Not displeased to finally setting foot on the ground after 16 days of a harrowing and exhausting transatlantic crossing, Newt introduced himself at the customs office with his suitcase which he had taken the trouble to consolidate after his first stay in New York. New York... He didn't know this city so much and yet, it seemed familiar to him... On John Street, he walked to a Checker Taxi Company's car which was parked on the roadside and indicated Tina and Queenie Goldstein's address. 522 West 23rd Street. Throughout the journey, Newt looked at the cityscape through the window. Many things had changed since his last stay in New York city... Newt had finally finished writing his book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Commissioned by Augustus Worme of the Obscurus Books in 1918, the manuscript required almost nine years of travel and research. Successfully crowned with record sales as soon as it was released, the book was already being translated into several languages in this month of January 1928. The young wizard, who lived this success as from an external point of view, unmoved by the glittery charms of ephemeral glory, had returned to New York for a very particular reason. He wanted to honor a proposal, almost a promise he had made to Tina a few months earlier. "How would you feel if I gave you your copy in person?" At the end of December, Newt had written a letter to Tina announcing the day of his arrival in New York, and that the first thing he would do would be to bring her this much-vaunted copy. She had to wait for him at her home... Looking forward to see her again and very anxious in same time, the young man felt a strong anguish in him. What to say? How to behave? Newt breathed, clutched the copy to his chest and focused on the cityscape.

After carefully avoiding crossing the old caretaker, Newt rushed forwards to the stairs. On the first landing of the apartment building, he walked to one of the wooden doors and with a shaking hand knocked three times on it. After about thirty silent seconds, the young man heard a noise from the other side of the door. Hasty footsteps, whispers... Then, after a never-ending wait, the door opened. Queenie's face appeared.
"Newt!" She exclaimed, opening the door wide and taking him into her arms.

The young woman hadn't changed since a year, she was exactly like the memories Newt had of her. Tall, blonde, slender and elegant. But, contrary to what Newt had known of her, this time, she wasn't wearing makeup and her hair was a mess. She was wearing a babydoll with which she didn't seem shy to welcome the young man.
"Oh I'm so happy to see you! But what are you doing here? Come in, come in."
Queenie dragged Newt by the arm and made him sit down in the old sofa in the little living room, his suitcase between his legs.
"I... I'm glad to see you too Queenie. I... I had sent a letter to Tina warning her of my arrival... " He explained, trying not to seem too embarrassed to the simple evocation of the young woman's big sister.
"Oh. She must not have received it, she said nothing to me." Queenie replied, a big smile on her lips. "You must be exhausted, Can I offer you something to drink? Cocoa maybe?"
Newt smiled at these words. Cocoa... Good memories...
"Yes, a cocoa would be perfect. Thank you Queenie."

While Queenie was busy in the kitchen, Newt heard a noise behind him. He turned around and noticed Jacob who looked sleepy, leaving Queenie's room. The latter, seeing who was sitting on the sofa, rubbed his eyes and opened his mouth wide.
"Newt, mate!"
The young man got up and hugged Jacob.
"I didn't know you were back in New York city!
"I had sent a letter. I think that the transatlantic postal services still have some progress to make..." Newt replied in a small smile. He sat down and watched Jacob sitting beside him on one of the armchairs. A small talk ensued before being quickly broken by the comeback of Queenie, a tray in her hands. She put three large mugs of cocoa covered with a thick layer of whipped cream on the small coffee table.
"Please, help yourself."
She was now standing, close to Jacob. Newt looked at them for a moment. A meaningful silence settled between the three friends.
"Ah. Yes... Hmm ... Queenie and I... " Started to explain Jacob in order to break the discomfort before being interrupted by the young wizard.
"Yes... I know, Ti... Tina told me about it in one of her letters. I... That's good, I'm happy for you." He said avoiding any visual contact and taking one of the burning mugs in both his hands.

Newt stayed with Queenie and Jacob for over an hour. He told them about his life in England, the publication of his book, his new projects. They also spoke of Jacob's pastry shop near the docks which, every day, didn't empty for a single minute. Queenie, still natural and spontaneous, talked about her days to the ministry and the annoyance that some of her colleagues inspired to her.

"Tina won't be back until late afternoon but by then you can stay with us!" Queenie proposed.
"Yes, we didn't plan to do much today but since you are there we can go for a walk in town. I heard that the Capitol Theater is projecting Underworld which must be a great movie." Jacob said.
"Oh... Hmm. It's very nice of you but I have several things to do today. I have to go to my boarding house and must meet one of the american publishers." Newt Replied, embarrassed to turn down this very nice proposal. Seeing their disappointed expressions, the young man hastened to speak again. "But I'll stay a few days in New York, we will be able to do all this later!
"Will you see Tina tonight?" Queenie asked innocently, her huge oceanblue eyes full of innuendo.
Newt, feeling his face blushing again, lowered his head.
"Well... Yes, I'll be back in the late afternoon.
-6:30 PM will be perfect." The young woman said.
"Very well, 6:30 pm. You will tell her that I'm in town, please?
-Of course." Jacob smiled.

Newt leaved, wishing a good day to the couple and giving them an appointment on the evening. Everything went smoothly for the young man. At first he went to the boarding-house, where he had booked a room. This boarding-house, Newt was unaware of this before going there, was located at 66 Eldridge Street, in the heart of Chinatown. Delighted to discover this district, the young wizard strolled there a big part of the morning. When noon rang, he stopped for half an hour to eat in a small family canteen he discovered by chance. In the afternoon he went to Midtown, at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 45th Street, for his appointment with his American publisher. He spent the rest of the afternoon in his suitcase, taking care of his beasts which he had not been able to take care of since the evening before.

At 6:30 pm Newt was back at Queenie and Tina's building. The snow was beginning to fall and the streets became more and more empty. He glanced into the hall, the care taker being absent for the moment, the way was clear. He entered and heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. Queenie and Jacob walked down, laughing, holding each other to keep a semblance of balance. When they saw Newt alone in the lobby, they tried to regain some seriousness.
"Ah Newt. I heard you coming!" Queenie said as she reached him. She made a small gesture of her finger near her forehead, referring to her gift of legilimancy.
"Tina is upstairs." Jacob added, winking at the young wizard. Again, Newt felt his cheeks flushing.
"You... You're leaving?" He stammered.
"Yes, we have to go to the grocery store. We... We're cooking and we miss something very important for the recipe." Jacob replied.
"Yeah... Cinnamon.
-No! Baking soda."
The couple laughed.

Suddenly they heard the noise of a door slamming.
"Damn! Mrs. Esposito! Quick, we're leaving! Newt, go upstairs!" Queenie ordered.
The young wizard, not wanting to get his friends into some trouble, rushed on the stairs. As he climbed stairs two at a time, he heard the care-taker.
"Tina? Queenie?"
Arrived on the landing, no more hesitating or shaking, he rushed and knocked at the door. Waiting for Tina to come and open the door, he heard the old woman starting to climb the stairs.
"Is there someone?"

Horrified, Newt closed his eyes. Merlin's beard, open this bloody door...

At the same moment, Tina opened the door and Newt rushed inside, jostling her on his way. On the tip of his lips he spoke the name "Mrs. Esposito"and hid behind the door. A few seconds later, Tina, who was doing her best not to seem too overwhelmed, was facing the care taker who was now on the landing.
"I heard a noise.
- I... I don't know Mrs. Esposito. I... Hmm... I've been inside for a while now and I heard nothing.
-Are you sure?" The old lady insisted, casting a suspicious eye into the apartment.
"Yes, yes, sorry Mrs. Esposito, I can't help you."
A few seconds of heavy silence settled. Mrs. Esposito spoke again.
"Very well. Have a good evening Tina." She said, obviously persuaded that the young woman hid something from her.
"Have a good evening to you too Mrs. Esposito.
-You will speak to your sister, eh?
-I will certainly do that Mrs. Esposito."