A/N: We're really doing this! I've been wanting to get this up ASAP. Here we go back to 1926. This is where I am beginning to fill in the story of where JK Rowling has not yet gone before. This is an explanation of the events in Fantastic Beasts. This means I may get some things right. I probably won't be right. However, I have legit evidence backing up what you will see. I will post all of this evidence at the bottom. The evidence I listed at the bottom is not everything though. I am going to post another chapter that happens right after this one and will include more evidence in the next chapter. Could I be wrong? You betcha. But I could be right. There is nothing yet that I know of that JK Rowling has said to disprove what I have written. I want to get as close to the truth as possible.

If you want to see the evidence most relevant to this chapter that I have unearthed, you may look down at the bottom.

Not many reviewers this time, but that might in part be due to the fact that I'm really rushing this update.

Guest who reviewed: Thank you! I like cake!

September 1926 - New York City - Percival Graves

Percival Graves considered himself to be a very moral man. At thirty-nine years of age, he truly had dedicated his life to upholding righteousness in the Wizarding world. He had become an Auror as soon as he graduated from Ilvermorny at the age of eighteen (one of the youngest to ever pass the examinations at that age), and he knew it would be his whole life. He was now the Head Auror of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, and his father before that had been an Auror, and his father before that, and further down the line, all the way to the beginning of MACUSA's government. Maybe even before the United States, his family was always in the Auror business. He had a feeling they were. It was in his blood. If a witch or wizard was a menace to society, he led the effort in taking them down and out of the game. He was responsible for keeping law and order from New York to California and everywhere in between. He took his job seriously, and he understood that he put his life on the line everyday. He prided himself in having integrity and a strong sense of loyalty. He liked to think this made him a respectable person.

He was also painfully aware of the fact that all of the Aurors who worked underneath him were putting their lives on the line every day as well. He had seen junior Aurors killed. It was always a horrific sight. So often it was the youngest Aurors who were killed because they were the most inexperienced. And every time an Auror died under his watch, he felt responsible for it. They were under his leadership, and they trusted him. You can't help but trust Percival Graves, even when your life is in danger. The Aurors all knew this, and he also knew the trusted him with their lives, so whenever a situation ended in bloodshed, he felt the guilt. Such is the life of someone who has been entrusted to keep society safe from the evil ones who threaten to destroy it.

He could take that. He could deal with that. He had signed up for it. He had signed up for the fight between good and evil, and he completely accepted its cost.

He had not, however, signed up for contributing to and supporting a morally corrupt system. The government was supposed to be the "good" ones. The laws were supposed to be laws because they were morally correct.

Laws are supposed to protect the weak and the innocent.

That's not what he saw anymore one Tuesday early in September.

Porpentina Goldstein, age twenty-five, went by just "Tina," but Percival still liked to call her Porpentina sometimes because it was such an interesting name to say. Tina was the youngest Auror currently on staff. She was a bit of a wisp of a thing - not exactly small, but she didn't have a lot of height and weight to throw around either. She looked young, she was young, and she was fiery. Dedicated. She was a little insecure too, but still, she was not to be underestimated. Percival was the only one to even notice that Tina was usually the first one to work in the morning and the last to leave (besides himself of course). She had come to him having completely memorized all of the laws MACUSA had ever created, along with their section numbers and all of the legalities behind them. She ate, breathed, and slept her job; it was all she cared about it. She neglected herself. Sometimes, he caught her around lunch time working away when she should have been eating.

"Porpentina?" he would say. Her head would snap up to him and look at him in what seemed like almost awe. "You do know that your body needs sustenance in order to keep functioning, and it is thirty past noon, and that is when most human beings refuel with food midway through the day, right?"

She would give him a little smile and say, "Yes, sir." Only then would she take the time to eat something. She never ate enough, and she never did stop working (she ate as she worked), but at least that was an improvement. He knew that she would simply forget to eat if he didn't come and badger her.

She was of decent power, but Percival knew from past losses of Aurors that power was not enough to protect an Auror; experience was the best source of protection. Tina didn't have that protection yet, so Percival worried about her a great deal. He would never forgive himself if such a remarkable young woman, who was almost like a kid to him, was killed or maimed because of him. She had a flame blazing inside of her that no one else saw, and he never wanted that flame to go out.

Now, the game had changed.

Percival sat in his office. The sun had set, but he was still there. Sometimes he slept in the building at night, in his office, and never went home. Only Tina knew that. Since she was the first to arrive, she had caught him asleep on the sofa of the Auror's break room. He had lied and said that he had gone home but got up early because he couldn't sleep, and he was just lying down for a bit, but he knew she hadn't believed it. Even though he had a nice bedding set-up for himself, this time in his office, he was too furious to use it to sleep.

Tina had been kicked off of the Auror Investigative Team. She wasn't even really an Auror anymore.

She had let her good heart get to her head. For weeks, Tina had been out, tirelessly working, on the streets of Manhattan trying to find the source of the magical disturbances that were occurring in the city. All of the Aurors had been keeping a close eye on New York City, walking around in plain no-Maj approved clothing, trying to catch a break, but Percival knew that Tina had been out there more than anyone else. She had found, what she had expressed to him, what she thought might have been a lead.

"You know there's a group of No-Majs that are calling themselves 'Second Salemers'?" she had reported to him. Her tone had been angry, her hair wild. "They're an anti-Wizarding and witchcraft group that are actually trying to bring about a second round of Salem Witch Trials."

Percival had considered her roughly, though he hoped not too unkindly. "Tina, this country has strong roots in fear of witchcraft. There's always been No-Maj organizations like that, and I'm afraid to say that there most likely always will be."

Tina would shake her head at him every time he tried to dismiss the group. "There's a story there; there's some link to them with what's going on in the city, and did you know they also know what's going on? They're aware of the events?"

"That's just luck," he had said. "Tina, they would claim witchcraft even if there wasn't a magical disturbance."

"But in this case, they're right! In this case, they're trying to convince the rest of them that there is real magic going on, and they're right!" She had thrown up her hands in exasperation, gesturing wildly to the streets outside of the building. "They have dozens of orphaned kids roaming around the streets looking for witches! Witches and magic! Handing out fliers!" Then she had realized she was shouting and waving her arms at Percival Graves, her boss. She had dropped her arms. "Sir," she had added hastily.

He had tried to steer her away from the Second Salemers, but she would not be deterred. And now, she had done something.

A young man, hardly more than a boy, named Credence Barebone was being abused by his adoptive mother, Mary Lou Barebone. Mary Lou was also the leader of the Second Salem organization. Tina had told Percival this weeks ago. She had told him that "that monster" abused all of the children she had adopted, but she beat Credence the worst, with a belt.

"You can't save the whole world, Tina," he had said sadly. He understood completely why she was upset. If it were up to him, he would arrest Mary Lou Barebone and lock her up for a few years.

"If Credence were a wizard, then you could do something, right?" she had said resignedly. "But he's a No-Maj. So he doesn't matter."

"That's not what I said."

"I won't abandon him. I'm not going to turn my back on him."

Now, Percival leaned forward in his office chair, groaned, and pinched his nose. She hadn't turned her back on him. She had stood up for him. She had gone too far. For the past six hours, MACUSA had to Obliviate dozens of No-Majs. And Tina had lost her job... and her dignity. The most promising, remarkable young Auror he had ever seen. Picquery wouldn't hear him out. He had tried so hard to save her. She's one of the best Aurors I've ever had, and she had a moral obligation to help that boy! he had shouted at her. He had never shouted at the president before. She doesn't deserve this! Picquery had wanted her out of MACUSA altogether. She wanted to send her packing her things and throw her out into the rain, but Percival was able to convince enough key players in MACUSA to allow her to stay but in a sorry position: Wand Permit Regulator, on the bottom floor, isolated completely from the Auror department. A huge cut in pay. Humiliated. Humiliated and shamed. She would walk through the halls of MACUSA, the government she had dedicated her life to, and everyone would whisper and point. 'She lost her job; she works on the bottom floor with all the other rejects,' they would say. All because she stopped a No-Maj from abusing a nineteen-year-old orphan.

It wasn't right.

This was all over a violation of the Statute of Secrecy... and at this hour, the No-Majs didn't even remember what Tina had said and done. Life for them would go on: it had not even happened as far as they were aware. But for Tina... it was over, all because she showed a child abuser some righteous magic that she deserved to receive.

The score from today was No-Majs: 1 - Wizards: 0. Mary Lou wouldn't remember the magic done to her. Credence Barebone wouldn't remember how Tina saved him from a swinging belt. Mary Lou would rise tomorrow, abuse children, and pass out anti-witchcraft pamphlets advocating the systematic murder of alleged witches. Tina's career, her life, her fire, was extinguished forever.

Who does this law protect...?

Percival cricked his neck. Those were Gellert Grindelwald's words. Who does the Statute of Secrecy protect?

Today, the Statute of Secrecy had protected a No-Maj child abuser who wanted to light all witches and wizards on fire. Today, the Statute of Secrecy destroyed the career and reputation of an extraordinary young witch who would have to duck her head and stare at the ground as others pointed, gossiped, and laughed.

Gellert Grindelwald was the most wanted man in the Wizarding world. He was wanted in nearly every country. It hadn't really started that way, though. Just a few years ago, many witches and wizards had supported his ideas. Grindelwald started off as a gifted speaker and writer, full of revolutionary ideas. Many had been drawn to him at first. But when he found that he didn't have enough of the public's support to push his anti-Statute of Secrecy agenda through the Wizarding governments, he resorted to violence - magical violence - violence that made it difficult for Wizarding kind to cover up. Percival could even remember MACUSA members who had, at one time, shown public support for Grindelwald. Percival had not been one of them, but he had a handful of Aurors that had supported his ideas. Nowadays, everyone in MACUSA pretended that they had never supported Grindelwald. MACUSA had condemned his acts and his speech as "hate speech." He was considered a terrorist. Percival was supposed to be the man to take down Grindelwald if he ever set foot in the United States of America... and turn him over to Picquery? Picquery, who had just gutted Tina in front of all of MACUSA, humiliated her, stripped her of the reason she gets up out of bed in the morning?

This never would have happened if the Statute of Secrecy didn't exist. He might not agree with the means Grindelwald was doing to reach his end, but he did agree with his end. Grindelwald was right.

Percival was fairly certain that just thinking that thought was illegal... especially for the Head of the Auror department.

September 1926 - New York City - Gellert Grindelwald

Gellert liked to study governments. Not the government's structures, exactly, but the people running them. So far, he had infiltrated four various Wizarding governments throughout the world. He wanted to eventually infiltrate all of them, but he was going to save the British Ministry of Magic for last. Even though Albus Dumbledore was not in the Ministry of Magic and apparently showed no desire to be, Britain felt off-limits. Gellert was well-aware of the fact that the only man who was any real threat to him was Albus Dumbledore. So he would stay away from the Ministry of Magic... for now. Once he seized control of the rest of the Wizarding world, it would be impossible for Britain to hold him off forever.

Up until recently, the government that was on the top of Gellert's list was the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA for short). MACUSA had a bit of a reputation across the entire globe. The United States was a goldmine of power. And, thankfully, it was extremely politically volatile. The United States was full of strife in both the Wizarding and Muggle (or, as they would call it, No-Maj) worlds. The relations between American magic and non-magic citizens were extremely strained. They always had been. Those Salem Witch Trials... Gellert knew there were many paranoid Muggle Americans who would love to burn witches at the stake again. The American Muggles actually wanted to kill magic witches and wizards. In Gellert's business, that was a terrific thing. It made his job of convincing wizards to overthrow the Statute of Secrecy and rule over Muggles so much easier.

All he needed was for these No-Majs to hit first. Once people were being burned alive in a square, Gellert was pretty certain witches and wizards would support his cause. The trick was getting the No-Majs to attack first. That was his current project. Reveal the magical world to terrify the Muggles/No-Majs into striking. By striking out, they would be slitting their own throats.

It was ridiculous that Wizardkind had let them do whatever they wanted without showing them who really held the power.

And now, Gellert had just gained a powerful new ally. He was a man that Gellert knew, recognized, and had read about previously. He had a position of considerable power at the heart of MACUSA. You might even say he was second in command to the President herself. The Head of the Auror department was quite a heavy and important position indeed. The Head Auror was always the ones who made sure laws were truly enforced... including the Statute of Secrecy.

Gellert didn't seek out Percival Graves. Pervical sought out Gellert Grindelwald.

Well, not him precisely. Percival Graves had not specifically tried to track him down. It would have been too difficult for him to do anyway. Graves was not yet that convinced. Instead, he started to attend pro-Grindelwald meetings. They were usually called "Greater Good" meetings or "Questioning of the Statute of Secrecy" meetings. Something that made it clear what the group was meeting about but without using the name Grindelwald. It was very easy for these rallies and discussions to take place in the United States because the United States prided itself in the freedom of speech and the freedom of assembly. Not all world governments were that permitting, but a decent collection was, especially the United States. So long as none of his followers broke any law, they were perfectly allowed to assemble and discuss the effectiveness and pitfalls of the Statute of Secrecy. There was nothing illegal about it. Gellert never attending any of these meetings, but his closest followers spread out across the globe kept in close contact with him.

When Gellert had been told that Percival Graves was at these meetings, it was like a dream come true. He was told that Graves had hung back, trying to keep out of sight each time. He always slipped into the meetings after they started and left before the conclusion so he would not have to socialize with anyone beforehand or after. But still, he was recognized. It was difficult for a man like Graves to go unnoticed.

Gellert's closest American allies took over from there. They spoke to him, convinced him, solidified his opinions in Gellert's favor. Only when they were convinced that Graves was convinced Grindelwald's movement was the correct thing to do did they offer Graves to meet Gellert Grindelwald himself. Graves had delayed an answer for a couple of days before finally agreeing, hesitantly, but agreeing nonetheless.

Gellert wasn't afraid of him. He knew that Percival Graves was a very accomplished wizard, very powerful, but he was still no match for Gellert, and Gellert knew it. So, they met not far from the Second Salem property. Just across the street actually, in a diner. Gellert was somewhat disguised by clothing and Transfiguration, but not so much that someone looking closely couldn't tell it was him. He was not afraid of any witch or wizard, but he did not want to draw attention to himself either, so he looked as ordinary and inconspicuous as possible.

He liked Percival Graves. He could tell why he was the Head Auror. Graves commanded authority from the moment he walked into a room, wherever he was. He simply owned whatever space he happened into. And Graves didn't just talk to Gellert. He vented.

Graves told his story. They sat in a far corner of the diner by the kitchen where no one could hear them, partly because of all the clanging and partly because no one wanted to sit nearby them since the racket of clanging dishes ruined any peaceful atmosphere.

Gellert listened impassively as Graves ranted.

"Tina didn't deserve this," said Graves. His hair was a bit disheveled, and he looked exhausted but still managed a cool demeanor. "These Second Salemers are literally trying to bring about another round of Salem Witch Trials. She wants us all burned in the middle of the square for all to see. And she's abusing these children. They're No-Maj children, but still."

He looked at Gellert with his dark brown eyes burning. Gellert gave him some time to collect his anger.

"Tina is such a talented Auror, so brave, so good. I would trust her with my life. Her heart was in the right place. She Stunned Mary Lou Barebone - their leader - and tried to comfort Credence until help arrived. Tina didn't even hurt the God damned woman. She just Stunned her! But it was a violation of the Statute of Secrecy, so it didn't matter if Mary Lou was murdering that boy. From what I heard, it was close to it. Tina wasn't supposed to use her wand, I suppose. I guess she would still have her job if she had used her fists." He sighed heavily. "This all happened at the back of their property. She had a little gathering of her most loyal followers. She claimed she was demonstrating what happened to people who disobeyed God's will. She claims she's allowed to beat those children she's adopted because it isn't abuse; it's just stern discipline, and she has every right to discipline her children however she sees fit. I don't think the No-Maj police would agree if they ever saw her in action, but she probably figured no one was around to see it or to hear his cries. No one was around except her little posse. But the fact that group witnessed Tina's magic made the violation of the Statute even worse for Tina."

"Who is Credence?" asked Gellert with interest as he rotated a No-Maj quarter on the table, picking it up and turning it, tapping it on the wood as he thought.

Graves shook his head. "I've never met him, to be honest, but I've seen him a couple times. He's not really a child anymore. He's a young man. Looks like he's eighteen or nineteen perhaps, but no older than that. He's a pitiful thing to look at, honestly. All hunched over handing out pamphlets for his mama about burning us all to death and how to tell if someone is a witch." He shook his head again, but this time in disgust rather than ignorance.

Gellert put down the quarter. "I would like to meet this Credence Barebone and Mary Lou Barebone."

"Whatever for?" Graves asked suspiciously.

Gellert looked around for a moment as if checking to see if he were being listened to. He wasn't though; he was just trying to gather his thoughts.

"I'm a Seer," he said finally. "The real deal - I don't mess around with tea leaves and whatnot. I keep having visions about something lurking in Manhattan, something exceptionally powerful, and while I see some of the people involved, I don't know who they are, since this is only my third time in New York. I am wondering if the Barebones and the Second Salemers have any connection to it."

"I doubt it," said Graves looking skeptical. "They're a pack of No-Majs; how could anything magical be connected to them?"

Gellert leaned back in his seat. "You would be surprised," he said heavily. "Mug- No-Majs, I mean, have an extraordinary ability to summon powerful magic around them when what they really want is to extinguish it. If they fight against magic, it usually finds them somehow." He gave a wicked grin. "By fighting and hating it, it finds them, somehow."

Graves was still looking extremely skeptical of this explanation, but he said, "Fair enough. Be my guest. They're just across the street from here in case you didn't notice the sign when we came in." Graves then began to pull out No-Maj money to leave it on the counter. Gellert almost laughed at the fact he actually was going to pay them, but he knew laughing at the man wouldn't help his cause.

Instead, Gellert ran his hand through his blond hair and then said, "Will you help me?"

Graves froze, looking quite wary. Unconsciously, he mimed Gellert's action and touched his own dark hair. There wasn't much to run his fingers through, but he still rustled his hair a bit. "How?" he asked suspiciously with an attractive raise of an eyebrow.

Gellert smiled. "Just knowing that I have the support of the Head Auror of the Magical Congress of the United States of America is suffice." He resisted the urge to add a "for now" at the end of that sentence.

"All right," Graves said, keeping his eyes level with Gellert's, "then you have it. I can't exactly overthrow MACUSA for you though."

"That won't be necessary," Gellert assured. "You're an impressive man but still only one man at that."

"Then what exactly do you want me to do? I intend to stay in this job for another twenty years, by the way. I don't want to do anything that might jeopardize my career any more than I already have."

"You won't. Just keep an eye out for me here. I want to know what the magical disturbance source is, and so long as the Aurors are doing the same, we're looking for the same powerful person or object. It's convenient. If you have any leads, can you please contact me immediately?"

"Of course, I can do that." Graves gave a little smile. "And if you're ever captured by my Aurors, I'll make sure to pull some strings to allow you to escape. As long as it is possible for me, that is."

"That also won't be necessary," replied Gellert with a slightly rueful grin. "I won't need your help in escaping. No offense meant; I'm sure you have a team of very capable Aurors, but the fact is, none of you here can hold me."

Graves looked at him with what looked like admiration and curiosity. Then Gellert held out a hand for him to shake. Graves reluctantly took it, and they shook hands. Graves was the one to let go first.

"I will be here in New York for a few more days, but for now... until we meet again," said Gellert solemnly.

With equal seriousness, Graves nodded his head and left the booth with the No-Maj money still on the counter.

When he was gone, Gellert smirked at the sight of the money on the counter. Did that mean he had just had a date with the Head Auror? He waited until Graves had been gone out of the diner for several minutes before standing up and examining the seat where Graves had been sitting. He didn't want Graves to come back and catch him in the act. The seat back was a fabric, which was good. It caught hair better than different material. He was hoping Graves' hair were there; sometimes, this trick didn't work. Gellert had ran his hand through his hair because he wanted Graves to unconsciously do the same thing and detach some he could collect. Gellert knew that since Graves had immediately copied him, that meant Graves was indeed on his side. People always reflected the actions of others they wanted to get along with, especially when they were facing each other. That body language said, 'I want to be friends.' Old social psychology trick. It looked like it might have paid off. Gellert took a few dark hairs that might have been Percival Graves', put them in a safe place in his traveling cloak, and left.

He didn't like Polyjuice Potion for many reasons. It was a pain in the ass to make, it tasted disgusting, and it had to be drunk every single hour around the clock for an imposter to remain the person he or she was pretending to be. Polyjuice Potion was for the people who didn't know advanced Transfiguration. Gellert Grindelwald was an expert at Transfiguration, so he didn't have much of a need for Polyjuice Potion. However, since this was the first time he would be taking on the appearance of Percival Graves, he would need to use Polyjuice Potion the first time. Once. Only once. Then, he could simply use Transfiguration to remain Graves until he saw fit. There was one major pitfall to using Transfiguration rather than Polyjuice Potion though: It meant another witch or wizard could use a spell to force his real body instantly appear. He wasn't too worried about that though; Polyjuice Potion would only give an hour at the most, and he would be able to get away even if he was caught.

Percival Graves was going to regret agreeing to meet Gellert Grindelwald for the rest of his life. Even though he had done nothing to assist Gellert yet, even though he had not given him any money, inside information, anything at all other than a dinner, he had still made a pact with the devil. So yes, Percival was going to regret this someday.

Outside, unbeknownst to Gellert, Percival Graves had seen a couple of teenage boys harassing Credence. He had yelled at the teens and chased them off. Then Graves picked up the pamphlets advocating his death and handed them to Credence, who was looking down at the ground. Credence took them back from his hands but didn't say a word. Graves doubted Credence even once looked at his face. But he had. And he had memorized that handsome face.

September - New York City - Gellert Grindelwald

Graves at no point (at least not yet anyway) was going to realize that there were two Percival Graves walking around New York. That was fairly easy for Gellert to pull off, as long as he did not go near MACUSA and he kept as inconspicuous as possible. He knew that there were undercover Aurors all over the city looking for the source of the magical disturbance that was terrorizing the No-Majs of New York, so he knew he had to be cautious. Right now, Gellert was focused on the No-Majs, and only the No-Majs.

He knew that it was probably an Obscurus terrorizing the city. An Obscurus was created by a witch or wizard repressing their power. The only witch or wizards that felt the need to suppress their magical abilities were ones being raised by No-Majs... especially No-Majs that hated magic.

The president would say it was impossible. The number one reason why magical children were recorded at birth was so that they would get the magical training they needed. If they were No-Maj-born, then they were checked up on by an anonymous witch or wizard. That was the way Wizardkind prevented the formation of an Obscurus. MACUSA was supposed to know the name of every single witch and wizard born in the country. And most of the time, they did. Most of the time, the list was complete. However, Gellert knew no system is foolproof. It was not impossible for a very young, unidentified witch or wizard to develop an Obscurus here. Sometimes, kids just slip through the cracks. It happens... and it's clearly happened here, in New York City.

Gellert knew from his vision that he was looking for a woman with a short hair cut, dark hair, a round face, and a severe expression. He knew that this woman was connected to the Obscurial, whoever he or she was. Unfortunately, this woman was the only thing he could see besides the Obscurial's immense power. And Gellert knew that this woman could not be an Obscurial. She was middle-aged. The oldest known person to ever survive past the age of ten years with an Obscurus inside her was Ariana Dumbledore. He knew there was no way in hell a thirty-five to forty-year-old No-Maj with an ugly haircut could have an Obscurus. But a child around her easily could.

Gellert very much wanted to get to know this Obscurial child.

He found her in the very first place he looked: the Second Salem Church across the street from the little diner. Of course. He watched her from across the street at first. Then he dared to venture a little closer to hear what she was saying to the crowds of people who flocked to listen to her. Most of the listeners would just shake their heads and give each other expressions that clearly said: she's nuts. Others truly did listen. The woman's name was Mary Lou. This must be Mary Lou Barebone, the child abuser, the ringleader of the Second Salem movement.

Outside on the sidewalk, Gellert even heard a little girl chanting a rhyme in a sing-song voice: "My momma, your momma, witches gonna die! Witch number one, drown in a river. Witch number two, gotta noose to give her..."

The pieces fit together perfectly. The Second Salem Church was a perfect place for an Obscurus to form in a child trying to suppress his or her magic out of fear for Mary Lou Barebone.

The problem was Mary Lou had about a hundred kids around her. She fed orphans and kids living in poverty off the street in exchange for them to hand out her anti-witchcraft leaflets. So Gellert watched.

He quickly figured out who her close adopted children were. There were three that never left, so he knew that these were her true adopted children. The rest were simply extras. There was a little blonde girl that sang the rhyme, an older blonde girl who looked like she was about sixteen or so, and an older boy with an awful haircut and sad demeanor. Gellert knew that this boy had to be Credence. Credence was always looking at the ground with leaflets extended in his hand that nobody took. He looked like he was half-expecting someone to run up to him and beat him up for being alive. He truly did look quite pitiful, but Gellert found him the most interesting out of the three, the most promising. Credence was so promising because he was already broken. He was broken, abused, and alone. So very alone. All he needed in his life was for someone like Gellert to come along and offer to fix him. Offer to fix him and then bring him to his knees. It was always so easy for Gellert to control the weak. He hoped Credence was homosexual, because that always made the job even easier for Gellert. He had a serious suspicion that he was. Gellert watched who Credence looked at and who he didn't on the rare occasions he did look up. He never made eye contact with anybody, but it looked like he would look at young men the most.

After a further three days of trailing behind Credence and watching him, Gellert found a good opportunity to make his move.

Gellert was sitting in the same diner where he had met with the real Percival Graves. Gellert was disguised as Graves. Credence was sitting at the diner - alone, of course. Gellert was just one table directly behind Credence. Gellert watched him eat and then mope at his table, looking out the window toward the Second Salem Church. Gellert knew that he was thinking he didn't want to go back. He didn't want to go home to his mother. He wanted to never set foot in that "church" again, the church full of hatred and abuse. Credence took a wilted carnation flower out of the little vase that was sitting on the corner of his table by the window. He began to slowly pick apart the wilted flower, looking as broken as a human being can possibly be. Gellert almost felt bad for him.

Gellert stood up to walk past Credence's table. First he had to pass him with Credence's back turned to him, so he knew Credence couldn't see his face as he passed. He made his way to the restroom to cover, wet his hands, and then hurried back out. Drying his hands on his pants, he walked by Credence, but this time Credence was facing in his direction. Look up, Gellert silently persuaded him. Come on, kid, look up at me. He cleared his throat.

It had the desired effect. Credence looked up at him. Their eyes met. Gellert gave him a small smile with Percival Graves' handsome face. Embarrassment filled Credence's expression and he hastily looked back down, his face a little red. He picked out a second flower from the small vase and started dissecting that one so as to not pay any attention to Gellert. It reminded Gellert of Albus - how at first Albus would blush just by looking at him and then he'd look away. He didn't know if Credence had ever seen Percival Graves before or not, but it seemed like he had. It looked like there was a little spark of recognition in his eyes.

As Gellert sat back down, he knew what to do. This could backfire on him, especially if Credence wasn't homosexual. But if he was (and Gellert suspected he was), and if he was attracted to Graves, this very well could work out beautifully.

Just as Credence had picked up the third and last flower, Gellert flicked his wand from underneath the table. The wilted carnation transformed into a thriving, blooming, red magical flower called a Periculid. Deadly if ingested, but beautiful. Gellert expected Credence to drop the flower in shock, but he didn't. He laid the Periculid in the palm of his hand and examined it, seemingly fascinated. The flower's petals changed colors from red to deep orange to red again. Gellert knew this was not the first time this young man had seen magic, which told Gellert he was on the right track. Credence was fascinated by it. He stared at the flower's pulsating warm colors for a little longer before looking up. He looked around the diner, and Gellert knew he was trying to figure out who was responsible for this. No one else in the diner was paying him even the smallest amount of attention. Then Credence turned around in his seat to see Percival Graves' eyes looking right at him. Immediately, Credence knew.

Like every story, it began with an introduction. Hello. My name is Percival Graves. What's your name? That was the start of this, and it happened in a little diner across the street from Mary Lou Barebone, insane No-Maj witchcraft hater who would have murdered Gellert in cold blood if she had any idea any of this was happening.

For two months, "Percival Graves" met with Credence in secret. First it started with the diner. Gellert would show him a little magic there, with romantic undertones. To Gellert, he knew it was essentially a date, but Credence probably never even connected the dots. At first, Gellert did most of the talking. Credence was not exactly someone who was easy to talk to. For a normal person, it would have been difficult interacting with Credence because of his initial lack of participation in the conversations, but since Gellert loved talking, it was fine for him. Then they built up to starting meeting in more secluded places. Alleyways at night. Credence was more isolated then, so Gellert could get away with more there.

November 1926 - New York City - Gellert Grindelwald

The alleyway is dark. The young man, who was hardly more than a boy, was downcast like usual. His body language always was submissive. Scared. Instead of standing up straight and looking Percival Graves in the eye, he always stayed bent over, eyes on the ground. He was so submissive it made Gellert somewhat sick.

Yet, sometimes submissive is good. The submissive ones are always so easy to use.

The boy did not know that the real Percival Graves was currently being held hostage by Gellert Grindelwald. The boy had never even heard the name. Gellert had allowed the real Graves to walk around for a couple of months, but as of a couple days ago, Gellert felt the need to step up his tactic. Gellert wanted inside MACUSA itself. That meant that the real Graves had to disappear for a while. Graves didn't want to cooperate, so Gellert had to overpower him and lock him up inside his quarters, bound by magic that was too advanced, even for him. He had put up a valiant fight, and Gellert did have to respect the man: he was of excellent power. A decent wizard. It's just a shame for him that he was still no match for Gellert Grindelwald.

Two months into his relationship with Credence, Gellert knew what he was doing. He knew how to use his words and body language to communicate with this unfortunate soul. He understood Credence completely by now. Credence was homosexual, and he was trying to suppress his feelings for the older man, but failing miserably. He was abused by his adoptive mother on a regular basis. He had no friends and spent most of his time not speaking and looking at people's feet. He had a poor self-esteem. He was easily hurt. Someone had called him a "freak" today, and it had upset him greatly. It was probably another man that called him a freak. Probably an attractive one that he pined secretly from afar. Credence wanted to be a part of the Wizarding world. He thought he actually stood a chance at learning magic. He was not unintelligent but gullible. Naive. Gellert suspected he had some magic blood in him though, but he already could tell he was a Squib incapable of ever learning magic. And he was so pathetic. So alone. So longingly wanting Graves' touch but probably not admitting that to himself yet. He wanted Graves to put his arms around him, hold him, keep him safe, kiss him, and love him forever. Be a father-figure and romantic partner all rolled into one. He wanted an escape from his abusive adoptive mother and his boring, meaningless life, and he was convinced Gellert could give him that.

They were so close their foreheads were almost touching.

"Credence, there's more I must tell you," Gellert said in his soft voice. "There are many other wizards out there, and not all of them are like me. Not all of them want you to learn magic. Not all of them want you to be free. These other men are working against me. I am not the only man looking for the child. Another one is trailing me, always close behind. He wants to find this child before me." He had never used the word "Obscurus" with him. He always just referred to the Obscurial as "the child." It sounded more innocent. It also implied he thought of Credence as a man rather than a child himself.

Gellert felt like Credence wasn't listening close enough. He reached out his hands and took Credence's face. He made him look him head-on. He didn't want Credence staring at his shoes, or his pants, or his shirt like he always was. He wanted him looking at him eye to eye, face to face, even though they were mostly hidden in the dark. He heard Credence's breath catch in his throat. Gellert didn't let go of his face.

"Time is running out," whispered Gellert. "The man I warned you about is getting closer. I can feel him. I can See him coming closer. If he finds this child before we do... you will never learn magic, Credence. You will never stay with me; he won't allow it. He will tear us apart, and he will kill the child. All will be lost. You will never be free. Wizarding kind will never be free."

Credence said nothing. It irritated Gellert. What more did he have to do to get through to this stupid kid?

Gellert leaned in and rested his forehead against Credence's. He grazed their noses together. He felt Credence trembling, but Credence didn't make any kind of move. Gellert knew he never would. He was too afraid. Gellert considered taking it to the next step but still hesitated. One side of him said it was better to keep Percival Graves' romantic affection just out of reach of Credence. It would encourage him to find the Obscurial. If Credence did find the Obscurial for him, Gellert probably would finally take advantage of him sexually in a dark alleyway; that's what the pathetic nineteen-year-old wanted him to do anyway.

Gellert opened his mouth to speak.

"I need you."

Gellert closed his mouth in surprise. It was not he who had uttered those words. They came from Credence, all strangled like. Yet that was exactly what Gellert was about to say to him. He wasn't quite sure what Credence meant in saying that. He wasn't sure if Credence was saying he needed him emotionally or physically. If he meant in a physical way, that was quite bold for Credence.

Gellert pulled away from him but did not take his hands away from Credence's face. "And I need you," Gellert whispered. "Only you can do this, Credence. Only you can find the child. I am counting on you. We all are." He always enjoyed speaking to Credence as if he was pleading on behalf of all Wizardkind.

Credence shook his head. Gellert couldn't tell what he wanted.

Maybe all this foreplay wasn't what Credence wanted. Gellert was tired of this pulling and pushing. He took Credence's face in his hands again, leaned in, and gently pressed his lips against his. He could feel Credence trembling, but other than that, he got no reaction whatsoever from him. Maybe he was wrong and the kid wasn't actually homosexual, but he was too afraid to say no to the man. Frustrated, Gellert pressed himself against Credence. He felt what he was looking for. Credence was hard. So he wanted this after all. Gellert was satisfied with this confirmation, so glad that he almost wanted to laugh. He then pulled away from Credence, whispered a few more soft things to him, and left.

Credence went home with a slight, very slight, smile on his face, and for once, he didn't look down at the ground. He felt... happy.

This happiness was quickly extinguished when he found his mother on the steps leading up to his bedroom. She was waiting for him.

As Gellert walked through the street, he took note of the fact Credence had again not yet asked him who the other man was who was getting closer to them. Gellert had told him another man was looking for the Obscurial before, yet Credence had never asked who the man was or any other details about him. He found this interesting. He didn't think he would ever tell Credence the man's name if he did ask, but he was almost disappointed that Credence didn't want to know the man's name was Albus Dumbledore.

The Evidence Stuff:

- Percival Graves does indeed come from a long line of Aurors, and yes, he does really exist. JK Rowling never said he didn't exist. In fact, she said he DOES exist. Some news stories circulated FALSELY claiming Graves was not a real person. He is.

- GrindelGraves did meet with Credence in a diner and turned an ordinary wilted carnation flower into a Periculid for him, which is a kind of beautiful but deadly magical flower. This scene was in JK Rowling's original script but was cut rather early on in production and does not appear in the deleted scenes. If that doesn't say "gay," I don't know what does.

- During Saturday Night Live two weeks ago (for my non-American readers, this is a New York City comedy show that airs on TV every Saturday night), there was a trailer for the DVD version of Fantastic Beasts. In the trailer, we are given a sound clip of Percival Graves or Gellert Grindelwald speaking. We know it's Collin speaking, but we don't know if we're hearing the real Percival Graves or if it's still Gellert Grindelwald impersonating him. In this clip, we hear Collin say, "Time is running out. The man I warned you about is getting closer." He sounds tense. This clip was not included in the movie, and it is not in any of the deleted scenes. But they ran it in an advertisement. So the questions are: 1) Is this Percival or Gellert talking? 2) Who is "the man"? 3) Who is he speaking to? I've taken it and answered... 1) It's Gellert. 2) It's Albus Dumbledore. 3) He's warning Credence.