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Chapter Text

You strutted into the MACUSA building, dressed in [F/C] and hair tied into a [F/H/S]. You were known as [Y/N] [L/N], the famed Auror and best scholar Ilvermorny could offer. You were cheery, happy, but rarely ever talked to who you didn't know. It didn't bother you so and you didn't have any obligation to talk to anyone who wasn't the Goldstein sisters, curious colleagues or higher-ups.

You were a great friend towards Queenie and Tina since you both first met at Ilvermorny. You were a Thunderbird, and yet a scholar that passed the expectations of MACUSA, the Congress's prize. You hummed satisfyingly, walking into the elevator when suddenly, Red turned his head sharp at you.

"Tina's fooling around in where she shouldn't be fooling around again," he said, looking at you, "Are you gonna do anything about it?"

"...Yeah, bring me to where Teenie is, please," you huffed, stuffing your hands in your coat pocket. The goblin hummed and with a nudge of his long, clawed stick, he brought you to the Major Investigation Department. The elevator let out a small ring of the bell and the doors slid open, you stepping out swiftly.

You made your way over to the office, throwing open the doors and huffing at Tina, who had a brunette stranger right by her. Tina looked over at you, only looking slightly more annoyed.

"Teenie," you said, holding her hand and dragging her out the office.

"I've got a Section 3A, [N/N]," she scowled, "I-"

"Please, Teenie," you said, looking at her, "I can't believe you keep doing this---I'm really sorry you've been demoted, I really am, but if this persists they'll fire you and I wouldn't be able to help you then,"

"Why not?" she asked, "You can easily convince them, can't you?"

"Yes, but at least you have a better job than being a janitor here, don't you, Teenie?" you said, frowning.

She eventually relented, sighing as she let you drag her to the elevator. You muttered out, "Wand Permit Department, please," and Red did his magic.

"He violated the laws?" you asked, not looking at her at all.

"I'll tell you at my desk," she answered, the elevator door sliding open and stepping out. You left the elevator, the man following right behind you. She lead you and him to the Wand Permit Office, and as soon as you took a peek of the dingy, airless, windowless basement they called an 'office', you grew upset.

"What kind of office is this?!" you hissed, walking into the office.

"It's work for you..." she sighed, walking behind her desk and looking up at you, "Mr. Scamander here, lost a No-Maj who was exposed to magic,"

You looked at the man, with a raised eyebrow. However, as soon as he looked back up at you, you felt something tighten around your heart. Your eyes fell wide, and your cheeks flushed with red. You shook your head quickly, looking back at Tina who was busy on some documents.

"So, you're telling me, this hunk of a man---how did he even lose that No-Maj? What even happened?" you asked in a whisper, sliding close to Tina and leaning down to her.

She looked at you in disbelief, "Don't call him that, [N/N],"

"Sorry, yeah, what happened?" you asked again.

"Mr. Scamander was hit in the head and lost the No-Maj in the process," explained Tina.

"Oh, poor thing," you frowned.

"What? The No-Maj, or Mr. Scamander?" Tina huffed.

"Well, I was referring to Mr. Scamander, but the No-Maj works fine too," you hummed, picking yourself up.

"[N/N], don't flirt with a criminal," she sighed.

"Oh, come on," you giggled, "He's a bit handsome, isn't he?"

"[N/N]," she said, in a strict tone.

"Oh, alright," you chuckled.

"GOLDSTEIN!" a voice shouted, and you snap your head at the direction of the shout.

"Where is she? Where is she?" it continued, "GOLDSTEIN!"

Tina ducked behind her desk, which led you to laugh slightly. Tina glared at you madly.

"Goldstein!" the voice finally revealed itself, "and [Y/N],"

"[L/N] for you, Mr. Graves," you hummed.

Tina emerged from behind her desk, looking extremely guilty.

"Did you butt in on the Investigation Team again?" asked Mr. Graves.

Just before Tina was about to answer, the man cut her off, "Where have you been?"

His head turns to the young brunette, Mr. Scamander, and asked, "Where'd she pick you up?"

"Me?" Mr. Scamander asked, pointing at himself. He looked over at Tina but she simply shook her head.

"Have you been tracking down the Second Salemers again?" asked Mr. Graves.

"Of course not, sir," she answered.

Soon, you heard a pair of footsteps approach the office.

"Afternoon, Graves, sir!" the man said, clad in a black suit and slick black hair, "And, uhm, [L/N], miss,"

"Afternoon, ah---Abernathy," Mr. Graves answered whereas you nodded.

"Mr. Graves, sir, this is Mr. Scamander, he has a crazy creature in that case and it got out, and it caused a mayhem, sir," Tina quickly said.

"Let's see the little guy," Mr. Graves said, and Tina took out Mr. Scamander's suitcase. She took it to another desk and set it carefully onto the wooden surface.

"Oh, please be careful," Mr. Scamander said, desperate.

Tina opened the case and you peeked over, but instead of a creature, it was full of pastries.

You looked over at the brunette man, and was amused by the sight of his horrified face.

Mr. Graves looked absolutely befuddled and sighed disappointingly, "Tina..." before turning and leaving the office.

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"I can't believe you didn't obliviate that man!" Tina shouted angrily as you strutted behind her and beside Mr. Scamander, "If there's an inquiry, I'll be finished!"

"So why would you be finished?" Mr. Scamander asked, "I'm the one that's-"

"She's not supposed to go near the Second Salemers," you cut him off, looking at him. He looked back at you, then above him.

He spun around and watched as something flew away. Your eyes still on him, "What was that?"

"Uh...moth, I think," he answered, "Big moth,"

Soon, you, Tina and Mr. Scamander reached a building with a crowd and a policeman standing in the midst of it all. The three of you move to the sides of the crowd, taking in the yells of concerned citizens towards the overworked policeman.

"Hey, hey, quiet down, I'm tryna get a statement..." the policeman sighed.

"I'm telling you, it's a gas explosion again, I ain't takin' the kids back up there until it's safe," a woman chimed in.

"Sorry ma'am, there ain't no smell of gas," the policeman replied.

Mr. Scamander looked up at the building, but our attentions was snatched by a man slurring, "It wasn't gas---hey, Officer, I've seen it! It wuzza gigantic---a huge, hippopota-"

Mr. Scamander walked past the man, waving his wand and the man took a whiff of the white smoke excreted from the tip of his wand. The man's sentence was continued in a wavering word, "Gas..."

The crowd clamored with agreement, "Gas, it was gas!"

Every single one of them were angrily protesting against the policeman as you and Mr. Scamander made your way towards the building complex, leaving Tina behind. As you and him climbed up the stairs, you decided to strike up a conversation---after all, stairs weren't an easy thing. And you hated them.

"So, Mr. Scamander, why did you come here?" you asked.

"There was only one breeder of Appaloosa Puffskein in this world and he lived in New York," he huffed, "But it turns out he's been shut down,"

"Yeah," you answered, "But we both know that isn't the real reason you came to New York,"

"..." he kept quiet, stopping right in his tracks and looking at you.

"What?" you chuckled, "I've always been good at deciphering lies,"

"I...I only wanted to go to Arizona to set my Thunderbird free..." he said, turning back around and walking up the stairs.

"Oh," you hummed, continuing your tracks when you began to contemplate what he just said, "Wait, you have a thunderbird?"

"Yes, his name is Frank," he nodded.

"How? And you brought him to New York? Where is he?" you let out a series of questions.

"I have a charm on my suitcase, and he lives in it," he answered.

"And you lost your case?" you asked, again.

"Yes, but I'm certain he's still in my case because he simply can't go anywhere without me being near him," he answered, again, "He's a lovely creature, I'll show you once I get it back,"

"Huh," you huffed, confused.

Soon, you both reached an apartment door. Mr. Scamander swung it open and heard a grunt. He stood still like a plank in his place, as if shocked at something. You peered into the door with him and your eyes went wide like his. A giant hole was present, planks and rubble across the floor. You both approached the man lying down on the ground and he let out a pained groan.

Mr. Scamander leant down and touched the stranger's neck, there lied a painful bite mark. Two, still bleeding marks.

"Mr. Scamander!" Tina shouted, accompanied by the door clicking open and the sudden thumps of shoes on wooden stairs.

He looked up, and quickly stood, walking over to the giant hole in the wall. He leant over, and waved his wand slightly, uttering the incantation of the repairing charm. Everything began repairing itself---the wall built itself back together, the fire escape ladders re-attaching themselves to the walls. As everything rebuilt itself, Mr. Scamander sat on the bed in a hurried manner, taking the suitcase that rested beside him and settled it onto his lap. He opened it swiftly, checking the insides.

You simply stood by the door, waiting for Tina to arrive. Once she did, she frantically looked around before you tapped her shoulder gently and pointed into the apartment. Mr. Scamander clicked it close immediately as Tina set foot inside the flat.

"It was open?" she asked, hushed and in shock.

"Just a smidge," he answered, breathless and looking up at her. You chuckled, leaning against the door frame.

"That crazy Niffler thing's on the loose again?" she asked, and you raised an eyebrow.

"Uh..." he hesitated, "Might be,"

Your attention was caught by the man lying on the floor, letting out a groan. "Then look for it!" Tina said through gritted teeth.

"Look! Oh..." you frowned, walking over to help the man. You crouched down to him, "His neck's bleeding..."

You touched his neck gently, "He's hurt!"

Tina set the suitcase down and came over to your side, squatting down beside you.

"Oh, wake up, Mr. No-Maj!" you shook him gently. However soon, you backed down to Tina's arms, screaming as soon as a creature jumped out, skin-colored with...things projecting out of its body.

"Mercy Lewis, what is that?!" you asked in a shout, attaching your hands to Tina's coat as she had her arms wrapped around you.

The thing hissed and scrambled whilst Mr. Scamander held it up by its tail, opened his suitcase and forced it in, "It's nothing to worry about,"

"That is a Murtlap," he said, a slight nervous smile on his red face.

The man sat up, and you asked through pants, "What else have you got in there?"

There was a silence between the four of you, before the No-Maj spoke, "You?"

"Hello," Mr. Scamander greeted, a toothy smile.

"Easy, Mr...uh..." you said, stumbling forward to help the man.

"Kowalski, Jacob," he simply answered.

Mr. Scamander pulled out his wand and pointed it at the No-Maj. Tina threw herself in front of the man while you stumbled backwards onto the wall.

"You can't obliviate him!" Tina shouted, "We need him as a witness!"

"I-I'm sorry, you've just yelled at me the length of New York for not doing it in the first place," Mr. Scamander said, looking like he was about to cry.

You frowned, slowly walking over to the brunette man.

"He's hurt! He looks ill," Tina added, eyes agape at him.

"He'll be fine, Murtlap bites aren't serious," Mr. Scamander shrugged.

Mr. Kowalski groaned again.

You looked at Mr. Scamander in disbelief, and he looked back at you. It took him quite a while before he said through pants, "Yeah, I admit this is a slightly more severe reaction than I've seen,"

"But if it was really serious, he'd have-" he stopped, Tina picking herself up while Mr. Kowalski tried to bring himself up with the support of his apartment walls.

"What?" you asked, his eyes snapping back at you.

"Well the first symptoms would be flames out of his anus," Mr. Scamander answered, and you gasped, bringing your hands up to your mouth.

"He doesn't seem to-" Mr. Scamander was cut off by Tina shouting, "This is balled up!" in stress, like she was on the verge of breaking down.

"It'll last up to 48 hours at the most," Mr. Scamander huffed.

"I can keep him, if you want to-" He was cut off again by Tina's exasperated shout, "Oh, keep him?!"

She scoffed, "We don't keep them!"

You patted her shoulder gently, giving her a kind smile as she calms down. You then looked at Mr. Scamander as Tina looked away, rubbing her temples.

"Mr. Scamander, do you know anything about the wizarding community in America?" you asked, in a slightly more gentle tone than Tina's.

"I do know a few things, actually," he began, "I know that you have rather backwards laws about relations with Non-Magic people,"

You didn't speak, your face contorting into one of disbelief and confusion.

"That you're not meant to befriend them, that you can't marry them---which seems mildly absurd to me," he continued, and you pursed your lips, looking away. That, he was right. It was absurd.

"Who's gonna marry him?" asked Tina, looking back at you two and pulling you close to her.

You looked at Mr. Kowalski, who looked like he was slightly offended.

"You're both coming with me, [N/N] too," Tina said, her hand letting go of yours as you rushed over to help the man up.

"I-I don't see why I need to come with you," Mr. Scamander huffed, looking away.

"Help me," you uttered, trying to pick the man up.

"Oh, I'm dreaming, right?" Mr. Kowalski asked.

"Yeah," Tina huffed while Mr. Scamander came over to help you.

"I'm tired, I never went to the bank," Mr. Kowalski said, his hand around your shoulders and an arm around Mr. Scamander's, "This is just some big nightmare, right?"

"For the three of us, Mr. Kowalski," huffed Tina while she apparated you all.

Chapter Text

The sun was about to set, leaving a grim shadow in the sky while the moon made its entrance in the sky. You four strided along the wet pavement, Mr. Kowalski on Mr. Scamander's west and you just beside Mr. Scamander. "Take a right here," Tina huffed, swiftly turning right just around the fence. The wet pavement was a menace to you, especially with your heels.

You wore a standard auror uniform---brown trench coat around your shoulders, tied by a gold chain. Your hands weren't usually in the sleeves as you've seen them as a nuisance---ink marks inside the sleeves, it would run down when you're busy with something wet---it was utterly annoying. Inside, you wore a button-up cream white shirt with a ruffled collar tucked into a long, black skirt with two lines eventually forming into two slits around the ankles. You had a pair of black, heeled boots to finish. In a sense, you were insanely attractive. Enough about you, back to the story.

Tina stopped behind a giant truck, peering towards the brownstone before whipping her head towards Mr. Kowalski and Mr. Scamander. "Okay," she began, "I'm not supposed to have men on the premises,"

"In that case, Mr. Kowalski and I can easily seek other accommodations," Mr. Scamander said, backing away before Tina let out a sarcastic laugh, "No you don't,"

Mr. Kowalski groans as Tina dragged him, who had his hand held by Mr. Scamander, out of the truck.

"Watch your step," you advised, locking eyes with Mr. Scamander's pleading ones. You giggled slightly, simply following behind.

Climbing up the stoop, Mr. Scamander huffed as he asked you, "Is she always like this?"

"Forgive her, Mr. Scamander, she's in a bit of a tizzy---upset, you see, and she's very law-abiding so she's like that," you answered him, "Once you get to know her, it'll be better,"

Entering the complex and climbing up the stairs, you eventually heard Mrs. Esposito shout, "That you, Tina?"

"Shh..." Mr. Scamander hushed to Mr. Kowalski.

"Yes, Mrs. Esposito!" Tina answered.

"Are you alone?" asked Mrs. Esposito.

"No, I'm with [Y/N]!" Tina replied.

Mrs. Esposito seemed satisfied with the answer, walking back into her apartment. Tina huffed, relieved before rushing all of you to her apartment.

Swinging open the door to her apartment, you stepped in first before the three. Music filled your ears, and you looked around the warm, shared apartment of the Goldstein sisters. Your eyes eventually settled on the coat hanger and you pointed to it, looking at Tina. She nodded, and you wasted no time in slipping off your trench coat and hanging it onto the coat hanger.

"Teenie," a voice called out, familiar and seductive, "You brought men home---and [N/N],"

You looked over, smiling as you greeted, "Hello, Queenie,"

Your eyes then darted over towards Mr. Kowalski, who looked awestruck with Queenie. She was wearing a pink slip, a black, semi-opaque robe draped across, the equivalent of nothing, naked, nada. Queenie looked entranced by Mr. Kowalski, her hands wrapped in eachother tightly, eyes fixated on the grey suited man.

"Gentlemen, this is my sister," Tina introduced.

Queenie's eyes stayed on Mr. Kowalski, a bright smile on her pink lips. She bit her lip to contain her smile, but it was obvious to you.

"Wanna put something on, Queenie?" asked Tina, taking off her hat.

"Oh, sure," Queenie said, unconcerned. She waved her wand and her blue dress slipped off the dress maker's mannequin. Tina walked over to the fireplace, tugging on one of the dried laundry. Mr. Scamander went over to the windows, looking out to the lovely sky and you followed.

Queenie slid on her dress, purposefully making it look tempting to appease Mr. Kowalski's eyes. His mouth fell agape, and you turned your head, looking through the half-transparent curtains. Your attention was caught by Queenie's question, "So, who are they?"

"Oh, that's Mr. Scamander," you hummed, pointing at the man beside you.

"He's committed a serious infraction of the National Statue of Secrecy," Tina added, taking another piece of dried laundry and rolling it up.

"He's a criminal?" Queenie picqued, and you nodded, "Uh-huh,"

"That's Mr. Kowalski, he's a No-Maj," you introduced, pointing at him, who was standing in the middle of the living room and dining area. Mr. Kowalski waved at her, and mouthed a 'hello'.

"A No-Maj," she uttered, breathless. She waved you down and you stepped over to the pocket door.

"Teenie, [N/N], what are you both up to?" she asked, excited.

"He's sick," you explained, "It's a long story,"

Tina took off her shoes and socks, replacing them with a comfortable pair of slippers.

"Mr. Scamander," she said aloud, "has lost something we're going to help him find,"

You and his eyes locked once more, and this time, it didn't break. You were staring so intently into his, and so was he. You bit your bottom lip, blush rising to your cheeks quickly while you fiddled with your fingers. He, too, was blushing, but he seemed so unwilling to break this eye contact with you.

Queenie was looking at the both of you, eyes darting between you and Mr. Scamander before giggling, "So, [N/N],"

Tina looked at you and Mr. Scamander, shaking her head as she took your hand and dragged you to the bedroom, "[N/N], please don't tell me you're falling for him,"

"I can't say, Teenie," you looked down.

"You've both barely even talked!" she hissed, "You can't, [N/N],"

"Oh, it's probably just a fleeting crush," you answered, looking back up, "It'll go away eventually, like that crush I had on James Visque in 5th grade,"

She chuckled lightly, remembering the memory, "Alright, alright,"

"Oh..." Queenie said, making you and Tina snap your head at her, "You need to sit down, honey,"

Mr. Kowalski sat on the plump couch the second she said that, and she rushed over.

"He hasn't eaten anything all day!" she frowned, and you followed while Tina kept at her business.

"And---oh, that's rough," she continued, "He didn't get his money he wanted for his bakery,"

A smile suddenly appeared on her lips, "You bake, honey?"

Mr. Kowalski answered with a grunt, and she smiled, "I love to cook,"

"You're a legilimens," Mr. Scamander began, making you look up at him.

"Mm, yeah," Queenie hummed, "But I always have trouble with your kind---Brits, it's the accent,"

Mr. Kowalski struggled before saying, "You know how to read minds?"

"Oh, don't worry honey, most guys think what you was thinking when they first see me," she said, her smile resurfacing.

"Now you, need, food," she leant down and booped him with her wand, turning around and walking over to the kitchen.

"So, I haven't quite gotten your name," Mr. Scamander began.

"[Y/N] [L/N], Mr. Scamander," you answered.

"Please, call me Newt, I dislike it when someone's so formal with me," he looked over at you.

You looked back, smiling, "Then please, call me [Y/N],"

"You're an auror?" he asked.

"Oh, yes," you uttered, "Quite the stressful job,"

"How did you get in?" he inquired.

"I didn't do much, really, all I did was just study," you replied to him, "I just vomitted it all out during my N.E.W.Ts,"

"'Vomit' is quite the word.." he chuckled nervously.

You chuckled back, turning around to Queenie and Tina. Tina waved her wand once, and a few plates flew down from the cupboards. Queenie pointed hers on a apple and waved it a bit, sending the tomatoes to float around. Then, at a pot, and it filled itself up with water, and set itself on the stove that just turned on. Finally, at some carrots and a knife---the knife began chopping the carrots at once, the pieces dropping down into the boiling hot water. You made your way over to the sisters, folding your sleeves up to help them prepare the dinner.

"Hot dog? Again?" questioned Queenie.

"Don't read my mind," Tina answered, quickly.

"Not a very wholesome lunch," Queenie hummed.

You giggled at the two sisters, waving your wand slightly and tablemats draped themselves onto the wooden dining table. Utensils and ingredients flew around the kitchen area as the two sisters conversed, you preparing the table, the cloths and whatnots. Though, you were unaware of Newt trying to leave.

"Hey, Mr. Scamander," Queenie piped, "You prefer pie or strudel?"

He hesitated, before stuttering, "I-I really don't have a preference,"

He gave Tina a nervous smile, and you huffed in 'oh boy'. Tina had a look on her face, you unable to decipher it but you could tell it was that she was done with Newt.

"You prefer strudel huh, honey?" Queenie grinned at Mr. Kowalski, who sat on the table, stuffing a napkin behind the collar of his shirt.

Mr. Kowalski chuckled, and Queenie said, "Strudel it is,"

You placed your wand down and turned to Queenie, watching her cast a spell. The apple slices and some raisins mixed themselves together, as well as some sugar. Sheets of dough wrapped themselves around the contents, some braided dough tying it all together, some apple slices flew over and they settled down onto the now-baking strudel, turning themselves into beautiful roses. By the time it was served on a plate, the strudel was crisp and well-done, with some powdered sugar sprinkled on top.

The lights dimmed and the candles lit themselves. Pans flew down to the table and the spatulas scooped them into the plates. Mr. Kowalski sniffed the aromatic strudel and let out a happy exhale, looking excitedly at the sweet pastry.

"Well, sit down, Mr. Scamander," you said, sitting yourself in a chair.

Tina sat North, you sat East with Queenie, Mr. Kowalski sat West before Queenie, leaving an empty seat in front of you. Mr. Scamander seemed hesitant, peering down at the food. You chuckled lightly, "We're not gonna poison you,"

Mr. Kowalski eyed him and urged him to sit down with his eyes.

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The suitcase clicked open and you looked down curiously, to see Newt's hand quickly closing it back. You looked back up at him who was avoiding your eyes.

"The job ain't that glamorous," Queenie said, "I mean, I spend most days making coffee, unjinxing the john..."

"Tina's the career girl," her eyes darted to Tina.

Tina eyed her with a smile on her face.

"Nah, we're orphans," Queenie's attention went back to Mr. Kowalski, "Ma and Pa died of Dragon Pox when we were kids,"

Tina looked oddly uncomfortable with this situation, eyes fixated on Newt for a while before looking down at her pants.

"You're sweet," Queenie smiled happily, head resting on her hands as she leant in to Mr. Kowalski, "But we've got eachother---and [N/N],"

You smiled sweetly, looking away slightly before your eyes caught Newt staring at you. You smiled at him, and he looked away.

Mr. Kowalski's eyes went to Tina, who looked shyly with her smile resurfacing.

"Could you stop reading my mind for a second?" asked Mr. Kowalski, and Queenie's smile disappeared for a second.

"Oh..." she muttered, backing away.

Mr. Kowalski stammered, "Don't get me wrong, I-I love it,"

Queenie's smile returned and they both shared a laugh, to which you smiled fondly at. You wished you could share a laugh like that sometimes.

"This meal, it's," he began, "insanely good,"

Tina looked at Newt, eyes darting around a bit frantically.

"This is what I do, I-I'm a cook," he said, "And-and this is like, the greatest meal I've ever had in my life,"

Newt looked down at his trousers. You kept still in your seat.

The two shared yet another laugh, Queenie seemingly getting more and more happier as she spoke, "Oh! You slay me!"

She prepped her elbow onto the table and rested her head against it, "I ain't never really talked to a No-Maj before,"

"Huh," Mr. Kowalski hummed, "Really?"

Newt puffed his cheeks, still fixated on something that wasn't Tina. The two awkwardly avoided eachother's gaze, finding something to stare at rather than eachother. You, were stuck in an extremely, extremely awkward situation.

"I am not flirting," Queenie suddenly said, and you frowned. Newt's gaze turned to Tina, looking a bit judgemental. Tina hesitated a bit before sighing, "I'm just saying, don't go gettin' attached,"

"Oh, Teenie..." you sighed.

"He's gonna have to be obliviated," she continued.

Mr. Kowalski used his napkin to dry his eyes, and she looked over at him, "It's nothing personal,"

"Oh, hey, you okay honey?" asked Queenie, concerned.

"So, Ms. Goldstein, I think Mr. Kowalski could do with an early night," Newt said, picking himself up from his chair and going behind it. His hands on the top rail of the chair, "Besides, you and I will need to be up early tomorrow morning to find my Niffler, so..."

Queenie looked over at Tina, "What's a Niffler?"

Tina had stood from her chair and was now standing by the pocket door, "Don't ask,"

"You guys can bunk in here," Tina said, waving Newt down inside the room.

You pushed your chair back and stood, huffing, "Well, I have to go now,"

"Oh..." Queenie frowned, "Can't you stay, [N/N]?"

"I'm afraid I can't, Queenie darling," you sent her an apologetic smile.

"That's right, she has work tomorrow," Tina added.

"Let's have a sleepover next time, [N/N]," she smiled, "Pretty please?"

"I'll see what I can do---it's been a while, after all," you huffed, taking your trench coat and slipping it over your shoulders, clipping a gold chain between the two folds to tie it together, "Goodbye, Teenie, Queenie,"

"See you!" Queenie's voice rang as you exited the apartment and made your way downstairs to the main door of the building.

That is, until Tina stopped you.

"Teenie?" you asked, looking at the brunette lady.

"I...I'd like for you to help with this case," she began, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly.

"What?" you asked, in disbelief.

"I want you to help me with this case," she repeated, "Please,"

"Teenie, I'd love to, but-" you were cut off by her desperate eyes. You hesitated, before sighing, "Why?"

"I feel it would be better if we had an official auror with us," she said, "We can get information...legally,"

"I suppose so," you hummed, "Alright, I'll help you,"

She smiled widely, "Thanks, [N/N],"

"You're welcome, Teenie," you smiled back.

"Would you like to stay for the night?" she asked, nudging over to the open door of her apartment.

"Oh, that'd be delightful," you answered, "Saved me a trip,"

Chapter Text

You sat on the couch, drinking a cup of hot cocoa while you magicked a book to flip its page. Tina emerged from the bedroom with an empty tray, placing it down onto the dining table. Queenie sat away from you, near the fireplace, knitting a scarf with magic and simply fixating her all onto the scarf. Tina sat beside you with a big sigh, and you frowned at her plight.

"Oh, Teenie," you said, waving your wand and settling the cocoa onto the dining table, the book back into the bookcase. You scooched over to her and she laid her head on your shoulder.

Queenie seemed unbothered and kept at her knitting.

"I just don't want to see Queenie upset," she whispered, and you gently stroked her shoulders.

"I know you don't," you answered her, "But you should let her do what she wants first, she's 23 already, Teenie,"

"I know, I know, she's old enough to think for herself, but I'm still worried..." she uttered, and you gave her a comforting smile.

Queenie let the half-knitten scarf and yarn float onto the table beside her, standing up and sitting beside Tina. You smiled, "I'll go check up on them,"

You left the living room and slid open the pocket door, entering stealthily and that's when you noticed the two was gone and there was a closed suitcase near the entrance. You cocked your head before remembering what Newt had this afternoon---an enlargement charm in his suitcase. You clicked it open and descended into his suitcase, slowly.

When you reached the ground, you were met with two pairs of eyes looking at you.

"Hello," you began, waving at the two, "I hope you don't mind, I let myself in..."

"I'd like for you to sit but I'm afraid there's no more chairs," Newt huffed, to which you replied with a shook of your head, "It's fine,"

"Right, so just...wear this," he said as he handed you his blue coat. You swung it over your shoulders and tugged them together to shield yourself from the cold.

He leant down to check on Mr. Kowalski's neck wound and touched it slightly, "Oh, that's definitely the Murtlap,"

"You must be particularly susceptible," he walked over to his desk, searching for something in the shelves, bottles clinking together as he rummaged through.

"See, you're a muggle," he said, continuing his search, "So our physiologies are subtly different,"

He pulled out a bottle of pills and shook a few tablets out, plucked a few leaves from the plant resting on his desk and rubbed the leaves together. He scooped up a cup of water and placed it right on top of the barrel next to Mr. Kowalski, handing the pills to him. He licked his finger a little bit before sticking it into the broken down plant mixture in his hands and rubbing it onto Mr. Kowalski's neck.

"Ew," Mr. Kowalski gagged, and Newt answered with a, "Stay still,"

"Ah..." he groaned in pain while the brunette rubbed more of the cure onto his neck.

"Alright, that should stop the sweating," Newt said as he left, "And one of those should sort the twitch,"

Mr. Kowalski looked down at the pills in his hand suspiciously and just shrugged before downing it with the water given.

You looked over at Newt, who now no longer had his vest on and purely just his dress shirt. He had a large cleaver in hand and he hacked chunks of raw meat that rested on the chopping board, throwing them into the bucket below. He then handed the bucket to Mr. Kowalski, who groaned in disgust.

"Here, hold this," he said, passing the bucket.

Mr. Kowalski huffed in incredulity, absolutely disgusted by the brunette.

Newt then took a vial and squeezed something in his hands, neon blue liquid oozing out of the hole. It stopped slightly, and he encouraged, "Come on..."

The thing continued oozing out neon blue liquid.

"Whatcha got there?" you asked, curious.

"This," he answered, "The locals call Swooping Evil,"

"Not the friendliest of names," he added, "It's quite an agile fella,"

He looked over at you and showed his hand, there hung a ball and a string, wrapped tightly in something that resembled a cocoon.

"I've been studying him," he said as Mr. Kowalski backed down, "And I'm pretty sure his venom could be quite useful if properly diluted,"

You let out a small awe, Mr. Kowalski looking at you with an odd face present.

"Just to remove bad memories, y'know?" Newt continued, turning away and suddenly throwing the creature like a yo-yo.

It rushed out towards you and you backed away, shocked and fearful. It was an odd, scary creature with a blue underbelly and a green outside---it resembled a large butterfly, just slightly scarier and incredibly sharp teeth. It screeched at you, trying to reach you but it was only a matter of time until Newt brought it back to his palms.

He smiled widely at you, your ever so confused face still plastered on.

"P-probably shouldn't let him loose in here, though," he said, a smile still present on his handsome face.

He turned and swung open the door in front of him, "Come on,"

You and Mr. Kowalski followed, and once you stepped out, a face of awe was present on you and his face. Wind howled and rain fell, Newt standing in front of a rock perch with his wand acting like an umbrella as he waited for something to come.

"Come on, down you come," he called, you looking up to see a thunderbird flapping its wings just above him.

"Come on," he repeated, and it came down slowly and perched itself on the rock-form.

The rain stopped and Newt magicked his umbrella away, reaching into his pocket and retrieving something.

"Thank parcelsus," he began, "If you'd have got out, it would've been quite catastrophic,"

He gently patted the Thunderbird, "So, he's the real reason I came to America---that she knows,"

He pointed at you, and you smiled. Sun shone down to his lovely features, Mr. Kowalski looking up at the Thunderbird's face, astonished.

Newt looked back at the Thunderbird, "To bring Frank home,"

The Thunderbird screeched, and the brunette looked back at Mr. Kowalski, who was slowly approaching the large, bird-like creature.

"Wait, no, sorry, stay there," he said, "He's a wee bit sensitive to strangers,"

Frank screeched again, and Newt immediately comforted him, "Here you are, here you are,"

"He was trafficked, you see," he explained, "I found him in Egypt---he was all chained up---couldn't leave him there, I had to bring him back,"

"I'm gonna put you back where you belong, aren't I, Frank?" he cooed, "To the wilds of Arizona,"

It screeched again, Newt backing down and suddenly throwing the thing he had in his palm to the sky, Frank immediately taking off to capture said thing. He huffed, turning to his side and called for something, much to your surprise. Creatures chittered and flew around Mr. Kowalski, him being absolutely flabbergasted and smacked the two flying beasts that fought for some berries around him. You giggled, following Newt as he left the desert habitat and to a grey, rocky area.

He called yet again, staring into the vast, foggy area of the habitat. He took your hand and pulled you close to him while rumbles shook the ground below you, "Alright, here they come,"

"Here who comes?" you asked, now a tad bit nervous.

"Graphorns," he said, and you whimpered upon seeing a large beast run forward. You immediately tried to back down as it got closer but he kept a firm grip on your hand. "You're all right," he comforted.

"Oh!" you yelped quietly, hiding behind Newt.

"Hello," he greeted the large, tentacle-y beast that stepped beside him.

It raised its tentacles and caressed his face with them while he explained, "So they're the last breeding pair in existence,"

One slowly slid between you and Newt, you reaching forward and petting it.

"So if I hadn't managed to rescue them, that could've been the end of Graphorns forever," he finished, the Graphorn's tentacles retracting from his face.

You petted the little Graphorn, gently touching its scaly back when Newt threw one of the raw meats into the habitat, the small Graphorn rushing over and eating it.

"What, you rescue these creatures?" Mr. Kowalski inquired, watching another little Graphorn emerge beside its parent.

"Yes, that's right," Newt answered, "Rescue, nurture, and protect them,"

"And I'm gently trying to educate my fellow wizards about them," he added, "Come on,"

His hand around your wrists unmoving, now slightly gentler and not as forceful as he was. He brought you into a door that morphed into a bamboo forest as soon as you stepped in.

"Whoa," you heard Mr. Kowalski gasp, astonished.

"Titus, Finn," Newt called out, bringing you to a specific tree, "Poppy, Marlow, Tom,"

A little bowtruckle (this species you knew) climbed out of his vest pocket and set itself onto the dorsal side of Newt's hand, chirping as it looked around the green habitat.

"He had a cold," he told you, "He needed some body warmth,"

"Aw," you sympathised, smiling at the poor Bowtruckle.

"Right, on you hop," Newt said, approaching the tree and extending his hand towards one of the branches. A branch of Bowtruckles peeked out, looking over at the one that was unwilling to leave Newt's hand.

"He has some attachment issues," he smiled at the Bowtruckles squeaking.

"Now come on, Pickett," he continued, placing a hand behind Pickett but the Bowtruckle only backed down.

"Pickett," he said, now with a strict tone. You and his hand were no longer connected, your hand tightly gripping on his Aegean blue coat.

"No, they're not gonna bully you, now come on," he demanded, ushering for Pickett to return to the tree. The Bowtruckle only attempted to back down once more, eventually falling down and hanging for dear life on Newt's fingers.

"Pickett," he repeated, but upon hearing the Bowtruckle's on-the-verge-of-tears squeaks, he sighed, "Alright,"

It whimpered again, looking at the brunette with his big, beady eyes and Newt huffed, "And that is exactly why they accuse me of favoritism,"

He retracted his hand and let Pickett rest in his vest pocket once more, turning around and looking into the vast forest whilst you stared at the Bowtruckle tree. Mr. Kowalski stood beside you, amazed by what he was looking at when one of the Bowtruckles reached in towards you.

"Hello," you greeted it, reaching in and it jumped on excitedly, "What's your name?"

It squeaked happily, but you couldn't understand.

"Marlow? Tom?" you asked, "Titus? Finn?"

It shook its head delibrately, and you hummed, "Poppy?"

It nodded vigorously, a happy chirp escaping its lips.

"Oh no, Dougal's gone," Newt said, exasperated while he placed his hands on his hips.

You turned around with Poppy still resting on your hand, looking up at you with her endearing eyes. You smiled sweetly at the Bowtruckle, "You're quite the pretty one,"

It chirped bashfully and you smiled even wider. Suddenly, a bunch of chirps took your attention as the hazel-eyed brunette huffed, "Alright, I'm coming, I'm coming,"

"Mum's here, mum's here," he repeated and you chuckled. It was nothing more than adorable that he would call himself mum to his own lovely creatures.

"Oh, hello," he said, hand reaching into the bamboo nest and one of the Occamies (this you knew as well) coiled itself around his hand, him lifting it up with all the strength he could muster, "Let me take a look at you,"

"I know these guys," Mr. Kowalski chuckled at the sight of the newborns, placing the bucket down onto the ground.

Newt turned around with the young Occamy in his hand, pointing it at Mr. Kowalski, "Your Occamy,"

"You mean my Occamy," Mr. Kowalski repeated Newt's words.

"Yes," Newt reassured, "Do you want to...?"

"Oh---oh, wow, yeah, sure," Mr. Kowalski said, hands extended out to accept the Occamy.

Newt slid it down to Mr. Kowalski's hands and he whimpered, soon chuckling as soon as he brought the lovely serpent-like beast in front of his face.

"Hey..." he said to the Occamy while Newt tended to the others. It chirped in response, and Mr. Kowalski reached in to pet him when it suddenly hissed at him.

"Oh, sorry, no, don't pet him," Newt said, hushed, "They, um, learn to defend themselves early,"

"See, their shells are made of silver, so they're incredibly valuable," he explained, throwing a little food into the mouths of one of the Occamies, "Their nests tend to be ransacked by hunters,"

"Thank you," Mr. Kowalski thanked, handing the Occamy back to Newt. The brunette later put it back into its nest, back to its family.

"Mr. Scamander, Ms. [L/N]?" he began, looking over at the two of you. You looked at him, eyes tearing away from your Bowtruckle friend.

"Oh, call me Newt," Newt only answered, and you smiled at the grey suited man, "Please just call me [Y/N],"

"Newt, [Y/N]," he continued, "I don't think I'm dreaming,"

You giggled, looking back at Poppy who was now attached to you, "What gave it away?"

"I ain't got the brains to make this up," he answered and you let out a light laugh.

"So, would you mind throwing some of those pellets in with those Mooncalves over there?" asked Newt.

"Yeah, sure," Mr. Kowalski replied, picking up the bucket he just put down. He chuckled, leaving the bamboo forest habitat while you tried your best to have Poppy return to the Bowtruckle tree.

"I-I won't die, Poppy, I'll come back and visit," you reassured, trying to have her return to her habitat, "Poppy, Newt's gonna get angry if you don't go back..."

She squeaked sadly, attaching herself onto your finger and barely letting go. "Oh, Poppy..." you sighed, "You know I can't bring you back with me,"

She whimpered, looking up at you with desperate eyes, like she was about to cry.

"Poppy..." you reprimanded quietly, but she only shook her head. You sighed, "Fine, but just until I have to leave,"

She snapped back up to you happily, and rubbed your finger with her head lovingly. You rolled your eyes playfully and lead her to your shoulder where she sat, enjoying the slight trip you made to leave the forest. You stepped out, only to hear Newt's groan, "Niffler's gone,"

"'Course he has, little bugger," he grumbled.

Your eyes were fixated on him, speed walking towards his side and passing by Mr. Kowalski who had his eyes planted on some golden, flying creatures.

"Newt, how do you get Pickett off you?" you asked him in a whisper, to which he simply raised an eyebrow and replied, "I have to coax him down or scold him, why?"

You nudged down to your shoulder where Poppy sat, dangling her legs as she looked out to the wilderness. He let out a small 'oh' and shrugged, "Poppy's more stubborn than Pickett,"

He climbed up a rocky surface and poured out a few chunks behind a Nundu that stood right on the edge of the surface, swiping its claws down to catch a few Diricawls that passed by. He soon came back down, "I must advise you to be more strict with them, or else they'll end up spoiled---" he leaned in to whisper, "Like Pickett,"

You giggled, following him to a large, square-ish habitat with water containued in a net. He leaned down to the waters and stuck his hand in, searching for a little something when he shouted, "A-ha!" and scooped out a baby Marmite. You let out a long, awe-filled "Aww!" at the little, translucent, bio-luminescent, squid-like beast.

"Adorable, isn't it?" he asked, taking the little milk bottle beside him and shaking it thoroughly before gently placing it into wherever its mouth is.

"It really is," you said, watching as its long tentacles curled around Newt's body.

You both made your way to Mr. Kowalski who was throwing food pellets at the Mooncalves---well, it wasn't throwing if it just floated around those creepy little lovelies.

He smiled wide at the chuckling Mr. Kowalski, then at you, who was petting Poppy's head gently. His smile faded into an affectionate one as soon as his eyes settled on you, gaze softening and body beginning to melt. Suddenly, wind blew in and you looked over to the side---a curtain, blowing in as snow flew in with the wind.

The large, snowy area only contained one thing---a floating, black orb in a translucent container. Loud, grim shrieks surrounded it and you felt something drain in you, slowly walking over to the habitat. Disregarding the cold and Poppy's protests to return to the warmer area, you reached out to touch it.

Upon closer inspection, it had intricate patterns around it. Veins strung around it, as if holding in something as black surrounded it---it called for you.

"Step back," Newt said and you snapped out, startled by his voice.

"Geez..." you huffed.

"Step back," he said again.

"W-what's the matter with this?" Mr. Kowalski stammered as he pointed at the floating orb.

"I said, step away," he warned one last time, hand reaching in to take yours. His grip on your wrist was rough, pulling you close to him.

"What the hell is this thing?" Mr. Kowalski asked, stepping away.

You looked down at your feet embarrassedly, now only realising you weren't wearing suitable shoes.

"It's an Obscurus," you said, sliding your hands into the sleeves. Newt took your hand again.

"I need to get going," Newt huffed, picking you up like a princess and rushing out of the cold habitat. You pursed your lips, eyes widening in shock but decided not to question it.

"Find everyone who's escaped, before they get hurt," he said, entering the warmer area, setting you down and holding your hands. His grip on your hands hadn't changed at all. What was with him and holding your hands?

"Before they get hurt?" Mr. Kowalski questioned.

"Yes, Mr. Kowalski," Newt answered, "They're currently in alien terrain, surrounded by millions of the most vicious creatures on the planet,"

He halted in front of a habitat reminiscent of the African Savannah, gazing intently into the vast area, "Humans,"

"So where would you say that a medium-sized creature," Newt stammered, "Who likes broad open plains, trees, sort of waterholes, that sort of thing---w-where might she go?"

"In New York City?" you said, curiously.

"Yes," he nodded.

"Plains?" you chuckled, "Uh---Central Park,"

"And where is that exactly?" he asked.

"Where is Central Park?" Mr. Kowalski chuckled in disbelief.

Newt looked at him with honesty, and Mr. Kowalski inhaled, "Well, look, I would come and show you, but don't you think it's kind of a double cross?"

"The girls take us in, they make us hot cocoa," Mr. Kowalski was cut off short when Newt said, "Now you do realise that once they see you've stopped sweating, they will obliviate you in a heartbeat?"

"What's 'bliviate mean?" Mr. Kowalski asked.

"It'll be like you wake up and all memory of magic is gone," you explained.

Mr. Kowalski had a look of shock on his face, mouth agape as he looked around the suitcase. He stammered, "I-I won't remember any of this?"

"No," you simply replied.

Mr. Kowalski exhaled, looking around as he agreed, "Alright, yeah, okay, I'll help you,"

"You?" Newt asked you, looking at your direction.

"Me?" you said, oblivious, "Oh, yes, I'd love to,"

"You're a sweetheart," he uttered underneath his breath, you didn't quite catch that but he quickly dismissed it with a, "Come on, then,"

｡･:*˚:✧｡

The cold pricked your skin while you and the boys hastily made your way to Central Park, your heels slipping a few times on the wet pavement. You had borrowed Newt's clothes, seeing as both sisters were (supposedly) sound asleep outside on the couch while your wear was sopping wet and outside by the fire, drying. So, dressed in his over-sized dress shirt, his pants about to fall if it wasn't for the belt you tightly wrapped around your waist. However, you still had your boots simply because it rested just beside Tina's shoes, inside the bedroom.

Newt had borrowed you one of his spare coats as well, and now you had it hung over your shoulders like usual. Poppy hung around in the front pockets. In your hand was your wand, hidden inside the sleeves. Newt had you specifically close for some reason, but you didn't judge---after all, he must've wanted you safe. A woman wandering around in night is dangerous, especially in this era.

"I was watching you at dinner," Newt began, arm interlocked with yours like a father and a bride's.

"Yeah," Mr. Kowalski answered.

"People like you, don't they, Mr. Kowalski?" he asked.

"Oh," he huffed, "Well, I'm sure people like you too, huh?"

"Not really, no, I annoy people," Newt replied swiftly.

"Huh," Mr. Kowalski hummed awkwardly.

"Why did you decide to be a baker?" asked Newt, head turning to Mr. Kowalski for a bit before looking at you and turning his head back to the ground.

"Well, um, 'cuz I'm dying," Mr. Kowalski replied, "In that canning factory---everyone there's dying, it just crushes the life out of you,"

"Do you like canned food?" he then asked, to which you and Newt replied together, "No,"

"Yeah, me neither," he agreed, "That's why I wanna make pastries, you know---it makes people happy---we're going this way,"

You both turned promptly, following him.

"So did you get your loan?" asked Newt again.

"No," Mr. Kowalski scoffed with a exasperated smirk playing on his lips, "I ain't got no collateral---stayed in the army too long, apparently, I don't know,"

"You fought in the war?" you asked, looking at him.

"Of course I fought in the war, everyone fought in the war, you didn't fight in the war?" Mr. Kowalski looked at you.

"I worked mostly with dragons, Ukrainian Ironbellies, Eastern front," Newt answered him whereas you hummed, "I was only 17, Mr. Kowalski,"

Newt halted soon, bringing you to a stop and almost slipping until he supported your back.

"I'm never walking with these on after a rain again," you grumbled lowly.

You looked to where Newt was staring at---the latch on top of a car, popped open. Iridescent, shiny jewels shone on the floor and the latter let go of you, tailing the trail left behind. You followed him silently, making quiet steps to not scare him out of his trance. Soft clinking alerted you, and you looked at the window of a jewelry shop. A Niffler stood, hand extended with silver jewelry hung over it, Newt quickly stepping back to where you were and looking at the creature.

The bracelets eventually fell of its arm and it moved slightly, its eyes not moving once to Newt's 'are you serious' eyes. The Niffler breathed heavily, slowly moving its head to you and Newt, you looking with a raised eyebrow and a playful smirk whereas Newt looked so done with the thief's antics.

It purred slightly, now fully facing Newt as he raised both his eyebrows. It soon wasted no time in turning and taking the two silver jewelries with it, scampering off quickly.

"Fenestra," said Newt, waving his wand at the glass pane. You looked at him, perplexed but he did not mind, simply just stepping into the shop and rushing after the Niffler. Mr. Kowalski ran over, gasping slightly at the broken down window. You huffed, watching Newt flip open drawers in search of the pesky little bugger.

Soon, he opened one and the Niffler clambered out, escaping once more while Newt simply crouched, watching the bugger run off. He slammed the drawers shut and stood angrily, pushing away the glass casing and stepping right onto the drawer thingamajig, causing thousands of things to fall at once.

You huffed, "hoo, boy," as you watched him hang onto the glass chandelier above, turning around as an attempt to shake off the Niffler that hid in it.

Mr. Kowalski looked away in shame while you held back laughter, biting your lip as you tried to mutter the repairing curse between breaths, to no avail.

"Agh!" Newt shouted as the chandelier fell, and you knelt down, holding your stomach.

Mr. Kowalski simply looked in absolute embarrassment, ashamed at Newt's brashness.

Newt clambered on multiple glass casings, knocking over them all and making the matte black jewelry mannequins fall down and spilling multiple prized trinkets. You stood up quickly once you heard Newt's suitcase click open and a frightening roar emitting out of the witholds of the battered leather valise. It roared again, and you looked warily down at the briefcase.

Mr. Kowalski went ahead to close it and you looked back at Newt, who was now on a ladder and pressed against the glass.

"Oh, no," you uttered, watching the pane of glass crack slowly and frighteningly. Once Mr. Kowalski had clicked the suitcase shut once more, the glass broke and you immediately stepped away, letting Newt fall and roll over onto the glass bits. The Niffler laid beside him, struggling about a bit before actually getting up and as it was about to scutter away, you shouted, "Accio!"

Instantly, a bunch of bijou came flying back, and the Niffler as well. The Niffler had its eyes locked on another jewelry shop, swinging around the lamp pole and as it was about to go face-first into the window pane, it only had itself stuck inside the wobbly material. Newt rushed over and huffed at the little bugger, "Alright, happy?"

It struggled, looking innocently at you and Newt. His hand reached to the Niffler's tummy and he pulled it out, declaring, "One down, two to go,"

You groaned, but the sound of car tires screeching caught you. You snapped your neck at the police cars and motorcycles approaching, yelping immediately as the officers came out with guns cocked and ready to shoot. You three were draped in silver jewelry, how could they not suspect you as the thieves?

"They went that way, officer," Mr. Kowalski said in an attempt to free himself, pointing beside him with his hands still pointing at the air.

They cocked their guns again, one of them shouting, "Hands up!"

The window pane behind you three shattered immediately and you gulped, not ready for any of this.

"What the hell is that?" One of the officers asked, gun still pointed at Newt.

Mr. Kowalski gulped as he pointed to his side, "Lion,"

A lion growled, walking towards you and the two, The officers now had their guns pointed at the lion.

"You know," Newt started, "New York is considerably more interesting than I'd expected,"

He grabbed you, his suitcase and Mr. Kowalski's arm, quickly apparating away and befuddling the officers.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

You three ran to Central Park, an Ostrich suddenly rushing in the middle and running out. You three stopped and looked back at the park, a creature lowing as Newt put down his suticase and scavenged the insides of his coat for something. Pulling out a helmet and pushing it to Mr. Kowalski's abdomen, he huffed, "Put this on,"

"But-why would I have to wear something like this?" Mr. Kowalski asked, turning the helmet around.

"Because your skull is susceptible to breakage under immense force," you explained yet again.

Mr. Kowalski's mouth was wide open as he put on the helmet, Newt and you already running off to the direction of the creature's rumbling. Mr. Kowalski eventually followed up, the creature lowing once more.

Two sisters gazed out the window, wary of the creature's sudden resonant. Tina quickly shoved open the pocket door to the bedroom, huffing and shaking her head as she placed her hands on her hips upon seeing the empty room. She sighed, running off to slide something on while Queenie disappointingly muttered, "But we made 'em cocoa,"

Back to you three---

Newt put down his suitcase on the snow, "Alright,"

He searched his coat once more for something, eventually pulling out a breastplate, "Pop this on,"

"Okay," Mr. Kowalski answered, sliding his hands through the holes given and Newt fastening it for him.

"Now, there's absolutely nothing for you to worry about," he reassured.

"Tell me, has anyone ever believed you when you told them not to worry?" Mr. Kowalski answered, satirically.

"Well, my philosophy is worrying means you suffer twice," he said, picking up his suitcase again and quickly rushing away, you following behind.

In the enclosure, glass panes were broken and there were bricks everywhere, in halves and in bits. Newt huffed, "She's in season,"

You inhaled and exhaled, watching as the gigantic Erumpent approached a tiny hippopotamus. "She needs to mate," he added.

He had a vial in his hands, biting off the cork and spitting it out, pouring the liquid inside onto his wrists, "Erumpent musk---she's mad for it,"

He handed the vial to you and you let a curious Mr. Kowalski sniff it while Mr. Scamander rubbed his wrists. Mr. Kowalski only looked more confused and weirded out by the situation, whereas you found amusement in both of their situations.

In a more open space, Newt opened his suitcase and let it stay open, slowly stepping away from it. You simply stood by the side, you watching curiously yet amusedly at Newt while Mr. Kowalski hid behind a sign. He stepped close to the Erupment and suddenly did a weird dance. You were so confused, truly, you were, holding back a little chuckle at the mating dance Mr. Scamander performed.

Mr. Kowalski looked so utterly disorientated, so puzzled at the current situation that he couldn't help but move a bit away from the sign to watch Newt.

The Erumpent suddenly fell on her back, slowly turning around as Newt complimented her, "Good girl,"

She lowed once more, and he urged, "Come on, into the case,"

The vial of Erumpent musk was in Mr. Kowalski's hands, to which you entrusted him with but you soon found that to be a horrendous idea when something fell on his head and he inhaled too much of the musk. The female Erupment sniffed out the musk, turning back onto her feet and faced Mr. Kowalski, who was trying to shoo a sea lion away.

"Oh, no," he said, backing away.

Newt got up and looked at Mr. Kowalski, then at you, to which you just shrugged at.

The Erumpent snorted at Mr. Kowalski, running straight-up to him while he screamed and ran the best he could. The Erupment kept chasing the poor fella, you decided to leave to help him. Newt and you ran over to Mr. Kowalski, following the large creature as well. A piece of Central Park's arch fell and Newt pulled out his wand, uttering a, "Reparo," but was soon cut short when a baboon stole it from him.

He chased after the baboon, "Merlin's beard!"

You groaned, taking out your wand and waving it, "Reparo!"

Quickly, you ran over to Mr. Kowalski while Newt tried to convince the baboon to trade his wand with a stick.

"Tree!" you heard him shout, and you fussed, angrily and tiredly before taking off after him in newfound speed.

"Newt! [Y/N]!" he shouted, hanging upside-down on a tree branch while the Erumpent lied on her back, kicking her legs in the air. You were steady and slow around the Erumpent, unable to make a move as you knew how precious she was to Newt---just like every other creature of his.

You backed down as the creature went back to its feet and stuck its glowing horn into a hole in the tree, the tree's trunk suddenly bursting at the bottom. The beast lowed once more, and the tree fell, causing Mr. Kowalski to fall and stumble onto the snowed ground. Pieces of the burst, sharp wood skidded across your face, though quick but still deep, and you winced---blood ran down various parts of your face. Mr. Kowalski ran to the frozen lake, the Erumpent following but alas, it couldn't keep still on ice. You huffed in relief, knowing you wouldn't need to run anymore, watching from the ground while you tried to think of a way to subdue the horny beast.

Newt caught up and patted your shoulder, watching the man escape the beast, the beast doing whatever it takes to mate with the Erumpent musk-scented man. His hand still on your shoulder, he apparated you and him onto the ice, in front of the Erumpent who was now sliding on her belly. Newt clicked open the case and forced the creature in. As the creature lowed its final one, it was finally sucked into the case and you fell on your knees, face planting onto the ice, breathing heavily. Newt knelt in front of a tired Mr. Kowalski who was sitting on his belly.

"Good show, Mr. Kowalski," you heard Newt say, "Thank you, [Y/N]!"

You did a thumbs up, groaning tiredly.

Mr. Kowalski simply raised his hand at Newt, "Call me Jacob---you too, [Y/N]!"

You let out another groan.

Newt took Jacob's hand and shook it firmly before sliding across to you. He tried to bring you up and that's when he noticed a few things---blood, wet and staining your glorious [S/C] skin, still fresh and running down your face.

"[Y/N]!" he uttered, shock, "Oh, hold still, please,"

"I'm fine," you muttered, "I'm okay, it's just a little injury,"

"Judging by how deep it is, it definitely isn't a little injury," he retorted, "Wait a minute,"

He pulled you up and Jacob stood, you three making your way to under the bridge. He clicked open his suitcase and ushered you and Jacob in, "In you hop,"

Even though you protested in the most orderly fashion you could muster at your current state, he still won you over with his worry and now he was fixing your wounds.

He had you apply pressure on your wounds while he brewed a healing potion. The metallic smell of dragon liver filled your senses and you gagged, hating the smell of organs.

"Sorry about that," he apologized.

"No worries," you simply answered.

He gave the potion one final stir and scooped up a vial of it, handing it to you. You downed it, immediately retching the second the disgusting, bitter and smelly taste ran down your throat. He then handed you a sweet, that you popped into your mouth instantly to ignore the horrendous taste of the potion.

He magicked the cloths you used to apply pressure to your wounds away, throwing them into a sink and watched as your wounds slowly turned into a scar. He smiled, "There, much better?"

"Yeah," you smiled at him, chewing the sweet he gave you.

"Great," he wiped his hands and wore his vest.

"Newt, do you think that these scars will last?" you lamented.

"It'll take a few months, but no," he answered.

"Do you think I'm still pretty?" you asked, teasingly. Though you didn't look like you were teasing---with seemingly innocent eyes fixated on his distracted ones.

"You're always pretty in my opinion," he simply replied, smiling.

You felt blush grow in your cheeks and you feigned a cough, looking away. He came to his senses and looked away as well.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

Tina peered over the bridge and quickly made her way towards the suitcase underneath the bridge. She slowly stepped to underneath the bridge, quickly skidding over, sitting on the suitcase and shutting it while she panted like she just ran miles. The suitcase in her hands, she strode away from Central Park to the main city, a serious look adorned her face. Soon, she came to a halt, a scared demeanor taking over as she heard something hiss beside her ear.

She looked behind, and lights slowly clicked off. She quivered, terrified, and she held the case close to her chest while the lamp lights around her vanished and the light bulbs shattered. She looked around before continuing her journey to the Woolworth building, where MACUSA was located.

Chapter Text

The clock struck 'emergency' as soon as Tina stepped foot into the building. A muffled voice rang throughout while she scampred over to the Pentagram Office. She clicked open the door to the office, "Madam President, I'm sorry to interrupt, but this is critical..." She was cut off immediately when her eyes met the ones of officials. She turned around in the middle of the room, mouth agape from the immense pressure directed to her.

"You better have an excellent excuse for this intrusion, Ms. Goldstein," Madam President Picquery said, in a calm yet horrifying tone.

"Yes, I do," Tina only answered, stepping forward, "Ma'am, yesterday a wizard entered New York with a case--- this case , full of magical creatures, and unfortunately, some have escaped,"

"He arrived yesterday?" inquired Madam President Picquery, and Tina nodded.

"You've known for 24 hours that an unregistered wizard set magical beasts loose in New York and you see fit to tell us only when a man has been killed?" she asked, a condescending and cruel tone.

Tina's face morphed from one of a confident look to a terrified one, "Who's been killed?"

"Where is this man?" she only questioned, a stern and angry look on her face directed to no-one else but Tina Goldstein.

Tina set the suitcase on the ground and knocked it thrice, the latch flipping open and out came you first. You were still dressed in Newt's garments, "Teenie,"

You climbed out, "What-" but you felt eyes pricking your back. Your heart tightened, pumping blood as fast as it could to support the shock your brain had registered. You slowly turned around, to see the look of betrayal on all of the official's eyes, muttering, gossiping about you. You looked back at Tina, tears glistening at the corner of your eyes, "Teenie, why?"

She didn't answer, only waiting for the two more men to come out. Soon, out came Newt, "[Y/N], what's up the-"

He was as shocked as you were, and you looked at him with sorrow laced on your darling features. He climbed out, scared at the vast wizarding bureaucrats and executives. Jacob climbed out, a smile on his face, unaware of the current situation---the crowd began murmuring in shock.

"[L/N]!" Madam President Picquery shouted, and you turned around, quivering.

"M-madam president, I swear, I can explai-" you began, but her sharp glare sent you shrinking.

"I expected you to have handled it better, but as it seems not---you've sided with the wrong people," she scowled

Your breath hitched, "P-please, madam, I-I--!"

"Quiet!" she answered, and you abided.

"Scamander?" a British Envoy began while Newt was busy closing his case.

"Oh, hello, Minister," Newt smiled at him.

"Theseus Scamander?" one of the executives said, confused, "The war hero?"

"No, this is his little brother," the other executive answered.

"[L/N]..." the usage of your last name made you want to cry out of anger, "As in, the auror, [Y/N] [L/N]?"

You bit your lip, fiddling with your---Newt's shirt.

"Dressing like that, how unruly..." you heard one of the female executives gossip.

"It looks very much like Newton's, doesn't it?" another one said.

"Could it be..." another voice chimed.

Newt took ahold of your hand and pulled you in close, "Don't worry,"

"And what are you doing in New York?" asked the Minister.

"I came to buy and Appaloosa Puffskein, sir," Newt answered.

"Right," said the Minister, doubtful, "What are you really doing here?"

"Goldstein," said Madam President Picquery, "Who is this?"

"This is Jacob Kowalski, Madam President," Tina said, and you filled your heart with spite that soon vanished with a comforting squeeze of Newt's calloused hands, "He's a No-Maj who got bitten by one of Mr. Scamander's creatures,"

"No-Maj? Obliviate him!" a female voice shook the crowd.

You looked up with Newt, "Merlin's beard," he whispered. A grey soul floating above, almost entering the sparkly, glittery clouds just before him. Oh, how the Niffler would try to get those non-existent little clouds.

"You know which of your creatures was responsible, Mr. Scamander?" asked a female envoy nearby.

A silence arose until he broke it, pointing upwards, "No creature did this, don't pretend---you must know what that was, look at the marks!"

The bodyless soul floated above and towards Newt, his hand now before his mouth and, "It was an Obscurus,"

Your eyes grew wide at his claim, looking at him with worry that it was his Obscurus that did this. The crowd gasped, and whispers flooded the office.

"You go too far, Mr. Scamander," Madam President Picquery said, "There is no Obscurial in America,"

He looked up, and then to Madam, and back up again.

"Impound that case, Graves," she ordered, and Mr. Graves immediately accio-d the case over to his feet.

"Wait, no!" you felt Newt's hand let go of yours as he shouted, "Give that back!"

"Arrest them," she ordered again, and Mr. Graves wasted no time in lifting you three into the air and settling you all back onto your knees, hands cuffed behind. Looked like Tina was arrested as well.

"Don't hurt those creatures," pleaded Newt, "Please, you don't understand, nothing in there's dangerous---nothing,"

"We'll be the judges of that," said the president, "Take them to the cells,"

Four Aurors grabbed ahold of all of you and as they dragged you four to the cells underground, Newt practically begging, his vocie cracking and wavering like he was so close to crying, "Don't hurt those creatures, n-nothing in there's dangerous!"

"Please, don't hurt my creatures, they aren't dangerous!" you heard him shout while you were forced away, "P-please, they're not dangerous! They're not dangerous!"

｡･:*˚:✧｡

You laid on the walls of the cell, Newt squatting down in a corner as he gazed longingly into the empty, barred containment. He was about to cry, fiddling with his thumbs and playing with his nails to ignore the pain of possibly losing his beloved creatures. Tina looked at him sadly, disappointed in her actions that caused you the lost of your hard-earned job and Newt the lost of his beasts.

"I'm so sorry about your creatures, Mr. Scamander," Tina began, and you eyed her, "A-and your job, [Y/N],"

"I truly am," she ended.

He pursed his lips, upset at Tina. Sitting in the middle of the seat, Jacob asked, "Can someone please tell me what this Obscurial, Obscurus thing is, please?"

You quietly said, voice slightly wavering from your kept tears, "There hasn't been one for centuries,"

"I met one in Sudan three months ago," Newt said, "There used to be more of them, but they still exist,"

"It was before wizards went underground, when we were still being hunted by Muggles," he continued, "Young witches and wizards sometimes tried to suppress their magic to avoid persecution,"

"So instead of learning to harness or to control their power," he looked at you, seeking for comfort in your face, "they developed what was called an Obscurus,"

"It's an unstable, uncontrollable dark force that busts out and attacks," you explained to him, still not looking anywhere but the empty cells before the bars, "And then vanishes..."

Your eyes darted towards Newt, your features softening and you picking yourself up, back pressed against the wall as you asked, "Obscurials can't survive long, can they?"

He rubbed his face with his bunched up fists, picking his head up and looking at you once more, "There's no documented case of an Obscurial surviving past the age of 10,"

"The one I met in Africa was 8 when she-" he was cut off by the familiar lump in his throat, hesitating before he continued, "She was 8 when she died,"

You frowned, heaving quietly before Jacob intervened, "What are you telling me here, that Senator Shaw was killed by a kid?"

｡･:*˚:✧｡

As you were escorted away from the cell, you heard Newt say, "It was good to make your acquaintance, Jacob---and I hope you get your bakery,"

You looked back briefly, to see Jacob saluting Newt away. You smiled at him to ease his stress but he only looked more forlorn.

You were kept in a small interviewing room with Tina standing beside you, worriedly watching Mr. Graves say, "You're an interesting man, Mr. Scamander,"

"Mr. Graves," you said in a hushed tone, walking forward.

Mr. Graves only looked at you two, displeased at your actions and Tina's shut mouth. He shook his head at Tina and she backed down.

"You were thrown out of Hogwarts for endangering human life," he sighed, beginning to read the document on the table.

"That was an accident," Newt interjected

"With a beast," Mr. Graves only shrugged at him.

"Yet one of your teachers strongly argued against your expulsion," he continued, "Now, what makes Albus Dumbledore so fond of you?"

Newt looked back, shaking his head as he answered the Auror, "I really couldn't say,"

"So setting a pack of dangerous creatures loose here was---" he contemplated his words, "was just another accident, is that right?"

"Why would I do it delibrately?" asked Newt.

"To expose wizardkind," Mr. Graves answered him, "To provoke war between the magical and the non-magical worlds,"

"Mass slaughter for the greater good, you mean?" Newt corrected.

"Yes," he looked at you, and you had an incredibly upset face on, "Quite,"

"I'm not one of Grindelwald's fanatics, Mr. Graves," Newt defended.

Mr. Graves shot Newt a smile of suspicion, "I wonder what you can tell me about this, Mr. Scamander," He slowly moved his hand, raising up an Obscurus from Newt's opened suitcase.

You looked at Tina, who had such a face on you couldn't even tell. A mixture of disbelief and borderline believing Mr. Graves.

"It's an Obscurus," Newt said, looking behind at Tina and you, "She knows,"

You nodded, and Tina's eyes shot to you instantly. You avoided them slickly, eyes only staying right at the transparent bubble surrounding the Obscurus.

"But it's not what you think," he quickly said, "I managed to seperate it from the Sudanese girl, as I tried to save her---so I wanted to take it home to study it, but it cannot survive outside that,"

Tina's face morphed into one of betrayal towards Newt, as he continued to speak, "It could not hurt anyone, Tina,"

"So it's useless without the host?" Mr. Graves inquired.

"Useless?" he said, exasperated, " Useless ? "

"That is---" he breathed, "A parasitical, magical force that killed a child, what on earth would you use it for?"

Your eyes looked at the Auror, who looked frantically around the room.

"You fool nobody, Mr. Scamander, you brought this Obscurus into the city of New York in the hope of causing mass disruption, breaking the Statue of Secrecy and revealing the magical world,"

"You know that can't hurt anyone, you know that," you intervened him, stepping out to beside Newt.

"You are therefore guilty of a treasonal betrayal of your fellow wizards and are sentenced to death," Mr. Graves declared, "Ms. [L/N] and Ms. Goldstein who has aided and abetted you---"

"No, she's done nothing of the kind---!" you cried, trying to save your best friend.

"Receives the same sentence," he finished his sentence strictly. A wand was aimed at your neck and Tina was beginning to sob from fear. You bit your lip, holding back your dread while you glared at Mr. Graves.

"Just---do it immediately," he waved his hand around, "I will inform President Picquery myself,"

"[Y/N]," Newt said, looking at you who already had tears glimmering at the corners of your eyes.

Tina sobbed and Mr. Graves shushed her, she sobbed even more. You let a tear escape while you choked down a sob, earning a sad gaze from Newt.

The sobbing continued, echoing through the halls and Queenie stopped abruptly, letting the tray of coffee fall from her hand and clatter on the floor. She backed down, eyes now on the table of executives who were looking at her. She turned around promptly and strutted away like a madwoman.

"Don't do this, Bernadette, please," Tina pleaded, being the first to be carried into the execution chamber.

"It don't hurt," Bernadette simply answered in a feigned sympathizing tone.

Tina sobbed, looking at the chair that floated above a pool of supposed water. Tina looked back at you, uncomforted by the view of you holding back as much tears as you could. Tina's sobs only increased as Bernadette pointed her wand at your temple, stopping briskly when she extracted out some good memories. Bernadette twirled her wand, smiling gleefully at the white-ish orb of memories and throwing it into the water below.

Slowly, the water formed.

"Tina," it called out.

"Momma?" she answered, smiling.

"Tina," it continued, "Come on, pumpkin, time for bed,"

"Are you ready?" it said.

"Don't that look good?" Bernadette asked.

Tina laughed, breathlessly.

"You wanna get in, huh?" she asked, again and Tina nodded.

You simply had your eyes shut, unable to bear witness to her execution.

---

The elevator bell rang and out came a bunch of warlocks, including a tall, muscular man holding Jacob tightly by the shoulder. Queenie, alerted, rushed over and greeted him, "Hey, Sam!"

"Hey Queenie," Sam answered.

"They need you downstairs, I'll obliviate this guy," Queenie said.

"You ain't qualified," Sam said, and Queenie's smile faded.

She contemplated for a bit, "Hey, Sam?"

Sam looked over at Queenie, curious.

"Does Cecily know you've been seeing Ruby?" asked Queenie, twiddling her wand.

"How did you..." Sam was cut off by Queenie's sudden, "Let me obliviate this guy, and she'll never hear about it from me,"

Sam handed Queenie Jacob begrudgingly, watching as Queenie lead Jacob away.

"What are you doing?" asked Jacob.

"Hush, Teen and [N/N]'s in trouble, I'm trying to listen," Queenie hushed, "Jacob, where's Newt's case?"

"I think that guy Graves took it," Jacob replied.

"Okay, come on," she huffed, interlocking arms with Jacob.

"What, you're not gonna obliviate me?" he inquired, pointing at his head.

"Of course not, you're one of us now," she answered.

---

The chair slowly descended into the memory, booming Tina's name. You rested your face on Newt's shoulder, both executioners watching beside so nothing suspicious was exchanged between you and him. Memories surfaced until one specific one---stepping into a dark house, peering around when suddenly, she was revealed to the Second Salemer lady with a belt in her hand and looking at Tina oddly.

Tina grunted, magicking the whip away from the lady's hand. Her face gradually contorted into one of realization. "It's okay," she whispered to the boy crouched near the staircase fence, comforting him.

Her smile disappeared, and you suddenly heard a little something behind. You peeked down---Pickett.

---

"Alohomora," Queenie chanted, and the door knob glittered. She leant on the walls, huffing, "Aberto,"

"Oh, he would know some fancy spell to lock his office," Queenie whispered to Jacob.

---

It was your turn. The executioner tore you away from Newt and smiled, "Okay, let's get the good stuff outta you,"

She had a wand pointed at your temple and you whimpered, when Newt suddenly scampered off and pulled out a Swooping Evil from his pocket. The executioner turned around in shock, even more surprised when she saw Pickett on her arm. Newt conjured up all his strength and threw the creature, it skidding off the water like a pebble.

Using his shackles, he knocked the executioner guarding the door out as the Swooping Evil unravelled. He pointed a wand ready for open fire at Bernadette and it shot, shooting her onto the wall and sliding down. You soon felt your shackles cut free---Poppy, that little bugger must've snuck into your---Newt's pants pocket!

The Swooping Evil flew by and knocked the remaining executioner off her feet and she fell, hitting her head and rendering her unconscious. You looked over at Tina, and then at the water below her. It sizzled and turned, making waves continously.

"Witch!" the voice of the Second Salemers lady lowed the entire enclosure.

Tina grew stressed, struggling in her seat.

---

Jacob peered around a bit before kicking the door open with all his might. Queenie rushed in and took Newt's battered old suitcase and the confisticated wands, quickly leaving the room.

---

"Oh, [N/N]!" Tina shouted for you as the water bubbled and reached up to her.

"Teenie, don't panic!" you shouted in response.

"What do you suggest I do instead?!" she asked.

Newt whispered, and the Swooping Evil came flying by.

"Jump," Newt said.

Tina watched the Swooping Evil circle her, "Are you crazy?"

"Jump on him," he repeated.

"Teenie, listen to me," you said, arms open wide and ready to accept her, "I'll catch you,"

"Teenie," you said again, now panting, "I'll catch you, I've got you, Teenie,"

Tina looked at you with tears re-forming.

"Go!" Newt suddenly exclaimed and she yelped, jumping onto the Swooping Evil and into your arms.

You huffed, hugging her tightly and she too. She looked at you, "I'm so, so sorry, [N/N],"

"It's alright, I don't really care," you smiled sweetly at her.

The Swooping Evil screeched and you side-stepped, Newt accepting it into his palm. His free hand now tightly wrapped around your wrist, he uttered, "Come on," and dragged you with him out the chamber.

Bells rang, and you all charged through the maze-like corridors. Two Aurors eventually emerged and casted a spell at you all, but thankfully, managed to avoid it. You all dodge them and dart behind pillars after pillars, Newt sending out the Swooping Evil once more. It knocked the Aurors out, and settled itself onto one.

"Leave his brains, come on!" shouted Newt, and it snapped out of its hunger, "Come on!"

The Swooping Evil followed behind, blocking curses for you all. Newt suddenly picked you up and carried you like you were a princess, "Sorry, but your feet must hurt wearing those and running,"

"I'll be throwing them out later," you huffed in response, wrapping your arms around his neck.

"Don't, you look lovely in them," he only answered.

"What is that thing?" Tina asked.

"Swooping Evil," you responded for Newt.

"Well, I love it!" she exclaimed and chuckled, Newt and you smiling happily at the statement.

Running around and eventually bumping into Queenie, she looked at you curiously.

"[N/N], why-" she was cut off by Newt setting you down, "No time for questions!"

Queenie shook the suitcase, "Get in,"

You nodded.

---
"Queenie, where you going?!" asked Abernathy, walking over to Queenie who was about to walk down the stairs.

"I'm sick, Mr. Abernathy," Queenie answered and feigned a cough.

"Again?" Abernathy questioned, "Oh...uh...whatcha got there?"

"Ladies things," Queenie replied, "You wanna take a look? I don't mind,"

"Oh, good gravy," he scoffed, "No, I, uh...you get well now,"

She smiled, "Thanks," and fixed Abernathy's tie.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

Apparating to the parapet of a building, you stood by Newt, his arm interlocked with yours. He keeps holding hands with you. Not that you were complaining but it was quite odd. Queenie and Jacob's conversations flooded in and out, you not paying much attention to the latter and her boyfriend.

Tina stepped onto the ledge and said, "Graves always insisted the disturbances were caused by a beast,"

She turned to look at him, "We need to catch all your creatures so he can't keep using them as a scapegoat,"

Poppy sat on your shoulder, blatantly ignoring Pickett. Newt huffed, "There's only one still missing---Dougal, my Demiguise,"

"Dougal?" asked Tina, amused by the name choice.

They both smiled at eachother whereas you kept a straight face at the falling sun.

"Slight problem is that, um, he's invisible," Newt explained.

"Invisible?" Tina repeated.

"Yes, most of the time---he does, um," Newt trailed off.

"How do you catch something..." she was cut off by him, "With immense difficulty,"

"Oh..." she nods, and chuckled. They both kept a smiling face at eachother that you began to notice it was like you were in between a pair of lovers. You sighed, letting go of Newt and stepping off the ledge. You laid by the wooden wall of the shed, watching the sun descend into the horizon when all of a sudden, you mouthed, "Gnarlak," at the same time Tina said his name. You smirked, you knew her too well.

"Excuse me?" Newt inquired.

"Gnarlak," she repeated, "He was an informant of mine when I was an Auror, he used to trade in magical creatures on the side,"

"He wouldn't have any interest in paw prints, would he?" he asked.

"He's interested in anything he can sell," she answered.

Queenie peeked out from the shed and looked at you, "[N/N]..."

"Don't read my mind, Queenie darling," you huffed.

Chapter Text

Tina lead you all down a stoop and just before opening the door to the speakeasy, she had you and Queenie change. Your uncouth fit of Newt's wear slowly folded in to the bottom, changing into a seductive [F/C], semi transparent dress that had a neckline dipping down and showcasing your collarbone with a lovely brooch in the middle. It accentuated your waist, the lace pushing your body's temptation beyond its own limits and the strings hung at the rim of the dress made your thighs look tantalizing. The outfit ended with your heeled boots folding into a pair of mary janes.

Queenie suddenly turned her head sharp towards Newt, who was awestruck at you. She smirked as she read his thoughts---'She looks amazing! Lovely! I mean, look at her!'

Newt snapped his head at her, "P-please don't read my mind, Queenie,"

Tina gently knocked on the brick wall-door, and Newt magicked his tie back together. The hatch opens, revealing the eyes of a suspicious guard looking around before opening the door to let you all in. Music flooded in your ears, the lovely voice of a goblin snatched everyone's attention, using magic through her long, clammy fingers to create white, sparkling images of the lyrics she sang.

Jacob stood by the bar, sighing, "How's a guy get a drink in this joint?"

A bottle of alcohol immediately whizzed its way into his hands. He stared at it, shocked, until something chimed from before the counter and below him, "What? Ain't you ever seen a house-elf before?"

"Uh, no, of course I have, I love house-elves," he stammered in defence, "My uncle's a house-elf,"

He popped open the cork of the bottle and the house-elf scoffed, "Yeah,"

The house-elf looked over at an approaching Queenie and you, "Six shots of Gigglewater and a Lobe Blaster please,"

"A glass of Chocolate liqueur and Red Currant Rum, please," you uttered, resting your back against the bar table.

Two trays came up with a snap of the house-elf's fingers. Six shot glasses and a martini glass of purple liquid floated onto the tray, filling themselves up with whiskey-colored alcohol. The other one, a martini glass and a rum glass full of ice settled themselves onto the flat tray, the martini glass filling itself up with milky, chocolatey liquid, the rum glass filling itself up with red rum.

You took the rum glass and brought it to your lips, watching warlocks and runaways enjoy themselves. You took a big gulp of the alcohol, savouring how it burned as it slid down your throat.

"Are all No-Majes like you?" asked Queenie, gazing at Jacob lovingly.

"No," Jacob answered, "I'm the only one like me,"

He knocks back a shot of Gigglewater and suddenly, a feminine laugh erupted from his mouth, prompting you to chuckle slightly. Queenie giggled at Jacob, a wide, excited smile plastering itself on her face. You stared at the stage of musicians, unaware of the unmoving stare Newt had on you, eyes darting up and down. Jazz echoed throughout the low-ceilinged speakeasy, and he looked past Tina who sat opposite of him.

A large, suited giant took a glass of blue, glowing alcohol and downed it while he looked at his cards. Newt looked back, and at a wizard, his attention finally being grasped by Tina, "I've arrested half of the people in here,"

"You can tell me to mind my business, but I saw something in that death potion over there," Newt said to Tina, gazing at her skin like it was a dazzling jewel, "I saw you hugging that Second Salem boy,"

Tina smiled, "His name's Credence, his mother beats him,"

"She beats all those kids she's adopted but she seems to hate him the most," she explained, looking down.

"And she was the No-Maj you attacked?" Newt inquired.

Throwing your head back and drinking the final gulp of the rum, you set it back down on the tray and took your chocolate liqueur. You watched as humanoid beings and warlocks of every kind passed you, sharing skeptical looks, probably thinking about how much you looked like the witch who had arrested them. They were right, you've arrested a fair ton of criminals, and about most of them were gathered here.

"That's how I lost my job," Tina said, "I went for her in front of a meeting of her crazy followers...they all had to be obliviated, it was a big scandal,"

You took a small sip of the liqueur, letting its smooth, sweet taste caress your abused tongue. Eventually you caught the eyes of a handsome wizard, smirking as he approached you. He leant close to you, "You look familiar,"

"Do I?" you inquired, sipping your drink while your eyes flashed boredom.

"You really do," he hummed, "What're you doing, drinking by yourself?"

"I don't think that concerns you," you answered, eyes darting away.

"What if it does?" asked the man.

"Then you shouldn't concern yourself with it," you turned your back and put down the now-empty martini glass on the tray, taking the re-filled rum glass and bringing it to your matte covered lips.

"C'mon, doll, don't be like this," cooed the man, wrapping his arms around your waist.

You glared at him, fuming at his audacity, "Please refrain from touching me,"

"Hey, hey," he began, but something made him back away.

You looked up---Newt. Except instead of that sweet, sweet look on his face, it was one that looked so menacing it terrfied you. He had a rough grip on your hand, pulling you back into his embrace, and soon curling it around your waist, "I'm aware that this lady said to not touch her, so please respect her wishes,"

The man gulped and backed down even more, soon scampering off like a rat. His grip didn't falter, even with the man gone---it made you confused.

"Newt? He's gone now," you said, waving at him.

"Huh? Oh, yeah," he muttered, but he still kept you close.

"It's him!" Queenie whispered to Jacob, and emerged a goblin---Gnarlak.

He strode over to Tina, Newt bringing you over to the booth with him. He sat you next to Tina and sat on his seat.

"So," Gnarlak began, "You're the guy with the case full of monsters, huh?"

"News travels fast," his facial features softened.

Gnarlak threw his head back while he downed a glass of whiskey-colored alcohol.

"I was hoping you'd be able to tell me if there've been any sightings," Newt said, "Tracks, that sort of thing,"

"You got a pretty big price on your head, Mr. Scamander," Gnarlak answered him, writing down a contract handed to him, "Why should I help you instead of turning you in?"

"I take it I'll have to make it worth your while," Newt hummed.

"Mm, let's consider it a cover change," Gnarlak hummed, sticking a cigar into his mouth.

Newt gathered up a bunch of galleons and pushed it towards the goblin, and he simply scoffed, "MACUSA's offering more than that,"

He slowly pulled out a lunascope and placed it on the table, and the goblin said with a punchable smirk, "Lunascope? I got 5,"

Newt scavanged his coat pocket once more, placing an ashwinder egg, "Frozen Ashwinder egg,"

"You see, now we're-" Gnarlak was cut off by Pickett's maginified reflection behind the martini glass, "Hey, that's a Bow-that's a Bowtruckle, right?"

Pickett squeaked and quickly retracted into Newt's front coat pocket, "No," he protested.

"Oh, come on," Gnarlak said, pointing at the stick-like beast, "They pick locks, am I right?"

"You're not having him," Newt immediately said.

"Well, good luck getting back alive, Mr. Scamander," he then said, standing up from his seat, "What with that whole of MACUSA on your back,"

You stood, "How about, you take me?"

Gnarlak stopped and looked back.

"Think about it," you began, "I can do loads,"

He smirked, "Whaddya got, lady?"

"Give Mr. Scamander the information, you get me permanently," you said, "I can do anything you'd like,"

"And people would be comin' left and right to see an ex-Auror..." he muttered, and chuckled, "You got yourself a deal,"

Queenie and Jacob leaned forward, Tina hesitating to stand and protest against your wild offer but was startled by Newt's sudden "Absolutely not,"

"I can handle myself fine, Newt," you turned to him.

He shook his head and took out Pickett, struggling to attach himself to Newt's coat. You huffed, strutting over to him and pressing his hands and Pickett dove back into the pocket. He looked worriedly at you, "Please don't," but you simply smiled at him, "I can handle myself fine,"

"Oh..." Gnarlak hummed, having you return to his side, "Something invisible's been wreaking havoc around in 5th Avenue, you may wanna check out Macy's Department Store, might have what you're lookin' for,"

Newt bit his lip and Tina looked down at her shoes.

"Dougal," Newt said, "One last thing, there's a Mr. Graves who works at MACUSA, I was wondering what you knew of his background,"

"Boys, take the new girl backstage and let her in on what we do," Gnarlak snapped his fingers and two hench-goblins emerged from behind, hands on your shoulders while they escorted you away from the group, "You ask a lot of questions, Mr. Scamander, that can get you killed,"

"MACUSA are comin'!" shouted the house-elf from before, apparating away with a crate full of bottled alcohol.

Tina stood, slamming her hands furiously on the table as the inhabitants of the speakeasy apparated away, "You tipped them off?!"

Gnarlak laughed at the wanted posters of you all, a half-smoked cigar in his hand. Aurors apparated in and searched the place immediately. Jacob sighed, hands up as he backed towards Gnarlak, "Sorry, Mr. Gnarlak,"

He swiftly punched him, knocking the goblin back and having him unconscious, "Reminds me of my foreman,"

Newt quickly rushed over to behind backstage. Aurors summoned the criminal warlocks and beings, locking their wrists in shackles and having them kneel around them. The brunette quickly took his suitcase and swished open the curtains, standing a few inches before you.

"[Y/N]," he breathed.

"Newt," you panted.

"You knocked them out," he chuckled breathlessly.

"I did," you nodded, smiling at him.

Newt pulled you in for a hug and kissed the top of your head gladly before he grabbed your arm and took you to the group. Jacob downed a shot of Gigglewater before Newt apparated you all away.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

Dressed in your usual, a white blouse and a black skirt, you followed Newt to a department store. Your attention was quickly caught by a handbag sliding down the arm of a mannequin and being brought away by an unseen force. There were footsteps, a small bit of chittering could be heard as you and the others scampered into the store.

"Well, Demiguises are fundamentally peaceful," whispered Newt to you, who hid behind the santa stature beside him, "But they can give a nasty nip when provoked,"

"You two," Newt said, "Head that way, and try very hard not to be predictable,"

Your eyes were fixated on the Demiguise, who was scavenging the red shelves. Suddenly, there was a loud screech echoing through the entire department store, Dougal picking his head up at the sound.

"Was that the Demiguise?" Tina asked.

"No," Newt answered, "But I think it might be the reason that the Demiguise is here,"

Approaching the Demiguise and soon halting when Dougal turned his head back and ran upstairs, Newt chuckled. He held your hand and you both walked up the stairs with Tina following behind.

"Its sight operates on probability," he whispered to you, "so it can foresee the most likely immediate future,"

Newt slowly stepped into the moon's light, Tina whispering, "What's it doing?"

"He's babysitting," he replied.

"What did you just say?" Tina asked, again.

"This is my fault, I thought I had them all, but, uh, I might have miscounted," he said, breathless.

He gently set his suitcase beside the silver beast, as you heard something slither behind you. You gulped, "It was babysitting that?"

From the shadows emerged a large Occamy, gazing intently at Newt as it lowered down to Dougal, eating the sweet the Demiguise provided. You chuckled, smiling.

"Occamies are choranaptyxic," Newt explained, "So they grow to fill available space,"

"Mummy's here," he whispered to the Occamy, hand reached out as the Occamy leant in. The Demiguise let out a small whimper, and its eyes glowed blue. Queenie kicked a Christmas ornament while she tried to approach, the sphere clinking and the Occamy screeched.

"Woah, woah," Newt said, "Whoa---!"

He was carried up by the Occamy's wing, the creature's body slithering roughly and pushing boxes of glass ornaments down to the ground. The loud shatters did not aid at Newt's sudden instructions, "We need an insect!"

"Huh?" you and Queenie asked in unision, gathered in front of a shelf.

"Any kind of insect and a teapot!" Newt instructed again, "Find a teapot!"

You looked to the side, to find Tina crawling around, trying to find an insect. The Occamy's wing comes crashing down and it narrowly missed Jacob's head while he tried to make his way through falling boxes. Newt uttered a string of 'whoa's while the beast thrashed around, the body breaking out of the attic and breaking the tiles of the roof.

You tried to avoid the Occamy's flailing around as you searched for a teapot, the others frantically running about, trying to catch a cockroach. You climbed up a ladder and just so, you managed to find a ceramic teapot, shouting, "Teapot!"

Jacob was pressed against a wall with the Occamy's body stopping him from moving forward. Its eyes were fixed on the cockroach in Jacob's hand, Newt whispered, "Roach in teapot,"

Jacob whimpered, one hand reaching and stroking the Occamy's scale-fur and he grunted, throwing the cockroach at your direction. The Occamy followed, unravelling and prompting you to step down from the ladder, chasing the cockroach. You jumped over its body like it was boiling lava, the cockroach falling right into the teapot and the Occamy slithered upwards, planting face-first and screeching into the teapot. Newt rushed over and covered it with the lid of another teapot, panting.

"Choranaptyxic," he repeated, "They also shrink to fit available space,"

"Tell me the truth," you panted, "Was that everything that came out of the case?"

"That's everything," he nodded, "And that's the truth,"

You sighed happily.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

"Here she comes," you hear Newt say while you tended to Poppy on the tree, her tree-mates eagerly squeaking for your attention.

"You happy to be home?" Jacob said, "Yeah,"

"Bet you're exhausted, buddy, come on," he lifted Dougal into his little circular abode.

Tina was trembling as she tried to put the baby Occamy back into its nest. She looked around, awestruck at her surroundings, Jacob laughing whereas you simply busied yourself with Poppy's neediness. A thought surfaced to your mind, and you looked over at Newt. You sighed shakily at what happened this evening, shuddering at the thought of selling your body ever again.

Queenie was in his shed, searching about when she heard Newt's thoughts---angry scowls at himself for letting you be so brash in the Blind Pig earlier today. Newt huffed, shaking his head and trying to stop the thoughts of what would have happened if the Aurors didn't appear, if you actually became a worker in that forsaken speakeasy full of men aching to touch you. He sighed, returning to tending to his business.

"You have a crush on [Y/N]," Queenie easily spoke.

"I don't, please don't read my mind," he huffed.

"You do," she repeated, "If not, then why are you so angry about other people touching her?"

"That man was touching her and making her uncomfortable, Queenie," he said, looking straight at the strawberry blonde.

"But that isn't the reason why you helped her," she replied, "A quarter of it is, but the majority of it isn't,"

"Please don't read my mind," he returned to his work.

There was a silence between them, "Sorry, I asked you not to," Newt said.

"I know, I'm sorry," Queenie immediately apologized, "I can't help it,"

"People are easiest to read when they're hurting," she muttered.

"I'm not hurting," Newt smiled nervously, "Anyways, she's alright now and it's all that matters,"

Queenie slowly approached, "Newt, she's a very easy person to trick under the disguise of love,"

Newt stayed quiet.

"She may be smart but she's gullible at parts where she cannot read," she continued, "And she's easy to hurt, too..."

He huffed, stopping his business and perching his hands at the edge of the table and head hung low.

"What are you two talking about?" you asked, walking over with Poppy attached to your coat.

"Uh, nothing," Newt shook his head and Queenie said, "School,"

You let out a small 'oh', and Jacob soon came over, "Did...did you say school?"

"Is there a school?" asked Jacob, swinging his suit jacket over his shoulders and sliding it on, "A wizardry school here in, uh, America?"

"Of course, Ilvermorny," said Queenie, smiling, "It's only the best wizard school in the whole world,"

"I think you'll find the best wizarding school in the world is Hogwarts," rebuked Newt, and you nodded.

Queenie looked at him, smile faltering, "Hogwash---[N/N] why are you siding with him?"

"I frequented Hogwarts when I was young," you smiled fondly.

"You were in England?" inquired Newt and Tina.

"Oh yeah," you nodded, "I loved it there,"

Suddenly, thunder struck and the Thunderbird flew down, screeching. It wasn't long until Newt muttered, "Danger,"

"He senses danger,"

Chapter Text

You and the four appeared on top of a building with a large glowing sign---'Squire's'. Newt stood on top of the ledge and watched as an Obscurial thrashed through the city, Jacob stammering, "Is that it? That's the Obscuriathing?"

You climbed up to the ledge and peered to Newt's direction, him uttering, "That's more powerful than any Obscurial I've ever heard of,"

It flew past buildings, making all the building windows shatter onto the ground. Newt huffed, turning to you, "If I don't come back, look after my creatures,"

He handed you the case mid-sentence and you gasped, confused and horrified for him. He pulled out a journal from his pocket, handing it to you as he says, "Everything that you need to know is in there,"

"What?" you asked, breathless.

"They're not killing it," he declared, turning to look at you before he jumped down and apparated away.

"Newt!" you shouted after him, turning around to Tina, Queenie and Jacob, handing them the suitcase and notebook, "You heard him, look after them,"

You jumped down and apparated away as well, leaving the three. Queenie gave Jacob the suitcase and about to leave with Tina, "Keep hold of that, honey,"

Jacob abruptly stopped her by grabbing ahold of her arm, chanting, "No, no, no, no,"

Queenie panted, bouncing in her spot as she muttered, "I can't take you,"

"Please let go of me, Jacob," she said, not facing her beloved.

"Hey, hey, hey," he said, "You're the one that said I was one of yous, right?"

"It's too dangerous," she uttered, looking over at him. Queenie placed a hand on his cheek, looking sorrowfully at him. Tina huffed, jumping down and quickly apparating away.

Screams filled the city, signs and buildings crashed onto the rough pavements. You strode along, avoiding rubble and metal pipes slickly. Upon seeing Newt, you rushed over and hid behind an overturned car.

"Newt!" you called out.

"It's the Second Salem boy, he's the Obscurial!" he shouted back to you.

"He's not a child!" Tina shouted as she ran to you, hiding behind the car with you.

"His power must be so strong he's somehow managed to survive!" he continued, the Obscurial turning larger as time continued.

"Newt," Tina said, strictly, face red as she held back tears, "Save him,"

Newt huffed, standing and quickly apparating away. Tina stood and you simply followed, reaching to in front of the scene. A face surfaced from the veiny entity, roaring angrily at the Auror as he tried to calm it down.

You reached before Tina, shouting, "Mr. Graves!"

You casted a spell against the Obscurus, making it scatter away as Mr. Graves turned to face you. You panted, legs wide to support you and your hands sweaty and gripping tightly on your [wand wood] wand. Mr. Graves began walking towards you and you casted another spell, but he managed to shield himself from it.

You kept casting spells, backing away while the Auror approached you at an alarming speed, and finally casted a spell that he pulled back at you. An electric, zapping line emitted out of both your wands and pushed against eachothers, a large ball of magic forming in the middle.

"[L/N], you're always turning up where you're least wanted," he spat, and you furrowed your brows. He suddenly stopped and magicked a car from the side to come flying over. You ducked down and shielded yourself, but as soon as you opened your eyes again, Mr. Graves was no longer there.

You simply stood, panting as you strutted away from Tina, who was desperately trying to keep up with your quick striding.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

Newt apparated on the top of the building, just before the Obscurus was charging towards it. "Credence!" shouted Newt, "Credence, I can help!"

The Obscurial spent no time in making a swift turn and Newt apparated in its direction, running towards it when he apparated onto another building. Aurors surrounded the poor thing, casting spells after spells at it in hopes of subduing it but it simply didn't work. The Obscurus roared and roared in agony and pain, attempting to duck the spells in an unorderly fashion. It crashed into multiple buildings, breaking the windows and the fire escape ladders, shattering light bulbs and roof tiles into bits.

The police stood in front with cars and multiple officers blocking away, but they seemed to only cower when Credence approached in a lightning speed, causing destruction along its way. They pointed firearms at the beast, gulping down their fear while people screamed and shouted, terrified of the creature (?) approaching.

It soon approached and the police shot at it, to no avail as they backed down as soon as it reached them, throwing cars their way. Newt simply stood and watched it wreak havoc upon the city, rushing up and shooting itself back down onto the ground. A loud boom rang the surroundings, breaking the tiles and twirling around to gather its pieces and finally descending down into the subway below.

Screams, grim sounds emitted from the being as the last of it finally followed up with the main body. Newt pursed his lips with worry, sighing slightly. He apparated himself down into the subway, slowly peering around.

---

A shield formed around the subway and just so, you managed to roll in with Tina following behind you. You got up and stretched out a hand for Tina to take, and she did. You pulled her up, and proceeded to drag her down into the subway with you.

"Credence," you heard the echoes of Newt's voice in the empty subway, "It is Credence isn't it?"

You slowly moved to his voice, stepping quietly on the ground.

"I'm here to help you, Credence," he said, after a deafening silence, "I'm not here to hurt you,"

A thump, and Newt took it as something positive. He slowly left his hiding place and walked over to the Obscurus, "I've met someone just like you, Credence,"

"A girl," he continued, "A young girl, who'd been imprisoned,"

He stopped, a few feet away from the black mess, "She had been locked away, and she'd been imprisoned for her magic,"

The mess slowly melted away, morphing into a curled up, kneeling Credence. Newt crouched down to the boy's height, still a train track away.

"Credence," he smiled, "Can I come over to you?"

"Can I come over?" he repeated and Credence lifted his head slightly.

He stood, slowly making his way when suddenly a beam of white shot at him. He groaned, being thrown and pushed onto the rough surface. Out came Mr. Graves, marching over to Newt as Credence stood and ran away. Newt attempted to stand, but was blasted by Mr. Graves again. He managed to dodge, thankfully.

Scrambling to his feet and pressing himself against one of the pillars, narrowly missing a blast aimed at him. He looked over and casted a spell, easily deflected by Mr. Grave's shielding spell. Newt ran off while Mr. Graves had to push away Credence, who was standing in the middle of the train tracks.

The duel continued, you and Tina still lost but being guided by the loud, unearthly sounds of spells being thrown against eachother. Newt was shielding off Credence as Mr. Graves continously casted spells at him. For a slight moment, he turned around to look at the horrified boy when the Auror pulled a dirty stunt. The rails lifted itself and Newt was thrown, the tracks breaking from the force of the spell.

Now defenseless, Newt laid on the ground while Mr. Graves threw spells at him non-stop, him barely able to defend himself at all. Soon, his energy failed him and he was trying to dodge the spells left and right, occasionally failing but still being able to nonetheless. He heard sobs from behind him, rolling around and watching Credence wail and turn himself back into an Obscurus.

It rose and curled around the tunnels, sliding out like a snake. Mr. Graves only stopped and kneeled upon facing the ghastly beast. Newt watched while the Auror muttered out, "Credence..."

The Obscurus dove down at Mr. Graves, him apparating away swiftly and Newt as well. Newt managed to hide behind a pillar, panting heavily while black and grey smoke flew by him, the veiny body reaching out and pulling itself back in continously, causing damage to its surroundings.

He apparated away once more when the Obscurus's liquid-like yet solid matter flooded in like a tidal wave. It managed to crash through the entrance of the subway and flew up, eventually forming a vortex above everyone else before turning into small again and diving back into the subway.

It roared loudly, forming into messes and sudden faces. Newt tried to shield himself with his hands when suddenly, Tina shouted while she ran over, "Credence, no!"

The mess stopped abruptly at the sight of Tina's worried face. You emerged from behind, running over to help Newt up.

"Don't do this," she said, shaking her head at the Obscurus, "Please,"

"Keep talking, Teenie," you encouraged, "Keep talking to him, he'll listen to you,"

"He's listening," Newt added, using you as support to stand.

Tina pursed her lips, walking forward, "I know what that woman did to you,"

You could make out Credence's figure inside the black mass.

"I know that you've suffered," she said, "You need to stop this, now---Newt, [Y/N] and I will protect you,"

"This man," she added, "he's using you,"

"Don't listen to her, Credence," Mr. Graves intervened, "I want you to be free,"

"It's alright," he said.

Tina huffed, relieved as the Obscurus shrank, "That's it..."

That is, until a bunch of Aurors stormed down and pointed their wands at him.

"Shh!!" you shushed them, worriedly glancing around, "Don't, you'll frighten him!"

"Wands down!" declared Mr. Graves, "Anyone harms him, they'll answer to me!"

"Credence," the two said in unision, Tina shushing him down.

But alas, the Aurors shot a spell through their wand. Flashes of light erupted and Credence's screams could be heard. "No!" Graves yelled. You bit your lip and ducked down with Newt's hand still around your shoulder, attempting to shut out the tears urging to come out. Suddenly, there was a force that knocked everyone back. Newt had his hands gripped tightly on your arms, keeping you in your place.

When you opened your eyes, what was left was not a physical body of a boy, nor anything, just tatters of black, floating through the air like birds soaring in the sky. You gasped, tears already sliding down his cheek, "Credence...!"

Newt picked himself up slowly, Tina lifting her head to look at the feather-like matter float, tears in her eyes.

"Credence," Graves panted, "You fools, do you realize what you've done?"

"The Obscurial was killed on my orders, Mr. Graves," said Madam President while you pulled yourself to your feet.

"Yes, and history will surely note that, Madam President," Mr. Graves said, "What was done here tonight was not right!"

"He was responsible for the death of a No-Maj," answered President Picquery swiftly, "He risked the exposure of our community, he has broken one of our most sacred laws---"

"A law that has us scuttling like rats in the gutter," scowled Graves, "A law that demands we conceal our true nature---a law that directs those under its dominion to cower in fear, lest we risk discovery,"

He sighed, "I ask you, Madam President, I ask all of you---who does this law protect?"

"Us?" he asked, pointing at himself, then above, "Or them?"

He shook his head, lowering his hand, "I refuse to bow down any longer,"

"Aurors," began Madam President Picquery, "I'd like you to relieve Mr. Graves of his wand and escort him back,"

A barrier glowed golden in front of Graves, and he simply looked around it before nodding and turning around, striding towards the bunch of Aurors. He raised his wand, creating a shield for the rushed attacks from the Aurors, casting spells at the same time.

Newt huffed, throwing out his Swooping Evil and it sqawked, blocking the spells Graves threw and diving back into Newt's arms. Newt raised his wand and out came a rubber-y, whip-like rope that tied around Mr. Grave's arms. He pulled it back and you took the moment to shout, "Accio!"

You grabbed his wand, him looking back at you all, panting with rage and hatred in his eyes. You, Newt and Tina slowly approached him, Newt whispering, "Revelio..." and a flame-ish, orange-white light emitted from the tip of his wand.

Mr. Graves huffed, his hair turning white and his face contorting drastically. Newt and Tina looked bewildered at the fact but you...you simply weren't shocked. It wasn't Mr. Graves, never was---with white hair, a pale face and a recognizable mustache, it was Gellert Grindelwald.

Kneeling in front of Madam President Picquery, he whispered, "Do you think you can hold me?"

"We'll do our best, Mr. Grindelwald," answered the madam president.

His eyes shot at you and you flinched, "Ah, [Y/N]..."

Your breath hitched, looking away from the man. Two Aurors came forward and pulled Mr. Grindelwald away while his eyes were fixated on you. You avoided them as if they were knives aimed at your eyes.

Stopping in front of the stairs and looking at Newt, he smirked, "Will we die, just a little?"

｡･:*˚:✧｡

Queenie rushed forward and hugged Tina while you cradled yourself in a corner. You sighed wistfully, you should've never gotten yourself in this mess in the first place. You should've let Tina ran her way, you should've ignored it and you should've just never bothered with her. You pursed your lips, your hands grasping your head tightly.

There was no conversations for you, mostly relieved talks between Tina, Newt, Jacob and Queenie. Madam President Picquery approached you, "[Y/N],"

"Madam President," you answered.

"Mr. Grindelwald seemed to have recognized you, do you have any relations to him?" she inquired.

"None whatsoever," you responded, "It's just a family thing,"

"What is it?" she asked, sitting beside you.

"...Familial relations---Mother was a crazy elitist and fanatic for Grindelwald, didn't take long for Father to succumb to his charms, either," you explained.

"I thought your mother...passed?" she raised an eyebrow.

"She did," you huffed.

"And your father was a No-Maj," she continued.

"He is," you nodded.

"Then..." she trailed off.

"My father's like me, gullible and greedy," you said, looking at him, "Mr. Grindelwald gave him what he wanted,"

She huffed, standing and striding over to Newt. You stood and followed, eyes filled with regret.

"We owe you an apology, Mr. Scamander," she began, and you stood at the very end, "but the Magical Community is exposed,"

"We cannot obliviate an entire city," she said, staring out at the bright day.

"Actually," he replied, "I think we can,"

He set his suitcase down before the hole and clicked it open. Everyone watched as Frank emerged from the suitcase, screeching loudly. Everyone gasped, but you were too deep in your own thoughts to ever find amazement in that. They all backed down while he flew down and towards Newt.

"I was intending to wait until we got to Arizona," he said, "but it seems that now you're our only hope, Frank,"

The bird-like beast squawks and Newt reached in to caress him, looking away sadly. He squawked again and he uttered, "I'll miss you too,"

Frank screeched, Newt pulling out a vial of light blue liquid and smiling, "You know what you gotta do,"

He threw it up and Frank immediately went after it, catching it in his beak and flying away. Everyone gasped again and moved forward but you stayed in your spot, ready to apparate away but your eyes caught Newt's. He looked at you, concerned but you shook your head and hid your wand.

Lightning crashed and thunder rumbled, a flurry of rain falling onto the pavement of New York. The No-Majes above stood in the rain and in a bit, they returned to their usual routine. Aurors stepped out and casted Reparo on almost everything Credence had broken through his rampage before any No-Maj could realize.

Things rebuilt and papers rewrote themselves, the subway reforming. Newt spoke and you looked away, huffing as you climbed up the stairs and ready to leave until Madam President Picquery's strict tone caught you.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"...can't stay," your voice wavered.

"I'm afraid you can't do that," she said.

"Why can't I?" you uttered.

"We need you," she simply replied, "So stay,"

You huffed shakily, nodding. She left to tend to Newt and you slid down on the stairs, sitting on them. Your head in your hands once more, you began contemplating what he had done for you, choking down sobs.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

Before the rain, Queenie tugged Jacob back. "Hey," chuckled Jacob, "This is for the best,"

"Yeah, I was..." he began, "I was never even supposed to be here,"

Queenie had a face of sadness stuck on, frowning as Jacob's voice broke, "I was never supposed to know, a-any of this,"

He gestured towards you all, "Everybody knows Newt only kept me around because---Hey,"

"Newt, why did you keep me around?" he asked.

"Because I like you," Newt simply answered, "Because you're my friend,"

"And I'll never forget how you helped me, Jacob," he smiled sadly.

"Oh..." Jacob said, on the verge of breaking down.

"Hey..." whispered Queenie, walking up to Jacob, "I'll come with you,"

They both chuckled, "We'll go somewhere! We'll go anywhere!"

Jacob grinned, and laughed weakly.

"See, I ain't never gonna find anyone like you," she said.

"There's loads like me," Jacob only answered.

"No," said Queenie, breathless, "No, there's only one like you,"

He smiled, nodding at Queenie before saying, "I gotta go,"

Queenie sniffled and before Jacob left, Newt came up, "Jacob,"

"It's okay, it's okay," Jacob comforted, "It's okay,"

He sighed deeply, "It's just like waking up, right?"

Backing down into the rain and letting it drip down his body, Queenie couldn't help the urge to go into the rain with him. With her wand acting as an umbrella, she entered the rain and gave Jacob a sweet kiss, before backing away Jacob's arms.

｡･:*˚:✧｡

The port. You sighed, a suitcase in your hand while you peered down at your ticket to Paris, France. You had to, you had to find a long lost friend. Just so, Tina and Newt followed.

"Remind me again why you have to go," Tina's voice wavered at you.

"Business, Teenie, MACUSA affairs and...I suppose, my own affairs," you smiled fondly at her.

"What type?" asked Newt.

"Familial affairs," you replied.

Tina bit her lip and smiled at Newt.

"Well, it's been, um..." he trailed off.

"Hasn't it?" Tina said, "Listen, Newt, uh, I wanted to thank you,"

"What on earth for?" he asked.

"Well, you know..." she smiled, "If you hadn't said all those nice things to Madam Picquery about me, I wouldn't be back on the Investigative Team now,"

"I can't think of anyone that I'd rather have investigating me," he said, smiling back.

You felt your heart swell with something you couldn't quite decipher.

"Try not to need investigating in a bit," said Tina.

"I will," huffed Newt, "A quiet life for me from now on,"

"Back to the Ministry," he said, "Deliver my manuscript,"

"I'll look out for it," she said, "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,"

They both gazed at eachother intently, before Tina asked, "Does Leta Lestrange like to read?"

"Who?" asked Newt.

You looked at your watch and then at Newt---you both were taking the same ship, just different stops. To the UK first and then to France.

"The girl whose picture you carry," answered Tina.

"I don't really know what Leta likes these days," Newt said, quickly.

"Oh," she mumbled.

" 'cause people change," he added.

"Yes," she smiled again.

"I've changed," he said, "I think, uh---maybe a little,"

The ship horn blew and you sighed, turning on your heel and leaving first. Your heart burnt with anger and hatred, everything you know you shouldn't feel towards Tina and Newt but it just was there. But that's fine, because in a matter of seconds, they won't concern you anymore. Truth be told, you were never going to return to America. You retired from being an Auror, deciding that you'd simply travel the world after this whole schmazz jazz was over. You were going to France for a few reasons, to meet with a lady you were friends with for long, and to put an end to this.

Chapter Text

Reaching the Investigation Department and strutting into the building, she came to realize it had been a while since she last saw you. She huffed, looking over to the desk beside her, "Hey, have you heard from [Y/N]? I haven't seen her lately,"

"[Y/N]?" inquired the worker, "She's...she's not even an Auror anymore,"

"What? I'm sure Madam President Picquery gave her title back," she said, concerned.

"No, she retired willingly," they said, leaning in to whisper something quick, "I heard she had some undealt business that involved Grindelwald, so she left the MACUSA to work on it,"

"No she doesn't," scoffed Tina, "She would never!"

They rolled their eyes, huffing, "I don't know, it's just rumours,"

Tina pursed her lips, "Tell me more?"

Chapter Text

The grim setting of Paris brought you unfathomable happiness. Since the incident in 1926, you've been dwelling in anywhere macabre to appease the burning hatred in your heart. You rose from the wooden bench and made your way over to the bookshop simply a few feet away, stopping in the middle of the road when you heard a shout of your name.

"Leta," you simply answered the beautiful lady.

"Long time no see," she smiled, "What brings you to Paris?"

"Let's walk and talk, shall we?" you asked, smiling at her.

"Alright," she nodded and you lead her into the bookshop.

You swung the door open and was immediately hit in the face with the cooling air conditioning and the lovely smell of newly stocked books. You smiled sweetly at the sight, a certain book catching your eyes. You slowly walked over and took the test-read book, examining the front cover.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," you hummed, "Nice name choice, Scamander,"

"Is it just me or do you look a lot more different than when you were an Auror in the states?" asked Leta, surfing her hand over plastic wrapped books.

"Stuck in stress, as I'd like to say," you chuckled breathlessly, flipping the book over.

"So what did you want to see me for?" she inquired, turning to you. You placed the book back onto its stand, turning to her as you stuffed your hand into your trench coat pocket and smiled, "I have a little something to tell you, and it might require a much needed assistance,"

Chapter Text

Striding down the halls with Leta beside you, you began to contemplate the reason you followed Lestrange to the Ministry of Magic. You no longer had any qualms in wizarding politics and you weren't looking for Newt, but somehow her offer for you to follow picqued your interest and you followed her. It was dumb, and you should've kept your heart in check rather than let it sput out a word of acceptance.

Her heels and your heeled boots (somehow you still kept it---a side of you were fighting for it to be saved instead of being thrown out) made muffled steps on the red carpet, eventually reaching a man, crouched down near a Bowtruckle with his ear on the ground. You scoffed amusingly, looking down at the brunette with your arms crossed.

"They're ready for you, Newt," said Leta with a smile.

He quickly stood, "Leta, [Y/N],"

You waved at his greeting, a smile ever so present on your though tired, yet beautiful face.

"What are you two doing here?" his eyes darted between you and Lestrange, practically in utter disbelief.

"Theseus thought it would be good if I became a part of the Ministry family," she blatantly replied.

"Did he actually say the words 'Ministry family'?" he asked with a smile and she chuckled, "That sounds like my brother,"

Eventually he moved to the side, Leta and you following to avoid the cleaning machine. One of the feather dusters searched Newt, dusting him but he shook it off quite quickly. Another look was shared between the two before she turned on her heel and left to the meeting room, you following beside with Newt.

"I haven't seen you in a few months, [Y/N]," he said, "How have you been?"

"I'm faring well," you simply answered, "You?"

"Fine," he replied, and that was the end of the conversation. It was awfully awkward, him trying to steal glances of you but your stone cold face made him look away almost instantly. But it couldn't stop him from thinking, 'wow, she's absolutely stunning,'

You three passed by countless flying owls with letters sealed with wax and messy signatures clutched tightly in their claws, soaring towards the many workers of the Ministry. Looking up, you could see house elves, wiping the windows of each department with dirty cloths, sitting atop floating chairs.

"Theseus was disappointed you couldn't come to dinner," Leta began, striking up a conversation and successfully snatching the younger Scamander's attention, "Any of the nights we've asked you,"

"Well, I've been busy," he replied.

"He's your brother, Newt," you hummed, earning a confusing look on his face directed at you.

"He likes spending time with you," she added, "And so do I,"

They both looked at eachother and she smiled at him, eyes trailing down to the collar of his suit jacket where Pickett peeked out. Newt looked down to his front pocket and huffed, "Oi, you! Hop in, Pick,"

She smiled, "Why do strange creatures love you so much?"

"Well there are no strange creatures," he looked at her, ready to continue his sentence when Leta stopped and continued for him, "Only blinkered people,"

They both smiled again, and you, by now, were feeling useless in this intimate conversation the two were sharing. You wanted to leave, but you weren't able to craft a response or an excuse for you to abscond. So, you opted to just...tune out their conversation, to no avail.

"How long did you get in detention for saying that to Prendergast?" she asked with a chuckle upon her lips.

"I think it was a month that time," he responded, looking down at his shoes.

"And I set off a dungbomb under his desk so I could join you, do you remember?" she asked, again. Soon, you three came to a quick halt when Newt noticed Theseus walking over. The brunette's face contorted into an awkward, uncomfortable one, "Um..."

"No, I actually don't remember that," he quickly said, and Leta looked incredibly disappointed.

"Hello," Theseus greeted, "Oh, [Y/N]! I wasn't expecting you to come,"

You nodded, smiling.

"Theseus! We were just talking about Newt coming for dinner," Leta said.

"Really? Well..." he looked over to the door beside, "Look, before we go in there, I-"

Newt cut him off abruptly, "It's my fifth attempt, Theseus, I know the form,"

You scoffed silently, looking at the man beside you with an arched brow.

"This isn't gonna be like the other times," comforted Theseus, "This is...just try to keep and open mind, will you?"

"And maybe a little less..." he trailed off.

"Like me," Newt finished.

"Well, it can't hurt," Theseus stuffed both his hands in his pants pocket and nudged him over to the black and gold door. The door swung open and the Scamander brothers left, leaving you and Leta alone.

"[Y/N], I never thought you'd join me," she began.

"I was bored," you shrugged.

"Not because you wanted to see Newt?" she looked at you, hands folded on eachother.

"The reason's mostly because I don't know what to do as it's my..." you trailed off.

"Vacation," she helped.

"Vacation," you repeated, "But it's somewhere in wanting to see Newt too, probably,"

"It's been a while since you returned to Britain, or the United Kingdom in that matter, hasn't it?" she inquired.

"Correct," you nodded, "A few years, maybe,"

"How was Ilvermorny?" she asked.

"I still say Hogwarts is better," you smirked and she chuckled.

"I heard you made a few friends," she uttered.

"I...yes, I have," you nodded, "Queenie and Porpentina,"

"The sisters," she said, "One's an Auror, correct?"

You nodded, "I didn't give any of them the reason as to why I left..."

"Isn't it called being dishonest?" she turned to the railing, and you followed suit.

"I'd call it for their own good, Lestrange," you said, quietly while you rested your hands on the railings.

"You haven't told anyone yet?" the latter arched a brow.

"You're the only one around who knows, Leta," you chuckled coldly, "I'd really rather they not know,"

"That you're-" the door swung open abruptly, making you and Leta snap your heads at the brunette who just stormed out. Theseus was following, calling out for his brother's attention and piquing your curiousity.

"Newt!" Theseus called for the final time and the younger Scamander finally turned his head around.

He huffed, "You think I like the idea of Grimmson any more than you do?"

"Listen, I don't wanna hear how the ends justify the means, Theseus," Newt said, being cornered to the wall by his older brother.

"I think you're gonna have to pull your head out the sand!" Theseus scolded.

"Okay, right, here we go," Newt sighed, "What a selfish, irresponsible-"

"You know, the time is coming," Theseus intervened with Newt's counting, "When everyone---everyone is gonna have to pick a side,"

"Even you," he finished.

"I don't do sides," with that, Newt stepped away from Theseus.

"Newt," the older brother called out, "Newt,"

The younger stopped in his tracks, turning around to face him.

"Come here," he said, arms open wide and walking over to Newt.

He suddenly hugged him, and with a few whispers, they both parted. You walked past Theseus, waving goodbye to him and following Newt.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

"Newt, someone's following," you whispered to him, his hand tightly holding onto yours.

"I know," he whispered back, making a swift turn to a corner. He pulled out a wand and casted a spell, a tiny tornado forming at the tip of his wand while he whispered, "Ventus,"

You peered back at the man following you and Newt, to see him suddenly being blasted with a fierce gust of wind. His hat flew backwards, he hastily pulled open his umbrella and combated the wind that was pushing him back. The No-Majes that passed by him looked at him weirdly, stopping in their tracks to watch the man.

You turned back to Newt with a giggling smile when suddenly, a floating, black glove waved at you two. Newt looked stunned and you, shared his expression. It pointed to you two, and then at a building behind. There stood a man on top of the roof, tipping his hat off to the both of you. The glove suddenly gave him a hand, and he took it without hesitation, apparating you both away.

The apparating portkey was at the ledge, making you slightly stumble before Newt held your hand and pulled you with him. Inching past a statue and reaching a wider area, you were greeted with a man, wearing a grey coat and enjoying the wind. He looked back at the two of you and smiled.

"Were the less conspicuous rooftops full, then?" Newt asked.

"Hmm," the man hummed, "I do enjoy a view,"

"Nebulus," he chanted, taking out his wand and aiming it at the city.

Fog arose the city and covered every corner, him fully turning around and smiling, "[Y/N], how long has it been?"

"Quite a few years, Professor Dumbledore," you smiled, "I do hope you forgive me for not writing a letter to you,"

"All is forgiven, [L/N]," he nodded, "Please, call me Albus,"

"Dumbledore, you know [Y/N]?" Newt inquired.

"Of course, she was a student in Hogwarts bef-" you shot him a glare and he cleared his throat, looking away.

"She what?" Newt asked, but Albus shut him down smartly.

You all apparated to the foggy streets, beginning to stride on the pavement while the fog hid you three perfectly.

"How was it?" he asked Newt, who had your arm interlocked in his.

"They're still convinced that you sent me to New York," Newt replied.

"You told them I didn't?" Albus inquired.

"Yes," he answered, voice wavery, "Even though you did,"

"You told me where to find that trafficked Thunderbird, Dumbledore," he said, "You knew that I would take him home,"

"There's a story in my family," Dumbledore said, "That a Pheonix will come to any Dumbledore in desperate need---They say, my great-grandfather had one,"

"And that it took flight when he died, never to return," he ended with a faraway expression.

"With all due respect professor, I don't believe for a minute that's why you told me about the Thunderbird," Newt said, pulling you along as he fastened his pace to reach Dumbledore, who was already a few steps ahead.

The professor stopped and smiled at the two of you, you arching your brow for a solemn minute before looking back. There was a man, quickly walking towards you three. He was a spy, undoubtedly sent by one of the Ministry of Magic. Albus spent no time it quickly patting Newt on the arm and apparating away.

You all re-apparated on a bus terminal and continued the stride, Albus quickly stuffing his hands in his pocket to hide it from the cold.

"Credence is in Paris, Newt," Albus stated, "Trying to trace his real family,"

"I take it you've heard the rumours about who he really is," his voice turned into a whisper.

"No," Newt replied, and you shook your head firmly.

Climbing onto a bus and sitting opposite of Dumbledore, he leant in to whisper, "The purebloods think he's the last of an important French line,"

There was a silence before he continued, "A baby, whom everyone thought lost,"

"Not Leta's brother?" you quickly asked, stealing Newt's question.

"That's what they're whispering," he began to explain, "And pureblood or not, I know this; an Obscurus grows in the absence of love, as a dark twin---an only friend,"

"If Credence has a real brother or sister out there that can take its place, he might yet be saved," he finished.

"Wherever Credence is in Paris, he's either in danger or a danger to others," he uttered, sternly, "We may not know who he is yet, but he needs to be found,"

"And I rather hope you might be the one to find him," he reached his hand out and with a slight wave, a brown-ish card appeared with a glowing sign in the middle.

"What's that?" asked Newt with interest.

"An address of a very old acquaintance of mine," Albus answered calmly, "A safehouse in Paris reinforced with enchanments,"

"Safe house? Why would we need a safe house in Paris?" Newt stammered, wary of the professor's intentions. You arched an eyebrow, 'we'?

"One hopes you won't, but should things---at some point---go terribly wrong, it's good to have a place to go," the bus shook, causing Albus to look over to the driver's seat for a bit before turning back and hastily adding, "You know, for a cup of tea,"

He soon stood and sped down the bus, the lights flickering on and the engine roared. Newt looked at the card and slid his arm off yours, "No, no, no, no, absolutely not!"

You both stepped down the bus, just before Dumbledore apparated away. Newt promptly apparated to the same portkey as him, you simply following because, well, you really had nothing better to do.

"No, no, 'cause I'm banned from international travelling, Dumbledore," he explained, "If I leave the country, they will put me in Azkaban, and they will throw away the key!"

Oh, that was unheard of.

"Do you know why I admire you, Newt?" asked Dumbledore, standing before the worried Scamander brother with his hands folded before him.

"What?" Newt was utterly confused.

"More, perhaps, than any man I know," the professor added.

"You do not seek power," he simply said, "Or popularity,"

"You simply ask, is a thing right in itself," he continued, "If it is, you do it no matter the cost,"

Once he was done, the professor turned and began walking away but Newt followed up, "That's all very well, Dumbledore, but, forgive me for asking, why can't you go?"

Dumbledore stopped in his tracks and looked at Newt, "I cannot move against Grindelwald,"

He nodded, "It has to be you,"

Newt seemed hesitant, and Dumbledore's eyes travelled to the card in the Magizoologist's hands, "Well, I can't blame you,"

"In your shoes, I'd probably refuse too," he took the card from Newt.

"What?" Newt was confused, once again.

"It's late," Albus said, before saluting him away, "Good evening, Newt, do walk [Y/N] back to her hotel,"

"Wait, no-" Newt was cut off by Dumbledore apparating away. He, with a 'are you serious' smile playing on his lips, uttered, "Oh, come on,"

He soon relaxed when he saw the floating glove of Albus Dumbledore holding the address card in front of him. It slowly floated to him, and swiftly, placed it in the front pocket of Newt's grey suit jacket, patting it and awaking Pickett. The Bowtruckle peeked out while he huffed, "Dumbledore,"

He soon turned to you, "Well...let's walk you back to your hotel, shall we?"

He halted in front of you, and you smirked deviously, "I don't have one,"

"What?" ah, that befuddled face again.

"I arrived today, Newton," you chuckled.

"Oh,"

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

Climbing up the stoop to Newt's yellowstone house, you halted on the stairs temporarily to peer into the enclosed window beside the door. The light was flickering on and off repeatedly, and it seems Newt noticed this as well. He quickly stepped up to the door and unlocked it, opening it gently. You looked in and immediately, you could see a Niffler hanging on the pull string, swinging to and fro and causing the light to turn on and off.

Eventually, it wasn't long before the chain broke away from the lamp and the Niffler settled onto the entryway table. Hurriedly, it tucked the long chain into its pouch when it suddenly lifted its head up and looked at both you and Newt. Newt let go of the door knob, only staring back at the small sized creature when it scuttled away, making a brush and a maginifying glass fall while it tried to hang onto the edge of the marble fireplace.

Newt smiled, huffing and looked over to the dining room. You giggled, "Baby Nifflers?"

"Yes," he said, watching as another baby Niffler that was sitting on top of a double pan balance took two brass paper weights and shoved it in its pouches.

He stepped in, you following because...baby Nifflers.

He took a pot and swiftly placed it upon the one with the chain, watching it slow down and look up before continuing to scuttle away. You took an apple and threw it up, landing on the opposite pan where the Niffler was sitting, promptly throwing it up and landing inside of Newt's other coat pocket.

You smiled at him and he smiled back, muttering a small, "Thank you,"

You nodded, "How's Poppy?"

"She's bummed out because you haven't visited her for long," he said, going over to the basement and about to open the door when you both heard a squeak. He turned around and there was a Niffler, climbing onto the golden seal of a champage bottle, the alcohol inside rocketing the cap. You ducked the incoming attack, Newt watching in amazement while the Niffler flew into the basement, bouncing off a wall and landing at the end with a cute squeak.

You smiled in adoration, "I love these rascals,"

"They're meddlesome," he turned to you.

"But the trouble is worth it, they're absolutely adorable," you turned to him.

He reached in and gently stroked your cheek, "You're right,"

You felt your face grew hot, and you placed your hand on top of his, "I'm glad,"

He quickly took his hand away and entered the basement, "Bunty!"

"Bunty!" he called again, storming down the stairs, "Bunty. Bunty, the baby Nifflers are loose again,"

A girl hastily left and took a pair of gloves, sliding them on before slowly creeping up to the one with the champagne cap. She let go of her fist, and out dangled a silver chain. The Niffler jumped up to take it, and once it did, she scooped it up.

"Well done," Newt said, handing the rest of the babies to the girl.

"I'm so sorry Newt, they must've picked the lock while I was cleaning out the Augureys," she apologized.

"Not to worry," he descended down another flight of stairs quickly.

The girl hummed, "Oh, who are you?"

"Bunty, that's an incredibly close friend of mine, [Y/N] [L/N]," Newt introduced, "[Y/N], Bunty!"

"Hello," she smiled and you smiled back, "I'm his assistant,"

"I see," you hummed, "I suppose Poppy is doing well?"

"Oh, yes, well, she was a bit inactive a few months before you came, but she's doing relatively well now," she said, descending down the stairs, "Why do you ask?"

"Poppy's gonna be thrilled to see you, [Y/N]," Newt smiled while you watched Bunty keep the baby Nifflers into their home.

"I fed nearly anyone," Bunty quipped, "Pinky's had his nose drops and-"

"And Elsie?" asked Newt, leaning down to take the gigantic eye dropper before the Mooncalves.

"Elsie's droppings are nearly normal again," she happily said, smiling while she placed her hands in front of her chest.

"Wonderful," he said, squeezing a few drops of the eye medcine into one of the Mooncalves's eyes, "You can, um...You can clock off now,"

The latter soon revealed her hand, one of her fingers being wrapped improperly in bandage. She looked down at it, ready to ask for something when Newt intervened, "I told you to leave the Kelpie to me,"

He looked worriedly at the wound, and she said, "That wound needs more ointment,"

"I don't want you losing fingers over it," he huffed, keeping the eye dropper and leaving to a habitat that rested a few flights of stairs away from the care station. You and Bunty followed him from behind, coming to a halt when he did.

He swiftly took off his jacket and hung it on the railing, Bunty taking it and folding it on her arm. Newt, taking off his vest, said, "Seriously, you can go home now, Bunty,"

"You must be exhausted," he folded his sleeves up.

"You know the Kelpie's easier with two," she said.

There was a deafening silence for a while, the water from the enclosure being the only means of sound when Bunty said, "Perhaps you should take off your shirt,"

Newt turned around, "Don't worry,"

"I'll dry off quick enough," he said, jumping backwards into the water.

"So, what are you to him?" she asked, "Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm just curious,"

"We're friends," you hummed, "Just friends,"

You repeated your words in your mind. 'Just friends', yeah right. It was clear you liked him. Maybe not to others, but to yourself. You wished you both were more than just friends. Eventually, the memory of Newt and Tina on the day of you and his departure from America resurfaced---the two looked so intimate. You wished you were Tina, you wished you could've just...been the person he liked.

Suddenly, the water levels rose and stole your attention. Before you could defend yourself, you were instantly soaked with water, and so was Bunty. She gasped, startled, huffing afterwards with a smile on her face. You looked up at the risen water with a smile, it was tempting you to just walk in.

Bunty turned and walked up the stairs, ushering for you to follow. You stood at the very edge, watching Newt ride the Kelpie over. He was soaked to the very brim, hair dripping wet and his shirt semi-transclucent---you could see his body. Each scar, each muscle, you could faintly see them. You blushed heavily, smiling at him with love laced at your every feature.

"Someone needed to let off some steam," he said loudly, "Ointment, Bunty!"

Bunty showed a jar full of white ointment, Newt climbing onto the platform and having the Kelpie stick its neck out. He dabbed his finger in the ointment and rubbed the medicine on the beast's wound.

"You bite Bunty again and there will be trouble, Mister," he reprimanded. Bunty took the bucket of feed behind her and let the Kelpie eat, holding his head in place. Suddenly, there was a crash and you whipped your head towards the direction of the sound.

"What was that?" asked Bunty.

"I don't know," answered Newt.

Newt stood, "But I want you to go home now, Bunty,"

"Shall I call the Ministry?" she inquired with worry.

"No," he said, rubbing his palms together, "I want you to go home, please,"

She looked worriedly, but you patted her shoulders and ascended the stairs with him. He casted a spell on himself---one you didn't know---and he dried instantly.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

You and Newt crept around the house, following the sound of the voice to the living room.

"Just give me the pieces," quipped a very familiar voice.

"I got it," reassured another.

"Honey, if you could just give it to me..." the feminine one said with a tired tone.

"He doesn't care!" the masculine one declared.

"If you could just give this to me, sweetheart," she said, and you leant over.

"Queenie!" you shouted, excitedly.

Queenie stopped and looked at you with Jacob, who looked drunk. Upon seeing Newt, Jacob dropped the already shattered pottery on the ground and stretched his arms wide open, "Hey!"

"Newt," he sang, "Get over here you maniac!"

You walked over to Queenie, who was fixing up the broken pottery.

"We hope you don't mind, Newt, we let ourselves in---it's rainin' out there, cats and dogs! London's cold," she said, "And Mercy Lewis, [N/N]! You're dripping wet! What happened? I thought Teenie said you were in Paris!"

"One question at a time, please," you giggled, "You were supposed to be Obliviated!"

Newt spent no time in magicking you dry, to which you shot him a thankful smile for. He smiled back while Jacob rasped with a laugh, "I know! It didn't work, pal!"

"I mean, you said it," he said, "The potion only erases bad memories, I didn't have any,"

"I mean, don't get me wrong, I had some weird ones and I had some scary ones," he continued, taking off his coat and dropping it. Queenie quickly swooped in and hung it over a chair.

"But this angel," he looked over but Queenie wasn't there, so he looked down, "This angel over here, she filled me in on all the bad parts, and uh---here we are, I guess, huh?"

Newt chuckled and you smiled sweetly, quickly walking over to the group, "This is wonderful!"

Queenie hugged Jacob, and the No-Maj spent no time in nuzzling his face into Queenie's neck to inhale her scent.

"Wait, is-" Newt began, walking past the two, "Tina? Tina?"

You frowned, your heart swelling with jealousy. Queenie looked at you sympathisingly, but you shook your head, voice cracking as you spoke, "Please don't, Queen, not now,"

"[Y/N]..." she uttered and you shook your head firmly again, "Don't,"

She turned her focus to the brunette, "Oh, it's just us, honey,"

Newt looked disappointed, and your heart swell with sadness even more.

"Me and Jacob," she said.

"Oh," he uttered, and you bit your lip.

You wish you were Tina.
Just once, where Newt would miss you.
Just once, where Newt would be so disappointed to not see you.
Just once, to be who Newt liked.

Queenie seemed to have heard your thoughts and you looked away.

"Why don't I make us some dinner, huh?" asked Queenie, attempting to make the atmosphere better.

"Yes!" shouted Jacob, and the two laughed.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

Queenie gently pushed back Jacob's head, tucking a napkin in his suit.

"Teen and I aren't talkin," she said.

"Why?" asked Newt.

"Oh, well, you know," she began, "She found out about Jacob and I seeing eachother and she didn't like it, 'cause of the law,"

She scooped some of the minced meat onto Jacob's plate, "Not allowed to-oop!"

She took the fork and knife out of his hands, cutting the carrots for him, "Not allowed to date No-Majes, not allowed to marry them, blah blah blah,"

"Well, she was all in a tizzy anyway 'cause of both of you," she said.

"Me?" you and Newt inquired simultaneously.

"Yeah, you, Newt," she began, "It was in Spellbound, here, I brought it for you,"

She magicked over a book, settling itself on the table and she looked over to you.

"[Y/N], I don't know what Teenie heard but apparently, there was a rumour that you were Grindelwald's daughter," she said and you sat straight up, "What?"

"Yeah, that you stayed with him until you ran away to America at 15," she huffed angrily, "I can't believe Teenie fell for it! You aren't his daughter, are you?"

"No," you whispered, your breath shaky, "I don't know where they got it from,"

She nodded, "It's all Hogwash! And there was another rumour that you quitted being an Auror willingly!"

Newt snapped up from the book and looked at you, which you shrank at.

"Did you, [Y/N]?" he asked.

"...I don't think it's any of your business," you snapped.

"You did," she suddenly said, "But I thought being-"

"I just...wanted to travel the world, all that stuff back in '26 made me feel like I didn't know the world enough so I just-" you lied, and Queenie saw right through it.

"[Y/N], there's something you ain't tellin' us about," she frowned.

"Don't worry about me, what about why Teenie's upset at Newt?" you asked.

She magicked the book open and pointed her wand at a specific page. "Newt Scamander with fiancee Leta Lestrange, brother Theseus and unknown woman," she read.

"No, so Theseus is marrying Leta, not me," he reasoned.

"Oh!" Queenie huffed, surprised and smiling, but it faded soon as she continued, "Oh...oh, dear,"

She sat beside Jacob, "Well...see, Teen read that, and uh...she started dating someone else,"

You looked down at your fingers, "I'm gonna go for a bit, I haven't seen Poppy for a long time and I wanna see her right now, where's your suitcase?"

"It's in my bedroom," he said and you quickly left.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

"I know, Poppy, I'm sorry," you whispered to the angry Bowtruckle, "I was dealing with some stuff,"

She chirped yet again and you smiled sadly at her, "It was urgent, Poppy,"

She looked confused, her rage ending abruptly while she tilted her head to the side.

"No-one knows and I want it to keep staying that way," you said, "I don't want everyone to know, and it's a matter of the past not the present, nor the future,"

"He's a bad guy, and I risked hell and all to escape him, and I'm not gonna let him ruin it again and again and again," you let her climb onto your finger.

She chirped, and you smiled, "You're so understanding, Poppy,"

"Ah, I'm so tired," you complained, "It's so exhausting, I wish I let Tina do her stuff, then I wouldn't have been roped into this mess,"

You stared emptily at the creature, "I know, there was no obligation for me to do all that for her, but I don't want to see her fired---I can't bear to see her upset,"

There was a silence, as deafening as it was, you enjoyed it. Your empty eyes began to drift---to drift, back to your past.

Chapter Text

It was never so bustling in your house before. Never, not even when your mother was still alive. Usually, it was just the snoring of your deadbeat father or nothing more than the chirps of cicadas at night and the tweets of various birds perched atop the branches of the tree grown in your front yard. But today was different---your father, he was loud and happy, like when he was gambling away the house's resources. There were a few more voices in the house as well.

Curiously, you peeked out your room, to see a few people sitting on the couch with your father laughing haughtily. Suddenly, a man seemed to take notice of your presence.

"Mr. [L/N], I thought you said that [Y/N] was no longer here?" the man asked, a bit disappointed, "That [M/N] threw her into the orphanage?"

Orphanage?

"What?" he turned his head around and upon locking eyes with you, an angry glare was sent towards you in an instance.

You shrank away, hiding inside the room once more.

"Uh...I adopted her back," he lied swiftly, waving his hand, "Now, Mr. Grindelwald, about that deal..."

Mr. Grindelwald?

"You never said that you adopted little [Y/N] back," he glared at your father, "And you let her live in this?"

"M-my apologies, sir, I-I never thought much about it," your father stammered.

"Look at this place!" he scowled, "A place for prisoners! The paint is ripping! There isn't even an ounce of furniture! Rats, cockroaches, scuttling around! Grime and stains everywhere! Mr. [L/N], do you wish to harm little [Y/N]?"

"It is not my intention!" he defended, "I lacked money, and I thought it was fine as long as she was fed and in proper health!"

Proper health? Fed? This man didn't even let you out of the room the minute he took you in!

Mr. Grindelwald stood, walking over to you and crouching down to your trembling figure, "Hello there, little one,"

You were speechless, gripping on the battered piece of cloth you called 'clothing', looking up at the terrifying man with scared eyes. You were dirty, hair tossled, dirt and dust on your skin and your feet, pricked and bruised, covered in scars from running along the splintered planks of the wooden floor.

He frowned upsettedly, "It must hurt very much, your feet,"

You looked down at them, and nodded slightly.

"It's alright," he took out his wand and waved it slightly. You watched as sparkles flew around your wounds, healing them in a second. The man smiled at you, and you smiled gratefully at him.

"What's your name. little one?" he asked.

"[Y/N] [L/N]," you answered him with little to no hesitation.

"What a lovely name," he patted your head, "You must've been devastated after hearing the news of your mother's death,"

You shook your head, "Not really,"

"Oh, why?" he questioned.

"I don't know her," you said.

He hummed, "Why is that?"

"Father said she was bad, or something," you replied.

"Bad," he repeated, standing up and looking over at your father, who was glaring at you while nervously fiddling with his fingers.

"That child is just spouting nonsense," your father's attempt at tricking the wizard before you rendered him trouble. Mr. Grindelwald repeated your word with malice, "Bad,"

You tugged on the wizard's pants, "Are you gonna do something bad to father?"

He looked down to you, hesitating with his words before replying, "No, I'm not,"

"Alright," you nodded, and he urged you into the room, implying that this is a grown-ups talk, that a child shouldn't listen in. The day concluded with you falling asleep.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

You don't remember what else exactly happened, aside from your father paying no more attention to you and thriving in riches, ignoring you when you walked into the living room. He would be surrounded with women, rested on the couch, under his arms while he laughed merrily. Mr. Grindelwald, on the other hand, paid you plenty of visits.

He would play with you when your father didn't, bring you out to the streets to have fun when your father was passed out drunk, teach you magic while your father was out bedding prostitutes or the wives of many. By then, Mr. Grindelwald had became the sole inhabitant of the term 'father' by you, your father being called a 'deadbeat' instead.

Today, you were preparing to leave with Mr. Grindelwald again, to London. He specifically instructed for you to prepare your suitcase and dress up nicely, as he was bringing you to a specific place to buy some stuff essential for your education. He's always reminded you of it since you received a letter with a green wax seal over it, explicitly stated only for you.

So, you sat before your vanity, brushing your hair with a soft hairbrush over and over again, perfecting your [H/L], [H/C] locks. You had a pretty [F/C] dress on, tailored to your every inch. Suddenly, a knock on your bedroom door alerted you. You swung the door open, to be greeted by your very drunk biological father, supporting his dead weight with an arm on the door frame.

"Have you been drinking again?" you asked, wincing slightly from the overbearing smell of alcohol.

"Maybe, maybe not, what's it to you?" he slurred, smiling at you, "Hey, why're you dressed so prettily? Where you goin'?"

"I'm going out with Mr. Grindelwald," you answered him, "Now, if you will excuse me,"

You took your briefcase and attempted to side-step your father but to not avail. He only pushed your body back into the bedroom, shutting it briskly and un-tying his already ruined tie. Approaching you slowly and slapping the case in your hands away, he had you cornered on the bedroom.

The smell of alcohol lingered heavily on his breath, its scent radiating off of him like it was cologne. He smirked, "You look just like your mother...you'll be a darling just like her and let me bed you, hm?"

You grimaced, trying to push the heavy man away but alas, your efforts were to waste as he, with one hand, managed to push you onto the bed. He clambered on top of you, taking off his shirt while he stared down at you like you were meal, laid out on a long, dining table just for him. You whimpered, trying to back away but when your back hit the wall, you knew it was over.

All of a sudden, you heard the door swing open aggressively, and a shout, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"

You looked up---Mr. Grindelwald. You breathed, quickly climbing off the bed and letting your father 'pass out' on your bed. You took your discarded suitcase, Mr. Grindelwald taking ahold of your hand and apparating you into the premises of London city. With a wave of his wand, he put on a new look, just like how he always did when he brought you to explore Britain.

"Father, where are we going?" you asked, "And what's this...education that I'm going to take?"

"You're going to a school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, [Y/N]," he said, "You're going to grow up to be a great witch, I know it,"

You smiled excitedly, "I'm going to get a wand just like yours?"

"Of course you are," he chuckled, "Let's get you some money first, shall we?"

You took his hand and you both left to Gringott's Wizarding Bank.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

1912 September 1st

"SLYTHERIN!" the declaration bounced off the walls, earning a loud, glad cheer from the Slytherin table. You shuffled down the platform and towards the table, where you sat beside a beautiful girl. She was older than you, slightly bigger than you, but undeniably pretty.

"Hello," she smiled at you, "I'm Leta Lestrange, you?"

"[Y/N] [L/N]," you answered with a smile.

"You're nervous, aren't you?" she giggled, and you flusteredly fiddled with your grey robes.

"It's alright, I was too," she hummed, "The people here are foul, but they're fine if you meet the correct person,"

You looked up at her, and she had her sight settled onto someone at the Hufflepuff table. A boy, with brown locks and an utterly handsome face, nervously staring down at the wooden table. He looked up and you caught his eyes, sudenly drowing in the comfort they provided. He looked back down at the wooden table and you snapped your attention away to Leta Lestrange.

"That's Newt Scamander, he's my best friend," she said, "I'll introduce you two later,"

---

"Leta, Leta!" you shrieked, desperately attempting to keep up with the brunette's speed, "Where are we going?!"

"I'll tell you later! Come on!" she giggled excitedly.

Her hand and yours were interlocked, her dragging you to god knows where. If it weren't for your feet running with her, you would've had multiple tears in your robes by now. Soon, she came to a halt. You two were standing yards away from the school, mary janes digging into the wet and muddy ground below and before the Forbidden Forest. It was eerie---you couldn't see anything even at this distance.

"Leta, there you are," a gentle voice sounded, and you turned your head. There was the same boy from before, that Newt Scamander.

"You brought someone," he said, "I thought this was going to be a secret between the two of us?"

"Well, I wanted to help my junior have a kickstart at making friends," she smiled at the boy, "[Y/N] [L/N], Newt Scamander,"

"Hello," you meekly said.

"Hello," he nodded, "Are you scared of magical creatures?"

"Depends," you peered into the forest, "Is it deadly?"

"Not if you handle it properly," he shrugged, "Come on, don't get lost,"

He trudged into the forest, his hand and yours interlocked as Leta followed behind.

---

You yawned tiredly, head prepped on your palm while you stared at the professor teaching. Her words were going through your ears, your brain not absorbing the information given lest you grow even more tired. Suddenly, a knock on the classroom door managed to snap you out of your bored trance.

"Hi, Professor," a man walked in, his words firm but gentle, "May I lend [Y/N] [L/N] for a bit? I have a few things to talk to her about,"

"Professor Dumbledore, you are aware that Miss [L/N] does not attend any of your classes, correct?" the Charms professor asked, squinting her eyes.

"I am, but this is a private matter," Professor Dumbledore said, "So, may I?"

"Fine, but make it quick," she hissed, waving her hand.

You stepped down from your seat, walking over to the professor who guided you to the courtyard. Standing before the fountain, he, with his arms crossed, asked, "Do you have a relation to Grindelwald?"

You stoned, right then and there. 

"I'm just asking you a question, I'm curious, really," he had his hands folded ontop of eachother now.

"And what about it?" you retorted.

He breathed, "What kind of relation is it?"

"Why do you need to know?" you asked.

"Because Grindelwald is a very dangerous person, and he does not wish to protect you you must understand that," he furrowed his eyebrows.

"He's saved me thousands of times, and he's the only person I can confide in, the only person I can call father yet you call him dangerous?" you scowled.

The professor was quiet for a while, before sighing with a gentle tone, "You two are father and daughter?"

"Yes, well, kind of," you shrugged.

"Alright," he nodded, "If you ever need assistance, you can come find me,"

And with that, he left you. You trudged back to the Charms classroom, a face of pure confusion plastered on.

---

1913 December 7th

"He'll never get to finish his education," Leta sobbed, "All because of me, I should've taken responsibility rather than be a coward and-and-"

She broke down into another fit of sobs yet again. You frowned at her never-ending guilt. You gently stroked her back, offering though little, some comfort to her.

"I'm sure he doesn't blame you, Leta," you said, and she looked up. You smiled sweetly at her, "He's done it for a good reason, I'm sure of it,"

"Let's go see him, I'm sure he has something to say to us," you slid off Leta's bed and stretched your hand out to her. She took it, and you led her over to the courtyard. Sitting on one of the ledges of the fountain was Newt, playing with the Bowtruckle he hid in his sleeves. You two slowly approached him and you greeted him first, "Newt,"

"[Y/N], Leta," he greeted back, scooting away a bit for you two to sit.

You sat next to him, Leta right beside you. 

"We heard you've been expelled," you began.

"Yeah," he quietly answered, still playing with the Bowtruckle. Leta couldn't handle the silence and the remorse anymore, so she bolted away, much to you and Newt's surprise.

"I...We're very sorry for your expulsion," you fiddled with your robes, looking down, "We really are, I-"

"It's alright, had I known that it was mating season, I wouldn't have brought you and Leta to the Forbidden Forest," he huffed, "It's really alright,"

"When are you leaving?" you asked, picking up your head and over to Newt.

"Midnight," he hesitantly replied.

You bit down on your lip, "It's very nice knowing you, Newt, I-I hope we'll see eachother again,"

"You aren't coming to see me off?" that voice. Filled with disappointment, need, churning your heart over and over and over again.

"I-I'll see what I can do, as long as I'm not too busy, I'll try my best to come and see you off," your voice broke, "I, I really hope we'll meet again,"

You felt his soft hands on your cheek, tilting your face to his, "Hey, hey..."

"I'm so sorry, Newt, I shouldn't be crying, I really shouldn't, but-" you were cut off by a chaste kiss placed by him on your temple.

"It's fine, I'll be fine," he comforted.

That midnight, you watched the Hogwarts Express train leave, his hand waving goodbye to you. 

---

1914 July 5th

You've never really thought why Father, Mr. Grindelwald, would ever live in Austria in a damn mountain and away from any known civilization. It really was clueless to you, your poor 14 year old self. You were dressed in a maroon silk, lying on your bed while reading a book, Mr. Grindelwald being downstairs with a few of his friends.

The thought of Scamander's expulsion crossed your mind various times but by now, you were numb to the effects it caused. You sighed sadly, you did miss him though. Leta was graduating this year, you're going to have no friends left in this school, and how many years have you left? A lot.

You buried your head in the soft pillows, groaning away your frustrations. Soon, a knock came on your door, and you magicked it open. There stood Grindelwald, pale lips in a thin line and eyes scanning around your dirty teenage room, "Don't come down, sweetheart,"

He waved his wand and things in your room gathered themselves up, clothes folding themselves and being kept inside drawers, your books being shoved into their respective bookcases. "Vinda will bring you to town, I suppose you are in need of a few new clothes,"

You flipped to your backside, "Really?"

"Of course," he hummed with a smile, "Get dressed, won't you?"

He closed the door and you immediately rushed off to dress yourself. You slid on a dress and combed your hair, picking up your purse from the table and shoving your essentials inside. Wasn't a matter of time until your door swung open to show a smiling Rosier, "Ready, darling?"

"Absolutely," you smiled back. 

Two arms interlocked, you and her strutted down the stairs, bid your father farewell, and apparated to the town far, far away from Nurmengard Castle. Though, you were sure you heard someone scream for mercy the very second you left.

---

1915 December 16th

You were never the type to be skeptical about your father's works. Never. But just this once, you were, slightly. Screams that could only be heard when you were down in the kitchen, to be excused that someone was simply wounded by a falling item, or accidentally cut. You were never allowed out of your room when it was night, and you always had to go home for any breaks Hogwarts could give.

You sneaked over one of the corners of the castle, looking over and there, your eyes locked with a chained, gagged man, eyes wide and tear-stained. You gasped, eyes trailing down his body---bruised, bloodied, scarred. He began screaming, though muffled, yet loud. You gasped, backing away and ran into your room. You hid under your blanket, eyes closed while you desperately tried to fall asleep, to forget what you just saw.

---

1916 January 28th

You couldn't shake that image of that poor man in your mind. You breathed shakily, biting on your nails nervously as you stared into the distance. No-one was there to comfort you, to snap you out of your trance and you hated it so much. A hand was soon placed on your shoulder and you, startled, looked up to the source of the sudden uncomfortable comfort. It was Professor Dumbledore.

"Professor," you choked, "Hello,"

"Are you alright, Ms. [L/N]?" he asked worriedly, "You're nervous,"

"I, I'm alright, I'm fine, I think," you breathed, "Yeah, I'm fine,"

"Clearly you are not, would you like to go on a walk with me?" he offered, retracting his hand. You nodded shakily, standing up and almost stumbling. He brought you over to the courtyard, and there, he began once more, "What's wrong?"

"...I think he really is dangerous," you whimpered, "My father," 

"Grindelwald," he corrected.

"The man I call father," you said.

"And how did you find out?" he asked.

"I saw a man, he was in one of the rooms, all chained up and all that, and he was gagged and he was---he was---" you stammered, unable to find the words for the horrific scene you witnessed a few weeks back. It was...at the very least, unable to be described. Blood, dripping from each of the scars, some were still fresh and some were re-opened, and for a split second you could reminisce the metallic smell flooding into your nose, his ear-piercing muffled scream.

"...And does he know?" the professor inquired.

"My father's a smart man, he probably knows already, but he's just letting me off the hook because he thinks I don't know anything and I really don't, why is he doing this?" you asked, frowning.

"Because long ago, I made a pact with him," said he, "And now, he's fufilling it,"

"Alright, I'll let Headmaster Dippet know---it's alright, because you'll be safe here," he continued, "I'll tell you what to do tomorrow, pack your things because I already have a plan in mind and I want you to follow regardless of which the Headmaster says,"

---

1916 January 29th

Morning, yet no-one was awake. Why is that? It was 7 in the damn morning of course no-one would be awake. Yet you were, with your briefcase packed and everything, standing in front of the Hogwarts Express train. Professor Dumbledore was there to see you off, and he had handed you a little charm.

"Just a good luck charm," he said. "We can only help you till so far, so I hope you'll help yourself in America---you'll be going to Ilvermorny, the professors and headmaster there has crafted a little excuse as to why you weren't seen before, so you'll fare well,"

You nodded, "And what about fath---Grindelwald?"

"We'll deal with him, for now, you do what you need to do," the train arrived and he ushered you on. You stepped on, waving goodbye to him and the vehicle chuffed off without any second wasted.

---

1916 February 16th

It took you days to get to America, with all the cab-taking, the train-waiting and the boats---it took more than a day, most definitely. But, you were far away from London where Grindelwald can't find you, and even more far away from Austria. Thus starts your life as an 'American'.

Chapter Text

"[Y/N]!" shouted Newt, "[Y/N]!"

You were snapped back to reality by his voice, and with a cracking voice, you answered, "YES?!"

"WON'T YOU COME OUT?!" he shouted, "WE'RE GOING TO PARIS!"

You squinted your eyes, whispering a mad, "Paris?" before responding to him, "WHY?!"

"TINA'S IN PARIS!" he had a hand stretched out, "COME ON NOW!"

You huffed, placing Poppy back into the tree before scrambling over to him and accepting his outstretched hand, climbing out of the suitcase. "And?" you asked.

"Queenie's gone to find her," he said, "Will you help?"

You arched a brow, but suddenly reminded yourself you could go back to work again. So where's the harm in agreeing?

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" you smiled and he seemed to have stopped functioning then and there. It took him a while to suddenly shake his head and nod, "Thank you, very much, I really don't know where I would've gone without you, I mean, thank you,"

You stared confusedly, chuckling at his plight before you accio-d your coat over. Newt tucked in a little postcard in the crevice of a chest, and you three set off immediately.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

"Jacob, that man Tina's been seeing-" Newt began, but Jacob cut him off, "Don't worry, she's gonna see you and she'll see the five of us together, it'll just be like New York all over again, don't worry about it,"

"Yes, but he's an Auror, Queenie said," the tall brunette said, his hand suddenly holding your hand that wasn't holding his suitcase. You sighed, trying to tug your arm away but he didn't budge, instead he held you tighter.

"Yeah, he's an Auror, so what?" retorted the shorter one, "Don't worry about him,"

"What do you think I should say to her if I see her?" he asked, pursing his lips.

"Oh, well, it's best not to plan these things," said Jacob, "You know, you just say whatever comes to you in the moment,"

"She has eyes just like a salamander," you held back a laugh, choking slightly at his choice of words.

"Don't say that," you giggled, and he looked at you with a smile.

"And you have eyes like a Bowtruckle," he whispered and you felt your face flare up, his continuing sentence didn't cease the burning flame in your heart either, "I love Bowtruckles,"

"Look, you just tell her that you missed her," you said, softening yourself.

"Right," Newt's face was fixated on yours.

"Right, and then you came all the way to Paris just to find her," you continued, "She'll love that,"

"And then," you pondered for a bit, "Tell her you're losing sleep at night, for thinking of her and...just don't say nothing about no salamanders, alright?"

"Okay," he nodded and you repeated, "Okay,"

"Hey, hey, hey," You stopped, turning Newt over to you and you stroked his cheek, "It's gonna be alright,"

"Jacob and you are in this together," you smiled fondly, "Okay, he's gonna help you out, he's gonna help you find Teenie, find Queenie, and we'll all be happy again, just like old times,"

"Who is this guy?" asked Jacob, pointing at the man on the boat.

You and Newt looked over, the man you had in your arms immediately explaining, "Oh, he's the only way I can leave the country without documentation,"

"Now, you don't suffer from motion sickness, do you?" he asked you, specifically you and you eyed his focus to Jacob. You three began making your way to the man with the pole and the bucket, the wind beginning to pick up.

"I don't do well on boats, Newt," Jacob huffed.

"You'll be fine," Newt answered.

"Stir your stumps, leaves in one minute," the man said, earning your attention.

He eyed Newt, "50 Galleons,"

"No, we said 30," Newt quickly shut him down.

"Uh-huh, 30 to go to France, 20 not to tell anyone I seen Newt Scamander leaving the country illegally," he said, and he smiled devilishly, "Price of fame, pal,"

You sighed, reaching into your pocket and pulling out a fistful of galleons.

"Wait, [Y/N], no-" you stopped Newt by simply shoving the money into the man's hands. He counted them swiftly, and hummed, "Ten seconds!"

"Eight," he counted.

"Jacob," Newt had his hand out.

"Seven," Jacob eyed Newt's palm suspiciously.

"Six," he took it.

The man hummed again, looking down to his bucket that was moving in its place. Newt held your hand even tighter, and you squeezed it as a form of reassurement.

"Four," he counted, "Three, two,"

"One," the man ended, and you stepped in, transporting you all to Paris. The last thing you heard, Jacob's loud, terrified scream.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

Ah, Paris. The chatter of frenchmen in their birth language, the overpowering scent of flowers and the lovely smell of freshly-baked pastries from various patisseries nearby. You enjoyed it, and the strong wind that day too. You hummed happily, closing your eyes and savouring the wind with your hands tucked behind. Your happy hum earned a delighted smile from none other than Newt.

"I didn't like that Portkey, Newt," said Jacob weakly, holding the bucket-portkey. He managed to grab Newt's attention effortlessly, with a continous complaint as that.

"So you keep saying," Newt huffed, his focus switching onto a police and an old lady talking, "Follow me,"

He climbed up the stairs to a statue of rusted bronze, pulling out his wand and whispering, "Confundus,"

The statue lifted its seemingly silky robes, letting Newt and you enter. Jacob stopped to watch and chuckle at the officer do weird tricks, but was ultimately dragged into the block by Newt.

"Come on," he said, "It'll wear off in a few minutes,"

The statue returned to its original posture and you three managed to enter the wizarding world part of Paris. You stepped down the stairs, Newt immediately charging at the street and setting his briefcase down. You slowly trailed behind, watching Jacob rush with him. He looked around, wand out and uttered, "Appare Vestigium,"

He turned a full 360, a swirling, golden, glittering smoke excreting from the tip of his wand. Jacob stepped back, you standing a nice distance away from the magic. He looked around before pointing his wand at his case, muttering, "Accio Niffler!"

Out popped one of those annoyingly adorable critters, the golden galleons in its pouch popping out. It desperately took some of it, stuffing it in its pocket.

"Get looking," Newt commanded, "Oi! Get looking!"

The Niffler abided by his order and scurried off in search of the older Goldstein sister. He then threw his wand at the brick floor, the wand simply standing in its place and not-so-suddenly, a swirl of gold was expelled from the very tip and let out an image.

"That's a Kappa," he said, looking at the picture of a creature raising its hand to pour something inside into its head, "That's a Japanese water demon,"

You strode over, watching as some gold from the image seperated from its main body into another moving image---Tina, strutting off with her wand.

"Tina?" he asked, moving slowly towards the moving image of his beloved. You pursed your lips, only following him.

His steps became quicker, wand in his mouth while he shouted, "Tina!"

His focus shifted over to the Niffler who had its face planted on the ground and sniffing out the scent, "What have you found?"

Newt spent no time in placing his pointer finger on the ground and bringing it up to his tongue to taste it---and you raised your eyebrows in 'what the fuck is going on but okay'. He dipped his head down low and licked the pavement, and you simply watched.

"And we're licking the dirt now," Jacob remarked, earning a light giggle from you.

Newt picked himself up and placed the tip of his wand into his ear. The handle turned into a giant ear and he listened---to each and every word that were inaudible to you and the rest of the wizards standing around you. He lifted his wand away and pointed it before him skeptically, "Revelio,"

He stood fully and you watched as something, a beast, presumably, form out of thin air.

"Newt, what made those?" asked Jacob.

"That is a Zouwu," you said, pointing at the half-transparent beast, "It's a Chinese creature,"

Newt stepped in front of the creature, "They're incredibly fast and incredibly powerful,"

You turned over and watched the Niffler rush into the streets and play around with the falling gold glitter, smiling slightly.

"They can travel 1,000 miles a day," he said, "And this one could take you from one part of Paris to the next in a single leap,"

A chitter from his Niffler and he turned, watching as it laid on its back and rubbed against the ground with golden footprints atop.

"Oh, good boy," he complimented. He ran over to where the final footprint was, where the Niffler was mostly rubbing its back against.

"Jacob, [Y/N], she was here," he said, "Tina stood here,"

You pocketed your hands, smiling at the two.

"She has incredibly narrow feet, have you noticed?" he stared down at the golden footprints.

"Can't say I have," you answered. He turned behind, to be greeted with an image of a dark-skinned man with a fedora on. It immediately disappeared and a feather flew down, Newt picking it up almost instantly after the image dissolved into thin air. He twirled it around before he placed it before his nose and smelled it.

Jacob had his nose scrunched up in disgust and you, you were just enjoying whatever given in front of you. Newt threw it up and said, "Avensegium,"

The feather flew, and zig-zagged around.

"Alright, follow that feather," Newt said, searching the streets.

"What?" Jacob asked.

"Jacob, follow the feather," Newt said again.

"Follow the feather," Jacob shrugged and followed the feather.

Newt did a 360 in his place, "Where is he? Ah!"

"Accio Niffler," he said, and the Niffler was taken from its rightful place---on top of a shiny piece. It was brought into Newt's suitcase and he picked up the suitcase immediately. He looked over at you and without hesitating, took your hand in his and charged towards the flying feather.

Jacob, confused, attempted to follow up when Newt shouted, "Drop the bucket!"

He did as told and ran with Newt and you, the bucket disappearing on sight.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

Sitting near Newt with your lips pressed into a thin line, you watched as multiple frenchmen walk past the cafe you three sat at. Newt looked down at the feather trapped in a glass, before his attention was grabbed by you. No words were shared for a while, since he just wanted to absorb you in. You, were so beautiful to him. And you had been for so, so long and he was torn, he knew you looked familiar but he didn't know who you were.

It was odd, he was admiring Tina and yet when it came to you he would melt right then and there if he could. When you smiled, he wanted to stroke your cheeks and place a kiss anywhere on you. You, even after that drastic change of your cheery personality to your current cold, forlorn one, he still found you utterly beautiful.

"So, how's uh...travelling been doing for you?" he asked.

"Doing quite well, honestly I've only been to Paris and nowhere else," you hummed, "But work had me cooped up there so Lestrange offered me to a vacation to London, missed it there,"

"I see," he fiddled with his fingers, "You...uh...how did you come to know Dumbledore?"

"Work," you shrugged, "In a sense,"

"I missed you," he suddenly said, grabbing Jacob's attention, "I really have,"

You smiled, and he felt his heart quicken. "I missed you too," and he swore he could've fainted from his bubbling blood then and there.

Soon, the footsteps of a certain someone alerted you all. Jacob was quick to ask, "Is that the guy we're looking for?"

"Yes," Newt replied.

He tilted open the glass disk, the feather flying over to the man's hat and tucking itself. Newt stood quickly, blocking the man's path and Jacob followed suit, "Sorry,"

"Bonjour," he greeted, "Bonjour Monsieur,"

The man nodded with an awkward smile and Newt quickly stepped over to block his path again, "Oh, wait, no---sorry, so we actually-"

"We were just wondering if you've come across a friend of ours," you stepped away from your seat and walked over to the boys, "Tina Goldstein,"

"Madame, Paris is a large city," the man answered.

"She's an Auror," you said, "And when Aurors go missing...well, the Ministry tend to come looking, so..."

"No, I suppose it would probably be better if we just report her absence," you turned to Newt.

"Is she tall?" asked the man, "Dark? Rather..."

"Intense-" Jacob was cut off by you, "Beautiful,"

You looked over at Newt, and he looked away.

"Yeah," Jacob said, "what I meant to say was...no, she's very, very pretty,"

"She's intense too," Newt said.

"I think I saw someone like this last night," the man peered between the three of you, "Perhaps if I showed you where,"

"If you wouldn't mind, that would be..." Newt looked over to Jacob, and Jacob gave a nod, he continued, "That'd be lovely,"

"Sure," the man nodded.

The man urged for you three to follow and you all did, blindly followed the man to the fucking underground sewage system, that is. It was dark and reeked of various things you couldn't make out of. Your eyes were immediately caught with the sight of Tina sleeping on the ground.

She gasped, standing up and Newt too, was startled. This where the lovers reunite, I guess.

"Tina," he breathed, and Jacob saluted, You simply stood there, glancing at your feet.

"Newt, [Y/N]," she answered.

"Expelliarmus," that spell was casted off guard. You and Newt's wand had been flown over to him, the man who led you three underground.

"My apologies, Mr. Scamander, Ms. [L/N], I shall return and release you once Credence is dead," he apologized.

"Kama, wait," Tina huffed.

"You see, either he dies, or I do," Kama said, before he muttered, "No, no, no..."

"Oh, no, no, no, no," he repeated, holding his eye pain before he fell down onto the dirty ground.

"Well, that's not the best start to a rescue attempt," Newt joked and you let out a small chuckle, "You don't say,"

"Oh, this was a rescue attempt?" snapped Tina, "You just lost me my only lead,"

"Well, how was the interrogation going before we turned up?" Newt asked.

Jacob suddenly squealed, earning your attention and you ran to him. Turns out Pickett had picked the lock to the door.

"Newt!" you called, rushing up the stairs and to Kama.

You felt his body, pulling out Tina's wand and picking up you and Newt's.

"Well done, Pick," you heard Newt compliment before you handed him his wand.

"So, you need this man you said?" Newt crouched down to the presumed dead man.

"Yeah," Tina said, looking down at him, "I think he knows where Credence is, Mr. Scamander,"

Suddenly, a loud bellow took all of your attention and Newt smiled, "Well that'll be that Zouwu,"

You all stood and charged out of the place, Jacob staggering behind as he was tasked to bring Kama up as well.

"[Y/N], you and I are gonna have a long talk after this," Tina hissed, prolonging the 'o' in long, to which you rolled your eyes, "Yeah, yeah, whatever,"

Upon reaching the surface, you watched as the Zouwu thrashed about, scaring the denizens of Paris and crashing into cars, buildings, the creature roaring angrily. Tina stood aside, watching the havoc. Newt quickly turned around and set his suitcase down, taking out a toy.

"C'mon, Newt, [Y/N], get outta there!" shouted Jacob, and you, somehow trapped with the Hufflepuff, nervously and scaredly glanced over to Jacob.

He held you close, immensely close---his hand intertwined with yours pressing you against his body to ensure your safety. The tail of the Zouwu encircled you two momentarily, the beast instantly whipping around curiously. It roared, and Newt instantly whipped out the jingling toy. He jingled it more, looking over at the beast, that purred the very second it caught eye with the cat toy.

Newt moved it to the side, the beast following, and he jingled it. He moved it side to side, jingling it the very second he stopped. Slowly, he moved from his case and dropped the cat toy, the Zouwu rushing after it and once it was fully inside, the case clicked itself close. You felt everyone's eyes on you, and suddenly, a light flashed on his hand, forming the same card Dumbledore gave him.

The gold mark appeared on the card surface again and pointed Northeast, Newt and you sighing listlessly before he pulled you along with him. Tina rushed in, your hand taking Jacob and Jacob's with Kama's, Newt shouted, "Come on!" before apparating away.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

A house, dusty as it is, is still what you had to make do with. You were down in Newt's suitcase with him whereas Tina opted to stay upstairs with Jacob. You stood behind while you watched Newt get helplessly thrown across the ground by the Zouwu. He curled into a ball, the beast using its claw to hook onto his jacket and bring him up to look at him.

"Hey, Newt, buddy, [Y/N]," Jacob called out, "Tina's up here, she's all by her lonesome and maybe you want to come up and keep her company?"

"I've been looking for food and I ain't found any, so uh, I'm gonna go upstairs and try my luck in the, oh, I don't know, the attic," he finished and that was the last you've heard from him...for now.

Slowly, you moved forward and your hand grasped the handle, a lock to the chains circled around the Zouwu's body, whispering, "You're alright,"

"Relashio," you uttered, and the chains fell, the collar falling down with its supports. The beast's eyes widened, magic surging through its veins as its body returned to its former magical form.

It let go of Newt and you quickly went to help the latter. He helped himself up and you patted his shoulder, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," he answered, "I'm okay,"

"You alright?" he asked, stroking your cheek lovingly.

You placed your hand over his, "It's nothing I can't handle,"

He smiled, placing a chaste kiss on your temple, "That's great,"

A silence was formed, you and him doing nothing but looking into eachother's eyes. He smiled, "You remind me of someone but I just don't know who,"

"Maybe think a little bit deeper, who is it that I remind you of?" you uttered breathlessly, eyes softening.

He pulled you in, "I'm not sure, but I know I loved her a lot,"

"One of your beasts, maybe?" you inquired, your other hand pressed onto his chest.

"Your eyes," he said, "They're so...firey, so...lightening, I don't know what it is, it's everything...and it reminds me of..."

"And it reminds you of?" you muttered with a smile.

"Someone I used to know, I loved..." he stopped and leaned in to catch your lips but alas, Jacob's sudden shout snapped both of you out of the love trance you caught eachother in.

Heavy steps that slowly disappeared indicated that Kowalski was gone, just as you and Newt came out of the case. Tina looked at you, who was already out of the case and Newt, who was climbing out. He pointed down, "She's responded well to the Dittany,"

"She was born to run, you see," said Newt, "But I think she's just lacking in confidence,"

Tina closed her book and stood, looking away from both of you, "Mr. Scamander, have you got anything in your case that might help revive this man?"

"I need to question him," she was now fully facing Newt, "I think he knows who Credence really is and the scars on his hand suggest an-"

"Unbreakable vow," you three said in unision.

"Yeah, I noticed that too," Newt huffed, returning back to his suitcase. Now, it was just the two of you.

"Why didn't you tell me you resigned from being an Auror, [Y/N]?" she asked, sternly.

"I didn't wanna worry you," you replied.

"You worried me with a half a year trip to Paris that when asked to Madam President she said it wasn't for MACUSA affairs!" she scolded, "What were you doing in Paris?"

"It's crucial for the current case," you simply answered.

"I don't know," she uttered, "It seems to me you're just going to meet with your father,"

"Just refer to him as Grindelwald," you sighed.

"He's your father," she said, "He raised you and you confided in him,"

"But he isn't anymore now is he," you looked back at her, "I left him, I ran away from him, because he's a bad person and I, don't want anyone to affiliate me with him anymore,"

She kept quiet from your stern say, and there was a deafening silence before she broke it.

"You could've sent a postcard," she uttered.

"I didn't want any of you to know," you simply answered, "This is family drama, after all, no point in getting strangers in it,"

Newt came out with a green glass bottle, handing it to Tina. She went over to Kama, popped open the cork and let him have a whiff of it. He shuddered, returning active and Newt mumbled, "Lumos,"

You pulled open his eyelids and a small, disgusting tentacle-y parasite squirmed out of the bottom eyelid. Tina winced, "What was that?"

"There must be a water dragon in that sewer," Newt said, "They carry these parasites, you see, they, um..."

"Jacob," he called out.

"Yeah?" answered Jacob.

"In my case, in the pocket there, you'll find a pair of tweezers," Newt said, to which Jacob answered with confusion, "Tweezers?"

"They're thin, pointy-" you cut him off, "Little pointy things,"

Newt shot you a glance, to which you smiled at. He bashfully looked back onto the fainted man.

"Yes, I know what Tweezers are," Jacob scoffed, reaching in to take a pair of tweezers from Newt's case's pocket and handed it to Newt.

"Alright, you might not want to watch this," he said to you, but you nonchalantly replied, "I can handle it,"

Newt held his wand in his mouth and using his dominant hand, he held the tweezers and picked up the parasite. "Come out," he said weakly, fighting the enormous strength the parasite put into latching onto Kama's eye.

"Come on, you're alright," he said, you turning around with your eyes closed.

"Ew," Jacob groaned.

"Come on, I got you," Newt managed to get the long, disgusting parasite out of Kama's eye. It wriggled about, Newt handing it to Jacob, "Jacob will you take that for me?"

Jacob, reluctantly, took ahold of the tweezer that held the writhing sycophant, groaned, "Calamari,"

You helped Kama up, Newt removing his wand from his lips. Kama rasped, "Must kill him,"

"Who?" asked Tina, "Credence?"

But before Kama can continue, he passed out from exhaustion. Newt huffed, "It may take him a few hours to recover, that parasite's poison is quite strong,"

Tina stood, picking up her coat and wearing it, "I have to go back to the Ministry with what I've got,"

"It's nice to see you two again, Mr. Scamander, [Y/N]," she said, charging out the front door.

"Hey, hey, hold on a second, will ya?" asked Jacob, chasing after Tina, "Well, hold on, hold on,"

He turned around to look at Newt and you for a split second, "Wait! Tina!"

Newt stood there nervously and you simply looked out the window, Jacob approaching Newt and with a look for clarification, he asked, "You didn't mention salamanders, did you?"

You chuckled, "He did,"

"To her," Newt added, pointing to you, "I didn't to Tina, she just ran, I don't know,"

"So you chase after her!" Jacob said through gritted teeth, voice wavery of disappointment and exhaustion of Newt's hopeless antics.

Newt spent no time in taking his suitcase and was about to charge out when he stopped and looked at you. You raised an eyebrow, "I'm supposed to follow?"

"Tina might want you close, probably," he said, and Jacob huffed. You shrugged, taking your coat and swinging it on.

He held your hand and you both bolted out the door, running after Tina.

Chapter Text

"Teenie, please, won't you listen to Newt?" you rushed after her, hand patting on the latter's shoulder. She stopped slightly just to look at you but her face contorted into one you could not figure out before speeding away, shrugging your hand off her shoulder.

"[Y/N], I need to go talk to the Ministry," she said, visibly upset at Newt but not you, "I know how he feels about Aurors,"

Newt caught up, forcing himself in between you and Tina. He huffed, "I may have been a little strong in the way that I expressed myself in that letter,"

"What was the exact phrase?" she inquired angrily, " 'A bunch of careerist hypocrites' ?"

"I'm sorry but I can't really admire people whose answer to everything that they fear or misunderstand is 'kill it'," he explained, earning a very upset frown from you. Though you were no longer an Auror, it still hurt you nonetheless. But you could see where he was coming from.

"I'm an Auror and I don't!" Tina said, her hands outstretched to exaggerate her sentence.

"Yes, I know, that's because you've gone middle head!" Newt tried to reason, only stopping when she did. She looked at him, angry, sad, and in disbelief of his words, "Excuse me?"

"It's an expression derived from the three heads of the Runespoor," he explains, looking away nervously as to avoid her eyes, "So the middle one is visionary,"

You sighed audibly, squeezing yourself in his place and pushing him away, "He means that every Auror in Europe wants Credence dead, except for you, you've gone...middle head,"

Tina had her arms crossed, eyes glancing at the two of you in utter disbelief. "Who else uses that expression, Mr. Scamander?" she asked, her eyes moving towards Newt who was looking away.

He hesitated for a slight moment, before answering to her question, "I think it might just be me,"

She smiled at his seemingly childish answer, before looking up to the grey sky. A black, satin-like smoke flew past you three, snatching your attention swiftly. You looked around, before walking to the middle of the road. Tina and Newt followed suit, only looking at you curiously.

"It's Grindelwald," you said, "He's calling his followers,"

The smoke covered each corners, each building of Paris, eventually reaching up to the sky. You turned around, watching as they all flew towards the same direction.

"It's too late," you muttered, "Grindelwald has come for Credence,"

"He might already have him," continued Tina, but Newt was quick to comfort her.

"It's not too late," he said, looking at his surroundings, "We can still get to him first,"

He held your hand, much to your surprise, and pulled you along while he sped towards the pavement. Tina followed, asking, "Where are you going?"

"The French Ministry of Magic," he replied.

"That's the last place Credence would go!" she said, confused at him.

"There's a box hidden in the Ministry, Tina," you utter, "It's a box that can tell us who Credence really is,"

Newt halted in his steps, looking at you in absolute shock that you would know about this secret. You nervously avoided his gaze, retrieving your hand from his and folding it on top of your other hand.

"A box? What are you talking about?" she asked, eyebrows furrowed.

"Trust me," you whispered, turning around and speeding away.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

The stride was long, since, well, you were quite far away from Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France, but it was fine. You were content and entertained with the various questions Tina whispered to you. The streets of Paris, always so entertaining. You swore you've walked past countless of couples sat at two-person round tables in a cafe, fantasizing of eachother.

"[Y/N], I have a few questions," Tina suddenly asked, earning your impatient answer, "What is it?"

"Why are you searching for Grindelwald now?" she inquired.

"I have business with him," you responded.

"What was the reason behind us not seeing you in first to fourth grade?" she asked.

"And that will be none of your business," you chimed, smiling sarcastically at her, "I'm sure you'll get your answers sooner or later, just not from me,"

"Why not?" she stopped and you, standing before her, smiled.

"What I'll be doing will require me being gone for a long, long time," you turned, and strutted away, the two speeding after you.

The many other questions about your statement thrown by Tina was no longer answered by you, the only replies being blatant hums. Sooner or later, you both reached the Wallace Fountain at Place de Furstemburg, hiding in a tunnel behind the fountain. You three watched as roots from the surrounding dirt patches clambered out and surrounded the fountain as it chimed, accepting in the wizarding visitors walking in.

"The box is in the Ancestral Records room, Tina, Newt," you said, "So it's three floors down,"

Newt, as if knowing the risks of infiltrating the Ministry's strongholds, placed down his suitcase. He reached into his coat and pulled out a potion bottle.

"Is that polyjuice?" you asked.

"It's just enough to get me inside," he replied.

He popped open the cork and in a split second, threw his head down and drank the concoction. He twitched and grunted, withstanding the effects of the potion with much effort. It took him a while, but he soon took the appearance of his brother, Theseus Scamander. Tina looked confusedly with her hands crossed, "Who?"

"It's my brother Theseus," Newt answered, looking out, "He's an Auror, and a hugger,"

You took his suitcase and you two left the tunnel, walking towards the entrance. The vines did its magic, the fountain as well, and you three magicked into the holds of the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France. Your hand and his were tangled once more, Newt nervously looking up only to lock eyes with his brother, who was looking down at the three of you. He soon bolted away to get to the three of you, but Newt quickened his pace away.

"I don't suppose you can disapparate on Ministry premises in France, can you?" he asked, looking at you.

"Nope," you answered, looking as nervous as he.

He began to struggle, you looking at him worriedly.

"Pity," he said, struggling against the effects of the potion he consumed a few minutes ago.

"Newt!" you whisper-shouted, worried for him.

"Yes, I know, I know it's..." he stopped before a pillar, where a poster of him was plastered on. The announcement blared with news in French, one you couldn't understand but knew it was about Newt infiltrating the premises of the Ministère des Affaires Magiques de la France.

"Newt, [Y/N]!" you heard Theseus shout, and you yelped. Newt held your hand tighter, dashing away with Tina following beside.

"Newt, [Y/N]!" his words echoed through the halls.

"Oh!" Newt uttered, turning sideways to look at Theseus before turning back and running in full speed.

"That's your brother?" Tina asked.

"So I think I may have mentioned in my letters that we have quite a complicated relationship," he panted, the sprinting tiring him quickly.

"Newt, [Y/N], stop!" Theseus shouted, earning a scared yelp from you. Getting yourself into illegal things didn't scare you, but being caught by the Ministry sure as hell does. Newt huffed, looking at you before picking you up bridal-style and sprinting with newfound strength, obviously the idea of his brother catching him...or you, in that matter.

"Does he want to kill you?" Tina asked.

"Frequently," Newt answered, running in between the gap of two trolleys.

"Enough!" Theseus shouted, casting a spell at the trolley piled with books towards you three. You, Newt and Tina pulled out your wands and casted a shield charm, parrying the attack. The books floated around the three of you, stopped by the charm you three placed.

"He needs to control his temper," Tina hissed, pointing her wand and casting the knockback jinx on Theseus. He was thrown back, onto a chair that somehow was there, and had his hands tied back by another charm casted by Tina. You watched as Theseus rolled into an office, visibly struggling.

"I think that might have been the best moment of my life," Newt said in awe and you smiled at him. Oh, the two lovers were flourishing. Tina smiled happily at his statement, chuckling lightly before turning and running with him. You tapped on his arm, indicating that he could let go now but he was reluctant.

"Newt," you scolded playfully.

"I'm not letting you down," he returned, frowning, "Your feet must be killing you,"

"In that case I can take off my boots and-" you were cut off with him frowning.

"Then it'll hurt your soles," he was very insistent.

You sighed, "Fine,"

Tina was trying her very best to avoid this little lover's quarrel between you two, averting her gaze to the walls passing by every so often. You three eventually came to a halt, you giving him another tap and he finally let you down, albeit unwillingly. In front of you three was a rather old lady, smiling as she asked, "Puis-je vous aider?"

"Yes, this is Leta Lestrange," He points to you, and continued, "And, uh, I'm her---"

"Fiance," Tina finished.

The lady seemed more and more doubtful as the conversation carried on. She stared at you three, "Et l'autre fille?"

"My cousin," you smiled.

"Allez-y," she said, still doubting you three.

"Thank you," you, Newt and Tina muttered and left to the record room.

The woman pressed a button and the door swung open, the three of you entering.

"Tina, about that fiancee business," Newt whispered.

"Oh, sorry, yeah, I should have congratulated you," she answered.

"No, that's-" you began but she cut you off with a chant, "Lumos,"

A ball of light formed at the very tip of her wand, luminating the room and revealed acres of shelves, intricately carved and designed to look like trees holding records; many a rolls of parchment and few prophecies, trunks and boxes containing secrets unknown to others but not to the inhabitants of the family that held it.

"Lestrange," Tina whispered, and the ball of light detatched from her wand and drifted past a few shelves, making a smooth turn into one of the rows. Then, it left the row and went to the one next to it, as if unclear of where it was meant to go.

Newt scoffed, "Tina, about Leta-"

"Yes, I've just said I am happy for you," Tina scowled through gritted teeth.

"No, well, I don't---please, don't be happy," He said, Tina looking at him weirdly.

They both turned to face eachother, Newt being the first to talk, "No, no, sorry, I don't-"

He hesitated, "Obviously, I-"

He dropped his wand, him leaning down and picking it up, "Obviously, I want you to be...And I hear that you are now, which is wonderful,"

"Sorry, what I'm trying to say is, I want you to be happy," he said finally, "But I don't want you to be happy that I'm happy, because I'm not,"

She furrowed her eyebrows, looking at him sadly as she slowly tilted her head from confusion.

"Happy," he finished.

She looked at the rows of shelves, ready to speak but he cut her off, "Or engaged,"

She looked even more confused, "What?"

"It was a mistake in a stupid magazine," he said, "My brother's marrying Leta, June the 6th, I'm supposed to be best man, which is...sort of mildly hilarious,"

"Does he think you're here to win her back?" she asked, choking back tears while she walked towards him, "Are you here to win her back?"

"No, I'm here..." he began, "You know, your eyes really are..."

You couldn't listen in anymore, you turned on your heel and left to the ball of light, but their voices seemed to echo through the room and you could hear it so, so clearly. The more you listened, the more you swore you could fall to your knees and cry, no matter how awkward or how unfit the situation was, you wanted to throw yourself somewhere, anywhere, far, far away from those two. Disappear from their lives, let them live their well-deserved, loving life where they would marry and have children.

"Are what?" you heard Tina ask, stopping right before the ball of light.

"I'm not supposed to say," he stammered, "I cut a picture of you-"

"Newt, I read your book and-" they both said in unision, but stopping quickly.

"Wait, did you read-" he asked, in unision of her, "Did you?"

You watched the ball of light float up, to god knows where and signifying, you're going to be stuck here listening to their stupid lover's talk and you're going to have to hold your heart in just like when Leta had a schoolgirl crush on Newt. You bit your lip, awkwardly standing there while you listened in on their conversation.

"I cut this, um," he stuttered, bringing out a folded, grey picture, "I mean, it's just a picture of you from the paper,"

He showed it to her, "But it's interesting 'cause your eyes, in the newsprint...see, in reality, they have this effect in them, Tina, it's like...it's like fire in water, dark water,"

He hesitated, "And I've only ever seen that...I've only ever seen that in..."

"Salamanders," she finished, and you choked out a quiet sob. Oh, fuck you. Fuck you, and your dumb, useless schoolgirl crush on this man, who doesn't deserve you, you're better off with someone better than him, someone kind, compassionate, sweet, loyal, hard-working, now you're just describing him, him, who...you don't deserve. Tina deserves him. She always has. It's you who doesn't deserve him. You bit your lip, tearing the skin and it bled, the pain unrelentless yet you took it as a stroke of comfort.

Something fell outside, taking your tear-filled eyes' attention. It seemed to have taken their attention too, seeing as Tina immediately grabbed his arm, "Come," and had him follow her into one of the rows.

"Lestrange," you heard Leta said, the shelves immediately rearranging themselves. Yet, you simply stood there, the shelves moving at every side of you and you let it happen. Who cares if you get caught now? But soon, you snapped back to reality and charged into one of the rows. You were seperated from Tina and Newt, hm.

You came face-to-face with one, and you climbed onto it as a last-minute idea. It moved, and you climbed onto one---the other side? Newt and Tina. It drifted upwards towards Leta, the lady dressed in dark pink satin immediately catching you.

"[Y/N]?" she said, "What are you doing here?"

"Don't ask, please, help me up," you answered, the older girl helping you up without much thinking done.

"You're back in Paris, working again?" she asked, "And illegally infiltrating the Ministry again?"

"Yep, mhm, what I always do," your voice wavered, your hand moving to your face and wiping your tears.

"What happened? Why are you-" she questioned, but you cut her off.

"Don't, just do whatever you need to do and I'll be off," you said.

She turned back to the empty section, retrieving a letter that was in it instead of the record. She flipped it open, reading aloud the contents, "Records moved to Lestrange Family Tomb at Pere Lachaise,"

She closed it back, looking back up to the record shelf but was greeted by Pickett, peeking out. Leta looked at it blandly, before chanting, "Circumrota,"

The shelf moved, revealing Tina and Newt.

"You brought friends along your little mission, [Y/N]?" she inquired playfully.

You hummed in response, playing along.

"Hello, Newt," she greeted.

Newt looked back, eyes locking with yours but you shied away quicker than Pickett when he was caught. He hesitated before greeting her, "Hello, Leta,"

Tina looked back as well, seeking for your comfort but you didn't reciprocate. Leta looked between the two of them, Tina finally saying, "Hi,"

All of a sudden, you heard a growl from behind you and Leta, the two of you looking back quickly. The old lady from before emerged with three Matagots, snarling as they approached you all. "Oh no," you heard Newt utter.

Leta twiddled with her wand, turning around and facing them fully, you doing nothing and simply following her. "What kind of cats are those?" asked Tina, terrified at the big-eyed cat-lookalikes.

"Oh, these aren't cats, they're Matagots," Newt answered, "They, uhm, spirit familiars,"

"They---guard the Ministry," he finished, "But they won't hurt you unless you-"

"Stupefy!" shouted Leta. A flash of light erupted from the tip of her wand, charging at the Matagot in the middle. As soon as the spell and the spirit familiar came in contact, it seperated into three more with an unearthly scream.

"Unless you hurt them," you finished for Newt, already knowing that he was smiling proudly at you but not now, you were going through some emotions.

The Matagot screeched angrily at Leta. "Oops," Leta chimed, and you swore you really could fall down and cry any minute now.

"Leta, [Y/N]!" Newt shouted, Leta and you hopping over the railing. Tina held Leta's arm while Newt held yours.

"Reverte!" Leta chanted, the shelf turning on its own and soon, the whole room of records was moving alongside it.

The Matagot that charged after you and Leta was slapped away by one of the moving shelves that took the Lestrange family shelf's place. Soon enough, you all jumped down the shelf and Newt took you in his arms once more. You sighed shakily, "Let me down, Newt,"

He didn't answer. You repeated, "Newton, let me dow-"

Your sentence wasn't finished due to him, placing a chaste, quick kiss on your forehead. He muttered, "Absolutely not, I don't want you tripping on your heels and falling, Merlin knows what those Matagots will do to you, and I don't want you dirtying your feet running on these grounds bare-footed,"

You kept quiet, looking at your hands that were sweaty and without you realizing it, picking on each finger's skin. Eventually you all came to a halt, standing in front of one of the shelves and soon being surrounded by many others. This temporary defense seemed to work, seeing as the Matagots were temporarily stopped.

"Into my suitcase, come on now," he said, placing the case down and clicking it open. Leta and Tina went in first, then you, then Newt. He clicked it shut and charged over to the Zouwu habitat after ordering for Leta, Tina and you to stay. You reluctantly obeyed him, Tina and Leta following you. Resting in his shed, Leta couldn't help but ask, "Is this your friend, [Y/N]?"

"Yeah," you replied, "From Ilvermorny,"

Leta was pressed against one of the shed's tables, Tina looking out the window whereas you, like Leta, was pressed against one of the tables. Tina's eyes were on you, an awkward attempt to avoid Leta's gaze. There was a silence, oddly enough deafening, burning with curiousity as to why you've infiltrated the Ministry before, and as to why you knew this strange woman.

"So, [Y/N], care to tell me who...?" Tina asked, fully facing you two.

"Leta Lestrange," you answered her, "She's a friend of mine,"

"From?" she asked, again.

"Past," you simply answered.

"Past where?" she questioned, getting impatient.

"It's not my place to tell you," you hummed, crossing your arms and looking away from her.

She sighed, looking back at the window. Leta glanced between you two, before opening her mouth, "[Y/N]-"

She was cut off by a loud roar, and you bolted out the front door. Tina and Leta was right behind you, eyes darting across the vast artificial land, reluctant to leave but only followed when you ran towards the direction of the bellow. You eventually stopped, pulling away the curtains to reveal the beautiful Zouwu habitat. A light shone from above, not there for long as the case suddenly shut, gone like the Zouwu that inhabited the habitat.

"Oh, boy," you muttered, leaning on one leg and your hands on your hips. You heard something roar, and suddenly the chant of an all too familiar spell, "Ascendio!"

"Well, what do you want to do while Newt's doing his stuff?" you asked, looking at the girls boredly. They both shrugged, but Tina seemed to have a question to ask.

"That doesn't involve what I cannot say," you furrowed your eyebrows, and her idea faded.

"Ooh, I've only remembered it now, but you have to tell us what Newt and you did last time, during December!" she chimed, "2nd year December, if I recall! What happened?"

"It was so long ago," you said quietly, blushing furiously.

"Wait, you knew Newt before?" Tina asked, confused.

"Well, yeah, she went to Hogwarts before!" Leta smiled, "I swear, Newt was always so protective of her, no-one could even approach without him glaring at a distance,"

"Why?" Tina asked, leaving the habitat and walking towards the shed with you and Leta.

"Newt said she was like a little sister to her when she was in 1st year, and in 2nd year too, but I was suspicious of it," Leta said, "No matter when and where, after classes, during change period, Christmas Holidays at Hogwarts...they'd always be together!"

"One time, it was Christmas Holiday, right, and [Y/N] here was sending us off to our trip to Hogsmeade," she continued, "Newt ditched the trip, actively ditching me as well, just to accompany [Y/N]---he said he didn't want her to feel lonely or something---in fact, he'd ditch every Hogsmeade trip if he could just to 'keep [Y/N] company',"

Tina eyed you and Leta smirked, "Keeping you company...more like chasing off the 2nd years who wanted to ask you out,"

You blushed, "That was so long ago, Leta..."

"Yeah, but I remember it as clear as day!" she scowled playfully, "He even bought a bunch of Chocoballs, sugar quills and pumpkin pasties because she said they were her favourite, everytime we went to Hogsmeade, just to gift it to her!"

"Stop..." you whined, burying your red face in your hands.

"Woe is me, in between a couple everyday," she sighed, giggling soon after.

"Oh, please..." you bit your lip.

You three got to the shed, Tina sitting on the stool while you stood with Leta. You dug your nails into your skin, looking away bashfully.

"One time during Christmas holidays, [Y/N] stayed back with us at Hogwarts and we were in the Great Hall, revising for our upcoming exam," she said, "[Y/N]'s hands were freezing, she didn't say it, but Newt knew because 'her hands were pale---extremely pale'---and he took her hands, 'warming them up for her', he says,"

"Oh, please!" you shrieked, "We were young! He said I was like a little sister to him!"

"Clearly he doesn't think that anymore," chimed Leta.

"He still does, he's still protective of me, and I-" Tina cut you off with a question, "Why didn't you recognize him at first, when I brought him in?"

You were shut up pretty damn quickly, honestly. You pursed your lips, "I forgot, I didn't reach into my old memories as soon as I graduated from Ilvermorny, I forgot about Leta, and Newt, and everything else until he came back---he looked familiar, yes, but I didn't know, I couldn't recall, I didn't want to, but the second I saw Grindelwald again it all came rushing to me,"

She hummed, looking away, "Anymore juicy gossip for me about [Y/N] and Newt being all lovey-dovey back when she was still a Hogwarts student?"

"Tons," Leta smirked.

The suitcase clicked open, and you took it as an escape to this embarrassing conversation. You let Leta and Tina out first, then you.

"Okay, wait, hold it there, hold it there, please," you heard Newt coo. You had your entire body up, now facing Newt, who was being coddled by noneother than his very own Zouwu.

"Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho," he chuckled, "Alright, alright,"

He was let down, and you whipped out the cat toy from before.

"Okay, wait," he said, attempting to make himself comfortable. You jingled the toy with a smile resting upon your face, snatching the beast's attention quickly.

It purred, and you continously jingled it. Newt petted the beast, looking at you proudly.

You jingled it again, with a pair of loving eyes, that trapped Newt the minute he caught your eyes. If he could, he really would stop time and kiss you then and there. If he could, he'd wrangle himself out of the Zouwu's grip and hold you, press his lips against yours regardless if Tina or Leta's watching. He's fallen in love with you, and he's realized it just now.

Chapter Text

Settling the Zouwu back into the case, you picked your head up and scanned the area. Tina stood beside the case, Newt and you crouched over the case and Leta...nowhere to be seen. You frowned, looking up to Tina and asking, "Where's Leta, Teenie?"

In return, she shrugged and shook her head unknowingly, "I don't know,"

Newt, however, didn't care much for the sudden disappearance of his best friend. He was confused, contemplating the feelings he recently discovered. He didn't know who to like, Tina, whom he's admired for long, or you, who he feels like he knows. But, it didn't take him a lot of time to recover himself and pick his case up. Tina helped you up and you three set off to the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise.

Upon entering the Lestrange Mausoleum, you were greeted with Leta standing there, in front of Kama, who had his wand semi-pointed at Credence and a beautiful brunette lady. She looked forlorn, facing Kama who whispered, "My little sister?"

They approached eachother slowly, seemingly confused by the latter. "So he's your brother," Credence muttered, "Who am I?"

Kama looked back at Credence and the girl, lips pressed into a thin line. Leta answered with hesitation, "I don't know,"

Credence looked at you all with exhaustion and resentment, "I'm tired of living with no name and no history,"

"Just tell me my story, then you can end it," he approached the two, desperate for some sort of comfort from Lestrange and Kama but to no avail.

"Your story is our story," Kama quickly answered, his head turning to Leta, "Our story,"

He took a step closer to her, but she shook her head, "No, Yusuf,"

She took a step back, staring into the distance guiltily. Kama walked away, to the middle where the statue rested, Leta and practically all of you following him.

"My father," he began, "Was Mustafa Kama,"

"Pureblood of Senegalese descent and most accomplished," he continued, "My mother, Laurena, was equally highbred, a noted beauty,"

"They were deeply in love," he said, "They knew a man of great influence from a famous French pureblood family,"

His story continued, "He desired her,"

"Lestrange used the Imperius curse to seduce and abduct her," he uttered, his voice wavering, "I tried to prevent it, but he attacked me,"

"That was the last time I ever saw her," he spoke, "She died giving birth to a little girl,"

"You," he turned to face Leta, who looked at the stone floor upsettedly. She looked up to face Kama with the same upset eyes.

"The news of her death drove my father insane," his tone turned angry, "With his dying birth, my father charged me to seek revenge,"

"Kill the person Lestrange loves best in the world," he said, "I thought at first it'd be easy, he had only one close relative, you,"

He approached Leta, "But, he..."

"Say it," Leta said, unafraid.

"He never loved you," Kama said, and Leta pursed her lips. Tears were threatening to spill at the secret she knew, but was never to have it revealed.

"He remarried not three months after her death," he scowled, "He loved her no more than he had loved you,"

"But then, his son, Corvus, was born at last," his tone morphed angrier and angrier as he explained, "And that man who had never known love was filled with it,"

"All he cared about was little Corvus," he said, looking into Leta's sad eyes.

"So, this is the truth?" inquired Credence, his voice wavered, "I am Corvus Lestrange?"

"Yes," Kama said, but Leta objected.

"Yes!" Kama was persistent with his answer but Leta, again, objected.

"Realizing, that Mustafa Kama's son had sworn revenge, your father sought to hide you where I couldn't find you," he said angrily. Leta paced around the room, listening to Kama's rant, "So, he confided you to his servant, who boarded a ship for America,"

"He did send Corvus to America, but-" Leta interfered, to be intervened by Kama.

"His servant, Irma Dugard, was a half-elf," he said, "Her magic was weak, and therefore left no trace I could follow,"

"I had only just discovered how you had escaped, when I received news I never expected," he continued, "The ship had gone down at sea,"

You quickly went over to Leta, to comfort her as she was on the brink of crying. "But you survived, didn't you?" he asked, "Somehow, someone had pulled you from the water,"

" 'A son cruelly banished, Despair of the daughter, Return, great avenger, With wings from the water,' " Kama chanted, soon pointing at Leta, "There, stands the despairing daughter, you, are the winged raven, returned from the sea, but I.."

"I, I'm the avenger of my family's ruin," he said, pointing his wand at Credence angrily, "I pity you, Corvus, but you must die,"

"Corvus Lestrange is already dead, I killed him!" shouted Leta, startling you greatly.

"Accio," she chanted, and a box, hidden away and bound in black string, fell down and hit the floor. She casted a spell, approaching the box and the string burnt away. The box clicked open, revealing for it to be paper-thin and the inside, a shade of green.

"My father owned a very strange family tree," she said, an image of a family tree forming from sparks of magic as she knelt down to its height, "It only recorded the men, the women in my family were recorded as flowers,"

"Beautiful," she uttered, Kama kneeling down as well, "Seperate,"

"My father sent me to America with Corvus," said Leta, "Irma was to pose as a grandmother with two grandchildren,"

"Corvus never stopped crying," she continued, "I only wanted to be free of him, just for a moment, just a single moment,"

Her mouth open, as if to stop the tears, she stood and looked up to the moon where it shone down, the picture of a flowing silk and a baby sinking down.

"You didn't mean to do it, Leta," Newt comforted, "So it wasn't your fault,"

"Oh, Newt," she said, turning to face him, "You never met a monster you couldn't love,"

Her eyes settled on you, and you felt your heart tighten. Monster, that was what you were.

"Leta," Tina said, "Do you know who Credence really is?"

"Did you know when you swapped them?" she asked.

Leta, teary-eyed, shook her head as she replied, "No,"

All of a sudden, the sound of moving stone bricks alrted all of you. You all looked over, to be greeted by an entrance that wasn't there before. There stood Jacob, as confused as you all were, glancing between all of you. He glanced back down at the stairs, stepping down as he called out, "Queenie?"

You all followed him, reluctantly.

≪ °❈° ≫≪ °❈° ≫

You, Tina and Newt entered the amphitheatre, greeted by various witches and wizards of any, every age dressed in unsettling, grim colours. You peered around the crowds in search of anyone that you knew aside from Newt and Tina who stood beside you. Tina looked over to Newt, whispering, "It's a trap,"

"Yeah," he breathily answered, his eyes unable to be ripped away from the large crowd, "Queenie, the family tree, it's all been bait,"

"We have to find a way out of here right now," she hushed, searching the crowd.

"You go find the others," Newt said, seperating himself from Tina.

"What are you gonna do?" Tina asked, glancing over to Newt, watching as he backed away.

"I'll think of something," his eyes bounced to you, who was looking around warily. Finally, he backed away and left, leaving you and Tina alone. Tina quickly left your side and strode down some stairs before being stopped by a man with shoulder-length hair and a beard. You stared down at her from above the stairs, watching as she turned around and was about to return to your side when she was stopped by yet another man. Her eyes wandered to you, but yours was now settled onto the middle of the theatre.

You didn't notice that she was looking for a way out, scanning the area around her. You weren't clapping like everyone else, you had your hands dug deep into your trench coat, mindlessly watching as Grindelwald emerged. Tina had left and you, you began to make your way down the stairs. You stood on the stairs, watching, not doing anything else and the cheers that vary from admiration to supportation rang out of your ears.

Grindelwald's hands open wide as he stood in the middle, directly on the patterned platform, basking in the claps and cheers of his patrons. You were seperated from Tina and Newt, stood in the middle of witches and wizards you barely even knew, in a rally that you didn't want to attend. He stopped, hands dropping down to his sides and the claps and cheers subsided.

"My brothers, my sisters, my friends," he began, "The great gift of your applause is not for me, no,"

"It is for yourselves," he said, "You came today because of a craving, and a knowledge,"

"That the old ways serve us no longer," he paced around the platform, eyes settling on every single one of the wizards, "You came today because you crave something new, something different,"

"It is said," his words echoed, "that I hate les non-Magiques, the Muggles,"

"Vermin!" shouted a man from the crowd.

"The No-Maj!" he spoke aloud, "The Can't-Spells!"

"I do not hate them," he confessed, though half-heartedly, "I do not,"

"For I do not fight out of hatred," his voice softened, "I say the Muggles are not lesser, but other,"

"Not worthless," he had one of his fingers out and pointed towards the sky, soon dropping down and stretching open, "But of other value,"

His hands dropped as he continued, "Not disposable, but of a different disposition,"

"Magic, blooms," one of his hands was stretched to the side, and dropping down, "Only in rare souls,"

"It is granted to those who live for higher things," his eyes didn't trace you, couldn't find you, it seems, "Oh, and what a world we would make for all of humanity, we, who live for freedom,"

"For truth," his eyes settled on someone else before jumping to someone, whom you recognized perfectly, "and for love,"

Slick bastard. He was uttering words for Queenie!

"The moment has come to share my vision of the future," he said, "that awaits if we do not rise up and take our rightful place,"

"In the world," he finished.

A woman, who you too, recognized---Vinda Rosier---brought a skull with a tube attached. She hands the tube to him and he takes it graciously, placing it in between his lips. He inhales deeply whatever presented from the skull and exhaled, a cloud of smoke unfurled and videos of war, men and tanks, crumbling buildings and the sound of shooting erupted around everyone. You were unfazed, you couldn't think, and the gasps from the crowds bothered you not. A loud explosion occurs, startling the many warlocks.

"That!" he shouted, "Is what we're fighting,"

"That is the enemy!" he continued with a tone of supreme, perhaps in anger, perhaps in confidence---who knew?

"Their arrogance!" he scowled loudly, "Their power lust,"

"Their barbarity," he trembled in mock anger, "How long will it take before they turn their weapons on us?"

"Do nothing when I speak of this," he said, his hands raising and lowering in comfort, "You must remain calm and contain your emotions,"

He kept his hands behind, "There are Aurors here among us, and a very special someone,"

Chatter filled the amphitheatre and you backed away, now snapped from your trance. But the chatter silenced and there was a nervous, heart-wreaking silence that you despised.

"Come closer, brother wizards, join us," he said, hands raised up. You turned your head upwards, walking back as Theseus and the Aurors he led stepped down.

"They have killed many of my followers," Grindelwald said, feigning grief, "It is true,"

"They confined me and tortured me in New York," he looked down at the stone platform, "They had struck down their fellow witches and wizards for the simple crime of seeking the truth,"

"For wanting freedom," he said, "Your anger, your desire for revenge is natural,"

A girl in the crowd pointed her wand at an Auror but he was quick to react, blasting a curse at her almost immediately as she. The crowd shrieked, backing away from him. The girl fell backwards and onto the stone seat, unconscious and definitely dead. Grindelwald whipped his head around to the direction of the shriek, shouting, "No!"

The Auror ran up the stairs instantly, many wizards and witches having their wands pointed at him. Grindelwald climbed up the stairs to where the girl laid, kneeling and holding her hand in his, caressing her forehead sadly, "Take this young warrior back to her family,"

He picked himself up and left the girl, climbing up the stairs. He began again, "Disapparate, leave,"

"Go forth from this place and spread the word," his hands pointed to himself, shaking his head as he said, "It is not we who are violent,"

Many of his followers disapparated and left the rally, leaving only you, Newt, Theseus and his aurors, Leta, Queenie, Jacob, Tina, Credence and his girlfriend...maybe a few of the remaining people who were caught in his deceiving talk. You sighed wistfully, feeling not much emotions yet all you want right now is just someone to shy you away from this morbid place. Grindelwald turned in his place, wand pointing around him as he casted a spell that set ablaze his surroundings. You watched as Vinda stepped in and soon, a few of the new followers.

They all apparated soon, leaving the place. One attempted to enter but alas, he was burnt alive while screaming in agony for his loyalty to Grindelwald was false. Grindelwald watched, coldly and he picked his head up to face the Aurors.

"Aurors, join me in this circle," he said, "Pledge to me, your eternal allegiance, or die; Only here shall you know freedom, only here, shall you know yourself,"

The fire spreaded, seperating the seats in equal parts. Aurors ran up, escaping the fire with their might.

"Play by the rules!" he shouted, "No cheating, children!"

Your eyes moved over to where Credence stood. He no longer stood, rather was moving towards him while his love attempted to pull him back. But she failed and he left, anyway. Your eyes then moved over to Queenie and Jacob, who were in eachother's arms.

"Walk with me!" Queenie shouted, startling you. You looked away, eyes teary while you tried in vain to ignore the view of your friend being tricked by the man you called father. She left, anyway and apparated away to god knows where.

"No," Jacob shouted, "Queenie, don't do it!"

"Queenie!" Tina shouted, fending off the fire. Grindelwald, on the other hand, played the fire like it was a cruel orchestra, increasing its blaze to its finest. Many of the Aurors burnt away in the fire, some attempted to apparate yet they failed so horribly. A few of them finally joined him in the fire.

"Mr. Scamander!" he called, "Do you think Dumbledore will mourn for you?"

He sent a blaze towards the Scamander brothers, but they parried it quickly. This has gone on long enough.

"Grindelwald! Stop!" you shouted, descending from the stairs. Everyone had their eyes on you, watching you while you mindlessly, afraid, yes, continued to walk towards Grindelwald.

"[Y/N]," whispered Newt, scrambling up and immediately attempting to parry each flame directed to him in order to stop you from your at the time, brash activity.

"Ah," he smiled, "How long has it been, a few years?"

"My daughter, [Y/N]?" he rested the tip of his wand on his palm, leaving the flames to you.

"How was America? How was Ilvermorny? I'm aware that you've made some friends," he said, smiling proudly, "The Goldstein sisters, I've heard?"

"I apologize for ever letting you see that scene, my dear, I was not in the right mind," he hand his hand reached out and stroking your cheek, his skin cold against yours, "I apologize for having to let you raise yourself again, but I'm proud of you, you've gone so far,"

Tears fell from your cheeks, you've yearned for those words so, so much and it was right in front of you. All rational thinking was gone, and you needed only a hug. He wiped them gently off your cheek, "Do not cry, my dear,"

"They've all let you suffer so much," he whispered, "Porpentina Goldstein,"

"Newton Scamander," he spat his name with venom, just like how he did with hers.

"All you've done for them, chase them up and down with their adventures, steady them, save them from furthur trouble...the list could go on, you had no obligation to and yet you still did, my dear, your heart is untainted," he sighed, "Yet they misused your kindness, your affection, pining after eachother and that Tina, she knows of your crush on him, she does not care!"

You sobbed, eyes squeezed shut and your mouth in a frown.

"How smitten you were with Mr. Scamander yet he does not care, how foolish is he?" he uttered, "It is time you came home to me, Vinda will be making one of your favourites again,"

He retracted his hand and went back into the flames, hand out as he waited for your response. You sighed shakily, eyes opening to reveal a pair of saddened, [E/C] eyes. You turned to Newt, apparating in front of him and there, you gave him a quivering kiss, chaste and leaving him wanting for more. But you didn't give him what he wanted, you simply left into the flames and let yourself bask in it. It felt cold, minty, a winter's wind.

You turned and gave Grindelwald a hug, one he did not let go of and you both apparated away. Vinda threw the skull on the ground and it broke, the inside fueling the fire like gasoline and apparated away. That was the last Newt's ever seen of you, left with nothing but the aching emptiness none other than you filled. You didn't know what else happened, as you were back home, back in Nurmengard Castle.

Chapter Text

Awaking from a nightmarish slumber, he threw himself up from the comfort of his bed and sat upright. He was shaking, recalling what happened simply months before this. Your cold, shaking lips on his, your saddened eyes with tears threatening to spill out, your cold hands on his neck. He wanted to pull you back in, he wanted to hold you back from ever joining your father but he could not. He couldn't. His arms could only extend to a certain length.

He cradled his head in his arms, biting his lip as he murmured, "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!"

The last curse was shouted in anger, his fists balled up and gripping tightly on his curled locks. He could have saved you. He could have been more mindful, and he could have had you in his arms right now, comforting you. Your phantom touch on his head, stroking it gently and your hand on his chest as comfort, he managed to forgive himself albeit temporarily.

The door gently swung open, to reveal a Tina dressed in her blue pyjamas, Leta in her maroon slip and Theseus in his grey and blue pyjamas. They were all concerned of his sudden outburst, his inability to forgive himself of what he could have prevented. Theseus sat on his bed, slowly pulling his little brother into a gentle hug while he whispered, "You've done all you could, and it's not your fault,"

Leta watched from the door sadly, hands folded in front and a frown on her lips. Tina had a grip on her pyjama pants, staring at the ground while she held in tears. She too, could have prevented your depart, yet she didn't all because of some stupid crush she had on the younger Scamander brother. The couple soon left to sleep again, Tina being the only one left. She sat on his bed and in a whisper, "I know you like her, Newt,"

"What?" he asked.

"I know you like [Y/N]," she repeated.

"I do," he sighed, "I've just, I've never shown it before, I didn't know what to feel, what to do,"

"It's alright," she nodded, "That's what happens when you're in love,"

"But now she's gone," he choked back a sob, "She's gone, I can't hold her, I can't kiss her, I can't even touch her hand at all and-"

"It's not your fault," she uttered, "We were all oblivious, she was good at hiding,"

"Yeah," he muttered, "But I could've saved her from it,"

"Grindelwald's the only parental figure she's ever had, Newt, even if you told her a single confession he'd be able to twist it into a lie," she scowled, "She's easy to trick,"

"For now, let's just focus on what we can do," she patted his back, "Alright?"

He nodded, and she left his room after she bid him good night. Unsatisfied, he laid back down on his bed and drifted to sleep forcibly, feeling your phantom touch on his body while he imagined you to be asleep with him.

Chapter Text

Your sobs could be heard, as it was loud and clear, echoing through the castle. You sat on the stone floor, head resting upon your silken sheets and tightly gripping on it. You were dressed in the finest silk there was, emerald green to the very bottom. It was somewhat fitting to you, the grim aesthetic around Nurmengard Castle. It scared you, the nostalgia around you.

Your door was shut, your window was shut, no way of anyone ever entering your room without your knowledge. Suddenly, there was a knock on your door. You picked your head up and whipped it to the direction of the door, muttering aloud, "Who's there?"

"It's Queenie, [N/N]," a voice answered, "I..I heard you crying, your thoughts are very loud..."

"Come in," you said, wiping your face frantically with your hands.

Queenie slid in and closed the door, walking towards you quickly and making direct eye contact with you. You couldn't hold it in anymore, and you immediately broke down. Your hands covered your face as tears flowed freely, without a care in the world and only glad to be freed. Your eyes were swollen and red, your silk sheets covered with blotches of salty tears.

"Oh, honey," Queenie frowned.

"I wish I never loved him, Queenie," you cried, "I wish I never met him, I wish I never-"

She cut you off, "You don't think that,"

You kept quiet, looking down at your dress, "He doesn't love me, so there was no point,"

"But he does," she said sadly, pulling your hair strands away from your face.

"He doesn't!" you sobbed, "He loves Teenie! He loves her! She's outstanding, she's an Auror, she's-she's-!"

"He loves you," she comforted, "He didn't know, he admired Teenie but he loves you,"

"All the things he's done for her," you placed your hands down on your lap, "He's never spared me a glance like how he did when he looked at Tina,"

"But he did, and you never noticed," she picked up your hands, "He loves you,"

"And I miss him," you confessed.

"I miss Jacob too," she sniffled.

"I miss Newt, Queenie, but what can I do?" you began to cry again, "I lost him, he's gone, he's never going to want to talk to me ever again,"

"Maybe he does," she shrugged.

"I don't know," you muttered.

"You will, one day," she hugged you and you hugged her back, savouring her comfort. You would kill for Queenie.

Chapter Text

Leta sat on her bed, scouring through a box of old pictures with dates marked in red ink and newspapers with moving images that mostly was you or Newt. She watched one of the images, 2nd year you and Newt, just a few months before his expulsion, sitting on top of a bench and enjoying the autumn cold of September. It was marked as "1913, September 28th"

She placed it back into the box lovingly and picked up a cut out newspaper image of you, smiling in front of a camera. She remembered the headline for this image clearly, '[Y/N] [L/N] promoted to Auror', it read. You looked incredible, with a tantalizing smile and lovely eyes. She sighed wistfully, placing it back into the box and picking up a new one.

It was 1st year you, new to Slytherin and posing in front of the camera with her beside you. She placed it down and picked up another one, where you were holding the Niffler Newt kept back in the closet in 1912. She placed it down and picked up a newspaper cut out of you, smiling in front of a camera. The headline, as she recalls, was 'Auror [Y/N] [L/N] to be head Auror next year?', such a childish title. But you were beautiful. Lips curled into a smile, your matte red lipstick in a grey instead and your hair styled to perfection.

She pursed her lips, only to be kicked out of her dream when a knock came on her door. In came Newt, equally as nervous, as he asked, "Hi, I was wondering why you weren't...outside, with Theseus,"

"I was going through some old pictures, would you like to see?" she inquired, and Newt nodded hesitantly.

She took out the ones she'd seen before, and let him see it. They both chatted of the fond memories that those pictures held, both talking mostly about [Y/N] and how cute she was and when it came to the newspaper images, it was only Newt who talked. Mostly about how gorgeous she looked, how happily she smiled, how fond she looked at the camera.

In the end, Leta handed him one of the old newspaper pictures, one that Newt liked the most. The one in 1925, where you were promoted to an Auror, the one where you looked cheerful and wonderous, like his Nifflers when they got a Galleon or when his Bowtruckles got some extra woodlice to eat. He tucked it in his briefcase, never wanting to take it out and for countless of hours, he'd stare at it like a madman. If only you were here, to grace him instead of a newspaper picture of you.