Rooftop Rendezvous
Newt meets Leta outside of the meeting room. She takes one look at his face and sighs. “They said no?”
“They offered an ultimatum. I couldn’t take it,” Newt mumbles as he strides off down the hallway, clearly not wanting to talk about what happened. The niffler crawls from out of Newt’s pocket and nuzzles against his cheek. Newt smiles weakly at Jasper and pets softly over his head, gently stroking Pickett as well.
Leta jerks to follow him, trying to keep up despite her much shorter legs. “What did they want?”
“They have informed me that Credence is still alive. They think he’s in Paris. They want me to track him down and to kill him. I, of course, said no.”
Leta is silent, staring at him with an unreadable look on her face. “...Credence is alive?” she asks in a hushed voice.
“Yes.”
She halts him with a hand on his arm. “How?”
“I don’t know.”
She’s about to ask another question, but is distracted by hurried footsteps from down the hall. They turn to see Theseus approaching them.
“Newt! Newt!”
The two slow to a stop, waiting for Theseus to catch up.
“Hello, Theseus,” Newt says as Leta kisses him on the cheek.
“We were just talking about Newt coming for dinner.”
“Really?” Theseus sounds delighted. “Well, we’d be glad to have you over Newt.”
“Actually, I was thinking maybe we could do it at mine? I only just got back from America and I wouldn’t want to leave my creatures,” he says softly, cradling Jasper in his hands.
“Even better, that way we know you have to show up,” Theseus says warmly, patting him on the shoulder.
Newt laughs, slightly stilted but genuine. “So, uh..."
“We’ll be there at eight. See you then, alright? You have our floo if something comes up.” Leta smiles at him, and then she and Theseus turn and walk away.
Newt watches as they round the corner. We follow him as he turns and walks out of the ministry and then through the streets of London. He ducks into an alleyway, as though to apparate, but before he can he catches a glimpse of something.
A black glove, hovering in the air. It points to a nearby rooftop. Newt sighs, then reaches out and takes the gloves’ hand.
The two pop away onto the rooftop. Newt walks along the thin ledge without problem or worry, and sees the exact man he expected to see.
“Dumbledore.” The man himself turns and smiles at Newt. “Were the less conspicuous rooftops full, then?”
He chuckles. “I do enjoy a view.” He stares out over the buildings. “Nebulus,” he whispers. A thick fog rolls in and covers London.
The two of them apparate to the ground, and stroll through the streets. It takes Dumbledore a moment to initiate the conversation.
“How was it?”
“They're still refusing to let me travel. They wanted something out of me that I couldn’t provide.”
Dumbledore tips his hat at a passerby, talking out of the corner of the mouth. “And what was that?”
“They wanted me to track down Credence. In order to-to kill him. They don’t seem to understand that it wasn’t his fault, that he’s not dangerous.” Newt runs a hand through his hair frustratedly. His hand clenches on air, wishing for the security of his suitcase in his hand.
“What you say is true, Newt, but you’re one of the only ones that knows that. That’s why you need to be the one to go after him.”
Newt shakes his head. “No. No. I can’t, Dumbledore-”
“You misunderstand me, Newt. Killing him is senseless and inhumane, but he needs to be rescued, from others and himself. I know you can do it. The law is not always what’s right, as I’m sure you know.”
Newt nods mutely. “Yes, Dumbledore.” He glances up at the slowly darkening sky. “I really must be going, however. Theseus and Leta are coming over tonight for dinner.”
“Have fun, Newt, and remember what I said.”
There’s a pop, and Newt disappears.