Tuesday, March 8, 1927
"Where's Queenie?" Tina asked.
"She said she had to leave... And she was sayin' I need to remember something. Do you know what she was talking about?" Jacob replied; he sounded conflicted.
"It's a long story," Newt said awkwardly.
"Did she say where she was going?" Tina asked in a slightly exasperated tone; she knew Jacob couldn't help it, but he had hurt her sister and it annoyed the Auror. Queenie didn't deserve this.
"No...sorry. I don't know what I did wrong and she won't talk to me. Could ya tell her I'm sorry?"
Tina hesitated and nodded her head; she felt bad for Jacob. Newt suddenly realized the baker was looking at his suitcase in a funny way. Jacob handed the umbrella to Tina and walked back to stand behind the counter, but his gaze remained fixed on the brown case.
"Ya know...that case looks a lot like the one I got," Jacob started and smiled, "and there was this mix-up one time- my case got switched with another fella's a few months ago and I came back to my apartment and then..."
Jacob squinted as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. Newt held his breath as he hoped for a miracle.
"Well, anyway, can I help you guys?" he asked. Another man and a woman walked into the bakery just then. Tina sighed disappointedly.
"No, thank you very much, Mr. Kowalski. I'm sorry we took up your time." Newt said politely.
"No problem. Have a good day, you two."
"Queenie?" Tina said as she opened the bedroom doors; Newt had gone down to his case to give the sisters space.
"I don't really feel like talkin' right now, Teen."
Queenie was sitting on her bed in the bedroom they shared and a book was in her hands. She was obsessed with mystery novels. Tina bit her lip as she looked at her sister; this wasn't the way Queenie had acted before she had met Jacob. She had dated guys who she knew from MACUSA of course, but none of those relationships had lasted long and they hadn't left much of a lasting impact. Tina hated to see her sister this upset over a man.
"I'm fine. I'm fine, Tina," Queenie said. Tina couldn't help but wonder if she had said it twice to convince herself of the statement too.
"No, you're not."
It was quiet.
"You left him feeling pretty confused. He asked me to tell you he's sorry."
She didn't respond.
"You don't have to be fine right now; you don't have to act like you are."
Queenie didn't look up from the book, but Tina knew the Legilimens was no longer reading. Tina spoke again.
"But please don't let it hurt you for too long."
"I know," Queenie said; it sounded a bit defensive. Tina folded her arms as she continued to gaze at her sister until she spoke again.
"But what if he's the one I need to be with?
Tina sat down on her bed to face Queenie. The witch had let the book drop to her lap.
"Do what you think is right."
It was a vague answer, but Tina knew Queenie was debating if she should date Jacob even if he would never be able to remember.
"What do you think you would do? If this were Newt instead of Jacob and you were in my spot, what would you do?"
Tina bit her lip and she thought about it for a minute. Dating a No-Maj was against MACUSA's rules, but she imagined looking at Newt and realizing he had no clue who she was. Her life would still go on despite being a bit less bright; someone important would be missing and it would hurt to think he didn't care. Blank looks instead of joking smiles- would it be more painful to watch him try but fail to remember her?
"Queenie, he could still eventually remember."
"I don't think he will on his own. You still need to answer me."
Tina sighed and thought again before she spoke.
"I think I would still try to be with him. Even though it would hurt."
Queenie was gazing intently at her sister now and she nodded, thinking.
"But isn't that almost like lying?"
"Because you wouldn't be telling him about magic or the memories?"
"Yes."
"I don't know. Life isn't black or white though; there isn't always going to be a right answer."
"I miss him."
"Then be with him."
Queenie hid her face in her hands as Tina waited for her to reply.
"And what do I do if he never remembers, huh? Just pretend like the first time we met was in the bakery instead of here in our apartment?"
Her tone was angry. Tina didn't know what to say.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be snapping at you."
"It's fine," Tina replied. Queenie lifted her head and set the book aside before she looked at her sister.
"Teen, I-"
At that moment, a silvery form seemed to drift into the room; it was a patronus in the form of a flying squirrel. The Patronus began to speak in the calm tone of Madame Picquery.
"Grindelwald has escaped. All employees, please report to MACUSA."
The Patronus dissolved and Tina and Queenie looked up at each other, fear etched into their faces. They couldn't even move for a few seconds. Tina was the first to stand as she tried to collect her nerve.
"C'mon, we've gotta go," the Auror said hurriedly. She remembered Newt and she walked into the kitchen to the case on the ground; the lid was closed.
"Tina, go. I'll tell him. They need the Aurors there more than they need anyone else."
Tina looked up and nodded at her sister, trying to hide her fear. She Disapparated right there in the kitchen even though she really wasn't supposed to; the crack from Disapparating sometimes caused Mrs. Esposito to come knock on their door when they did Disapparate in their apartment since it was against her rules.
Queenie opened the case and hurried down into the shed. She realized that Newt was luckily in there and he was bent over a letter. She could hear annoyance traced through thoughts of betrayal, but she didn't have time to ask him about it. He looked at her in surprise, but before he could speak, she did.
"Grindelwald's escaped. We just heard a Patronus message from Madame Picquery."
Newt blinked and set the letter down; a look of worry crossed his face.
"Where's Tina?"
"MACUSA. They need all employees there. I told her to go on ahead of me and that I would tell you what's happening."
Their voices were urgent. Newt stood up.
"Well...should I come too? he asked; she could hear him wondering if it was a good or bad idea. Queenie nodded.
"You were there to help arrest him in the first place, so I think that's a good idea."
"Was there anything else in the message?"
"No, just that Grindelwald escaped and that all employees have to come in to MACUSA."
Neither of them was really very surprised. All of the wizarding community had figured that it was only a matter of time before Grindelwald would escape.
Newt nodded and pulled his coat on before he went ahead of Queenie up the steps. Grim looks were on both of their faces. Newt tried to push the opening up.
"C'mon, we should hurry."
"It's stuck or something."
Newt tried opening it again, but it wouldn't budge. He looked panicked.
"Someone must have closed the latches."
"It couldn't have been me,...and Tina left before I came down here."
"Well someone did latch the case, and we can't get out," Newt replied in a worried voice.
The scene was pure madness as Tina arrived at the entrance of MACUSA. She crowded inside with her colleagues as everyone spoke hurriedly; the words Grindelwald, breakout, and escape floated in the air.
"Hey, Mack!"
A middle-aged Auror with a beard, glasses, and a dark blue suit turned as Tina spoke to him.
"What's going on? What do we need to do?" Tina asked.
"Madame Picquery has asked that all of the Aurors go to the Major Investigation Department and she sent the Obliviative team to a No-Maj speakeasy- I guess there was an attack by one of Grindelwald's followers."
"What happened at the prison?"
"I heard from McKinley that there was a message on the walls, but I dunno what it said. A bunch of the guards are bruised up pretty bad and some...some have been killed."
They began walking to the overcrowded lift; Tina could hear Red yelling at everyone to shut up.
"Newt, what are we gonna do? Isn't there a way to get out of here?"
"Erm, not really. I'm sorry, Queenie."
"A spell we could use?"
"No, magic is a bit complicated in here when it comes to getting out. It's to stop the creatures from leaving when they're not supposed to. Even your Legilimency shouldn't be able to work unless you're hearing the thoughts of someone in the case."
They went back down the steps; Newt began to pace.
"Who could be up there?"
Newt was thinking.
This must have something to do with Grindelwald. One of his followers? Grindelwald himself?
Queenie bit her lip as she tried to stay calm, but it didn't help as she listened to Newt's thoughts.
"Whoever this is could be an enemy, so we need to be ready," Newt said.
They both held their wands tightly as they stood near the steps. It was quiet for a few minutes as both of them felt too anxious to speak. Finally, Queenie broke the silence.
"Hey, Newt?"
He looked over at Queenie but saw that her gaze wasn't turned to him. She was looking at a table.
"Yes?"
"That picture you used to have in here- of Leta Lestrange, where is it?"
"Why're you asking?"
"Well, it's not on this table anymore."
Newt could feel Queenie trying to read his mind, searching for the answer as to why he had removed the picture. It was sitting in a box along with some of his school things in London in his apartment.
"It was time for a change," Newt muttered, his eyes now on the entrance of the case. He was only mildly annoyed that Queenie had read his mind again like she had the last time she asked about the picture. She smiled slightly at his vague answer.
"Sorry," she replied to his thoughts.
"It's alright," he muttered, glancing at her and then he went back to watching the entrance again.
"Should we try opening it again?" Queenie questioned.
Newt nodded and he went up the steps again.
"Hey, Newt," Queenie said before he tried to open it. He turned around to face her.
"You be good to her, alright? Or I'll hex ya."
"S-sorry?" Newt stammered.
Queenie rolled her eyes as if she were on the verge of a facepalm. She could hear some of his thoughts already revolving around Tina after he had acted like he didn't know who she was talking about. It seemed that her sister and Newt always forgot she could still read their minds even when it came to them thinking about each other.
"I swear, you guys are made for each other."
"Three guards- Andrew Blythe, Adam Chapel, and Daniel Gardens- were killed, and five guards were wounded."
The Aurors all tried not to let their emotions show so that they could make it through this meeting, but it was difficult. One man made a fist and Tina could see there were tears in his eyes; another lowered his head and closed his eyes at the news.
"The message on the wall in Grindelwald's cell was in French and it said 'pour le plus grand bien.'"
"For the greater good," Tina muttered to herself; she had learned French when she had studied at Ilvermorny- some of the Canadian students who attended had spoken French, so it wasn't uncommon for Ilvermorny alumni to know the language since it had been a required class for students to take for two years. It had been one of Tina's favorite subjects. She had taken it every year that she had attended Ilvermorny. She had also taken a few years of Spanish.
"It was written in blood," the president continued and Tina flinched. She didn't want to know whose blood it had been, "and the same message was left at the speakeasy that was attacked- the same words, but they were left in shining words caused by magic. We think the perpetrator was one of Grindelwald's followers."
The room was silent; the air was tense. Everyone stood still.
"There were only a few No-Majs in there at the time and nobody was harmed, but they had to be Obliviated and shattered objects had to be repaired. The person who did it was wearing a dark cloak and their face was covered."
"And what do we need to do?" Mack asked loudly.
"That will be decided at the International Confederation meeting in a few minutes. James, Goldstein, Hudson, McCarthy, Jensen, and Clark, I want you to search the city- mostly in the areas near the speakeasy and the streets nearby. If we can catch even one of Grindelwald's followers, we may have a chance at knowing where he has escaped to. I'd like the rest of you to go to the prison to question some of the prisoners- find out if they knew anything about Grindelwald's plans."
The Aurors left the room in a group and Madame Picquery was left behind. Tina had to admire how calm the President had appeared- as if the most feared wizard in the world hadn't just escaped from under her nose. Tina wondered how it could have been possible for Grindelwald to escape when he had been the most heavily guarded in the prison.
Newt poked his head up out of the now unlocked case; he saw the surroundings of a dark-lit apartment due to the still-cloudy sky. He didn't recognize any of the furniture, but the flooring looked similar to that of the Goldstein residence.
"Who's up there?" Queenie asked. Newt shook his head and whispered.
"I don't know, but we're in a different flat that looks like it could be in your building."
"But there's only another witch who lives here too, and that's Mrs. Esposito. All the others are No-Majs."
"Isn't she always checking up on you and Tina?"
"Well, yes, but she's never just barged into our apartment before."
Newt took a final look around before he decided it was safe to get out of the case and Queenie followed him. It was almost as dark as if it were night. He was startled as he noticed a furry fat cat slinking past a wall and he watched as it nimbly jumped onto a sofa- right into the lap of a woman with thin gray hair who he had not been able to see before. Newt halted right in his tracks and Queenie did too; he looked back at her to see that she seemed concerned for the woman.
"Mrs. Esposito?" The Legilimens said as she walked closer; the woman slowly turned and looked at Queenie with a blank expression.
"Newt, I think she's under the Imperius curse. Her thoughts don't sound like they normally do."
"What is she thinking?"
"I'm not sure; it's a bit hazy."
Mrs. Esposito suddenly stood up and the cat jumped off with a hiss. The old woman turned to them.
"Mrs. Esposito?" Queenie squeaked almost too quietly to hear. It was quiet except for the loud meowing of the cat in the room. The woman twistedly smiled and held out her bent wand.
"Run, Queenie. Run!"
They both hurried to the front door, but they heard the lock magically turn so they could not get out.
"Alohamora."
It was still locked. They turned around as a jet of light nearly hit Queenie, but the woman's wand hand was shaking so bad, she had missed.
"Mrs. Esposito, you need to stop this!" Queenie cried out as she cast a shielding spell to protect herself and Newt. Neither of them wanted to hurt the older woman.
Newt and Queenie slowly walked away from the door, edging along the wall. Queenie knew the plan in Newt's mind. They needed to get far away from her to be able to Apparate safely without somehow being hit by a spell. Mrs. Esposito began to talk in a deeper voice that wasn't quite her own.
"He will kill all unworthy scum who did not support him, and he will rule all of the Wizarding world for the greater good."
Queenie's eyes widened as the woman tried sending the killing curse in their direction, but she missed yet again. Newt realized that if they were to leave, then there was a chance Mrs. Esposito might harm all of the Muggles in the building. Mrs. Esposito suddenly buckled over and fell to the ground; her wand rolled away from out of her reach.
Tina tried to walk as quietly as she could down the nearly deserted street. Mack was on the opposite side of the road, matching her pace as they looked around. Nothing seemed to be suspicious or out of the ordinary, but there was still a sense of being unsafe due to Grindelwald's escape. It was raining quite heavily still and most civilians had taken refuge in their homes to avoid the weather. A black car drove past, splashing water onto Tina's pants. The witch groaned as she discreetly held her wand out to dry them as she walked; she held an umbrella in her other hand.
The No-Maj speakeasy happened to be only a few streets away from her own apartment, so Tina was coming close to the alley where she and Queenie usually Disapparated from. She wondered if Newt and her sister were at MACUSA right now and what they were doing. When she had left, the employees who were not Aurors were sending messages to Wizarding governments in other countries, and a few people had been busy making coffee to prepare everyone for the long night ahead.
So much for that day off.
Tina hadn't known the Aurors who had been killed, but she had passed them in the hallways at MACUSA every so often. She knew that they all had families, and she felt awful for what had happened. She hated Grindelwald more than she had ever hated anyone in her life; he had caused so much pain to countless witches and wizards, and he was on the loose again, off to cause more chaos.
"Tina? Hey, Tina?" She realized that Mack had crossed the street to stand beside her.
"Yeah?"
"Do ya think we should try another street? There don't seem to be anything suspicious happening over here."
She nodded and she was about to ask which street they should go to when she heard the buzz of a spell zipping toward them and she watched as Mack suddenly flew back and slammed to the ground. Tina gasped as she whipped around, searching for whoever had cast it.
The old woman had tricked them. As soon as Queenie had lowered the protective shield and began to rush toward Mrs. Esposito to see if she was alright, the old woman swiftly crawled, grabbed for her own wand, and held it up, aiming at Queenie.
