When the afternoon began to wind down, Tina's nerves about the festival finally emerged. Her nerves were already primed and hot because of her sister's illness, even though it was just a common cold. But when a person has lost both parents within days of each other due to an illness first thought to be a nasty flu that turned into dragonpox, any kind of illness is enough to make you scared.

She ate a small dinner in the kitchen quickly without really tasting anything. Once she was done, she approached the bedroom that Queenie and Jacob shared.

Her sister was lying in bed, propped up by pillows, with tissues on the nightstand. Jacob sat on the bed beside her, holding a steaming bowl of soup in his hands and feeding her himself.

When Queenie caught sight of her sister in the doorway, she waved a hand in reassurance. "Don't worry so much, Teenie," she said, her voice quiet and hoarse. "I can feed myself perfectly well, but it makes Jacob feel better to do it."

Tina relaxed slightly, but she was still worried. "Maybe I shouldn't go –"

"Oh, yes, you are!" Queenie said as loudly as she could with her limited voice. Thankfully, she soon deduced Tina's biggest worry and sighed. "Teenie, I promise you, I will be just fine. It's just a cold. If I don't show any signs of improvement by tomorrow, we'll fetch a healer. How does that sound?"

Tina sighed and nodded.

Jacob spoke to Tina. "I'll be right here with her while you're gone, Tina. If you make sure she has her last dose of that pepper potion before you go, then I'll stay up with her for anything else."

Tina nodded. From the first moment that she had met Jacob, even when she was angry and terrified about the situation the two of them were in, she could see how much he loved her sister. She knew that he would take care of her.

"Alright," she said. "I won't stay past midnight, though. I'll come home by then so that you can get some rest, Jacob. Honestly, I probably won't stay longer than an hour or two, but either way, I'll make sure you won't have to stay up all night."

Jacob nodded his thanks. Queenie then pointed to the chest that was placed by the foot of the bed. On top of the chest was a large white box, the kind that clothes were put in. "There's your outfit for tonight. Go put it on and show it to me before you go."

Tina nodded, picked up the box, and left for her own bedroom down the hall.

Queenie had always loved beautiful things, and she had a creative side to her, especially when it came to clothes. Growing up without much money had taught her how to be resourceful and clever about expressing that creativity. For the most part, she had expressed her talent in her own clothing. Tina couldn't remember a time when Queenie would not make her own personal touches, adjustments or signatures to any article of clothing that her sister would find.

For the past two weeks, Queenie had used her creative talent in taking care of Tina's three-part wardrobe for the festival. However, she had kept what she was working on a secret from her sister, wanting to surprise her. Tina hadn't objected for she trusted Queenie's judgement. Not every big sister could say that they trusted their little sister not to make her look foolish, but Tina was very glad that she could without a doubt. So, whenever Queenie needed to, Tina would let her measure her and take notes.

Now, for the first time, Tina was seeing the fruits of her sister's labor. Standing in front of the mirror in her room, to say that Tina was impressed would be an understatement. She barely recognized herself in the lovely woman in the reflection of the mirror.

The dress was a simple, classic summer dress design: modest neckline, cupped sleeves that only covered her shoulders, skirt ending just below the knees. The fabric was soft and felt lovely on her skin, and the dress fit her perfectly. The color was the softest, loveliest lilac, which Queenie knew was one of Tina's favorite colors.

But what touched Tina's heart the most was the special detail that Queenie had given to the dress. Along the neckline, the edges of the sleeves, around her waist, and around the hem of the dress, Queenie had sewn in a pattern of lilac blossoms and petals, just a shade darker than the dress.

To accent the whole look, Tina wore a simple cloche hat, the color of which matched her dress, that was accented with a cluster of lilac blossoms.

Lilacs had been their mother's favorite flower.

Looking in the mirror, Tina's eyes fell to the locket resting between her breasts, and she finally acknowledged that she was really looking at herself. She held the locket between her fingers, rubbing the old pendant for a moment. She didn't open it, though; looking at her mother's and father's pictures would make her tear up in her nervous state.

In the reflection, over her shoulder, she saw that it was nearly seven o'clock. So, Tina took a deep breath, slipped her wand into the hidden pocket of the dress (standard for any witch's garment), and left her bedroom.

As Queenie had asked, Tina returned to her and Jacob. Jacob gave her an approving and encouraging nod, and Queenie smiled so brightly that Tina nearly forgot that she was sick. The blonde lifted a hand and twirled her finger. Rolling her eyes, Tina complied and turned on the spot. Jacob teased her with a light wolf-whistle, earning him a slap on the arm from his wife. "Have a good time, Tina," he said, chuckling.

"Please try, Teenie," Queenie rasped, and blew her a kiss.

Tina returned the gesture, took another deep breath, and disapparated away.

Like every other person who had RSVPed 'yes' to the festival, Tina had received travel instructions in the week before. She had chosen to apparate there, so she had firmly put into her mind the apparition point that the instructions had drawn out for her.

Thankfully, it worked, and when she landed on her feet, Tina found herself being greeted by a Ministry worker. "Welcome!" the woman greeted, pointing behind her. "Follow the path through the gates to the festival."

Her tone was polite but urgent, and Tina started moving before she was finished, knowing that she shouldn't linger in a public apparition point. She was soon following a group of families who had just arrived by portkey down a dirt path and towards a pair of open, gilded gates.

Once they had passed through, Tina had to stop for a moment and catch her breath. Before her was a vast landscape of pure magic. Never before had she seen so many witches and wizards of all ages, so many magical families, all together. In the open and not hiding. She quickly blinked back happy tears so that she could take it all in.

Standing on the path as other new arrivals hurried past her, she saw that this would eventually lead to a grand house some yards away. The setting sun provided the entire scene with a soft glow. The vast grounds around it were filled with various tents and stands of different colors. The air was filled with excited chatter and children's laughter, especially some distance to the left where a playground had been set up. A jazz tune was being played some distance away in a lighted pavilion; Tina saw couples and young people dancing to the lively tune.

It was as the auror was standing there, having no idea of where to even begin, that she heard her name called by a familiar voice:

"Goldstein!"

Turning her head, she saw her boss, Theseus Scamander, approaching her. He was smiling, wearing a light tweed suit with no tie, looking utterly at ease and happy. On his arm was a woman that Tina recognized as his fiancée, Leta. She wore lovely turquoise summer dress that looked to be made of silk, and her long hair fell in smooth curls down her back.

"Hello, Mr. Scamander," she said, smiling back as she shook his hand.

"I don't think you two have properly met yet," said Theseus, indicating the woman on his arm. "This is my fiancée, Leta Lestrange."

The beautiful woman stepped forward and took Tina's hand in hers. "It's so nice to meet you, Miss Goldstein. Theseus speaks very highly of you."

Being properly face-to-face with her for the first time, Tina saw just what a striking beauty the shorter woman was. Having lived with a striking beauty her whole life, Tina didn't allow herself to feel intimidated in any way. She had long ago accepted the fact that she would never be the most beautiful, or even beautiful, and she'd never lost any sleep over that.

"Please call me Tina," said Tina. "And you have a very flattering fiancée."

"No, I'm a very honest one," said Theseus. "You're a wonderful addition to my team, and I'm glad that you could come tonight."

"Have you come with anybody?" asked Leta kindly.

Tina shook her head, refusing to let herself feel (even more) self-conscious. "No, just me. I live with my sister and her husband. Unfortunately, she caught a bad cold from the awful weather we've been having."

Leta gave a sympathetic groan, and Theseus winced in sympathy. "My mother caught one, as well. Thankfully, she is back on her feet just in time to be hostess, so hopefully your sister will be back on her feet within a day or two."

"That's very good to hear," said Tina, glad of this information that allowed her worry about Queenie to lessen. "And please let me say that everything looks…spectacular so far."

"Thank you." Theseus then looked over Tina's shoulder at the people coming through the gates and gave her an apologetic smile. "Excuse us, Goldstein, but we're also playing the part of host and hostess tonight. Please, go and enjoy yourself."

"It was lovely to properly meet you," said Leta, pressing her hand again.

"You too," replied Tina before stepping aside so that the couple could greet other incoming guests.

Tina then resumed walking down the dirt path that led to the grand house. Soon, little colorful tents that vendors had set up were on either side of her. Around her and past her, more people and families were walking, eager to enjoy themselves. Feeling self-conscious and a little overwhelmed, Tina quickly side-stepped off the path so that she could stand inconspicuously between two of the vendors.

Fingering her locket nervously, Tina felt at a complete loss of what to do. She still wanted to observe and explore all that the festival had to offer. But seeing all of these couples and families surrounding her had reminded her of just how much of a fish out of water she was here. A single American auror, who barely knew the colleagues that she had outside of the office, with enough social awkwardness to fill a lake. Queenie wanted her to make a new life for herself here by making new friends…but Tina didn't even know where to start! She could hardly just walk up to random strangers and start up a friendly conversation. Queenie or Jacob could, they had that confidence and social skill, but not Tina.

But Tina was never one to give up so easily. She was not going to disappoint her sister, especially because she knew that Queenie was right about this. So, Tina formed a rough plan in her mind.

She would definitely explore each part of this festival, see if any recreational activities or wares that the vendors were selling caught her eye. If they did, she would try to be sociable, try to strike up a conversation that would hopefully lead to more than small talk. She would end at the pavilion where jazz music was playing and people were dancing. Tina loved to dance and always had. Hopefully, it would be another way to meet new people.

Then, just as she was about to put this plan into motion, something across the path caught her eye. Since it was a little hard to see through the people walking by, Tina crossed the path so that she stood in between two other vendors. Now, Tina got a clear view of what was laying there on the grass: a doll.

Picking it up, Tina's observant eyes saw that, not only did this doll have a headful of red yarn and a bright pink dress, this doll was hand-made and far from new. This doll was well-loved, and it was certainly missed by someone.

Tina's first instinct was to walk over to the playground where so many of the children were playing, but then she got a better idea. Taking out her wand, she carefully waved it all over the doll as she murmured, "Imagini exemplum." She then pointed her wand upwards. In the next second, a bright and ghostly image – a perfect projection of the doll – was hovering above her head, just high enough to be seen over the vendor's stalls and tents.

Tina stood still, prepared to wait as long as it took for the owner of the doll to see the spell that she had made.

As she stood there, waiting with her wand raised, Tina was being watched. The eyes had not only watched Tina's actions in regards to the doll, but also the admiring passing glances of those walking past her, seeing what she was doing.

This pair of eyes, though invisible to anybody looking in their direction, were large, bright blue, gifted with foresight, and not human.