Abernathy

Abernathy
Biographical information
Born	Before 1909 (likely)
Nationality	American
Physical information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Magical characteristics
Wand	Unknown length, wood and core (formerly)
Affiliation
Occupation	Supervisor for the Wand Permit Office (formerly)
Loyalty	Magical Congress of the United States of America (formerly) Wand Permit Office Gellert Grindelwald The Alliance Gellert Grindelwald's acolytes

Abernathy (fl. 1920s) was an American wizard, a former employee of the Magical Congress of the United States of America and eventual follower and acolyte of Gellert Grindelwald.

Biography

Career at MACUSA

In 1926, he served as a supervisor to both Tina and Queenie Goldstein in the Wand Permit Office and was responsible for overseeing their activities and whereabouts. He was unhappy when he found out that Tina had interrupted a meeting held by the Investigative Team again and admonished her. He asked her whether she was investigating the New Salem Philanthropic Society again, but when Percival Graves showed up, he immediately brightened up and politely said hello.

Later, he questioned Queenie where she was going and what she had in her suitcase, while she was attempting to transport Tina, Newt Scamander and Jacob Kowalski from the MACUSA building unnoticed. Queenie replied that she was ill and that the luggage contained women's things. When asked if he wanted to take a look, Abernathy immediately and uncomfortably replied that he would not, and wished her to get well.

Joining the Alliance

Abernathy in the carriage

A few months later, in early 1927, Abernathy aided in the escape of Gellert Grindelwald. He assisted Grindelwald by temporarily switching appearances with the Dark wizard using Human Transfiguration. Together, they boarded a Thestral-drawn carriage along with a team of Aurors and Rudolph Spielman. Grindelwald, still disguised as Abernathy, then Apparated onto the carriage, killed the Aurors, and sent Spielman flying from the carriage—though Spielman survived thanks to a Slowing Charm. Grindelwald then restored Abernathy to his true form and conjured him a new forked tongue (the old one having been removed earlier by MACUSA to prevent any rhetorical problems, unaware it was Abernathy impersonating Grindelwald). Abernathy handed Grindelwald the vial of blood pact he had salvaged from Spielman. The two rogue wizards then flew away to Europe, likely heading to Nurmengard.

Abernathy watching Gellert showing Credence's Obscurus

Three months later, Abernathy travelled with Grindelwald and other acolytes to Paris, intending to find Credence Barebone and to spread word of their cause. Abernathy took part in the murdering of a Non-Magical family in Paris with his fellow acolytes, which allowed them to take over the now unoccupied home as a safe haven and base for them. In this house, he keenly listened to how Grindelwald expressed the utmost need to find Credence Barebone, as Credence was the only key which would allow him to kill his former friend Albus Dumbledore, the biggest threat to their cause.

With Human Transfiguration once again, he took on the appearance of an elderly witch to take a Lestrange family box from Records Room in the French Ministry of Magic, with the assistance of fellow devoted acolyte Vinda Rosier.

Gellert Grindelwald's Paris rally

Abernathy in the circle of flames

He later left the box in the Lestrange tomb for Credence to find. Abernathy attended the subsequent rally of Grindelwald's at the Lestrange Mausoleum as one of his acolytes. When Grindelwald conjured a circle of protective fire around himself to test the loyalty of his followers, he stepped into the black flames unharmed and also disapparated away along with his fellow acolytes (with the sole exception of Krall, who was incinerated in the flames for his disloyalty), showing his intense and unwavering loyalty to Grindelwald and his cause.

Later life

It was unknown what happened to Abernathy after dissaparating from the Lestrange Mausoleum at the Père Lachaise Cemetery, as he was not among inner circle in 1932.

Personality and traits

Abernathy was originally a diligent employee at MACUSA holding a position of minor leadership. Notably, he was charged with overseeing the activities of several minor MACUSA functionaries, including the Goldstein sisters. He upheld the conventions of the time and was rather curt towards former Auror Porpentina Goldstein following her demotion to the Wand Permit Office for using magic against a non-wizard in front of several equally non-magical witnesses. He also respected authority, falling back while in the middle of reprimanding the aforementioned employee when what appeared to be Percival Graves entered the room.

Despite his largely strict and conscientious attitude, however, he was not a completely inflexible man, prone to let his feelings get the better of him like any other. This was seen when he allowed the beauty of Queenie Goldstein to cloud his judgement, letting her steal the recently impounded suitcase of Newt Scamander before it could be investigated. Following the arrest of Gellert Grindelwald, he took on additional responsibilities at MACUSA, being directly involved in overseeing Grindelwald's containment. This clearly displays what a determined and achievement-oriented person Abernathy was, could be, successfully securing the confidence of (and concealing his new allegiances from) President Seraphina Picquery, a keenly intelligent and gifted witch, up until the time he and Grindelwald swapped places.

Even more impressive was the fact that he did so in light of the fact that trained members of the Department of Aurors set to guard Grindelwald's cell had had to be rotated because Grindelwald's charisma was known to persuade them to join his cause. Like so many other witches and wizards in the segregated wizarding community of America, Abernathy mistrusted No-Majs, evidently sharing the sort of 'us versus them' mentality that lead to the introduction of Rappaport's Law and would make the prospect of devoting all his energies to the Greater Good seem appealing. This was most clearly shown by how when he, unlike the rabble of Grindelwald's supporters, became counted among the selected few whom their revolutionary leader was utterly unconcerned about showing his ruthless streak in front of, and Abernathy even witnessed the murder of non-wizards and remained staunchly loyal.

Magical abilities and skills

• Apparition: Abernathy was capable of Apparating, as he was able to successfully Disapparate away from the Lestrange Mausoleum.

Possessions

• Wand: Abernathy's wand was of unknown length, wood and core material. This wand was presumably manufactured by an American wandmaker.

Behind the scenes

• Abernathy is portrayed by Kevin Guthrie in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Guthrie was convicted and jailed for three years for sexual assault in May 2021. When he was convicted, Warner Bros. announced that Guthrie had been fired from Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore before production began, making this character's role in future franchise releases uncertain. It is unknown if he was featured in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, and it is possible that his character died or left Grindelwald somehow between 1927 and 1932, which could explain his apparent absence.
• It is currently unconfirmed whether Abernathy joined Gellert Grindelwald before or after the latter's arrest by MACUSA, or what role he played, if any, in Grindelwald's infiltration under the guise of Percival Graves.
• Abernathy's participation in Grindelwald's escape resembles Peter Pettigrew's participation in Voldemort's rebirth. They were both followers of Dark wizards (Gellert Grindelwald and Lord Voldemort) and helped them return. To this end, they sacrificed a part of the body (Abernathy's tongue, and Peter's hand) that had been disenchanted by their masters for helping them. Also, they both betrayed an organisation that was meant to provide stability, peace, and order, which were the Magical Congress of the United States of America and the Order of the Phoenix, respectively.

Appearances

• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay (First appearance)
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• The Archive of Magic: The Film Wizardry of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
• Pottermore
• Wizarding World
• LEGO Dimensions

Notes and references

Magical Congress of the United States of America