Unstoppable

That voice. It sent adrenaline running through his veins, making him shiver slightly. This was not just any powerful wizard; this was Grindelwald. The man Percival and the entire international wizarding community had been working tirelessly to stop. And he was only a few feet in front of him. It was agonizing. Percival could have done it, he could have arrested Grindelwald just like that, if only he had been more prepared. He could have saved his aurors' lives. Now he could hear footsteps approaching at a leisurely pace, a pair of black shoes crushing leaves underfoot. Immediately Percival raised his arm, trying desperately to cast some sort of defensive spell. It was, of course, unsuccessful. In his weakened position, body still wracked from the curses, all Percival could do was lie there and wait for the slowly approaching dark wizard.

The footsteps stopped and Percival looked up to see one of the most powerful, darkest wizards of all time staring down at him, vaguely amused. He was studying him with a hint of a smirk on his face, scanning up and down Percival's body. Graves was twitching, the potent curses still sending aftershocks through him. He lay in a heap on the ground, his usually impeccable coat and clean white shirt were ripped and singed by the onslaught of spells flung at him. Leaves and dirt clung to his person, and his slicked hair had fallen out of place, black tendrils falling over his sweat-stained face. He closed his eyes, squeezing them shut and trying to force himself to think of a plan. As it turned out, he could not move, couldn't even roll onto his side away from the other wizard's gaze. The impulse to fight black, stand up, attack was overwhelming but there was simply no way. Especially now, with Grindelwald standing directly over him.

"Not bad, Mr. Graves, but I would have expected more from one of MACUSA's best."

Yes, the fight had been anticlimactic. A strike from behind, the element of surprise. Coward, Percival thought. Indeed, all things being equal he would have had a chance, he likely could have arrested Grindelwald, brought him to justice. Humiliation boiled in the pit of his stomach as Percival replayed his mistakes in his head. Grindelwald had slipped through his fingers. He should have been more prepared. It was his fault that his aurors had died. It was his fault. It was his fault.

Grindelwald let out a tiny smirk. "Percival Graves. Director of Magical Security, son of the illustrious Graves family. President's right-hand man." He inspected Percival's wand, absentmindedly twirling the sleek ebony between his fingertips.

The formerly impressive Director was lying on the ground, unable to do anything against the dark wizard but glare up at him. He tried to speak, but the effort was too great. Instead, his authoritative stare seemed to silently communicate to Grindelwald promises of retribution.

Grindelwald's eyes were shining, black with cruelty and intention. He started right back.

"Quite a disappointing variety in spells for such an industrious man. Perhaps a bit slow on the reaction time too, hmm?" Grindelwald tapped Graves's wand against his chin. He used it to gesture to the bodies of Percival's aurors, laid out in the frostbitten leaves. "I hope you don't mind receiving some constructive criticism. Overall, I would say, an impressive dueller, Mr. Graves."

Then, abruptly: "Of course, I know you're a powerful man, Director." Grindelwald said, circling around Percival's strewn out body. "I've made an excellent choice, don't you think?" Percival didn't know what Grindelwald wanted, but he recognized the situation he was in. Percival was an incredibly powerful person in the American wizarding community, lying at the feet of a madman craving power. He started to struggle, surprised at his newfound energy, fear, guilt and anger raging inside.

Grindelwald just watched him. He crouched next to the body squirming noiselessly on the ground, and lazily pointed his wand in the Director's face. Percival froze, staring at the dark wizard's wand, and Grindelwald laughed.

"Ah, so now you realize your position. I win, Mr. Graves." With that, Grindelwald stood up and brushed himself off, his wand still trained directly at Percival. "Crucio" he said simply. It wasn't long before Percival lost consciousness, his body trembling and crackling with the curse. Grindelwald smiled. He yanked Percival up and they Disapparated, leaving the bodies of aurors strewn over the park for Grindelwald's supporters to dispose of.