Orion was sitting alone in his study, staring at a stack of documents spread out before him. For an entire year, he'd chased every lead, followed every whisper, but still, Eric remained elusive, like a shadow that slipped through his fingers each time he thought he was getting close.
'Honestly, learning Law was far more easier than this.'
And now, after countless days and nights of hunting, he was beginning to feel the exhaustion, the frustration of failure. With each passing day, the hope he once had faded a little more.
At one point he was even wondering whether that man Eric never wanted to be found by him in the first place.
'Maybe he lied to me after all…' Orion thought and there wasn't even anger anymore in him left.
He was getting homesick. He wanted to go back. Though he like the bonds he created here but there was something which was calling him back.
Maybe for the first time in a long time he found himself completely alone.
No one there who understand him, no one there who was ready to pull him to a conversation and pull a prank on him.
And now that even Elenora was married, there was no one who he could even talk to.
He was just shut in his room, endlessly either grinding or looking for Eric.
This year had been a whirlwind of emotions. He'd watched Elenora get married, saw her settle into a new life. They still exchanged information and worked together occasionally, but their dynamic had changed. She was living her life, moving forward, while he felt stuck, trapped in a hunt that never seemed to end and so was Credence. Both were in his contacts but still there was distance.
Meanwhile, the world was changing. Grindelwald, who had been mostly quiet for a time, had resurfaced with a vengeance. His attacks became more frequent, and each one was more ruthless than the last. Cities were on edge, magical and non-magical communities alike feared his name. People were terrified, and innocent lives were being lost. Orion watched as reports flooded in from around the world, each one detailing another of Grindelwald's ruthless acts.
He had firmly decided to remain neutral, to stay out of politics and dark battles, making his position clear to both Grindelwald and the magical governments. His focus was on Eric, not world politics. As a result, neither Grindelwald nor the magical authorities bothered him anymore. But now, seeing the growing chaos, even Orion began to wonder if he'd made the right choice.
One evening, while he sat alone, contemplating whether it was time to abandon the search for Eric and perhaps confront the chaos growing around him, he heard a firm knock on his door. Surprised, Orion got up and opened the door, only to be met with two familiar faces standing on his doorstep along with a new face looking at him like he owed him money. There stood Newt Scamander himself, and Tina Goldstein.
"Newt, Tina," Orion greeted, taken aback. "What are you two doing here?"
"And who is this person ?" Orion asked as he glance at Theseus.
Both Newt and Tina smile seeing him, though at first they indeed was a little afraid of him, especially the power he shown but later on when they get to known him a little more, they genuinely became friends with him.
As they were about to answer his question. The new guy step up and answers.
"I'm Theseus Scamander, Newt's older brother and an Auror from Britain," Said the man and Orion nodded.
He remember Newt having a brother, though don't remember much about him.
"Nice to meet you… come in.. all of you…" Orion wasn't sure what they were doing here but he had his suspicions.
.
.
.
After some casual banter, the talk finally turned serious.
Theseus stepped forward, his expression serious. "Mr John Wick, I know this is unexpected, but we need your help.
Orion's brows furrowed as he studied Theseus' face. He could tell the situation by the simple fact he introduce himself as an Auror immediately after coming here.
"Help ? Well please say, I will see what I can do." he said, already wondering how he gonna turn this guy down. He could see both Tina and Newt didn't wanted this, but having no other option they ended up coming here.
"Mr Wick, the situation with Grindelwald is getting out of control. His followers are growing in numbers, and his attacks have become more brutal, targeting both magical and non-magical communities alike."
Orion sighed, crossing his arms. "I know, I am up to date with what is that guy is doing. I do like my newspaper first thing in the morning with a nice cup of hot chocolate…" Orion smile said this and then soon almost immediately his smile fell.
"But why come to me? I've made it clear to both sides that I'm not interested in taking part in this fight."
Theseus leaned forward, his gaze steady. "We understand your position. However, this isn't just about taking sides. Grindelwald isn't just fighting a political battle anymore—he's waging a war against innocence. He's killing people, spreading fear, and tearing communities apart. Do you know how many he killed just under last two months" Mr Auror asked in righteous anger.
Newt, who had been quiet until now, spoke up, his voice soft but earnest. "John, I know you've chosen not to get involved in political matters, and I also know why. But Grindelwald's actions go beyond politics. He's hurting creatures and people who have no part in his vision. Many innocents are died."
Orion hearing this frown… he was feeling conflicted.
There wasn't once a time when Merlin told him not to try to be the hero.
He never understood why…
Naive he was…
And now, even after knowing it why ?
His heart can't stay firm.
"Why me. There are others. Why come to me ?" Orion asked as he took a sip of his coffee.
"Because only you can stop him. I have seen you done it before. You did it like it was nothing…" Newt said, remembering how John save his life from Grindelwald.
Orion's gaze shifted to Tina, who looked at him with quiet determination.
"Let me guess, Britain wasn't the only country who wanted me to intervene…is it…" Orion asked, glancing at Tina. After all Tina too was the an Auror and an Auror from American Ministry of Magic.
"Yes… John, we need your help. You are the only one who can stop that mad man now." she said. "I understand why you stepped back. We understand that, believe me if possible the Ministry would never asked you to take action, I won't lie, even the ministry is afraid for what you did last time. That was… too much power. Way more than they even have any idea to handle, but the world need you right now. You are the only one who can stop this madness now."
Orion rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of their words. He'd spent years honing his skills, training for moments like these, yet he'd tried to avoid this conflict.
'Why… there was a time when I dreamed about one shoting someone like Dumbledore, Grindelwald and Voldemort. Why I hesitate so much now…?' To some degree even he didn't know why ?
Maybe becuase this will change the history as he know it, maybe becuase he was tired of acting like a hero now.
Or maybe he was too tried holding all this power.
'With great power comes great responsibilities…' Those words keep ringing inside his head.
xxx
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