How a Niffler Caused Ripples In Time
November 14th 1926
Percival-
Percival had just finished brewing his tea for the morning. He straightened his tie and made sure his lapel pins were uniform. He stirred in two sugars and a dash of cream into his tea. There were several meetings planned for the day. And Percival didn't want to be too energized. That was why Percival didn't drink coffee very often. It left him feeling way too high strung. And as an Auror that was really saying something. Grabbing his cup and the morning paper Percival turned to move into the sitting room.
At that exact moment Percival was frozen...his body couldn't move. A dark shape moved out of his bedroom and came into his field of vision. A dark chuckle sounded.
"My, you are a hard man to catch defenseless Mr. Graves." Grindelwald said.
"Grindelwald, I'd say it was good to see you. Accept you weren't invited to my flat and you're a criminal." Percival replied, dryly.
For the life of him Percival couldn't understand why Grindelwald would be so brazen. Grindelwald was a criminal on everyone's most wanted list. So why would he show up in the flat of the DMLE head? Surely, whatever Grindelwald wanted from him wasn't worth the risk?
"I know you must be very confused right now Mr. Graves. But you see I need something from you and your simply in my way." Grindelwald said.
He grabbed at Percival's coat carefully unpinning his scorpion lapels.
"I hear your always wearing these....I have to look the part don't I? I need your face and your job love. Don't worry Percival I will do you justice I promise." Grindelwald whispered in his ear.
Percival couldn't keep the look of horror off of his face. A carbon copy of Percival stood before him. All accept the clothes as they were what the other man had been wearing. A manic grin appeared on his face as Grindelwald fastened the pins to his coat. He then disappeared into Percival's bedroom leaving a horrified and shocked man in his wake. Oh, Merlin...why did he need those things? What was Grindelwald going to do while wearing Percival's face? Panic bloomed in his chest as he tried to move...he knew it was unlikely. But he had to try damn it! No matter how hard he willed his body nothing moved.
Grindelwald returned holding a small silver trinket box. It was a courting gift from his father to his mother. He watched helplessly as Grindelwald started etching runes into the bottom of the box.
"What are you doing? Please stop that's my mother's. I have very little left of my parents." Percival begged.
He hated how weak he's sounded in that moment. But if Grindelwald wasn't going to kill him, there was always the chance of escaping later on. And Percival wanted at least a few items saved. He didn't want Grindelwald defiling them. That box, his lapel pins, and a scant few photos were all that Percival had. Everything else was replaceable...but those items weren't.
"Hush now, I'm making it perfect for you. And if it works on you Mr. Graves...it'll work on him just as well." Grindelwald replied.
Who was this him? What was this crazy psycho going to do to Percival? He didn't even look up when talking to him. Grindelwald finished the etchings and placed the box on the counter next to Percival. The last thing he saw was a smirking Grindelwald wearing his face. Percival's vision blurred as he heard glass shatter. His body hit the floor with a sickening thud.
"Tsk, tsk you've made such a mess."
There was no reply as Percival fell unconscious. Grindelwald levitated Percival over to the trinket box. A simple flick of the Elder wand and the lid clicked open revealing an ornate mirror. A whispered spell later. And a brilliant flash of light and Percival Graves was trapped within it's gilded walls. Closing the lid Grindelwald picked up the small box and left the apartment. Walking down the hall and down the side stairs he left the building quickly. Vinda Rosier was waiting patiently near the outside door.
"Take this to the hideout, I'm in a hurry. I don't want to be late for my new job." Grindelwald said.
He all but shoved the small box into her hands before apparating away. She put it in her handbag and walked away.
December 6th 1926
Vinda Rosier was many things but forgetful wasn't one of them. She was the exact opposite even, but that didn't explain why she had forgotten about the box. The trinket box her Lord had tasked her with was still in her handbag. Vinda owned many expensive bags but it had been awhile since she'd used this one. Thankfully her Lord hadn't mentioned it or noticed why it wasn't in the hideout. Either way she was very grateful. She respected her Lord but had zero desire to be punished for her failure.
She had a quick meeting with one of their spies at Steen National Bank today. Afterwards she would drop it off and think nothing of it again. Hopefully her Lord would remain none the wiser about it. She apparated to an alley nearby the bank. A short walk down the block and around the corner brought her to a protest group. Vinda scowled at them not only were they in her way. But what they were saying about magicals was unacceptable. Those filthy mongrels were the problem! She couldn't wait until her Lord set them all straight. Oh, what a glorious future it would be!
Until then she would wait for her Lord's orders. Otherwise Vinda would've given them something to truly be afraid of. She walked past a sandy blonde haired man with a suitcase. A dark haired man was standing next to him. They seemed to be rooted to the spot and hadn't noticed her. Stepping around the crowd and climbing the steps Vinda entered the bank. Sitting on a designated bench for her meeting. She placed her handbag on the floor after pulling out a book on sentient wards. A few minutes later a murmur passed through the crowded bank. Vinda looked up to see the blonde man looking around the bank anxiously. Vinda was so focused on the strange man that she never noticed her bag moving.
Teddy The Niffler-
A mischievous Niffler was rummaging through a handbag. Shiny coins soon made their way into his pouch as well as a shiny silver box. He then spotted some really shiny buckles on a woman's shoe. The Niffler jumped out of the handbag. His tiny nails clicked on the floor as he made a running jump to grab the shoe buckles. There were so many shiny things here how could a Niffler refuse? His frazzled human spotted Teddy. Moving as fast as his tiny feet would go he swiped every piece of shiny things he could. Screams broke out as Teddy grabbed a necklace right off a woman's throat. She fainted, while everyone was watching the woman. Teddy ran until he saw a cart...shiny coins had slipped out of a bag all over the bottom of the cart. He jumped on and started shoving as many coins into his pouch as he could. His human came into sight again...which only made Teddy fill his pouch faster. After a short ride on the elevator Teddy hopped off the cart. A big shiny funny looking door came into view.
Teddy taped his snout against the door and sniffed cautiously. He pulled back and caught sight of his human again at the end of the hall. Moving fast Teddy squeezed into the vault door. In the middle was the biggest stack of shiny gold bricks. Teddy ran to the top and started shoving the shiny bricks into his pouch. He stopped and listened as the a clicking noise sounded. A strange loud noise radiated through the air. The weird door flew open to reveal his human stood in the doorway. Teddy only managed to get half a shiny brick into his pouch. Before his human snatched him up out of the pile.
Newt-
Newt Scamander was not having a very good day he'd finally caught his mischievous little friend. And now he had to get the hell out of this bank! He apparated away outside with Jacob and Teddy. Newt grimaced as he he'd forgotten to empty Teddy's pouch before leaving. Apparating back into the lobby Newt started tickling Teddy. While he was busy with that Newt didn't notice that his suitcase had opened. A small baby Niffler tumbled to the ground and into the open lid of a trinket box. The lid clicked shut unnoticed. Grabbing his case and hugging Teddy to his chest. Newt apparated away again.
3rd Party POV-
In the chaos of the crowded room a muggle man picked up the trinket box and pocketed it.
Percival-
Percival awoke to dense darkness in every direction he looked in. Where was the hell was he? Looking down at himself he wondered if Grindelwald had taken his wand. He checked to find his wand holster still secured to his arm. Pulling out his wand, Percival tried to apparate back to his apartment. Nothing happened at all frowning in confusion he tried a Finite Incantatem. Nothing happened again. His wand didn't even light up alarmed and frustrated he let out an annoyed huff.
Had anyone noticed he was missing yet? Or the better question, did anyone notice that he wasn't himself? Surely Grindelwald couldn't fake Percival's mannerisms that well? Somebody had to notice that the fake Percival was acting wrong? But given that he was only close with Seraphina his coworkers might not be able to tell the difference. Surely Seraphina would notice...and look for him right??
How long had he been in here? Shouldn't he be hungry by now? And yet he wasn't...not even a little bit. This place was so strange, annoyed he stood up and started walking. If Percival could find a wall he could find a door. After walking for what seemed like forever he started running. Yet Percival never found a wall no matter how much he tried. At most he just felt tired now. Shaking his head he tried yelling and screaming into the encroaching darkness. Then out of nowhere a bright light appeared overhead from the...ceiling?? A tiny Niffler dropped from the ceiling. It landed on Percival's head, scrambling to get a hold of the creature. It dodged his hand and dove under his coat collar. He fell to the floor clutching at his coat. Feeling tiny claws on his skin Percival squirmed and tried stopping the Niffler from moving.
Deftly it evaded Percival and popped his head out of his dress shirt. It climbed out of his shirt and hung off of his gold coat buttons. He finally got the creature in his grasp after the sacrifice of a button. It must still be a baby yet as the tiny creature fit in the palm of his hand. Well, at least he wasn't alone in the darkness anymore.
December 4th 1977
Mrs. Jean Evans was shopping in an antique store near Cokesworth, England. Her daughter Petunia was getting married later this month a few days shy of Christmas. She loved her daughter dearly. But she could do far better than Vernon Dursley. The man's personality alone was bland and unimaginative. That and he seemed to dislike anything unnatural, or Vernon's definition of unnatural anyway. Why couldn't she have met a nice boy like her darling Lily did?
Sure wizarding culture was a bit odd in comparison to theirs. But at least Lily had found herself a rich Lord. Jean always wondered if Petunia was doing this out of spite. Petunia had been so jealous when she was told Lily was special. Up until that day the two of them had been inseparable. They were always together laughing and filling the house with joy. Now they couldn't stand each other. Was Petunia blatantly settling for a bland and boring man all because Lily had picked someone like James? She really wanted to understand Petunia's choice.
Sighing she walked down the aisle browsing for anything eye catching. Jean had almost given up hope of finding anything at all. But then she saw a display case to her left. The case had all kinds of jewelry and other trinkets. But what had caught her attention the most was a small silver trinket box. It sat on top of an ornate pillow in the very center. Getting the attention of the clerk. Jean watched as the box disappeared under gold and white tissue paper.
No, she would never understand Petunia's choice. But she hoped that once Petunia had some space. Her girls could eventually make up. Mrs. Evans later gave the trinket box to her daughter as a wedding gift.
December 22nd, 1977
Petunia Dursley wasn't happy at all! This was her special day and yet it didn't feel very special at all. She could tell her parents didn't approve of Vernon. But the least they could do was act happy for her. They acted like they were at a funeral! Vernon was normal and the furthest thing from magical. She wanted nothing to do with her sister's freaky life. In the past she'd been as excited as Lily had been. But then Petunia found out she couldn't go with Lily. Which really crushed Petunia as they had once been so close.
They grew apart as they attended different schools. Her parents started acting differently, it always seemed like they preferred Lily to her. They were so proud of Lily and when it came to Petunia. Well, it was almost like being forgotten...like not being good enough. So Petunia swore she would have nothing to do with the wizarding world. So she found the most normal man she could find. Was their relationship perfect, to her it certainly was. She doubted her parents would even miss her really. She'd been planning this wedding for months. But all her parents could talk about was what Lily's wedding would be like! And if wizards married differently...it was like being forgotten all over again.
To make it worse her thrifty mother had the audacity to give her this horrid present. A second hand trinket box, it wasn't even big enough to put more than a few pieces of jewelry in! The nerve of that woman! If it was her precious Lily's wedding, her mother would've spared no expense! But since it was Petunia she got an antique box! Even in this she felt slighted for her sister. Narrowing her eyes in distaste she shoved it back into the bag.
Upon returning to the apartment the two shared, she stuffed the bag into the back of her closet.
In the Spring of 1978 Petunia and Vernon moved to 4 Privet Drive in Surrey. As for the trinket box, well it ended up in a box in their garage. Sometime later Vernon took the box up to the attic where it remained.
October 31st 1981
Albus Dumbledore took the sleeping babe out of Hagrid's arms. Pulling the Deluminator from his pocket he clicked it a few times. The street lamps darkened one at a time ahead of him. Slowly he approached number 4 Privet Drive. Halfway to the door he was met by a disgruntled tabby cat.
"Albus, we can't leave him here with them! I've been watching them all day and they are the worst sort of muggles!" Minerva said.
"Surely they can't be that bad Minerva. They are the only family he has left. He will need the protection of the blood wards now more than ever." Dumbledore replied.
He gently placed Harry into the basket one the steps. He placed a letter into the side of the basket. Albus took out his wand and placed a long lasting heating charm on the blanket. He spared the child a final look. This poor babe had no idea how important he was to this world.
He reminded himself that this was what was best for everyone. Albus really hoped Minerva was wrong about these people.
Albus wouldn't know until much later just how wrong he'd been.