In the Dark, A Zabini/ Grindelwald fanfic

Albus Dumbledore entered the Great Hall mid-breakfast, walking beside Professor Snape. The two were in conversation and neither looked particularly happy.

"Good morning," Sabra Zabini greeted, her smile more business like than cheerful.

"Headmaster...There was a matter we intended to bring up with you last night at dinner, but with Miss Karkaroff here, we got distracted and forgot."

Blaise supposed that was one reason he'd personally forgotten, but Gellert's proximity was probably the main cause. Not generally one to be distracted, he wondered if he'd ever grow accustomed to the effect Gellert had on him.

"Very well, Mrs. Zabini," Albus said pleasantly as he took his seat at the head of the table.
"What is it?"

"We were hoping you could shed light on the exact manner of Gellert's capture. He says the fabled duel between the two of you never happened."

Albus nodded without changing expression.
"Of course not."

"So why does everyone believe it did and how was he truly taken down?"

At last Albus's face showed surprise as he looked to Gellert.

"Don't you know?"

Slowly Gellert shook his head.
"I have no true memory. My people and I were infiltrating a capitol building in France and...I seem to recall the sensation of being struck by some sort of magic that knocked me unconscious. There is nothing more before I woke in a literal prison of my own making."

Dumbledore nodded.
"I see.
"Whatever they did, it was very hush hush. When I was approached by the British Minister for Magic on the matter he gave me very little information of true substance, I am afraid. He asked that I confirm the manufactured report of defeating you in a duel in order to bring you to justice." When I asked why you would agree to participate in such a duel, he said that the confrontation would look forced. I presume by myself in an attempt to protect the masses."

He drew in a deep breath and let it out, expression momentarily tired and drawn as a sadness flickered briefly in his usually twinkling blue eyes.

"In all honesty, after what befell my younger sister, I had always planned to stay out of whatever you were trying to achieve. For this reason, I never even considered interfering in your pursuits."

"So why did you agree to their story," Blaise asked.
"Not that it matters, I suppose as I assume they'd already gotten Gellert by then."

Dumbledore nodded.
"Precisely. It didn't matter and they were putting pressure on me to acquiesce to their demands."

"What did they offer you to play along," Sabra asked.

Dumbledore shrugged.
"No pirate ship of riches, that's for sure," he said, the playful twinkle returning to his eyes.
"They did promise to stay out of my running of Hogwarts, though and that actually lasted several decades longer than I expected."

"Crooked hypocritical governments are of no surprise to me at all," Gellert said with a look of disgust as he relieved his plate of its last fork full of scrambled eggs.

"On that, Mr. Grindelwald, we can agree," Dumbledore replied.

"Well look on the bright side," Millicent told Gellert.
"Now you have an amulet to unravel magic before it touches you, so they won't be getting you like that again."

"No," Gellert replied, looking pensive.
"Not like that."

There were other ways, though, and he planned to remain free from captivity at all cost. He would take measures and even remain in good stead with the lady troll and her man, no matter how annoying they were.

"I suppose we'll need to take those off for our upcoming defense practice," Kereston observed and Blaise and Gellert nodded.

"When everyone has finished eating, we can go to the Room of Requirement and get started," Filius said.

"I'll hold everyone's pendants while you're practicing and return them to you as soon as you've finished," Sabra offered.
"I'll keep them safe."

"Unless she puts poison into them to kill you all instead," Blaise's dad quipped with a grin.

"Do you think your brother knows how they got me," Gellert asked Albus suddenly.

"I don't know," Albus replied.
"If he did, he wouldn't tell me. He and I don't speak."

Blaise wondered why but as it was none of his business and had nothing to do with Gellert, he didn't feel comfortable asking.

"I understand," Gellert told Albus.
"Were I unfortunate enough to have such a goat for a brother, I would not speak to him either."

Albus chuckled.
"Goat indeed."

To Blaise's horror he felt a stab of jealousy over Dumbledore and Gellert sharing even a mutual dislike of someone on which they could find common ground. He knew it was because of that stupid book of Rita Skeeter's, the Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore and its story of Gellert and Albus being involved. He knew it was entirely stupid. Still the two sharing a laugh over Aberforth Dumbledore being a goat got to him. Dumbledore wasn't gay and Gellert obviously only had eyes for Blaise. To make matters worse Blaise entirely understood all of that yet his jealousy didn't care in the least. The complete irrationality of that was extremely unsettling and disconcerting and yes a bit frightening.

He was relieved when Kereston spoke again as it gave him something else to focus on rather than his own annoying thoughts.
"So what are we going to start with when we get to the Room of Requirement," she asked eagerly.

"If everyone is up for a bit of a challenge, I could attempt teaching a protective shield," Gellert said.
"I suggest it for its constant usefulness. It can and should be applied not only when dueling or under attack, but in general daily life. It has saved my life more than once."

"That's awesome," Kereston said and even Millie looked excited.

"I must say, Wolfgang and I are both quite advanced at the various forms of combative magic, but to learn from Grindelwald himself is truly an experience," Flitwick said happily.
"I just hope there will be something of use I can add to the lessons."

Gellert gave a slight smile.

"Be certain of it, for I am not a particularly good teacher, so I will need a great deal of help in that department."