Grindelwald was causing trouble again.
Another Watchman Auror, his own prison guard had been seduced by his soft words and visionary poison.
But this time, Seraphina Picquery had prepared far better than before.
She had secretly reinforced the lower levels with new wards, layered trap spells, anti-portkey runes, anti-apparition shackles, and a silent-stunning glyph that would automatically activate if anyone tampered with Grindelwald's cell.
The rebellious Auror never stood a chance.
He believed he was heroically freeing the 'future of wizardkind.'
He instead stepped directly into Seraphina's trap.
Both he and Grindelwald had been apprehended within minutes, though Grindelwald himself had not resisted at all.
He simply smiled as if amused that the Auror had failed.
He wasn't trying to escape.
Not until he found what he sought… and the mysterious orange cat whose magic he couldn't read.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
High Claw Gold & Exorcism Shop
And so, Seraphina found herself once again seeking Garfield's help.
She glanced through the window first, confirming Queenie was at the counter and the orange cat as well, before finally stepping inside.
Jingle
The bell over the door chimed gently.
Instantly, Lilith and Vivienne, the succubus twins, lifted their heads. Their violet eyes glimmered.
To them, Seraphina Picquery was a rarity… a Minister of Magic, powerful, intelligent, and brimming with soul-energy.
An exquisite delicacy.
But this time, unlike when they had circled Howard Stark like sharks, they held back, waiting for Garfield's command.
Seraphina sensed their attention immediately.
Her hand slipped into her pocket, fingers brushing her wand, prepared to cast silently at a moment's notice.
"What's the matter, Minister Seraphina?" Queenie asked gently.
"Queenie. Garfield." Seraphina nodded to Queenie, then turned toward the counter. "I must ask for your help again."
Garfield didn't even bother lifting his head from the soft cushion he lay upon.
His tail twitched lazily.
"Let me guess…" Garfield drawled. "Grindelwald sweet-talked another Auror into helping him?"
Seraphina hated admitting it… but Garfield had monitored Grindelwald for so long he knew the man's habits better than she did.
"…Yes," She admitted. "Another guard fell to his influence."
Garfield rolled onto his back, paws in the air. "Honestly, this is simple. Grindelwald preaches that the wizarding world needs change. And he's not entirely wrong."
"But your Ministry keeps clinging to outdated traditions. Until you modernize, he'll keep gaining followers and wizards flock to the voice offering them what you refuse."
His words resembled Grindelwald's in logic but lacked the seductive venom.
Garfield wasn't inciting rebellion, only pointing out the obvious facts.
"Garfield, I do agree with you." Seraphina exhaled slowly.
"But change is not something I can enact alone. Right now, my priority is to ensure Grindelwald stays contained."
Garfield stretched, flexing lazily. "Alright, alright. Humans only learn when pain forces them to."
"A historical inevitability. So, Minister… what price will you offer to persuade me to guard Grindelwald again?"
Seraphina straightened her hat. "Our previous contract terms."
"Oh no, no, no." Garfield's ears flicked sharply.
"The contract is quite clear, first three months at the base rate. Any extension doubles the price. And each further renewal doubles again. And each invitation lasts no more than one month."
Seraphina didn't falter, she was ready for this.
She simply gestured subtly around the shop.
"Garfield… your shop technically falls under the Magical Commerce Act of the U.S. Ministry of~"
Garfield sat up instantly, eyes glowing. "Oh? My shop?"
"Under your jurisdiction?" His whiskers twitched with dangerous amusement.
"Minister Seraphina Picquery… you're getting bold." He hopped down from the counter. "Let me make something perfectly clear."
"I am King Garfield, and no Ministry, wizarding or otherwise, has the authority to manage me. I help because I like Queenie. Don't overestimate yourself."
Seraphina narrowed her eyes and drew her wand~
Snap.
A golden crack of magic burst across the room.
A luminous rope shot forward, coiling around Seraphina in a blink, binding her arms and yanking her wand from her hand.
Before she could react, Lilith and Vivienne materialized at her sides… left and right… hands glowing with hellfire seals.
She was caught.
"Master, shall we restrain her more tightly?" Lilith whispered, voice sweet and venomous,
Vivienne's eyes glowed. "Or perhaps… tempt her a little?"
If Garfield gave the order, Seraphina would be done…
"…" Queenie knew that and that was why she trembled.
She didn't want a war.
A fight between Garfield and Seraphina would be a rupture between two powers. A catastrophic fracture.
And Queenie, with her intuition, felt that… MACUSA as a whole wouldn't survive Garfield.
Especially not with the Supreme Witch backing him, an entity Queenie had never met, but whose reputation Baima had described as very powerful.
A guardian of the Earth's dimensional fabric. Wizards couldn't compare to beings like that.
And right now, Seraphina Picquery was caught in Garfield's grip with one effortless move.
Seraphina had come prepared, prepared even to face Grindelwald if necessary.
But the moment Lilith and Vivienne seized her arms, she felt something she had never felt…
Death.
The gold- and silver-haired sisters didn't look human anymore. Their eyes held an ancient hunger. Under their touch, Seraphina felt like a cornered mouse.
Her breath hitched.
"Lilith… Vivienne… cease." Garfield's tone was soft. And somehow that made it worse.
"For Queenie's sake," Garfield continued, "I spare your life this once, Seraphina. But if you come at me again…"
His whiskers twitched, and the air grew sharp. "I will send you to hell."
Lilith and Vivienne dropped their glamour for a heartbeat… revealing the shadow of their true forms.
Wings of flame and darkness. Horned silhouettes, a pressure that made the room tremble.
Seraphina's eyes widened in absolute disbelief.
Demons, actual high demons.
This should have been impossible. Creatures like this existed only in half-forbidden magical texts.
To see even one was unheard of.
To see two kneeling to Garfield… then, what was Garfield?
"Are you… the Devil?" She whispered.
Garfield scoffed, flicking his tail with disdain. "Don't insult me. Why would I stoop to being that kind of creature?"
Lilith and Vivienne bowed their heads.
"Master Garfield is far beyond demons." They declared together.
More beyond than the Devil…? Seraphina's knees nearly buckled.
She trembled so hard she barely noticed Garfield lazily stretching out a paw to dissolve the golden ropes around her.
"Now then," Garfield purred, "Tell me your price. Then I'll decide whether I feel generous."
Seraphina inhaled deeply, summoning the political instincts that had made her Minister. She bowed low, steady despite the terror she still felt.
"Your Majesty Garfield, on behalf of the Magical Congress, we are prepared to pay five times the previous contract rate for you to guard Grindelwald for another month."
Garfield nodded thoughtfully, pretending to debate. "Very well. But this time, you bring him directly to me."
"I will hold him in my kingdom. You may retrieve him after one month."
"Grindelwald is too dangerous~"
"For you, perhaps." Garfield's voice dipped. "But not for me."
She had no rebuttal.
Garfield flicked his tail again. "One more thing. My kingdom and your Department of Magic require… proper cooperation."
"Exchange and transparency."
Seraphina's mind snapped into perfect political clarity. Of course, this was the real negotiation.
"Yes," She said quickly. "Increased diplomatic communication benefits both sides."
"We'll need a diplomat," Garfield added.
Without hesitation, Seraphina gestured toward Queenie. "Ms. Queenie Goldstein of MACUSA would be an ideal envoy."
"I approve." Garfield nodded.
Quennie exhaled in relief.
"Then," Seraphina said, extending her hand, "Shall we finalize our terms?"
"Let's." Garfield placed a paw in her palm with regal certainty.
From there, the two… one human politician, one unfathomable entity sat and negotiated. Concessions traded hands like cards in a high-stakes game.
By the time they finished, the agreements were clear…
Garfield's Kingdom and MACUSA would establish official cooperation.
Queenie Goldstein would become a permanent diplomatic envoy.
Grindelwald would be transferred to Garfield's domain for containment. And Garfield would hold him until Britain formally assumed custody.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
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