Chapter One
The Wizarding world was in a barely controlled panic. The dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, was on the loose, and no one could seem to find him. Rumors and whispers of mysterious attacks all over Europe kept wizards all over the world wondering, fearing where he might strike next.
Amid all this organized chaos, a young wizard named Newt Scamander sat peacefully on the deck of a steamer ship that was pulling into New York Harbor. As he smiled up at the towering Statue of Liberty, one of the locks on the battered brown leather suitcase at his side sprung open. Hearing the tell-tale metallic click, he quickly looked down and snapped the lock shut.
This action was greeted by a muffled groan and a thumping from within the case. The young wizard pulled the case onto his lap.
"Dougal, settle down," he whispered to it. "It won't be long now." Newt Scamander crossed his arms on top of his case, resting his chin on them. Hopefully, this little excursion of his would go better than some of his previous ones.
"You sure you're going to be okay at home today?" A black-brown haired witch asked the young woman in front of her. Porpentina "Tina" Goldstein was oldest of the three Goldstein sisters. She was the "career" girl; work came first right after family.
"Oh, she'll be alright, won't you, Janie?" said the second Goldstein sister, bubbly, blonde-blue-eyed Queenie She was ever the optimist and natural Legilimens. Where Tina's hair was dark and wavy, Queenie's was tight, ringlet-like golden curls. Last came their youngest sister Jane, who currently sat in front of Tina, in the armchair by the fireplace. Her straight, chestnut brown hair was cut in a chin-length bob with bangs hang just above her eyebrows. She lifted her pale, tired face to smile serenely at her older sisters, making the faint circles under her eyes nearly disappear.
"I'll be fine, Tina. I feel even better today than I did yesterday," she answered softly.
Okay," Tina conceded with a little sigh. "But you call one of us if you need anything. Anything at all," she added seriously.
"Of course," Jane nodded, taking Tina's hands in her own. "I'll be fine, Teenie. Really." She squeezed her sister's hand briefly before lifting a sewing basket at feet into her lap. "I'm going to finish up this christening gown for Mrs. Thompson. She's due any day now." She carefully pulled out a small pile of white fabric, lace, and ribbons.
Tina smiled down at her youngest sister. "I'll see you tonight then," she said, giving Jane a quick hug before she headed for the door.
"You bet," Jane answered with a giggle.
"Later, Janie!" Queenie smiled as she too gave Jane a good-bye hug.
"Later, Queenie," Jance replied. "Don't be too big of a flirt today, okay?"
Queenie sent her a look of mock insult. "You know I don't flirt with my co-workers...much..."
"Of course not, Queen," Jane said with a small, teasing smile. "Have a good day at work, you two."
"Bye!" Queenie waved as she and Tina left for the day.
As the door closed, Jane's smiled faded as her hand thoughtfully wandered down to the gold locket she wore. "Please, stay safe," she whispered.