Talking is Difficult
"My apologies, Mr Scamander and whoever the others are" The man called out with a smirk. I rolled my eyes, rude.
He continued, "I shall return and release you when Credence is dead!"
"Kama, wait!" Tina pleaded running towards the door.
"You see, either he dies... or I do"He suddenly clasped a hand to his eye.
"No,no,no,no, oh no" the man growled, he started jerking convulsively and slid to the floor, unconscious.
"What just happened?" I frowned a bit confused at what the man just did.
"Not sure" Newt lamely scratched his head thinking.
"Definitely not the best start of a rescue attempt" I shrugged looking at the woman I hadn't seen in months.
Tina threw her head back at me, "This was a rescue attempt? You've just lost me my only lead!"I flinched,
"well, how was the interrogation going before we turned up?"Tina just sent me a dark look and strode back to the back of the cave. This reunion definitely wasn't going well.
"Newt!" Jacob suddenly called out, I walked over and noticed that Pickett had picked the lock.
"Well done Pick!" Newt praised the animal. I opened the door and walked over to the man laying on the ground. I bended down and checked his pulse making sure he was still alive. The others joined me.
"You need this man?" I asked looking up at Tina. She nodded,
"Yes. I think this man knows where Credence is, Mrs. Grindelwald"I froze at the mention of my last name, nobody had ever called me Mrs. Grindelwald.
The tension was rising and I knew even Jacob and Newt felt it.Before anyone could say anything else an earth-shattering roar from somewhere above them appeared.
What on earth could be making that sound?
"Well, that'll be the Zouwu" Newt confirmed, he grabbed his wand and Disapparated.
"Alright, Jacob can you help me with Kama please?" I asked the muggle. He nodded and together we pull of the body. I got out my wand.
I give Tina a look and thankfully she understands. She grabs Jacob's sleeve and we all dissaparated.a moment later we apprate in a street. I noticed Newt standing in the middle of the bridge.
A large cat-like animal is stood in front of him, that's probably the Zouwu.
"Newt, get out if there!" Jacob called out. instead, Newt stooped down slowly and opened his case. The Zouwu snarled, crouched and began to advance on Newt.
I raised my wand towards my friend if the animal came too close to hurting Newt I could teleport him away.
Suddenly Newt pulled something out of his case, a fluffy toy bird on a stick and rope. I rolled my eyes, of course, he'd have that.The Zouwu's tail twitched and crouched very low. Then with a sudden bound it soared through the air towards Newt.
Just as I was about to teleport Newt away he dropped the bird in the case, the Zouwu sailed after it in a flash of rainbow color.With a huge slam, Newt shut the case.
The whole ordeal started to gain unwanted attention as a crowd was slowly forming. Jacob and I carried Kama as we hurried over to Newt, Tina followed us.
"I know a place where we can keep him," Newt told the group referencing to Kama.
A few seconds later we had disapparated once more.
We arrived at an old house. Nobody was home but Newt assured us we were free to stay here. Newt immediately disappeared into his case probably making sure the Zouwu was okay. Jacob and I laid Kama down on a couch. The house was filled with many potions, trinkets and there even if a glass ball.
Jacob immediately went to find food. I watched as Tina got a bottle of smelling salts out of her pocket, she started to try and wake him up. I wondered if I should say something but I decided against it.
I explored the old room. I assumed an alchemist lived here.Suddenly my eyes fell onto a red glowing stone, my mouth fell open.
We were in Nicholas Flamel's house!? I'd always wanted to meet him, apparently, he was an old friend of Dumbledore. I stared at the stone knowing it was the philosopher's stone, it could make someone immortal.
Albus had told me about it. Not many people knew about its use yet.
A roar came out of Newt's case, I looked at it wondering if I should just help Newt. I looked up and my eyes met with Tina who immediately looked away.
I gulped, this situation really wasn't easy.
Jacob entered the room and immediately went over to me.
"There's no food, I've looked everywhere," He said disappointedly.
"Have you already talked to Tina?"
he said it way too loud and I knew Tina had heard it anyway, I decided to ignore him though.
"Have you looked in the attic?" I suggested. Jacob frowned, "Food in the attic?"
"You never know?" I shrugged. Newt exited his case with a grin.
"She's responded well to the Dittany. She was born to run, you see. I think she'd just lacking in confidence" Newt explained referencing to the Zouwu.
"Newt, have you got anything in your case that might help revive this man? I need to question him. I think he knows who Credence really is. The scars on his hand suggest an unbreakable vow" Tina asked Newt rambling a little.
At the mention of the unbreakable vow, I immediately got reminded of the blood pact I made with my brother. It basically was the same thing, I covered up the scar on my hand that was still there as I had made the wound not that long ago.
I sat down next to Kama and looked at him.
"Unbreakable vows are complicated" I whispered not realizing Tina heard it too.
"Ever made one, Mrs Grindelwald?" She asked as if she already knew I had made one. I hastily shook my head no, I technically never made an unbreakable vow.
"Lumos" Newt said the point of his wand started glowing. We started to examine Kama's body. He pointed his wand near the eye, a tiny flicker of a tentacle was seen. I frowned.
"What was that?" Tina gasped.
"There must be a water dragon in that sewer - they carry these parasites, you see" Newt turned to look at Jacob, "Jacob?"
The Muggle stared at him expectantly, "Yeah?"
"In my case, in the pocket there, you'll find a pair of tweezers," Newt asked. I realized something and pulled a pair of tweezers out my pocket.
"Here" I handed it to Newt who gave me a surprised look.
"Why were you carrying tweezers?" Tina asked confused, I noticed a twinkle of joy in her eyes though.
"Don't ask" I just shrugged.
"You might not want to watch this" Newt told Tina, she just sent him a reassuring smile, "I can handle it"I admired her for the courage, Tina really was such a strong and independent woman.
I hated that she wasn't single anymore. I could never have her.Newt caught and pulled the tentacle out of Kama's eye.
"Come on. You're all right. Jacob, will you take that from me?" Newt asked his friend. Jacob awkwardly got handed the animal.
"Ew! Calamari!" the man mumbled taking a few steps back. Getting the tentacle out must've worked though because Kama started muttering words,
"I must kill him"I shared a worried look with Newt, Tina was too focused on the man to notice.
"Who? Credence? Who?" Tina tried desperately. She didn't get an answer though.
"It may take him a few hours to recover. The parasite's poison is quite strong" Newt informed Tina, she sighed.
"I'll have to go to the ministry with what I've got" She stood up from where she was sitting.
"It was nice seeing you all again," She said definitely not looking at me. She left the room, I felt my heart break once more.Tina was being so distant and I hated it.
Jacob seemed to notice it though, he ran after Tina,
"Hey! Hold on a second, will you? Well, hold on! Wait! Tina!" He called after her but she was already gone. A moment later he came walking back into the room.
"What did you do?" He asked me perplexed. My hands shot up in defense,
"I didn't do anything, she just ran"
"Then chase after her you idiot!" Jacob exclaimed as she started to push me towards the door. I sighed nervously,
"Fine"I walked out the door, my eyes fell onto Tina who already was hurriedly walking at the end of the street. I ran after her hoping that whatever I was doing was right.
"Tina! Hey!" I called out to her, I noticed that she visibly froze before continuing and even stepping up her pace.
"Tina! Just listen to me!" I pleaded as I neared the woman. She turned around facing me, I froze and felt my heart beating in my throat.
"Mrs. Grindelwald, I need to go talk to the Ministry! I'm just here to do my job" Tina told me exaggerated.
"I visited you, you know," I told her taking her completely off guard.
"What?" She frowned in shock not expecting me to say that from all things.
"In New York" I confirmed,
"Queenie opened the door" Before I could say anymore all the lights in the street extinguished. All the buildings around us got wrapped in black banners.I cursed my brother, he had the WORST timing.
We stepped in the middle of the road, the conversation was forgotten. We stared curiously as black silk fell out the sky shrouding the buildings in darkness.
"It's Grindelwald!" Newt yelled at us running towards us from Nicholas' house.
"He's calling his followers" I sighed, how was I supposed to join my brother if Newt and Tina were here with me?
"It's too late. Grindelwald's come for Credence. He might already have him" Tina said in distress. It really pained me to know I will betray her soon. I had to, to protect her. I suddenly had a plan that might get me closer to my brother without it looking like I was on his side.
"It's not too late, we can still get to him first?" I suggested. Newt nodded agreeing, "We need to go to the French Ministry of Magic"
"That's the last place Credence would go!" Tina disagreed. The Ministry was the last place I should even go too.My brother was definitely not there.
"There's a box hidden at the Ministry safe. It's a box that can tell us who Credence really is." Newt informed us.
"Wait, what does that have to do with finding Credence?" I asked, Newt was giving me a mysterious vibe and I didn't like it.
"Yeah? And why a box? What are you talking about?" Tina joined in as well. Newt just sent us a smirk, "Trust me"I rolled my eyes at where we'd go, off to the Ministry.
-
We were all standing in a nearby alley, looking out over the square where the entrance to the French Ministry was.Newt was rummaging through his pockets,
"You realize you're in this country illegally and they will probably arrest you?" I asked my friend, he just sent me a grin before pulling out a tine bottle.
"Is that polyjuice?" Tina wondered curiously. Newt nodded before drinking the potion.
"Just enough to get me inside" Newt slowly started to transform in no one other than his brother Theseus Scamander.
I rolled my eyes, "Of course you'd change into Theseus"
"Who?" Tina had no idea who Theseus was.
"My brother, Theseus. He's an Auror... and a hugger" Newt explained to the woman,
"And annoying" I added. Newt gently poked me in my side, "Oi, you behave"
I smirked, "alright the box is in the ancestral records room right?"
Newt nodded confirming it, "It's three floors down"We entered the French ministry, keeping our heads down. Once inside I kept looking around though, that was when my eyes met with the real Theseus Scamander who was standing on a balcony. He was glaring at us before he started the chase.
"Oh no!" I groaned, I grabbed both Tina and Newt's arms as I pulled them along. They had seen the man as well and started running.
"What is your brother doing here?" I yelled at Newt, we were all running.
"Probably for your brother, I don't suppose you can Disapparate on Ministry premises in France, can you?" Newt answered back, we were running downstairs.
"No" Tina confirmed.
"Pity" The potion wore off and Newt was back looking like himself again.
"Oh no, Newt!" I called out as all the posters on the walls changed into portraits of Newt. An alarm called out warning everyone that Newt was inside.
"Newt!" Theseus suddenly called behind us. He was chasing after us but we were quicker.
"That's your brother?" Tina asked still running, we rounded a corner.
"Yes" Newt confirmed, we sprinted through a door.
"NEWT, DREW, STOP!" Theseus yelled loudly. We entered a mailroom. Two elderly porters were pushing mailcarts across the circular room.
"Does he want to kill you?" Tina asked perplexed.
"Mostly Drew" Newt answered nodding towards me.
"Can confirm that" I shrugged. We sprinted past the mailcarts when Theseus sent a curse after us, the mailcart boxes came flying towards us.
Before I could react Tina blocked the spell,We stopped for a moment to breathe and look at Theseus.
"He needs to control his temper!" Tina pointed her wand at Theseus and slammed him down into a high chair that she had just conjured out of nowhere. With his hands bound, he flew backwards on the chair into a different room.
"That might have been the best moment of my life," I asked absolutely amazed.
"I agree" Newt laughed before we all continued running.We turned a corner and entered a beautiful atrium area in front of towering Art Nouveau doors carved to resemble trees. A very old woman behind a desk barred the way.
"Puis-je vous aider?" The woman asked us politely, I didn't really know what to do as I hadn't had any idea about what we were trying to find here.
"eh, Yes, this is Leta Lestrange" Newt started pointing at Tina, I froze at the mention of Leta's name.
"and she is-"
"her wife" tina finished bitterly. I just sent the most awkward smile to the woman. There's no way she could believe us.The woman looked into a book.
"Allez-y" She then said pointing at where we had to go.
"Merci" Tina whispered awkwardly. We entered the room and it was just the three of us.
"Leta Lestrange Newt? Really?" I turned towards my friend, he was trying to look innocent.
"Credence might be her lost brother" He tried telling me. I sighed, Corvus was dead. Only I knew that - if Leta hadn't told Theseus it. There was no way Credence was her brother.We had gone through all the trouble for nothing.
I was about to give him a piece of my mind when Tina said, in a sarcasm-filled voice, "Oh yeah I should've congratulated you on your marriage"We entered a dark area of the room.
"No, that-" I started to say but she interrupted me,
"Lumos" the tip of her wand started shining. There were books all around us.
"Lestrange" Tina said out loud before she set off, Newt and I quickly followed her. I joined her as Newt lagged behind knowing he should give us some space.
"Tina, listen. About Leta" I started nervously.
"Yes, I've just said, I am happy for you-" Tina told me, but I disagreed immediately.
"Yeah, well, don't"This seemed to get her attention as she suddenly stopped and spun around to me. She looked at me confused.
"Please don't be happy" I immediately regretted saying that.
"No, wait. I want you to be happy. I love that you're here. But don't be happy that I'm happy because I'm not." I rambled. Tina only seemed to be more and more confused now.
"I'm not married," I confirmed.
"What?" Tina questioned frowning.
"I was engaged to her a few years ago but before the wedding she uh" I looked at my feet embarrassed.
"She cheated on me with Newt's brother Theseus, a few months ago was their wedding. They asked Newt and I to be best man and woman... which is sort of mildly hilarious. The stupid magazine got it wrong" I rambled not stopping. I felt my heart beating in my throat.
I put my hands in my pockets as they started to shake, which is when I felt something. The picture.I grabbed it and drew it out of my pocket.
"I still have a picture of you," I said lamely, Tina's face was filled with emotions. I felt that she felt inordinately touched.
"Drew.." Her voice trailed off as if she didn't really know what she should say, her voice sounded incredibly soft though.
"Of course this picture doesn't do justice to the real you. In reality, you're-" before I could finish my sentence a loud bang called out.Then out of nowhere the shelves started to move.
"Quickly hold on to the shelves," Newt said suddenly interfering. We all quickly jumped on the shelves and were taken away through the room to whoever had summoned this bookshelf.The shelf suddenly stopped, we were hanging into the air staying as quiet as possible
"Records moved to Lestrange family tomb at Père Lachaise" a voice read out loud. I froze, I recognized that voice.
"Corcumrota" The same voice spoke. The shelf on which we sat slowly rotated around facing the woman.