Before anyone asks, I've seen Crimes of Grindelwald, and it has given me a bunch of new ideas for this story. And BTW I wrote this chapter (and planned out the upcoming chapters) before watching it, so there won't be any spoilers (In this chapter :P)! And I, and probably most people who haven't watched it, hope everyone refrains from talking spoilers in the reviews! Thank you~
Okay, so chapter: Someone said I was getting a little descriptive in the last chapter, so I just went wild with Show rather than tell. Tell me if it works. Is it better? Is it worse? Tell me in the reviews! They make my day! And week! And month, really :)
Either way, enjoy~
Preparing to go to work in the morning with a child is a little different from doing it by yourself. Graves realized that rather quickly when Monday morning arrived.
Credence was woken up and dressed, as previous mornings, not too much of a difference there. What was completely new was that he followed the wizard into the bathroom.
At first he had stayed by the door frame and looked on as Graves shaved.
At first Graves had dismissed it as the boy having nothing better to do, and he had let him stand audience for him. As boring as it undoubtedly was.
However, there was something in the way he leaned in to see better, that subtle notion of curiosity that made Graves realize: Credence had probably never seen a man like this .
What he could gather from reports there had never been a Mister Barebone. Not as much as an uncle. Credence had grown up with only sisters and he severely doubted the Barebone woman had had any other kind of male resident in the chapel.
It was no wonder Credence was curious: Of the brushes whisking up cream, of the pad of leather hanging on a knob next to the sink, of the bottles with their clear content . It must have been as foreign as an alchemy set.
He had gotten an idea from this.
"Credence", he said and dried his hands on a towel before beckoning the boy forward.
"You'll see better from here", he invited.
Credence blushed gently , embarrassed that his interest had shown, but obediently walked up and let the wizard lift him to sit on top the empty vanity top .
"Did you shave, Credence?", Graves asked.
The boys shrugged.
"When I had to..."
The man hummed.
"And what did you use? Just the knife?"
He nodded.
"And warm water. Ma didn't think I needed cream when I didn't need to shave that often."
Followed by:
"And it was expensive..."
"Well, there's nothing wrong with warm water, for a beginner", the wizard assured.
"However , when it becomes more of habit it's far more merciful on the skin to use something softening as well. But what's most important is the blade", he said and gestured to the tool in his hand. Then he resumed shaving through the stubble he had accumulated over the weekend. For as enjoyable it was to explain shaving to someone he had a time to keep.
It had taken some time to get back into the habit of shaving. Before he had done it almost every day. But that was before. In the beginning of his captivity he had yearned for nothing more than to shave. To rid of the annoying stubble that grew into an even more annoying beard over the days, weeks, months , spent within those four walls .
Grindelwald hadn't been so stupid as to give him as much as a razor.
The things he would have been able to do with a simple sheet of metal, even without a wand. - He had always been fond of ritual magic. - At least the Dark wizard hadn't underestimated him; he could give him that much.
The lack of control over this (among other things of course, but this especially) had driven him up the walls. He had dreamed of it sometimes. The smell of after shave so convincing it stung his nose and he woke up with tears in his eyes. But not five minutes after his first shave in two months he had been anxious. He hadn't realized how much he'd miss something to tug at. His hand would still fly up to his jaw to grasp at nothing but sharp stubble.
The fact that he cared about this almost made him more depressed.
Almost.
He was getting better though. Or that's what he liked to think.
But back to tips on shaving.
"If it's dull you're actually more likely to cut yourself, and if it's rusty..."
He visibly shuddered.
"Let's not get into that."
He saw in the corner of his eye how Credence nodded, like an enthusiastic student.
Now, Graves' own father hadn't done this sort of lesson until Percival and his brother were both well over fourteen . But Credence had been almost eighteen before… all this , so it wouldn't hurt to have him well prepared if they managed to turn him back .
He finished up shaving. Meanwhile talking on about how to guide the knife depending on which way the hairs grew to achieve the best results, and washed off with cold water .
Then it was time for products.
This was the part that was completely new to the boy, who had only gotten to use talc to cover up nicks.
Graves let him smell the different bottles he used and explained what they were for, from after shave to the cologne he liked to use .
Credence wrinkled his nose at the latter.
"The trick is to not use too much of this stuff", the wizard chuckled at the face the boy made. As he did he waved for the bottle to animate itself to give his wrists a puff each, which he then brought up to transfer some fragments onto his neck .
"There", he concluded and the bottle set itself back on the shelf.
He waved his hand and summoned the slim black comb he liked to use. He swiftly combed through his hair before adding a click of gel which he spread out with practiced hands.
He could see the perplexed look in the boy's eyes in the mirror as his relatively fluffy hair was pulled back to its' usual pristine and crisp look . Then, so Credence wouldn't just have to sit there and watch he summoned the clean brush from the other bathroom and brushed the boy's hair until it laid neatly over his scalp.
Seeing all that done he pointed his wand at the sink to make it tidy itself up, then picked up the boy to go have breakfast.
"Mr Percival", Credence said as he was being carried into the kitchen.
"Yes, my boy?"
The boy was quiet for a moment.
"He didn't smell the same as you. Just so you know."
He
The wizard felt a chill run up his spine at the reminder of the closeness he had had to the boy. For Credence to know his smell…
Still, it was a relief. Proof that no transfiguration was perfect. Even when performed by a power crazy dark wizard.
"That's good to hear", he had said.
"And I think your cologne smells much better, Mr Percival", the boy added.
He had to chuckle.
"Thank you", he said.
"Now, how much toast do you want?"
"Two, please."
They had breakfast and Graves made sure Credence had two glasses of pumpkin juice along with his toast . Then they only had time to brush their teeth before they had to leave.
Graves made sure to pack with some books in his briefcase - because what else was the boy supposed to do all day? - and an extra handkerchief.
Credence held the Director's hand the whole walk from the apartment to lower Manhattan , and they reached the Woolworth building just before nine .
He couldn't be sure if he was imagining it or not, but people seemed to move out of the way more when they noticed the child walking next to him.
Something he became sure of though when he reached MACUSA was that people were looking at him differently . And when they were halfway to the elevator it had turned into out right staring.
Maybe not as much as the first morning he came back from the hospital - that day had been a spectacle by itself - but their unsubtle double-take glances were undeniable.
Or, they weren't staring at him, but at the hand he held in his. At the boy trying to keep up with his steps.
Some looked surprised. Others curious.
He wasn't surprised of their reactions. Not everyone had gotten the memo from the vote. This was the first time he had ever arrived in the company of a child. No one, not even himself, had seen him in such a fashion before this Friday.
What did concern him were the few ones who had worry shining in their eyes. The few aurors who had been at the scene that night less than a month ago. Others who had only heard rumors. Just like Patricia at the Underage Magic Use Office.
One part of him wanted to yell at them to mind their own business. The second, the one that won in the end, just hoped the boy didn't notice.
Still he made his way to the elevator, being extra careful to make sure Credence didn't get squashed between MACUSA workers; because out of everyone that could stare they just couldn't look up from their documents.
"Good morning, Director", he was greeted as he stepped inside the elevator.
"Good morning, Red", he replied.
"You havin' a tail today?", the goblin asked referring to Credence, who was standing on the opposite side of the wizard; shyly peering out to look at the bellboy.
"Something like that", Graves agreed.
Credence was quiet the whole way up until they stepped out the elevator. As it rattled away behind them Credence tugged at his hand.
"Mr Percival?", he whispered.
"Yes?", the director said in a hushed voice, unsure of what they were whispering for.
"Was that a house-elf?"
It took him a moment to realize the boy was asking about Red.
"Aa… Um, no, he's actually a goblin", he said.
"House-elves are smaller. They're barely taller than you", he said and smirked at the child.
It took a moment for Credence to realize he was being teased, and he gasped gently. But Percival could tell the boy wasn't offended.
The first thing Graves did when they arrived to his office was to aim his wand at the pair of chairs in front of his desk turning them into one small, but plush and comfortable, sofa. He then moved it to the corner of the office and summoned a coffee table, making a little lounge area for the boy.
"As you understand I need to work...", he said and sent his briefcase to start unloading its' content on the desk, as per usual. The books they had brought floated over to the coffee table.
"If you get bored, tell me and we'll come up with something. Just don't touch anything in the cabinets", he gestured for the walls that were covered in glass cabinets . All filled with different instruments and modules. Some less child friendly than others. Actually most of them were.
"They are off-limits. Understood?", he asked, but not unkindly.
Credence nodded obediently from on top of the sofa.
"Good", the wizard nodded.
Just then Miss Tocker knocked on the door frame.
"Good morning, sir", she greeted.
"Good morning, Miss Tocker. Did you have a good weekend?", he asked her.
"Yes very, thank you, sir", she said and looked into the office, seeing that the chairs were gone.
Her eyes found Credence.
"Hello", she told Credence, a little surprised.
"Good morning ma'am", Credence replied.
Graves could tell his secretary was surprised, but equally as flattered at the title.
She tapped her wand against her notepad, making the papers she brought fly to their piles on the desk.
She read up a few people that wanted to talk to him.
"And the President memoed saying your lunch meeting will be rescheduled to Wednesday."
And here he was hoping they'd cancel all of that week's lunch meetings. Not that he anything against talking work with the President over a nice lunch. It was just that he still didn't have a plan for what Credence was supposed to do meanwhile.
"Anything else?", he wondered.
"The elf-application, sir? Would you like me to send it in? If you've filled it in of course."
"Yes, thank you, miss Tocker", he replied. And with a wave of his hand the filled in form flew from the desk to the clipboard.
Right as she was walking out the door he called her back.
"One more thing, Miss Tocker."
She turned.
"Could you bring in one of the fruit baskets? Because I assume there's a new one…"
She made a funny expression with her eyebrows.
"Certainly , sir…", she nodded, a hint of confusion in her tone. Generally he left them at her desk for visitors (and herself) or sent them to the auror coffee rooms to be distributed among his subordinates, seeing he couldn't possiblyeat that much fruit and biscuits and muffins on his own.
But today he figured it would be an excellent snack bar for his little guest.
"Mr Percival", Credence said as the witch walked out.
"Yes?"
"What is it that you work with?"
He looked at the boy who was sitting on the sofa, his head tilted sideways a few degrees.
"Are you saying you don't know?"
Credence shook his head.
"I know you're Tina's boss...", he said.
"But Miss mentioned the President…"
Oh, he thought.
The boy really didn't know.
"Well, you are right. Tina is my subordinate. I am in charge of overseeing all aurors under MACUSA and their work. That makes me the Director of Magical Security. And I am also the Head of Magical Law Enforcement."
"And I do work with the President on a regular basis."
Credence eyes went comically wide. Even if he didn't know what the titles specifically meant the fact that he worked with the President was big enough on their own.
Graves couldn't help but ask: "Grindelwald never mentioned any of this, did he?"
Credence thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"He almost never talked about himself..."
"Might have been for the best...", the Director pondered. Just then his secretary returned to the office. She directed a straw basket filled with spiced orange pomander, pumpkin pastries and some kind of brown muffins with her wand.
"Here it is, sir", she said.
"I think there's a card for you as well", she added peeking inside it before letting him take control over the levitation spell; bringing it to sit on the coffee table . Said card fluttered out and went into his hand.
It was a very generic Holiday card, a picture of a snowman being assembled, picked apart and reassembled again by magic. Above it glittering gold letters spelled out: Happy Holidays.
He was rather pleased to see that it didn't contain any wishes of condolences to him.
They were getting better.
"Thank you, miss Tocker", he said and dismissed her with a nod.
Meanwhile Credence was inspecting the basket. Probably to see what it was that smelled so spicy.
"That's for you", Graves told him. The boy looked up, shocked.
"For me?", he wondered.
"Yes. Help yourself. Just don't eat so much you spoil lunch", he told him as he started sorting out some reports he was going to read through.
"But...", the boy started protesting.
"It's just something to snack on, Credence", the Director said to dismiss any attempts at protesting.
"And besides, oranges are good for you."
Then he started working. He read reports, wrote memos and letters. Any arrangements of upcoming meetings were left up to Tocker, as per usual.
What was different today was that he could glance over to see what the boy was up to every once in a while.
Mostly Credence read in the books. And eventually he even dared taking a muffin from the basket. He stayed quiet, the only noise in the office coming from the typewriter and the light hum from the trinkets in the cupboards.
Around ten o'clock Credence's little voice drifted across the room.
"Mr Percival?"
The wizard immediately looked up from the documents in front of him.
"Yes, my boy?"
Credence was holding onto an orange.
"I…", he started.
"Need some help?", the wizard wondered.
Credence nodded.
"Hold it out, please", Graves said.
Credence did, the orange looking very large in his small hands, and Percival branded his wand. Immediately Credence gained that look of interest he got every time the wizard took out his wand.
With a well practiced Wingardium leviosa spell he raised it into the air, out of reach of the child. Because even if he was a highly trained wizard with a rather precise aim (if he was allowed to say so himself) he wasn't so stupid he'd target an object sitting in the hands of a child.
Then with a sharper flick of his wrist, and an uttered:" Diffindo !", the peel was sliced away, removing itself in a spiral, which dropped down to sit on the table.
Credence looked at it in awe.
"Do you want them in smaller bites?", Graves asked him.
Credence took a pause to think, then nodded.
"Yes, please."
"Diffindo", Graves said again, and flicked in the other direction. Without so much as a drop of juice spilled the oranges were cleaved into halves.
He let them drift down into Credence's awaiting hands.
"Mind if I take one?", the Director wondered.
The boy shook his head and eagerly held his hand out, and Graves summoned two pieces with a silent Accio spell; eating it as he continued working.
When Graves looked over the next time he saw that Credence was hanging out over the arm of the sofa, the orange peel in his hand . At first it confused him. But looking closer he saw that the boy had one hand firmly planted on the stuffed arm, making sure he kept his balance, while the other one was waving up and down making the orange peel coil and uncoil like a spring.
It was fairly obvious what he was doing.
He was playing with it.
It looked very sweet actually.
However, right as he was about to ponder about whether Credence might want actual toys or not there was a knock on his door.
Sadly Credence stopped his playing to look towards the door. The Director had to do the same.
"Come in", he called.
The door opened and the face of Abernathy looked in from behind the door.
"Excuse me, Mr Graves, sir. Your secretary said you were working from the office today. I was wondering if you have a moment."
"Yes, come in Abernathy."
The wizard took a step inside, but he stopped halfway in, looking around.
Just then Graves realized he didn't have any chairs anymore, for they have been turned into the sofa Credence was sitting on.
"Oh, right…"
He was right about to turn and ask the boy if he could stand up for just a second, but a tap on his leg interrupted him.
Looking down he saw that Credence had walked up to him.
"Mr Percival", he said in a hushed voice.
"Yes?"
"If you want to talk on your own I can go outside."
The director thought over the offer for a moment. It felt rude to kick the boy out, and at the same time: If Credence wanted to leave the room he should be allowed to.
"Do you want to?", he wondered.
The boy shrugged.
"I have to go to the bathroom anyway..."
"Well, in that case. It's just down the hall. Ask Miss Tocker to point you in the right direction", he instructed. Considering Credence wasn't an ordinary six year old the director trusted him of finding the way back and forth on his own.
Credence nodded, then went to slip out the door. Abernathy following him with a curious look. Graves felt the boy's presence pass through the doorway as he went.
"Now, Abernathy, please have a seat", Graves said, turning the sofa back into two chairs and presenting one of them for the auror.
Yeah, the chapter ends kind of awkwardly but it would have reached over 5k words at that point if I continued and it lets me start off on a semi-dramatic note so whatever :3
Look forward to some Goldsteins in the next chapter though!