Archive of Our Own ^beta

“As you are all aware, those of you in this room are those that I have chosen personally as the inner circle of my campaign. Each of you have always been my most valued, most trusted. And for allowing me to place my trust in you, I have rewarded you tenfold.”

The motley crew, all in pyjamas, nightgowns, bathrobes and slippers were lined up to attention like soldiers. So recently fast asleep, now they were awake and alert hanging on the great Gellert Grindelwald’s every word. The Alliance did not keep their master waiting when he had summoned them. At the stroke of three o’clock in the morning, Grindelwald had instructed that they had ten minutes to get to the usual meeting room - everyone was there within five.

“Which is why I am so deeply pained to have discovered that there are traitors among you.”

Nobody spoke. Nobody moved. Not one of them had heard about any such conspiracy… This, Grindelwald knew for certain. And yet he still had summoned them here at this hour. 

“I have never accepted mediocrity.” he continued. “You were all chosen for your individual merits, yet you have become overconfident. Your hubris has led you to believe that you would be able to get away with conspiring against me, therefore conspiring against the wizarding world itself. Saul Runcorn."

Standing at the end of the line closest to Grindelwald, Runcorn, a burly acolyte, looked shocked at the sudden mention of his name. A slight motion of his hand was all it took for Runcorn to be lifted into the air as though by a rope around his neck. He choked and writhed in mid air, only lowered to the ground with a thud once he had stopped breathing. But Grindelwald wasn’t even looking; he’d moved on, walking down the line of acolytes slowly.

“Viktoria Ziegler.”

“No… NO!” With milliseconds to prepare to meet the same fate as Runcorn, Ziegler screamed. And Grindelwald ignored her, merely waiting for her to fall silent so he could be heard.

“Magnus Von Herder.”

Von Herder went to his death in silence. But in place of his voice, others began to murmur, a few even gasped. His being named a traitor was clearly received as a shock, as were the next unfortunates.

“Angus Macduff. Keifer Krafft.” Those two had been with him for ten years. And it seemed that the acolytes were quickly realising what was happening… None of these people had stepped a toe out of line. And now, none of them would.

“Ruperta Strickland. Gunther Gantz.” Gunther was another shocker, clearly - and that was the point. A lesson was being taught here. Nobody, no matter what their role was, or how long they’d been here, was safe.

And there were more names spoken, each one entirely unexpected. Grindelwald walked down the line, ignoring the final pleas of those behind him, he stared into the eyes of each member of his few chosen. Queenie Goldstein, her pale blonde hair wrapped up in rollers, looked as though she might be sick as she reached for the hand of the figure next to her - Credence, visibly shaking in terror, flinching away from Grindelwald’s glance. Even Vinda Rosier, his lieutenant, appeared troubled as she stood, steadfast, in her black lace, knowing that the next name could be any of them.

“Frederick Vanity.”

“I didn’t - I would never-!” It was too late for Vanity’s pleas. But even as he lost the ability to breathe, he still attempted to choke out excuses and loyalties.

It was a pity that this had to be done. Not much on earth was truly irreplaceable, far less than people thought. There was himself, and perhaps one other person, though Grindelwald was loath to admit it. There was a sacred treasure, stolen from him. And that was all. Nothing in this castle, not the riches, nor any of the people, played a role unique enough that they could never be replaced. It would be an inconvenience, but it was a necessary sacrifice. As all sacrifices he made were. That was the nature of the Greater Good.

Once he was finished, at the other end of the line, a third of the room lay dead. But those who survived were equally silent and pale.

“Congratulations,” Grindelwald addressed them. “You are dismissed. Goodnight.”