Chapter Text
Arriving at the address an outstretched hand paused mid-air in hesitation, a steadying breath passed her lips as Tina’s knuckles made contact with the door. Standing back a pace she straightened, shoving hands deeper into the pockets of her trench coat palming the wand in her right pocket. ‘Always be prepared for the worst Goldstein better to appear suspicious than to appear in a casket’ A moment later the door opened to reveal a very sunny looking energetic woman with red hair that appeared to be quite surprised. Double checking the writing on the slip of parchment Tina verified the flat number before eyeing the attractive young woman, “Who are you!?”
Obviously stunned by the abruptness from the stranger suddenly appearing on her doorstep, she faltered before recovering herself, “Oh my! So sorry, you startled me, you’re not who I was expecting! Who might you be?”
Scowling the hand in her coat tightened around her wand, agitated sparks tingling around her fingers as she replied bluntly, “I asked you first.”
Smiling all the more brightly the woman extended her hand excitedly, “Bunting McLamb, my friends however call me Bunty, at your service ! I’m personal assistant to Mr. Newton Scamander, famed author and magizoologist, to whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”
Tina was certain her eyebrows had disappeared behind her fringe, “She’s certainly enthusiastic. Newt’s book must have fared well if he can afford an assistant.” At the thought of his book Tina’s heart dropped, ‘Seems nice enough, of course he’d hire some pretty woman to assist him.” Breaking that train of thought she cleared her throat, “Porpentina Goldstein, I go by Tina, Newt told me to meet him here.” Pulling her hand back the woman’s face had shifted subtlety after she mentioned her name, picking at the hem of her shirt nervously, “As in Tina Goldstein, 679 West 24th Street New York, New York?”
Before she raised voice to her question Bunty had stepped aside ushering her in before closing the door. “ I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you, you’re hair is quite different!” Puzzled Tina crossed her arms tilting her head in silent question as the lovely red haired woman rang her hands. “I owe you an apology Miss Goldstein ! I separated what I thought to be fan mail after the release of Newt’s book. Honestly though, he is partially to blame he hates reading through them, complains about it constantly, claims most of the attention is due to celebrity versus any real interest in magical creatures. Though I can’t really blame him, Newt has far more important things to do, like saving innocent creatures, than to waste his time on perfumed letters from admirers asking silly questions!”
Flushing embarrassedly a nervous laugh erupted, “Oh dear it appears I’ve veered of topic, sorry, where was I ?! Right! He asked me about your letters when he came in this afternoon and when I learnt that he was expecting regular correspondence from you and that I had pushed them aside with the rest...well I’ve never seen him so displeased. I am terribly sorry Miss Goldstein, please, I beg that you’ll forgive me.”
Lightening up somewhat Tina attempted to put her at ease, “Simple mistake trying to make a good impression with the new boss, I’ve been there, it’s ok. I wouldn’t worry about Newt either, he hired you right? So it goes without saying he did so knowing you were equal to the task, can’t be angry he was right.” Again there was a hint of a downturn shadowing her features, Bunty pursed her lips and smiled tightly, “Actually I was hired by the beasts division, I volunteered for the opportunity because I’ve been following Newt’s work for some time now. He didn’t request an assistant insomuch as it was forced upon him by the ministry, rather a sore spot but he did seem to be warming to me, at least he was until...”
“Don’t worry I’ll talk to him, now where is he ?” As sweet natured as she seemed to be Tina wasn’t here to beat around the bush, she could ill afford to waste any more precious time.
Turning Bunty beckoned her to follow as she was led to a room containing a single bed, at the foot of which lay a familiar case. “He hadn’t told me to be expecting you, I think it will be a lovely surprise! Again Miss Goldstein...” Waving her hand Tina cut her off, “Just Tina is fine and you don’t have to apologize anymore, thanks Bunty.” With that the other woman lingering a bit before leaving her alone in the room.
Opening the case to descend she was taken aback, a newspaper clipping with her picture from the ‘New York Ghost’ was pinned to the inside of his case. It had been taken when she was reinstated as an auror, before he left New York last December... ‘That’s what she meant by the hair comment. It feels so long ago, I cant believe...why would he keep it?’ Her heart began to thump wildly, sighing her head made the vain attempt of calming her heart. There was so much she could not, would not, trust in right now, her heart being chief among them.
Descending into his work shed the familiarity and feeling of home threatened to overwhelm her, glancing purposefully at the table beside the door she braced herself. The silly emotion that arose within her at the missing portrait pained her enough to rationalize, ‘He obviously moved it somewhere else so Theseus wouldn’t see.’ Exiting into the creature habitats the sense of wonder at what lay before her swept through her very soul distracting her at least temporarily from her troubles as she took in the changes that occurred since their first fateful meeting. He came upon her standing in front of the Niffler den, she wouldn’t have known had it not been for Dougal cooing at the sight of his caretaker.
He was attired in his suit from earlier apart from the coat and vest, the patterned dress shirt suited him, though Tina tried unsuccessfully not to dwell on that fact. Licking his lips he approached her slowly as if she were one of his more dangerous creatures or perhaps, she thought, one that had been hurt. “You came, I wasn’t sure you would, I’d hoped but...”
Firmly taking the lead she pressed for information, “Why am I here Mr. Scamander ?”
Shifting on the balls of his feet he shoved his fidgeting hands deeply into the pockets of his trousers, “I wanted, I needed to speak with you Tina, to explain the situation.” Hopeful eyes found hers as he seemed to be taking her in, the look upon his face was one Tina would not meet or think on, “Alright then Mr. Scamander, explain.”
“I’m here under orders from Albus Dumbledore, my old Professor from Hogwarts. He recruited both Leta and myself to aide in the recapture of Grindelwald. Given that Grindelwald is collecting magical creatures for his vicious use, I could hardly turn away. My brother, as you are now aware, is Chief Auror at the British Ministry, he was apprised of and most certainly manipulated the situation I currently find myself in here in Paris. When he saw you earlier, knowing your background and our history, he wanted to press you into service. I requested that I be able to speak with you in order to ask your assistance rather than demand it. He acquiesced only after Leta intervened and subsequently dragged him off to supper.” Inching forward he frowned, “I’ve no right to ask but we desperately need your help Tina, you’ve been exposed to Grindelwald far more than any of us has. You are in fact one of very few that can say they’ve dueled him and lived to tell of it.”
Placing hands on her hips Tina rolled her head back before hanging it, “What’s your old professor got to do with Grindelwald?”
Shifting nervously Newt deftly side-stepped the question, “Before we get into that there’s something of greater import that needs to be addressed. I owe you an apology for not telling about Queenie and Jacob.” Shaking her head Tina paced over to the old Thunderbird enclosure, “Where is Jacob?”
“He’s safe with a friend, Nicholas Flamel.” Hoisting a brow Tina hit him with a look of annoyance, “Who’s he?” Crossing his arms over his chest Newt bit his lip, “A seven hundred or so year-old alchemist that created, and is currently in possession of, the philosophers stone.”
Gaping Tina huffed at the scenario only Newt would intone as if speaking about the weather, “And my sister, is she with him?”
Newt’s demeanor became suddenly downcast, “No, Jacob arrived separate from Queenie, when he went to intercept her, she wasn’t...no one had seen anyone resembling her. Jacob thought, well he thought she’d abandoned him, he’s been distraught and staying with me up to recently anyway. You’re telling me she isn’t still in New York then?”
Tina felt the terror settle in the pit of her stomach overriding any other feelings that resided there the past 48hours. “I got tip from another auror that my sister was seen boarding a steamer shortly after Grindelwald escaped. MACUSA was on level 5 lockdown and she was missing, though knowing her she could’ve just flirted with Abernathy to get off early. They raided our apartment and found it gutted...I assumed she cleared out to run off with Jacob. I’ve kept my ear to the ground for any whiff that MACUSA knew about the two of them but it still seems that they were none the wiser...”
“I’m sorry Tina, truly, I should’ve taken initiative and written you regarding what was in motion but ...when your letters suddenly stopped I ... I won’t lie Tina I was beyond disappointed I thought perhaps it was because you heard of the book release and thought me negligent of my promise to you.” Retreating quickly he retrieved a stack of papers from his work desk handing them to her, “As you see my reentry into America was denied, I’ve since learned my own brother was behind it. He attempted to recruit me to the campaign to root out Grindelwald’s underground network, when I flatly refused he used his clout to block my path, of course Grindelwald’s escape only served to further restrict overseas travel. I joined only because I was pressed on by my old professor, he helped me at a time my options in life were quite slim, I felt it only right to repay him.” Making eye contact with her again, this was the first time she allowed herself to take him in; his eyes were red, clearly he had been crying, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and tiny lines of stress had creased a furrow in his brow.
Setting the papers down she crossed her arms defensively over her chest interrupting as he moved to continue, “I know a little something about disappointment Newt, how do you think I felt when I wrote you over and over only to receive no reply, and before you say anything, yes I spoke with your assistant Bunty. My sister and the lack of trust however is more than disappointing it’s hurtful.” None of this was about trust or her sister and deep down Tina knew it.
Shaking his head he held his hands out to her, “My actions had nothing to do with trust Tina, you had just been reinstated to your former position as auror. There was no way I could risk destroying your livelihood by tying you to actions deemed treasonous by your country. All I could think of was you stuck miserable in that windowless wand permit office, I personally know what it’s like to be trapped in a position you despise with no way out, I would not be responsible for doing that to you.”
“So you were protecting me is that it? Well I’m glad you condescended to assist me, being the famous author of ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ and all, I’m sure your success affords you little enough time to dwell on insignificant things.” Tina realized her tone was withering and petty but the mounting hurt was becoming unbearable.
His pained eyes shone at her remark blinking quickly away from her, “I’m more sorry than you can imagine Tina I had planned to surprise you in New York before the news hit the papers, but as I said I had little recourse against Ministry orders. I didn’t want you to find out that way.”
A pained laugh erupted before she could stop it she was steadily losing her battle with control, “Oh but I did find that out from the papers, among other things...”
His eyes shot to hers in attention as her voice broke, “The popular bachelor Newt Scamander romances women across England leaving them little more than ravenous beasts in his wake. Ha! Between your well-covered romantic exploits and the cold shoulder, I put two and two together pretty fast. It’s my own fault though, I thought...I thought...”
Tears eroded her steadfast resolve and spilled down her cheeks, Newt moved to wipe at them but she recoiled from the contact rubbing angrily at her face before taking a deep breath.“It doesn’t matter what I ...it doesn’t matter, it was my mistake.”
Clearly upset Newt kept moving in toward her, “No, Tina you aren’t, I...”
Holding her arm out at length, she forced his distance, “Please stop, just...please don’t.”
This enforced exile from her personal space seemed to break him, “The Daily Prophet is in the business of selling papers Tina, using any means to do so. My publisher took no trouble in correcting them for any publicity is good publicity, and I am at the behest of Obscurus Books for the foreseeable future. None of it’s true, pictures paired with stories taken out of context.”
“Really? Even the one about your past romance with Leta Lestrange?” Newt froze, an unreadable look on his face ...the same one she saw when Queenie had first unearthed her name... “That’s...”
“I’ll spare you Newt, It’s painfully obvious that it’s true, when I read... when I read the headline you were engaged ...”
“I was not the Scamander to which they were referring, surely my brother put that to rest.”
“No Newt, he did no such thing.” Staring at him with tears falling in heavy droplets, she fought to steady her voice, “I saw the two of you Newt, I saw with my own eyes. Even before that you rushed to her defense, the man I saw in that moment was desperate and nothing like the one I thought I knew.”
“What you saw...it was...she was my only friend... people they would treat her horribly...I was the only person she had to protect her.”
“You’re still in love with her...”
“No...”
Smiling through her tears she forced out the words, “Maybe, a little?”
A choked sob erupted but it’s Newt that’s crying, the echoed words struck him precisely as she meant them to, “I’m sorry Newt hurting you wasn’t my objective. We just need to clear the air, it’s my own fault really I never get the hint and tend to show up where I’m least wanted.”
Wiping at his eyes Newt’s face contorted and was deeply pained, “I shouldn’t have snapped at you my actions weren’t justified, but there is more to the story than you are aware, Leta isn’t entirely innocent in all this but she isn’t solely to blame either. I won’t placate you Tina, I was hurt when I found out my elder brother had long been courting my old friend, but that’s all we were Tina, friends. There was a time when we were young, that I felt something more perhaps, but the feelings that exist between us now are quite different and complex. There’s friendship but also betrayal, and I’m not speaking about her engagement to my brother. I know what you saw in the catacombs but it meant nothing short of goodbye to me, and yes I know how weak that sounds. When I think what your opinion must surely be of me ... as you said earlier, I think it hardly matters now. I’ve single handedly dashed my own hopes, I...”
She hardly knew what to say, they both stood mere steps from the other, sorrow staining one another’s features. Tina wanted nothing more than to comfort him, to cry with him but she kept her distance for fear. His arms encircling her in his warmth would breech the ramparts and rip open the wound she had just barely patched up. The cut was too deep and would take some time to heal, still...
A knock on the case distracted both of their attentions, rubbing his eyes Newt attempted to pull himself together, “It must be Theseus come back, I’d know the obnoxious knock anywhere, he’ll be wanting to fill you in on the mission details and obtain any information you’ve gleaned.”
Huffing a laugh Tina came to a quick decision, “I’ll help you Newt, not Dumbledore, not Theseus, and not Leta....I’ll help you because you’re still a friend.” Laying her feelings out upon her face she questioned softly, “You’re still my friend?” Glassy tear filled eyes both met in a silent understanding, Newt forced a heartbreaking smile to his face before uttering a breathless reply, “Yes.”
Pausing by her en route to invite the visitors down, he tossed the words over his shoulder with only a passing glance, “You weren’t mistaken Tina, I know you don’t believe me when I say I have feelings for you, but my desire to be in your company has only grown with each passing moment. Seeing you so close and knowing, knowing I, that I hurt you, that I perhaps ruined my chances at true happiness... you may never feel the same about me Tina but I shall prove myself to you. I won’t rest until I have earned your forgiveness, I know I might not deserve it, but I want it nonetheless. You are wanted here...I want you.”
Fixing her face with a flick of the wand Tina stared after his retreating back, with a handful of words the cold ache in her chest had lessened. Shock gave way to something else entirely, it flooded her soul with color replacing the gray that had darkened her world, lighting the space within her filling it to bursting with warmth. The speculation drawn from three little words had torn her heart in two, but three little words had also mended it, “I want you.” It was the first time anyone had said those words to her, they resonated deep within and she knew he meant them.
They were friends but perhaps they stood on the precipice of something more, for now though, this was enough. Tina would support him in any way she could and expected him to do the same. There was something looming bigger than all of them just on the horizon, everything else would have to wait including insecurities. Straightening her jacket she smirked to herself listening to the approaching footsteps, yes, she had a mission no matter what obstacles threatened her goals, even if they were personal. Closing her eyes she focused on her happiest memory: Music was playing, then she was spinning and giddy before falling into strong warm arms, green eyes caught hers briefly...I want you.
Opening her eyes she set her jaw, she had a job to do, she would not fail...not again. This is, she realized, exactly where she belonged.