Murder does not go unnoticed. We are now going into the events of the 2nd movie proper. Might slow down a bit as I need to verify the timeline and where everyone should be (without Time-Turner usage).

Veni, Vidi, Vici

No one on the street noticed Galahad and his companions as they waited on the roof of the building opposite the townhouse Grindelwald had indicated interest in a few nights back. The oblivious household went about their day. The first day had been uneventful, Pellinore reported. At least until Tristan and Iseult decided on an impromptu game of Quidditch to ease their boredom, zipping about on their purloined broomsticks and taking out several windows along the way with their Quaffle. That got the attention of the French Aurors and the reconnaissance team had to make a hasty retreat. Once things cooled down, Galahad took over the watch with Nimue and Bedivere.

It had started quietly. Pellinore had reported three inhabitants, one an infant. The family were new to the neighbourhood. Then Galahad saw him - Gellert Grindelwald, surrounded by a small knot of his followers. Galahad had seen enough wanted posters to recognize him. A Dark Wizard, a kindred son of the shadows perhaps. His half-brother was oblivious to their presence much as the Non-Magiques within were unaware of the danger they were in. He shushed his companions and signalled them to stay put. He could sense their annoyance even as they heeded his orders.

Next came the horse-drawn hearse. Two flashes of green from within the house. Two coffins were carried out, loaded and the hearse driven away. No one in the streets or neighbouring houses gave it a second look. A smooth operation. Perhaps this was not the first time.

"Veni, vidi, vici…" Galahad muttered. I came, I saw, I conquered. Swift and downright ruthless, but he could not stifle that small gasp of admiration. Hearing a slight hitch in Galahad's breathing, Bedivere glanced over and frowned at the blond wizard's wry smile.

"Oh, the baby!" Nimue squeaked in horror as there was a third flash. There was no coffin this round. There were other ways of disposing of a tiny body. Nimue had collapsed onto her knees, her hands held up to her mouth in horror. It was too late for any intervening now.

"You are impressed by him, aren't you? Gal…" Bedivere ventured nonchalantly.

"Not really, there are ways to empty a house that do not involve anyone dying…"

"What would you have done in his place, Gal? No lies between us."

"Persuade monsieur to take a vacation in the countryside for the sake of his child's health. Marseilles, or the Pyrenees perhaps? A touch of haunting. When pointy silverware starts flying, Papa and Mama do not wait to get Baby out. Whistle up your lords and ladies, Bee. It is warm enough for them to work. There are at least two witches and four wizards we need to know more about."

"I don't have enough to cover them all, Gal. Next time train your own spies." A disgruntled Bedivere Disapparated with a soft pop all the same.

"Vinda Rosier," Nimue had gotten over her initial shock. "I recognized her from a gala some years back. One of those hateful purebloods. No offence, Galahad. She's a dark one… I believe one of the undertakers was formerly with MACUSA. You can ask Miss Goldstein to confirm. He might have re-issued my wand permit in 1924. If you would excuse me, I must get back to darling Amadeo… we have a show tonight."

With a pop, she was gone, leaving Galahad alone on the roof. Twirling his cane, he Apparated over to the roof of Grindelwald's new abode. For a wild moment, he imagined dropping a Blasting spell down the chimney as a little housewarming gift for Grindelwald. Or a Shattering jinx on the windows.

Don't be a fool! He could almost hear the exasperation in Percy's voice. Just like when he went out on the roof during a storm.

Very well then, he took a dead crow and dropped it down the chimney. In the summer heat, it would start stinking soon. It might cause some minor discomfort to the inhabitants, but nothing that they would think more than bad luck. Perhaps he could have Tristan and Iseult zip past to drop fresh dead birds or rats down the chimney every few days, at least until they set up a Repelling Spell on it.

Queenie knew she had made a mistake leaving London in such a huff. She had not bothered to find out where exactly Tina was staying in Paris. They had just quarrelled before Tina left over her spending time at Jacob's. Well, she had the address of the pension written down on a postcard from Tina, but Paris was so confusing. The way the streets and house numbers seem to turn back on themselves… and the people! Too many people. It was bad enough with the British accent, but in France… She wished she had paid more attention in French class. She was not sure if Tina would welcome seeing her since she knew her sister was on MACUSA business. Squaring her shoulders, she headed for the French Ministry of Magic. Perhaps they could help her find her sister. Tina had written she was looking for Credence and could have moved on since.

Watching the ministry from the café across the road, Abernathy nodded to his companion.

"That's Queenie…"

"Very well, you run along home now…" Vinda smiled and signalled for the bill. Abernathy smarted at the curt dismissal, but he knew better than to challenge Grindelwald's second-in-command.

"Mademoiselle Rosier took a box from the French Ministry building and took it to Pere-Lachaise," Bedivere reported as his spy – a black racer – coiled about his hand, allowing him to treat some nasty-looking scrapes and gouges on its body with healing spells.

"Do we know where exactly in that cemetery and what is in the box?"

"No, Zippy ran into some crow trouble. How about you transfigure yourself into a pigeon and do your own dirty work?" the healer scowled. "Galahad, this dark wizard hunting is very bad for you. Even without meeting him proper, he already has got his hooks in deep. The crew cannot lose you too… Right, folks?"

Bedivere turned to the others present in his cramped hotel room to appeal to Galahad. Pellinore shrugged indifferently before continuing reading a copy of the latest French scientific journal. Kay continued snoring from the armchair in which he had ensconced himself in. Jenny poked her head out of her carpet bag and deciding no one was in mortal peril yet, ducked back in. The twins glanced over from where they were sprawled across his bed. Finally, Tristan raised his hand. "If you get Kedavra-ed by Grindelwald, can I have your yacht – the Tigerfish?"

His twin sister Iseult elbowed him in the ribs. "Transfigure Tris into a Quaffle, please…"

"I love you bunch of heartless misfits – liars, thieves, brigands all," Galahad laughed as he donned his tiger-stripe coat and boater. "If anyone thinks I am losing it, please feel free to Stun me." Pellinore muttered something under his breath about Galahad needing the Graves sisters and Percy to Stun some sense back into his thick skull from the Afterlife. Whistling a jaunty tune, Galahad Disapparated from the room.

"I bet you chaps a Galleon he will join this Greater Good thing," Kay yawned and stretched. "I know he hates No-Majs, given what happened to his sister…" he frowned as he fished out a crumpled leaflet for the Circus Arcana and another espousing the Alliance's ideals from under the seat cushions.

"You do not have a Sickle to your name, Kay," Iseult rebutted. "And that is not true about Galahad, right, Bee?"

"Not sure about that, Izzy…" Bedivere tucked his scaly patient into a hatbox to rest. "Ah, it looks like rain…"

"Anyone heard from Moggy yet?" Jenny popped back out of the carpetbag. "She did not meet me off the train…"

"Did you try the shopping arcades?" Kay asked. "She has a wedding planned after all…"

"Yes, I checked them all. I'm worried… she wrote something about new friends she and her beau met in Nice…" Jenny frowned. "Never should have asked her to join us."

"What? And pass up one last adventure with us before settling down with her pureblood Comte? Now, where's Bee gone to?" Tristan added.

How could she have lost that postcard? Queenie stared mutely at the Parisian streets. She was so sure she had it.

Pardon, Madame… We are unable to assist you…

Tina was not on official Auror business? Or at least the French were not informed of her arrival by MACUSA. Nothing made any sense. Another hotel full. Dragging her suitcase about town was not the answer. Even more so that it seemed that another summer downpour was due.

Alone. Everyone about her, Magical and Non-Magique, hastening home before the first raindrops fell. She was so weary. Enchantments and love potions do not work in the long run. Jacob was angry with her when he found out what she did. Should she have stayed in London until he had calmed down? That's right, she took off and now she would never know if his feelings of outrage were just temporary.

Distraught, she did not notice the stylishly dressed young woman trailing behind her, waiting her chance. Then the rain came down. It was too easy. Vinda magicked an umbrella to shelter herself from the rain. The time was ripe for her to make her move…

Grindelwald frowned. It was that odd sensation of being watched again. He had warded the place and set Muggle-repelling charms up. He went about the premises to make sure Carrow and Nagel did a proper job of it. He tapped his foot against the carpet. Vinda would be arriving with Miss Goldstein soon. Perturbed, he went out of the room to check the wards.

Everyone forgets the attic. Galahad had mused as he slipped soundlessly through the house. The wards were weak there and he easily parted them. He had paused by the nursery and set a music box playing there, startling a pair of wizards in the next room. He charmed it to play Beethoven's Fur Elsie, which then morphed into Chopin's funeral march once the wizards entered the nursery. The spooked wizards blasted the toy to pieces, startling their great leader. A jinx on the rug inside the master bedroom while Grindelwald was giving the hapless pair a dressing-down, and a spell on the mirror in the sitting room before his exit the way he came. Now he was observing the happenings through a hand mirror from the attic next door. His half-brother appeared ill at ease as he left the room.

"Thought we might find you here," Bedivere snapped as he Apparated, startling him. Galahad scrambled to catch the mirror that slipped from his hands. It shattered on the floorboards.

"Sacre bleu, Bee. Seven years' bad luck!" Grumbling, he cast a wandless Repairo. He was dismayed to find the sound gone even if the images were still clear. There was a visitor being shown in, a blond bombshell of a witch that both wizards recognized.

"Miss Goldstein. Damn it!"

"Galahad, Morgause is missing. She did not meet Jenny at the station."

"Which one of ours is she?"

"Carrot-top halfblood, always going off half-cocked. One of those we put through Ilvermorny with Jenny. Slated to get hitched in spring to some pureblood idiot – no offense."

"Well, go find her… and lemme go!" Galahad snarled as ropes bound his limbs and pinned him to the floor.

"No can do, Gal," Bedivere nonchalantly sat down on top of the livid blond and tapped his wand on the mirror, restoring the sound. "You want to go storming next door and get yourself killed. We need you, Captain. Or everyone will be up the old creek without a paddle. Now let's hear what he has to say first… After which we need to talk about your suicidal tendencies and commitment issues."

"If you are going to come up with Dr Freud's garbage about my mother or sister, your wand is going up your ass."

In her small room, Tina felt uneasy as she cast a Refreshing charm on her clothes. She had sources to question and a circus to visit. She felt uneasy. Perhaps it was the weather. Queenie should be safe back home with Jacob, so long as no one looks too closely at their relationship. Her little sister still had the keys to their apartment and if things with Jacob did not work out, she would not be homeless.

She wondered how Newt was doing and hated herself for the lapse. Newt was going to marry someone else. No sense torturing herself with what-ifs or what-could-haves. She called out to her landlady on the way out, promising to be back for dinner.

Author's Notes:

Grindelwald's Paris Rally was in Sep 1927 or early autumn. Anyhow, the timelines are a bit messed up in FB canon, so I am sticking to the summer of 1927. Galahad and crew have witnessed a fair bit of what Grindelwald is capable of. The crew is sitting on the fence, waiting their captain's decision – will he, will he not. Some of them may buy into Grindelwald's ideals but the main deciding factor for most of them is that one of their own got killed in 1926.

Galahad's magic use is so subtle that Grindelwald does not sense he is being spied on (or having jinxes laid in his new abode). Being at Percival's memorial, they would recognize Queenie and know she is being recruited. I suppose the next chapter should be the circus escapade and maybe Newt's arrival in Paris.