Thank you to all those who are following on this adventure! I hope you continue to enjoy it!

Chapter 10

Tina was amazed by the intricately designed set up the Ministry for Magic had taken in designing the ball. Newt had explained to her that it would be held in a large Marquee in the middle of a field with Muggle repelling charms in place to ensure it wasn't discovered. The scale of the event wasn't far from the Quidditch World Cup with various portkeys set up in multiple locations so that a large number of wizards weren't all converging on the same site together. As Tina arrived back in London she was greeted by an unusually surly Brady who only made a half hearted attempt at charm as he requested a dance at the ball. Tina excused herself to get ready for the ball arriving back just in time to take the last portkey leaving the Ministry.

Tina arrived at the entrance to the field greeted by the continuously drizzling rain.

"Oh wonderful" Tina groaned to Pickett who was comfortably positioned in her small purse.

"They obviously weren't expecting it to rain when they made this plan". Tina glanced around the muddy field feeling slightly anxious. She was the only person who had taken the portkey from the Ministry and the immediate area around her was quite deserted. She wished there were other people around to help her find the way. Tina took a step forward and slipped in a deceptively grassy looking slab of mud almost landing on the ground when she felt someone steady her with an arm.

"Allow me" said a rather kind and cheerful male voice. Tina turned with surprise to see an older man standing before her, his piercing blue eyes dancing merrily as he studied her appearance.

"I take it you aren't used to the possible hazards that may occur trying to attend an English Ball?" He took out his wand, raising his eyes brows for permission as he pointed to her shoes. Tina nodded dumbfounded as he transfigured her shoes into long gumboots then raising his wand to offer her a large umbrella.

"No sir" She responded astonished, for some reason she couldn't fathom feeling that the honorific was appropriate. The man chuckled with delight as he led her across the field.

"You're not one of my students Miss Goldstein, there's no need to call me sir".

"You're a teacher? Where do you teach?" Tina responded with interest. "Wait how do you know my name?" Tina glanced sidelong at the man again but was once again reassured by the friendly smile.

"I do like to keep up with the current news" He explained gently. "Professor Dumbledore at your service. Humble transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry" Tina stopped suddenly as the name brought back a vivid memory of Graves speaking to Newt 'I wonder what makes Albus Dumbledore so fond of you?'.

"You were the only teacher to stand up for Newt, the only one that fought against him being expelled". Tina saw the light in Dumbledore's eyes was replaced by a darker sadder look as he too was lost in memories of the past.

"Newt wasn't the child that should have been expelled that day" Dumbledore sighed, rubbing a hand tiredly across his face.

"I fear I failed Newt that day although by the looks of it he's managed to pull through quite nicely". Tina was surprised how quickly Dumbledore could switch between dark introspection to a cheery demeanour. He was now smiling pleasantly again taking in the world around him as if everything he saw caused him great delight. Tina decided she liked the professor although felt certain he was decidedly eccentric. Tina couldn't help but smile to herself as she thought of Newt, not to mention Queenie and Jacob. All the best people in her life did have their own quirks.

"So why are you here professor? I take it you have much more important things to be doing than rescuing damsels from the rain". Tina looked up at Professor Dumbledore and felt rather uncomfortably that his piercing stare seemed to be looking right into her soul.

"Newt wrote to me this morning with a question, and I rather hoped you might deliver the answer for me" Tina looked confused.

"Why me? Don't you want to talk to Newt yourself". Dumbledore gave a wistful sigh.

"Newt is a rather remarkable young man, one in whom I have a great deal of faith. I am afraid though that he doesn't yet fully return that faith. Oh I know he has a very high regard for me" Dumbledore explained quickly before Tina could interrupt him.

"However the last time we met Newt implied that I was recruiting an army and he didn't want to be a part of that".

"Are you recruiting an army?" Tina asked with raised eyebrows.

"Not in the slightest. Merely searching for a group of witches and wizards that I can trust with the tactics and abilities that may be required when the time comes to face Gilert Grindlewald". Tina laughed.

"So more like a covert operations team than anything as blatant as an army". Dumbledore returned her smile.

"Unfortunately Grindlewald's tactics aren't nearly as subtle. I believe there is great wisdom in being prepared for the dark times that will come if that man manages to achieve his goals."

"You warned Newt that Leta was trying to use him didn't you" Tina replied with understanding.

"We did have that conversation, before he was involved in capturing Grindlewald. I'm afraid at the time Newt was quite disgusted with me" Dumbledore eyed Tina, once more giving her the impression of having her soul studied.

"I didn't expect Newt to contact me again, but after he returned from America I had an OWL from him that led me to believe he may be starting to see through Leta's sudden interest in him again. I don't doubt that you had something to do with that!". Dumbledore patted Tina's arm gently.

"It would give me great pleasure if you would visit Hogwarts sometime soon, the both of you. I'm sure we could find some way to impress even a worthy IIvermorny student".

"I'd love to see Hogwarts, and I'm sure Newt would welcome seeing you again sir. He might not always show it, but really does appreciate those that care about him".

"That it one of his greatest strengths and his greatest weaknesses I'm afraid. Many of the teachers at Hogwarts couldn't understand how Newt fell in with Leta Lestrange. But how could he not... a lonely boy who struggling to fit in, found a girl willing to give him the acceptance and belonging he so desperately desired. It was a recipe for trouble. But now my dear I believe he has found friends that can give him the acceptance and belonging he craves without destroying him in return, furthermore I believe he realises this for himself, and that in itself is the greatest battle won". Tina gasped in amazement as the site of the ball suddenly appeared in front of her. A very large Marquee was set in the middle of the field surrounded by twinkling fairy lights through the trees and around the outside of the tent itself.

"It's beautiful" Tina whispered, her eyes shining both from the beauty of the site before her and the comfort and hope of Dumbledore's words.

"I believe that may be Newt waiting for you now" Dumbledore nodded in the direction of a very anxious looking Newt pacing under a tree where he was partially hidden from view of those entering the Marquee.

"Perhaps you best put him out of his misery my dear. Oh and to answer his question... the answer is yes, it is indeed possible. While those that write the 'rules of magic' may state that something can't be done you need to realize these people are limited by their lack of imagination. Wizards have done great and terrible things beyond the realms of these so called rules. These Grey Wolves do fascinate me, I may come by sometime soon and hear more about this investigation, but for now please go and speak to Newt before he wears a trench into the mud over there". Tina pulled out her own wand to replace Dumbledore's umbrella bidding goodbye her new acquaintance. She watched as he tipped his hat to her and disappeared on the spot.

"Definitely eccentric" Tina informed Pickett.

"But I do like him".

...

As Tina approached the anxious and pacing Newt her heart went out to him pacing in the rain, completely oblivious to the fact he was getting wet. The moment he looked up at her rain plastering his hair to his face she knew she had already forgiven him.

"Tina, oh thank God! Please allow me to explain my behaviour I beg of you. If you let me explain it will all make sense". His words come out in a rush and Tina was sure he had been practicing this speech over and over in his mind as he played out exactly what he wanted to say to her.

"I'm listening Newt"

"Oh thank you" Newt seemed to physically wilt for a moment as he tried to catch his breath. He ran his hand through his hair trying to find the words he wanted to say, unable to meet her eyes.

"When we were at school I allowed Leta to hurt me, and I hadn't really gotten over that. I didn't believe she was capable of hurting anyone, she was my only friend, and I just wasn't prepared to believe she could do such a thing, no matter who her family may be. Before I came to America I still had some misguided hope that maybe we could work things out. That she could change. She was my first friend Tina. I struggled to let that go" Newt ducked his head still addressing his remarks to the soggy ground. "As I said to you just before I returned to London... I think it was me that changed. Queenie told me before I left that Leta was a taker. It wasn't till I returned to London and saw Leta once again that I realised what she meant. Leta tried to use our past relationship to take something from me. She wanted to use my knowledge and ability with magical creatures... but this time seeing her again I realised something" Newt finally forced himself to look up into Tina face, his eyes meeting hers.

"I have changed, more than a little bit. I could see right through her charms, and I didn't want a bar of it. But when I said no to her I was afraid for my creatures. I don't know to what end she was willing to use me, or how my creatures were involved, I only know that day we were together at the Evening Rose that Pickett was terrified. I could feel him squirming in my pocket at the sound of her voice and it scared me. I just wanted to get him and my suitcase as far away from her as possible" Newt hesitantly took a step closer to Tina, reaching out and tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering gently on her cheek, hope springing up in his chest as he saw the brightness of her eyes and the gently trembling smile on her lips.

"Tina I'm sorry for the way I went about it, I allowed my fears to get the better of me. I was afraid for my creatures and I was afraid for you too. Please you have to believe me Leta Lestrange is nothing to me now. I've closed that chapter in my life and I won't be going back". Newt lost his nerve again, face once more starring at his shoes afraid of her reaction. This time it was Tina who gently placed her hand on Newt's dripping wet cheek bringing his face up to look at her.

"It's ok, I believe you Newt and I forgive you". As his face lit up in a boyish smile she couldn't help but smile back. Tina reached into her purse and pulled out Pickett holding him out to Newt.

"This little guy got me out of quite a scrape today"

"He did? Wait... what...what scrape did you get into that required the services of a lock picking Bowtruckle?". Tina laughed at Pickett's expression as he clambered across Newt's wet hand in excitement to see him, but feeling the wetness of his clothes as he attempted to climb onto Newt's shoulder Pickett turned quickly and returned to Tina's hand.

"Maybe we should get you inside and cleaned up first before I start telling you of my day's adventures". She reached out offering her hand to him as Newt seemed to register for the first time that he had in fact been standing in the rain and was now completely drenched.

"That might not be a bad idea!"

"Then you can tell me what you did to rile Brady up" Tina added with a wicked smile as Newt sputtered.

"Only saved the man from complete and utter madness... the ungrateful git". His indignation only served to fuel Tina's mirth as Newt held a rain soaked arm out to Tina.

"Well Miss Goldstein are you ready to attend your first Ministry ball?"

"With you, Mr Scamander, I'm ready for anything!"

Please let me know what you think! As always I hope you are enjoying the adventure! Lots more fun and excitement to come!