of movement and saw someone sprinting away into the forest.

I set off after them, while Grindelwald was still telling me to come back and it could only mean trouble. Then, he followed me and tried to grab my arm, but I outran him. I was quicker than him, and soon he fell behind.

My mind was hazy. I thought I had recognized the person, but I wasn't sure if I was right.

I halted and glanced around. I had lost them and desperately hoped they hadn't disapparated.

If I was right, this was my chance to make sure that bastard never got in the way of the Greater Good ever again.

Suddenly another flash of movement made me act out of reflexes. I grabbed my wand, pointed ahead and shouted, ''Crucio!''

A flash of red light shot forward and hit the running figure. The person fell to the ground, writhed for a second before it lay there motionless. I glared at the body and fixed my gaze on the figure and cautiously approach it. Every step I took, seemed to make me recognize more and more of their face.

As I finally stopped beside them, I whispered in disgust, ''Jonathan Brook.''

He was smirking up at me. ''Hello, love.''

I cast another curse at him and he went unconscious without too much trouble. 

I started to search his pockets until I had found the Time-Turner and held it up to the light to examine it.

This was the real Time-Turner. The one the people were supposed to steal from the Ministry but had failed to.

Why would he still be lurking so near Nurmengard with the Time-Turner? Nothing of this made any sense. But at least, we would be able to get Tom from the future now and everything would go according to plan.

Suddenly a flash of light alarmed me, but I was too late to jump away and got hit on my chest, right at my heart, by a spell.

I gasped and fell to the ground. I grabbed at my chest, which was bleeding heavily. And my sight slowly blurred.

Jonathan got up, smirking even more smugly down at me. ''It's a shame he found out. It should've been even more fun if he hadn't interrupted our little party.''

I heard Grindelwald shout my name from the trees closeby. 

''Soon, you'll rue the day that you've been born,'' Jonathan said suddenly with despise in his voice. He glanced at Grindelwald who was not far away and said mockingly, ''Morning.''

Then I heard a loud crack and he had vanished.

I heard the snow crunch closely, and Grindelwald kneeled down in the snow beside me. ''(Y/N), can you hear me?'' He seemed to be panicking, which surprised me.

I tried to nod, but I couldn't. The slightest movement made me tense and a sharp pain shot through my body.

I felt increasing pressure on my chest, but then I gasped when I was lifted into the air, which sent an excruciating pain from the wound through my chest, and I fainted.