Thorns and Roses ❦ Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ❦ Newtina

Chapter Two

Credence was shy, almost always nervous. He didn't talk to anyone, really, not at all, Until one day it was like he couldn't take it anymore. He'd just blurted out "I'M A MONSTER!" and destroyed half of New York. How was it possible to possess such abilities? How was it possible to possess such power, enough power to cause all of the mayhem that was caused and to destroy any barrier the magical world had put up to protect itself from the non-magical world?

And it was all because of Percival Graves, his mentor-turned-lover who'd betrayed him. Who'd used him for his powers, who'd pretended he cared when he didn't care about Credence at all. Percival Graves was the real monster, Credence told himself. Percival Graves is the reason I am this way, the reason I have to hide, the reason I'm afraid to go out at night and afraid to talk to anybody but the cat down the road and the old lady who lived next door. Percival Graves was the reason why Credence's family was dead.

    Credence rushed out of the apartment building, a bag in hand. He kept to himself as he paced down the corridors. That was when a man bumped into him, knocking Credence's things to the ground. "I'm sorry," Credence mumbled, kneeling to pick up his bag. The hooded man looked back at him, and his blue eyes were a color unlike any other Credence had seen before. Before he could get a better look at the strange man, he'd turned away and down the corner.

     He kept his head down and coat on as he walked along the street. He made his way down the fogged avenues. It was chilly outside, and the wind whipped his face in a threatening way, showing no signs of ceasing.  The amount of people who passed him sent surges of paranoia throughout his being. It increased as rushes of footsteps were heard behind him. He couldn't even finish his sigh before someone tugged the collar of his coat and dragged him behind an alleyway. He whipped around and stared at them with wide eyes. "Who- who are you?"

    "Credence, I'm so glad I found you." The strong, burly, and white-haired man in front of him appeared distraught. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

    "I don't- when- who are you?!" Credence said, panicked. He was scared. So scared. Of the dark, of the rain, of the silence, of the darkness, of the corners of his mind even the darkest creatures that plague it were afraid to look. Memories of Mr. Graves flashed in his mind, of his betrayal. Credence knew this was a near parallel to what had occurred with Percival Graves, although Percival Graves didn't know who Credence was. He only had a hunch, had a few files, and used them to find him with a little help from one of the top detectives in the auror department. The top detective was none other than Porpentina Goldstein, the one who'd lost her job after helping Credence, and regained her job by helping Credence and a man named Newt Scamander, as well as saved all of MACUSA.

He took a second look at the man. Those eyes, they were so familiar... and then Credence remembered, They were the same eyes he'd seen only moments prior, the man who'd bumped into him in the hall. He drew in a breath and tried to step away, out of the tight grip the man had on his collar. This man, he knew, couldn't be trusted. Or could he? Credence could feel himself slipping back into the boy he was, the fragile mess that cracked and obeyed anyone who showed him any attention and trusted them beyond wit's end. He knew, he knew, not to trust this man, but something inside him told him to.trust this man.

    "My name is Gellert Grindelwald, and I need your help," The man, Grindelwald, answered breathily. His grip tightened on Credence's collar, making the younger boy whimper. He almost wished it was Percival Graves. He was always gentle with him, even if the last time he'd ever been cornered he'd been slapped. He'd only done it because he was frustrated. Credence knew sugarcoating the way Percival Graves had treated him wasn't good, that he was supposed to be angry. And he was, he was incredibly angry at Percival Graves. But he couldn't help but still have lingering thoughts about him, missing the days they'd meet up in secret and discuss Credence's hidden magical powers. But something about the name sounded familiar.