Chapter 18
Chapter 18
It was rapidly approaching midnight, the night thick and hot. A tension was gathering in the atmosphere as most of the citizens of Toronto slept. The late night revelers were mostly oblivious to the creeping wrongness that permitted the air, though as the music played and the lights twinkled they found themselves dancing with more vigor than usual. Perhaps the nervous energy got to them in unconscious ways.
At the building that was formerly known as the New Salem Society, Inspector Brackenreid was overseeing the investigation himself.
The hustle and bustle of police work was vaguely comforting to the Inspector. It made him feel like he was at least doing something. Miss Barebone’s body had been brought downstairs, and Meyers stared at the scarring on her face numbly, his face pale, his eyes wide.
“Inspector, a word? Outside.”
Brackenreid sighed, but made his way out to the street where clean-up had begun.
Meyers stalked outside on unsteady feet. He leaned heavily against the neighbouring tenement building, and slipped a pipe out from his jacket pocket.
He lit it with a wave of his hand and then glanced at Brackenreid to gauge his reaction. To Brackenreid’s credit, he didn’t bat an eyelid. He inhaled sharply, allowing the tobacco smoke to settle his frayed nerves, then exhaled, watching the smoke make its way up into the night.
“Did you ask me out here to watch you smoke, Meyers?”
“Inspector, in my many many years of service to King and Country, I’ve seen many a tragedy. I don’t know how you found out about the magical world, but - as you can imagine, there are many odd things out there. This however - this takes the cake.”
He took another puff pensively.
Brackenreid was exhausted. It was late. He was worried. His patience was wearing thin.
“What, you’ve never seen an obscurus attack before?”
Meyers choked on his inhale. He coughed, spewing ash and embers into the air.
“How the hell-”
“I’ve been briefed, Meyers.”
“By whom?”
“Scamander, and the Goldstein sisters.”
Meyers took a thoughtful puff at his pipe.
“Scamander. That name carries a lot of weight. I knew Auror Scamander - the senior. He was the very best I’ve ever seen. Tragic what happened to him. His eldest son is following well in his footsteps. The younger Mr. Scamander…”
“Is quite brilliant, Mr. Meyers. He caught on to quite a few things about this curious case, well before your aurors did.”
“If you’re talking about obscurials...We might have arrived at the same conclusion if you’d presented us with all the facts.”
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black, Meyers. Relationships are based on trust. You never paint us the full picture - you send us running into situations half-cocked. Spinning that bollocks about international terrorist organisations.”
“That wasn’t bollocks , as you so colourfully put it -”
“Grindelwatsis. Yeah, I heard.”
Meyers looked at him carefully over his pipe.
“They were most thorough in their briefing it would seem.”
“Meyers, any cop worth his salt would instantly recognize that Scamander’s not a terror extremist. The only extreme thing about him is his total lack of sock coordination, and his penchant for things with too many teeth.”
“I don’t think Scamander is involved with Grindelwald.”
“No? Then why did your mate Graves try to have him executed for it?”
“WHAT?”
“Aye - Scamander and Auror Goldstein were very nearly killed earlier. Without so much trial. Your aurors are hunting them down as traitors. He tried to have Watts obliviated as a co-conspirator, even though it was you and Graves that brought Watts into this in the first place. It would appear Graves has gone rogue.”
Meyers looked horrified.
“Inspector, do you know where they are right now?”
“They’ve gone to hunt down the obscurus. What you lot should have been doing all along.”
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“I only just found out myself.”
“How? They were here?”
Brackenreid shot him a look that said OBVIOUSLY .
A groan was heard from the alley.
“Excuse me a moment,” said Brackenreid as he stalked off.
Meyers raised an eyebrow in confusion. Then he heard the sound of a fist colliding with something like a face, another groan, and a resounding thump. Brackenreid returned looking smug.
“You’ll want to get that git Samson some assistance. It appears he’s hit his head. Twice. And while you’re at it, investigate him for excessive force and dodgy dealings.”
Meyers balked.
“Make this right Meyers, or so help me, I’ll take this all the way to the King Himself.”
Meyers nodded. He emptied out his pipe in the alley and snuffed out the embers with the sole of his patent leather shoe. He stowed the pipe back in his pocket and pulled out his wand. Brackenreid was instantly at arms, his fists at the ready.
Meyers lifted his hands in a placating gesture.
“Be easy, Brackenreid. We’re on the same side here. Relationships are based on trust, no? That goes two ways.”
“You’ll forgive me if I’m not quick to trust a magical spy.”
Meyers grinned, “You’re forgiven. Come on, then Inspector. We’ve got much work to do.” Then grabbing onto Brackenreid’s arm, and a smug smirk, he apparated with a crack.
* * * * * * *
In the wee hours Tina and Newt followed Credence’s meandering trail of destruction from the ward, through Cabbagetown, and further north still, all the way to the Don Valley. At a certain point, Newt threw caution to the wind, and pulled Tina behind a dumpster before reaching into his case and pulling out his old broom.
“Do you really think that’s wise?” she asked.
“It will take us forever to follow him on foot. We’ll be better apt to see the damage from above. It’s the dead of night, and honestly, being seen by muggles is the least of our worries right now…”
Tina looked conflicted, but finally she nodded. Newt mounted the broom, and Tina slipped on behind him.
They took off silently and were soon above the clouds.
He had a point , thought Tina. From above, they could see Credence’s determined trek towards the Don Valley, and travelling As the Obscurus Flies was certainly quicker than meandering through streets and alleyways.
They managed to trace the obscurus to the Don Valley Brickworks Plant, but not beyond. Newt circled the complex once, looking for any signs of life before carefully landing in the courtyard beside the towering smokestack.
He and Tina cautiously dismounted, wands at the ready, silent as a grave. At the sound of footsteps, they ducked quickly behind a stack of crates. Not a second later, the night watchman passed, shining his torch about. Tina and Newt held their breaths. Eventually he moved on, though they remained covered as they watched him make his way back to the guardhouse. They only relaxed when they heard the sounds of a phonograph begin to play.
A quiet ding like a small bell rang from Tina’s pocket. She slipped a small silver mirror from her pocket. Smiling at Newt’s puzzled expression, and spoke into the mirror -
“Queenie?”
“Tina!” came a tinny voice from the mirror. Newt craned his neck and was surprised to see Queenie’s face instead of his and Tina’s reflections.
“Two-way mirror!” said Newt, “Brilliant!”
“Are you both alright?” asked Queenie.
“Yes!” said Tina quickly, “How about you?”
“We’re all okay here, thanks to Inspector Brackenreid and his fists. Where are you? Have you found Credence?”
“We’ve tracked him to Don Valley Brickworks. We’ve only just arrived…”
“Be there in a moment!” said Queenie and the connection ended.
“Queenie, wait!” said Tina. She groaned. "Why does no one ever listen to me?"
* * * * * * *
Queenie ended the call and grinned up at her muggle friends. Murdoch stared at the mirror transfixed.
“What brilliant idea! A device that allows for visual and auditory communication simultaneously! A tele-kineto-phone.” The gears in his brilliant mind were turning as he began to dream up of how he could best replicate it using non-magical means.
“Too many syllables, Sir,” said George. “How about - Image-telephone. Image phone. Or I. Phone, for short!”
Llewellyn cleared his throat.
“Perhaps we should table this idea for a later time, Sir...Queenie, can you get us to the Don Valley Brickworks?” asked George sheepishly.
Queenie smiled, “Luckily I’ve been there before on official business.” She extended an arm. They all grabbed on.
In no time at all a sharp CRACK echoed across the empty buildings.
Tina winced and glanced at the night watchman’s cabin. He didn’t seem to have noticed.
“Have you located Credence?” asked Murdoch to Newt.
“Not just yet,” said Newt, “But I’d like to check that broken window up ahead...I’m surprised the Night Watchman didn’t notice it…” he nodded towards a window in the largest building. It appeared to have been smashed in. “Wait here.”
“Newt, I’m not too sure you should go...I’m trained for this sort of thing…stealth training…” said Tina.
“So am I,” said Newt wryly, “Magizoology.” He winked, then he crept noiselessly along the perimeter of the courtyard to the window. Crouching down, he cast a quick glance around, before peering in.
Inside the cavernous plant, the obscurus churned, a small tornado of pain and anguish. Bricks were tossed about like leaves, and they smashed into machinery and furniture. Loudly. Newt winced. He had no idea how the watchman hadn’t noticed yet, but he prayed that his obliviousness continue.
He slipped back down the wall. Then, turning, he waved his friends over, and they snuck over to him one-by-one. When they were all gathered, Newt spoke in hushed tones.
“The obscurus is inside.”
“Is Credence okay?” asked George.
Newt looked at him sadly, “He’s absorbed into the obscurus’s form right now.” He nodded to the window. They all peeked into the room, then slipped back to the ground, looking wide-eyed and pale.
“What are we going to do?” asked Llewellyn. Newt looked up at him sadly. He sought his salamander eyes and found comfort in their chocolatey depths.
There was so much he longed to say to Llewellyn. He hoped if everything went well, if his theories were correct, that he’d have the opportunity to say them yet. If not…
Well.
Newt glanced down at his case, and held it in his hands a moment. Then he looked up at Llewellyn and handed the case to him.
He couldn’t meet Llewellyn’s eyes; he couldn’t bear witness to the look of absolute shock and horror that crossed Llewellyn’s expressive face. For all his alleged social obliviousness, Llewellyn recognized a goodbye only too clearly.
“If it all goes pear-shaped, please take care of my creatures,” he said to Watt’s knees, “I trust you with them...and you George, and the rest of you, and that’s…” he cleared his throat, “That’s the highest compliment I’m capable of paying to another human...if anything happens to me...My notes are all there. Please promise me.”
Llewellyn didn’t trust himself to speak. He just looked at Newt open-mouthed.
“I thought you said you knew what you’re doing,” said Murdoch.
“I have theories,” said Newt, “Perfectly viable theories that I’m sure could work. Should work. But just in case they don’t, in case something goes wrong-”
“Nothing will go wrong,” interrupted George, “Think positive, Sir.” Said George, tapping his head.
Newt almost sobbed.
“Even with the leucrotta, I had a plan B -”
“Helmet?” asked George.
“Helmet,” agreed Newt, “But in lieu of a helmet...please, promise me-”
He risked a glance at Llewellyn, and then wished he hadn’t. Llewellyn looked on the verge of tears.
Newt swallowed.
“It’ll all be fine, Mr. Scamander,” said Queenie quickly “You’ve got all of us.”
Newt nodded. He cast one last glance at Llewellyn, then squared his shoulders and climbed in through the broken window.
“Did he have his wand out?” asked Tina, as she looked in after him.
“No, he’s empty-handed,” said Murdoch, his stomach sinking. So far, Mr. Scamander’s brilliant plans seemed to involve walking up to a raging creature utterly unarmed.
Tina sighed nervously.
The Obscurus didn’t notice him at first, but when it did it began to roar and spin faster.
Newt had dropped to his knees before the swirling maelstrom.
“Hi, Credence...It’s Credence, isn’t it?” he said softly, “I remember we met earlier. First at City Hall, and then again at the Station House, but I know we didn’t have a chance to chat. Perhaps now we can? My name is Newt. Newt Scamander. And I’m a lot like you. I’m a wizard.”
The obscurus shrieked, and churned even more violently.
“Sodd this,” said Llewellyn, and handing the case off to George, he leapt in after Newt.
“DETECTIVE! WAIT!” shouted Tina after him, as Murdoch and George gasped.
"URGH! NO ONE EVER LISTENS TO ME!" Tina pulled out her wand and made to follow, but Queenie grabbed her arm.
“Wait!”
“Credence!” Said Llewellynloudly as he made his way across the room to Newt. “Do you remember me, lad? I’m Detective Llewellyn Llewellyn. I’m an orphan too…”
Newt extended his hands placatingly, “Credence. You are safe here...with me and Detective Llewellyn. You are safe with us...we’re not going to hurt you. We just want to talk. We just want to speak with you. To help you, heal your hurts. I’m a wizard, Credence...just like you. And I know what it’s like to feel alone and afraid, and to be hurt...can I come closer to you? Can I come over?”
Llewellyn understood Newt’s brilliant, stupid, foolish plan that instant, and he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to shake him or snog him senseless. Either way there would be very little sense involved.
Instead, he addressed Credence. Opening his heart to the boy. Saying what he wished he had heard when he was young and in pain.
“I know what it’s like to be abandoned, to be alone, so very alone. To witness violence and suffering - to be victim to such violence...to see the very very worst of humanity,” said Llewellyn softly, “I know what that horrid woman did to you. And you don’t deserve any of it. You don’t deserve that hate and pain. You deserve to be loved and to be cherished, and cared for. You are so very special.”
The intensity of the storm seemed to decrease, the churning slowed and the strands of smoke began to withdraw.
Llewellyn finally reached Newt, and sat down beside him on the floor beside him, crossing his legs with a forced sense of calm, as if they were sitting down to a picnic.
“I knew a little girl just like you, Credence. A girl I met in Sudan - she’d been imprisoned in a shed, beaten and tortured by her family as punishment for her magic. They did not understand it, they did not understand her. Instead of loving and supporting her, they treated her with hate and violence. She did not deserve their abuse, because Magic is not a bad thing. You are not wicked or evil. Your power is not something to be feared, but to be embraced. Fire can burn painfully, but it can also provide light. It can cook our food and keep us warm in the winter. And magic is a lot like that. I know your heart, Credence...You are good,” said Newt gently.
“So good, so brave, so strong...you’ve tried so hard, lad, to survive so long with all this pain, you are a miracle, Credence,” said Llewellyn softly.
Murdoch, George, Queenie and Tina watched on in awe as Newt and Llewellyn spoke to the obscurus. The plan was so brilliant, so simple, so risky. They bore their souls to the boy - the purest form of humanity - the capacity to understand, to empathize, and to love.
It appeared to work. The swirling mass stilled, the air became calm. Slowly the smoke and storm receded, and they could see through the darkness, the boy. He was hunched on himself and trembling, but he was so alive, and so very human.
Newt’s eyes were fixed on Credence. He slipped out his wand, and glanced at Llewellyn. His eyes were soft and warm and filled with love. Newt's heart swelled and he grinned. With the confidence of George Crabtree trying to pass for French, Newt cast his patronus charm.
The kelpie burst forth, dazzling and bright, it danced around the room, and the obscurus froze, observing it transfixed. It drew close to Credence, and the obscurus shrank back. The patronus nuzzled the boy gently with its nose, its ghostly main blowing wildly.
Credence never felt such joy in his life. It was pure bliss - pure love, and it warmed him inside and out. His heart felt like it was about to burst with happiness. He felt like he could breathe for the first time in his life. He drew deep gasping breaths that warmed him and nourished him, like the first drink of water for a man dying of thirst.
Credence opened his eyes, and the obscurus began to fade, withdrawing and withering back into him. The boy spotted Newt and Llewellyn sitting on the floor, barely an arm’s distance away. They were smiling at him, with no judgement or fear or hate - just pure love.
Credence felt his face shift, his cheek muscles pulled back, and he was puzzled. His still-smokey hands flew to his face. Was he smiling ? The Barebones children never smile. The weight of the moment hit him like a ton of bricks. He grinned at Newt, and Newt grinned back. Newt reached out a hand for Credence to take, to pull him into an embrace, and for the first time in his short miserable life, Credence laughed. The bubble of joy escaped him, beyond his control, and before he knew it, he was laughing and crying simultaneously. Newt pulled the boy to him, cradling him against his chest and engulfed him in an embrace, holding him close. He didn’t speak - didn’t quite know what to say, but he wanted to shower the boy with some of the love and compassion he’d been deprived of all his life. If his tears joined Credence’s, no one said a word. If Llewellyn himself got misty-eyed it only made Newt smile more widely. Llewellyn extended a hand, and ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately, then gently rubbed his back in a way that he hoped was soothing.
It was.
Credence felt like he was in heaven. He finally cried himself out. He slowly pulled away from Newt and looked at them with dark, swollen eyes. His features still blurred as the obscurus re-settled inside him, but he looked as if a tremendous weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
For the first time in his life, Credence felt happy. He felt safe. He felt...home.
Newt smiled at him gently. “My brave young man.”
If Credence had known about patronus charms at that moment, he would have recognized that moment for what it was - a patronus-worthy memory.
Unfortunately, that moment didn’t last long.
A crash sounded in the distance, and a man leapt out from the shadows, wand raised.
Newt barely had time to tackle Llewellyn and Credence to the ground before the hexes rained down on them. He cast a hasty shielding charm, but was knocked backwards with the tremendous force of one of the curses. It blasted a hole in the floor beside him.
A series of cracks outside announced the arrival of the Auror forces.
“MOVE!” Newt shouted, grabbing Llewellyn and Credence roughly, and pulling them behind a massive brick column for cover.
“Get your own plaything, Scamander. Credence Barebone belongs to me…” came an oily voice Newt scrambled to his feet, wand trained on Graves.
Llewellyn grabbed on to Credence and hugged him close, trying to shield him as best he could.
Graves blasted Newt with a volley of curses and hexes, which Newt could only just block. With Newt on the defensive, Graves took the opportunity to slam Llewellyn and Credence with a powerful jinx. They were thrown apart - limp as rag dolls, they soared across the room. Llewellyn crashed bonelessly into some machinery, Credence against the floor in the middle of the cavernous hall. Graves laughed coldly and began to attack Credence.
“CREDENCE, RUN!” shouted Newt. He threw himself (and a mighty powerful shield charm) between Graves and Credence. It seemed to hold for a moment before shattering under the relentless assault.
Newt hit Graves with a series of complicated jinxes, which caused him to lose his concentration and stumble. But Graves was not beaten so easily. He was ruthless with his blasting. The aurors began to pour in. Queenie and Tina stood no chance against the multitude. In no time, they had surrounded them as well as Murdoch and George.
Graves blasted Newt off his feet again, then spun around and hit Credence with the CruciatusCurse. Newt struggled to his feet as the boy fell to the floor, shrieking in pain. In an instant the obscurus began to seep out swirling angrily as it grew.
“STOP! YOU’RE HURTING HIM!” shouted Newt, and he blasted Graves with a nasty hex that sent him flying backwards.
“CREDENCE!” Newt shouted, but it was too late. The obscurus groaned and expanded, its rage and pain so palpable that the very air in the room vibrated with it.
Llewellyn desperately tried to pull himself up as he started in horror at the scene before him.
Graves laughed cruelly, and hit the obscurus with spell after spell as the obscurus roared.
“Come ON! SHOW ME WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF!”
The obscurus lashed out at Graves, but he was too fast for it. His powerful shield charm deflected the blow, but the bricks littered around him on the floor turned to dust.
The aurors watched on in horror, unsure of what to do as the obscurus raged.
A few of them took their wands off of Newt and the others and pointed them at the obscurus. Someone fired a spell.
“NO!” shouted Graves, getting between them and the obscurus, “NO! Wands down! No one hurt him. If any of you fire at him, you answer to me!”
Another crack announced the arrival of yet more magicals.
“Aurors, on my orders, fire at will at the obscurus,” came a voice from the crowd. A hush fell over the crowd.
“No wait!” said Newt desperately
“NO!” shrieked Graves.
“FIRE!”
In the end, the obscurus did not stand a chance. The full-frontal assault of the Auror Forces of Ontario tore the obscurus to shreds like paper.
“NO! CREDENCE!!” Shouted Newt, and he fell to the floor, in anguish. He covered his mouth with his hands as he broke down in tears. Llewellyn grabbed his arm and rested a hand on his shoulder, holding him up, eyes watering, throat too tight to speak.
“How COULD YOU?” shrieked Graves. He wheeled around at the gathered aurors. None of them could meet his eyes. “You FOOLS! Do you realize what you’ve DONE?!”
“What was done was done on MY orders, Mr. Graves,” came the same voice that had ordered the aurors to fire.
The silent aurors parted. Down the middle of the auror forces strode a woman. She was resplendently dressed in ornate purple robes. She walked, her head held high, her back ram-rod straight. Walking three paces behind her was Terrance Meyers, wand at the ready. Followed by…INSPECTOR BRACKENRIED?
Whispers followed as they passed.
“Madam Prime Minister,” said Graves with venom in his voice.
So this was the Right Honorable Willow King, the Magical Prime Minister of Canada. From her dark eyes, to her sharp features, to her rich voice, like velvet - she exuded power.
“Mr. Graves, do you find fault with my decision?”
“History will remember you for it - what happened here was not right.”
“That beast was responsible for the death of several muggles, and for very nearly exposing our world and endangering the Statute of Secrecy - our most sacred laws.”
“Laws that have us scuttering like rats in the gutter - laws that demand us to conceal our natures, forcing us to cower in fear lest our true identities are discovered. I ask you, Madam King - I ask you all gathered here this night...who do these laws protect? Us? Or them?” He turned with anger at Llewellyn whose grip tightened on Newt’s arm. Then he turned on Murdoch and George who stood beside Tina and Queenie. Lastly he wheeled on Brackenreid. The Inspector's eyes narrowed, and he clenched and unclenched his fists as if longing to acquaint them with Mr. Graves.
Tina’s face was one of betrayal and disbelief, her eyes fixed on Graves
“I refuse to bow down any longer,” he said finally, twirling his wand in his fingers.
Tina and Newt had their wands on Graves in an instant. Tina leapt in front of the Minister King as Graves turned and fired and Newt parried his blow with a powerful shield charm. They were off, duelling, moving at lightning speed.
“Aurors, arrest Mr. Graves,” commanded Madam King. But no one moved, so transfixed they were with the duel that moved with the fluidity and choreography of a dance. No one dared get between them. Newt parried another blow, and retaliated with another that Graves awkwardly dodged. With Graves distracted, Newt narrowed his eyes and waved his wand. The broken bricks rose into the air, transforming into a humongous flock of birds. They swelled and swooped around the room in a murmuration that engulfed Graves and brought him to his knees. Tina was at Newt’s side in an instant. She deftly disarmed Graves, and covered him with her wand.
“There’s a slight problem, Madam Prime Minister - this is not Mr. Graves,” said Newt.
“What do you mean?” she demanded.
The man who called himself Graves glared at Newt viciously. Newt pointed his wand at Graves, determined and ruthless. He shouted “REVELIO!”
There were several gasps and cries along the crowd.
Graves face melted into the terrifying visage of none other than Gellert Grindelwald.
“Who is that?” asked George softly to Queenie.
“Grindelwald, the Evil Wizard - the terrorist he accused Newt of following this whole time…”
“What a devious villain!”
Grindelwald laughed.
“Do you really think you can hold me?” he asked of Madam King.
“We will certainly do our best...Meyers!”
“Ma’am,” he said, instantly at her side.
“Take this filth away.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Llewellyn turned around and pointed at four of the most trustworthy aurors. They immediately raced over and seized Grindelwald. Newt cancelled the transfiguration with a wave of his hand, the birds vanished in poofs of brick dust.
Grindelwald looked at him with his head cocked to his side.
“Will we die, just a little?”
Newt shot him a look of disgust.
“That’s enough out of you,” snapped one of the aurors. They dragged him away from Newt and vanished with a Crack.
“Mr. Meyers, our next priority is to find Mr. Graves. We will put our best auror on it... Mr. Samson? ” she said, still looking at Meyers.
“Yes Ma’am,” said Samson running forward. He was sporting two spectacular black eyes, yet he still managed to somehow look smug. Queenie rolled her eyes.
“Porpentina Goldstein will be taking the reins.”
Tina looked stunned.
“Ma’am?” said Samson, utterly flabbergasted. He approached her, laughing condescendingly, “Surely such an important task should go to your Deputy Head Auror for the Province of Ontario. ”
“Precisely right.”
Samson managed his “Ma’am….I am the Deputy Head Auror.”
Madam King smiled cruelly.
“No, Samson, you were the Deputy Head Auror. Auror Goldstein will have your job. Your services will no longer be required. Please turn in your badge to Mr. Meyers. Your desk will be cleared and your possessions sent along to your address.”
Samson was indignant. “But! But!”
Meyers steered him forcefully away from the Magical Prime Minister.
“Ma’am?” asked Tina.
“Auror Goldstein?”
“I don’t…”
“Do not insult yourself and me by finishing that sentence, Deputy Head Auror Goldstein. Of all the aurors in this department, you were the only one to notice that Graves was compromised. You did the right thing, rather than following his orders blindly. I task you to find Auror Graves, and when you do, I just might reward you with his job too. ”
Tina blushed furiously. New smiled at her sadly.
“The rest of you,” she said turning at the gathered aurors - “Damage control. I want this place to look like nothing happened. Someone track down the muggle night watchman, make him believe he dreamt it all," she said pointing at one of the aurors. "You lot," she said pointing at another group, "Repair the obviously magical damages to the city…but not all of it. There's too many witnesses to the destruction. All we can do is control what they believe about what happened. Meyers!”
“Ma’am,” said Meyers nervously.
“Get in touch with the press, and your Muggle contacts. Present the usual sort of cover story for what happened tonight.”
“Ball-lightning? Localized Tornado?”
“Surprise me.”
“Ma’am,” said Meyers with a quick bow.
The remaining aurors set out to follow Madam King’s orders. She turned to Brackenreid and winked.
Brackenreid smiled and made his way over to Murdoch, George and Queenie.
“Sir, how…” began Murdoch.
“Top secret, Me Ol’ Mucker.”
George smiled weakly.
Halfway across the room, Llewellyn stood silently beside a heartbroken Newt. Both watched the last flakes of the obscurus as they dissipated up the chimney. Newt bowed his head, and he seemed to be curling in on himself. He was miles away, his mind somewhere dark and broody. George approached cautiously, as Llewellyn gently lay a hand on Newt’s shoulder. Newt turned towards them, his eyes filled with tears. He blinked them away roughly, wiping at his face angrily.
Llewellyn nodded, his throat also too tight to speak. He smiled sadly.
“You were so close, Newt,” said George softly.
“Doesn’t matter does it? Bloody trigger-happy Aurors.”
George cleared his throat and nodded over Newt’s shoulder.
Madam King and Meyers made their way over to him.
“Why did you have to kill him?” Newt said, in a voice too tired and pained for a man so young, “He was just a child. A child who suffered more pain and abuse than any child ever should. And you know just as well as I do that he was not in control, that it was the obscurus.”
“Brilliant though you may be in matters of magical creatures, Mr. Scamander, no one has successfully separated an obscurial from an obscurus. They’re precious rare already, thank goodness," said Madam King.
“Newt almost succeeded, if not for Grindelwald's intervention.” snapped Llewellyn.
The Prime Minister didn’t look at Llewellyn. She just stared more carefully at Newt before stating, “We appear to be in debt to you, Mr. Scamander….though I’m afraid unofficially, officially this never happened...Inspector, Detectives, Constable, thank you for the part you played in saving the city. Unfortunately yours is also a debt of which no one can know. Obliviate the muggles, Meyers.”
Queenie gasped and grabbed George’s arm in horror, “No!”
“Ma’am? Surely not!” Said Inspector Brackenreid.
“I’m afraid it’s the only way. Our secrets must be kept. It’s nothing personal, it’s merely the most prudent course of action.”
“Actually, Madam Prime Minister, with all due respect, perhaps it would be more prudent to allow them to keep their memories this time…” interrupted Newt, his voice steely, his eyes intense. “Meyers believed them to be trustworthy and capable enough to involve them in this investigation. They were integral in unravelling and solving the mystery when, if you’ll forgive me, your own aurors failed to do so...
And as you said, this never happened. Therefore, there is nothing to obliviate - because admitting that there is something to obliviate would mean having to admit to the grave mistakes made by the Canadian Magical Government - overlooking a powerful magical child, a fourteen-year-old who should have been picked up and placed in a magical training institution years ago - the gross negligence and incompetence that condemned him, by your government, to unspeakable abuse, and whose actions resulted in his untimely death...A government who wasn’t able to realize that their top law enforcement officer was missing and replaced by an imposter…and not just any imposter mind...an internationally reviled dark wizard of great notoriety...but like you said, nothing happened. So there’s no need for anyone to be obliviated.”
She narrowed her eyes and was silent for a long while. Newt met her eyes unflinchingly, his eyebrows slightly raised in challenge.
“I’ve underestimated you, Mr. Scamander. You have the makings of a fine politician...are you sure you weren’t a Slytherin?”
“Hufflepuff through and through, Ma’am.”
She raised her eyebrows.
“So…” prompted Newt.
“Get them out of my sight Mr. Scamander.”
They left quickly before she changed her mind.
* * * * * * *