"No need to raise your wand, Voldemort. It's Antonio."
Seeing Voldemort already draw the Elder Wand, Dumbledore hurriedly spoke up.
"Antonio?"
Voldemort had never paid much attention to the name to begin with, and even less so when it belonged to a Magical Creature.
An incredibly ugly Magical Creature.
"Yes, he's Gellert's pet." Dumbledore explained, then flashed a smile at the hideously ugly creature.
Voldemort didn't think he could manage that. The sight of the thing before him was simply too distressing.
Grindelwald had gone mad, keeping such an ugly thing?
"Is Fawkes not here?"
The little fellow had clearly noticed Dumbledore. He poked his head out a little farther and asked.
"No, Antonio. It's just him and me today," Dumbledore said.
That wasn't an answer Antonio liked. He turned his displeased gaze on Voldemort and took up an attacking stance.
"If I kill him, will Grindelwald be unhappy?" Voldemort asked Dumbledore with a frown.
That made Antonio even more unhappy. He leaned farther out in anger and tried to bite Voldemort.
"Smack."
A spell shot out, sending Antonio flying back inside.
"I don't know, Voldemort. Their relationship is complicated..."
As he spoke, Dumbledore walked over to take a look at the distant Antonio, then quietly said to Voldemort, "Gellert dislikes his ugliness, just like you do. So perhaps he won't care, but I can't say for sure."
Dumbledore had talked in circles, and now Voldemort found himself unable to bring himself to deal Antonio a serious blow.
"Open the door. I want to see Grindelwald."
Voldemort spoke in a low voice and raised his wand at Antonio, who was poking his head out again.
"Creak..."
The door slowly swung open. Antonio said crossly, "Follow me, Dark Lord. If my master hadn't known you were coming and given me orders,