(A/N: I was planning on working on something else today, but then this prompt ate up just about all my brainpower and attention and I just HAD to write it. I also know next to nothing about 1920’s profanity, so apologies in advance for any anachronistic cussing.
Here she is, in all her quick-and-dirty, unbeta’d glory. Posting from mobile, so apologies for any formatting issues.)
It wasn’t the first time Percival Graves had woken up tied up in a stranger’s home. Though, the circumstances this time around were a bit… less than favourable, to say the least.
Granted, he wasn’t expecting Gellert Grindelwald to come bursting into his apartment at an ungodly hour, but that was no excuse for how downright embarrassing his defeat had been. He’d like to pretend it was a thrilling battle and he gave it his all (and he’d certainly spin the tale that way when he got out of this… if he got out of this), but a half-asleep Auror is no match for an incredibly powerful Dark Wizard who’d also managed to break all the wards around his apartment.
Groaning, Graves attempted to test out what he could move. After a few attempts to wriggle his way out of his bonds, the action proved to be moot. Why on Earth Grindelwald decided Graves needed both a full body bind and several yards of rope to restrain him was beyond Graves’ understanding. It was, however, proving to be quite effective. Whether it was the spell or the loss of circulation, he was unable to feel pretty much all of his limbs.
But he was still able to use the rest of his senses, thankfully, as he heard a muffled, slightly accented voice through the door.
Grindelwald.
“–the man I told you about, Credence. He’s a skilled manipulator. He will lie to you, just to get his freedom. Don’t you dare give it to him. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, sir.”
The second voice was quieter and a bit more meek. This person, who must be Credence, just... sounded younger than Gellert. Something about his tone set Graves’ nerves on end. It was the same tone he’d heard from schoolboys after they were caned by their headmasters.
No, this was just another one of Grindelwald’s fanatics. Best to just… figure out some way to escape all this. He didn’t have time to feel sorry for someone who wanted to expose wizardkind to the the rest of the world.
The door burst open, another one of Gellert’s dramatics no doubt, and Grindelwald stepped into the small, basement room where he’d imprisoned Percival Graves. He brought Graves to face him with a flick of his wand.
“Nice to see you’re awake again, Percy. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it, considering you duel like a first-year Hogwarts student.”
If it weren’t for the bind, Graves would have punched Grindelwald square in the jaw.
Gellert turned to someone Graves couldn’t see from this angle. Credence, presumably. “Out like a bitch, this one. I wonder would MACUSA would say if they heard all I had to do to best the President’s right hand man was show up a little past his bedtime.” He turned his attention back to Graves. “You should be very thankful you’re pretty, by the way. If your face wasn’t worth wearing, you’d be dead by now.”
His face wasn’t worth… wearing? What the Hell?
Before Graves could wonder any more than that, he was dropped back onto the concrete ground, landing just so he could look up and get a decent view of Grindelwald.
With a quick wave of his wand, his entire body transformed. One moment, Gellert Grindelwald was smirking at him, the next, it was his own face, twisted into a cruel and smug expression.
It was like looking in some sort of cursed mirror.
“One last thing.” Grindelwald flipped Graves over with his foot, before slipping a hand beneath the bonds to grab at his pocket. He slowly pulled out Graves’ wand as if relishing the moment.
It was only now that Graves could get a proper look at the man Gellert was with. He was standing silently in the corner of the room, keeping his head down and his shoulders hunched as if he was expecting to be scolded at any moment. Graves felt a pang of pity for the boy (who couldn’t have been older than twenty, twenty-five if he really stretched it) before firmly reminding himself that he was probably just as crazed as his companion.
Gellert’s voice brought Graves’ attention back to his captor. “Won’t this be great? I’m going to take down MACUSA and you’re going to take all the blame for it.” He looked towards the quiet boy in the corner. “I wonder, Credence, what it must be like, knowing that you’ll go down in history as the man who toppled his own government.”
Hearing those words come out of Graves’ mouth, with his own voice, made his skin crawl.
The young man, who was definitely named Credence, just looked up passively, avoiding eye contact with Gellert.
“I don’t know, sir.”
The response was mumbled, almost robotic.
Graves had the aching suspicion that Grindelwald had done something terrible to that poor boy.
Seeing that Credence wasn’t playing along with the taunting, Grindelwald focused his attention back onto Graves. “Well, I’m about to become very acquainted with your personal life, Percy, so if there’s anything you’d like me to know, feel free to say it.”
That was, Graves decided, the worst thing about dealing with Grindelwald. The way he never shut up. It was one thing to be one of the most notorious wizards on the planet, but he also had to be so goddamn smug about it. And that stupid nickname just made it even worse. Percival Graves hadn’t been “Percy” since he’d entered double digits.
He felt the anger coil in his gut. “You stay the fuck out of my life, you hear me!?”
“Well, I’m afraid it’s far too late for that.” Grindelwald calmly held out his own wand, which Credence took, almost like he’d been trained to do so. “I’ll try and be good, at least for now. There’s no guarantee there won’t be a few… casualties, of course.” He turned to the boy. “Come on Credence, I think Percy, here, would prefer to be left to his own devices.”
The young man nodded silently and followed Gellert out of the room.
Graves groaned and rested his head on the cold, concrete floor. He had to escape somehow. And Credence might just be the key to his success.
The idea of manipulating the poor boy left a bad taste in Graves’ mouth, but it would have to be the price to pay for the greater good. And he’d have to figure out something quick, before Gridelwald had the chance to do any lasting damage.
•••

His first opportunity to gather information came much sooner than Graves was expecting.

After what felt like hours, Graves head another set of footsteps approach his room. He tensed (or, at least, would have if he could feel his limbs), before Credence came into view.

He knelt down beside Graves, his expression curious and laced with fear. The young man raised a hand to wave at him and Percival’s heart nearly stopped.

On his right middle finger, plain as day, there was a signet ring with the symbol of the Deathly Hallows carved into it.

He’d known, of course, that Credence was one of Gellert’s followers but seeing it after spending so long in Europe fighting people who bore that same mark was just chilling.

“Why are you here?” he growled, trying to hide his nerves.

Credence just crouched and leaned in closer. “I’ve… never met another wizard before, other than Gellert.”

How was that even possible? There was no way Grindelwald would be caught dead with a muggle, and even just that one display of magic would be enough to set MACUSA in damage control mode. Even wizards from no-maj families tended to find the wizarding community by the time they were old enough to attend Ilvermorny.

“He’s not a very good example of wizardkind, trust me. We’re not all like that.”

Credence cocked his head. “What do you mean? I know he isn’t perfect, but it’s better than what I’d be going back to.”

He’d be going back to something… worse than Grindelwald? Either he was exaggerating or… the thought of that sent shivers down Graves’ spine.

Percy took a deep breath and reminded himself to focus, for Christ’s sake.

“Look, maybe he’s been kind to you, but I’ve fought against his lot. I know what they’re capable of and he’s a very dangerous man--”

“He told me you’d say that.”

Graves threw his head back and groaned. “Look, you have to have seen it for yourself. He’s unstable. He has a temper. He’s very powerful. And if he takes me job, he’d have access to all the people I’ve worked with. Good people who just want to keep the world safe from the likes of him.”

Credence crossed his arms. “I didn’t come here to argue about whether or not Gellert is a good man.”

Gellert. Good god, he had the kid wrapped around his finger.

Still, best to play along, gather what information he could.

“Why did you come here, then? It’s certainly not to torture me, or else you would have done that already.” That, and Credence really didn’t seem the type to enjoy causing harm to others. Which, again, rose some questions about what he was doing with Grindelwald.

“It’s like I said, you’re the only other wizard I’ve met. I want to talk to you.”

He wanted to mumble Well, you’re doing it right now, but Graves also wanted to stay on Credence’s good side. “What do you want to know?”

“Who are you?” He said this so sweetly and quietly that Graves had to keep reminding himself that helping young men was not the priority right now.

He took a breath. “My name is Percival Graves. I’m thirty-five years old, and I’m the Director of Magical Security at MACUSA.”

“I… don’t know what most of those things are.”

How had he never heard of MACUSA? It just raised more red flags in Graves’ mind.

“MACUSA is the governing body in charge of all the witches and wizards in the United States. It’s lead by a president who’s elected every five years. As the Director of Magical security, I’m her right hand man and I’m in charge of all the Aurors in the country.” When Credence just stared at him blankly Graves clarified. “Aurors are like wizard police. We track down bad people doing bad things and bring them to justice.”

“People like Gellert,” Credence concluded.

Graves raised an eyebrow. “So you know he’s awful.”

“I’m working with him. What makes you think I’m any better?”

Graves looked him over. Why did he feel pity for this man and not Grindelwald? After a few moments’ thought, he finally spoke up. “You don’t like it. What he does. I can tell. You’re always off to the side, and you never join in on the teasing. You’re not like him, Credence.”

“But I’m still working with him! They’ll still punish me!”

“I wouldn’t…” Graves muttered.

The next thing he heard was Credence quickly storm out.