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With Grindelwald's escape, the Minister of Magic increased auror patrols. A poor response to the public's widespread panic but what else could he do? This led to both Ariadne and Reuben strolling through the streets of Diagon Alley. The morning had been eventful. Ariadne had woken up just before dawn to collect her portkey before rushing to Newt's house. She had found the pair sprawled out across his couch. A wonderful sight that Ariadne had the displeasure of disrupting. Right before the sky could turn blue, both Newt and Jacob arrived in Paris. Now all she had to do was make sure that her contact with Franklin Selwyn would be limited to none to save herself from suspicion.
"Do you think you'll be able to capture him again?" Reuben questioned as they wandered close to the side of the street. It had just rained, the cobblestone wet and muddy. The grey clouds had painted the sky and people were rushing past. Ariadne gave him a look, not quite knowing what he meant. "Weren't you the one who captured Grindelwald in the first place?"
"I had help," Ariadne said, not wanting to discredit those who were with her that day. "And I do hope so. He's gaining more and more followers with each day."
"I suppose that is the Ministry's fault?" Reuben commented, causing Ariadne to lift an eyebrow. If she were to take Reuben to Travers right now, he would be sure that she had corrupted him. "I mean if arresting innocent civilians isn't going to make people more inclined to follow Grindelwald-"
There was something about the way he so casually brought it up that irked the woman, "And I agree, but you have to be careful who you share these opinions with, especially at the office."
He furrowed his brows together, "Do they not agree?"
"Most do. But if you were to say that in front of Travers, he would make sure you never set foot inside the auror office again. And then kick me out for good measure." As Reuben opened his mouth to retort, Bailey stumbled from behind them. His breaths were heavy and he was clinging onto his knees. He had been hastily searching for the pair, trying to catch his own breath as his job was done. Ariadne grabbed his arm, helping him stand up straight, the shock of seeing him not settling yet.
"Wilton found your father," he panted out, voice just above a whisper, "We need you there." Before she could answer, Bailey grabbed Reuben's arm, apparating the pair away from the familiar streets and unknowingly thrusted them into battle. A blast separated Ariadne from Bailey as she instinctively pulled Reuben with her.
Currently situated behind a large stone used for decoration, Ariadne's eyes darted around, examining her surroundings. Remnants of a rally showed, the vast landscape was enough to hold hundreds of people who wanted to listen to the words of Grindelwald. He wasn't here. But he was. Wilton was in pursuit of Silas Nott, the two engaging in a duel. He looked the same and Ariadne couldn't believe she was standing so close to him.
Theseus stood on the opposite side, further away than Ariadne would have liked. He held his wand out, sending charms towards two of Grindelwald's followers. Ariadne's heart was pounding in her ears, the smell of dust filling the air. The countryside was now inflicted with violence and bloodshed, a once peaceful scene ruined by the two groups. The tall columns shielded aurors as they stood behind it, the beauty of the green grass beyond them. Bricks shattered on the floor, thrown by blasts of energy. Arches crumbled beneath the weight of the roof, decorating the grounds of the small muggle church.
"You stay with me. If you can't see me, find me," Ariadne ordered, watching as Rebuben nodded preposterously. With one final nod, the mentor and prodigy were off.
Silence could not reign with the sounds of charms whirring, spells were shot across the field. Ariadne held her breath as she sent stunning charms to the back of two acolytes, their wands pointed at Bailey. Selfishly, she ran away from her father, Reuben following closeby as he sent spells towards Grindelwald's followers. It was like she was a child again, her nightmares fuelled by the one person who should have protected her from her night time monsters. Selflessly, she shielded Reuben with every blast sent their way, not letting herself find the guilt that would have followed if he got hurt.
She tried not to think about the bodies that laid still on the grass, some tinting the greenery with blood. She skidded to a stop as a member of Grindelwald's supporters blocked her path. He toyed with his wand, taunting Ariadne as she cocked her head to the side. More surrounded her, eager to meet the one who captured the man they worshipped like a deity. If she was afraid, she didn't reveal it as she stood back to back with Reuben, determined to put a stop onto their pursuit. She would take them down, making their duel with her their last today.
Without her wand, she let a burst of wind escape her, knocking their stability off their feet. Reuben sent stunning charms, some missing, others landing. Those quick with their reflexes deflected the spell as they scrambled up. Golden whisps flew out of Ariadne's wand as she advanced on Grindelwald's acolytes. Shards of grass transformed into glass baubles as Ariadne launched them forward, a means of distraction as a pair of aurors stupefied his followers.
A large blast shook the grounds as fire danced around the explosion. Ariadne winced as her ears rang, her legs jelly as her head whipped towards the sound. It was from a spell that Ariadne could recognise, one familiar from her youth. She had watched him create it. From the smoke, Silas emerged, Wilton nowhere to be seen. Through the commotion, a spell was shot towards her, one blocked by Theseus before it hit her. He ran to her side, his shield dispersing the stunning charm. He countered the attack by sending a range of spells towards her perpetrator, easily bringing them down.
"Nice of you to join the party," he greeted, moving so he could protect her back, forming a triangle with Reuben and Araidne.
"I heard you called," Ariadne smiled, craning her head to the side as she waited for the next wave of spells to be thrown her way.
"Might have been a bad idea," Theseus shot back, "Everyone here looks like they want to only kill you."
"Give them my regards then." Golden rope tied around the legs of acolytes as Ariadne stunned them. It was exhilarating, if she could ignore the dark hole burning through her mind. She moved with grace, spell after spell would land exactly where she aimed, and yet she couldn't help but let her thoughts drift over to the man who taught her that. He only stood so many metres away that it was hard to even think about something else.
He hadn't noticed her yet, preoccupied with Wilton's lashes. It was only a matter of time before his eyes would be set upon his daughter again. She had tried so hard to seek refuge from his presence that now she feared that it could never be achieved. He had always lingered. Throughout the years where she found solitude, whispers of his work behind society's peering eyes made its way through the back of Ariadne's mind, never escaping the curious glances that others gave her. If they wanted to know more, they never asked, only creating deceptive assumptions to fill in the missing pieces. Ariadne would be lying if her own reputation was not tainted by her father's.
"They're retreating!" Bailey shouted, his voice carrying from his position, five paces behind where Ariadne stood. The battle ground had soothed, none daring to oppose them as they fled toward the small church.
"Let them, we do not have enough numbers to pursue them," Theseus ordered, though his words fell short of Bailey's ears as he followed them, his determination overriding his reasonable senses. As one man apparated towards the recoiling crowd of acolytes, he was easily taken down. With the presumption that the aurors were persisting, they shot wisps of red fire towards the aurors.
"Protego," Theseus screamed, shielding those who stood behind him as Ariadne began to do the same, creating a barrier for others to heal fallen friends. With no reinforcements, Ariadne watched with horror as Bailey fell, not due to unconsciousness, but due to a large wound etched onto his chest. Blood pooled into his white blouse, shining with pain and shock. Behind the invisible barrier, spells were caught, disappearing into thin air as they came into contact with the shield. Ariadne watched as her father whispered to another man, an order ringing out as he caught his daughter's eyes. He tilted his head to the side, lifting his lips into a small smirk, taunting her as the other man dragged Bailey towards the inside of the church. A small breath of air escaped her lips as she dedicated a small moment before the storm. As if he had read her mind, Theseus turned to her, a worrying frown etched on his face. "Don't. Ariadne-"
She didn't even let him finish before she apparated away, leaving most of the aurors vulnerable to the acolytes' attack. Rage consumed her as her feet landed in front of the church doors. She stunned the man who held onto Bailey first, freeing her friend from the claws of their foes. Quickly, she made her way next to Bailey's body, fire exploding from her wand as she created a circle of safety inside the tall building. Wood charred from her blaze as tall stained glass windows reflected alluring hues. She shielded herself from all the spells thrown her way, sending a few back as she watched their numbers fall. Their charms dispersed through her shield while others were aimed incorrectly. Regardless, she remained untouchable. Their faces became a blur as smoke filled the room. She could hear the desperation in their breaths as someone finally gave the order to leave. Pops of apparition filled the room and Ariadne doused the flame.
Ariadne fell to her knees, her hands cradling Bailey's body as she tried to help him. Too engrossed with her own anxiety, she didn't notice the sole wand still pointed at her head. Peering eyes stared down at her as he watched Bailey's eyes flutter open, cracking a smile as the wounded man gazed up at Ariadne.
A whizz whipped past her head as Ariadne teared her gaze away from Bailey. Reuben stood with his wand pointing behind her, watching as Silas Nott apparated away, his charm missing the older man. When he was gone, Reuben's gaze finally landed on the pair.
"What are you doing here?" Ariadne asked, her voice merely a whisper. As blood soaked her clothes, still she could not suppress the responsibility of Reuben's safety.
"You told me I needed to follow you."
"I need your jacket." Her words fell out hopelessly, desperately urging him to remove the blazer that kept him warm. Quickly, she tied it tightly around Bailey's torso, watching torturously as he winced with pain. A hand clasped onto Reuben's wrist, "Send a signal, green smoke." He did just that. From a distance, Theseus watched green smoke rise, comforted with the fact that the silence within the church had disappeared. With a nod, he motioned for two other aurors to follow him, ordering the others to stay with the wounded.
As Bailey coughed, Ariadne swallowed the lump in her throat, "Why did you wear a tie to this?" She asked, frantically undoing the knot below his chin. Despite their situation, he laughed before his face contorted with pain.
"No one told me it was going to be this levelled on," his voice was weak and his eyes were tired. "I was told to find you and bring you here."
"Bailey," she murmured softly, watching as his eyelids fluttered, "You have to stay awake." Reuben's jacket was already soaked with red. Bailey's chest heaved up and down faintly, he was losing too much blood. "Theseus will be here soon, okay?"
"Always there to save the day," he muttered, a hand clasping onto Ariadne's arm, the thread of life nearing the scissors of fate.
She held him tighter, watching helplessly as he continued to fight the pain, "Please, he's coming. He can take you to St Mungo's."
"Can I tell you a secret? I've never been."
"Me either but there's a first time for everything." Her words were supposed to be comforting, encouraging but she had no strength. They wavered and tumbled out. Desperately, she held his cheek, ruff stubble spiking her palm. "Bailey."
"It hurts."
"I know. I'm sorry," she felt a tear slip down her cheek as she brushed a piece of hair away from Bailey's forehead. "You'll be okay. Just stay awake for me. I can't lose you."
He knew it was stupid, but he couldn't help but rest his eyes for a second longer. He had been fighting an overwhelming force of agony that he just wanted to succumb to the darkness. He knew it was stupid, because she had told him specifically not to, but he couldn't help it as the cold wooden floorboards disappeared from his senses, as Ariadne's voice became a distant echo. Later, he thought to himself, I'll tell her I tried. Later.
[2266 words]
a/n
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kjlyds