I cross my arms and lean against the garbage can next to me, trying to shake off the tension and sigh a little, waiting for the two people who usually use this alley.

I examine the clothes I am wearing, they are so different from those of my time. I am wearing a shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows with a black vest over it. Underneath are gray dress pants with a black belt.

I look up at the sky that would be beautiful if it weren't for the dark gray clouds of smoke that stain it, making me fall into dark thoughts. I look around and my gaze goes a little further ahead of me, I stare at a puddle where next to it lies a semi-wet flyer that I recognize immediately; on it words that make me frown: anger, offense and sincere amusement. On it the words:

NO WITCHCRAFT IN AMERICA!

YOU NEED THE SECOND SALEMIANS!

It makes you want to die laughing, because after all even if they had a witch in front of them they wouldn't be able to recognize her. We have always been among them, like them, with habits, a family, friends, a job, damn we are the same in everything, except for our gift, for our Magic. We are magicians, we have Magic. The sounds of footsteps break my thoughts, I stand up straight without making too much noise and listen to the conversation, confirming who the new arrivals are.

"Are you upset, about your mother again? Did someone say something? What, tell me."

"Do you think I'm weird?"

"No. You're a very special boy or I wouldn't have asked you to help me, would you? Do you have any news?"

"I'm looking, Mr. Graves… If only I knew if it's a girl or a boy…"

"No. My vision only shows that he has immense power and that he's no older than 10. When I saw him he was very close to your mother and she saw him clearly."

He was about to continue but I slowly came out from behind the dumpster and approached them, I coughed slightly to get their attention, the boy visibly jumped at the interruption while the man next to him moved away from the boy slightly.

I tried to open my mouth to explain but the man beat me to it.

"Who are you? Were you eavesdropping? Who sent you?" He spits out a burst of words, exposing his wand and pointing it at me.

"If you had let me speak. Sara Castelli, no I wasn't eavesdropping, at least not for anyone and no one sent me. Lower your wand, I won't hurt anyone"

'Not yet at least.' I think.

"What do you want?" He lowers his wand slowly

Slowly I manage to move closer to the boy, his head is down. I ignore the question, I won't answer for now.

"Boy, what's your name?" Even though I already know who they both are, they know.

"Credence Barebone, Mrs. Castelli"

"Kid, cut out all the formality, I'm only 19, I'm not that old"

"Excuse me"

"Don't worry, kid"

"Now Mr. Graves, you wanted to know what I want. It's simple, I want to make a deal with you, and I'm sure it will benefit you much more than it benefits me."

"What kind, and what does she want? Because I don't think she'll get anything out of it."

"She'll know soon enough, but now for the important things," I turn to Credence who has been watching our exchange of semi-business.

"Credence, I'm sure Mr. Graves here has told you about magic, right. Spells, potions, artifacts, animals. There are spells and potions to look like another person, you know, that's really interesting. I'm sure Graves hasn't told you about that specifically, though. Graves knows this kind of magic very well since he's been using it for quite some time, am I right Gellert?"

"Credence, I have a question and please answer honestly. He asked you to find someone for him, right?" He nods.

He widens his eyes for a second and then narrows his eyes, moving his hand closer to his wand.

"Relax. I'm getting to the point. You asked for what I wanted from the deal. Put your wand away, because what I'm offering you will make you shiver with joy. You will have your revenge on Albus, considerable help, the Obscurial you seek, and someone with equal power. I will tell you right away who it is, but I want the real Percy. As I said, you will have more than me."

As he says the revenge and the Obscurial, he lowers his wand and smiles slightly.

"Good, I am quite satisfied; now where is the creature?"

I sigh loudly, there is the had near and he has not understood.

"It is here next to me, genius." I huff, crossing my arms over my chest and rolling my eyes to the sky.

"Credence? How can that be…."

The boy raises his head, widening his eyes, and shaking his head a little, as if to say that it is not possible. I walk up to him and take both his wrists very gently; that woman will pay for everything she did to this boy, I uncover my wrists a little and gently rub circles on them.

"Little one, you have always been you, you are unique, someone who could not even be imagined existed. You have a will, a strength, an incredible resilience. You have a kind soul, you are sweet. I bet you have always protected whoever you love, you are amazing. I am so proud of you for having resisted all that hatred and pain that did not destroy you. Your magic protected you as best it could, it fought to get out, to help you, it was forced by the chains and became this furious creature, , a parasite. But little one, I will help you, we will help you shine with your light."

A few tears appear in his eyes and I brush them away with my thumb, leaving my hand there, supporting his cheek.

I turn to Gellert who had been watching the scene. A look of expectation and envy that lingers in him.

"You said you know someone with the same power as him"

"Well, that… That would be me" he looks at me questioningly

"I am an obscurus too. Oh! By the way, I come from the future, from 2024 to be precise. I… I recently discovered that I am a witch, they took away my memories when I was little and when the tragedy happened, the mental blocks that they imposed on me, broke. It wasn't like getting on a carousel. But I will tell you all the details when we are all reunited."

They agree, a little surprised.

"Gellert, if you would be so kind as to take us to where you keep Percy, I would be very happy and grateful."

He tells us to touch it so that he appears there, Credence doesn't touch it and takes my hand, Gellert doesn't say anything and warns us that we might feel very out of alignment, considering that it's an international appearance, when we get there.

I feel my stomach tightening, I turn around and around and around, I close my eyes and when I open them I only see snow, I feel my head spinning, and I fall to my knees unable to stand. I vomit the little I've eaten, when I finish I feel more retching not far from where I am. I turn around and find Credence in the same situation as me. I dry my mouth as best I can and stand up again and go over to Credence, I kneel down next to him, massaging his back.

"Please don't do this again, never" I say firmly and, still stunned by my upset stomach, glaring at Gellert who was laughing under his breath.

When Credence feels better, we walk towards the gates of the castle that looms over us. Inside it is huge, we pass through the hall and take a corridor that leads to the dungeons, where he keeps the Muggles and enemies. The corridors are long and as they go down they become darker and more gloomy. I hold Credence close to me, slowly I bring my hand closer to his, I touch it, he snaps out of surprise, I smile at him and try again and this time he doesn't snap out of it and I squeeze his hand. I rub my thumb on the back of his hand in circles.

We stop in front of an iron gate, Gellert has opened it and goes through it, we follow him inside.

He then discards the magic-blocking padlocks. Right in front of us is the real Percival Graves chained to the wall, the chains barely allowing him to sit on the ground, his head dangling from his little strength, his eyes closed and his breathing slow; hearing the extra steps he suddenly opens his eyes, raising his head, looking first at Gellert. He shifts his gaze, after a while, to us, looking us over, trying to figure out if we are here to join his torture.

'God, what has he done to him, it's been a week and a half, damn it!'

I remain frozen for a moment but Credence, squeezing my hand, brings me back to the present. Without thinking twice, I rush to Percival's side and kneel down next to him.

"Who are you? Are you his followers?" He tries to blurt out but it comes out weak.

"God, I'm sorry, I should have gotten here sooner, damn it."

I run my hand over his right arm, take his hand in mine and make circles on the back, I try to calm down otherwise I will lose control and also my physical form, and I could make Credence snap as well.

I turn to Gellert and glare at him.

"I want to hurt you so much now, but I won't for now, but rest assured I will make you regret it"

It seems that what I said has made Credence wake up and he joins us by standing on the other side of Percival.

"He is Credence, he is the reason why Gellert kidnapped you and used your identity. I am Sara Castelli, and I am the one who puts a stop to this. Unfortunately we have to work with him but it will be worth it. We will get you out of here. But first, heal Gellert."

He looks me up and down with his eyes narrowed but he comes closer with his wand ready and I can clearly hear "I should have expected it"

I watch the whole process noticing Percival's stiffening, I can't blame him since he was the one who tortured him.

"We'll go to your apartment now, we have other things to take care of. And we won't use the apparition, Percival is sick we'll go by train and you'll come with us. Now Gellert please can you put a featherweight spell, I'll carry Percy."

They look at me curiously but in the end Gellert does so and then they help me put Percival on my back, he immediately ties his legs to his hips and his arms around his neck without squeezing too much. I take a few steps trying to understand if I have any discomfort but everything is fine.

We walk out of the cell and by extension the prison, we climb a few stairs and I have no problem with who I'm carrying on my back.

We retrace our steps and find ourselves outside the castle, a quick look at everything to all the white around me and I take a deep breath and release.

We walk to the train station we get our tickets and we are on the way home. I get comfortable, with Percy in the middle Credence to his right and me to his left, Gellert and in front of us.

"Try to sleep, you two" I say to Creed and Percy.

Percy rests his head on my shoulder, Creed rests on his shoulder and I rest my head on Percy. They close their eyes, not even 20 minutes later their breathing evens out and they seem a little peaceful, calm.