Chapter One
The Invitation
Newt Scamander strode through the snow blanketing the ground in Hogsmeade. He pushed open the door to the Three Broomsticks and sat on the edge of a chair near the door. A waitress came to ask him for his order, and without looking up, he mumbled, "just tea, please. Thank you. A little milk, sorry. Thank you." He was visibly shaking, and he couldn't concentrate. Soon enough, the tea was in front of him, slightly pale with milk, and he held it in his trembling hands. He sipped it gingerly, feeling the warmth spread through his body. Gradually, he steadied, and he pulled his suitcase onto the table. He flicked it to "muggle-worthy," opened it, and pulled out the letter. It was from Tina. The first page was an invitation; a cream-colored thing with blue lettering and a lace trim.
You are cordially invited, it said, to the marriage of Ms. Porpentina Goldstein and Mr. Bertram Wilkes, to take place on the 23rd of March in Central Park, New York, New York. Please RSVP to the bride by the thirtieth of January.
Attached was a note written in Tina's own hand. Newt could scarcely bear to look at it.
My dear Newt, please, please come to the wedding. I know this might not be what you were expecting, but it's wonderful. He's wonderful, really. If not for me, come for Queenie and Jacob. The remedy you suggested worked wonders for Jacob, and he misses you truly. We all do.
He crumpled it in his fist and then, regretting it, smoothed the note out on the table again. He placed it neatly back in the envelope and put his head in his hands. She was getting married. To someone who wasn't him. He knew it'd been awhile, in the neighborhood of a year and a half, but he didn't expect her to forget him so quickly. But she hadn't forgotten him, that was the worst part. When they were still writing frequently, she'd explained that she'd met Bertram because of the "debacle" with Newt's "creatures." Or, at least, that was when they'd grown close. She hadn't abandoned Newt and come back married, she'd made him watch as she met a new man, courted him, as he proposed. It hadn't even occurred to her that Newt might've wanted to marry her until it was too late. He wondered if she'd sat up nights wondering if he was ever going to come back for her, the way he'd sat up nights wishing he could, or if she'd just jumped right in with this new fellow. He wondered if he'd broken her heart. Maybe he'd driven her to Bertram in more ways than one. This time, he really did crumple the note, and he tossed it into the fire burning beside him.
"Something else for you, dear?" the waitress asked, standing a respectful distance away.
"No, thank you, I'd best be going. How much for the tea?"
"For you, Newt? It's on the house."
"Thank you very much. Most appreciated." He did his best to smile as he opened the door again and stepped out into the cold.