Percival looked at his watch. It was almost midnight. He should have finished 2 hours ago, but at the last minute he received several reports from his subordinates patrolling the city and Non-Majs's transportation network. He made it through all of it, stopping at the Porpentina's report. He sighed heavily, seeing the page of handwriting: "Yesterday, in the late afternoon, Non-Majs called services to an abandoned building on Henry Street, a block from Pike Street, which houses the New Salem Philanthropists Association. Witnesses said that it is impossible for gas to explode, due to the lack of residents and gas installations in a given building. I am asking permission to investigate this matter. "
He waved his hand towards the calendar, typing with the pen "Tina-tenement-Sal". He rubbed his tired eyes. It's time to return home. He was going to sleep as much as he could before anyone called him again. It's been two weeks since the arrival of Iris Pendragon and news. Percival and his investigators spent a lot of time with the English Auror, discussing possible plans and any information that would help in the fight against Grindelwald's Acolytes and himself. However, there was no increased movement or manifestation of radical views. Even the newspapers that got hands of terrifying news, claimed that the whole thing would „drown in the ocean".
Graves left the Congress building and Apparated in front of the wrought iron gate. He put his fingers around one of the rods. The gate opened, but the metal was warm to the touch. Intruders ...
The man pulled out his wand and silently walked into the house. Lamps lit in the corridor. The links of light bulbs slowly gained power. He went deep into the house, from where the spell he cast in his mind, discovered an alien presence. There was a lamp turned on in the living room and the crackling logs and heat were coming from the fireplace.
- It's really cold here. I let myself light a fire.
- Agatha ...
The woman brushed her fair hair from her shoulder and came closer. Seeing his outstretched wand, she paused. She should have warned him. Entering the Auror's house without permission was not the best idea. Especially now.
- What I said then ... I ...
- It's fine. I don't blame you. I am an old fool who spent half his life at work. You deserve someone to treat you with full attention…
- I lied!
Percival stood up suddenly, hearing her words. They never lied to each other. That was their policy.
- Myra said that if I put a case like that, you won't stop me.
- And she was right ... - Agatha's sister. Graves felt anger growing in him. She loved to intrude their life and stir things. She didn't like him from the beginning of their acquaintance. From the moment he first came to their house with a bouquet of flowers for each of the ladies. He didn't know if she was jealous, even though she had already had a fiancée. However, his coldness in front of her enthusiasm had to give her a hint.
He fell in love with Agatha, when he saw her in the corridor of his Department. Fresh after school, with incredible enthusiasm, she did not mind the usual work of a messenger between the Aurors. He already had experience. For ten years, he was in the Department of Execution of Hounds. He traveled all over North America and Canada, catching outlaws. She was fascinated by his work and himself. Two years later she joined the Aurors crew. And she received a ring of thin braided gold.
Graves finally dropped his wand and wanted to say something to her, but she interrupted him.
- Wait, Percy ... I was so stupid. Naive, like a child, I wanted you to be jealous. And yet I had no reason to think that you weren't. At every step you showed me love and support. I would never be Auror without you. I wouldn't be what I wanted to be since I saw you. Please, I want to try again. Can you forgive me?
Percival sat down in a chair and a chase of thoughts began in his head. He should be happy, he should have kissed her hands. Take her in his arms and never let go. But the only thing he saw in his imagination was Grindelwald's face, boldly staring at the camera. The face he saw everyday on the wall of his office, on the walls of offices and departments. He was number 1 on the Danger list. And he, as the Chief of Protection, will be the number one to eliminate for the sorcerer. And that made his surroundings dangerous to people who were close to him. And especially for the only person who was his family. She was everything to him.
- You should go back to your sister.
- W-What?
- You are not safe in this house, with me. Especially now.
- I know the risk. I know you're worried about me, but I can handle it. I will not leave you with all of this alone. You do not need me, but I need you.
The man rose to his feet and walked in two steps to his wife. He caught her arms and came up so that she could feel his breath on his face. As always, his calm, subdued facade denied what was happening to him inside. She knew about it, but sometimes she still got it. This time his eyes betrayed him.
- You brought me back to the world of the living. How can you say I do not need you.
Agatha smiled at him. It was an exaggerated statement. She simply gave him the boundaries that made him live more often with her than at the Congress office. She ran her cold fingers across the dark shadow of beard on his face.
- You should shave. And comb your hair.
Percival smiled, barely perceptible. He looked down at her and kissed her forehead.
- And you need a hot bath, you're frozen. Go upstairs, I'll make something to eat.
It was only when they parted that the man breathed, leaning against the table in the kitchen. He did not think that seeing his wife after four months of separation would shake him so badly. He shook his head. He could not give in to emotions. At the moment, that could kill both of them. He looked at the pantry door. He offered food, but actually did not remember when he last checked the supplies. He waved his wand, but the only thing that flew out from behind the door was a sausage tuft, a few wrinkled potatoes and onions, which had already released rootlets and chives and withered too. Well, he had to deal with it somehow.
Soon the smell of baked potatoes with onions and sausage brought Agatha down. Wrapped in her husband's robe, she stood in the arch leading to the kitchen and watched her husband bustling around. He pulled off his jacket and rolled up his white sleeves. The vest and tie also disappeared somewhere. Scars were shining in the light of the lamp on his forearms. Many of them she healed herself because Percival hated hospitals. After two years of acquaintance and promotion, Agatha decided to do an extended course of herbal medicine and healing. She decided about that after Percy had barely survived the arrest of Blackfang, a werewolf who had notoriously violated the secrecy rules in the United States and Canada.
- It smells beautiful.
Percival sent plates and casserole to the table. There were even candles burning, that he found somewhere in the cupboard. They sat opposite each other and began eating without unnecessary words. Agatha was accustomed to the silence and the fact that her husband was often with his mind in several places at the same time. But today, for the first time, she felt uncomfortable. As if they were strangers. Fortunately, they had a large house and guest rooms…
- Is it that bad?
The woman raised her face from the plate, from which she hardly touched anything. She smiled weakly, trying to hide her embarrassment. The food was quite good, but the nerves took away her appetite. She expected a cold welcome, but the silence ...
- I ... I'm going to lie down.
- Take a bedroom, I'll put myself in the living room.
- Don' t be ridiculous, we have so many rooms that we can easily fit.
She got up quickly and waved her wand, cleaning the table. Percival hid the rest of the casserole in the fridge, and for a moment wondered how it had happened that the inseparable couple had become people separated from each other, between whom an awkward silence lingered.
- Agatha ...
But she was not in the kitchen anymore. The man combed his hair with his fingers and went into the living room. From the closet under the window, he pulled out a blanket and threw it over the back of the couch. He waved his hand, where the fireplace filled with wood and the fire burst into the chimney.
He pulled off his shoes and sat back, looking more into the flames. He tried to calm down, but there was still one thought on his mind. The clock went off at 2 am. The monotonous ticking and crackling of the logs eventually dampened Auror.
Tina stood on the sidewalk, biting the hot dog and listening to Mary Lou Barebone. The Non-Maj's repertoire did not change at all. Sometimes she would diversify her tirades and try to engage in the discussion of passers-by. Even though the majority did not take her seriously, there was a constant group attending her meetings. The woman standing away from the crowd recognized most of the faces. She glanced at her watch and then at a boy in a black blazer , which was definitely not suitable for the approaching winter. It was beginning of December. It's good that he had a hat on his head. However, even from here, Tina saw how his hands tremble while he was giving leaflets to passersbies. Bright, contrasting red marks were visible on the light skin.
Observing the Second Salemeres, Auror came to the conclusion that the woman who led them regularly beat all the children who found shelter under her roof. The worst, however, had the boy. Tall and slim, he looked like a young man, maybe not much younger than herself. And yet his behavior, movements and the lack of any self-confidence gave him the characteristics of a boy who was just beginning to grow up. Sometimes, when she was only a few steps away from him, she wanted to take him from there. Take them all away. But she knew it was impossible.
And for that mysterious events around Pike Street… She didn't believe for a moment that it was a gas explosions.
Tina came a little closer, and something caught the boy's attention as if he had spotted her and recognized her. She tried to dress neutrally so as not to be obtrusive. The boy stared at her for a second and his sight of the beaten dog, pierced her through. He lowered his head quickly, giving paper to the passersby who seemed not to notice him, pushing him and driving him away.
- I thought I put it clearly Miss Goldstein.
- Mr. Graves!
The woman jumped in place, but they both disapparated when Auror caught her by the elbow.
They appeared in front of the Congress building. Tina walked quickly behind her supervisor.
- This woman ... Mary Lou. It's the devil incarnate, sir. She is abusing children who are under her protection, for whom she's supposed to be substitute of a mother. And she is not even that.
- What do you expect from me Porpentina? You know the rules. You know that we do not interfere ...
- I know, Mr. Graves. But maybe we could report it somewhere. To Non-Majs authorities.
- Maybe I do not know their law, but I can tell you one thing. These children have a roof over their head, food, and maybe relative heat. Maybe not necessarily love, but nevertheless. Nobody will take them because they would only be a problem. In this matter, we do not differ at all.
- Yes but…
- Porpentina. As your supervisor, I forbid you to approach the Second Salemeres.
- Yes, Mr. Graves.
Tina followed the man into the spacious office, where one of the walls hung a map. Divided into the districts of New York, it shined in gold. There was a pulsing white dot in the western part of the city, from which sparks were falling. Another flares on the outskirts of the map, in front of the gathered ones.
- What is this…?
- Let everybody take a partner and check their area. If you have any problems, please apparate to the nearest assembly point, okay?
- Yes, sir!
Aurors ran out of the room, leaving Graves alone. He looked at the glowing points. One was closer to the center. Right next to ...