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every little thing
part one, crimes of grindelwald
chapter one, an auror with potential

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"MADAM PRESIDENT."

The greeting left Ada's chapped lips with profuse respect, they threatened to curve into a small smile as Seraphina Picquery turned to face the door through which Ada had just entered with Spielman and his colleagues in tow.

The President's dark eyes surveyed the scene before her, readjusting the navy blue hat that rested upon her buttery blonde hair that was pinned back neatly in a professional style in contrast to the young Auror before her whose wavy ebony hair cascaded across her shoulders as she gave the woman she so greatly admired a curt nod, before stepping back to allow Spielman to present himself.

"Thank you, Kaur." Picquery responded, a polite smile flashing across her lips and vanishing as quickly as it had appeared as her gaze moved from Ada to Mr Spielman, and she recalled why his presence was necessary in New York, thus no smile appeared on her lips upon greeting the man before her, "Mr Spielman."

"Madam President." Rudolph Spielman responded, nodding his head politely and took her hand in his, as a means of greeting her. Her lips remained pursed and her eyes showed no delight at his being there, much like the rest of the employees he had encountered in the few short minutes he'd been at MACUSA.

However, he couldn't blame them, they had fought valiantly over the last six months in attempt to sustain the custody of Grindelwald, believing that moving him overseas would prove to be too much of a threat to any involved. But he was confident — or rather, he was ignorant — he saw that it was fit for Grindelwald to answer for his crimes in Europe, and the Americans had done enough in holding him for so long when he was never their criminal to arrest. Out of courtesy, this was the way it had to be.

Ada observed the scene with eagle eyes. To an absentminded onlooker, the exchange between the President and Mr Spielman would be seen as civil and appropriate, given the circumstances and their ranks; but not to her. She saw the distaste with which President Seraphina Picquery removed her hand from that of Rudolph Spielman, she saw the slight flare of her nostrils and the minuscule glint of frustration in her coffee coloured irises. Just as she saw the crinkled brow of the silver-haired man opposite the President and the brief exhalations he emitted that conveyed little other than exhaustion, confirming the young Auror's suspicions that the tension hanging between the two political figures was weighing down on the elder man far more heavily than he desired.

"This is Knowles," The President went on, her free hand gesturing slightly behind her to summon Ellis Knowles, "He's from the Department of International Magical Communication, he'll take your team to the rooftop."

With a stiff nod in Spielman's direction, Ellis fixed his gaze on the team of Aurors that accompanied the older man and with need for any words, he led them from the room. Their rhythmical footsteps falling pleasantly in sync as they went, and slowly, the noise faded into the distance as they vanished.

Ada's dark eyes remained on the two figures not far from her, who stood opposite one another in heavy silence. The quiet continued, leaving Ada to wonder whether the two authoritarians before her had the capability to speak telepathically as no word — not even a slight murmur — had left either person's lips yet their eyes were glued to that of the other person.

The ice cold blue irises of Spielman threatened to freeze the warm, pooling brown of the President's which were charged with the same fiery curiosity as they fought back attempting to thaw the coldness of his eyes; both kept looking as tough the other's true feelings and intentions would be found beneath the protective shield that their eyes cast.

Feeling particularly out of place  in the situation and not yet having been dismissed, Ada lingered a moment before breaking the deafening silence with a casual clearance of her throat which screamed a thousand excuses for the two people to allow her to leave the room.

The Kaur girl could have sworn that she felt a surge of heat sweep over her as the President's gaze landed upon her. Realising that she attracted the attention she had desired, Ada straightened up and clasped her hands behind her back with her head up and shoulders down, not meeting Picquery's gaze as the following words left her lips:

"Kaur, you can go down to the basement and meet Abernathy, we'll be with you shortly."

With a vacant, yet obedient, nod in the direction of her employer, Ada replied, "Of course, Madam President."

       Before, she proceeded to escape the room at the quickest pace that her legs could carry her, inhaling sharply as she turned a corner, allowing her lungs to recover from that suffocating affair.

***

Ada desperately attempted to shake the shrill cackles of the incarcerated criminals she had just passed by as she continued her journey to Grindelwald's cell.

Guards lined the hallway leading up to the room where the darkest wizard known to the Wizarding world sat imprisoned, helpless and as determined as ever. The poker-faced guards kept their gazed forward and emotionless as Ada strode past them, her head high and heart pumping.

She calmed slightly at the sight of the locked door at the end of the corridor, shoulders relaxing as she noticed her fellow colleague peering into the cell before him.

"Abernathy." Ada said, the silence of the corridor making her statement sound more like a yell.

Upon hearing his title, Abernathy turned to the younger Auror, closing the small sliding door that provided view into the cell Grindelwald was confined. He clasped his hands before his back as Ada went to stand adjacent to him, leaning on the wall on the other side of the entrance to the cell, emitting a small sigh.

"Kaur." He replied, with a small nod, sparing her a quick glance but otherwise keeping his gaze firmly forward, looking down the long corridor before them.

"The President and Spielman are on their way down." Ada explained, rolling her shoulders back and moving off the wall to her full height which was about an inch taller than Abernathy in the heels she was wearing.

Her gaze drifted to the dark metallic door on her left, remembering how Abernathy had been looking in. "Is he ready?"

"Secured and ready." Abernathy replied, with a short nod, still looking firmly ahead, a stance which Ada mirrored, her hand glued to her wand that was clutched by her side.

"So, at last he's leaving this place." Abernathy broke the silence between the pair, his gaze faltering towards to bewitching women on his right.

"Yeah." She got out with a slightly derisive chuckle, shaking her head as her gaze fell to the floor. "Stupidest decision I ever heard."

Clearly not expecting the response she gave, Abernathy turned with his eyebrows quirked, "What makes you say that?"

With a furtive glance along the corridor at the many guards lined, Ada gave a light huff before giving her wand a gentle flourish and casting a nonverbal imperturbable charm, allowing for their conversation not to be overheard. Her wand arm dropped to her side as she went on to explain.

        "They're underestimating him." The lack of change in Abernathy's expression beckoned her to continue, "It's the Europeans; they're ignorant." She gave another derisive chuckle, "They think he won't find a way out."

"But we've gone to extreme lengths to contain him, we've done all we can." Abernathy argued, still half curious to hear Ada's retort.

"Exactly." Ada explained, Abernathy sent her a confused look and she gave a sharp exhale of frustration. and they're content with that. "We've done all we can, we're not doing all we can. They think they've done enough and they've stopped."

Her argument made all that more sense to Abernathy, she was right. They'd given into their pride; sure, they'd done all they could to restrain him but over the previous months they'd become more lax and satisfied with their efforts — they'd let their guard down.

Ada reached for the small sliding door that separated Gellert Grindelwald from the outside world and there he sat.

He was so still; Ada wasn't completely sure whether he was blinking or not. His skin was pale and starved as one would expect after not seeing sunlight for six months.

"He may be motionless but I can see right through him." The younger witch said to her colleague, coldly, sliding the door shut harshly. "He'll stop at nothing, so why have we?"

She quirked her eyebrow, patiently waiting for Abernathy's response to her theory. His mouth opened slight but before any noise could leave him, Ada's attention had been grasped by other voices progressing in their direction.

"—You'll be glad to be rid of him, I expect."

Spielman's voice carried through the corridor Ada flourished her wand, discreetly, muttering a simple incantation, "Finite!"

The imperturbable charm she had cast a minute or so previously ceased to exist and the two colleagues resumed their professional stances, bordering either side of the cell door.

"You're right."

Ada shot Abernathy a quick glance, grateful that someone had been able to see her point of view when so many Aurors above her station were adamantly dismissive of her concerns.

"We'd be more than happy to keep him here in custody." Seraphina Picquery's voice responded to that of Rudolph Spielman as Ada's gaze landed upon the two authoritarians, rigidly moving toward herself and Abernathy.

Spielman quickly countered the President's retort, tiredly, "Six months are enough. It's time for him to answer for his crimes in Europe."

His tone was almost pitying as if he had finally given in to the President's objections to moving Grindelwald but the arrangement were already in place and his opinion on the matter meant much less than it did in the months prior to this night.

The President and her companion stopped in their tracks just before they reached their younger colleagues. Abernathy stepped forward:

"President Piquery." He said, respectfully. "Mr Spielman, sir. Prisoner is secured and ready to travel."

Spielman moves to his gaze to Madam Picquery who gestured her head toward the cell, encouraging for him to look at the prisoner he was due to collect.

The older gentleman obeyed her silent verbal, causing both Ada and Abernathy to step back from the door slightly, as he took the edge of the sliding door in his hand and unsealed it. Madam Picquery was soon at his side and the two peered into the cell of Grindelwald.

"You've thrown everything at him, I see." Spielman remarked, his gaze remaining on the prisoner.

"It was necessary." The president excused, "He's extremely powerful." She added with a cool exhalation, "We've had to change his guard three times — he's very ..." Her speech faltered, "persuasive."

Her voice adopted a cool edge that confused the German wizard, he hesitated and stepped back from the door, looking at the two Aurors who remained bordering the door, and as he expected the female was the one to bring him some clarity.

"So we removed his tongue." Ada clarified, her tone in tandem with that of the President's; cold as ice and a small smirk threatening to spill into her chapped lips.

Despite her façade guarding her smirk well it must not have done enough as Rudolph Spielman returned it at the young witch, a light chuckle barely audible forming in the back of his throat.

He looked back at the President, his eyes glinting with a new fire of determination, "Shall we?"

Picquery shared the same smirk with the visitor and ceased to make a response but the harsh sound of the sliding door slamming shut was enough to answer the proclamation.

***

"The Wizarding community worldwide owes you a great debt, Madam President." Spielman informed the President with a small bow of his head - almost having to shout over the thrashing wind and rain.

The duo stood face to face at the side of the hearse-like black carriage. Two other Aurors climbed into the driver's seat where they found the reins to the eight Threstrals drawing the carriage.

Ada watched the encounter meticulously, her brown eyes narrowed at Spielman's smirk as he made to turn into the carriage.

Before she could think twice or fully process the extent of her words, she found herself stepping forward to the President's side to address the man.

"Do not underestimate him."

"Kaur." The President scolded in an almost motherly tone, her normally strict gaze melting upon looking at Ada.

"Sorry, Madam President." The younger Auror apologised automatically, her sights set on the floor and her hands clasped behind her back.

Spielman looked on the two women, his smirk having faded upon Ada's words. He, now, looked the President for affirmation.

"She's right, Mr Spielman." Picquery responded, much to Ada's surprise as her head shot up and she looked at the President, relief evident in her stance.

However, Ada wouldn't be the only Auror to interrupt the farewell between the two government officials - Abernathy approached his colleagues with haste.

"Mr Spielman, we found his wand hidden away." Abernathy informed the older man and without anything else obediently handed over the black rectangular box - no doubt, containing the wand.

Madam Picquery's was still fixed upon him, expectantly. "Abernathy?" She prompted with a hard gaze, as he responded with a sharp nod.

"And we found this."

Abernathy withdrew a vial from his pocket and held it out in the palm of his hand, the vial held some glowing gold substance. It seemed innocent enough — but knowing that it had come from Grindelwald made it all the more sinister. Everything and anything could be corrupted by that man even without his voice - just looking at it made Ada's stomach turn.

Her brain buzzed with a dozen questions that she knew better than to ask, as Spielman reached for the chain of the vial which lay as a pool of gold in Abernathy's palm.

As Spielman's hand came into contact with the object, Abernathy hesitated before opting to let it go.

Ada's eyebrows furrowed, her gaze now fixed on her colleague. She saw his whole body tense and an uneasy twitch of the eyebrow was enough to inform that Abernathy was hiding something. She squared her jaw and replayed the situation over in her head, her gaze never once leaving him.

Spielman clutched the vial tightly in his hand and quickly boarded the carriage. A series of padlocks emerged from the carriage doors and clicked into place with the bloodcurdling sound of churning metal.

The MACUSA employees also retreated to the walls of the roof top, as the carriage prepared for takeoff.

The sharp cry of Yah! echoed out into the storm accompanied by a loud whip crack signified the departure of the carriage as thunder boomed in the distance.

The Threstrals cantered off towards the end of the rooftop and flew off into the night with the yells of the drivers accompanying them on their way.

Ada found herself watching the figure of her colleague who was patiently walking to the edge of the roof, his own gaze fixed on the carriage growing smaller in the distance.

"You're right, Ada." His sudden acknowledgment of her presence surprise her. "He will stop at nothing."

Ada nodded as she stood to the left of her colleague, her own gaze now matching his as it followed the carriage in the night. "And neither will I."

A strange chuckle left Abernathy accompanied by a voice that was not his own, "At last an Auror with some potential."

Ada was taken aback once more and turned to face her colleague in confusion, "I'm sorry?"

"I hope you'll enjoy the chase." Abernathy responded, a newly established British accent dripping from his words. "I know I will."

Ada's green eyes widened as they saw the figure before her begin to morph — Abernathy's dark hair began to turn white at the tips, and his height began to tower over her. And of course, no one could miss the iconic instrument in his grasp that had caused chaos all over the world.

"Grindelwald."

"Your fellow Aurors said you were the perceptive one, Miss Kaur." Gellert Grindelwald spoke calmly, as the last of features finished morphing. "Honestly, I'm disappointed that it took you so long."

Ada stood barely two feet from him — one of the most powerful wizards in the world, who would probably kill her in a heartbeat, so why hadn't he?

"But I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunity to change my mind." He flashed her a smile that lasted but a second.

She was paralysed to the spot, contemplating whether it was his magic or his presence that caused it. He reached forward, his hand ghosting her left cheek; the hair on the back of her neck immediately stood on end.

Everything in her screamed at her to run but her body would not cooperate.

He turned his body away from her with a small smirk, his gaze following the carriage once more. "Until we meet again, Ada."

Before Ada could make sense of any of his words, she found that he had vanished from her sight.

Her breathing was laboured and she blinked hard, finding it hard to believe that her thoughts had become reality. 

Another flash of lightning brought the young Auror back into reality. Her brown eyes darted back into focus and assessed the gravity of the situation that had just occurred.

"I'm so getting fired." Ada groaned, digging both her hands frustratedly into her hair, looking around her for any form of advice in how to handle her debacle.

Without another moment of hesitation, Ada ran with all her might, withdrawing her wand as she went; "Madam President!"