"Ní mhaireann solas na maidine don lá." // "No morning sun lasts all day."

Tara first discovered that Newt was in Europe again when she found a copy of his book at a shop in Diagon Alley. She had immediately bought one, bringing it back to the apartment so that her and Leta could flip through it together. 

During their shared time at Hogwarts, Newt had always talked about his love for magical creatures, and they had even seen his care in action on some occasions. So it brought smiles to both their faces upon seeing the fruits of his dreams and labor.

“Did you know your brother was back?” Tara asked Theseus the next day at the Ministry.

The younger Scamander’s recent escapades in New York and with MACUSA were at the forefront of everyone's minds those days. Considering the fact that he had been the one to discover where Grindelwald had been hiding out for the past four months of near silence.

A fact that was particularly blood-chilling to Tara. How was it always someone that she cared about crossing paths with that horrid man?

“Yes.” Theseus had replied. “I invited him to dinner the other night, but he didn’t show.” he added, a bit dejectedly. 

“I’m sure he had his reasons.” she said with a sigh, knowing full well that her and Leta’s letters had also oftentimes gone unanswered by the busy Magizoologist.

Theseus hummed in acknowledgement, his attention more distracted by the paperwork on his desk. Taking that as her cue to leave his office, Tara began to make her way to the door.

“His travel ban hearing is tomorrow morning.” Theseus called out to her as she went. “You can bring him in if you’d like.”

Tara blinked in surprise, glancing back over her shoulder, but Theseus hadn’t so much as looked up from his paper. 

She nodded in spite of that.

“Yeah. Alright.”

Once she disappeared out into the hallway, Theseus finally peered over the report in his hands, looking back at the empty spot she had left behind.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* : ｡☆ﾟ.･ ───

Tara heard a small commotion coming from somewhere down the hallway. As she rounded the wide curve of the circular corridor, her eyes landed on a small bench that sat overlooking the main lobby of the Ministry. On it, sat a wizard who was waiting to be called upon. But just as Tara had taken another step in their direction, they suddenly lurched forward, flopping down onto the floor, his hand slamming down onto the ground. 

After a scuffle, they had ended up only inches away from the tips of her boots, and it was only then that Tara finally was able to make out the little green creature that they had been battling with, seemingly over a small, blue button. 

The curly-haired wizard quickly took notice of the pair of shoes now directly in his line of sight. In a flash, his head had tilted upwards, and Tara immediately let out a small bout of laughter at his actions. 

“We’re ready for you, Newt.” she said with a small smirk.

The Magizoologist scrambled to his feet, smiling bashfully as he ushered Pickett back into his coat-pocket.

Tara shook her head, still smiling as she gestured for him to follow her back down the hallway.

“I heard Theseus complaining that you didn’t have dinner with him the other night.” she pointed out as they made small talk along the way.

“Well, I’ve been busy.” Newt answered smally.

Tara hummed in acknowledgement.

“Oh I’m aware.” she said. “I loved your book by the way. Leta and I have a copy back at the apartment.”

She did not miss the way that Newt’s eyes had briefly lit up at the mention.

“Really?”

Tara nodded her head.

“Mhm. Riveting stuff.” she complimented, causing her friend to let out a quiet laugh.

As a silence fell over them both, the soft sound of their footfall ever so slightly echoing out against the dark marble walls on either side of them, Tara bit down on the inside of her cheek. Debating whether or not to say the next words that had appeared in her mind.

“He is your brother though.” she said quietly. “I’m sure he’d like to spend some time with you. Despite everything.”

Newt glanced over at her, a brief expression of surprise flickering across his face. Then, in his pocket, a small squeak chirped out into the air as Pickett attempted to poke his head out.

Tara scrunched up her nose affectionately as Newt quickly moved to coax him back inside as they moved ever closer to the doors of the meeting room.

“Oi Pick-” Tara said, leaning over to speak to the creature instead of his carrier. “You keep an eye out for Newt in this meeting, yeah? Scary men these Directors are.”

Newt glanced up at the witch.

“Aren’t you a Director?”

Tara smirked.

“The scariest of them all.”

The two of them quickly fell into shared laughter that instantly sent Tara back to their days at Hogwarts. Days that she never quite thought she would find herself missing until that very moment.

Up ahead, a shape emerged from inside the meeting room, eyes trained on the laughing pair as they made their approach.

Tara glanced over, noting the way that Theseus’ eyebrows raised as they came to a stop in front of him.

“Hello.” Theseus greeted his brother, who in turn refused to meet his gaze. “What are you two so happy about?”

Rolling her eyes, Tara crossed her arms over her chest.

“We were just making fun of you, of course.” she quipped, causing Newt to shoot her a surprised look.

Theseus’ jaw briefly clenched in response.

“Ah.” he whispered sarcastically before turning to look at his brother instead. “Look, before we go in there-”

“It’s my fifth attempt, Theseus.” Newt interrupted. “I know the form.”

“This isn’t going to be like the other times. This is-” Theseus sighed. “Just try and keep an open mind, will you? And maybe a little less-”

“Like me?”

Tara immediately furrowed her eyebrows, while Theseus stared down at his little brother with a clear and present expression of endearment. 

“Well, it can’t hurt.” he whispered before beckoning them both forward. “Come on, let’s go.”

Newt begrudgingly bowed his head, following his brother inside. Tara had briefly paused in the doorway, taking a breath of her own before subjecting herself to the squabble that she was no doubt about to witness.

One she had been specifically ordered not to speak during.

With a final shake of her head, she pushed the doors open and disappeared inside.

The air in the hearing room was some of the most suffocating air Tara had ever attempted to breathe in. She sat to the right of Theseus, who was flanked by Travers on his other side. The other members of the table included Director Rudolph Spielman, and Arnold Guzman. The latter of which was a visiting American Auror there to speak on the incidents that had transpired back in New York.

“Hearing commences.” Travers said once everyone had taken their seats. A floating quill that sat at the head of the circular table immediately began taking down the minutes.

Travers made a show of thumbing through the file that had been laid out in front of him.

“You want an end to the ban on your traveling internationally.” Travers began. “Why?”

“Because I like to travel internationally.” Newt quickly replied back, causing Tara to bring a fist to her lips in order to hold back a laugh.

“Subject uncooperative and evasive on reasons for last international trip.” Spielman piped up, reading straight from his file.

A beat of silence fell across the room as the Directors continued to stare forward at the Magizoologist, waiting for an explanation.

“It was a field trip.” Newt tried next. “I was collecting material for my book on magical beasts-”

“You destroyed half of New York.” Travers interjected.

“No, that’s actually factually incorrect on two counts-”

“Newt-” Theseus piped up. And when the younger Scamander glanced over at him, he subtly shook his head.

Tara sighed.

“Mr. Scamander, it’s clear you’re frustrated and frankly, so are we.” Guzman tried to reason more delicately. “In the spirit of compromise, we’d like to make a proposition.”

Newt stole a brief glance at Theseus and Tara.

“What kind of proposition?”

“The committee will agree to lift your travel ban…under one condition.” Travers said, his words laced with a bit of annoyance. 

In the silence that followed, Spielman leaned more into the table.

“You join the Ministry.” he said. “Specifically, your brother’s department.”

Newt’s expression immediately shifted into an uncomfortable smile.

“No.” he coughed out. “I- that isn’t my kind of- Theseus is the Auror. I think my talents lie elsewhere.”

“Mr. Scamander…” Guzman sighed. “The wizarding and non-wizarding worlds have been at peace for over a century. Grindelwald wants to see that peace destroyed, and for certain members of our community, his message is very seductive. Many purebloods believe it is their birthright to rule not only our world but the non-magic world as well. They see Grindelwald as their hero, and Grindelwald sees this boy as a means to make this all come true.”

In the center of the table, where an ominous, dark pool of water sat, the image of a young boy with black hair appeared. And upon seeing it, Newt instantly frowned.

“I’m sorry- you’re talking about Credence as if he were still here.”

No one responded to him at first. 

Tara swallowed heavily.

“He’s still alive, Newt.” she spoke up, going against Theseus’ instructions, for she felt he deserved to know. And when the Magizoologist turned his head towards her, she watched his eyes grow wide in disbelief. “He left New York months ago. He’s somewhere in Europe. Where exactly, we don’t know, but-”

“And you want me to hunt Credence down?” Newt suddenly interrupted. “To kill him.”

“No, of course not.” Tara replied as calmly as she could. “But-”

A low, dark cackle suddenly sounded from the back of the meeting room. Tara’s jaw instantly clenched with anger.

“Same old Scamander.”

Tara and the rest of the Directors turned their heads to watch as Grimmson seemed to emerge from the very shadows that blanketed most of the chamber. The bounty hunter of a wizard grinned, causing the scars on his face to ripple unnaturally.

Newt leaned forward, frowning down at the table in front of him.

“What’s he doing here?” he spat.

“Taking on the job you’re too soft to do.” Grimmson fired back.

As the man walked towards the table, Tara had twitched in her seat, her eyes glaring daggers at him as he looked down at the watery image of Credence. 

Theseus’ hand appeared on the table directly in front of her, a silent order not to move. 

“Is that it?” Grimmson spat.

Newt immediately stood up and stormed out of the door.

“Travel documentation denied!” Travers called out after him.

Theseus sighed, running a hand down his face. As the other Directors begrudgingly turned their heads towards Grimmson, Theseus instead pushed back his chair, running out into the hallway after his brother.

The bounty hunter walked around the table until finally landing behind the chair that Newt had abandoned. With a smirk, he plopped down into it, his posture relaxed and laid back, as if today had transpired exactly how he wanted it to.

“Well, gentlemen…ma’am-” he added, shooting a pointed look at Tara. “I assume this means I have to job.”

Tara was quick to rise to her feet, looking back at Travers.

“Is my signature required for this?” she asked, her voice dangerously still.

Travers and Guzman shared a look, before they eventually shook their heads in unison.

Tara left them without another word, purposefully slamming the door shut behind her.

Newt had already apparated off the grounds of the Ministry by the time that Tara had caught up with Theseus. So the two of them made the journey back to their hallways together, the air between them heavy and tense.

“This is a bad idea.” she said, unable to hold back her thoughts. “Bringing in Grimmson.”

“Why? Because he’s such a hard case?” Theseus asked.

Tara’s eyes narrowed.

“Because he can’t be trusted.” she countered. “He only exists to be cruel and to exert power. And that’s exactly the kind of people who eventually end up on his side.”

Theseus stepped out in front of her.

“Careful.” he scolded quietly. “You can’t just go around accusing people like that.”

Tara’s nostrils flared.

“You’re gonna fault me for that? Seriously?”

“Tara wait-”

But by then, the witch had stormed off down the hallway without him.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* : ｡☆ﾟ.･ ───

Tara used her wand to tie her hair up on the top of her head as she turned the corner down a dimly lit London street. The rain had started about half-way through her walk, and she didn’t take the time to conjure a charm from her wand in order to keep her dry. Instead opting to simply increase her pace towards her destination, as it was already within her sight. 

She climbed the stairs of the skinny townhome, quickly wrapping her knuckles against the front door. 

“Newt!” she called out, but received no response. “Newt, it’s Tara!”

Again, nothing.

She went to knock on the door again, when suddenly it moved inwards underneath the light pressure.

Sighing heavily, she pushed it the rest of the way and stepped inside the house.

“Newt, you can’t just leave your doors unlocked like that.” she scolded as she wiped her feet dry on the entrance mat. Glancing around the living room, her eyebrows furrowed when she realized that, once again, she had received no response. “Newt?”

Walking further into his house, she found his kitchen empty, but noted that the dining room table had been set for three people. The residue of a meal still sitting on each of their plates. She checked upstairs next, but found no one. So the only place left for her to check was the basement, where he kept the creatures that didn’t travel with him in his case.

Carefully she pulled open the door, being equally as aware when closing it behind her, lest she be responsible for the escape of any of the magical beings that lived below. 

She called out Newt’s name again as she jogged downstairs, but ultimately found herself walking out into an empty workshop. There was no sign of him, his coat, or his case. 

Shaking her head in defeat, she had been about to turn back and retreat, when a small piece of paper laying in the center of his worktable suddenly caught her attention. As she moved closer, she realized that it was a short note, meant for the caretaker that he had employed to look after his creatures in any event of his prolonged absence. 

“Bunty, Gone to Paris. Have taken Nifflers with me. -Newt” was all it read.

Tara’s eyes widened in horror.

Not Paris. Anywhere but Paris.

Recently, their forces had tracked a few members of Grindelwald’s innermost circle to that very city. And they had been monitoring their movements, which had appeared to uptick in the past week or so. 

She couldn’t imagine what in the world could’ve drawn him there, except-

“Credence…” she whispered out loud to herself.

Newt was going after him. He had to be. Even if it meant putting himself directly in Grindelwald’s line of sight again.

Tara quickly dropped the note, sprinting out of his house and back into the rain.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* : ｡☆ﾟ.･ ───