Two days before Christmas 1982
For decades Queenie had been searching for Gellert Grindelwald whom she believed to be living somewhere in the United States. No one believed her when she said that he was still alive. She was somewhat of an outcast in the magic and wizard community. She had broken up with Jason and married someone else. The marriage lasted less than a year. Jason had taken her back and they had gotten married. After she married Jason, she had been very low keyed about searching for Grindelwald. Many people thought that she had abandoned her search but Jason knew better. They had an agreement that Queenie wouldn't talk about it unless she was certain that she had found Grindelwald. This was the only way for Queenie to maintain contact with family, friends and to keep her status in the magic and wizard community in good standing.
Jason, Queenie and her sister Tina who was recently widowed took a cross country trip by car. They drove from Florida to California which had been uneventful. They were heading back home to the Orlando area. It was starting to get dark and they decided to stop in a place called Defuniak Springs which had a downtown hotel. They decided to stay for a couple of days.
During the night Queenie couldn't sleep and neither could her sister Tina who was in a room next door. In order not to disturb Jacob, Queenie went into the room where her sister was. He woke up briefly when she said she was going to her sister's room to chit chat and then went back to sleep. It was 2:00 a.m. Christmas Eve.
"I keep feeling a strong presence of Grindelwald like he's been here or is nearby."
Usually Tina would roll her eyes like everyone else did, but this time she didn't.
Once the sun came up, Queenie and her sister went down to Lake Defuniak for a walk around the lake which was a mile long. They noticed some old historic homes. As they walked down the street, the feeling that Grindelwald was nearby became more and more intense. Queenie held unto her purse very tight which had the wand in it. She saw the house where she believed either Grindelwald lived or someone who had very strong magical powers. Queenie and Tina debated or whether to go up to the house. A car drove by and stopped as they were walking.
"Are you guys crazy?" said a man who was sitting in a car.
"Jacob."
"Yes, it's me. Let's get some lunch."
They drove past a church called Faith Lutheran Church.
"He's a member of that church."said Queenie,
"Are you sure of that?" said Tina.
"Yes, I am."
A couple of hours later
Faith Lutheran Church was a small church which had about 100 members. They were having a Christmas Eve service late that evening. Jacob had been invited to the service when he was sitting in a park reading the newspaper when a man approached him.
"I'm doing a magic and dog show at the Faith Lutheran Church in the Social Hall. It's free and it's right down the street. Here's a flyer."
Luckly, the man didn't notice the expression on Jacob's face.
Queenie knew instantly what had happened even though she and Tina were in the downtown area shopping.
Gellert Grindelwald knew that someone was passing thru town who was a witch and had strong magical powers. He was 99 years old and had difficulty getting around. He used a motorized chair to get around. In his visions he kept seeing Queenie but he'd been told that she died back in the 1940's during the war. The man that he approached in the park didn't have magical abilities.
"Father, you looked distressed." said the woman who was about 70 years old.
"I have a feeling that someone passing thru town is a witch that has strong magical ability."
Florence tried not to roll her eyes. As her father was aging, he imagined all kinds of things.
"Don't worry about it Father. Everything will be okay. Come on, let's get ready for church."
"Have you totally lost your mind Queenie." said Tina.
"You know, Queenie, your sister is right. If Grindelwald knew you were here, he would try to harm you. He doesn't know, which I find amazing...
Queenie had talked Jacob into going to the magic show. She knew that if the person was Grindelwald he would not recognize Jacob.
Jacob rolled his eyes, when Queenie gave him a wand for protection. On trips, she always carried about 3 of them.
"Welcome to the Grindelwald Magic and Dog Show. This show has been put on every year by Gellert Grindelwald who was been a member of this church since 1947. He started this show about 15 years ago. Without further ado, let me introduce Gellert Grindelwald."said Pastor Mark Brown.
Grindelwald had been careful not to do some of his more powerful spells which would have freaked people out or have people talking. He didn't want a lot of attention. He had to be careful.
The magic show was non-eventful, enough to get people to clap but not enough to amaze them. The same with the dog show although he did have his dogs sing Jingle Bells. He made everything think that he got the idea from a song that came out in the 1970's, but he had done this long before and didn't have to use any stereo or recording equipment. He used his small wand like a conductor.
After seeing the show, Jacob quickly left. He didn't hang around for the church service. He'd seen enough and knew that Queenie had been right all along. No one noticed that he wasn't at the church service.
They quickly packed their bags and left. Queenie cast a spell which removed their presence. Jacob drove all night until they got to their home in Ponce Inlet around 5:30 am. They all were exhausted.
Six a.m. Christmas Day
Florence Grindelwald Davis had been kept up all night by her father who believed that a witch was in town. He expected her to stay up and listen to him talk. She was tired.
"I gave a flyer to a man who was sitting on a part bench. He has a connection to this witch, but I don't know who it is."
"I don't remember seeing this guy at the event. Are you sure you didn't …..
"Florence Grindelwald, I have not lost my mind nor am I crazy, although you seem to think both. The curse is real. A powerful spell was put on me...
Florence tuned her father out as she'd heard this story over and over again. As he got older, he told it over and over again...
From Christmas till the Summer of 1983 Queenie made sure that she knew where her wand was at all times.
