stylishbutdefinitelyillegal asked: So, for the Dumbledore Scamanders AU. One of the twins (I'm thinking Newt because he's my favorite which translates to me being mean to him more; I'm sorry, baby boy) gets sick while they're in captivity. Graves and the other twin try to take care of him but then Grindelwald finds out, probably during one of the times he calls for said twin, but they don't come. Your thoughts?

stylishbutdefinitelyillegal:

hamelin-born:

stylishbutdefinitelyillegal:

hamelin-born:

mirandatam:

stylishbutdefinitelyillegal:

hamelin-born:

The other twin probably shows up at the bottom of the ladder leading into the case, glaring up at their erstwhile blood-parent. “He’s sick.” They explain, eyes bloodshot, a soft, wordless keen echoing in their heart - because Graves told them, he’s told them what he’s seen Grindelwald do to the people who he felt defied him. 

Grindelwald frowns down at the for a long moment before smiling. Very well. He’ll just take Director Graves instead. Send him up, would you please?

The other twin just blanches, but stiff and terrified, they go get Graves. He goes. He doesn’t want either of the twins getting in trouble, he can handle it, he can, he can.

What does Grindelwald do to him? Seriously, you’ve got me scared for him now.

If it’s Newt that’s sick, this is Theseus swallowing hard and going and telling Graves - his coworker, his american counterpart, the man who is baby brother is slowly but surely falling in love with. They’ve stayed up late, sometimes when Newt’s fallen asleep, and talked in low tones about countermeasures, about possibilities, about last ditch defenses - they have a plan worked out, where if things go badly on the escape attempt, one of them is going to take Newt and run while the other distracts Grindelwald. Theseus’s hands are clenched so tightly his nails are leaving imprints in his palms, but his steps are steady and his voice only wavers a bit when he tells Graves what Grindelwald’s asking for.

If Theseus is sick, then Newt has to go tell his… his crush? his boyfriend? whatever they are at this point. Newt stares up at Grindelwald for a moment, wide-eyed, he must have misheard - but he knows he didn’t. The thoughts whirl around in his head, thinking what does he want, what will he do, and he almost trips as he walks over to where Theseus and Graves are. Graves probably has to talk him into telling him what Grindelwald wants, with Newt sidestepping and not making eye contact. But he knows he’ll have to say it eventually.

Grindelwald has mostly been ignoring Graves ever since the twins came to his attention – if he’s noticed him at all, it’s been mainly to note his sons’ increasing attachment to the American, and the man’s corresponding use as potential leverage against his boys. Graves feels a sick mixture of guilt and relief over this – Grindelwald hurt him, and of course he’s glad he doesn’t have to endure that anymore, but if the price is one of the twins suffering in his stead – he’ll gladly pay it.

At least, that’s what he tells himself. The reality of when one of the twins hesitantly tells him that Grindlewald is asking for him is – a moment of sheer, panicked terror before he wrenches himself under control. They both know that Grindelwald, strictly speaking, doesn’t need Graves anymore, and things tend to – go badly for the people the Dark Lord doesn’t have a reason to keep intact. Graves may be very well marching to his death – or worse then death.

Grindelwald’s reasons for requesting Graves are straightforward. First, if his boy really is sick, it’s not use punishing him or his twin over it – it wasn’t exactly under their control. But he can’t very well having them come up with the idea that self-injury is a valid avoidance tactic, can he? He can’t have them thinking that he can be denied so easily. Fortunately, there’s another prisoner present that they are both so attached to… And this also serves as a message to his sons. I can take anything. He is telling them. I can take your touchstone. Your nursemaid. Your friend. Everything you have, you have because I decided to let you keep it…

 A day or so later Graves is thrown back into the case, pale, dazed, and shivering uncontrollably. Grindelwald didn’t touch him - physically, that is. Instead, he simply decided to 1) Test his brainwashing/propaganda on a non-blood relative and 2) Chain Graves in close proximity to a Dementor. He’d been considering swaying the creatures over to his side, and he was interested in seeing the effects firsthand.

……Grindelwald, you fucking fuck, I want to strangle you so much.

You had better have had that Dementor locked up somehow so that it didn’t Kiss him. Newt and Theseus would be even more hateful of you and irrevocably turned against you.

Poor, poor Graves. He needs all the cuddles after this.

For so long it’s been Graves being the strong one, looking after the twins. Now it’s their turn to take care of him.

Theseus stands guard, face set like stone and wand in hand, eyes flickering every-so-often to Dougal, their alarm system - Newt fetches him tea and what little chocolate is stored away for emergencies and sits next to him, whispering softly. Do you remember, do you remember - Do you remember last Restday (they’ve long since lost track of the days outside the case, measuring the time by their activities) when you conjured the fireworks and we laughed, because they were so beautiful? You held my hand, and I was so happy… Do you remember teaching me how to dance the quickstep? And then I dragged you into a waltz as Theseus played the fiddle? Do you remember the first time you looked up and saw the ceiling of my case, and you smiled and said that you had missed the sky so much? Do you remember, do you remember - Theseus joins in, telling stories from their long history as friends, as everyone joins in in the cuddle pile that night, Graves in the center as they hum lullabies songs and whisper stories of happier times.

No, no Kiss here. Grindelwald’s interested in their effectiveness on prisoners, after all - specifically, in keeping them contained, and their possible use in future interrogations. After all, most people will do anything to avoid being in their presence if they have a choice…

Of course they would. The animals would join in too. The occamy babies cuddle around him, the Niffler brings him shiny things and lays on his chest, Pickett and the other bowtruckles put flowers in his hair, Adelaide the Nundu comes prowling down and curls herself around the lot of them, eyes sharp and wary for any who come to harm their new Daddy.

….Grindelwald, you do realize that they use Dementors at Azkaban, you didn’t need to do this, you just like being an ass. 

Grindelwald is a scholar and a researcher, he’ll have you know, and not one to turn up a chance at first-hand observations of the process in question. After all, the Ministry of Magic doesn’t tend to keep much data on the wardens of their most infamous prison. 

It helps. It helps a lot - how did Hagrid describe it? “It was like being born again” - everything comes rushing back, helped by Newt’s gentle hands and Theseus’ fierce protectiveness (As far as Theseus is concerned, whether or not his best friend ends up marrying Newt, Graves is still going to be his second brother for all eternity after this), the creatures’ kindness and everyone’s love.

What do you want to bet that Theseus, who as Head Auror probably has the most experience with Azkabam and their wardens, recognizes what’s happened to Graves - while Newt, the one with the experience with magical creatures, know the best treatments?