most vicious creatures

The moonlight filtered through the trees in the forest where Senior Auror Cressida Corner and two of her subordinates, MacMillan and Bloomwell, were hiding. They were waiting for Bones and Edgecomb to return. 

The British Department of Magical Law Enforcement had gotten intel that Grindelwald’s fortress allegedly called Nurmengard was situated somewhere in the Black Forest, Germany. Head Auror Scamander had trusted her with this mission and so far it was going smoothly. 

According to sources, Nurmengard had been abandoned. This is where Grindelwald had hid and that there is a chance they might still find leads. Grindelwald was a sneaky bastard. He had killed thousands of muggles and wixen alike in a series of massacres, starting from the February of 1914. 

Cressida had been in her second year of the Academy when she had gotten the news that her mother and brother had been killed in an attack on a village in present day Austria. That was the first attack. 

Her father had died prior to that in the Dragon Pox pandemic. She had wondered for a long time who had killed them, and then in the summer of 1916, Grindelwald revealed himself. 

It was to taunt the ministries and the ICW about how they had not yet caught him. To rub more salt in their wounds he sent his own mugshots to the news agencies to be published. 

Cressida had vowed then and there that she would be the one to bring him to justice. For the past twelve years she thought of nothing but revenge. 

She had concerned aunts and uncles and cousins she had forgotten, she had friends she had lost. But she didn’t care because she knew it would be worth it in the end. 

Bones and Edgecomb came back. Cressida, MacMillan, and Bloomwell straightened themselves. “Well?” she asked with authority. 

“It’s abandoned.” Edgecomb nodded scratching his nose

“The sources were right after all.” Bones smiled with satisfaction, it was her spies that had brought the news. 

Cressida reviewed the information in her mind. “We still need to investigate.” she needed to see it for herself. 

Bloomwell raised his eyebrow “Are we sure it’s abandoned?”

“Are you doubting my words Auror Bloomwell?” Bones challenged 

“No, Auror Bones, I am just being cautious.” Bloomwell snapped back

Cressida didn’t want to hear their bickering, not today of all days, not when they had found Grindelwald’s hideout, “Enough.” she snapped.

Everyone stopped talking and stood up straight. “Start walking and keep your wands at ready, and apparate at the first sign of danger.” 

After a while and much discussion they started towards the abandoned castle. Cressida could feel the feelings of ecstasies sparking within her heart. She was close, so close. She had lost so much that day her mother and brother died, a part of her had died with them. 

She had a feeling that this was it, this would help them find Grindelwald. She led her team quietly through the large garden that led to the fortress. They were spread out, casting diagnostic spells to check for traps. 

It was easy, too easy. She knew something was wrong, she stopped and raised her hand in a motion that signalled them to stop. They did, she then signalled them to observe and tread carefully. There was something off. 

It was too late. From the corner of her eyes she saw a hooded person who pointed their wand, and she couldn’t even warn her team before the blue fires shot out burning everything. 

This is how her mother and brother had died. She screamed, she felt it in her throat but she couldn’t hear it. Everything hurt, her skin, her nerves, her bones. 

Her mother’s warm embraces. Her father ran behind as she rode a broom for the first time. Her brother’s smile. Three broomsticks with friends long forgotten. Kissing a boy in fifth year. 

Lying down on the grass of the Yorkshire countryside, hearing the insects. The feeling of snow falling on her face as she walks back up to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade. Her small house in the countryside of Yorkshire where her parents and brother were waiting for her.