We're in chapter three folks and I'd like to thank the people who have already followed, favourtied and even reviewed! (It's a big deal to me okay) this story. Thank you so much.
Disclaimer: As much as I'd like to, I don't own anything. Except Adriana. She's mine.
Chapter 3:
Adriana walked through MACUSA security with no trouble. Magical ID, wand ID and a few security questions. She started to head to the 'dungeon'. To her surprise, at the entrance was President Picquery.
"Welcome to the United States of America Miss Arkin." She greeted. She had a cool look on her face. She probably wasn't happy about the intrusion of the British Ministry.
"Thank you, Madam President." Adriana said politely. The two women eyed each other cautiously.
"I'll get to the point." Picquery said. "Why are you here?" Adriana smiled, she'd prepared a full cover earlier.
"Percival Graves was successfully impersonated by Grindelwald." Adriana said slowly. "That, of course, sent my Ministry into a bit of a panic. Grindelwald is noted to have some fanatic followers. We worry that one of them may have infiltrated our own ranks."
"I see, but do any of your people support Grindelwald?" Picquery asked.
"Not openly." Adriana said evenly. "But then, as I understand, Percival Graves was a very dedicated and loyal man, who worked hard to keep the magical community here safe. If Grindelwald could turn such a man and have them spill their own secrets, well, we'd like to know how." Picquery nodded. She'd suspected as much. Grindelwald may have some high-ranking politicians or have followers impersonating politicians so they wouldn't give the game away. Destroying Grindelwald's network of followers was the most important thing. Grindelwald was one thing. But Grindelwald with a few hundred followers of ranging abilities was a whole other bag of cats.
"I should warn you." Picquery said as she straightened her clothes. "That he doesn't talk very much."
"That'll be my problem." Adriana said. "Besides, I'm a new face to him, new hope to be believed in whatever he's spouting."
"You're hoping that your anonymity to him will provide you with answers?" Picquery checked. Adriana nodded. "Go ahead, please tell me if you learn anything."
"Of course, Madam President." Adriana said with a slight bow. She handed her wand to the 'dungeon' guard and stepped in. Graves was down the far end. He barely even glanced up when she stopped in front of his cell. His black hair was long, greasy, and hung over his eyes. He'd gained a short beard and moustache. His dark eyes looked hollow. Adriana hadn't seen many photos of him but the ones she had seen usually involved him and a suit. The simple white shirt and black trousers with a pair of loafers, it kind of worked for him. In the rugged, loner way. His arms were bound behind his back. Right. Wandless magic. Adriana wasted no time. She moved her hands and the chains fell to the floor silently. He looked at her in surprise. She lobbed the cloak at him. "Put this on and don't make a sound." Graves was nothing if not sharp. He grabbed the cloak, moved to the corner and disappeared. Adriana then sprinted back. The guard stared at her.
"What's the matter?" He asked.
"He's not there." Adriana said quickly. "I checked but he's not there."
"You're having a laugh." The guard said.
"I'm not joking. He isn't there." Adriana repeated. The guard looked at her suspiciously and went to check the cell. He sprinted back, cursing loudly. He hit the emergency button and alarms started blaring. Adriana grabbed her wand and the guard said nothing. He believed that Graves was dangerous. Better safe than sorry. The President was there in a flash.
"What happened?" She asked.
"He's not there Ma'am." The guard said. They all went down to the cell. Picquery looked at the chains on the floor and cursed.
"They must not have been strong enough." She muttered. "Dammit Graves." Aurors were gathering. "Alright. You three go to Grindelwald, increase the security." They vanished. "The rest of you, find him." Adriana opened the cell and began moving the few things in there. "Miss Arkin what are you doing?"
"Looking for a hint to where he may have gone." Adriana said. She mouthed get out to Graves when the others couldn't see. "May I be of assistance President?" Picquery stared at her hard.
"Yes. Where do you recommend we start?" She asked.
"His home. His wand." Adriana said quickly. She took charge well. She pointed at two Aurors. "We'll check his office." Picquery nodded. "He may not like you very much Madam President. I'd suggest some security." Picquery indicated to two Aurors and they vanished with her. Adriana followed the two Aurors. She felt something brush at her side. She slipped a bag out of her pocket. "Get into your office and grab whatever you need." She muttered. "Then meet me where your wand will be." Th bag vanished and Graves was gone.
"Keep up." One Auror said.
"Where is his office?" Adriana asked. She was trying to stall them as much as she could. Graves needed time and he was probably weakened. They were in an elevator.
"Where are you going?" The house elf asked.
"Graves' office." One Auror gasped. He glanced at Adriana. "Why would he go to his office?"
"To pick up anything he needs before he disappears." Adriana said. "Maybe evidence. Maybe plans. Maybe an emergency go kit."
"We searched his office." One of the Aurors said. "Right after we found out Grindelwald impersonated him."
"Yes, but this is his office." Adriana said. "He knows it better than you." They speed walked to his office. The door was wide open. The office looked as though it had been ransacked. Dust marks suggested that very few things had been taken. Adriana strolled round the office.
"Dammit." An Auror hissed. "He's already been here."
"We should go to wherever his wand is." Adriana said resolutely. The Aurors exchanged looks.
"One of should stay here." One said.
"I'll stay." The other volunteered. Adriana nodded and she and the other Auror sprinted out. They ran to the confiscated wand room. The Auror kicked the door open. A group of Aurors were already there, poised to attack. Adriana moved through the crowd.
"What are you doing?" One asked.
"He might have already been here." Adriana said. "Has anyone checked if his wand is still in the case?" There was a lot of head shaking and Adriana pulled the case out. She quickly removed the real wand before anyone noticed and presented the empty box to the group.
"Dammit!" One exclaimed. "We've been guarding an empty box."
"He'll most likely have left the building and apparated." Another said.
"Home?" Adriana suggested. She was feeling impressed with herself. She'd successfully managed to plant herself into an investigation. She wasn't entirely sure how it was so easy but it just made her think, MACUSA really needed to do better. She left the room and felt something brush against her.
"Home." She murmured. She felt something brush against her quickly, sprinting away. "Let's go." She said. Then she paused. "Someone should go to the magical and non-magical forms of transport." Four Aurors sprinted off in various directions. Adriana pointed at her companion. "You can take me to this pricks house." They had to leave MACUSA and apparate from outside. Graves owned a nice townhouse. It was surrounded by Aurors. A few had wandered in. She felt the brush against her and tugged Percival along. The house was three floors and lavishly furnished. A living room an kitchen on the ground floor. Two spare rooms and a bathroom on the first. A bedroom, a study and a bathroom on the top floor. The house didn't feel like a home. It was dark. The furniture was too sharp. Expensive. But dreary. Black, blues and silvers. There was a distinct lack of individuality in the house. Adriana didn't see a single photo downstairs. In fact, she didn't find any until she reached Percival's bedroom. She shut the door silently. Percival pulled off the cloak looking very confused.
"Mr Graves, my name is Adriana Arkin. I work for the British Ministry of Magic. I'll answer all your questions later but please, pack like you aren't coming back." Percival nodded. He dropped her bag on the bed and started waving his wand and hand. Clothes, books, shoes, pictures and some parchments flew into two suitcases. They were quickly shoved into small bag. Percival followed her into the bathroom and summoned anything he may need. They went to the study. Most of what he removed for there was books.
"That's everything." Percival said. His voice was hoarse and cracked. Adriana couldn't tell if it had always been like that, if he hadn't used his voice in so long it had become that way or if it was a display of how damaged he really was.
"Good. Now get in that bag." Adriana said, putting the bag on the floor. He stared at her blankly. "I can't take you for a Portkey so we're improvising." Percival nodded and slipped into the bag. Adriana dropped the cloak in and hurried back down.
"What did you find?" An Auror asked.
"Ransacked." Adriana said. The Aurors nodded and a few went up to search the rooms properly.
"We'll get him when he tries to leave." One Auror said confidently.
"I doubt it." Another said. "Percival Graves is one of the most powerful wizards in the country. No doubt Grindelwald taught him some tricks for evading arrest."
"Wonderful." Adriana muttered. "I'd best get back. I need to inform my Ministry what's happened." The Aurors shot her sympathetic looks. One took her on side-along apparition to the Congress building. Once inside Adriana went to find Picquery.
"Anything?" The President asked.
"No. His home and office have been ransacked." Adriana said. The President sighed.
"I'm sorry you couldn't conduct your interrogation." She said. She had a distant look. "I can't believe Graves would do something like this."
"Madam President, would it be alright if I went back to my Ministry? Only I need to update them." Adriana asked. Picquery looked at her and nodded.
"Send my apologies to your minister." She added. Adriana nodded. She went straight to the Portkey office and managed to snag one back to London. She didn't bother going to the Ministry. Instead she went home. Her house was wider than tall. Only two floors. A living room, kitchen, bathroom and dining room downstairs. Her bedroom, the guest room, another bathroom and a study upstairs. She quickly sent a message to Dumbledore and the Ministry to tell them she had done her job and was going to get Percival adjusted. She opened the bag in the guest room and asked Percival to come out.
"Welcome to London Mr Graves."