Common Good

Reveling in Answers

"Is that.. ouch!" Percival wiggled his foot from where Anastasia had stepped on it, "What was that for?" She pointed to Grindelwald, "He's bound to make a move and I can't have you quipping in my ear. And yes that's Credence." 

Percival took in the sight of the boy, his long black hair was limp, his skin was pale, his dark eyes sunken in. 

"He's lying to you." Aurelius said, "That creature is dead." 

"This is the true Qilin." Vogel said holding it up. It turned grey and died. The true Qilin was bouncing around Newt's feet. "Its okay little one." He said to the creature. As the creature bowed to Dumbledore and then to Santos, Grindelwald began to fume. Aurelius knew what was coming, he stood up waiting for the final blow. Grindelwald raised his wand simultaneously with Albus and Aberforth. There was crack as the chain began to break, Albus stared at it with wide eyes. Fear began to etch Grindelwald's face as it fell apart. 

The two could now move against each other and did so. They stopped as both rested a hand over the other's beating heart. 

"Who will love you now Dumbledore?" Grindelwald asked as they became visible to the crowd again. He began to walk to the edge, "I was never your enemy, then..." He looked to Anastasia, "Or now." He looked to Dumbledore and then fell back. Several aurors with Theseus at the head and Anastasia ran forward.

"Gellert!" 

"Stasia." Percival pulled her into a tight embrace. 

"You will fight him, you can move against him." Theseus said to Albus. 

"I will." Albus replied watching Aberforth and Aurelius. 

"Did you ever think of me?" Aurelius  asked.

"Always." Aberforth told him. "Come home." Aurelius nodded and they got up. As they walked by Anastasia and Percival, Aurelius placed a hand on her shoulder, "Who was he to you?" 

Anastasia  looked up, "He was my family, my brother." Aurelius nodded, "He couldn't even keep what was already good." 

Anastasia stood up to embrace the boy, "I'm so sorry Credence." 

"I'm sorry too." He whispered not bothering with the name change. Here was someone who probably understood him and the Grindelwald's destruction better than anyone. 

"Go home, get some rest." Anastasia said quietly. 

"You did good." Percival wrapped an arm around her. "Probably not the best time to tell you." 

"Tell me what?" 

"Why Tina didn't join us. She was made Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I talked to Theseus, and he actually needed a new Deputy Head. I know it's kind of a step down but, I wanted to be closer to you." 

"Percival.." Anastasia wrapped him in a hug. "This is wonderful." 

"And when we don't have an audience there is something else I want to ask you." 

Anastasia shook her head at the sly smile across Percival's face, "Let's go home." 

Newt picked up his true case, holding it close. "I am never letting this out of my sight ever again." 

Jacob took Queenie's hand, "We are never going through that again. I love you Queenie Goldstein." 

"And I love you Jacob Kowalski." Everyone headed down the stairs, talking and laughing as the day spread out before them.

"Hold on." Anastasia said to Percival, "Are you coming Albus?" Albus sighed still looking over where Grindelwald had vanished. "I really did love him." 

"I know, he meant so much to us both." 

"I don't want to fight him, Anna." Anastasia  smiled softly, yes she had been mad enough to tell him to stop using it, she had missed it just as much. 

"None of us do, but we don't have choice if we are to protect the wizarding world." Albus wrapped her in a hug, "You were always the better Dumbledore, even if it was honorary." 

"And you will always be the better honorary Grindelwald." She said taking his hand and rejoining Percival. "Home is calling." The wind blew through Bhutan, a few leaves stirred but peace maintained its rein upon the mountain.