For the Houses Competition. To avoid confusion, this is a missing scene for Crimes of Grindelwald - after Grindelwald's meeting but before the survivors travel to Hogwarts.

House: Ravenclaw

Year: 6

Category: Drabble

Prompt: Paris

Word count: 501

Title from Macbeth Act 5, Scene 5


When the sun comes up over Paris the next day, the city seems normal.

Newt doesn't know what he had been expecting, of course everything is normal. The Muggles would have no idea of what Grindelwald had done; they wouldn't even know who Grindelwald was. Even the Wizarding Quarter of Paris is business as usual - Newt doesn't understand how, but he supposes that even in the face of disaster, people find a way. He envies them the ability.

For Newt, it feels like the world has shifted on its axis. It's as though the sky is green and the grass is blue - as though, despite appearances, everything is upside down and back-to-front. As they stand in the Parisian streets, surveying life in the aftermath, he can tell that the others all feel it too. Jacob, Tina, Nagini, Theseus. Especially Theseus.

His brother looks shell-shocked, grief and fury and failure overwhelming him to the point of emptiness. Newt understands; he too had loved Leta once, and he still cannot quite wrap his mind around her death, despite the fact that it keeps playing on a loop in his mind. Leta - brave, beautiful, courageous Leta - torn apart by blue flame as he watched, helpless.

Theseus eventually notices him staring and crosses over to him, pulling Newt into a tight hug. Newt ducks his head in embarrassment, barely able to meet his brother's eyes when he is finally released. A silence falls between them and Newt begins to relax, going back to watching Paris.

"Did you love her?" Theseus asks suddenly, catching Newt off-guard. He doesn't answer, but shifts his gaze over to Tina, which is all the answer Theseus needs. He nods. "She loved you," he says, no hint of betrayal or anger in his voice.

Newt looks up, shocked. "She loved you," he replies, confused.

Theseus nods again. "I know. But I saw the way she looked at you, Newt. I don't think she ever stopped loving you, even if she didn't know it herself."

Newt flushes and looks down at the pavement, studying his shoes. "Leta and I…" he finally says. "We kept each other company. But we never- It never would have- Well, you know."

Theseus hums, looking over at Jacob and Tina. "I know I haven't always been there for you, Newt," he says. "But I'm proud of you. And they're lucky to have you."

"I think it's more the other way around, really," Newt jokes, making Theseus laugh. They exchange a brief smile, and Theseus claps Newt gently on the shoulder.

"Are you ready?" he asks, and Newt knows that he isn't just asking if he's ready to go back to England.

"Yes," he replies. "I know what I have to do."

"Good," Theseus says, squeezing Newt's shoulder once before leading him over to the rest of the group. Newt spares one last glance back at the normality of Paris before they disapparate, hoping against hope that they'll be able to stop Grindelwald before he destroys it all.