"I can't believe you've finally chosen someone." President Picquery smiled at her friend, "I thought you'd be single forever."
"Oh, ha ha."
"Percival?"
They both spun around, to see Theseus at the bottom of the stairs that led up to the balcony.
"Where have you been?!" Percival sighed, walking down and grabbing Theseus's wrist, pulling him up the stairs.
"I-I really think we should- "
"- Madame President seems to be considering making an official announcement about it." Percival continued, not noticing the look on 'Theseus's' face, "Like everyone needs to know about it."
"Percival, please, you don't understand, you need to listen- "
"- Good luck." Percival didn't seem to have heard him, pushing him next to the President, who smiled and reached out to shake his hand.
"Congratulations Mister Scamander."
…..
Grindelwald felt like he was on top of the world right now, holding the lamp in his hands and giving it three firm rubs, watching as a cloud of smoke appeared, morphing into a familiar young man.
"Ah, I hope that you've come to a- " Albus cut himself off at the sight of Grindelward standing in front of him, taking a shaky step back.
"Albus, my dear…" Grindelward sidled closer, a sly smirk on his face, "Did you really think that you could escape me forever?"
"I'm quite sure I don't know what you mean." Albus tried to back away, only for him to be backed into a wall, Grindelward practically pinning him against the wall.
"Reunited again." The blonde man hissed.
Albus refused to look him in the eyes.
"For my first wish, I wish to be the new President of the American Wizarding community!"
…
Dark clouds started to gather within MACUSA, swirling all around as it got darker, heavy winds battering against the gathered Aurors, sending paperwork flying into the air.
"What's going on?!" The President snarled, keeping a hold of her hairpiece as it threatened to blow right off her head, only for ropes to wrap around her, forcing her to the ground as a tall, blonde figure appeared beside her.
"Grindelward!" She snarled, struggling ferociously, only to get nowhere
As everyone instinctively reached for their wands, the wands flew up into the air, before disappearing with a pop.
Newt reached for his suitcase, like a mother protecting her babies… only to realise that he didn't have it with him.
"Finders Keepers Scamander!" Grindelward chuckled gesturing to his right, where a familiar red-headed figure stood, a suitcase by his feet.
"No…" Newt whispered desperately, as Albus refused to look him in the eyes, "… No! Please, you can't- "
"- I'm sorry." Albus sighed, "I'm so sorry."
"Please- "
"- GRINDELWARD!" Newt heard the President scream, prompting him to look over, as Grindelward removed her headpiece, waving her wand and making it disappear.
"President Grindelward." He mused to himself, "Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" He then turned to Percival and the now ex-president, both of whom were glaring at him, "Now, where was I? AH, yes! Abject humiliation!"
He turned to Percival and smirked, "By the way… there's someone I've been dying to introduce you to." His wand flicked over at Newt, "Revelio!"
Newt fell to his knees, hands grasping at his face, which changed right under his fingers.
"Meet Newt Scamander! Not Theseus as you believe!"
Percival smirked, "I already knew that. Anything else?"
Grindelwald's face creased in anger, before he was storming over and grabbing Newt by the arm, ignoring how Percival started to struggle.
Thankfully, he had another plan for this pain in his ass.
Albus could only watch on as Newt was dragged away.
He didn't notice an invisible force pulling the suitcase away.
…
The portkey took him to a snow-covered hill in the middle of nowhere, the cold wind almost sinking into his bones.
And then he felt something tugging on his coat.
"Dougal." He whispered, teeth chattering together, "I am so happy to see you."
Dougal gazed up at him, before opening up the suitcase to reveal a flurry of golden wings.
….
"Ah!"
Percival winced as his friend was blasted to the ground again, unable to even defend herself.
He wasn't going to let this stand for much longer.
Despite his hands being tied behind his back, he was able to use a bit of wandless magic to pull Grindelward's wand from his hands and fling it away.
"At least make it a fair fight." He growled.
Really, it was no surprise when Grindelward silently grabbed his wand, casting a silent crucio on him.
As Percival writhed in pain, Grindelward turned to Albus, who had turned away from the proceedings.
"It pains me to see you reduced to this." Gellert sighed, scanning Albus from head to toe, "But at least like this… you are by my side. Where you should be."
"My answer remains the same Gellert." Albus sighed, "You are forcing me to stay here… this is not of my own free will."
"I don't care anymore."
When Albus turned, looking a little taken aback by the statement, Gellert smirked.
"I gave you the choice to be by my side willingly and you refused… you have now lost that freedom." He moved closer, backing Albus up against the wall, even as the ex-president and Percival watched on in confusion and alarm. Grabbing Albus's chin, he forced the red-head to look him in the eyes.
"You will love me again." He whispered, "No matter how long it takes."