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Chapter Text

“Queenie, do you take Jacob to be your lawfully wedded husband from this day forward - to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health; will you love, honor, and cherish him for as long as you both shall live?”
All eyes were on Queenie as she stood by the officiant in a beautiful wedding dress. She was smiling widely, not being able to hide her excitement.
“I do” she says without a doubt.
“And you Jacob, do you take Queenie to be your lawfully wedded wife from this day forward - to have and to hold, in good times and bad, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health; will you love, honor, and cherish her for as long as you both shall live?”
Jacob didn’t answer right away. His eyes seemed dull and he got pale. His fiance looked at him with concern.
"I—" Jacob stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. He swallowed hard, as though trying to force the words out. "I do," he finally managed, but the words came strained, as though dragged from the depths of his soul.
Queenie smiled widely again, her concern disappearing in a second. But before the officiant said anything else Jacob fell to the ground, losing consciousness.
"Jacob!" Queenie cried, her voice breaking as she immediately knelt down and shook his shoulders. The room descended into chaos. Newt knelt down next to them and checked Jacob’s pulse. His eyes widened when he felt how weak it was.
“There is something wrong” he tried to think, but his voice and thoughts were a mess. “I— I don’t know what.”

***
Sometimes you lose. No matter how long you're planning and no matter what you do, there's always a risk that something unexpected might shatter the idea.
CRASH!
Just like a mirror can crash when it’s punched.
CRASH!
And Nurmengard’s window.
THUMB!
And a cabinet when it falls to the floor.
But what matters the most is standing up and collecting the broken pieces. The idea may shatter, but it doesn’t mean the story ends— it just takes a different turn.
The door opened slowly after the loud crashing and banging sounds stopped. The air was heavy with distress and anger. Vinda Rosier didn't expect to see the room completely destroyed, just like she didn't expect to see her master during one of the rare moments of weakness. Every cabinet was open and the items were scattered all over the floor.. The walls were scratched by the heavy objects thrown at them. The window was shattered like he threw something out of it in a fit of rage, the cold night air flowing inside. Sheets of paper were slowly moving around the floor from the night breeze. The curtains looked like they were torn apart by a wild animal and not a man in his late 40s. He didn't seem to react to her presence, instead sitting on the floor, leaning on the wall of a doused fireplace. Vinda was surprised but decided to stay with him. She slowly walked up to him and knelt down by his side.
"Gellert" she looked at him with concern, her voice barely above a whisper. His first name on her lips sounded somewhat peculiar, but it felt right at the moment. Grindelwald didn't look at her, staring blankly at the floor. Vinda's gaze followed his and her eyes locked on the small, old-fashioned picture frame. It used to stand on the fireplace and right now it was the only thing that wasn't shattered or broken in the entire room. She never saw it closely before, mostly because she didn't pay much attention to the details of Nurmergard's furniture. Vinda picked it up carefully, Grindelwald's gaze following the frame like hypnotized. The woman took a closer look at it. Her eyes widened in shock when she realised what she's looking at. The picture portrayed a young Grindelwald with a little girl on his lap. She looked almost exactly like him with the different coloured eyes and straight, white hair.
"Is that you?" she looked at Gellert who was now smiling softly.
"Yes" he answered without hesitation.
Vinda looked at the photo again. Both Grindelwald and the little girl looked peaceful and happy. His grip on the girl was protective, but she could freely observe and touch the energy visible around them, even in the photo.
“You didn’t tell me you have a child” when she looked back at him, she saw the longing and nostalgia in his usually cold eyes.
“You didn’t ask” he took the photo from her and smiled wider. He seemed so warm and vulnerable like never before. “Can you look if there is a big, heavy, dark blue book lying somewhere?”
Vinda nodded and stood up, cleaning the room with a few moves of her wand. Everything went back to its place and the room looked neat again, a complete contrast to the destroyed rage room she walked into. She found the book right away. It was the biggest and heaviest on the bookshelf. The woman grabbed it and handed it to Grindelwald who already put the picture frame back on the fireplace. He took the book and put it on the table, flipping through the pages like he knew exactly what he was looking for. But Vinda’s mind was still racing with unanswered questions that she couldn’t give up on.
“Why didn't you ever introduce us to your daughter?” she asked.
Grindelwald pursed his lips and Vinda immediately noticed that she’s threading on thin ice.
“Because I have not seen her in years” he answered, his cold demeanor back. “
She nodded, not wanting to press the issue further.
“What are you looking for in this old tome?” she stood next to him and looked at the pages. It was a map of the world with notes and scribbles on the sides, a few of them looked like little children’s doodles.
“You’ll see” he took a deep breath. “I just need time to collect my thoughts.”
The woman nodded and turned to leave, but he called after her.
“Vinda” he looked at her, his gaze warmer than ever. “You are a very loyal acolyte.”
Vinda smiled.
“I am very glad you think so” she closed the door behind her, leaving Grindelwald alone with his thoughts and plans.

Chapter Text

“Litty!” Grindelwald called out, but then he quickly spotted his little girl in her usual spot. She tried to climb a tree, but failed miserably. He giggled and walked up to her. “Trying to play with energy again, little one?”
The girl looked up at him and nodded, her long, white hair disheveled.
“Why is the energy so high in the air?”
“Because it is light” he picked her up effortlessly and let her touch the soft magic swirling in the air. “You grew up so quickly, Litty. It was not too long ago that I could carry you with only one arm.”
The girl giggled and wrapped one of her arms around Grindelwald’s neck. The other one was still reaching for the energy.
“I’m five, I’m a big girl now, daddy.”
Grindelwald chuckled softly, his grip on her protective as he started fixing her hair.
“For me you will always be my little girl.”
The girl smiled widely and touched the floating energy once more. The almost invisible, transparent swirls suddenly started glowing with gold after coming in contact with her hand. Grindelwald didn’t stop her, smiling softly at the outcome. Suddenly they heard yelling.
“Gellert!” his girlfriend walked up to them angrily. “Have you completely lost your mind letting her perform magic outside?!”
“Julia” Grindelwald turned to her calmly, setting the girl down. “Muggles will not care about a little girl playing with the air.”
“I think they will start once they see that the air turns gold!” the woman continued scolding him. “I can’t believe I agreed to raise her with you!”
Grindelwald covered his daughter’s ears with his hands.
“Not in front of Lita…”
“I don’t care!” Julia sighed. “It was your idea to play family and now I have a boyfriend who is irresponsible and a little girl who adores him.”
Grindelwald glanced down at Lita whose ears were still covered, but she looked upset. He knew she wasn’t stupid, but he still hoped she wouldn’t understand what they were arguing about. He turned his gaze back to Julia and took a deep breath.
“We both did not plan it so do not act like everything is my fault” he said calmly. “I never thought about having children, but here I am with a little girl I would sacrifice my life for and a woman who constantly complains.”
“How can I not complain when I’m stuck with you and your weird experiments?” Julia’s voice started to sound frustrated. “Every time I pass that study I sense dark magic, Gellert. And I don’t like that you just let Lita disturb you there. She’s five, she shouldn’t be in contact with dark magic! What if it consumes her? It can do that.”
Grindelwald sighed.
“You know I don’t let her in there alone” he tried to stay calm, but it was difficult. “I know dark magic well enough to ensure my child’s safety—”
“You know what?” Julia interrupted. “I regret ever agreeing to keep her! I should have given her away when I had a chance! You’re a bad influence and I don’t know what I saw in you!”
Grindelwald clenched his jaw and watched Julia walk back inside. He then knelt down in front of Lita who was now sobbing quietly.
“Don’t listen to mommy” he wiped away her tears. “She was just mad at me, but I’m sure she loves you.”
“Daddy” Lita mumbled “do you regret having me too?”
Her crying voice made Grindelwald’s heart ache and he pulled her into an affectionate hug.
“Of course not, Litty” he kissed her temple, making her smile softly. “You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I can't imagine my life without you in it.”
She smiled wider and nuzzled into her father. Grindelwald held her close to his chest trying to give her some comfort.
That’s when he opened his eyes and woke up. He felt a familiar cold and longing that accompanied him for years. The dream was so realistic he could feel his daughter’s warmth in his arms, the scent of her hair in his nostrils. He looked out the window and noticed that the sun started to rise. Giving up on getting any more sleep, Grindelwald got up and decided to look through the old notes once again. He knew the reason for his nightmares. The small doodles on the edges of the papers and his daughter’s handwriting on some of them made it difficult to keep his composure. After a while he took the papers and wanted to show them to Vinda, but she was already in the hallway with Abernathy.
“What is going on?” he asked coldly and took a closer look at Abernathy whose face was covered in bruises and blood.
“Abernathy got beaten up by a teenage girl” Vinda continued cleaning blood off the wounds.
“It wasn’t like that” the man hissed from pain. “I was in London, gathering information when I spotted her and she attacked me.”
“You left out the part when you tried to flirt with her” Vinda sighed. “I would have punched you in the face too.”
Grindelwald raised his eyebrow, keeping his usual cold demeanor.
“How did a former MACUSA worker lose to a teenage girl?”
“She was a fighter” Abernathy hissed again when Vinda touched his broken nose.
“Did she even have a wand?” Grindelwald grabbed Abernathy’s chin, forcing him to look at him.
“No” the man answered and watched as Grindelwald fixed his nose with a flick of his wand. “But I saw her use magic without it.”
Grindelwald let go of his chin, but got curious.
“What did she look like?” he asked.
“I don’t know, she wore a hood. But tall, slim, tattooed hands and those damn sharp nails.”
Vinda chuckled and stood up, turning to Grindelwald and looking at the papers in his hand.
“What are those for?”
Grindelwald put the papers on the windowsill and showed them to Vinda and Abernathy.
“There are a few useful artifacts I looked for in the past. They might be useful for our cause, but I still need to locate two of them.”
“How many artifacts do you need?” Vinda looked at the map that was similar to the one from the old book, but with less scribbles on it.
“Five in total” Grindelwald pointed to the points he marked on the map. “Lifestone, Bloodstone, Amulet of Balaton, Soulcracker and the most powerful one The Eye of Chorus.”
Vinda nodded, but Abernathy seemed focused on something else.
“Are those child’s drawings?” he asked, pointing at the edge of the paper filled with small flowers that were obviously not drawn by an adult man. Vinda discreetly pinched his arm, letting him know that it was a sensitive topic. The man flinched, but didn’t say anything.
“Tell the rest to get ready. Next few weeks will be quite… intense” Grindelwald ordered the woman, ignoring the question. He quickly gathered the papers and ran a hand through his hair. He then walked away leaving the two acolytes alone. When Gellert was out of sight Abernathy looked at Vinda with confusion, his brows furrowing.
“There’s something he’s not telling us…”
“He has his reasons” Vinda answered calmly.
Abernathy crossed his arms on his chest with scepticism.
“You know something. You must, you are the closest to him.”
Vinda thought for a moment, hesitating whether to tell him about the little girl from the picture.
“I do, but not much. It’s a sensitive topic” Vinda decided to be partially honest.
The man took a deep breath.
“Is it related to those doodles on the notes?” he suddenly looked like he connected the dots. “Grindelwald has a child?”
“Maybe” Vinda gestured to him to be more discreet. “I was thinking… maybe it would help a little if we find her?”
“It’s a girl?!” Abernathy’s eyes widened, but Vinda quickly shut him down.
“I only know that much, Abernathy” she whispered. “It would help if we knew someone who knows Master longer than us. It won’t leave my mind and I see that it affects him a lot as well.”
They both thought for a moment before the man broke the silence.
“Maybe more information is right here in this castle?”
Vinda suddenly gasped.
“Exactly” she looked around. “He’s sentimental…”
The woman thought for a moment longer.
“If you find a picture, an old photo album or anything, let me know immediately.”
“Got it” Abernathy nodded. “Now we better go to the rest. Try to focus on the task.”

***
“Where is she?”
“Ophelia, calm down. She said 9 in the morning and it’s 8:57. You know how punctual she is.”
Ophelia didn’t calm down. She was pacing around the room anxiously, waiting for a knock on the door. Her father was just giggling at her while putting on his cloak. When Ophelia heard a knock she jumped and ran straight to the door. When she saw a slim, tall and hooded woman behind them she smiled and immediately hugged her.
“Gosh, Ophy” the person chuckled and hugged her back. “You missed me that much?”
Ophelia’s father laughed at the scene.
“You know her, Pilgrim” he winked and walked outside past them. “See you both later, I have a job to do.”
“Bye, sir” Pilgrim chuckled and walked inside gracefully, closing the door.
Ophelia immediately dragged her to the living room, her excitement so big she couldn’t hold it. Her hands trembled slightly as she gestured toward the sofa, barely able to contain the words bursting to escape her lips. Pilgrim grinned and sat down on the armrest of the sofa.
“Tell me everything!” Ophelia sat down on the sofa properly.
“You better tell me everything first, Ophy” Pilgrim crossed her legs and leaned back.
“Alright” Ophelia smiled and tried to contain her excitement. “I finished school early and got a job at the Ministry of Magic. Right now I’m just passing papers left and right, but they’re happy with me and one day I might even become an Auror like dad.”
“Another member of the Auror Family? I’m so proud of you, Ophy” Pilgrim gently ruffled her hair. Ophelia giggled.
“And you? Still planning on travelling the world?”
Pilgrim thought for a moment before answering.
“Probably.”
“Oh, come on!” Ophelia laughed. “You’re seventeen already! You’re an adult and you can do whatever you want! You don’t have any dreams or hopes?”
Pilgrim pursed her lips, getting a little upset.
“Right” Ophelia hugged her. “I’m sorry about what happened. I know you had a lot of faith in the election.”
“It’s okay, Ophy” Pilgrim hugged her back. “There are many things going on in Germany at the moment. I should’ve predicted that.”
“I heard” Ophelia buried her face in Pilgrim’s shoulder. “But it surely was painful for you.”
“You know… I’m sure something good might come out of it after all. Supposedly Germany’s new chancellor has his own… purge ideas incoming.”
Ophelia shivered.
“I can’t believe you’re excited about it. If Grindelwald was elected we would have a big mess going on right now and I believe it wouldn’t only be in Germany…”
Pilgrim giggled and grabbed a muggle newspaper from the coffee table with a big headline “COMMUNISTS TO BLAME FOR REICHSTAG FIRE? GERMAN CHANCELLOR HINTS AT THE POSSIBLE REPRESSIONS.”
“I guess only time will tell…” Pilgrim smirked and started reading.

Chapter Text

The healer swiftly grabbed a handful of dried herbs from the cluttered wooden cabinet. With light force, she pressed them into the old stone mortar, grinding the herbs into a fragrant powder. The smell filled the entire room, making the small space difficult to breathe in. Tina and Queenie were standing by the open window, but it didn't help much. Newt was observing healer’s actions carefully, taking in every leaf and plant she took.
“Healer Perkins, when will he wake up?” Queenie asked with concern.
“Not soon. No-majs have different physiognomy than wizards. We react to magic differently than he does.” she turned to Queenie, her voice calm. “And judging by his state he’s pretty sensitive. Your husband is in an overload coma.”
“Overload coma?” Tina frowned, not quite understanding what the healer meant.
“It’s very simple to understand” the elderly woman smiled. “When a person takes more power than they can handle their body gives up until the magic settles. Sometimes it does, sometimes not. It depends on everyone individually.”
“Grindelwald's work” Newt said, his gaze moving from the elderly woman to the unconscious Jacob laying on the bed in the middle of the room. Healer Perkins just nodded.
“I figured that out. Magic always leaves a mark, especially the darkest forms of it. And Grindelwald has a… peculiar energy.”
Queenie walked up to Jacob and took his hand, trying to hold back tears.
“It's all my fault. I should have never joined that monster…”
“It's not your fault Queenie” Tina put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, but her sister already started crying.
“What do you mean by ‘peculiar energy’?” Newt asked, still observing the old woman's movements as she gently put the grinded herbs in a cup.
“Powerful, strong, very dark. Always evolving and expanding from its primal form” she answered. “But just a magical footprint won’t cause so much damage. Is there a possibility he might be cursed?”
Queenie got paler when she heard the last word.
“Cursed?” her voice was trembling but she tried to maintain her composure. “I- I guess not. Grindelwald didn’t cast any more spells other than the Cruciatus Curse… I think so…”
Healer nodded, considering the possible outcomes.
“That would make no sense. There must be something going on. As I said, just the remains of energy won’t do much damage.”
“And what if it’s just Dark Magic causing the damage?” Tina put a reassuring hand on her sister’s shoulder. “Can't you just take it out?”
“It’s risky” Healer Perkins poured some hot water into the grinded herbs. “This energy is powerful. I never worked with magic so dark. There are people exceptionally skilled in the Dark Arts, but I only ever met one or two who would possibly possess that control. We need someone who knows Dark Magic well.”
Newt thought for a moment.
“Dumbledore. He’s Grindelwald’s equal. He must know how to deal with his magic.”
Healer Perkins smiles warmly.
“Albus? Oh Merlin, I haven’t heard from him in ages!”
“You know him?” Newt asked, a hint of hope in his eyes.
“He’s an old acquaintance of mine” her face brightened. “I’ll go and write him a letter right away.”
The woman put the cup of brewing herbs on the small nightstand next to Jacob’s bed and walked out. Queenie hasn't looked away from him, feeling guilty, holding his hand. She didn’t want to admit it, but she could sense the darkness within him and it frightened her.

***
“Dear Albus,
I haven’t heard from you in a long time. I hope this letter finds you quickly. The situation is serious. Your friends brought a No-maj into my home a few weeks ago. He was tortured by Grindelwald and it seems that his magic was way too dark and powerful for the poor man’s body to handle. On top of that I suspect he might be cursed. He is currently in a coma from magic overload and unfortunately the excess energy won’t budge in the slightest. As you know, Grindelwald’s magic is not ordinary. I don’t know how to deal with it. That’s why I’m reaching out to you. The darkness is threatening to consume him and I’m afraid I won’t be able to save him on my own. This whole case is very confusing.
Please, write back as soon as you can.
Barbara Perkins”

Albus let out a weary sigh as he placed the letter on the desk. He shut his eyes for a moment and brought his hand to his face, pressing his fingers against the bridge of his nose to ease the growing headache. He knew exactly who the No-maj was. His mind was working fast, the thoughts running in his head with lightning speed. He didn’t notice his brother standing behind him.
“What’s wrong, brother?” Aberforth’s voice startled Albus.
“Nothing” Albus forced a nervous smile. “How is your son feeling?”
“Still weak” Aberforth wasn’t the one to be dismissed easily. “What's inside that letter?”
The older man just sighed and handed him the letter. His brother read it quickly and nodded.
“I don’t know what to do” Albus said, a hint of helplessness in his voice. “If Barbara can’t figure it out then it’s over. She’s the most perceptive healer I know.”
Aberforth just grinned.
“There is a person. And you know exactly who I’m talking about. Someone who knows Grindelwald’s magic like their own.”
Albus’ expression turned uncertain.
“No… That’s not a good idea, we’re on bad terms…”
“She’s back in London” Aberforth said calmly. “It’s time to make things right.”
Albus ran a hand over his face, thinking about the possible outcomes. Deep down he knew that his brother was right, but that didn't make it any easier for him. But if he wanted to save Jacob he had no other choice.

***

When Albus and Aberforth made their way down the streets of London they were silent. The setting sun was turning the blue sky into various shades of orange and red. The streets were busy as people were heading back home from work. When the two brothers stopped in front of a cosy terraced house Albus was too nervous to knock so Aberforth did it for him. After a minute the door opened and a young woman with loosely put up black hair appeared behind them.
“Professor Dumbledore?” she frowned. “Mr Aberforth? What brings you here?”
“Hello, Ophelia” Aberforth smiled politely. “We’re looking for your friend. We have an important matter to discuss with her.”
Ophelia hesitated, but let them in, closing the door behind them. As soon as they walked in, their eyes landed on another young woman sitting on the couch, her legs crossed and resting on the coffee table. She was holding a newspaper, but her piercing gaze made Albus unable to look at her.
“Professor Dumbledore” he addressed him coldly with a hint of sarcasm. “What a pleasure.”
Albus nodded nervously, but Aberforth put a hand on his shoulder, encouraging him to speak.
“I heard you're back. I wanted to see if you're doing well, dear.”
The woman chuckled darkly.
“You never come to people just to check on them, professor. What do you want?”
“Your help” he answered quickly. The woman responded with maniacal laughter. The request definitely amused her. Ophelia sat down next to her and snuggled closer.
“Just hear him out” she said gently.
The woman's face hardened slightly.
“He never heard me out. Also, why would I help him? He never helped me.”
Ophelia clenched her jaw.
“You’re both not neutral in this entire war. You’re stubborn as hell and it’s both refreshing and annoying. Just… let him speak.”
The woman sighed and wrapped an arm around Ophelia, pulling her closer before turning back to the two men. She gestured for them to continue speaking, her gaze still piercing through their souls. Albus inhaled deeply before speaking.
“You know Grindelwald's energy well. And your control over the Dark Magic is even better. The thing is… I need you to use your talents to help my friend. He’s been… tortured.”
The woman raised her eyebrow.
“The one from the election? The supposed assassin?”
Aberforth nodded, joining the conversation.
“The very same. You surely watched the election.”
The woman nodded and thought for a moment, playing with Ophelia's hair.
“Why would I help a mudblood?”
The men’s faces went pale. They didn't expect her to be so direct. She just continued staring at them, waiting for an answer.
“Because… because you’d have the chance to atone.”
She chuckled, still holding Ophelia close, her grip on her visibly possessive.
“Atone? For what? For what people think about me? It's not my fault, professor.”
Dumbledore nodded. He wanted to give up, but he knew his friends counted on him. He was desperate to get her to help. Thankfully for him, Ophelia decided to interrupt. Her voice was soft as she rested her head on the woman's shoulder.
“Please… Do this for me.”
The woman's gaze visibly softened and she let out a sigh.
“Fine. But just because I don't like to argue with you.” She stood up and grabbed her coat, pulling her enchanted hood up. “Where's the man?”

Chapter Text

Vinda was sitting in Gellert’s study, while he was looking through old tomes and various sheets of paper. Her gaze wandered around the room, taking in the details of it. She had been in his study countless times, but it was the first time she truly looked around. The room was completely silent, only their breaths and occasional ruffling of paper could be heard. Her eyes locked on the picture frame on his desk. It was another photo  of his daughter. She was older than in the previous one, around seven years old. She was alone in the photo, smiling, the wind ruffling her long hair. 

“You may use some rest.” Vinda broke the silence surrounding them. Grindelwald's expression didn't change, his gaze remained glued to the papers. 

“I don't have time to think about it, Vinda. We're running out of time we don't have.”

The woman walked up closer to him and stopped by his side. She looked over his shoulder, taking in the maps and newspapers spread out on the desk, but her mind was still on the little girl from pictures. She noticed a small text on the bottom of the picture, right above the edge of the frame: “Lita, Hannover 1923”. She recognised Gellert's handwriting immediately.

“What got you thinking so much recently?” He asked, looking up from the papers and leaning back on the edge of the desk. Vinda pointed at the picture.

“I can't get this little girl out of my mind… She adds a layer to your personality."

Gellert pursed his lips, visibly irritated by the turn the conversation took.

"Is Lita her name?" Vinda didn't back away from the topic.

"Yes." Gellert answered, the tension in his voice noticeable. "Her name is Lita. She turned seventeen two weeks ago."

Vinda nodded, her expression a little surprised.

"She's an adult already? Do you have a more recent photo of her?"

Grindelwald's expression darkened and he shook his head without saying anything. She immediately understood, remembering that he spoke about not seeing his daughter for years. She didn't know it was for so long, though.

"Why don't you reach out to her?" Vinda asked, hoping to understand the situation better.

"I doubt she'll want anything to do with me." Gellert got upset a little. "Her mother was always against our cause, Vinda. She probably raised Lita to be against me too. If she even remembers me at all."

"How do you know?" Vinda gave him a soft smile. "She could remember how much you love her."

Grindelwald's eyes glimmered with a little spark of hope, but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. He collected the papers from his desk and put them to the side.

"Gather everyone. We're leaving tomorrow morning." He changed the topic, what let Vinda know not to bring it up again. But the more she knew, the more questions she had. And she was determined to get answers.

***

The travel to America went smoothly for both Dumbledore and Pilgrim. They haven't spoken much, even though he tried to initiate a conversation a few times. The day after meeting with her they were already in New York, abandoning the portkey somewhere on the long street. 

"Are we far away?" Pilgrim asked after a few minutes of walking through crowded sidewalks and streets.

"No." Dumbledore gave her a reassuring smile. "We're almost there."

If the man could see her eyes he would have known that she rolled them. But the hood was still concealing everything except her lips, the shadows staying in place like they were made out of concrete. They finally stopped after a longer while. Healer Perkins' house was old, but seemed cozy. Dumbledore knocked on the door, his expression neutral, but with a hint of uncertainty. Pilgrim had to bite her tongue to keep herself from making a sarcastic remark about it. When the door opened she saw exactly what she expected. An elderly woman, short and a little chubby. 

"Barbara" Dumbledore smiled at the sight. "It's a pleasure to finally see you in person."

"It is for me too, Albus." Healer Perkins smiled and let them in. The inside of her house was bigger than it looked from the outside. There were a lot of plants and the scent of herbs was really strong. The woman led them to the back of the house and up the stairs. When she opened the wooden door they saw Queenie by her husband's side. Her face lightened up when her eyes landed on Dumbledore. He walked inside the room, Pilgrim following him. When she walked closer Queenie felt a shiver run down her spine. The atmosphere thickened. Albus smiled nervously, sensing the sudden tension in the room. His eyes landed on Newt who was also in the room, sitting in the armchair in the corner. The man could also sense the sudden tension that Pilgrim seemed to bring along. Dumbledore turned his gaze back to her.

"This is—"

"Is that him?" She interrupted, pointing towards Jacob.

"Uhm... Yes." Dumbledore nodded nervously at the neutral tone of her voice.

Pilgrim walked up to Jacob with grace, sitting down on the edge of the bed. She pushed some hair out of his face with one of her sharp nails and touched his forehead. She could already feel the darkness inside him; the magical footprint in his system along with the healer’s gaze on her. Every person in the room felt too intimidated by the mysterious woman to say anything. Finally Newt broke the silence.

“Do you feel anything?” He asked without looking at her.

“No hexes, curses or jinxes” Pilgrim let her energy flow through Jacob, almost daring the potential curse to show itself. “Just a very strong leftover magical footprint.”

Dumbledore and healer Perkins both walked up to her.

“Are you sure?” Albus’ voice betrayed a hint of worry and uncertainty. 

Pilgrim just nodded.

“Should I remove it?”

“Yes, please.” He nodded as well, a little confused about the cause of Jacob's state. “If you can, of course.”

Pilgrim rolled her eyes under her hood and focused on finding every last bit of darkness in Jacob's body. She let her magic flow through the man, making him breathe faster. She took a deep breath and put her other hand on his chest. Suddenly she took all the energy back, making Jacob sit up with a gasp before he fell back down on the bed, exhausted. Everyone's eyes widened. Queenie immediately hugged him, glad that he was finally awake. 

“That’s all?” Healer Perkins asked.

“How am I supposed to know? You’re the healer here.” Pilgrim shrugged and stood up, making her way towards the door. “I think it’s time for me.”

“No, wait—” Dunbledore grabbed her arm before she could walk away. She flinched and immediately freed it from his grip.

“I have two free beds.” Healer Perkins smiled softly at them. “You can both stay for the night. You must be exhausted.”

“Thank you for you offer, but—”

“We would love to.” Albus interrupted. “Right, Pilgrim?” 

The girl gave him a glare from under her hood and nodded reluctantly. As much as she hated the idea of spending the night under the same roof as Dumbledore she was glad to go back to London the next day.

***

“Excuse me, little one…” 

The girl looked up when she heard a feminine voice coming from above. She was sitting in a dark alley, curled up by the wall and on top of everything she started to get hungry. The woman looked at her with pity and knelt down to her level.

“Where are your parents, sweetheart?”

“I don’t have any.” The girl answered warily. It wasn’t entirely true, but the woman didn’t have to know that.

“Poor you.” The woman looked truly sorry for her. “My name is Isla. What’s yours?”

“Elisabeth.” The girl introduced herself by her middle name on purpose. She was still wary about Isla’s intentions.

“Such a pretty name.” She smiled warmly, taking out a Franzbrötchen out of her bag and handing it to a girl. “Here you go. You must be hungry.”

She hesitantly took the cinnamon pastry from her and took a bite. It tasted good, but she was too hungry to care about the taste.

“Can I just call you ‘Lisa’ for short?” The woman smiled warmly. The girl nodded, feeling a weird warmth in her stomach at the kindness. “Good. Do you want to come home with me? You can’t just stay on the streets. How old are you? Thirteen? Fourteen?”

Lisa thought for a while, going over the options she had in her head. Going with Isla was risky, but staying on the street was way worse considering her situation. After a moment of consideration she hesitantly nodded and stood up.

“Great.” Isla got up as well and took Lisa’s hand, leading her out of the alley, through the streets. “I have some lentil soup in the fridge. My husband loves it. I’m sure you’ll get along with him, he adores children.”

Chapter Text

Pilgrim woke up in the morning and looked around the room. The other bed was empty, indicating that Albus was already up. She sat up and looked in the mirror. Her hair was messy, but she quickly put it up in a ponytail and pulled her enchanted hood on her head. Her face disappeared in the shadows, making her unrecognisable again. As soon as Pilgrim left the room she heard the sound of conversation from downstairs. She recognised the voices of Dumbledore and Queenie, but not the rest. She thought about going back to sleep, but her curiosity decided against it. She silently sat down on top of the stairs, listening.

“It was stored in a well-protected safe! How did that happen?” A woman’s concerned voice could be heard.

“I don’t know.” Dumbledore sounded confused. “But that’s alright. We can still win.”

“How? He just stole a powerful artifact!”

“There is a way to stop him. We have an advantage over Grindelwald that he doesn’t know about.”

Pilgrim listened carefully to the exchange, her mind racing with possibilities. Hearing Grindelwald’s name meant that the situation must be serious. She got up and walked down the stairs, making her presence known. She saw Albus, Newt, Queenie and two other people. A woman she didn’t know and the muggle she saved the day before.

“Good morning, Pilgrim.” Dumbledore gave her a nervous smile.

“Morning.” She said calmly, but kept her distance from everyone. Albus noticed it and walked up to her, his expression turning a little concerned. He spoke quietly, not wanting the rest to hear their conversation.

“Can we talk?” He asked.

“About what, professor?” The girl leaned back against the wall, keeping her voice low. Albus took a deep breath, wondering what to say. He decided to stay silent and handed her a newspaper with a thick title “A POWERFUL AMULET GETS STOLEN FROM TIHANY ABBEY!”. She recognised the place’s name and read the first few lines of the article to make sure.

“One of the most powerful magical artifacts, the Amulet of Balaton, recently got stolen from a monastery in Tihany. The jewel has been kept in the village ever since Tihany Abbey was established in the year 1055 and was being taken out only once a year, for traditional celebrations of the first day of spring. According to the Benedictines the heist was a planned attack, because the thieves knew exactly where to look for the artifact. The Wizarding community suspects the involvement of the infamous dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald and the members of his alliance.”

Pilgrim looked at Dumbledore, her lips pursed.

“Do you think it was him?” She asked.

The man nodded, running a hand through his hair.

“I suppose it could be his work. You know exactly what he’s capable of.”

She nodded, her eyes scanning the article again. She recognised the name of the artifact, but decided to keep this information to herself.

“Why are you telling me this, professor?” The girl put the newspaper away.

“Because it’s better if I tell you rather than finding out on your own. Besides, you’re acting closed off and distant. I’m worried about you.” Albus said calmly.

“Worry about your hairline, not me.” Pilgrim sighed and reached into her pocket, taking out a pack of cigarettes. She walked out into the balcony and lit one up with one snap of her fingers. She needed to calm down. Dumbledore actually touched his receding hairline, but the worry was still there.

“Who is that girl?” He heard a feminine voice that helped him get back to reality. He took a deep breath.

“This, my dear Tina, is… Pilgrim.”

Tina looked confused.

“No name? No face? Just ‘Pilgrim’?”

“Exactly.” Dumbledore nodded, wanting to change the topic already. “I believe she prefers that over her name.”

“Pilgrim only makes me think about some religious nonsense…” Jacob chimbed in.

“Actually, Jesus was a wizard.” Dumbledore smiled softly, his usual composure back. Jacob nodded, visibly understanding the concept. Tina looked at Pilgrim on the balcony again before her gaze went to the newspaper.

“What are we gonna do about the artifact?”

“Nothing.” Dumbledore answered casually. “There’s not much we can do except preventing more artifacts from being stolen.”

Queenie took the newspaper and went through it quickly.

“It says here that Santos is concerned about this.”

“I would be too.” Tina sighed.

***

As the day slowly started and the sky was still orange, the streets of New York started to fill up with people. The air was still a little cold from the night, but the sunlight seemed to warm it up in a blink of an eye. Dumbledore walked into the empty bakery where Jacob was already working. Pilgrim walked in silently behind him, observing the baker’s happy demeanor. When he turned around his face was bright and full of life. His smile widened when his gaze landed on Pilgrim’s slim frame, the shadow covering the top of her face not budging even in direct sunlight

“Already back to work, Jacob?” Dumbledore chuckled softly, breaking the silence.

“Yes, I… I feel much better. All thanks to her.”

Pilgrim hasn’t moved, keeping her distance from both men. Jacob didn’t mind it at all. He bent over and took a small box from one of the bottom cabinets, handing it to her. When she opened it there was a chocolate cupcake inside with cut up strawberries and chocolate icing on top.

“I couldn’t figure out how to repay you for saving my life and professor Dumbledore mentioned you like strawberries, and chocolate…”

Pilgrim looked at Jacob and then at Albus who was standing next to her with a soft smile. Her lips parted in surprise.

“You noticed?”

Albus nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes.

“I noticed many things about you. You’re strong, adaptable and can be sweet. Like this cupcake.”

Her lips curled up in a soft, warm smile.

“It’s the first time you complimented me and it’s by comparing me to a cupcake…” She then turned to Jacob and smiled wider. “Thank you, Mr Kowalski.”

Jacob smiled too. It was a rare sight and probably the first time he ever saw it.

“Also, Pilgrim, I like how you pronounce my last name. It’s a small thing, but CO-VAL-SKI instead of CO-WALL-SKI… it sounds really sharp and confident.”

Pilgrim chuckled softly.

“I guess my accent will hunt me wherever I go…”

“It’s nice” Dumbledore chuckled and patted her shoulder gently. “Remember when I used to correct the way you said your name in class?”

Her smile faded away at that and she immediately moved away from his hand. It was noticeable that Albus struck a nerve with that question.

“Not really, professor” Pilgrim forced a soft smile. “I didn’t make many memories back there, I’m sorry.”

Albus moved his hand away, not wanting to press any further.

“Of course you didn’t.”

The girl nodded, trying to conceal how his words affected her.

“Are you staying in New York, professor?”

“I don’t think so.” Dumbledore thought for a moment. “I have classes to teach back in Hogwarts.”

“Right.” Pilgrim nodded again. “Then we’ll go back together. I miss Ophelia.”

The man smiled softly at her admission.

“Then we’ll go back together, Pilgrim.”

***

Abernathy burst into the room, but his expression became serious once he locked eyes with Grindelwald. The dark wizard was surrounded by other acolytes and it seemed like he interrupted something.

“Abernathy” Grindelwald addressed him and pointed to an empty chair. “You’re late.”

“I’m sorry” the man forced a nervous smile and sat down. Grindelwald observed him for a while before taking a deep breath and continuing his speech.

“As I said earlier, we managed to get one out of five artifacts I plan on acquiring. Another one is stored in the Brazilian Ministry of Magic, as ordered by our new Supreme Mugwump. Because taking the Amulet of Balaton made quite some noise in the Wizarding World we might need to lay low for a while. But I am already working on taking the remaining four artifacts...”

Abernathy waited until he looked away from him and leaned closer to Vinda, whispering.

“I think I found something.”

The woman looked at Grindelwald who was completely engrossed in his speech and then back to Abernathy.

“What did you find?”

“The city you told me about is not in Hungary, but in Germany. I managed to reactivate some old contacts with people from the Ministry of Magic there.” Abernathy whispered. “Those details you found were very useful. I have some old documents you might find interesting.”

Vinda thought for a moment and nodded.

“Alright. Bring them to my room. I’ll take a look at them later.”

The woman sat straight again just when Gellert turned to face them again. He watched as the acolytes left the room before he walked up to Vinda and spoke in a low voice.

“I need you in my study in an hour.”

The woman looked at him with surprise.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“You tell me.” Grindelwald moved closer, basically cornering her. She had no room to move away and had to endure his piercing gaze. “You don’t trust me.”

“I do.” Vinda said, trying her best to stay composed.

“Oh, really?” The man chuckled. “Then why are you asking Abernathy to look through old files? Those unrelated to our plan.”

Vinda thought for a moment, but her brain couldn't come up with an excuse. She decided to just be honest with him.

“I was curious.” She admitted. “I thought that maybe if I dig into it I could help you…”

Grindelwald’s eyebrow raised in surprise.

“Help me? I don’t need help.”

“You do.” Vinda’s expression softened slightly. “You’re constantly on edge, spending all your time on papers. And I noticed you haven’t been getting much sleep.”

“That’s none of your business. Are you questioning me?” He took a step back, but was still close.

She shook her head.

“No. I’m just worried. This whole plan is taking a toll on you and we need you to be ready and constantly prepared, not barely standing on his feet.”

Grindelwald thought for a moment.

“I am very capable of standing on my feet. And my plan is not taking any toll on me.”

“Don’t brush it off, Gellert.” Vinda straightened up, her voice firm. Grindelwald’s eyes widened at the use of his first name, but he didn’t comment on that. “We both know looking at Lita’s drawings in the corners of your notes is hard for you. I was hoping that maybe I can help you get it off your shoulders.”

He thought for a longer moment, his gaze dropping lower as he considered her words.

“Alright. You’re too nosy for your own good.” He sighed and turned to leave. “Come to my study in thirty minutes. Bring the files.”

Chapter Text

The sun was already down for an hour, but Lita couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned in her bed, the sheets not providing enough warmth to her liking. She huffed with annoyance, pulling the duvet to her nose. Suddenly the girl heard footsteps approaching her room and her eyes widened in anticipation. Lita's face lit up as soon as her father stepped into the room. She sat up straight and moved to the side of the bed a little, making space for him.

“Let me guess, little one… You want a bedtime story?” Grindelwald asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. The girl nodded and didn't waste a second, crawling onto his lap, nuzzling close. His body provided way more heat than the sheets and she was eager to savour it. The man chuckled and leaned back against the headboard, letting her snuggle against him. He knew how cuddly she was when she was sleepy, but he didn’t mind it one bit.

“Daddy…” Lita looked up at him, her expression visibly annoyed. “Do you have to leave again?”

Gellert nodded and pressed a soft kiss on top of her head. He hated leaving his baby girl with Julia, but he knew that his travels were not safe for a child.

“It's only for two weeks. I’ll be back before you notice. That's why today's story is special.”

Lita's eyes widened in anticipation. She loved the stories her father would tell her before putting her to sleep. Especially when it was before a trip. The man chuckled and wrapped his arm around her small body. He waited for her to get comfortable before speaking in a low, warm tone.

“Once upon a time there was a lake. At the shore, surrounded by trees and bushes, lived a witch. She was very powerful and her magic ensured stability in the water and on land surrounding it. When she got older she became worried about what would happen to nature if she died. That's why, to keep nature alive after she was long gone, she locked her power in an amulet she always wore. One day a very bad man decided to steal the amulet and its power from the witch…” The girl nuzzled closer into Gellert, sensing the mystery in his voice. The man chuckled softly, his grip around her tightening. “Are you scared, Litty?”

She shook her head, resting it on his shoulder.

“No.”

Grindelwald smiled, his hand moving to gently stroke her hair, an unconscious gesture that became his habit.

“Very well… As I was saying, a very bad man wanted to steal the magical amulet from the witch. At night he snuck inside her house and snatched it from her neck! And because the witch was already old she couldn’t stop him.”

Lita’s eyes widened and her fists clenched on the fabric of her dad’s shirt in anticipation.

“And what happened next?”

Grindelwald smirked, leaning closer to the girl, making her almost squirm from curiosity. 

“The man used the power inside the amulet to cross the lake. The land moved, creating a bridge which he immediately crossed. But the witch wasn’t stupid. Using the power she still had in herself she forced the dirt to get loose and the entire bridge collapsed into the lake, dragging the thief with it.”

The girl held her breath, snuggling closer.

“Did he die?” She asked shyly, already knowing the answer. Grindelwald nodded, trying to keep his expression neutral not to stress the little one.

“That's right. He drowned and the amulet went to the bottom of the lake with him. The witch never took it back from the water, worried that someone would steal it again. She thought it would be safer to keep it at the bottom of the lake. It was found only many years later and is now kept safely secured in a local monastery. They take it out only once each year and use its power to celebrate the first day of spring.”

Lita's eyes widened in interest, the death of the character completely forgotten.

“Is that where you’re going, daddy?” The girl asked, clearly interested.

“You’re a very perceptive little thing.” Grindelwald gently ruffled her hair. “I have some research to do in the area, that’s right.”

He didn’t want to go into the details. He just wanted to see how securely the said amulet was being stored and think about how to lay his hands on it in the future.

“Why can’t I go with you?” His daughter looked at him with those adorable puppy eyes she always did when she wanted something.

“Litty, you know it’s dangerous.” He kissed her forehead while still stroking her hair. “I will be back before you know it.”

The girl nodded hesitantly, clearly not pleased with being separated from her dad. But she knew better than to beg or throw a tantrum, he wouldn’t change his mind. He never did. He always avoided telling her what happened during those trips. As Lita grew older it became more frustrating, but she trusted him. She knew he had a reason for his secrecy and despite her annoyance she was already looking forward to spending time with him again. Maybe he’ll show her some fun spells? Grindelwald gently untangled himself from the embrace and pulled the duvet over her.

“Go to sleep, Litty. You need to have energy in the morning.”

“But you wouldn’t be here in the morning!” She huffed.

The man sighed and put a strand of her behind her ear.

“You know the deal, little one. I have to leave sometimes, but I always come back. And when I’m back you’ll have me all to yourself. Now sleep, Litty. Goodnight.”

Lita nodded, watching as he got up and started walking to the door. 

“Goodnight, daddy.” 

She knew the deal really well. After all, it’s always been this way. But when the door closed she already felt empty. The thought of spending two weeks alone with her mother wasn’t appealing and she dreaded it. In her mind she started counting down the hours left to seeing her dad again. Three hundred thirty-six left.

***

The file was exactly where Abernathy told Vinda it’ll be. She grabbed it, but didn’t go to Grindelwald right away. Instead she decided to sit outside for a few moments and breathe some fresh air. The weather was decent. The air was slightly cold, but it was normal in early May, especially in the mountains. Vinda took a few deep breaths, trying not to worry too much. She never got on Grindelwald’s bad side and hoped it wouldn't change.

“Miss Rosier, why are you so nervous?” She was approached by a guard. There were two of them in Nurmengard, but they always seemed to mind their own business and avoid getting involved in whatever the acolytes were working on. Vinda never managed to have a real conversation with any of them, so she was surprised that the man approached her.

“I’m not nervous.” Vinda answered, studying the man’s features. He seemed to be in his late 40s, had thick brown hair with hints of grey and a long moustache.

“I know when a lady is anxious.” The guard chuckled warmly and sat down next to her. “Is Mr. Grindelwald in a bad mood?”

Vinda thought for a moment and nodded. The guard chuckled again, clearly not bothered.

“He’s a real wild card, that’s for sure. But he trusts you, why are you worried?”

The woman thought for a moment. It was surprising to see someone not care about Grindelwald’s mood. She decided to pry a bit further.

“No reason. But you seem unbothered by his anger. Why is that?”

“I’ve known that man for over a decade now. I got used to his mood swings.” The man shrugged. “I’m Matthias, by the way. I don’t think I ever told you my name.”

Vinda nodded, taking in the information.

“It’s nice to meet you, Matthias. Tell me, how did you meet Grindelwald?”

Matthias thought for a moment, recalling his old memories.

“Oh, it was fifteen years ago when he first started gathering followers. He needed help building this place and I stepped in. And now I’m guarding it.”

“So you’ve known him for quite some time… Can you tell me something?” The woman asked, deciding to just be blunt.

“Of course, Miss Rosier.” Matthias nodded, waiting for her to speak.

“Does he have a family? A wife or a child, maybe?” She asked, pretending to just be curious.

“Do you have a crush on him?” The guard chuckled. “I’m kidding. But, shouldn’t you know things like that? You’re his right hand.”

Vinda sighed.

“Unfortunately I believe he didn’t trust me enough. But I saw those photos around Nurmengard and got curious.”

“I get it. But it’s a sensitive topic for our Gellert.” The man leaned closer to Vinda, lowering his voice. “I don’t know much, he only brought the girl here like two times when the construction was still ongoing. She was a real sweetheart, that little one. Fearless, well-behaved, full of that toddler innocence. And he was so attached to her it was heartwarming. But around a decade ago something happened.”

Vinda looked at Matthias with curiosity, gesturing for him to go ahead.

“Did she…”

“No, she didn’t die.” The guard reassured her. “Her mother and Gellert broke up. They weren’t married and she kicked him out, keeping the child. He took it badly, very badly. I remember there was a time he locked himself in his study for a week. After some time it got better, but the emptiness is still there. Then he went to New York, Paris and brought you all here with him. I believe having people around is doing some good for him, but it’s not the same.”

Vinda didn’t know what to say. The revelation gave her a whole new perspective on the situation and on Grindelwald himself. The puzzle slowly started to fall into pieces. But something was still missing.

“Do you know what happened to the girl?”

Matthias shrugged.

“No, I don’t. I don’t think even Gellert knows.” The man looked at his pocket watch and got up. “Time to get back to work. Have a nice day, Miss Rosier.”

She nodded, thanking the guard and got up, heading back inside. She held the file tightly in her arms, fighting the urge to open it. The halls seemed to never end, the nervousness eating her alive. When she finally stopped in front of the door of Grindelwald’s study she paused. Her mind was blank and she just stood there, taking a few deep breaths.

“I know you’re there.” She suddenly heard Grindelwald’s voice from the inside. “Come in.”

The woman took a deep breath and opened the door, walking inside. She closed the door behind herself and put the file on the desk. Grindelwald’s expression was neutral, not irritated or angry. It was a good sign. He chuckled and took the file, opening it. Before going through the documents he gestured for her to come closer.

“Let’s look through it together, shall we?”

Vinda grabbed a chair and sat down by his side, looking inside the folder. Grindelwald smirked and moved the chair closer to his own with magic.

“Don’t worry, dear. I’m not mad at you. You can sit closer.”

For some reason his words made the woman relax a bit. She sat more comfortably and looked at the documents inside the file. The first page was something she asked for specifically— a birth certificate of Lita Grindelwald. She was born on April 20th 1916 in the German city of Hannover, which aligned with what Vinda had already discovered. Grindelwald smirked, clearly amused.

“You did your research, Vinda. Good job.” He handed the birth certificate to the woman, letting her take a look at it. Under it was a marriage certificate of a woman named Julia Weber. She married a man named Christian Hofer in June 1924. Grindelwald looked at the wedding photo attached and scoffed, clearly not impressed. “ Erbärmlich… ” He muttered to himself and handed both documents to Vinda. 

“What?” The woman asked, curious about his reaction.

“My former partner. She remarried not even fully a year after parting ways with me… Foolish woman…” Grindelwald didn’t even try to hide his amusement and slight disgust. Vinda frowned and took the photo, looking at it with curiosity.

“That’s Lita’s mother?” She asked, trying to contain her disbelief. She didn’t want to be rude. Julia Weber was short and had a head full of dark curls. Her face was round, but her body looked slim in the wedding dress. She stole a glance at Grindelwald, wondering if that was really his type. It was surprising. In the photo, next to Julia was a visibly taller man with short dark hair, but his face was not visible. Vinda looked at Julia again and at the picture of Lita on the desk. She chuckled softly. “They have no resemblance. Aside from gender.”

“I know.” Grindelwald turned his attention to the documents again, seeing a parchment with Hogwarts seal on it. He took it and started reading. To his surprise it was an expulsion letter. It stated that due to security concerns Lita wouldn’t be able to continue her education. Only three staff members voted against expelling her, including headmaster Armando Dippet. He looked at the date and sighed. 15th November 1929. He handed the document to Vinda. “My little one got expelled quicker than I did.”

The woman looked at the letter and sighed as well.

“Being your daughter was probably the main security concern they had.”

“I am aware.” Grindelwald looked at the next document and froze, his smirk faltering. He took Julia’s death certificate and looked over it a few times to make sure he’s reading it right. She died on March 3rd 1926. His mind immediately started working on what happened to Lita, but then he remembered that Julia had remarried. She probably ended up living with her stepfather, the mere thought making Grindelwald grit his teeth. He should be the one raising her, not some guy named Christian who was probably Julia’s lover. Vinda noticed his expression and leaned closer, reading the document over his shoulder.

“She’s dead.” He said out loud, as if to confirm it.

“Do you think Lita stayed with him?” Vinda looked at him and leaned back a little, noticing how close she accidentally got.

“I don’t think she had a choice.” Grindelwald looked at the documents again, deep in thought. “It looks like they never moved out of Hannover. Probably stayed in the same house.”

Vinda turned her body towards him, getting an idea.

“I can go and check.” She said before she could think.

Grindelwald sighed and ran a hand through his hair, leaning back in his chair. He wasn’t happy about Vinda’s eagerness to dig into his past. But he really wanted to know more about his daughter’s life. Was she safe, happy, healthy? Did she even remember him? He was tired of making assumptions, so he nodded.

“Fine. You can go, but in two weeks. I am going to need you.”

***

When Ophelia woke up in the morning she noticed that someone was casually hugging her from behind. She looked down and immediately recognised Pilgrim’s tattooed arm. The girl was still deep asleep, visibly exhausted. Ophelia figured out that she must've gotten home quite late and had to sleep in. She carefully detangled herself from Pilgrim’s embrace and crawled out of bed, not wanting to wake up the other girl. Her plan was to make breakfast for them. But she spotted her father in the kitchen, already doing just that. His expression was serious as he sipped his morning coffee, the entire room filled with the aroma of scrambled eggs. His expression was grim and his gaze locked on his daughter as soon as she walked in.

“What’s wrong, dad?” Ophelia sat down at the table, taking a sip of coffee as well. She knew him well and could sense when something was bothering him.

“We have to talk about something important.” Garret said, but it seemed like he didn’t know how to approach the issue.

“About what?” Ophelia chuckled, trying to lighten the mood a little, but it didn’t work.

“Your girlfriend.” The man sighed and spoke again when his daughter opened her mouth. “And don’t give me that ‘we’re just friends’ crap. Friends don’t sleep with each other.”

The girl was speechless for a moment before regaining her composure.

“Okay… What about her?”

“This went too far.” Garret put his mug down. “She’s putting us both in danger. Do you seriously want to sacrifice your career because your girlfriend is a rotter?”

Ophelia sighed.

“She’s not a rotter. She just had to toughen up a bit, she had it hard in life. You said she can stay here until we can afford to move in together.”

The man threw his hands in the air in resignation.

“Of course she’s not a rotter. And I’m the Minister for Magic. Ophelia, my baby, you have a potential for a bright future. Do you seriously want to risk it for… her?”

She sighed, not sure how to respond. She looked in the direction of the stairs, hoping that Pilgrim was still asleep and didn't hear them, and then back at her father.

“Yes. Because I trust her judgement. And I’m her partner too, it’s my job to share her happiness and sadness.”

Garret scoffed.

“No, Ophelia. It went too far. Dumbledore was here four days ago. You didn’t mention it, but the neighbours told me. And what does your girlfriend do? Goes with him and disappears for a few days! Gets involved in the political situation when she should keep her head down. And what do you do? Encourage that behaviour! Have you thought about what would happen if she met… that rascal out there?”

Ophelia rolled her eyes.

“Dad, how was she supposed to meet him in New York? Also, she was with Dumbledore. She was helping him because, yes, I asked her to, but also because she has good inside her. She used her power to help a muggle, which she would never even consider before!”

Garret sighed, clearly not wanting to argue further. He looked at the clock, realising that he had to head out for work.

“Alright. But she’s gonna drag you to the bottom with her, mark my words!”

She watched him leave and when the door closed behind him she let out a sigh of relief. She hated arguing with her father, but deep down she knew he had a point. Still, her girlfriend was important to her and discarding her for a possible job felt wrong. She was always there for her, why should she stop now? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs.

“I thought he liked me…” Pilgrim walked up to Ophelia and sat down next to her at the table.

“You know how he is. He breathes, eats and lives his job. It's the most important thing for him.”

Pilgrim nodded, but Ophelia could see the hesitation in her eyes. She walked up to her and gave her a big hug. But the other girl pulled back soon, visibly contemplating something.

“Ophy…” She spoke up, her eyes drifting off in thought. “Maybe your father is right. I’m really endangering you.”

“Shut up.” Ophelia pulled her in a tight hug again. “I know you better than he does. Also, you know I’d go to the end of the world after you.”

Pilgrim smiled softly and didn’t pull back this time. Instead she wrapped her arms around Ophelia’s waist, burying her face in her stomach.

“You know you’re basically risking your life chance, right?”

“It’s not the first time.” Ophelia chuckled. “I’m not my father. I have other things I love besides my job.”

Pilgrim didn’t answer. She just let out a soft chuckle and closed her eyes, letting herself be held.