In the next few days, Newt and Tina have formed some sort of routine. Each morning, they would arrive at that muggle coffee shop and sit for an hour or so to just talk and drink coffee (for Tina) and tea (for Newt). In those few hours, all they've done was argue between themselves which was better: coffee or tea. A few nasty blows about their nationalities would fly here and there, which would lead to them eventually laughing things off. Both Tina and Newt really looked forward to their little routine, it somehow bonded them.

Today, however, things would change. Tina's first day at the ministry has finally arrived, which meant that she had to forgo her early morning banter sessions with one Newt Scamander. So instead of going to her now favorite muggle coffee shop, she simply makes her own coffee with the coffee machine she had at home and placed it in a traveling mug and prepares for work. She hoped Newt won't be too disappointed when he doesn't find her at the coffee shop since she has forgotten to mention that she won't be able to continue with their morning tradition.

Tina checks her wristwatch and almost spills coffee all over her coat as she made haste towards her door. If she didn't leave soon she probably would be late for her first day at work, and that is not something she wanted to do on her first day. She walks towards a corner in her muggle-filled neighborhood, where she was sure it would be safe to apparate to the visitor's entrance of the ministry. She later arrives at work with 15 minutes to spare and immediately reports to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to get her auror's badge and to meet her boss.

She walked a little nervously towards the door with a gold plate on it labeled "Theseus Scamander, Head of Magical Law Enforcement". She was about to knock when the name on the gold plate reminded her someone she met a few times at her favorite muggle coffee shop.

I wonder how many wizards actually carry the name 'Scamander' here in UK. Tina thought to herself, her knuckles raised in preparation to knock.

Tina takes a deep breath and as she was about to knock on the door, it opened on its own accord and revealed a man in his middle ages with curly auburn hair, who reminded Tina of someone else she knew. She stared at the man dumbfounded, her mouth agape and arms still in the air.

"Oh, you must be Miss Goldstein," the man says, looking at her a little quizzically and at the way her body was tensed.

"Yes," Tina stammers nervously, realizing how stupid she must look like right now. "that's me. I'm here to - "

"Report for your first day of work, I reckon." he interrupts her playfully, a smug smile on his face.

He beckons her inside his office and sits behind his desk. He then looks up at Tina, who has entered his office and closes the door behind her. He walks back and takes the seat behind his desk and surveys his new hire who was still standing in front of his desk. He waits patiently for her to take the seat in front of his desk, but she still decided to stand. So he extended one of his hands and offers her one of the seats in front of his desk. "Please have a seat, Miss Goldstein."

Tina walks towards one of the seats in front of Theseus Scamander's desks and sits opposite him and tries to shake off the nerves she was getting, and some of the thoughts of Newt that were beginning to form in her mind.

Theseus surveys her again before he addresses her formally. "So, Miss Goldstein I would like to welcome you to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I'm Theseus Scamander, the head of said department and your boss."

Theseus opens the top cupboard to his right and rummages to find a small brown envelope that Tina guess would contain everything she needed to start her job as an auror for the ministry. As soon as he finds the envelop, he places it on top of his desk and opens it to reveal Tina's ID badge.

"Here Miss Goldstein," he says, handing her the ID. "This will be all you need for now. Your desk is right outside with your name on it. There will be a couple of files on top of it to start your day off, just a few simple cases for you to study in case our lead aurors would need help in solving them. If you have any questions about specific cases, ask the lead auror, their names are stated at the top of each case. Aurors have to report promptly every morning but aren't required to stay at their desks for the whole day. Since you're new here all I ask of you is to read those files before you decide to leave your desk, and as soon as you're done with them please let me know so I can inform our lead aurors they can send you to the field. It is also then that you can start managing your own time. Your badge will notify you whenever the department needs you for any specific case and you must respond immediately when the call comes. If you have any questions regarding anything else, my door is always open. Have a great first day, Miss Goldstein."

Tina sat silently as Theseus was giving her instructions. She observed him as he talked and couldn't help but wonder how he was related to Newt. He had a few similar facial features, the nose and his eyes particularly. And where Newt's face was full of freckles, Theseus was free of them. His hair had a darker tint to it and was a lot less shorter than Newt's. He had a confidence about him that Newt lacked in some ways but they both share the same curious gaze about them when they were observing someone or something else. All these observations made Tina wonder how closely related he was to Newt. A first cousin maybe? Hell, a brother?

Newt hasn't mentioned anything about a brother these past few days. Tina thought as Theseus came to an end of his speech. Why the hell would he silly? All you've talked about is coffee and tea, you haven't reached that part of your friendship yet.

Tina hears Theseus bid her a good day, which made her realize that it was time for her to head to her desk and start reading those cases he had just mentioned. She stands up gave her new boss a respectful nod and a silent 'thank you' before she exits his office and closes the door behind her.

"Get a grip, Goldstein," she mutters to herself as soon as she was out of Theseus' office. "Today is supposed to be about making a career for yourself here in London, not about trying to figure out if someone you know is actually related to your boss. Besides, you're not even sure how many Scamanders actually live in London."

She shakes her head at herself and walks to her desk a few paces from his office. The aurors' workplace here at the ministry was not different from the ones back home, Tina remarks as she scans her new workplace. Each auror had a table separated by cubicles so as to give each of them privacy to do his or her own work. Tina counted no less than a hundred desks from where she was standing and most of the desks were empty but stacked with a ton of papers.

Tina finally arrived at her desk with a small golden plate with her name engraved with her name on it was staring at her.

"Porpentina Goldstein," Tina reads as she touches the engraved text with her fingers before moving past it and into her cubicle to take a seat and look at the paperwork her new boss told her was awaiting her.

She slumps onto the chair in her cubicle and starts to go through the papers stacked on her desk, trying as hard as she can to take in everything she was reading.

By lunchtime, she had gone through every single file and memorized almost all the details of each case, including who the lead auror of each case was. So, Tina grabs her trusty grey coat and heads to Theseus' office to inform him or her progress when she nearly bumps into him on the way there.

"That's twice that you almost ran into me today, Goldstein," Theseus jokes, making Tina a little nervous.

"I'm sorry sir," Tina counters immediately, trying to save face and her job. "I was meant to go to your office to inform you that I've read all the files you've given me when I bumped into you, sir."

"Calm down, Goldstein, I was just trying to lighten the mood, loosen you up, make sure that you aren't too intimidated by me." Theseus says charmingly.

"It's hard not to be intimidated by you sir," Tina stammers. "You being my boss and all."

"Well don't be," he says to her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she looks up at him. "We here at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement may be hardcore workers but we aren't uptight. You're free to go home if you wish since you've read all the reports. I'll inform the lead aurors that they can now send you out onto the field if they need extra help. Good day to you Goldstein."

With a curt nod, Theseus leaves Tina dumfounded yet again. She shakes herself out of her reverie and walks to the elevators that would help her get out of the ministry and hopefully somewhere close to home.

She decided she wanted to eat something first and that she should do so somewhere closer to where she lived. So, she stepped out of the visitor's entrance of the ministry and apparated back to the spot safe from muggles in her muggle-filled neighborhood.

Tina walks past her apartment building and went straight for the muggle coffee shop she loved. She knew it was too late in the day for more coffee and that she needed real food, but not stopping by the place felt weird for her. So, she walks over to the familiar exterior and she pushes past the door when she bumps into someone who was exiting it.

"Shit!" Tina exclaims as hot brown liquid spilled from the cup of the person she bumped into on her way into the coffee shop. "Hot, hot, hot, hot! I'm sorry, I seem to be bumping into people all day today. I'm not sure where all this clumsiness is coming from, I'm sorry. I'll pay you back for your – "

"Tina?"

Tina was startled when she heard her name. She stopped fussing over the hot liquid that was burning her hands and staining the coat of the nice man she bumped into on her way in. She looks up at him and realizes that it was none other than Newt Scamander himself.

"Newt! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question!" Newt replies cheekily.

"Oh, so you're the only one allowed to visit my coffee shop at lunchtime?" she banters back, placing her right hand on her hip and raising her right eyebrow, challenging him.

"Now, I didn't say that," Newt says defensively, holding out his arms in defense. "I just meant, why are you here now and not earlier this morning like usual?"

"Now it's my turn to say 'I could ask you the same question'," she smiled back. "You know what? I'm hungry and exhausted from a day's work but I do know I owe you morning coffee because I skipped out on you earlier, care to make up for that now?"

Tina looks at Newt, a question and an invite shining in her eyes, that disarmed Newt that all he could do was nod, step aside and allow Tina to enter the coffee shop and lead the way. Tina weaves through the small crowd of the coffee shop easily to find a secluded area inside that had two couches and a table that could seat two. She slumps down comfortably on one of the couches and motions for Newt to take the other one. He follows suit and makes himself comfortable.

"So, you were telling me how it is you're in the coffee shop now instead of earlier today?" Tina said immediately after Newt takes his seat next to hers.

"Wouldn't you want to order something to eat first?" Newt inquired with concern.

"Oh yeah, shoot! I almost forgot." Tina says, standing up and walking towards the counter. She realized that Newt wasn't behind her, so she turns and raises yet another inquiring eyebrow at her. "I seem to remember spilling your drink, meaning I owe you one. I also specifically remember saying I'll pay you for it but since you're here, would you want me to get it for you?"

"Uhm, yeah, sure," Newt answers a little nervously. "Since I'm here anyway. And I'll need something to drink while you interrogate me."

Tina rolls her eyes at her friend and asks, "What would it be then? Earl grey, oolong, green tea...?"

Newt bows his head and stares mainly at his feet. This was the first time Tina has seen Newt this nervous when he's around her. She had thought that those days of forming a routine every morning made them comfortable around each other but seeing Newt this way threw her off. She waited patiently though for her friend to tell her what his order was.

"I ordered what you usually order every morning," Newt says timidly after a few seconds ticked by. "Black coffee, two sugars."

Newt still avoids Tina's gaze and wasn't able to see her smug face of triumph as she marches off to the counter to order Newt and herself black coffee with two sugars while she orders herself a ham and cheese roll to appease her rumbling stomach. She waits for their order at the counter and tries to maneuver herself over to the corner spot they were sitting at once the order arrived. By the time she arrives at their table, Newt was no longer staring at the floor and was back to his confident (if you can call it that) self.

"Black coffee, two sugars," Tina says rather smugly, as she passes on the drink to Newt before she takes the empty seat beside him.

"Please don't say 'I told you so'," Newt says immediately as Tina was removing the remaining contents of their tray onto their table. "I haven't actually tasted the blasted drink yet. I just thought I should taste it and see for myself what's so great about coffee that you defend it with so much reverence."

Tina takes a sip of her drink, feigning innocence. "I didn't say a thing."

"You were thinking it."

"How could I not when all we argue about every...single...morning is which is better?" Tina admits out loud. "But whatever. You're gonna admit by the end of today that I was right, I can feel it."

"No madam," Newt retorts in a very curt, British way. "I am not admitting to defeat until you buy yourself a nice hot cup of tea and agree that it is the superior drink."

Newt takes a sip of his drink, trying to hide the fact he was actually enjoying it as Tina tries to read the expression on his face. Newt puts the drink hastily back onto the table and continues the conversation they were starting to have at the entrance of the coffee shop.

"So, Miss Goldstein," he begins. "Why again are you here at lunchtime instead of your usual mornings?"

"I believe, Mr. Scamander, I was the one asking you that question before we decided to stay," Tina replies. "So, I think you should be the one answering your own question."

"Fine." Newt says in defeat. He was enjoying the banter they had going but if he was going to play coy for much longer, he won't be able to get back to work and might lose the only job he has as of the moment. "I woke up later than usual today and as much as I love this coffee shop, I need my job more. So, I skipped out on you too. I was actually hoping to run into you right now to apologize for skipping out on our morning routine. I know you're new here and don't have very many wizard friends and I found it a shame to just leave you waiting at a coffee shop. And lo and behold, I did run into you, at the same coffee shop I find out not only I skipped out on this morning, but the one you did too."

Both Newt and Tina laugh at the thought that they both felt guilty for skipping out on the other earlier that morning and that they both ended up in the same coffee shop at the same time later that day.

"I'm sorry about skipping out on you too, even though I really didn't because you weren't here either," Tina says, still chuckling at the coincidence. "It was my first day at the ministry today and I, like you, woke up a little later than usual, so I had to forgo all the morning coffee routines and just drink out of my travelling mug. But I guess this makes up for it."

Tina holds up her coffee cup, just as Newt moves to bump his own with hers. They both took a sip from their cups and placed them back on the table once they were done. Tina takes a few bites off of her ham and cheese roll when Newt says, "You work at the ministry?"

"Yes," Tina replies as she was wiping a few crumbs off her mouth. "I started today at the Department of Magical Law Enforcemen. Say Newt, how are you related to Theseus Scamander? He's the head of the department and my boss and all I could think of all morning in between reading stacks of reports was how you both were related."

"He's my brother," Newt replied simply.

"Your brother?!" Tina exclaims in shock. "And you didn't think to mention that to me?"

"To be fair, you haven't mentioned anything aside from your love of coffee in our morning routines." Newt replied, so very calm it was unnerving Tina. "I wouldn't even know you worked at the same place I do if you hadn't mentioned it today."

"You work at the ministry too?" Tina asks, a little stunned that she knew little to no information about this wizard she already considered a friend. "How did I not know that?"

"I blame this coffee shop," Newt says honestly. "I love our morning routines here but honestly, all we ever talk about when we're here is coffee and tea and which one is better. We failed to mention anything else that is relevant about ourselves outside those two drinks."

"What should we do about it then?" Tina asks with concern. She didn't want her only friend in Britain to be relegated to the guy who loved tea so much. "We can't be friends if we don't know anything about each other."

"I say we go on a date." Newt propositions, very firmly, as if so sure of himself. He then looks at Tina, who had a startled expression on her face and clarifies, "Like a friendly date. Not a romantic date."

Newt starts to feel nervous after he realized what he just proposed. He has never been on a date before and he didn't even know if there was such a thing as a date between friends. He felt so stupid for even mentioning it he started to stare at his feet as he was trying to come up with a way to not make things awkward between himself and Tina.

"I'm so-sorry," Newt stammers as he continues to think of a way to come back from this. "I didn't mean to say that I wanted to go on a date with you or anything. I like you, as a friend, nothing more. I swear. I just think it would be a good idea to get out of this place and get to know each other somewhere else."

Newt then moves to raise his head, a look of hope on his face, as he turns to Tina to see what she thinks of the gobbledygook he just said. Surprisingly, Tina wasn't fazed at all. She had a determined look on her face, as if trying to think of the consequences of agreeing to go on a date with him.

"Are you serious?!" she says a few minutes later as she has finally finished contemplating on what her friend just said. "You're asking me to go out with you, as a friend I might add, in a place I obviously just moved to? I don't know half of London, Newt! What if I get lost trying to meet you wherever you're taking me?"

"I wouldn't let you get lost, Tina," He says sincerely. "I know you don't know London as well as I do, and I promise to pick you up before our date and drop you off after, just like a good old friend would."

Newt smiles tentatively at Tina and waits for her to smile back. She does so a few seconds later. "So, what do you say Miss Goldstein? Would you go out on a friendly date with me so that we may get to know each other?"

The hint of playfulness between the two of them was back and Tina felt like playing along this time, to lighten the mood and forget about the awkward moment they had earlier when Newt asked her out on a date. "Why Mr. Scamander, I thought you'd never ask."

Newt offers his hand to her, waiting for her to put her own in it so he place a fake kiss on it. She does so a few seconds after and he presses a feather light kiss on her hand. They both laugh at their antics and smile, glad that they are back on the same page.

"Just to be clear Newt," Tina says a few minutes later. "This is just a friendly, getting-to-know-each-other date. Nothing more, ok?"

"Of course, Tina, I promise you that is all that it'll be."

Tina goes back and finishes her ham and cheese roll and chugs down the last of her coffee. "So, where are you taking me?"

"You'll have to show up to find out." Newt replies smugly, raising is coffee cup to his mouth and taking a last sip of the lukewarm liquid inside it.

"And if I get lost trying to find this place and "show up"?"

"You won't, I'll be picking you up at your place," Newt says matter-of-factly. "If only I knew where the damn place was."

They both chuckle as Tina grabs a spare napkin on the table and very subtly with her wand draws a map to her place from the coffee shop. She hands the napkin map to Newt and points at the large 'X' on it. "There, that's where I live. Just buzz on door 8 and I'll be right down."

"As the lady wishes," Newt says, making a fake bow with his head. "is Friday night okay for you?"

"Yes," Tina confirms immediately, not even sure if it is. She'll have to clear that up with Theseus when she gets back since he hasn't assigned her yet to any of the jobs he had stacked on her table. "If things change I guess I'll send an owl to find you."

"That would be splendid," Newt says. "And as much as I would love to stay and chat with you Miss Goldstein, my job awaits. I guess I'll be seeing you around the ministry. Our departments may not be on the same level but I'm sure we'll run into each other at some point."

Newt stands from where he was sitting and edges closer to the entrance of the coffee shop. He faces Tina and raises his hand to wave goodbye. "I'll be seeing you around then, Tina. Have a nice day. I hope my brother doesn't wear you off on your first week."

Newt turns and starts to walk towards the entrance when Tina jogs after him, calling his name. "Newt!"

Newt turns to find her jogging in his direction. She reaches him and places a hand on his arm for leverage. "You never mentioned what department of the ministry you worked in. How am I supposed to "run into you" if I don't know where you work specifically?"

Newt smiles sheepishly, a little hint of red finding its way towards his face. "I work for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Beasts division specifically."

"Ok then," Tina says casually letting go of his arm. "Have a great day at work. I'll see you around."

"I'll see you around." Newt says finally as he turns to the door and exits the muggle coffee shop, with Tina watching him go until he was nowhere in sight.


A/N: sorry this took so long, it's so hard to update without an actual computer at home. but here you go, i'm continuing this story no matter what, i just hope everyone will be patient with the updates. thank you so much for the reviews and words of encouragement in the previous chapter, they kept me going. this is unbetaed so any mistakes are mine, i'll try to read through it again and edit the mistakes if i can. enjoy and let me know what you think!