Abernathy was the supervisor and an important official in the Wand Permit Office at the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA). Both Tina Goldstein and Queenie Goldstein worked in his department. However, he is eventually revealed to be an Acolyte and a devout follower of Gellert Grindelwald and helps the latter escape from the clutches of MACUSA.
His appearance in the Harry Potter universe first happens in the Fantastic Beasts movie series, a spin-off of the Harry Potter series. He appears in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. He was not in the third installment of Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. This change is mostly because the actor who played Abernathy in the first two movies, Kevin Guthrie, was charged with sexual assault.
Early Life
Abernathy was most likely born sometime in the late 19th century or the Early 20th century. He was an American wizard and was most likely Pure-blooded or Half-blooded. He probably joined Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after turning eleven and graduated after seventeen. He started working at the MACUSA headquarters in New York soon after. He was promoted eventually and was a supervisor to Tina and Queenie in the Wand Permit Office.
MACUSA
Abernathy was a curt supervisor and did not tolerate any insubordination. He questioned Tina Goldstein and reprimanded her after she interrupted an Investigative Team meeting. He also questioned her about the New Salem Philanthropic Society and asked if she had been investigating them. His suspicions arose from the presence of Newt Scamander, whom she had taken into custody and brought into questioning despite being demoted from the Aurors’ office.
However, when Percival Graves came to where he was questioning Tina, he seemed very kind and courteous, implying that he was a very obedient employee.
When Queenie was carrying Newt Scamander’s suitcase containing Newt, Tina, and Jacob, she came across Abernathy, who was her boss. He asked her where she was going, and she said she felt unwell. When asked what was in the suitcase, she said there were “lady things,” signaling that it contained private items. She even asked him if he wanted to inspect further, confidently, to which he refused and wished her a speedy recovery.
Abernathy and Grindelwald
After the MACUSA Aurors arrest Gellert Grindelwald with the help of Newt Scamander, Abernathy helps him escape. He takes the place of Grindelwald in the incarceration carriage after transfiguring himself using magic to look like Grindelwald.
As he is being taken from MACUSA by Rudolph Spielman, Grindelwald, who through human transfiguration has disguised himself as Abernathy, apparates near the carriage and frees him with the help of a Chupacabra named Antonio. Abernathy, disguised as Grindelwald, turns back into himself, and Grindelwald ejects Spielman out of the moving carriage. Spielman survives this fall with the help of a slowing charm.
Grindelwald gifts Abernathy a new forked-tongue after the latter’s tongue was removed by the Aurors at MACUSA. Grindelwald’s action is similar to that of Voldemort when he rewards one of his Death Eaters, Peter Pettigrew, with a new arm after he loses it in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Peter is also on the opposite side when the story begins but later defects to the dark side like Abernathy.
Abernathy eventually hands over the vial containing the blood pact made between Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald to the latter. It is not certain if Grindelwald had Abernathy’s wand with him when the latter was kept captive in disguise as Grindelwald. The two fly away, presumably to Europe.
Abernathy’s Life After Grindelwald
Abernathy soon becomes one of the important members of Grindelwald’s Inner Circle of Acolytes. His unwavering loyalty to Grindelwald makes him a very important follower of Grindelwald. Grindelwald and all his Acolytes reached Paris in 1927, and they murdered a family of unsuspecting Muggles, including an infant. They later used the now-unoccupied home as their base of operations.
The goal was to find Credence Barebone, to spread the word of their cause among the wizarding world, and to prepare for Grindelwald’s Paris rally to be held in the Lestrange Mausoleum. Abernathy went with another Acolyte Vinda Rosier to the French Ministry of Magic disguised as an older woman to take the Lestrange Family box from the Ministry’s records room. They managed to take it out of the Ministry without being caught despite its dimension possibly causing it to be revealed.
The box was taken to the Lestrange Mausoleum and kept in the Lestrange Tomb. Soon after, Grindelwald’s rally began in the Mausoleum, where Abernathy went to attend it with his fellow acolytes. Grindelwald warned the wizarding world about the upcoming Second World War and shed light on America’s segregated wizarding community and other nations. He was a revolutionary leader in the eyes of his fans. He used the narrative of the greater good and claimed that he was in pursuit of a noble cause.
However, there were several MACUSA members present in the crowd, too. Despite Theseus Scamander’s warning to his team of Aurors, the activities of several minor MACUSA functionaries caused an eruption of violence. Eventually, Grindelwald conjured a circle of protective fire made of black flames, and his loyal servant Abernathy, Vinda Rosier, and several Acolytes could walk through it easily.
Grindelwald did this to test the loyalty of his followers. Even Credence Barebone decided to enter the fire and was unharmed. Finally, to the surprise of everyone present, Queenie Goldstein also entered the fire and went with Grindelwald.
Credence’s original identity was revealed as Aurelius Dumbledore by Grindelwald. While many fans speculated that he may be Albus Dumbledore’s lost brother, it was eventually revealed that Aurelius was the son of Aberforth Dumbledore.
Did Abernathy Know Grindelwald Personally Before Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald?
One of the most interesting questions about Abernathy is if he knew Grindelwald before he decided to help him escape from MACUSA. He worked under Percival Graves in MACUSA, and Percival Graves was revealed to be Grindelwald in disguise. Since he worked for Percival Graves, the two probably knew each other, and he helped Grindelwald before Newt and the Aurors of MACUSA caught the latter.
Firstly, he worked directly under Percival Graves in MACUSA. Hence, Graves made an acquaintance with him and eventually revealed himself as Grindelwald. It is possible that Abernathy was already a staunch follower of Grindelwald and was pleased to meet him in person. He may have helped Grindelwald with many important plans during his employment in MACUSA.
FAQs
How did Grindelwald turn into Abernathy?
Gellert Grindelwald was kept captive in the MACUSA headquarters and was supposed to be taken to Europe in an incarceration carriage by Rudolph Spielman. However, after they started their journey, Grindelwald, who was on the carriage, turned into Abernathy. Abernathy had taken Grindelwald’s place before being transported to the carriage and had disguised himself as Grindelwald using transfiguration.
Why does Abernathy have the Elder Wand?
Abernathy does not have the Elder Wand. Grindelwald, disguised as Abernathy, has the Elder Wand as it belongs to him. During the transportation of Grindelwald, the two switch places, and both undergo human transfiguration, likely with the help of Polyjuice Potion. They disguise themselves as each other; therefore, Grindelwald is seen in the carriage while Abernathy, who is Grindelwald in disguise, is holding the Elder Wand.
Was Abernathy A Death Eater?
Abernathy was not a Death Eater. He was an Acolyte, the name given to an avid supporter and follower of Gellert Grindelwald. He worked closely with Gellert Grindelwald and helped the latter with many of his schemes. Since Gellert Grindelwald and Lord Voldemort were two separate Dark Wizards with different plans and from different time periods, the Death Eaters were non-existent in Abernathy’s time.
