This is a sequel to The Graves Ballad and picks up from the Epilogue where Tina is going to Paris. Tina's character and actions were a bit off in Paris in the second movie. Yes, there is a lot going on in her personal life at that time, but still feel the script did not do her justice.
Fandango – 1) a lively Spanish dance for two people or 2) an elaborate or complicated process or activity. Let's face it. The second movie was chasing too many plotlines at once. Now let's complicate it even further.
Welcome to Paris
Tina wondered how badly Grindelwald had screwed up MACUSA in his month-long impersonation of Percival Graves for her to be sent off to Paris alone. Madame Picquery had told her that she was the only one she could trust after some of their staff were apparently converted to Grindelwald's cause. No one escapes from MACUSA's high security prison without some form of assistance from within and chupacabras are not native to the Northeast. Guilt. The lingering sense of failure. They had failed one of their own. Percival Graves earned himself a spot on the memorial wall in the lobby alongside the many Aurors who had lost their lives in the line of duty over the years. His folks got the only mortal remains the Aurors recovered of him – a jar of pickled toes. There had been a quarrel at the memorial whether to incinerate the toes and scatter the ashes into the river, bury the jar under a sycamore tree back home, or keep at least one toe in a bourbon bottle to be trotted out when telling the little ones of their brave Uncle Percy. After a very animated vote that involved drunken fisticuffs, flying jinxes, and a dagger drawn, the family went with the cremation and river burial. A few abstained due to being petrified or stupefied and having to be sent to St Kitts'.
Percival would hate letting mademoiselle go haring off into danger without backup.
Her travelling companions were a known bourbon smuggler, Galahad Graves, his sister, Nimue, and her new husband Amadeo Encanto. The Encantos were officially on their honeymoon. Galahad's reasons were more obscure. Tina wished he would lay off the flirting as she was not in the mood after two disastrous relationships over the past months. She had thought she had something special with Newt. Then came their quarrel and news that Scamander was getting married to some pureblood French witch in the society pages. Achilles Tolliver was a mistake from the start. She had leapt into that one mere days after learning about Newt's engagement. Their characters did not suit at all. She was on the verge of calling it off when Madame Picquery sent her off on this mission. Then she walked out of Picquery's office to find him kissing Celestine from Wand Permits.
Queenie. Her little sister had fallen head over heels with a No-Maj and had moved in with him, Rappaport's Law be damned. It was an awkward situation for all. Especially since Tina suspected enchantments were involved.
Amadeo was an animagus and spent a good part of his voyage as a dolphin, whether in the ocean or frolicking in the pool with his bride with heavy disillusioning spells. He had met Nimue while schooling in Castelobruxo where she taught him Charms. It was that ill-advised liaison with a fifteen-year-old that sank Nimue's teaching career for good. The pair now danced professionally in South America. They secured a short gig on board in the ship's club. Some of their more scorching performances made Tina blush. They planned to perform in several cabarets in Paris over the course of their honeymoon. It had taken seven years after Senor Encanto came of age before Nimue accepted his proposal of marriage. Now she watched the pair tango across the deck, lovers lost in their own music.
"C'est l'armor…"
Galahad Graves waved his cane and red rose petals showered the dancing couple. He was wearing a green tiger-stripe suit and matching boater. The scorpion collar pins were inherited from dear departed Percival. Galahad had entertained his dinner companions with tales of his childhood, in particular the mischief he and his brothers by adoption got up to. How an attempt at bringing back their dog from the dead using Mary Shelley's novel as guide ended up setting the washhouse on fire instead. Their guardians strongly discouraged necromancy, and no one had the guts to ask the suspected local necromancer for advice. How young Percival ended up spewing worms after he tattled on their peach theft. And the time they went Rougarou hunting and ended up chased up a tree by a gator.
"We should be reaching France by morning. There our paths will part. It will be au revoir, I hope… not adieu." Galahad Graves chuckled as he magicked a single white rose, which she grudgingly accepted.
"Why have you come with us to France, Galahad?" Tina mused. "I doubt it was Madame Nimue's idea."
"Same as yours. Business perhaps, a personal grail-quest even. We seek answers. Unlike our happy couple yonder, who have found their answer in each other. Long may their paradise last."
Tina watched as the blond sauntered off, swinging his manticore-topped cane. She decided he was not her type for sure.
The letter of introduction was written by the current headmistress of Ilvermony – Professor Fleur Delance. It seemed either Galahad or Madame Picquery had pulled some strings. It led Tina to a pension run by the ancient Madame Perenelle in a respectable middle-class neighbourhood. Like her landlady back in New York, Madame stressed that she was not allowed male visitors unless he was her doctor and she ill or injured, which suited Tina just fine. Breakfast and supper were provided on request. Cleaning and laundry too.
The notorious Madame Nimue and her new husband were staying at Hotel du Dauphin Noir, where it was claimed the dancers did the cancan on the bar top and the police regularly closed the attached Theatre Dauphine on grounds of indecency. The saucy dancer had extended an invite to Tina and complimentary tickets to the show. She did learn from Nimue that Galahad was not staying there.
"My brother Galahad always has his responsibilities… Man does not know how to enjoy life," Nimue had pouted after Galahad had asked the newlyweds to tone down their amorous activities beside the pool where he was trying to read in his deckchair. Tina had noticed one of Grindelwald's Greater Good leaflets sandwiched in the pages of his Wizard's Guide to Paris.
Aurors were supposed to work in teams or pairs. It was rare for one to go solo without backup like Tina. Did Madame Picquery mean for Galahad to be her backup? The man had not suggested this was the case, even if he had made the arrangements for her journey through his many contacts. Perhaps for all the Director's estrangement from his family, Galahad considered it a personal affront that Grindelwald had killed his foster brother and was more than happy to offer MACUSA any assistance towards his capture.
A letter from her former DADA Professor Silverfoot was waiting for her at Madame Perenelle's. It contained one of Tycho Dodonus' enigmatic predictions and a reminder that prophecies are not quite what they seem.
A son cruelly banished
Despair of the daughter
Return, great avenger
With wings from the water
There were rumours circulating among the French magical community of a scandal from years back that might concern the missing Credence Barebone. It had seemed remarkable that Credence had survived despite the Aurors' attempts to kill the Obscurus in that subway tunnel. This was the nature of an Obscurial. It cannot be killed in Obscurus form as it is impervious to magic. Newt had managed to separate a Obscurus from its young host and placed it in stasis, but it had still cost the host's life in the end. If they tried to separate the Obscurus from Credence, would it kill him sooner? Or will it kill him within months if left to feed on him?
Porpertina Goldstein, what is your goal in this mission? Silverfoot had questioned her in her letter. Trust Tonton and Tante Flamel. Eulalie sends her love.
Secrets had a bad habit of whistling about MACUSA's corridors and sometimes spilled over into the hallowed halls of Ilvermorny. Perhaps Silverfoot had overheard the arrangements Headmistress Delance made and deduced Tina's visit had something to do with Grindelwald's escape and the Obscurial in New York. Eulalie was her close friend in school and now Charms mistress at Ilvermorny. Perhaps Lally was the one who put Silverfoot on her case. It bothered Tina that she only had pieces of a puzzle and no way to put them together.
"Tonight's supper is pot-au-feu," her landlady was rapping at her door. "Would you like some?"
"Yes, please… Merci beaucoup."
Tina had not realized how hungry she was after all the train journey from the port of Cherbourg to Paris.
Perenelle Flamel smiled as she stirred the pot. She had to be so careful at her age. Longevity had its own costs. There was a hiss from the fireplace. Floo powder.
"Dearest? Are you well?"
"Ah, Nico… My guest has arrived. Do you wish to have her over?"
"Not yet, cherie. I have company."
The alchemist had heard the warning flares of an intruder to his house. This one had walked right through his wards with ease. He reached for his wand. He was too old for this… Perhaps he should not have agreed to Albus' request so readily.
Nicolas Flamel frowned as he took in his visitor. Galahad Graves lounged on his settee, carelessly twirling his cane, or rather a modified staff-wand combination. The alchemist could sense the power he exuded in his aura. This was done on purpose, a warning.
"Monsieur, I bear gifts," Galahad indicated two bottles of bourbon on the cluttered worktable. "I am Galahad Graves. You may know my Aunts Charity and Constance."
"I also heard of your departed mentor, Le Barone, under whom you completed your schooling after you were expelled in your final year. Why are you here?" Le Barone's magic was rumoured to run towards the darker aspects, including necromancy.
"Is it strange that a son should wish track down a father? A son cruelly banished, Despair of the daughter. My poor mama…" Galahad took out a locket which he opened to reveal a cameo of a young blond witch. Nicolas Flamel recognized her.
"Elaine de Lance. You have your mother's looks."
She had been very young and six months with child when she found refuge at Perenelle's. She had also been fearful of her family finding her. They had both attended her through the birth and then sent both mother and child across the sea. The weak infant who had not been expected to live was now a grown wizard. Elaine had died when her son was five, leaving her children to her feckless husband's whims. Eventually, Constance and Charity took the boy in.
"I want to know about my blood father and any legal offspring of his. Will some snallygaster claws and thunderbird feathers be appreciated?" Two small cases, one metal and the other fired clay were added to the worktable. Both gifts are controlled items in the States.
"Your sire was Lord Gerwyn Grindelwald as sworn by your mother. He left only one legitimate heir – Gellert Grindelwald. Why after all these years…" Nicolas froze, recalling a recent news article sent by a friend across the ocean. "You recently lost a brother of heart and seek vengeance against a blood-brother. It is not good for a brother to turn against brother…"
"I am not alone in this venture, Monsieur. There are debts to be called into account and we desire to spoke at least one of Grindelwald's wheels. Perhaps we will be able to help each other," Galahad gave a smirk that reminded the old alchemist of that blond youth who had once called on him asking after Albus many years past.
Author's Notes:
A summary of Crimes of Grindelwald – Credence is trying to find his family in Paris while everyone is after him for various reasons and tripping over each other in the process.
C'est l'armor… (French) – It's love
Merci beaucoup (French) -Thank you very much.
I sort of imagine Galahad as operating outside the law but still retaining his own moral code, unlike Percival who tried to uphold the laws. He has his own history which I hope will expand some of Grindelwald's backstory along the way.