Chapter 1: Home but Not Free

Home. Newt raised his freckled face to the clouds and smiled. The weather was its usual cloudy self, but the long boat trip made Newt eager to experience rain again. The ship was pulling into the dock and as the passengers around him busied themselves with preparing to disembark, Newt looked down at his case. His battered but beautiful case with contents more valuable than anything to him. Well, almost anything.

He remained where he was seated, in no rush to leave the boat just yet. He took his time examining the ropes he had reapplied to the case a few hours before when he had checked on everyone. They all seemed to be just as restless as Newt was.

It took time to empty the boat, and slowly Newt made his way to the end of the line. As he walked down the ramp, nodding to the attendant but too shy to make eye contact, he had a feeling of being watched. Confused, he paused on the ramp and looked around but could see no-one. An older gentleman also disembarking behind Newt scolded him for stopping, and Newt quickly continued down the ramp, his long legs making easy work of it. Still occupied with the eerie feeling, he continued out of the dock towards quarantine, his case barely swinging in his hand.

If he looked back one last time, he would have seen his follower.

Almost halfway to his apartment, the hairs on the back of Newt's neck began to stand on end and the feeling of being watched returned. It had dissipated some since the dock, but now it returned full strength. The sun had already set in Britain, and not many people, Muggles or otherwise, were outside. Newt continued down his path, speeding up a bit before he reached the next corner. He ducked around it and ran up the steps of an apartment block, hiding his slender frame in the doorway. He heard the footsteps of his follower come around the corner and stop, having lost sight of Newt. Still hidden in the doorway, Newt slowly removed his wand from his pocket and hide it in his sleeve for faster access. Slowly, he heard the footsteps start again in his direction. As his follower came into line with the doorway, Newt turned his head to look at them.

It was hard to see the persons' face, but he could tell they were pale. They wore dark clothing and a black, broad-brimmed hat, their face turned away from Newt for now. As they passed the steps, they paused to cough violently. After a moment, they straightened slowly and continued. As soon as they got far enough away, Newt slowly proceeded back down the steps away from the apartment building and began to follow his follower. Eventually they came close to an alleyway, and Newt decided there was only one way to find out who was following him and why. Withdrawing his wand and pointing it at his follower, not too obvious should a muggle in a nearby building notice, he cast his spell.

"Ventus."

A gust of spiralling wind left the tip of Newts wand, perfectly aimed with the followers' hat. It was blown off the person's head and drifted in the alleyway. Newt's follower proceeded to chase it, and Newt began to chase them. His follower bent down to retrieved their hat, which had landed in a puddle. As they attempted to wipe it clean on their sleeve, Newt came up behind them quietly, and very carefully phrased his question.

"Can I help you with something?"

The person jumped and straightened up, still facing away from Newt.

"I hope so."

The voice was small and quiet, and Newt swore he'd heard it before. However, his wand remained within his hand.

"Then reveal yourself, and let me help you."

Newt took a deep breath as his follower turned. Newt hoped it wasn't a Grindelwald fanatic. He wasn't sure if anyone knew it was him who assisted in the capture of the Dark Wizard in New York.

But it wasn't.

"Credence?"

Newt was stunned. He thought he watched the boy's death within the subway. He was never sure however, having believed he saw a fragment escape. A fragment that seemed to have put the boy back together.

Credence continued to play with the brim of his hat, nodding his head and staring at the ground. A few moments of silence passed between them.

"You…were on the same boat?" Newt ventured, and Credence nodded again.

Newt saw tears begin to run down the boy's face and something made Newt feel like he was safe. Slowly putting his wand back into his pocket, he set his case on the ground.

"I can help you Credence, I promise- "

Newt began, but was interrupted when Credence began to cough terribly, causing him to almost double over. Newt backed away a few steps. He wasn't sure what illness was causing Credence trouble, but he needed to find out.

"Credence I know you're ill, but I have a friend, she lives nearby I think, she can help you too, if you want, you need that couch checked."

Credence's coughing had subsided, and he looked up at Newts, new tears on his face from the force of his coughs.

"Will I die?"

Newt drew a quick breath and let it out.

"No. She hasn't lost anyone yet. Come with me."

Newt held out one hand and aided Credence to find his feet. Picking up his case, and walking near Credence in case he fell, Newt led the way.