Chapter 6
Newt and Remus ran up the stairs in the smouldering building and Newt waved his wand to repair everything magically. They entered the muggle’s room and Newt gaped at the massive hole in the wall.
“Mr. Ko-lal-key is hurt!” Remus whispered, scared. Newt looked at the muggle. He moved sluggishly and groaned. Newt examined the small red bite mark on his neck.
“Mr. Scamander!” Tina was running up the stairs. Newt wasn’t surprised that she had picked up on their absence. He spotted his case on the bed and his quickly sealed the latches. Too late, Tina burst into the room.
“It was open?” Tina exclaimed incredulously.
“Just a smidge…” Newt attempted to grin.
“That crazy niffler thing’s on the loose again?”
Newt was glad she only thought that he had a niffler in the case. “Er - It might be -“
“Then look for it! Look!” Tina gestured around frantically. The muggle in the corner groaned again. Tina looked at the muggle and went straight to him.
“His neck’s bleeding, he’s hurt! Wake up, Mr. No-Maj…” She shook him desperately.
Newt was sure that he was alright. If the bite had anything to do with it, it was most likely a murtlap. He tugged Remus towards him and tried to make his way out the room without Tina noticing. Suddenly, Tina emitted a guttural scream. A murtlap raced across the room latched onto Tina. Tina, in a panicked frenzy, waved her arm around and flung it off. The murtlap flew towards Remus and he caught it by the tail. The murtlap seemed to calm down in his presence. Remus handed the murtlap to him and he pushed it in his case.
“Mercy Lewis, what is that?” Tina said breathlessly. Great.
“Nothing to worry about. That is a murtlap.”
“What else have you got in there?” Newt scratched his neck again. The muggle seemed to wake up at that moment and Newt thanked him silently.
“You!” He pointed at Newt, slurring.
“Hello.” Newt was sure he recognized him and Remus.
“Easy, Mr-“ Tina attempted to grab him by the shoulders, but the man sways again and she misses.
“Kowalski…Jacob.” The man murmurs. Newt smiled, slightly amused by Remus’ previous pronunciation. Newt remembered something and he took out his wan preparing to obliviate him. He really had seen far too much. What he wasn’t expecting was Tina who had moved in front of him protectively.
“You can’t obliviate him! We need him as a witness!” Newt was very sure that Tina was referring to his own trial. He looked at her, frustrated.
“I’m sorry - you’ve just yelled at me the length of New York for not doing it in the first place!” He muttered sarcastically. He really was getting tired of this.
“He’s hurt! He looks ill!”
“He’ll be fine, Murtlap bites aren’t serious.” He thought Tina didn’t care about the man. Newt put his wand away anyways. Jacob threw up in the corner and Tina gave him a look.
“I admit that it slightly more severe reaction that I’ve seen, but if it was really serious - he’d have…” Newt trailed off, unsure if he should tell her.
“What?” Tina demanded.
“Well, the first symptom would be flames out of his anus-“ Newt said. Remus looked pale. Jacob looked at him, terrified.
“This is balled up!”
“I’ll last forty-eight hours at most! I can keep him if you want me to-“ Newt could heal him with the potions and antidotes in his case. He couldn’t let Tina see though as he was sure that she would freak out even more and hand him in again.
“Oh, keep him? We don’t keep them! Mr. Scamander, do you know anything about the wizarding community in America?” Newt sighed. For a moment, he had thought that Tina cared for the man. Apparently not. His temper rose.
“I do know a few things, actually. I know you have rather backwards laws about relations with non-magic people. That you’re not meant to befriend them, that you can’t marry them, which seems mildly absurd to me.” He bit out.
Tina looked at him like he grew another him. “Who’s going to marry him?! You’re both coming with me-“ She said shaking her head.
Newt didn’t want another repeat of anything from the morning. “I don’t see why I need to come with you-“
Tina ignores him and instead attempts to lift Jacob from the floor. “Help me!” She snapped at him. Newt felt obliged to help. The poor muggle didn’t know what he was getting himself into. He sighed and walked over.
“I’m . . . I’m dreaming, right? Yeah . . . I’m tired, I never went to the bank. This is all just some big nightmare, right?” Jacob mutters deliriously.
“For the both of us, Mr. Kowalski.” Tina said, her face pulled into one of exasperation. Newt feels the same. Remus came over and Tina’s eyes widened as if just realizing he was here. She rounds on Newt again.
“You dragged an innocent child into this too?!”
“Not exactly you see-“
Tina seems done with him and reaches out to grab Remus’ arm. Remus yelped. Newt glowered at her.
“Let go of - “
Tina ignores him and disapperates.
******
The four of them appear on a small street. The sun has set and the lamps have all been lit. Tina and Newt scramble around, trying to keep Jacob steady. Remus hovers around nervously.
The group turns a corner and Tina pushes them to hide behind a large repair truck. She peers over at a house across the street.
“Okay - before we go in - I’m not supposed to have men on the premises.”
Newt just about throws his hands up in exasperation. “ In that case, Mr. Kowalski and I can easily see other accommodation - “ Newt refers to his suitcase.
“Oh no you don’t!” Tina grabs Jacobs arm before Newt can and marches him across the road. Newt follows them. He felt rather guilty about the bite he had sustained. He was also very sure that Tina had no idea on how to treat a murtlap bite.
“Watch your step.” Tina mutters as they enter the house.
The group follows her quietly and tiptoe up the stairs. They reached the first landing before another voice calls out from below.
“That you, Tina?”
“Yes, Mrs. Esposito!” Tina replies.
“Are you alone?” The landlady yells out again.
“Always alone, Mrs. Esposito!” She yells back, slightly annoyed.
Tina hurriedly pushes them through a door and they enter her apartment. The place is filled with magic. Newt watches as an iron is working in the corner. A clotheshorse revolves slightly clunky in front of the fire. Many magazines are scattered everywhere as well, the moving pictures waves up at them.
Another woman peeks out of the adjacent room at them. Her gold hair curls delicately around her head. Beside her, there’s a dress on a dummy mending itself. Jacob goes still in Tina and Newts arms. Newt barely give her a second glance. They help Jacob on the couch and Newt makes his way to the windows. He’s impatient to leave. Remus follows him.
“I don’t like the other lady…” He says quietly. “She makes me feel funny.”
Newt looked at him worriedly. He looks back at the blonde girl.
“Teenie - you brought men home?” She says.
“Gentleman, this is my sister. You want to put something on, Queenie?” Tina says sarcastically.
“Oh, sure…” Queenie seems unconcerned and takes her time slipping on the dress that was previously on the dummy. Jacob continues to stare at her.
“So, who are they?” Queenie asks lightly.
“That’s Mr. Scamander. He’s committed a serious infraction of the National Statute of Secrecy.” Tina shrugs off her coat and places on the back of a chair.
“He’s a criminal?” Queenie seems impressed. Newt doesn’t know whether to feel worried or not.
“Uh-huh, and this is Mr. Kowalski, he’s a No-Maj-“
“A No-Maj? Teen - what are you up to?” Queenie’s tone becomes worried and nervous. Newt is astounded at their priorities. A criminal doesn’t manage to shake them up but a muggle does?
“He’s sick - it’s a long story - Mr. Scamander has lost something, T’m going to help him find it.” Tina glares at Newt. Newt adverts his eyes and instead stares at Remus’ head of curly hair.
“Who’s that?” Queenie points at Remus. Remus ducks away. Newt holds his hand out protectively. They all look at him expectantly. He realizes that Tina doesn’t exactly know who he is. Newt doesn’t say anything and stares at them too. Some people might be kind to muggles but no one was nice to werewolves.
Tina breaks the awkward silence by saying, “I assume he’s his son… but” She gives him another look. “It might be a poor kid who got caught up in his antics… like the No-Maj.”
Newt opens his mouth to retaliate but Jacob dry heaves and groans again. Queenie runs up to him and the others hover around. Jacob tries to stand up and Queenie pushes him back down.
“You need to sit down, honey.” She says in her soft smooth voice. She pauses for a moment.
“He hasn’t eaten all day… And- aw, that’s rough… he didn’t get the money he wanted for his bakery. You bake, honey? I love to cook!”
Newt observes to interaction curiously. He watches as Queenie somehow knows everything that had happened that day. Suddenly it hits him.
“You’re a Legilimens?” Newt asks. He immediately tries to close his mind, remembering his occlumency classes from years ago. Newt moves in front of Remus. He can’t let her see who he is.
“Uh-huh, yeah. But I always have trouble with your kind. Brits. It’s the accent.” Newt doesn’t believe her. Natural legilimens were very rare and something like an accent doesn’t change anything. Remus must have sensed something was up earlier.
“You know how to read minds?” Jacob asks, appalled.
“Aw, don’t worry, honey. Most guys think what you was thinking, first time they see me.” Queenie’s attention was diverted again. Newt turns back to the window and he sees another Billywig fly past. He needed to find a way to get out quickly.
Tina and Queenie busy themselves in the kitchen. Ingredients come floating out of cupboards as Queenie enchants them into the components of a meal. The two sisters chatter as they cook.
“Hot dog… again?”
“Don’t read my mind!”
“Not a very wholesome lunch.”
Plates and cutlery come flying out as well and set themselves on the table. Jacob stares, terrified and fascinated. Newt takes the chance to lead him and Remus towards the door. His hand touched the handle before Queenie called his name.
“Hey, Mr. Scamander, you prefer pie or strudel?”
All eyes are on Newt. He removes his hand from the handle, embarrassed that he was caught.
“I-I really don’t have a preference.”
Queenie comes over and crouches in front of Remus. Her expression changes. Newt pulls Remus back and has his hand on his wand.
“Th-thats weird… I can’t read anything at all from him.” She looks at Newt, her expression scared, as if he would give her an explanation. “He can’t know occlumency… he’s too young…” Queenie murmurs to herself. Tina watches nearby with a curious expression on her face.
Newt can see Remus sweating and shaking. Queenie continues to look at him.
“Ms. Goldstein, if you could just - “ Newt can see that Remus is struggling. He looks just like he did in Egypt when he managed to create a shield. He doesn’t know what Queenie is doing but she needed to get away from Remus. Immediately.
Suddenly, Remus lets out a cry and throws himself away from them with a surprisingly amount of force. He’s trembling and tears roll down from his eyes. He looks around in a frenzy. Queenie watches with a shocked expression.
Newt tries to come near him slowly but Remus shrieks. “Nononononono!! Go away! Go away! P-Please! Nononono!”
Objects start to float as Remus curls in on himself and sobs. “Nononono! I’ll be good! I’ll be good!” Newt has never seen him have a panic attack this severe. Usually he manages to control his magic.
Newt turns furiously at Queenie. “What did you do?” He hisses. Queenie looks at him with wide eyes.
I-I swear! I-I was only looking at him! H-he - ” Queenie looks back at Remus. Tears slowly fall from her eyes too.
Tina rushes towards them and pulls Newt away before he can curse her. She looks at Newt. “Has this happened before?”
“Y-yes… but never to this scale.” Newt casts a shield charm and tries to approach Remus. Wind picks up and the objects swirl around him, creating a barrier against them.
“S-stop!” Queenie screams! “You’re making it worse!”
“What do you know? You were there one who caused this!” Newt says with no tact. As far as he knew, Queenie was a stranger who Remus found to be a threat.
“Stop!” Tina shouts. “What’s his name?” She asks Newt.
“Remus!”
Jacob stands nearby, shell shocked. He backs away, frightened.
“Remus!” Tina yells. “Listen! You’re alright! You’re safe!”
Queenie looks at Newt. He eyes are filled with tears. “They beat him…” She whispers. “They starved him…”
The three of them try to get through but it doesn’t work. Remus seems intent on keeping them out. He shivers in his small cocoon. Jacob walks up to them trembling.
“Hey Remus?” He tries. Tina and Queenie look at him incredulously. “I-I’m just a … what they call it… No-Magic guy. No-Maj. I don’t have anything that can hurt you… except for that case… sorry by the way.” Jacob looks at Newt. “Um anyways. You gotta stop this wind thing you got going on… it aint going to help you… it’s only hurting you.”
Newt watched, amazed, as the wind died down. Remus was listening to the muggle. “I’m just a guy with no magic… I aint gonna harm you with magic… or anything else.”
The shield fell down and objects rained all over the place. Tina quickly waved her wand and the room reverted itself to its previous state. Remus sobbed in the corner.
“I-m-m s-sorry…s-so sorry…” Newt walked over cautiously but nothing happened. As he got close Remus threw himself at him and hugged him fiercely. Newt locked his arms around the little boy and stroked his back as he cried.
“It’s alright…” He said soothingly. Remus hiccuped softly. Slowly, Remus calmed down and fell asleep.
“He’ll be asleep for a while. The last time he did magic this powerful he slept for an entire day.” Newt carefully placed him on the couch and conjured a blanket for him. He didn’t want to let him out of his sight. He let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding in and rubbed his eyes.
Jacob spoke up. “I-Is he gonna be alright?”
Newt fiddled with his wand. “I found him on the streets. He… He ran away from an orphanage.” He wondered how much Queenie knew. Did she know he was a werewolf? He turned back to Jacob. “Thank you… for earlier.”
“Nah, no problem. He’s a good kid. I can tell.” Newt looked at him. He was pale and pasty with sweat rolling down his head. Newt fought the urge to drag him into his case right now and then.
Queenie sniffed and wiped her face. She looked at him and gave him a look. She knew… Newts blood turned cold. He’s a good kid, really! He never wanted to be a werewolf, it’s not his fault… He thought desperately, hoping Queenie would see. Queenie looked away.
“So… Dinner?” Tina asked tentatively. Jacobs stomach growled. Queenie nodded and got started on the food.
“You prefer strudel, huh, honey? Strudel it is.” Queenie said to Jacob. Jacob nodded and she grinned back weakly and waved her wand. Raisins, apples, and pastry flyed into the air. The concoction neatly wraped itself up into a cylindrical pie, baking on the spot, complete with ornate decoration and a dusting of sugar
Tina lighted some candle on the table and the four of them sat down to eat. Pickett let out a small squeak and poked his head out at the smell of food. Newt didn’t touch his food and continued to look back to check on Remus.
“Eat, Mr. Scamander, we’re not going to poison you.” Jacob gave him a look and Newt started to pick at his food. Silence fell over the table. The only sounds came from the silverware on the plates. Newt sighed. When would the day be over?