Is it just me or are my chapters getting longer and longer? lol
I rewrote this chapter three times before I was satisfied with it. still think it could be better but oh well
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC
I Stole Your Fedora Because It Looks Better On Me Anyway
Anyone who has ever picked up a Final Fantasy game should have at least seen those creatures once while playing through the game: Flightless birds, runs fast on two legs, large wings and long legs. Mostly featured in the color of yellow, but there are also black or red or blue ones found in the game. Apparently a golden chocobo is also a thing but with my luck I never really encountered one. Or I simply did not put enough effort into it.
Either way, if you'd visit the chocobo page on the Final Fantasy wikia, one of the first quotes that you'll see should be the following profile description taken from Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy:
A breed of flightless birds, characterized by their yellow feathers, distinct odor, and the unforgettable chirp, 'khew!' Domesticated for their gentle nature and quick feet, they are often used as mode of ground transportation.
Seems about a good description of the chocobo right? Right.
I once played Stadt, Land, Fluss (German for City, Country, River) with few friends until late night. Basically you have different categories like city, country, river and you throw some extras in such as first name, animals or famous dead people. Then you pick a random letter from the alphabet and then you write down in each category a word that starts with that letter. You receive more points if you have something that the others don't have or you're the only one who has anything in one category. Sounds like a very easy game but you'd be surprised how many people struggle to come up with a city or a country or an animal that starts with that one specific letter. On top of that you wanna make sure no one else has the same word as you. I fondly recall at the letter C I put down chocobo in animals and no one called me out on that it didn't really count because it was fictional.
But now that I was back in Newt's suitcase I wasn't really sure anymore whether they were fictional or not. As I was seated on something like the top of a hill with a decent view over how the interior of the suitcase was designed, I spotted a bunch of funny looking birds running around that also kept disappearing and reappearing in different spots. They were covered in fluffy blue feathers and seemed to be not able to fly either.
Could it be that the chocobos were based on those magical birds? Stories and ideas gotta come from somewhere. Maybe the guy who created the chocobo for Final Fantasy II saw the bird but wizards made him forget about it but the image still somehow stuck in his head and this the chocobo was born.
Holy shit I really wanna keep one.
"I certainly hope you are not planning to harm my diricawls." An all too familiar British accent sounded from behind, startling and making me jump out of my skin and scream in the process. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Newt quickly apologized as I turned around to face him.
In a stiff comical fashion, I pointed with my finger at the birds. "What makes you think I'd want to harm them?"
"You were er - staring very intensely at them. Did the – do something to you?"
"Oh, nah. It's just they look like another creature that I've seen before." I explained lamely, too lazy to start a conversation about chocobo and video games.
Surprised, Newt looked at me and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "I assume the Muggles thought the diricawls went extinct."
"What." Mirroring his face expression, I crossed my arms and cranked up my neck to meet his gaze. "I thought we are not supposed to know about the existence of magic – including magical creatures."
"That is true. According to your history books were driven to extinction by the humans in the 17th century." Newt began to educate me as he grabbed a handful of cut fish from his bucket and threw them at the approaching magical chocobos.
"I've wasted a whole evening once on the List of Extincted Animals on Wikipedia but I have never come across the name diricawls." I pointed out while accepting the fish that Newt handed to me.
"Hm. Might be because you know it under a different name." Newt muttered as he petted the head of the biggest diricawl in the group – presumably the mother. I fed the fish to a small chick but kept my gaze on the magizoologist, waiting for him to finally reveal the name. But it seemed like he had a funny thought because a half smirk that I could only describe as mischievous hushed over his face for a millisecond.
"Chocobo?" I threw in, testing out the theory that those fictional birds are based on the diricawls. But all I got was a shaking head, meaning no.
Newt settled the bucket down and then with a grin he rested both of his hands on his waist, like he couldn't wait to pull a prank.
"Do-do-dodgson." He stuttered out, or rather mocked someone.
I raised an eyebrow and thought for a few seconds. "Lewis Caroll?" I inquired, remembering that one book I started but never finished. It was about a governess who worked for the Lidell family and taught the three daughters too. The second eldest was the one to inspire Lewis Caroll to write Alice in Wonderland. His real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Dodgson was described as someone who always stammered when talking, so when he'd introduce himself to people he'd say 'Do-do-Dodgson'. The dodo in the book was supposed to be him. Realizing what Newt meant, I widened my eyes. "Oh my God, you're shittign me."
"I assure you, I am not." Newt replied and began to walk back into the shack, but stopped and looked back at me and waited until I caught up.
"So you're telling me," I started again, recapping what he revealed to me mere seconds ago "that you have a dodo family in your suitcase. The dodo that was supposed to be the most intelligent bird and yet got itself extincted?"
"They're not extinct. Muggles just think they are."
"But why?"
The wizard shrugged his shoulders. "Statue of Secrecy. Diricawls are magical creatures."
Letting out a disappointed sigh, I thought about how much there was in common between he magical creatures and the ones we Muggles have. It's lie someone took the animals and gave them a redesign and added superpowers, making them even cooler.
Hm...
"Okay, so Nifflers, yeah?" I started, getting Newt's attention. "Do they happen to be mammal but they lay eggs and the milk to still their babies leak through the skin?"
"Er – no, they don't. What kind of mammals does that?"
"The platypus. They don't steal shiny stuff but they do produce venoms for self defense." I answered then touched my pocket for my phone, remembering I had couple photos of the platypus saved on it. I showed Newt one of a platypus splashed on all fours, swimming in clear water.
He studied the animal with curiosity in his eyes. "Fascinating..." When he finished looking he dug for something in his own pocket and produced out what looked like a passport and a lock pick set.
My passport and lock pick set. Cabbage, that slippery bastard.
I sighed and put the two things into my coat pocket as my bag was still in the shack. "Nifflers are so annoying. I want seven of them."
"No, you don't." Newt threw back, visibly shuddering at the thought of having to care of seven nifflers.
As we entered the shack, I saw Jacob in front of Newt's oh-so called desk, holding up a magnifier in the air. I think he would have made a great adventure side kick. Beforehand Newt had smeared around his neck so Ellie wouldn't smell the erumpent musk anymore – thus saving Jacob's ass.
"Time to go and find Dougal now." Newt announced as he out his coat on.
I looked at my bad and debated for a few seconds whether I should take it with me or not, but then decided against it. It was an extra weight to carry and I'm sure Newt wouldn't mind if I leave it here. Plus it's not like it's going to make the suitcase suddenly a lot heavier than usual, and I'm saying that because he already has his own private magical zoo down here.
Newt was the first one to climb up the ladder, however he stopped midway, looking a bit confused and then knocked at the ceiling.
That did not look good at all.
Sheepishly, he climbed down the ladder again. "It – seems like someone locked us in." He stated the obvious. Jacob closed his eyes and looked for the nearest chair to sit down, whereas I crossed my arms and leaned onto the wall behind me.
"You telling me we are being kidnapped right now?"
"Possibly. Has happened before during my travels."
I was about to open my mouth and ask if he was shitting me but quickly got interrupted by Newt pointing one finger up saying: "No, I am not 'shitting' you."
Despite the situation we found ourselves in I couldn't contain the short laugh that bubbled up my throat whenever Newt said 'shitting'.
"Is there no other way to get out? You could use magic, right?" Jacob piped in, the only who was actually trying to think of another way to get out.
"Well - I could. But I'd rather not. Might risk exposure and damage the latch of the suitcase."
"So what you're saying is, we sit here and wait until our kidnapper opens the suitcase and then we jump out and attack." I summed up our conversation.
"Y-yes." Newt nodded his head.
I sighed and went up to Newt's bookshelf, remembering he had a card deck somewhere. Taking it, I turned around to face the gentlemen again, shuffling the cards. "Let's play Shithead."
oOo
There was a tense atmosphere in the room. The only sound you could here were the occasionally groaning and moaning coming from outside the shed. A quick look to the left, my opponent Mister Jacob Kowalski was looking at his cards. The furrowed brows and him wiping off the sweat from his forehead suggested he knew his winning chances were slim to nothing. To my right, Newton Fido Artemis Scamander (saw the full on some of his paper scattered on the desk) casually leaned back onto the wall, discussing with Pickett – who was prodded on his shoulder – what the next best move would be and who he shall eliminate first. Their gaze briefly met mine before dropping it back to their last two decked cards that were lying in front of them.
Lowering my eyes to my own cards (which sucked by the way), I looked at Cabbage – who was seated on my outstretched leg, playing with a coin. Noticing me staring at him, the Niffler looked at my cards too and then stretched out one arm, pointing at the ten (at some point Jacob complained under his breath why he didn't have a companion playing with him and I told him he could get a chocobo, which he did, it disappeared and reappeared outside, running away).
Yeah, I think the ten is a good card.
I threw it onto the card stack on the middle, clearing the whole deck to the side. Jacob sighed in relief, glad he didn't have to pick another stack of cards as his hand was already full with them. He put down four eights. I put down two jacks and then anticipatedly watched Newt, who finally undecked one card. It was an ace.
Fuck.
Just then we heard a clicking sound followed by someone knocking on the ceiling. Instantly we all looked up and then back at each other. Our kidnapper is finally letting us out huzzah! Newt was the first one to get up and climb up the ladder and soon followed by Jacob. I let them know I was putting Cabbage back to his nest (and also because I'll let the men deal with the kidnappers first) I exited the shack and carried the Niffler back to his tree that looks very much like the one in my great-grandfather's garden. I'd even dare to say it was the exact same tree but then again most plants and trees all look the same to me.
Did I ever tell you how I killed an aloe vera plant because I watered it too much and how I killed a cactus because I never watered it even once and it dried out? I'm what people would call the opposite of a green thumb.
Cabbage nestled himself comfortably, dumping out the content of his pouch and stacked them up. Other shiny and expensive stuff can be found here too: pearl necklaces, ruby earrings, emerald crowns that looked like it was taken from the Queen's treasure room, coins, coins, coins, a pocket watch, coins, coins and some more coins.
That rich bastard.
Patting the Niffler's head and giving him a goodbye kiss I skipped back to the shed and stopped at the ladder, straining my ears to see if I can hear anything that was happening outside, but when there wasn't anything I decided it was safe enough for me to pop up.
I wish I hadn't done it.
Poking my head out, I was about to shout something at Jacob and Newt when I realized Tina Goldstein was also here, and all three of them were occupied with staring at something that was floating above them, a hologram of a dead body. It also took me a few seconds to realize that we were located in a huge hall with an audience dressed in all kinds of traditional clothes from culutres all over the world.
It seemed like they were in the middle of something very important and it'd be a shame to interrupt them rudely now would it?
Cue all eyes set on me.
Slowly raising my right hand, I waved at them. "What's up."
"Arrest them!"
Fuck me sideways.
oOo
"I can't believe this is where I'm going to die."
"He-hey, don't say that. No one's gonna die." Jacob countered back as he lied down on the meek excuse of a cell bad that was really just a wood plank while staring at the ceiling. Even though he said that, his voice didn't sound that sure. Whatever was going to happen to us, it will not end well. Newt and Tina were seated opposite of me, both leaned against the wall. Newt hid his face between his arms that rested on his knees, still utterly saddened and destroyed about what is going to happen to his creatures. Tina stared intensely at a spot in front of her.
Another dark thought entered my mind and I grimaced. "I can't believe I'm going to die before seeing Rogue One in the IMAX." Thinking how I'll miss Alan Tudyk playing a sassy robot somehow terrified me more than the thought of rotting away in the basement of the Woolworth Building and then it suddenly hit me that If I was stuck here for the rest of the life I'm pretty much missing all the good upcoming TV shows and movie released.
"Could you please stop talking? This does not look good for any of us, okay?" Tina Goldstein spoke up, glaring at me annoyedly, although I gotta say this time there was a certain spark missing.
Putting on an equally annoyed face expression. "No shit, Sherlock. I wonder who's fault it is." I spat out, painfully remembering when the they put handcuffs on us and then took Newt's suitcase away, which was then followed by the British wizard begging them not to harm his kids because they were not innocent.
I have never in my life heard someone so desperate and scared for someone else, and it broke my heart to imagine what would happen to them.
Hurt flashed across Tina's face but she quickly concealed it with anger, probably not wanting to get sassed by someone who was younger than her. "I was trying to protect the wizarding community, my people! But what do you understand, you're just a Squib." When those words left her mouth, she realized she let her anger get the best out of her and opened her mouth to say something else, but I wasn't having any of it.
"Oh, oh, okay," I started "so you are implying a Squib wouldn't understand it because they're neither a true wizard nor a Muggle and thus cannot comprehend the danger of having to live hidden in plain sight?"
"I didn't mean-"
"No, fuck you Miss Goldstein," I ignored how Jacob visibly flinched at my colorful language and Newt finally lifting up his head to see what was happening. Maybe Tina didn't deserve any of the backlashes. Maybe I was overreacting here. Maybe I was letting out my anger and sadness that has piled up over the last two days on the wrong person. Maybe I'll regret it later but right now at this moment, it felt very good to explode. Once I started, there was no going back.
"So yes, we ran away in the middle of the night. But we did it because we wanted to collect Newt's creature back as soon as possible. We could be done by now and then be on our way to somewhere else! But no, Miss the-law-is-the-law had to bring us in and kiss up to the presidents ass about how right she was. Look, here's the suitcase with the dangerous creatures! Really, I'm starting to think you were never really going to help us capture them in the morning-"
"-Oswin, I- I think that is enough-" Newt tried to butt in but that also fell on deaf ears.
"-I'm so done with whole wizarding world, okay? I'm not a Squib, I'm a Muggle or a No-Maj or whatever you want to call me and this Muggle here really just wants to go home because I think out of the four of us I'm most likely the one who needs to go home the most. But I guess that is not going to happen now since I'm stuck in this stupid cell, thanks to you!"
I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath, trying to suppress the hiccup that was threatening to escape but failed to do. And the first tear started to fall, followed by more and more. For the millionth time, an overwhelming sense of homesickness enveloped me but this time I let it take me over and decided to just cry my heart out in this cell right now.
Who cares, we're all going to die anyway.
We fell back into an uncomfortable silence. Jacob handed me an handkerchief, which I used to clean up my tears. I could use a tissue to clean up my runny nose but it'd be gross to hand him back a snot soaked handkerchief so my scarf will have to handle it then.
"W-Why did you lie?"was all Tina said after a while.
Wow, what a bitch.
"It was either that or getting my memories erased, which by the way is a horrible thing to do without someone's consent." I spat back. That made her shut up. Or maybe she finally realized there was no point in wasting more time on me.
The witch then turned her attention to Newt. On the verge of tears, she apologized. "I am so sorry about your creatures, Mr. Scamander. I truly am."
Newt remained silent.
To be honest if Newt would have said anything that sounded remotely like forgiven and forgotten I would have screamed. I can't explain why I was feeling like this, I just do. Perhaps right now I was disliking Tina very much.
"Can someone please tell me what this Obscuria Obscurious thing is? Please?" It was Jacob this tiem breaking the silence.
Seeing as I have missed what happened after Newt and Jacob left the suitcase I lifted up my head and paid attention to their explanation. History wise it dates back to the witch hunt. Everyone who had history class ins school knew what it was; we accused fellow human of being a witch and connected to Satan. They were put on trial and tortured, so called witch tests were performed, they all died in the end. It was a very ugly thing in the human history among other stuff we have committed. The Obscuria was something little kids developed because the were forced to hide their magical abilities. Bottling the magic inside instead of learning how to control it they developed this Obscuria thing.
Jacob summarised it the best: "What are you telling me here – that Senator Shaw was killed by a – by a kid?"
oOo
As a kid, I was often send to the principles office. I was what teachers called a troublesome child and a very violent girl. I really don't know what my gender has to do anything with it. Really, anyone could be violent if they try hard enough. Basically whenever a boy was being very mean to me I would hit back and they would hit back again and then we'd both end up on the floor wrestling. Usually it was a teacher who'd pull us apart, lecturing me that girls shouldn't fight and that when a boy picks on you it just means he likes you and you should take it as a compliment.
I call bullshit on that. If someone is being mean to you, punch them in their face. Seriously just punch them in their face and then treat yourself with an ice cream.
After what felt like an eternity sitting in the cell two MACUSA agent showed up and led Newt, Tina and me away. Jacob was left behind, presumably because he was a No-Maj. Makes me wonder why I was sitting with Newt in an interrogation room now. Oh yeah, maybe it was because the guy interrogating us still thought I was a Squib, thus I assume the wizarding law also applied to me.
The room wasn't very impressive. Then again I don't think it was supposed to have much of decorations anyway. The walls were made out of cold metal plates, a lamp hung down from the ceiling that didn't do much to lit up the room. Furniture wise there was a table and couple of chairs, nothing more. No big windows for outside to stand there and follow the interrogation.
Mr. Graves (they guy from earlier yesterday when we were first taken in) looked at the two folders sitting in front of him. One had Newt's name on it and the other one mine. Funny, considering I'm a non magical person and technically don't exist and yet he had a file with my name on it.
Judging by how he was sitting there with his hand clamped together and looking at my files it seems like he's going to question me first. High School and college did not prepare me for a wizarding FBI interrogation.
"Miss Ainsworth," Graves finally addressed me. I gulped, scared of what was coming next. "We have reached out to the Ministry of Magic in the United Kingdom. They confirmed there is a Squib in the Ainsworth family. However it seems like he is doing well in his home in England at the moment."
That did not look good for me at all.
Mr. Graves continued. "Now, my question is: Who are you?" His voice was very calm and leveled and yet carried an air of authority with him. Maybe it'd be wiser to tell the truth and not fuck around with him.
Scared which direction my answer will take me I briefly glanced over to Newt. He was already looking at me. Although he had his own worried for his creatures in the suitcase, he was also worried for me and that made me feel a bit braver. Taking a shaky breath I raised my head and as dignified as possible I said: "I'm just Oswin."
The wizard chuckled at my brave façade. It made me slightly insecure but I tried not to let him discourage me. However that also got quickly shattered when he opened my files and I saw one piece of paper that contained barely any information about me. And my drivers license.
Picking up the piece of plastic, Graves turned it around in his hand and then read out loud what it said: "Oswin Hoffman-Ainsworth. Date of Birth: 2nd April 1995 in Warsaw, Poland." Finding the rest of the information not important, he looked back at me. "I have never quite seen something like this among wizards or No-Majes. And I find your birthday quite interesting too."
Yeah, me too, considering that I almost turned into an April fools joke.
Too scared to see how Newt and Tina were reacting to it, I just kept staring at my drivers license in Mr. Graves hand.
"You lied to the authority about being a Squib."
"Uh, I didn't say anything to you, you were the one who came up to me and asked if I was a Squib and I just decided to roll with it. So no director, I did not lie to any you."
A brief second of silence where I can tell he was not amused with me at all.
"Why did you pretend to be an Ainsworth?"
"Order a DNA test and maybe then you'll know." I countered back but then noticed the raised eyebrow and it occurred to me that people in this era might not have been introduced to DNA testing yet.
If looks could kill, I'd be dead by now.
Putting my license back into my folder and closing it, Graves decided that he had wasted enough time on me and turned to newt now.
Whelp buddy, it's your turn now.
Pointing with his hand at me and then at the door, he ordered one of the guards to take me out and to his office, he wants to speak there with me later under four eyes.
"She's innocent, she has nothing to do with thi-" Newt came to my defense but was quickly silence by the witch behind him with her want pointing at his neck.
I was grabbed by my arm and dragged out of my chair to graces office. The guilty and worried face expression of Newt was the last thing I saw before the interrogation room door closed behind me.
oOo
Different location, same situation.
I was now seated in Mr. Graves office (Percival Graves, Director of Magical Security and Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement said on the door). He had dismissed the guards, probably knowing that I can't really do anything against him. If this was a movie, in the moment of distraction I would pull off some really cool karate moves and bring down the bad guys, ask some question and then get the hell out of here. But alas this was real life and I'm not a spy trained in the Red Room.
Graves office didn't look particularly... special I would say. It had what most people needed in an office, a huge desk, nice comfy boss chair, window with a very good view and then shelfs and cupboards containing books and documents. The was decorated with some medals and certificates his outstanding service but I couldn't find any personal belonging. No framed photo of his family or lover or anything. It was just an office of someone with a high position.
Now, why the fuck was Percival Graves staring at me like that?
Oh, believe me, it's not the wide-eyes, amazed at my beauty staring. It's the bored, do-something-to-amuse-me-stare. Just as creepy.
"I mean you no harm, Miss Hoffmann-Ainsworth." He began, empathizing my last name as a reminder the he knows who I am, more or less.
"I find that very hard to believe." I replied, glaring at him. "From what I understand, Muggles or No-Majes aren't supposed to know about magic and they usually get their memories erased. And yet here I am, sitting in your office with a plate of cookies and coffee served for me. Which means you want something else from me."
I took the slightly raised eyebrow and the half assed smirk on his face that the bullshit wasn't entirely wrong. He let out a sigh and then leaned slightly forward whereas I did the exact opposite. I wanted to create as much space between me and him as possible.
"When I see your face, I see someone from the Ainsworth family." He started. It means he knew my great-grandfather's family personally or at least that's how I took it. "And yet, you are a No-Maj. Not a witch. Not a Squib. A No-Maj."
"Well deducted, sir." Came my sarcastic compliment. At this point I don't know if I'd prefer him sitting there in silence and looking over the lack of files or talking to me. Can't he just drop dead on spot?
He kept on talking. "Let's not beat around the bush here. You are a descendant of Archer Ainsworth and you are from the future."
"There are no flying cars or colonies on Mars yet in 2016, if that's what you want to know." It took me every ounce of my body from not saying 'Bitch I might be'. This could get me even more on his bad side.
"If you give me the location of the Ainsworth's pocket watch, I might let your friends live."
Stunned into silence for a brief silence, I recovered but also lost my cool composure. Shooting up from my seat, I felt my throat going dry, not wanting to believe what he just said. "What did you do to them."
Knowing that he had hit a sore sport and got me wrapped around his finger now, Graves leaned back into his seat and wore what I would describe as a villainous smirk, like he knew he was going to win this verbal battle.
"They were sentenced to death for breaking the Statue of Secrecy."
"Just- just like that? No trial? No lawyer? Nothing?"
"This is not how things in America work."
And SPLASH, the perfectly brewed coffee wasn't in the cup anymore, it was on Mr. Graves face.
With trained fast reflexes he grabbed his wand and I was knocked from my chair onto the floor, pain surging through my body which seemed to fade away slowly though. Still not a very pleasant experience. The director rose up from his seat and marched toward me. I panicked and scrambled back, but could not get far with the wall behind me. In only two long strode he was standing above me, his calm posture gone now and the coffee dripping onto the carpet, staining it. I'm sure that was nothing a little magic could not fix. Sadly I couldn't say the same thing for the bruise that will form on my neck via the hand that was choking me. It was loose enough for me to still breathe properly, he hadn't put too much pressure on it. At first I struggled against it but stopped once he pointed his wand at me.
Also I really can't stand the coffee smell coming from him.
"Tell me where the pocket watch is." He seethed.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Liar!" He objected and tightened his grip just a bit, enough to press tears out of my eyes.
"I swear I don't know!" I repeated. He didn't ask any further and instead looked me in the eyes. Then I felt something really weird and uncomfortable inside my head, like it was poking around my brain. I did not like the feeling at all, so I began to shake my head to throw whatever was inside out. It proved to be a challenge with his hand around my neck and all that jazz,
Graves suddenly let go, a triumphally smile on his face. I gasped for air and touched my sore throat.
"It seems like I have found what I needed to know." Mr. Graves rose from his crouched position, towering over me like a predator who has finally cornered his prey. Then he raise his wand and pointed it at my forehead which only made me cry harder. "I have no use for you anymore. Don't worry, this will be quickly and painless, you won't even feel it."
Every person would know that in this moment he meant death and seeing as I was indeed cornered and a sobbing mess the only thing I could think if doing was closing my eyes and wishing this will be over as fast as possible.
The death blow never came because the sound of a very loud and shrill alarm bell rang through the whole building. Outside the office people were running and shouting about the prisoners have escaped. Then someone entered the room, saying that Graves presence was required by the president now and there was no time to waste. He let out a frustrated sigh and lowered his wand, telling the other wizard he'll be on his way now.
Before leaving he kneeled down again and grabbed a fist full of my hair. "I'll deal with you later." And with that he swaggered out of his office and shut the door behind him. A few clicking sound tells me that he has locked the door.
Now that I was finally alone again, I sacked down even further against the wall and onto the floor, crying so much tears that my nose was stuffed with snot and I had trouble breathing.
oOo
After I was done using my scarf to clean my stuffed nose and tears I decided to dump it in the corner as it was too gross or me to wear it around my neck anymore. I began to rummage through his office opening every drawer and cupboard that didn't have a lock.
I have no shame and it seems like I'm going to die later anyway, so I might as well leave my mark here. Plus they could always use magic to clean everything up. I did think about escape routes, but jumping out of the window my least favorite as the view outside already tells me his office was on the higher floors and despite how much I like being at high places scaling down the Woolworth Building has never been on my agenda list and never will be. The door was locked of course, kicking it down has crossed my mind too.
Artofmanliness dot com taught me that running at the door shoulder first is the best way to dislocate them, so no don't do that. Next step would be check which way the door opens and much to my bad luck it opened to the inside. Kicking it down was next to impossible. And that seemed to be all of my escape options, more wasn't left anymore. So yeah, that's how I ended up spinning around Graves' comfy boss chair (it had a switch that made the seat lean back completely and you could take a nap on it) with the black fedora hat sitting on my head, looking through the wanted posters of criminal wizards and witches. Just like every other photographs in the wizarding world, the wanted photos also moves.
Also I found Newt's suitcase under the office desk along with his and Tina's wands in the drawer (Graves fails at hiding things forever). It made me realize that both of them could be executed in this very moment. Unless the alarm bell saying the prisoners escaped meant they were still alive and well, they escaped. At which it means the British wizard is going to look for his suitcase too. SO if they find it before the dickhead comes back, I have a chance to live and run away.
Suddenly filled with hope again, I jumped up from the seat and grabbed the wands and the suitcase and walked to the door, grabbing the door handle again. Just like before it didn't budge. Not sure if wizards use key to lock door or magic spell, but I doubt the keyhole was there for decorations.
Only if I was a keyblade wielder and had a keyblade with me.
And then I remembered I always carry a lock pick set with me and that it was in my coat pocket (they actually did not search through our pockets prior arresting us which seems like a really fatal mistake in my opinion.)
I have practiced picking locks with every door we had in our house thinking that one day I might need it when urban exploring. Plus it just seemed like an unnecessary cool skillset to have. But I wouldn't say I was a pro at it especially now that I was putting myself under pressure, fearing any second the lock is gonna turn and Graves is going back to deliver the killing blow. That thought did slow me down but I was determined not to stop here and give up. So I kept moving the wrench a bit here, applying slightly more or less pressure there and after what felt like forever it finally made click.
Oswin the Muggle successfully picked Director Pericval Graves office lock without any magic!
Quickly putting my lock pick set back into its pouch, I grabbed the suitcase and the wands, pressed my ear against the door and listened carefully for any sounds. When I was sure there was no one I slowly opened the door three or four inches wide and peeked out. A very familiar friendly face popped into my view, surprised but also relieved to see me.
"Oswin!" Queenie shouted in delight.
I opened the door quickly and hugged the younger Goldstein sister, sobbing into her clothes as I was very happy to see her. Being the kind hearted person she was he hugged me back and stroked my hair, quickly reading my mind about what happened and said some comforting words to me.
"I have Newt's suitcase and their wands." I finally let go of her and hold up aid things, at which Queenie and Jacob (didn't notice he was there but good to see he was here) both looked very happy about it.
"What happened to you?" Jacob asked, pointing at my neck. I assume the bruises have started to form already.
"The director of security happened." I replied back and pushed my hair over my shoulder to hide them, ignoring Queenie's concerned look as he knows exactly how it happened. Not wanting to think back about it, I changed the topic. "Where is your sister and Newt?"
"That's where we will be heading now. Follow me." Queenie said and swiftly turned around on her heel, gripping her wand tightly, battle ready as Jacob and I trotted after her.
It was a good idea to have Queenie leading the way since she worked here and knows the building the best. Also her ability to be able to read people's mind makes it possible for her to know at which corner someone is going to pass us by so we know when we need to stop and wait. We did t until we reached the elevator and pressed the button leading us to the basement. As we arrived and stepped out, another alarm bell ran in the distance instantly followed by a group of wizard and witches marching down the corridor. Quickly we turned around into the opposite direction and leaned tightly against the wall into the shadow, waiting for the footsteps to disappear. Then we kept looking for Newt and Tina.
As soon as we took the next turn to the right we bumped into them, both ready to take whoever it was down with their fists but sighed in relief when they saw it was us. However there was no time for a happy reunion as we all know we were wanted fugitives. At the moment we needed a safe way to escape the building and keep looking for the escaped creatures.
In a flash Queenie had a brilliant solution to our problem. She gestured to the case I was holding: "Get in!"
oOo
Started from the bottom no we're here, at the bottom of the suitcase in the shack.
Newt has left us in there to see how his creatures were doing after the MACUSA has invaded is suitcase. They were found in a slightly nervous state but seemed to be unharmed. I wanted to go after him but then realized I wouldn't be much of a help and will just hinder him in the process. So I stayed behind with Jacob and Tina. The atmosphere in the room very tense. We were all praying that Queenie will smuggle us safely out of the Woolworth Building. None of us were saying anything.
Absent mindedly I began to rub my sore neck again, cursing the director bastard under my breath. Unfortunately that action did not go unnoticed by the brunette Goldstein sister, who turned into mom-mode the moment she saw my bruised neck. In quick steps she was at my side, grabbing my hand away from my neck and examined the bruises.
"Who did this to you?"
"That cunt bitch - I mean Percival Graves did that to me." I replied back, correcting myself mid sentence thinking that maybe, just maybe I should tone down my language a little bit. "I knew I should have kneed him in the balls the first opportunity I had."
A smile hushed over Tina's face but quickly disappeared. Maybe because she remembered we were having bad blood and didn't want to laugh at the things I was saying. She was about to open her mouth and say something but then the door opened and Newt stepped back in.
"Everyone is a bit shaken up, but I managed to calm the – Oswin what happened?" Now Newt turned into mom-mode too (or never switched it off) and popped up next to Tina, tenderly reaching out a hand but stopped right at my neck and looked me in the eyes, silently asking for permission to look at the bruises. In response I tied my hair back so had easier access. Tina stepped back to let Newt to his job. He began by grabbing my head carefully with both hands and tilting it slightly to the side and then let one hand ghost over the skin of my neck. I tried my best to look at anything in this room but Newt.
Oh look a jar filled with worms that were still alive and wiggling around, lovely.
Queenie knocked a couple of times, letting us know it was safe to get out now, so Jacob and Tina decided to ditch me alone here with newt. Guys please don't make things more awkward than it already is.
Aaaand they're gone.
"I am so sorry, Oswin." Newt uttered out, his hand now resting on both of my shoulders. "I should- I should have let them know sooner you were a Muggle and – they'd have to left you with Jacob, this is all my-"
Having a vague feeling which direction this conversation was going to I lifted up both of my hands and held them against both sides of Newt's cheek, before slapping down light enough to make him flinch and stop talking.
"Don't you dare go all cliché and blame yourself now. I am old enough to take care of myself and no one asked you to be my babysitter. You're trying your best here to help out a stranger and this is all that matters, okay?" I watched his face for any reactions and when he finally looked me in the eyes with a small smile, I smiled back. Realizing that my hands were still on Newt's cheek I abruptly let go and retraced my hands, looking away from his face.
"Nice hat." Newt commented and then began to rummage through his cupboard for something.
"Thanks. I stole it from Percival Graves' office." I replied and tipped the black fedora a bit back. It fit perfectly on my head. I'm sure he won't miss it either.
Newt returned with a worn out yellow-grey-striped knitted scarf. Thanking him I wrapped it around my neck and took a quick sniff. Smelled like cinnamon and fresh mowed grass. Wasn't a bad smell per say but it guess it'll take some time to get used to it. Out of curiosity when Newt waited for me at the ladder I stood up on my toes and sniffed his neck, and action that got him flustered.
"Did anyone ever tell you you smell like a cinnamon roll?" Was my explanation and without waiting for an answer I climbed up the stairs to join Tina, Queenie and Jacob outside.
I feel like lots of people were expecting a bad ass death cell scene but naaaah idk man adding Oswin to it feels too forced, like I'm trying to wiggle her into every single scene Newt is in, still I hope I did a good job.
and yeaaaaaah I sorta made Tina look like bitch here. I don't hate her, I'm just not particularly fond of how "quickly" the romance developed between her and Newt ((says the one who's shipping Newt with OC and it seems to be developing quickly too GETS SHOT))
ONTO THE REVIEWS:
lululillie: uuuuuuh that's a good question the answer is I don't know;;;?
Awareness: Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't, maybe this is just temporary and once Oswin goes back home it's over, who knows. I don't know how it'll end to be honest _
WizardingWhovian: FAM I FINALLY WATCHED THE DW XMAS SPECIAL I NEED TO TALK WITH YA ABOUT IT. but yah you're right it's like you can use DW reference into everything and it'S SO HARD NOT TO USE THEM ALL. we got snow too, except the temperature keeps rising up and down so one day its snow and then it melts but then it snows again et cetera et cetera.
Narnia-fan7: welcooome to the family hope you'll keep reading it to the end! :)
SparrowLillies: yep yep, And i think they also implied a season 2 at the end!