A/N: So in response to the writing challenge by FrozenFlames12, I have written this where Newt joins Grindelwald. This contains major spoilers for Crimes of Grindelwald, so if you haven't seen the movie and do not want to be spoiled, then don't read. I'm not sure how long this will be, for now it might be a three shot, but could be longer if prompts are submitted cause I don't know where this story is going. (For those who have seen the movie, it might be out of order in terms of conversation, so I apologize for that, but taking creative license though I might revise it later)
Anyway, enjoy the show fellow wizards!
Summary: Newt Scamander didn't do sides, but a chance was presented to him and one he was not sure would come again. His creatures meant everything to him, how could he ignore the opportunity to protect them? Everyone fights for something, he would fight for them and for the people he loved.
Part One
"Mr. Scamander," called Grindelwald, "Do you think Dumbledore will mourn for you?"
The pale haired wizard stood as though he were the ringmaster, center stage with a ring of blue fire around him. Grindelwald looked directly at Newt then, his words hanging in the air. There was no way around the blue fire, no way of escape that seemed to clear them except for apparating. The fire had raged around the room, taking away those in its path and who could not react quick enough to draw protection.
Newt and Theseus managed to keep the flames at bay when they came too close, Tina and Leta were further away from the blue fire. The fires seemed to avoid Queenie and Jacob, but Newt paid little attention to this as the flames kept coming for him. For a moment, the flames settled down. His gaze was brought to Queenie and Jacob, both of which were on the lower steps too close to the fire for Newt's liking. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he could only make one phrase from Queenie because of her shrill cry to Jacob.
"Please come with me!"
Newt glanced at Tina, who was watching her sister warily and a broken expression crossed her face. Her mouth turned in a frown, her eyes never moving away from her sister. The younger Scamander looked back at Queenie, who had turned away from Jacob and now stood in the blue flames before Grindelwald.
"Queenie, no," called Tina.
Newt didn't have to look at her to know that the expression on her face pained, he could hear it in her cry. When Queenie stood on the platform, she looked back over her shoulder at Jacob, before her eyes found Tina's. Then she was gone.
Before Newt could process what Queenie had done, the blue fire had streamlined to him and his brother. The pair collapsed on the stairs, their wands raised, barely keeping the flames away from them.
Leta had called Grindelwald's attention to herself, the flames ceasing in their attack on the brothers. Theseus called out to her, he tried to get closer, but the flames blocked his path. As she walked over Newt could barely make out the words over the ringing in his ears. Grindelwald opened his hand to her, she seemed to hesitate as she looked at it.
Her gaze turned to the brothers, her eyes flickered between the two as she said, "I love you."
Without another word or glance, Leta walked through the flames behind Grindelwald. The ache in Newt's chest became more pronounced as he watched her disappear from view, flying away in a cloud of dark grey smoke. Theseus gripped his wand tighter, Newt could tell that despite his brother's control over his emotions, could clearly see the pain written across his face.
"Newt Scamander, Dumbledore's chosen champion," said Grindelwald with an air of mockery around those words.
Newt swallowed thickly, his attention turning to Grindelwald, but he said nothing in return. His wand was still raised in case the blue flames came back to him or his brother, though he still had the same body language as always. Unsure and as if he were trying to remain as invisible as he could.
Grindelwald seemed to enjoy making him squirm, but his tone shifted to confused and disbelieving as he said, "Why do you fight for them Mr Scamander? What have they ever done for you or... your creatures?"
Grindelwald was close to a silvertongue, Newt reminded himself of this as he carefully watched the dark wizard. His pale skin glowing in the flames, his two eye colors making it hard to focus on his gaze. Grindelwald claimed he did not want to inspire violence, though there were reports of such things Newt knew that the Ministries could be just as violent if not more so at times. They walked in a killed a young girl when a stunning spell would have worked just fine and as far as Newt knew, Grindelwald had not killed anyone.
"You intend to enslave the muggle population," Newt said, his tone the same as always, "and dispose of anyone who disagrees. You, you want wizards to rule over, over everything. Oppression of those who are different."
Grindelwald tilted his head to the side at the answer. Though that was apart of his plans, it was not the core of what he wanted to get the wizard population to believe in or follow. No, he wanted equality for everyone, for wizards to no longer hide and live in fear of discovery. To no longer bow to the muggles who seemed to rule over their everyday lives without even knowing of their existence. It was time that wizards take their rightful place in the world.
"That is not what I want. My goal is for all wizards to no longer hide their true nature, to no longer live in fear or in shame," explained Grindelwald with a genuine look upon his face, "These aurors, the ministry, only seeks to have us cower in fear. The law demands us to stay hidden."
"To protect us," argued Theseus, his nostrils flaring, "To keep us safe."
Grindelwald raised an eyebrow, "Us? It is not to protect wizards Mr Scamander. The law protects muggles, the ones who fear what they don't understand, who destroy what they do not know. Though I suppose the same could be said about the Ministries, isn't that right Newt?"
Grindelwald's gaze flickered over to Newt, a knowing expression on his face. He remembered those months ago when his creatures went lose in New York, he remembered how the Ministry was going to dispose of his creatures. Having the younger Scamander on his side had not initially crossed his mind, considering his strong ties to Dumbledore, but that could work in his favor having Newt on his side. Those creatures could provide some use.
"Was it not the Ministry who almost took and killed your beloved creatures," Grindelwald said addressing Newt, "Were they not the ones who would have you locked away for protecting them? Shaming your differences?"
Newt remembered the helplessness and terror he felt all those months ago. On his knees before the ministry, Tina had handed him over and Jacob beside him. The echoes of his pleading and desperate voice filled his mind.
Don't hurt those creatures.
"Albus Dumbledore got you in this mess, nearly taking your creatures away. You know this Mr Scamander, people destroy what they don't understand. They want to get rid of what they do not know."
Nothing in there is dangerous.
"If you disagree with those above your rank, what happens," asked Grindelwald as he leaned forward slightly, "They hurt you, take away what you love most."
Please don't hurt my creatures.
"You want to hurt people," said Newt, his voice slightly raised.
Grindelwald shook his head, a sideways smile on his face, "Oh no, I don't want to hurt anyone. I will for the greater good. For us wizards and magical creatures alike, to be free."
They aren't dangerous! Please!
Newt pointed his wand at Grindelwald, the dark wizard didn't so much as bat an eye at the motion. He knew that the flames would protect him and that the younger Scamander would not fire a spell at him. After all, from the looks of it he had Newt hanging to his every word. He could use him to his advantage, especially some of those creatures. While he knew that Newt would likely not put them willingly in harm's way, if he could convince Newt that circumstances would require their aid, he would agree. A magizoologist would be an interesting addition and provide somewhat of an edge.
Theseus noticed his brother looking more uncertain than usual, his expression hesitant and almost lost. A hint of belief had crossed Newt's face much to Theseus horror and concern.
"Newt," called Theseus, getting his brother's attention, "Don't listen to him. He's a liar! The enemy!"
Newt looked at his brother, but his focus quickly turned back to Grindelwald. This wizard was dark, he was not someone he could trust… but he spoke of freedom, truth and even love. The love for his creatures, the freedom that they never truly got.
"I am not your enemy Newt," continued Grindelwald, he seemed sincere in his words, "Join me now. I can protect your creatures, I can ensure that you will never be treated harshly for your difference. The ministry doesn't care about them. I want all the magical world to be free and treated fairly."
Newt thought over those words. So far a lie had not left Grindelwalds lips, everything the wizard had said to him was true. Would his offer be the same? Queenie had gone with him for Jacob, he would make it so she could be with him. Credence had gone through, to find out where he belonged. Leta had joined him as well, to have a cause and perhaps to assuage the guilt she felt for the loss of her brother. They all had their reasons for joining. Why couldn't he do the same for his creatures?
If he joined Grindelwald, his creatures would be safe from those who wanted to dispose of them. How could he pass up this chance? He lowered his wand, letting it hang at his side as he continued to look at the pale wizard. Grindelwald nearly had him, he knew it too.
The wizard waved his hand, the flames moved to come between Newt and his brother, causing both Scamanders to jump back in surprise. Newt looked away from his fallen brother to Grindelwald, who had a hand outstretched to him. A promise in his eyes.
"Join me."
Newt took a sharp breath as he stared at Grindelwald's hand. The promise of a better life for his creatures, for them to be taken care of and no longer forced to be hidden away. He could barely hear the protests from his brother as he took a step down, he ignored the mirrored expressions of horror from Jacob and Tina from the corners of his vision with the next few steps. The disappointment from Dumbledore he slightly feared, but that man had hardly done anything worthwhile for him. Had drawn him into this war, had played him. And for what, for his creatures to continually be pursued.
Newt stopped in front of the blue flames, a pulse of fear went through him as he recalled others being killed by the fire. Could this choice truly be correct? He spoke of freedom, he spoke of truth, he spoke of love. Grindelwald kept his hand out towards him, even stepped right in front of the fire so his hand was in the middle of it. The flames didn't touch him.
"Newt, no!"
That was his brother.
"He's lying to you!"
That had been Jacob.
"Scamander," that was Tina's scream.
Newt looked over his shoulder back at her teary eyed face, he could make out the pink hue of her nose and cheeks. Her sister had just left to join the supposed dark side, now the man she loved was leaving her as well. A bit of doubt creeped into him, he had longed to see her for months. Apparently she had missed him as well.
Part of him wanted to reach out and call for her to come with him. He could protect his creatures, he could have Tina by his side. The look in her eyes told him she would not agree, the mournful and pleading expression told him now she would not come.
No sound made it to his ears, but he know by the way her mouth moved she said, "Please."
He swallowed thickly, "I'm sorry Tina. I, I love you."
Tears he noticed slip down her cheeks, her heart breaking as she watched him from afar.
Newt turned away from her, he stepped into the flames awaiting for the burn of fire, but it never came. The wizard looked up to Grindelwald's open hand, his smile smug and victorious. Newt took his hand, allowing the dark wizard to pull him onto the platform. Grindelwald waved his wand, Newt's case and his niffler flew through the flames unscathed into Newt's waiting arms. His grip tightened around the handle, he held his niffler closer to him. He would protect them all, no matter what. This had to be the right decision, he hoped it was.
"Welcome home," said Grindelwald.
Newt glanced at his brother, then to Jacob and finally on Tina. Her mouth was parted as if she were in pain, her gleaming eyes shimmering in the blue light that reflected slightly off the water lines down her cheeks. He was pulled away in the same way as every other wizard had been minutes ago, the darkness clouding his vision and wind rushing around him.