Common Good

Welcome Home

May 2, 1938
Ministry of Magic - England

Anastasia walked along the halls with a skip in her step, next to her was her adopted seven year old daughter, Marigold.
"Go scare Theseus for me, okay sweetheart." She said to her as Marigold pounced from behind.
"Merlin's beard! You're mother put you up to it again didn't she?" Theseus laughed when he realized who it was, "Percival will you please tell your wife to quit doing this to me."
Percival looked up to find his daughter giggling from her spot on Theseus' back.
"Come on Marigold." Percival scooped her off and gave her a hug, "And there is the most beautiful woman I ever laid eyes on." He gave her a kiss.

"Fifth one, Yes?" Theseus asked.
"Yeah Mommy and Daddy have been married a long time!" Marigold grinned.
"And hopefully a longer still." Theseus ruffled the young girl's black hair.
"Any sightings?" Anastasia asked hopefully.
"Nothing yet Stasia." Theseus shook his head, "Now out both of you enjoy your anniversary. I'll watch Marigold."
"You be good and we'll see you tonight." Percival said giving Marigold a hug.

"It's a beautiful night." Anastasia whispered. Percival smiled at her, "Not as beautiful as you."
"I love you."
"I love you more."

August of 1942
Graves Home- London

"Mum! Dad!" Eleven year old Marigold was sliding along the hall in her socks an owl flew above her, "It's here!"
Percival stood up from his desk, searching through a pile of paperwork. "Stasia!
"Coming!" She said cleaning up from her injured shoulder, Theseus and the other aurors had found Grindelwald for all but a second, and Anastasia kind of foolishly went after him. She didn't care they were family, she cared about protecting the world she knew and loved.

"Ah, Minerva sent you." Anastasia smiled at the owl who finally let Marigold have the letter.
"I'm going to Hogwarts!" She squealed. "Mum, are you gonna be teaching again this year?" 
Every year this question had been asked, by Marigold, by Percival, by Headmaster Dippet, and by Albus. And every year she said yes.
"I wouldn't dream of missing my girl's first school year or the other thereafter." 
"Wicked! Wait do I finally get a wand?"

Percival laughed, "You my darling will have the best wand the world has ever seen."
"Shall we head out to Diagon Alley?" Anastasia wrapped her good arm around her husband.
"Can we go?" Marigold pleaded. 
"I have the day off, write your reply to Minerva and will go."
Marigold scurried off with the owl in tow. 
"How you feeling?" Percival asked.
"Tired, but I'll manage. I only hope the muggles end their war soon." 
"As do I." Percival placed a soft kiss on her lips, "Its going to get better, I swear to it." 

August 31, 1945

"Stasia!" Percival called out. He tossed his coat and scarf on to the rack and stumbled trying to get out of his shoes. Outside the London weather poured, lighting cracked against the sky. 
"Mum! Dad's home!" Marigold said from her spot on the couch, "And soaking wet."
Percival felt his clothes dry out and felt the warmth return to his bones. 

"Stasia, Albus found him, went after him. He's finally captured." Percival said, "They're holding him at the ministry but he is suppose to be moved to Nurmengard." 
"I'll be back, you get warmed back up." Anastasia kissed his cheek and quickly put on her own coat.
"Dad, who in the name of Merlin are you talking about?"
"Someone who means the world to your mother. But he's also committed several crimes, she needs this."
"Which is?"
"Closure." Percival turned to his daughter, "Now how about that wizard's chess."
"You're on." 

Ministry of Magic

"Mrs. Graves, I'm afraid we cannot allow any visitors."
"Borg, she's with me." Theseus called out, linking his arm with hers. "He's actually requested to see you." He said to her quietly.
"This will be interesting then."

"Anastasia."
"Gellert."
"What's it like? To be happy?"
"Its nice when you can choose that happiness." Anastasia was bitter, her brother could have made so many different choices, yet here they were.
"How's that auror of yours? You probably married him." Gellert smiled softly.
"Twelve years, we adopted a daughter." 
"Tell her about me, what I did. That I'm sorry I'll never know her." Gellert bit the tip of his tongue, he wished one last time to give his sister a hug. 
"I will. Oh Gellert."
"Stasia, you proved the one thing I never believed to be true. A Grindelwald can love, their family at least. The one they're born into and the one they create." Gellert sighed heavily, "You were always the better Grindelwald." 
Anastasia couldn't help it, she unlocked the door and held him tight, Gellert returned the gesture as best he could as he was shackled by his ankles to the wall. 
"I'm so sorry. For everything."
"I forgive you Gellert."

Graves Home- London

Anastasia returned home, shaking the London rain off of her coat.
"Ah ha! I got your queen!" A triumphant Marigold declared.
"Why did I think this was a good idea?" An exasperated Percival asked.
"Let me guess, she has won every round." Anastasia  poked her head in.
"Yes."

She walked over to the table and surveyed the board. She moved one piece, then her daughter, then her, "Checkmate."
"Come on Mum." Marigold snapped her fingers. 
"What, I simply observed." Anastasia gave a Cheshire Cat smile. "Now I think its time you hear a story."
"But I'm too old for those." Marigold wrinkled her nose.
"I think this one is going to be a good one, actually." Percival said scooping up the chess pieces. "Which one is it?"
"The rise and fall of Gellert Grindelwald." Anastasia pulled her daughter gently onto the couch, Percival landed beside her, "We can both tell it."
"Alright I'm listening." 

"...Even the most darkest wizard of all time has beginnings as an ordinary person. Had a family and a sister who would fight most of her life to stop his destruction of the world..." 
Percival waved his wand to start a warm fire in the grate and they settled in, finally free of their war and the muggles would soon end theirs. 

All was well.