Not Everything Is As It Seems
Newt and I were sitting close to the food table. The wedding venue was beautifully decorated and was filled with people. Newt and I kept out over everyone's way and were located in the corner, we both didn't want to interact with people. The only time we had to do something was after the vows had been said. Leta and Theseus were married.
Both Newt and I had to give a speech, mine was a basic wedding speech which was short and straight to the point. Nevertheless, Leta seemed to appreciate it.In Newt's speech, he talked about childhood memories with his brother and the time with Leta at Hogwarts. After a picture was taken of the four of us Newt and I quickly went out the spotlight.
"I'm so glad the Nifflers aren't here," Newt told me looking around the room. There was silver cutlery everywhere and the Nifflers would have the best time stealing it all.
"We should've taken them, it would've made for a good story," I told my best friend as I took another bite of this surprisingly good pie I was eating.
"Yes it would have" Newt agreed.
"What are you two talking about?" A familiar voice said. I looked up and saw that Leta had joined us. She sat herself down on an empty chair at our table.
"Nifflers" Newt told his friend, I nodded.
"How are they?" Leta wondered curiously.
"Oh, still as mischievous as ever" Newt grinned, he loved the Nifflers.
"Shouldn't you be with your husband?" I asked Leta. She just gave me a funny look, "He's talking with his friends so I thought I'll talk with mine"
"You invited a lot of people," I noticed. The room really was filled with many people. Back when Leta and I were supposed to get married we wanted a small private wedding as neither of us had many friends and family.
"Theseus has lots of friends and family" Leta explained, that made sense.
"Family I've been trying to avoid for a year" Newt grumbled, we all knew he'd rather spend time with his animals than with humans.
"How long do you want to bet until someone tries to start a conversation with you" I dared Newt.
"Within 10 minutes time and I bet 20 pounds" Leta jumped in surprising me.
"Alright, I say 15 minutes for 20" I agreed. Leta and I shared a mischievous smile. Immediately afterward I realized I had smiled at Leta, for the first time in years. It made me feel really guilty for some reason.
"With a bit of luck no family member talks to me today," Newt said. As on queue Theseus walked over, probably seeing his wife with me and becoming jealous.
"I'm glad both of you could attend" He smiled, I rolled my eyes. I bet he secretly hoped I didn't come.
"You owe me 20 pounds, Grindelwald" Leta grinned. Theseus looked at Leta and I suspicious.
"Fine" I groaned, I got my wallet out of my pocket and paid what I owed Leta.
"We bet on how long it would take for a family member to talk to Newt" Leta explained to her husband. I just nodded.
"That reminds me, Newt, dad wants to talk to you," Theseus told his brother.
"Alright, time to get lectured about my life choices" Newt stood up and walked off into the crowd on his way to find his father.Theseus turned to his wife, "We should say hi to Henry" He held out his hand towards Leta. She sent me an apologetic look before she grabbed his hand and walked away with him leaving me alone at the table. I sighed, I wished Tina was here.For a second my eyes fell onto the alcoholic beverages, the urge to drink a glass was strong. Thankfully I managed to push the feeling down, not today Drew, not today.
-
I was walking through the streets of New York. A few weeks ago Tina managed to get my travel visa approved again which is why I was making a surprise visit to the woman.After Leta and Theseus' wedding two months ago I had only received two letters from Tina. Both were quite short and telling me about how busy she was with work. I figured she was too busy with work to sent me any letters.
I walked up to the apartment complex where she lived with Queenie. Thankfully I found it quite quickly, I was glad my memory worked great so I remembered the streets.
I walked up the staircase making sure to be silent as to not warn the landlord for any unwanted visitors.With an excited smile I knocked on the door. I heard noises coming from behind it. Suddenly the door flung open revealing Queenie who looked startled.
"So that's why I couldn't read the mind of who was at the door" Queenie whispered to herself. I smiled,
"Hey, is Tina here? I'm bringing her a surprise visit"
Queenie frowned, "I don't think that's a good idea"
Now it was me who was confused, "What?"
"Who's there!" a familiar voice called out.
"Queenie tell me you didn't," I said surprised just before Jacob appeared next to Queenie.
"Drew!" He cheered giving me a hug.
"You realize this is not allowed right?" I told Queenie, she just nodded shyly.
"You sound just like Tina"Where even was Tina? I had many questions.
"Where is she anyway?" I asked not realizing the effect the answer would have on me.
"Oh she's out on a date with an Auror, what was his name? Archilles?" Jacob told me totally oblivious to my feelings for Tina. I froze, Tina was out on a date?
"Archilles Tolliver dear, and I think you should probably not say anymore," Queenie told the No-Maj as she pushed him back into the living room which he didn't mind.
"Good seeing you again Drew! Say hi to Newt for me" He called out from the room as I was still frozen to my spot.
"She's on a date?" I managed to say, Queenie sent me a worried look.
"I'm sorry, she saw a picture of you and Leta thinking you guys got married. She figured she'd move on"
My heart broke right there. Tina really thought I got back together with Leta Lestrange.
"But I'm not married to Leta, she married Newt's brother Theseus" I frowned trying to hide my emotions.
"Oh no" Queenie said surprised, I nodded.
"Then I'm really sorry for you Drew"as if things couldn't get any worse we both heard the doors downstairs open. Tina's laugh filled the hall as she was laughing about something someone had said.
"It's Tina, don't let her see you please" Queenie pleaded. I frowned,
"Why?" I asked. Queenie sent me a really sad look,
"I don't want her to feel sad about her mistake"I heard Tina and someone else walk up the stairs. I quickly looked around not really knowing where to go. My eyes fell on an open window.
"Tell her I said hi," I told Queenie just before I got out my wand and transformed myself into a raven. I flew out the window, just in time as Tina had arrived home. I flew through the streets of New York, the sun was already setting, it would be dark soon.
I flew straight to the docks, there was no point staying here in New York if Tina did not want me here.
Once at the docks, I transformed back into myself and bought the first boat ticket home.A few hours later I was in my cabin. The boat had just left. It was storming outside, hard thunder could be heard all around. I could sense people's emotions through the wall and most were very scared that the boat would sink.
I didn't care, the boat could sink and I would drown and I wouldn't mind. I was sat on the bed. My head was filled with many thoughts. I felt like my heart had been ripped out. What was it with women and breaking my heart?
I felt tears well up in my eyes. It wasn't even Tina's fault. Tina and I hadn't been exclusive after all.I should've never gone to the stupid wedding.
The first tears burst out now, I laid down trying to prevent my tears from falling anymore but failing miserably.I had lost the person who gave me a reason to want to live and see the future. What would I do?
My eyes fell on the bottle of wine standing on a small desk. I reached out and grabbed it. Alcohol had only ever calmed me in situations like these. I pulled it open and immediately took a couple of big gulps.
There was no going back now.
That night, without my knowledge Gellert Grindelwald escaped...
-
I was laying in my bed, just like I had done for the last couple of weeks. There was no point in getting up. I didn't know why I was this affected by Tina's 'betrayal' I had barely known the woman, it had just been a silly crush.
Yet I knew what Tina and I had was special. I had never felt like this with anyone before, not even Leta. It was as if there was a true connection there. Of course it didn't work out.
"Drew you have to get out" Newt pleaded he was standing next to my bed.
"Please leave me alone" I groaned putting the pillow over my head.
"No! How about you get some groceries?" Newt suggested.
He started to pull my blanket off of me. I groaned annoyed before I made a decision. At the grocery store they had alcohol.
"Fine" I mumbled. I grabbed the pillow again and threw it at Newt who just managed to catch it.
"Good" he smiled glad it worked,
"I'll lay some money on the table" with that he walked out my room.It took me a lot of effort to get out of my bed. As if that hadn't been enough at the supermarket it took me twice as long to find anything as my own thoughts kept distracting me.
I was glad when I was on my way home, walking through the streets.
I was taking sips from some very strong Vodka I had bought. It was already late so the odds of any police arresting me for consuming alcohol in a public area were small. The alcohol was very strong and i's felt myself getting tipsy and longing for my bed. As if it couldn't get worse it started to rain... hard. I felt the water poor onto me and soaking me entirely.
"Great" I sighed to myself. I quickly drank the entire bottle before tossing it in some bushes. I really did not care for anything once I was drunk.
My eyes fell onto a strange figure who was walking towards me. It was a man but his face was hidden by a big hat.
The guy didn't get wet, he must be a wizard using a spell. The moment he walked past me he grabbed my arm and pushed me into a nearby alley.
"Oi!" I yelled out yanking my arm away from him, I nearly fell but managed to keep myself standing. Only now I noticed that the guy was my brother, Gellert Grindelwald.
"Gellert?" I frowned surprised. My brother looked up at me, he looked just as mysterious as ever.
"Hi Drew" he smiled, before he continued, "Have you been drinking?"
I rolled my eyes, "That's none of your business" I slurred.
Gellert just sent me a smile, "I want to make an offer" he always had something charismatic about him. At that moment I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to alarm authorities even though I should as a criminal.
But he was also my brother. I hated to believe he wasn't as bad as everyone thought he was. Having an intoxicated mind also didn't help the situation.
"I'm not joining you" I said immediately. Gellert just gave me an annoyed look.
"Remember what we promised when we were younger? Until death" Gellert told me. I shrugged,
"we were kids and I didn't think you meant breaking the law and killing people"
Gellert did not seem affected by this confrontation though.
"I have an even better offer now"I didn't know why, but I was intrigued. I also was pretty sure he knew I was in a bad place and was using me for it. Yet I didn't care. I had already lost what mattered to me. I just wanted this situation to get over with so I can go back to bed.
"What is it?" I asked him, daring to give me something better.
"A blood pact, a promise bound by magic. If either of us breaks the promise then we'd die or are followed by bad luck" my brother explained. I was surprised, he'd make a blood pact with me?
"What's the promise you want to make?" I questioned suspiciously.
He grinned in response, "You promise to join my side and I'll promise not to hurt your friends"
I thought about it. I didn't care what happened to me so why would it matter if I joined his side if it meant my friends would be safe? A blood pact could also be a way to get him to die if ever needed to be, but I didn't want to think about it as a weapon towards him.
"Alright" I decided, I got nothing to lose anyway. Gellert smiled at my answer.
"What do I have to do?" I asked curiously. He sent me a reassuring smile, it took me back to the summer where he'd teach me how to fly a broomstick. I trusted him with my life.
"Follow my lead" Gellert got out his wand, I copied him and got out mine as well. He made a cut in his hand with the wand. I whispered a spell and with it I cut my hand with my wand. It hurt but just a little.He held out his bleeding hand towards me, signing for me to grab it. I nodded and grabbed his hand with my bleeding hand.
"I promise to not hurt - what are their names?" Gellert asked me.
"Tina Goldstein, Newt Scamander, Queenie Goldstein, and Jacob Kowalski" I told my brother. He nodded,
"I promise to not hurt Tina Goldstein, Newt Scamander, Queenie Goldstein and Jacob Kowalski" He promised. A white light started to glow around us. He send me a nod, now it was my turn.
"And I promise to be on your side" I promised not knowing what I was getting myself into. two drops of our blood floated out of our hands. They converted into one before a bottle appeared around it. My brother grabbed it out the sky.
"I'll hold on to it," He said pocketing the thing and letting go of my hand.
"That's it?" I wondered surprised. Gellert nodded,
"Yeah, you'll know when you're needed. Thank you for joining my side Drew" my brother told me honestly. I sent him a sad smile. If it meant keeping my friends I'd do anything. And if I was lucky I got to spend more time with my brother too. Win-win.
Before I could say anything Gellert had disapparated into the night. It was still raining, the groceries were all wet and soppy. I knew Newt wouldn't mind, he'd just be glad I left my bed today... and to my surprise, I'm glad I left my bed too.
I felt the alcohol flow through me, it was good to drink again.