The Purpose, Rewritten, Chapter 34 POTUS
11 june, 1962
It was almost eight and Seth waited for Tina, along with Angel and Gellert, sitting in the living room. Green flames appeared in the fireplace. Stepping out of the fireplace first was Pierre Fontaine, his hard serious face scanning the area, then he moved away to let Maximillian Picquery come in second. Lastly, Porpentina arrived and moved out of the flames. The reaction was instantaneous, she was pointing her wand at Gellert, who had a smirk plastered on his face and his hands up in submission on each side of his head.
''Grindelwald! He has no right to set foot in America after all the horrors he has done!'' Said Tina with a dry and cold voice.
Seth went to stand in between them and made a curt bow. No matter what, Seth would always act like a King.
''Mrs. Scamander, good evening. No need for hostilities, Gellert is no longer under the wizarding jurisdiction since 1945. I'm afraid you cannot act on personal matters, and I'm asking you to lower your wand, now.'' Said Seth.
Tina's hand trembled for a few seconds before she lowered it.
''Okay, fine. So, who is behind the church fire?'' Said Porpentina, accusing him as if it was obvious.
''I was.'' Said Seth.
Tina blinked, not believing Seth would have said such a thing.
''Why? That is a serious offense. Were you attacked?'' Asked Tina.
Seth clicked his tongue and shook his head.
''Far from it. I simply found he did not deserve to live, nor should any priests that dare think that I should not exist.'' Said Seth with disdain.
Grindelwald chuckled behind him.
''You… you were the creature that the aurors detected.'' Said Tina.
''I am not a creature.'' Hissed Seth between teeth.
''No! No, that is not what I meant… it was just… the origin of the detecting spell which…''
''Don't try it.'' Interrupted Seth. ''Mrs. Scamander, I brought you here for a reason, and I have a question to ask you.''
Tina looked at her colleagues who were unmoving, but their wands was out.
''Which is?'' Asked Tina, looking nervously at Gellert, then at Seth.
''Do you think we are safe from muggles? And would you be willing to help us fight them if you think we are not?'' Asked Seth.
Tina's eyes went once again towards Grindelwald.
''Yes, we are safe from them, unless you decide otherwise. Max, Pierre, let's leave and make our report.'' Sighed Tina, not wanting to repeat the old mistakes.
Gellert was the one to stand up this time and before Tina even reacted, his wand had slid in his hand, and he disarmed Tina silently.
She should have called her wand back to her, she knew how to do it, and would have done so, should she not have been so shocked at realizing what happened in front of her. She expected Fontaine and Picquery to retaliate, not point their wands towards her. Seth moved his hand towards the doors of the living room where they closed silently and placed a silencing charm on the room. He did not want to disturb the servant muggles that lived there.
''Max? Pierre? Do something!'' Said Tina, her voice breaking. She looked at Gellert and Seth who both had wands in their hands, and she shook her head. ''What did you do to Max? To Pierre? Merlin… My husband tried to…'' Sobbed Tina.
Gellert walked towards Tina who backed away until her back hit the chimney. There was no floo powder on the shelves for her to flee, and she could not apparate away nor use a portkey.
''Oh, how I dreamt of this moment.'' Whispered Gellert.
He was so close to her; he could smell her flowery perfume. He cupped her face, making her gasp.
''Remove your filthy hands off of me.'' Said Tina, a tear falling down her cheek. ''What did you do to my friends? It can't be the Imperius curse, we can all fight it.'' She added.
He grabbed her chin instead while his wand hand pointed at her head.
''Can you now? Imperio.'' Said Gellert.
Her gaze went empty. Gellert took a few step back, his wand pointing at her.
''Kneel.'' Ordered Gellert, his eyes glinting with madness.
Seth observed the scene silently, letting Gellert take his revenge and enjoy the moment he had craved for a long time. She was already fighting it, sweat appearing on her forehead, and her hands were shaking.
''I said, kneel.'' Repeated Gellert.
It was the two other aurors that knelt instead, obeying the order that were enforced in their heads through Gellert.
''No…'' Tina held her head firmly. ''NO!'' She screamed, breaking out of the curse.
Gellert moved down his wand and patted her cheek.
''There, was that so hard?'' Sneered Gellert.
''You bastard! You never changed.'' Spat Tina. ''Why are you doing this?'' She added but looking at Seth.
''Mr. Picquery, why don't you ask her the same questions I asked you when we brought you here.'' Said Seth.
''What? You brought him here? What did you do to him?'' Panicked Tina again.
Gellert stepped away as Picquery went to Tina with a blank stare. Tina went to him and placed her hands on his shoulders.
''Max? Max! Just tell me you did not side with that madman?'' Said Tina.
''He's probably screaming in his head right now, but since he is under my orders, he will not answer you.'' Said Gellert.
''Do you believe no-majs are not a threat to wizards?'' Asked Picquery without emotion.
''What? They asked you that? I just answered you! Why would they be a threat when the most important law is our statute of secrecy?'' Asked Tina cupping his cheeks.
She sobbed again, placing a hand over her mouth.
''Enough. Second question, Picquery.'' Said Gellert.
''What makes you think no-majs won't find us in a very near future?'' Asked Picquery.
Tina let her arms fall down. She took a deep breath then looked at Gellert before answering.
''You still see things, Grindelwald?'' Asked Tina.
''Answer the question.'' Said Seth.
''You believe in his schemes, Mr. Vulken?'' Asked Tina.
''I have seen my share of what fear can do. The fact that it will happen again on a greater scale has me believe that we had to act, despite the… possible losses.'' Said Seth.
''We have been hiding for centuries, w-why now?'' Asked Tina, her voice starting to shake.
''Tsk, there has been two wars, and you still don't see this is inevitable? Those nuclear bombs can annihilate us, and they have technologies that will eventually just find wizards by snapping fingers.'' Said Seth. ''Next question.''
''What do you think would happen if we could not stop that event to arise, no matter how hard we try?'' Said Picquery blankly.
''Stop it! You are making the ministry… all we have built, our laws, as if they don't mean anything.'' Said Tina.
''Answer the question.'' Repeated Seth again, slightly more commanding.
Her gaze went from Seth, to Gellert, then back on Maximillian.
''Deaths… t-torture… everywhere.'' Said Tina.
Maximillian stepped back as Seth walked slowly towards her.
''Let me ask you this last one.'' Said Seth, eyeing Gellert who now had his obsidian box in his hands. ''Would you believe me if I told you my main goal… our goal, is to actually protect the wizards from muggles? But by doing so, it will require to hold control of them, by any, means, necessary.''
''Y-Your goal?'' Tina laughed nervously. ''By controlling us? And you never thought we would help you? Have you spoken with… oh Merlin.'' Tina placed a hand to her forehead, then her mouth.
''Dumbledore?'' Asked Gellert with venom in his voice.
Gellert's eyes were now black, making Tina gasp and take a step back. Picquery and Fontaine walked to her and grabbed her arms before moving her to the table.
As Gellert made his way in front of Tina, and the aurors held her on the table, Seth suddenly had doubts. Tina had expressed a potential will to help before she mentioned the Headmaster. Gellert was mad with long lasted revenge and would never yield to have Porpentina other than having the Triune inside of her.
Fontaine and Picquery placed her head in the head holder, making her panic.
''Stop it. Please… I would have helped you, Mr. Vulken… SETH! Grindelwald is nothing but a heartless cold murderer! You protect your people! I understand that! This is not the way to do it! STOP THIS MADNESS!'' Yelled Tina as Gellert held the Triune in front of her with pliers.
Gellert took a deep breath to calm himself and looked at Seth, noticing his hesitation.
''Seth, she would have never let us take control of the muggles and let me remind you she is a freaking auror. Lah'wi, ceri- ú- gar- nifred.'' Said Gellert quietly.
Seth stayed silent, and Tina took that as her last hope going away, tears flowing down her cheeks. She made another scream as Gellert shoved the mouthpiece holding her mouth open, then used the pliers and moved the Triune in her mouth, burning the skin. She retched and thrashed against the restraints. Never had Seth seen such a demented look on Gellert, and he looked away.
Picquery removed the head restrainer and Tina almost fell on the floor, but Gellert grabbed her, making her stay up on her feet.
''Finally. It is done.'' Said Gellert joyfully.
He pushed away her hair, then sank his teeth in her neck. She made not a sound, but Gellert hung onto her, drinking avidly her blood. He stopped himself after a moment, and Seth saw how difficulty it had been.
''You will kill her eventually.'' Said Seth. ''That is not what we agreed on.''
''Oh, no. No no. Worry not, my sweet king.'' Said Gellert, blood dripping from his mouth. ''This is just the beginning.''
OoOoO
June 1964, Husky Stadium, Washington
This was it. Gellert had been the president of the United states for two years. He laughed at the multiple attempts of different aurors and Dumbledore, on top of it all, to try to come talk to him, or arrest him, when every security guard was a vampire, and all his subordinates were wizards and witches that had longed for him to be in power.
Also, having every damn MACUSA in his control, no one could approach him. He let Seth find vampires… or whatever he wanted. He focused his attention on his goals ever since he became president, like slowly pushing muggles to provoking wars and using their weapons against them, but he still had to act with caution. He did not want the other countries to actually go to war against him. Well, at least, not yet.
Cities were being attacked, muggles dying by the dozen… then by the hundreds. Wizards were not at fault, not directly… everything was done behind the scenes, and the horrors hidden.
Even if the population wanted to blame the higher politicians, they could not do anything.
Gellert travelled and organised major events. Dinners, balls, theatres…duals, fights… where muggles would lose and beg for their lives. Then he created The Turning. An event where multiple fighters battled each other until death and the last one standing would become a vampire.
Seeing those dirty muggles fight for their lives to try to gain another one was amusing to Gellert, and to so many others.
''TURNING!''
''TURNING!''
The crowd began to chant as the last fighter was standing in the middle of the elevated platform. Gellert rose from his kingly seat and went to the guardrail and placed up his hand and the crowd erupted in cheers and whistles.
He turned around and smiled at a trembling and sweating woman.
''Aren't you enjoying the show, Scamander?'' Said Gellert.
Even if Porpentina had been the last one of the MACUSA to have the Triune in her head, her efforts to counter the curse on it was evident every single moment of every day, and he relished in her pain.
He snickered and jumped over the guardrail and pushed himself high up in the air to land on the platform. If the crowd could be any louder, he'd be deaf. He walked to the man who had a hard time breathing and had patches of blood on his body. Gellert thought the muggle had a nice face and body and would be quite an addition to his subordinates. The man had fought for many hours and had just ended the life of yet another muggle.
''Did… did I win?'' Said the man.
''Apparently so.'' Answered Gellert as his eyes turned black and his nails and teeth got longer. The man swallowed hard, still not realising what all this meant.
That all this was just entertainment at the expense of muggle lives.
Gellert rapidly grabbed the man's hair and pulled before sinking his teeth in the man's neck. Blood gushed in his throat and Gellert sucked long and hard, enjoying every second of it. Every second since he became a vampire, blood was everything, and even more to him since specific muggles sometimes gave him visions.
And it was the case for this one.
Seth was kneeling on the grass, Corban in his arms. The white house was behind him, and many other vampires, wizards… Dumbledore…
Corban was dead and Seth looked at Gellert in an immense fury he had never seen before. A single word escaped his lips and he felt it to his core.
''Bel-''
Gellert let go of the muggle, the chanting around was deafening of silence. He placed a hand over his non-beating heart and looked around. No, he was not dead… not yet. Why would Seth order something like that at him? Was it because Corban would die? Would that be HIS fault?
He came back to his senses, for the sake of the crowd and split his wrist open with a fast movement of his nail and let the blood flow in the muggle's mouth who grabbed Gellert's wrist a few seconds later. When the demand of the mind link arrived, he refused it and pushed the new vampire away. He turned around and made a sign to Anton who brought a tied woman on the platform. He had kept a family member of every participant, and the winner would have to drink his blood. In that man's case, it was his daughter.
''Let's see how you fare in controlling your… urges.'' Said Gellert before laughing darkly and leaving the platform.
The new childe began to panic as he saw his daughter and went to her and untied her wrists.
'' Dad! You… you killed all these… these people!'' Whined the girl.
''I… I had no choice! It was either them… or me…'' Said the man.
''BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!''
The crowd continued to chant.
''Dad… what are they expecting? Can we leave?'' She asked.
The man covered his mouth and pushed her away.
''Sophia… run… please, go away.'' Pleaded the father.
''What? Not without you! What's going on? Didn't you win your way out?'' Said Sophia.
His eyes turned black, and he made two steps back.
''BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!''
Sophia seemed to realize what was going on and she too, in turn, made steps towards the edge of the platform.
Anton had followed Gellert and heard the crowd going wild as the man had caught after his daughter and drank her blood.
The sound suddenly went down to nothing as he entered a private room, magically fortified with runes and Gellert's wards. Vinda and Abernathy joined after him and silently waited for Gellert to say something.
''I felt your fear.'' Mumbled Anton.
Gellert gritted his teeth, deep in thoughts.
''What?'' Asked Vinda, worried. ''What do you mean?''
''I had a vision with that last muggle. I do not know how to change it from happening.'' Said Gellert.
''Maybe we can help?'' Asked Abernathy.
Gellert looked out the window where it began to rain heavily. In his vision, Corban had died. Had it been his fault? The look on Seth's face was undeniable: his hatred was out of bounds and he had ordered him to actually die. One single word… and it could end everything. An obscure thought occurred to him as he looked at Vinda.
What if Vinda killed Seth?
No.
Corban would be the next King and he knew Corban had the capacity to kill Vinda and many others at this point. He gritted his teeth again. He liked Seth, no matter what had happened between them. He sighed and thought more of the surroundings of the vision he had had. Dumbledore… and the aurors present there were from England. There seemed to be no wounded, but Dumbledore had looked as devastated and exhausted as the aurors. Did it come to war, then?
''I am not sure you can.'' Said Gellert.
Should they make their move to England?
''Gellert, what Is it?'' Asked Vinda walking closely to him.
''I need to speak with Seth.'' Said Gellert.
OoOoO
Vulken's island, Seth's office
''Seth! We did it!'' Said Corban.
Seth looked at the reports of vampires in all countries they had gone to.
''How can you be sure?'' Asked Seth.
Corban pointed at the reports.
''Well, you can see what they say… it is done! No more deaths related to vampires in the last six months. Well… apart from the United States, which we know Grindelwald does his own thing there…'' Said Corban.
Seth had implanted a system for each ministry of magic in their magical creature department, and also funded every single one. Any vampire found could get blood at the ministry and get to know the wizarding world.
Not that they were that many.
Some had tried to go against Seth's laws and rules. It was those cases he had gone there personally and used his authority as King.
''Six months already?'' Asked Seth.
Colpy apparated and gave four letters to Seth before disapparating.
''Gellert's handwriting.'' Muttered Seth as he took the first letter.
The second letter was from Dumbledore. Corban went closer to Seth and looked at the two others.
''Brian and Vincent… Financial and law reports, most likely.'' Said Corban.
Seth,
I need to speak with you. Since your birthday is next month, how about 8 pm eastern at the white house on July 31st?
G.
A birthday party? Corban made a snort at his thoughts and Seth replied a simple word on Gellert's letter, answering positively. He opened Dumbledore's letter next.
Mr. Vulken,
I need to speak with you quite urgently. Would it be possible for you to come to Hogwarts tomorrow at 10am?
Albus Dumbledore
Intrigued, but also because he finally had time for himself, he also answered he would come and gave the letters back to Colpy after he had called for him.
''Now that's taken care of…'' Began Corban as he grabbed Seth's waist. ''Ruma is asleep and I know just the thing to keep us occupied until your… appointment tomorrow.''
Corban pulled Seth closer to his body and began to kiss him deeply.
''Always keeping me busy.'' Answered Seth in thoughts.
Venthyr translation
''Lah'wi, ceri- ú- gar- nifred.''
''Please, do not have doubts.''
''Bel-''
''Die.''
Author's note : Short chapter, but moving faster.