Hi everyone, chapter four! Hope you're liking the stories so far, it was a blast to write. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter Four
Credence
It was late December, about a month after Graves had met him and there was about a foot of snow on the ground. Credence sat in the alleyway outside of the church he lived in. That night was Christmas. He knew that it was, but he had no reason to care. Ma didn't give any of the children presents. They participated in the religious parts, but that was as far as Ma's caring for the holiday went. He had been kicked out for not handing out all of his leaflets AND being late, so he was sitting huddled in a corner shivering. That was when he had appeared, Graves. He had apparated into the alleyway and walked over to Credence, a look of pity on his face. He had wrapped his arms around him and whispered that he was going to apparate, and that Credence needed to hold on tight. Credence had done what he was told, and was soon enough in a warm sitting room wrapped in a blanket with Graves at his side. He had then explained why he wasn't inside with his foster family and how little sentimental meaning the holiday held. They talked for a long time before Graves went and got some blankets from a closet, telling Credence that he could stay in the guest bedroom for the night. The next morning when he woke Graves had given him a warm coat and told him to hide it and use it whenever he was outside in the cold. When Credence got home he had hidden the coat carefully, not wanting it to be destroyed by his Ma. That was the first Christmas that Credence had actually enjoyed for as long as he remembered.
Credence sighed shakily as the memory ended, the happiness replaced by empty longing. They would be arriving in London in a few days and Credence wanted to find Graves quickly. Grindelwald used to speak of a place in London called Godric's Hollow, he said that once they found the child they would run away there and practice magic. That impossible dream seemed like an eternity ago after everything that had happened, but maybe he'd be able to find the real Graves with it. He wanted to find his friend more then anything, but he couldn't help himself from worrying. Was he even alive? Would he remember him? What would he say when he found out he was an obscuras, would he be horrified? Would he hate him? Thoughts like these flew through his mind, reacking havoc. Two more days, and he would be in London. Two more days, and he would have answers.
Percival Graves
Without Grindelwald coming in every day to restore the enchantments that strengthened the bonds holding Graves and his magic, escape was far easier. Graves had gotten out of the ropes, but he hadn't attempted to break through the enchantments. He found that he didn't really want to go back to the outside world, not now. After he had gotten out of the restraints he had promptly destroyed the chair in a fit of rage, sinking to his knees against the back wall and crying. Now he just sat shaking violently with tears falling and memories of Credence playing in his mind. He remembered the first Christmas that he had celebrated with Credence, and when he found out about the boy's evil mother and what she did to him. He even remembered the first time they met. He had been walking home from work very late when he heard quiet sobbing. He turned into a side way and saw a boy curled up against the side of a building, blood dripping from lashes on his hands and arms. Graves had approached slowly trying not to scare him, but he still flinched away from him with fear in his eyes. He had slowly sat down next to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, asking to see his hand. The boy had held out his bloodied hand and stared in awe as Graves waved his own hand over it to make the pain disappear. The boy had said his name was Credence and Graves had introduced himself as well. He then went on to explain to Credence about the magical world and how he had healed his hand. As he walked home that night he mentally kicked himself. Wizards and non-mages weren't supposed to interact at all, let alone become friends. He told himself that he would obliviate Credence and never go near him again. The next day he found Credence again, the boy was asleep with his back against the cold wall of the alley. Graves had pulled out his wand, but instead of obliviating him, he grabbed his arm and apparated, bringing him to his house. When Credence woke up they continued their previous conversation until Credence had to return home to avoid a beating from his mother. Graves smiled at the memory. That had been nearly four years ago, yet it was still vivid in his mind, like seeing the sun when one closes one's eyes. He closed his eyes, the memory playing in his mind and fell into a restless sleep.
Tina
Newt and Tina sat on a bench at the harbor, waiting for the boat the Credence was on. They had checked the boat log and figured out that Credence was on a ship that would be arriving at around twelve thirty. "Look, there it is!" Tina exclaimed pointing to a ship approaching the harbor. Newt smiled and picked up his suitcase.
"Let's go get him!" he said, scampering off in the direction of the dock. Tina rolled her eyes and ran to catch up with him, that man really needed to work on his people skills.
They stood at the dock, carefully scanning the crowd of people leaving the ship. Tina was trying to see over the head of a particularly tall man when she felt a tug at her sleeve. She looked up at Newt who was frantically pointing to the front of the ship where two people were getting off. One was a tall girl with chin length golden hair and a blue shirt. The other was a tall thin boy with black hair and a pale face. Credence.
"You should go talk to him Tina, you're the one that seemed to calm him down last time," Newt said, pushing her forward. Tina walked up the ramp of the ship and slowly approached the two, hands palm forward by her head to show surrender. "Credence?" she asked gently. Credence looked up and his eyes widened in recognition.
"Credence, who is that?" asked the girl next to him. "Is this one of the people that helped you? One of the ones we're looking for?" "Yah. This is Tina Goldstein, and that," he said pointing down the ramp, "is Newt." Tina looked back to see Newt wave at Credence before coming up the ramp to join them. While Credence shrunk back from so many people standing so close to him, his friend immediately jumped forward and offered her hand in greeting.
"My name is Charity, I'm guessing you're Tina and Newt?"
"Yup! So you have been traveling with Credence?" Newt asked finally reaching them.
"Yes, I heard about what happened and began looking for him and I finally found him in a bar in Boston. Our plan was to come here to find you, and then get the real mister Graves back. Credence thinks he might have a location!" They all looked at Credence who stared at his shoes. "Yah, he isn't much of a talker. Or look-you-in-the-eye-er," Charity said, trying to get Credence to look up. "Don't worry, this one doesn't tend to make eye contact either," Tina said pushing Newt lightly.
"What! I do to make eye contact!" Newt said, looking at her shoulder the whole time. Realising this, he quickly looked up and grinned. Tina raised an eyebrow but said no more on the topic. "Come on, Jacob and Queenie are at Newt's house; we thought it would be better if just the two of us came," Tina said, beckoning for the others to follow her. Credence seemed to debate with himself for a minute, but then followed the others down the ramp.
Credence
Credence walked behind the others as they made their way through the busy streets of London to Newt's house. He had been preparing himself for this encounter all day, yet he was still terrified when he saw Newt and Tina. They won't hurt you. They WON'T hurt you! He thought to himself continuously. He was so wrapped up in this mantra that he didn't even notice when Newt fell in step beside him.
"How was your trip?" said a voice, startling him out of his reverie. He looked over to see Newt smiling at him and immediately looked back down at his feet. "It was fine," He mumbled to the ground. "Well that's good, when we get back I have something to show you, and I think you're going to like it," Newt said, a hint of pride in his voice. Now Credence was curious and looked at Newt.
"What is it?" he asked tentatively, still little afraid.
"You see this case?" Newt asked, gesturing to the suitcase he always seemed to be carrying.
"Well, I have used magic to expand the inside to make it a HUGE home for many magical creatures that are severely misunderstood by the wizarding community. I honestly spend more time inside with them then I do in the real world. That's probably why Tina's always making fun of my social skills," he said with a laugh. Credence found himself smiling as well, remembering when those beasts had gotten loose in New York.
"Hey guys, we're here!" Tina called from the front of the group. Credence looked up to see the door of a brown house open to reveal Queenie and Jacob. "Credence!" Queenie called, running over to him. "Hi, I'm Queenie, I don't know if you remember me, we never formally met. That is Jacob over there, and you know the rest!" she said happily, shaking the hand of a rather flustered Credence.
"Lay off him Queenie, he's already scared. No need to make it worse," Tina said to her sister as she stepped inside the house. "Hi, I'm Charity. I'm guessing you're Queenie?" Charity said, holding her hand out. Queenie, still beaming took it and introduced herself.
"Well, no use standing out here, everybody in," Newt said, herding the others inside of the house. "Alright, we'll have to figure out some sleeping arrangements. I have a feeling that the girls aren't going to give up the beds, and I don't have enough room to conjure up more then one more. So, who wants to stay in the suitcase with me and the creatures?" Newt asked. Tina and Jacob looked at him as if he was insane, and Queenie snickered a little at their expressions.
"I will," Credence said, stepping forward. The others looked at him for a second before shrugging, at least it wasn't them!
"Alright," Jacob said, pulling out a map. "Should we start looking for this Graves guy, because if this wizard is as bad as you say we might want to hurry up." The others all agreed and sat down around the table to start making a plan.
Charity
Charity examined the map carefully, trying to figure out where Godric's Hollow was. She was sure that she had heard the name before, but wasn't sure where. Credence was in the suitcase with Newt, trying to remember anything else that could help find the hidden place, and Queenie was making dinner. Jacob and Tina were also sitting around the map with her, though they were not much help for they had never been to England outside of London. Charity knew that she must have read it somewhere, or she wouldn't have heard the name before. "Great. We have a name, we have a country, but we don't have a bloody location!" she yelled in frustration glaring daggers at the map. In order to apparate correctly, they would need a general location, for there could be multiple Godric's Hollows. That's when she remembered where she had seen the name before. "Guys, I think I know where I heard the name Godric's Hollow!" Tina and Jacob both looked up at that.
"Where!" they yelled in unison. "You know that new candy that came out called Chocolate Frog?" Charity asked.
"Yah, what about it?" "The first one I had, the card I got was Dumbledore! On the card it listed the town where he lived, and the Longitude and Latitude!" "So you're saying that we need to get a bunch of chocolate to figure this out?" Jacob asked grinning. "Yup! So get to the stores, and buy EVERY LAST FROG!" Charity said, shoving them towards the door. "I'll go tell the others!"
So they have been reunited! But more importantly, CHOCOLATE! Have a good one!