*He's an Auror, and a Hugger*
by: Whitegloves
A/N: This is going to be another long read! I hope it won't hurt your eyes!
Take a break too! But I suppose that's impossible xD Believe me, I tried when I reread!
Also, I did soooo many tampering! And a little surprise! This is for everyone who followed this till the end!
P.S I tried wrapping everything like hell xD
Enjoy!
Chapter 10: The Arena
A double decked bus stopped in a corner of a street and a round man in a suit with short black hair stepped out, but before he could fully put his foot on the paved street, he found himself blocked by some random human who was in a hurry to get up.
"Oi, get your large arse outta the way." The man said, brushing pass him as though he was part of the vehicle that had the black-haired round man shooting him looks.
"Yeah, well you think I like squeezing with you when I could have apparated or use a bucket for travel?" he called back but the lorry was already moving and Jacob Kowalski stepped onto the streets of Kennington district in London with a heavy-set frown on his usually amicable face, one hand in the middle of his plump body and the other carrying his brown suit case. "Cheeks." He whispered as he walked around Morganna road.
London was bustling with people from all corners, and true to being Britain, he really found some accents quite troublesome when asking for directions and information about certain people he was looking for. Even with photos, no one could still help him out even when he told them Queenie would positively stand out in the crowd, a beauty that she is, they couldn't have missed her. But in the long run, he realized it was futile to snoop around the non-magic world when they were all so oblivious. He surveyed above the heads of all the no-maj like him and then above the smog above which seemed to be the definition of London, but Jacob didn't believe for one second that it was the weather. He couldn't believe how ignorant they all were of the magic happening around them, but mostly couldn't believe that he was lucky enough not to be one of them anymore thanks to a certain wizard and his very buddy, Newt Scamander.
That reminded Jacob to check on the tag given by Newt where his address was written because as the wizard said, no non-magic would be able to find it as it was filled with enchantments not visible to muggle eyes. That excited Jacob, especially as he remembered he actually couldn't remember how he got in Newt's house in the first place as Queenie transported them there while he was… well, less sober. Jacob looked down his brown suitcase and saw the magical tag given to him. The tag had a written address in color of indigo, '9 Sherrington Square, London' which swirled magically and would change to different magical creatures till it became Newt's signature and then an arrow pointing ahead. That made Jacob smile.
So confident that he would find his way, Jacob strode on the street, heads up to this Sherrington Square he believed to be just around the corner. He wondered if Newt was around as he could not contact him via telephone for there was no such thing in the wizard's house. Magics have different methods, but Jacob still wish they begin using electricity at some point. Then maybe he could have reached any of them during his own travels and told them… well. The man sighed as he turned the corner and avoided the flood of people towards his direction.
And no, he had no news. Not about Queenie. Not Credence or that spiked blond man with his fanatics of purely blood whatever it is called—this fandom overlord seemed to be working in the shadows; not even any news from that little Nakahisa village that he found himself stuck in Dublin where rumored of people disappearing was rampant. It was all over the news. Still, no one in the non-magic seemed to know them, or to care. Seems like his last resort was to rejoin Newt and stick by his side.
Glancing up the street, Jacob spotted red telephone box standing at the corner of a large building wall. Remembering that he hasn't called back home in a while to check on how his bakery was doing since he left, he quickly rummaged in his pocket for a change and stopped in front of the empty telephone box. He counted his coins he had exchange in the market and found enough for an international one. He left his assistants, Jen and Caroline, in charge, but just to be sure he had to call back now before they forget he even existed.
Looking up again aiming to open the door, Jacob froze as the glass door kicked open and someone came out of the box, he could have sworn was empty not a second ago—a man wearing a common Londoner's black suit and tie with a brown case just like he had. The unknown man had a mustache with twirls at both ends and he was looking sharp about in his bowler's hat while holding a long black umbrella. Jacob blinked at him as he stepped aside to make way for the man didn't even look in his direction, like he was part of the ground or invisible to his eyes.
Blinking after him, Jacob stared after him as he was sure the man was a wizard. Still in awe, he wondered how most nomaj would deal with magic things like this. Then again, they probably would not notice anything. That's what Newt said. Most 'Muggles' in his own term doesn't or didn't want to notice anything. But how could they ignore it? Shrug it aside and take it as their eyes playing tricks on them? If he hadn't known Newt and all the crazy stuff the man could do, Jacob would still be hanging around the stranger still impressed. But Jacob had seen much more than just apparition when he was with Newt. Yeah, Newt was different than other wizards. Newt was exciting. The man was living in his own world still quite different from those other wizards he had seen in their neat three-piece suit. Newt was a magic even to the magical world. Newt was better. Like people better. Newt was always better than any other people—wizard or non-wizard that he knew.
Pressing a smile on his face at remembering his buddy, Jacob turned his gaze down and saw something on the floor. It was a photo— a magical moving photo of none other than the very man Jacob had been singing praises just a while ago.
Newt.
His burrows furrowed, he bent down and picked up Newt's blinking picture and stared at it in confusion. Raising his eyes, he could still see the wizard in the coat walking towards the direction of Kennington road. This guy a buddy of Newt then?
Forgetting his own telephone call, Jacob sprinted after the stranger, like how he did with Newt back when they were tracking Tina and found Kama instead. He jogged after the wizard, hoping he wouldn't suddenly disappear like most wizards do and followed him to another corner. Right about that corner he took, Jacob's face fell when he found no trace of the man. He craned his neck in all direction but he only saw the normalcy that was none magic. Frowning, he lowered his eyes at Newt's photo again and then found to his amazement and great surprise that it was pointing to his right. Looking right, Jacob found an old building standing on the corner with dark walls. A cafe if you may strangely called Rivas Gaby. And from the glass window he could see the wizard inside, talking to the bartender surly as he sat by the counter. Jacob did not hesitate to enter the shop, wondering what magic lies inside.
Only to be disappointed as the shop seemed ordinary with people on newspapers, engrossed with their own morning. The shop had nothing extraordinary to be exact with its brown and green walls and small circular chairs. On the wall was a large emblem of a bear with its four corners carved with letters on wood he read as Ruxi, Stigitsune, Jumik and an Elie. Are they supposed to be legends? Pursing his lips, he watched over the heads to the bartender who was as ordinary as the tv above his head. No magic, okay.
But baker that he is, Jacob instantly smelled the whip of fresh bread in the air. He inspected the displays of bread but then had to avoid getting distracted when his eyes fell on his target. Pulling his eyes away from the display of bread, he found himself crossing the tables casually till he was beside the wizard. He stood there innocently for a moment, wondering how to break to the man that he knew he was a wizard. Should he casually tap him and show him Newt's photo? Then again, didn't Newt never trusted people in the suit except his brother? With this coming to mind, Jacob tried to be discreet as he looked over the wizard's shoulder, and saw to his bafflement that this wizard now was holding another photo- but not of Newt- it was a boy with bowl cut hair and gloomy expression and who the wizarding world has been on rampage about—Credence!
What are the odds?! Just when he had given up looking for information, this here happens! Newt would be thrilled and Jacob didn't have to meet him empty handed. So, standing still, Jacob slowly looked at floor where the wizard has his left his own brown suit case.
An idea struck Jacob so brilliantly it made him gulp.
Minutes later, we see the nomaj strode out of the cafe with the address tag of Newt on one hand and a new brown suitcase on the other.
Sounds of laughter and giggles filled the midday air as Tina Goldstein stood by one of the balconies with its arching windows near the Hospital Wing with her hands-on top of the other by the ledge, watching Hogwarts students in black robes fill the quadrangle with their friends and classmates. The weather proved to be bright for these witches and wizards who mingled with their peers, probably all feeling that their worries and woes about school life were the greatest struggle of their lives. She certainly did at that time in Ilvermorny. Then again nothing in life no matter the age was easy. It's just a matter of who you are with in the middle of crisis if it would pan out as a good or bad memory… Queenie certainly made it better.
Why did it feel like it was so long ago?
She heard light footsteps walk towards her and spied Newt's figure from the corner of her eyes. She waited for him to come closer and stand beside her before squinting up and smiling quietly at him. Newt smiled back albeit wearily.
"Enjoying Hogwarts?" he asked as he tried to hide the pain that came with him from the private room.
"Ilvermorny is on par with its enchantments." She said lightly, her concern for him obvious as she ran her eyes from his disheveled brown hair and unwashed face, his askew tie on his open collar and his burnt blue coat that needed fixing but seemed to have been forgotten altogether. "Although I think we would lose to the grandeur of this castle. It's just… impressive."
"I would've wanted Queenie to hear that." The Magizoologist put his hand on the ledge too, eyes falling on the students who all were now scrambling on their feet to get to their next classes. They could hear them shouting excitedly and even heard a student cry, 'Lacie Fuyu come back here this instant! Professor Littwink will see us!"
Newt and Tina glanced at each other with a smile, before his face fell in concern. "How is she?"
Tina swung her eyes away. "She's okay, I guess. Not herself okay, but… she's thriving. And it doesn't look like she's being forced by Grindelwald to do anything she didn't want. She's still herself in that hidden castle. She still wanted me out." She finally had the courage to look him in the eyes, "I'm sorry about your brother… Queenie tried, I'm sure she did. She kind of liked him, I'm sure."
"My brother has a charm of a Veela and has a habit of winning people on his side so don't blame your sister. Actually, real famous half Veela twins Archea and Arcia fell for him." Newt agreed with a light beam on his face, "He's always been like that. I won't be surprised if he tried to take Queenie back."
"My sister's just stubborn like that too." Tina sighed. "She's insisting it's all for Jacob, and I think she's serious, Newt. I know my sister and falling in love… well, let's say she never was like this with Joey, her ex even when she cried after. I can tell she likes Jacob a lot. I mean I do. I should have just told her it's okay to be with him even when he was a nomaj, then maybe…But I didn't have time, she told me your brother's life was in danger. I knew I had to hurry back to you. I'm sorry about her hand in this."
They exchanged glances and Newt gave her a reassuring smile. "She saved my brother's life."
"How's your brother?" she asked softly, seeing his expression turn somber with eyes not quite dry and alive. Newt had been awake the whole day and night from the moment his brother had woken up yesterday from his deep slumber. Theseus had struggled for some time to keep up with what was happening around him until his head began to hurt and was ordered by the matron to rest. But Theseus could not do this on his own and so was sedated again. Since then, the Auror would wake up every now and then, bolting out of bed or shouting when he did as if being hunted by invisible forces from the shadows until he was given a powerful sleeping draught. Newt was always beside him. It was a difficult time. The younger Scamander looked very tired but he didn't seem aware of his own physical condition. He just nodded at her and looked out on to the window too.
"He's just woken up and cared for by the Healers." He said in a low voice. "He just came from a twelve-hour sleep after all his nightmares. The matron said he was just in shock yesterday… from the curse and awful memories. She said it could be some sort of trauma… it couldn't have been a very good experience with the Dementor's curse. And mental damage is one of the most dangerous condition that Healers can't even tamper with. It never was going to be easy recovering from that and there's still the obscurial."
"You tried extracting it, didn't you?"
"It's latched on him so strongly. It's unlike with the little girl I met. It was merge with a curse and unless I want to kill him..." He glanced down on his closed fist by the ledge, to which Tina reached a hand and pressed.
"But he recognizes you?"
Newt nodded, his face pale in the light. "He calls to me from time to time. In his sleep. I hope whatever he sees in there, I'm on his side and not the person who turns his back on him every time." Newt sighed heavily, his guilt obvious at the haunch of his shoulder. He was visibly very shaken and exhausted and with that load on his shoulder, Tina couldn't help biting her lips as her own heart crumbled at seeing the Magizoologist so crestfallen with worry for his sibling. Reaching for him, she wrapped her arms on his neck and put her head on his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay." She whispered, assuring him. "You're there with him. He knows you'll always be there for him. He loves you, Newt, so you don't get to think that he has ill thoughts about you. Trust your brother, okay? It takes time to heal, just don't be hard on yourself."
Newt nodded as she straightened to meet his eyes, her right arm locking on his. "I still want to insist on the Swooping Evil's venom. Let him have his good memories resurface. Just to stop him from suffering."
"You mean the one you used on the nomaj with the Thunderbird—?"
"Yes. Professor McGonagall stopped me back then, but watching him like this…" he paused, and then gave her an appealing look with expressed fear as innocent as a child. "I'm seconds on slipping it on his head, Tina. He's been through enough. Whatever happened in his mind, whatever nightmare he's been having… it's just breaking him."
Tina nodded with a heavy heart and held his hand firm. "Newt, you have to be strong, okay? People don't stay the same with all happy memories in their heads. That's just like dying happily. Or having a false idea of what life is."
Newt stared at her with such fixation but before Tina could open her lips again, someone came from the Hospital Wing—one of the healers came striding towards them with eyes on Newt. She beckoned him to come back.
"He wants to see you."
Newt's eyes flickered, and in the next beat he was running pass her with Tina keeping up the rear.
When Newt entered the portrait passage way, he met the Matron carrying a tray with empty bottles of draught of happiness that Slughorn gave which he fondly called happy konny, some sedatives and other concoctions. Newt looked at her uncertainly, and then to his brother who was sitting on the bed in his fresh clothes on, head on hands, the magic circle still up but no more Patronus around. Alarmed, he looked back at the Head Nurse.
"What happened?"
"He's more clear-headed now than when he first woke up," she assured him, nodding. "Seems to remember bits of everything, and has lots of questions I assumed you can answer. You're the first person he started looking for when he collected his thoughts just now. That should be a good sign." turning to the other Healer, she called, "Come, Abbily, we need to prepare more of this. Where is Tes?" With a glance at Tina, she disappeared towards the passageway with the other Healer.
Newt blinked at the man on the bed, and then slowly approached him while the American auror stayed a step behind till she found a chair by the wall. Newt closed the distance to the bed and was there before his older brother who last night was still tossing and turning in his sleep with that tortured expression. He looked calm now.
"Theseus?" he called with a voice that didn't seem to quite belong to him.
Theseus blinked up with a start, his face gaunt and white with dark circles under his eyes; his blue eyes were wide but no longer wild like last night. His piercing gaze struck Newt with such intensity he couldn't hold, while his older brother looked as if he was in between deciding if this was a real thing and not mere figment of his imagination.
"Newt?" his voice was new to him, deep and croaky like it hadn't been used. He wanted to ask where Newt had come from. Wanted to ask why they were in Hogwarts of all places because that's what the kind matron said. It seemed a good start to connect everything, because it felt like so long ago since he remembered correctly when in his mind, the last thing he felt so real was Leta dying. And pieces of everything else hovering in his mind. "Newton…" he repeated unsure where to go. He felt dry, spent even.
A faraway look fell on Theseus' eyes as Newt stepped closer and stand by the bed. "How are you feeling?"
Theseus didn't answer at once. His blue eyes lingered at something no one else could see. Something inside him was moving, and it was an echo of pain but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Only, his chest felt like something was sitting on it. What was that? He wanted to speak but nothing good comes to mind. It seemed too awful to say the things he was thinking. Were they all real? They seemed to be… he could feel his heart racing as the thoughts came flooding back to him like waves ready to topple him down— what if this was all unreal—and Newt wasn't really—?
With his distress becoming apparent, Theseus suddenly gasped as something prickled his shoulder. Both the Scamander brothers turned with a start at his shoulder where they saw, to Newt's surprise, the Bowtruckle, Pickett, staring at them both oddly with his spike-like arms raised in the air. It whined at them as if making a point.
"You bugger." Newt muttered, taking the Bowtruckle with his hands and holding him up to their eyes, "What are you doing there I thought I told you to stay in my pocket."
Theseus reached for his arm and rubbed the itching part, eyes on the creature. His expression changed drastically after that, as if he was poked back to reality. Why, this was his brother's favorite pet… he nearly forgot how small they were.
"I never thought they could be so aggressive, Bowtruckles." Newt gazed at his brother who was also watching him with a start. "I remember… he was the tiniest one in the box when I gave them to you, Newt." he looked inquiringly at the Magizoologist who blinked as he recognized that flicker returning in Theseus' blue eyes.
And then Newt understood and nodded briefly.
"You've no idea the trouble this one is." He smiled as turned to his tiny friend, "What were you up to, you've been picking on Theseus? I told you no poking, didn't I?" the Bowtruckle answered in the same tone of retort as if doing something for the favor of the Magizoologist. Newt found himself lowering his gaze shamefully as if he had just gotten scolded. "Oh…I'm sorry… thanks."
"Getting scolded by a Bowtruckle… really Newt." Theseus sighed finally, his blue eyes becoming less intense as it fell on the creature exasperatedly while the Newt peered at his brother closely. There was really something in his eyes that Newt recognize now—the warmth and his calm nature. It made Newt stare, and then blink as he felt the huge lump on his throat disappearing.
"Newt?" Theseus called as he noticed his brother's silence, only to find the Magizoologist's anxiously watching him.
"How do you feel?"
"I don't know." Theseus answered honestly as he looked down his numb chest but still saw nothing there. "I feel… I feel like I'm drowning… I still do." He met Newt's eyes but upon seeing his younger brother's-stricken look, Theseus immediately chuckled and shook his head. "But it was just a bad dream. Just a bad dream. But it's all right now." He gave his younger brother a wry smile. "I heard I was cursed?"
Newt's features turned serious. "That doesn't even begin to describe it."
Within the next twenty minutes, Newt filled his brother with everything that had happened ever since he was taken under the curse of Grindelwald. Of the end of the summon, how he worked openly with Grimmson who then came with him when they attacked Hogwarts, seemingly under orders to kill Albus Dumbledore. Theseus was in awe of everything, until he heard the part that he nearly killed his own brother with the Killing Curse—
"I nearly killed you?" he repeated, looking stricken and pale, sitting straight.
"You didn't." Newt assured him firmly, "You stopped… that's what matters. That's why I'm still here."
"Why didn't you defend yourself? You could have taken me out."
Newt stared at his brother in horror, and then shook his head with brows knitted in a frown. "I wasn't the one who was cursed, Theseus. How was I supposed to react against you of all people?"
The auror shut his dark eyes shut and shook his head with vigor nobody expected from such a frail body. "You're a lucky bugger for escaping death like that!" When Newt didn't make any attempt to continue, the older Scamander sighed and turned to him again, "Then tell me—what else happened between us that I should know?"
The Magizoologist stared as his brother and blinked owlishly; it was like Theseus was really returning with his dominating character that made Newt quickly shook his head. A cough from a corner reminded the brother of Tina who was listening at the chair by the wall. Tina was looking at Newt pointedly as if telling him to be honest already, before she stood up headed towards the passageway to give the brothers their privacy. Newt watched her go, before glancing back at his frowning brother.
Theseus was looking severe by this time. "Tell me. If I was under that kind of dark magic like you told me then I would have been very vile, I suppose. What did I tell you?"
"It's nothing important." Newt whispered evasively.
"Then why are you making that face? I know you, Newt. You could never lie to me."
Newt met his eyes, and still hesitated. He had decided back then that he would forget everything that Theseus had said, that it was something dark and sinister created by a dark heart. His brother does not have that heart. And it was pushed back further after seeing his memory. Theseus need not know. But it seemed important to Theseus who had his hand on his chest again.
"What's wrong with your chest, you've been holding it like that?"
"It's nothing, now you better begin talking or I'll hex you." Theseus didn't budge, his eyes darkening as Newt watched his face. So with a sigh, the younger Scamander put both hands together before finally telling him everything that was said the night he went to Theseus' house. The older Scamander listened with his lips slowly thinning and by the end, he was a picture to be hold with his eyes closed and jaw clenched. Silence fell between them for a while, and Newt found the remaining bottles on the side table quite interesting.
Then Theseus spoke first, in a voice controlled and owned by the auror.
"You know none of those are true?"
Newt glanced back at his brother, his mind blank. "I know."
"Leta and I…" Theseus began with a painful clutch on his blanket as in his mind's eye fresh memory of Leta dying flashed in his vision, and the agony of losing her returning and making a claim on his heart. The pain was as fresh as ever. "We… Leta… she loved you, of course she loved you. She cherished you… my brother who was always beside her. She wouldn't have been our Leta if she thought any lesser of us. She loved us both. That's why I love her so much too…" he stopped, just enough time to put into words everything that was still shaping on his mind, "It's not a matter of who she loved first, she was always earnest with her feelings. You shouldn't doubt that Newt, you mustn't think any lesser of her whatever you hear. You know her better than anyone— she wouldn't hurt anyone she loves. Especially you."
"Nor you." And Newt believed that strongly having remembered the memory of Leta watching Theseus with eyes only on him. It was true, Newt and Leta loved each other, but through the course of time they found new people to fall in love with, someone who they both needed to protect this time, not just to rely on. Leta in the memory was in love with Theseus, his older brother must know that. "She loved you… the moment you rescued her from the dark, she's always loved you. And I think it would pain her to see you hurting like this."
Theseus stared him in the eyes and nodded. "I know. And everything that I said were all created by my own spite for failing to protect her. My self-loath isn't about you, Newt. I'm sorry you had to hear how weak I am…"
"Weak, my brother?" Newt suddenly found himself saying with a hint of sharpness that was knew to him, regretting a time he never reached out to his brother because he thought Theseus was doing fine on his own. "You're the bravest person I know; but for whatever it's worth—you have to remember me. You will always have me."
Theseus finally grinned at him, something Newt realized he missed seeing. "Why do you sound so reliable just now?"
"I am reliable. You're just hogging all the position."
Theseus chuckled, his hand unconsciously running to his chest again and clutching there. Newt watched over him in alarm as he saw his brother doubled a cough and gripped on his clothes.
"What is it?"
The older Scamander shook his head with eyes close and Newt saw him pale beneath the light surrounding the room, his fingers digging on his clothes in agony, the dark circles under his eyes looking more forbidding than ever. "Nothing… just a spasm of pain."
The younger Scamander continued looking at him in concern. He did notice how Theseus was still not properly healed and would have told him to rest if it wasn't for the power behind his brother's eyes. Yet, a patient was a patient. "You're not fully recovered yet—"
"This obscurial thing…" Theseus cleared his throat, his eyes opening with a glaze of fortitude. "I don't think his control is that strong now that I'm me… but can it be removed? I remember your mail about that Sudanese girl? Is this the same case? Will I die?"
Newt hesitated, seeing the glint in his brother's eyes and froze. Why does Theseus have that look? The look of a man ready to face his impending doom?
"You're not dying." Newt said aloud, more to himself that surprised the older Scamander. "I won't let that happen."
"Death is inevitable, Newt." Theseus suddenly said with a deep set look in his eyes the Magizoologist didn't like. "And it's not something to be scared about." He smiled sadly and for the first time Newt had a glimpse of the depth his brother had been through in his dreams like it was all there in the anguish in his eyes—of the vast memories of pain and sacrifice and death— as if ready to welcome death in his arms— was it so horrible he'd rather choose death!?
"No. Not you." Newt replied, reaching a hand to his brother's arm. "I can help you—Theseus—"
But Newt had to stop whatever it was he wanted to say about the venom and losing bad memories. At the same time, McGonagall's voice echoed back to him—I do not believe you want to subject him to anything he'll regret for the rest of his life—do you? He stared his brother in the eye who looked back at him quietly, and Newt discovered that he really did fail Theseus for thinking that his brother would even allow it.
Because no… Theseus was no coward like that. Not even to save his own life.
He stared at Theseus questioningly. Then what should I do? How do I save my brother?
"Newt?" Theseus whispered, grasping his brother's hand who stared blankly at him. "What's the matter?"
Newt was overwhelmed by his own inability to express his fear that he failed to notice when the portrait hole opened and in came a visitor most wanted but never known when to appear. Theseus glanced up at him first, then Newt realizing his brother was looking at someone, turned to his right and saw the only remaining hope he had in mind standing there with a grave yet relieve expression at the same time. Albus Dumbledore.
"Theseus," he breathed, blinking several times and sighing, "Thank goodness."
A pitch-black layer appeared in thin air, and then in a beat came Grindelwald on to the balcony of his castle. There was a grim look on his face accompanied with complete apathy. The meeting with an old adversary did not help especially if said man was still the same person reeling in his weakness of failed attempt to reconcile with his family, Grindelwald was in less mood to be tolerant. Yet, the idea that he left an impression on Dumbledore after revealing a secret so tragic made him smile in a twisted way. The look upon them man's face was pure confusion and disbelief which was always Dumbledore's limitation. Yes, that was his problem. Such a weak heart.
He walked the corridors of the castle silent and forbidding when a tickle of magic different from his own that caught his attention. A familiar magic but how come it was scattered about? Something happened, he presumed. He looked over his shoulder as he stopped, and then narrowed his eyes. The whole castle was filled with it. Trembling with it. He looked sharply ahead, and then continued towards the hall curiously where he could hear Queenie Goldstein's voice—
So, she did get her sister?
From the distance, he could hear her voice.
"You have to trust them, they won't use you. Look, Credence, you remember my sister well, right? Do you think she's the type to hurt you? Newt is the same—he won't hurt a hair on your head! And I'm sure he'll forgive you if you just go out there and fix his brother—or maybe just be a good kid. Like what our grandma Emma Goldstein used to say, always be good in everything you do and the world will follow no matter how slow."
Grindelwald narrowed his eyes. He came out of the shadows to the room where Queenie suddenly fell silent, the look on her face filled with obvious guilt. The Dark Wizard rounded to face her silently, his blue and gray eyes then falling on Credence who was standing at the heart of the room with a glint on his eyes. And it all came to Grindelwald at once—of the presence of the other Goldstein in the castle and of Credence using his power to its full force. He could feel the castle reek of his magic, even feel the tremble still on the walls. But no, it seemed the fight did not happen here—and who was he against? Ahh…. Newt Scamander. Then it struck him. Of course. The reason Dumbledore was desperate.
"Are you not going to tell me we had a visitor, my dear?" he asked Queenie who sat a little straighter with both her hands on her lap, avoiding his gaze at all cause, "Your sister was here."
"She has no control over Credence as you had suggested," Queenie said quickly, finally looking up still looking calm despite the race of her heart, "And my sister… doesn't believe in our cause so… I'd rather let her go. We never force anyone on this side, do we?"
Grindelwald kept an eye at her, and yes, he thought of killing her just now as he slipped his wand to his hand. She had betrayed him and he never was good with disloyalty. And she had served her purpose. Credence now was in control of his power. He didn't need her anymore. But first—
The Dark Wizard turned to the Obscurus and a smile. "You have fought well, my boy. You're even able to control your surmounting power. Are you ready now to face your brother?"
Credence stared at the Dark Wizard and then nodded quietly. Grindelwald's eyes glinted darkly.
"Then kill him. He's near Hogwarts. End this once and for all."
Jacob rapped on Newt's door as he finally found himself in the lane of yellow brick, Victorian town houses and in front of the Magizoologist's house. The tag proved to be very useful as it directed him there, but he had to hurry in as he looked over his shoulder, afraid that he was followed by weird wizards who were all anti-Newt. He rapped and rapped until someone opened the door. It was Bunty.
"Hi." Jacob said rather surprised at his own tone. She remained looking at him suspiciously with her body blocking the doorway so the nomaj realized he had to do better than that. "I'm Jacob—you must be Bunty. Newt's told me about you. Uh, actually no, we haven't met, but I know who you are. Can you let me come in? I don't want my pictures taken by your spying Ministry, see."
Bunty blinked at the man, but then let him in anyway because knowing Newt, he was just one to make friends with the odd sorts. Closing the door behind her, she found the round man hurriedly opening the brown suitcase opening by the kitchen table that looked exactly like Newt's property. But when he opened it, it only revealed several documents of no importance. This seemed to disappoint the man who was expecting something more.
"Tsk." He shook his head, putting his hands on his waist, "Here I was thinking I found something."
Bunty peered curiously at the suitcase, and then gave Jacob the bucket she was holding. Clicking on the correct extension charm, the caretaker opened the suitcase again and there appeared before the two of them were pictures and files of not only Newt, but Credence as well. Jacob's eyes widened at the contents and had to look at Bunty.
"Where's Newt?"
Minutes after calming down and reading most of the contents, the nomaj sighed and shook his head.
"Is Newt really that of an outlaw?" Jacob asked as he held two photos of Newt from different angle the Magizoologist wasn't looking directly at while all other photos of Credence, were piled up and pinned on the side of the open suitcase together with their file cases and even Newt's copied passport. The nomaj and Bunty were both huddled together in front of the brown suitcase with expressions of disbelief and concern as Newt blinked up and down from the photos in all direction. "I mean, I knew he was bending quite a few rules but it has always worked out for everybody. He got Grindelwald in New York and instead they banned him from travelling. Why isn't anyone just award him some sort of medal instead of making him look like a criminal."
"That is the obscurus, isn't it?" Bunty pointed out at Credence's file, all out ignoring Jacob as she ogled at the photos too, but her eyes would dart back to Newt's pictures. "The Ministry has been tracking him and those are the places he had been last sighted in Europe. He's nearer than we expected." She stepped close to the suitcase and picked up a photo of the Magizoologist. "I think Newt should know about this."
"Well, if you can swish us both to where ever he is, I'm all in." Jacob dropped the photo and put both hands on his suit, as if expecting he'd be apparating on the spot. Then he frowned as he remembered something and turned at Bunty who was selecting photos of Newt from the case. "Where is he, anyway?"
"He's at Hogwarts. I heard the castle was attacked."
"Hogwarts? Oh, the school? What d' you mean attack?"
"I don't know exactly, but Newt's brother's been terribly injured and he's been looking after him."
Jacob's mouth fell and then nodded, "Okay, I have to go there, to Newt. Uhh… Hogwarts… Funny I went there once and all I see is this ruin and everyone just starts disappearing in this bridge." Jacob's thick brows furrowed. "Newt said it was all the magic against like us 'muggle'… but I suppose this time I can see it since I've been there before. Are we going?" he turned up again to see the caretaker stacking the photos inside her pocket. She looked up with a start and stopped what she was doing.
"What? Hogwarts? Oh no, I'm not going." She shook her head as she slipped one last photo in her pocket. "I have to take care of everyone here. We've been attacked once by the obscurus and they've all been very nervous, the shelphy even got itself wounded. I can't leave them. Newt wouldn't want them alone."
Jacob stared at her with mouth hanging open. "So how am I supposed to go there? Broomstick?"
"Do you know how?"
"I—I hope?" as long as it wasn't flying with dragons it was fine but his uncertainty made her study him. And then the next thing she strode towards the fireplace, took a bowl of greyish powder from the stand and then beckoned for him to come closer. Jacob did after gathering the contents of the suitcase to carry with him and when he was standing in front of the fireplace, she offered him the bowl he peered at curiously.
"Get a handful and throw it in the fire. Say 'Hogsmeade' and you'll arrive in the village. You can walk to Hogwarts from there and you can ask for Newt." She stared at him and he blinked at her. Doing as he was told, he took a handful of it and felt the soft powder on his hands like they were ashes.
"Where's the fire?" he asked, looking at the fireplace with interest and excitement boiling in his veins. Bunty seemed to remember he was new to all of this and ushered him inside the fireplace—did he shrink? Or the fireplace got taller he couldn't tell—but he fitted right inside with all the sooth and blackness surrounding him.
"Step inside—face me, there. Keep your elbows with you or you'll hurt yourself. There's no need for fire, the powder will bring you there. Just say Hogsmeade that shouldn't be difficult even for a muggle."
"Hogsmeade?"
"Yes, this is connected to the Hog's Back's bar. Newt had it connected in case there are emergencies. Now off you go—don't forget to throw the powder and shout clearly your destination—"
"What if I don't say Hogsmeade correctly—?"
"You just did—now go!"
Jacob nodded vigorously and still looking at her, he did as he was told and threw the powder down his feet—at the same time shouting as clear as he could despite the pounding of his heart— "Hogsmeade!"
His vision became blurred with fiery yellow and greenish fire that enveloped his body but he never feared getting burned. He didn't feel anything at all except for the fire engulfing his vision and the next thing he realized the entire environment had change of what was once Newt's sitting room was now an old bar with stools and wooden tables with lamps on the side. His arrival didn't seem to surprise anyone for there were only three drunk people on separate tables and one man in long black coat seated by the counter as Jacob stepped out, eyes wandering around in awe. So, this was Hog's Back? Is it?
A bar tender came out from one of the inner doors, an old man wearing a ragged apron with white hair and beard, holding a dirty rug as he paced behind the counter to clean his glasses. Behind him barrels and barrels of rum and alcohol were placed on top of another. The bartender gave him a grumpy look as Jacob came closer with eyes on the dusty surrounding for being a baker himself, he was always keen with cleanliness. He won't be commenting on that however, as he had business to attend to, so stepping up by the counter with the brown suitcase, he smiled up at the old man, even though he could read bits of letters like cynthiacey with hearts around it— couple name? — written in the dust on the poorly wiped table while the barman continued to ogle at him sullenly.
"What do ye want?" he barked, enough to make Jacob jump and half glance at the lone man in the black coat who seemed determined to mind his own business.
"I, uh… this is… is this Hog's Back in Hogsmeade?"
"What do ye think this is, the stinkin Ministry of Magic?"
Jacob stared, and then heard the lone man chuckle but didn't look up. Jacob tried again. "I'm looking for Hogwarts."
"Oh, lookin for Hogwarts, are ye?" the old man pointed at the door, "Then get out of the door—see if ye can miss the castle ye stinkin—"
"Stop it, Cello," the lone man finally spoke up as he stood up from his stool and glanced briefly at Jacob, "This man is a muggle, can't you tell?" He gave the nomaj a piercing look behind his blue eyes while Jacob gazed at him apprehensively.
"Muggle?" Cello, the bartender with his bushy white eyebrows connecting, "What's a muggle doin here? What are ye doin here?"
"I—I was looking for Hogwarts, I already told you."
"Beta Artemis, my foot! Not another spy, are you?!"
"Spy?" Jacob couldn't help looking back at the guy who dropped quarters on the counter before putting both hands inside his long, black coat and walking away without another word.
"Oi!" the barman called grudgingly after him, "I won't be havin yer face around if it means keepin peace, ye hear? But ye comin around askin if we notice anything attackin schools—then stick yerself here if ye want to keep an eye out! I wouldn't take an overly compensated apprentice like you!"
With a wave at him, the lone man crossed the tables till he was out of the door. Jacob stared after him, trying to remember where he had seen him—until he did. Of course! He then smiled meekly at Cello too, before running after the guy—
Out of the creaking wooden door, Jacob found himself on a sapphire snow-covered ground patch in the middle of the day, surrounded by snowcapped mountains and then buildings after buildings of different shops were few people were walking around. Signages were a top each shop with what looked like broomsticks with store names like Joy Woodly that seemed to serve more beer. There were also candy canes with tag lines of sweet hearts hum and many more. The one he came from was a bullhorn with a barely readable Hog's Back. The nomaj blinked around him, eyes seeking the man in the black coat till he saw him halfway up the road, his coat whipping on his wake with the wind picking up.
"Hey!" Jacob shouted, running after the guy, "Hey—mister!" He trudged after the man who didn't show sign of slowing down so the nomaj had to shout again, "Mister! Wait a second!"
The man in the coat halted and turned at the running muggle with a grunt. Standing in the middle of a short, arching stone bridge with a frown on his handsome face, he waited till the round man was panting in front of him.
"If you're looking for Hogwarts, you're going the wrong way." He said with edge on his tone. "This is heading to the Baerliu."
"Yeah—but it's you—" Jacob straightened with stiches on his side, still huffing, "You're the guy with Newt, weren't you? In the castle when he gave you that blood pact something? It is you!"
The man studied Jacob in full attention as he heard this, his blue eyes glinting suddenly. "What blood pact?"
"I don't know—you tell me. Newt got it from Grindelwald, what else? Did someone obliviate you or something?"
A pause fell and Jacob saw something sinister flicker in the man's eyes that made the nomaj wonder if he got the wrong man. But they look so much alike from that pointed chin, blue eyes and large pointed nose—except this one wasn't crooked— ah! Jacob's mouth fell open.
The man huffed haughtily and shook his head. "No. You must be talking about my brother, Albus Dumbledore. I'm not him and will never be. I'm Aberforth." He took a step toward Jacob with full intent that got the nomaj standing straight and gulping at the sudden intensity of the man. "Now tell me—what blood pact are you talking about?"
Jacob stepped backward, blinking several times.
"B-brother?" he gulped, putting the suitcase between them and understanding the mistake. "Look, buddy. I'm a simple no magic, okay? Do you think I would know what blood pact is except generally speaking? It's a blood pact, what do you think it does? It's supposed to be between your brother and Grindelwald, okay? Didn't your brother tell you anything?"
Aberforth stood there looking affronted with his jaw clenching.
"No, he never tells me anything."
Jacob froze at the coldness of his tone but shrug the tension off his shoulders. "Well, you better come with me and talk to him, better ask for yourself." Jacob began turning but saw no visible movement from Aberforth. "You coming?"
"I'm not going anywhere near that man." Aberforth pursed his lips with fire on his eyes Jacob only saw to people with deep grudge and understood immediately that it must be something of sibling rift which, somehow, he could actually understand.
"Fine, have it your way." He stepped back a couple of times, his dark eyes settling on the handsome man whose face was filled with obduracy. "But you know asking around a grumpy old man won't give you the information you need and sulking that your brother never tells you anything probably is because you won't go talk to him. I mean—I know, I get it. I had a brother, and he's dead—died in the war, and we've had troubles too and I never get to ask him anything about it. And my friend's brother is up there injured and the last time I remember they too had their issues. All I'm saying is—your wizarding world's in a middle of a war right now. You really think it's okay to leave things like this? I mean, not even wizards can escape death."
He arched a convincing eyebrow at Aberforth who continued surveying him with his cynical blue eyes. Before either could speak again, however, there was a loud twist in the wind that got the nomaj holding tight on the suitcase. Looking up in the air, he didn't see anything, but he did notice Aberforth looking pass him and so he did too.
Only to see himself face to face by the very man the whole wizarding world has been looking for: Credence Barebone.
Jacob faltered with Aberforth standing his ground, his eyes narrowing.
"This man…" he began while the nomaj swallowing hard. "The Obscurus?"
"Yeah… that's him." Jacob took a step backward till he noticed someone standing behind Credence, someone with golden locks and fair skin wearing a dark coat and high heels. She stumbled a little as she looked around, back towards him, till she was able to turn and her eyes fell on the nomaj. "Queenie?"
Queenie's eyes rounded. "Jacob? W-what are you doing here—?"
Jacob stared at her, wanting nothing but to reach for her but the Obscurus stepped forward with a wand at hand, starring at the person behind Jacob with his eyes dark and ominous.
"I came to kill my brother." Said the young man that got Aberforth raising an eyebrow. He exchanged glances with Jacob as if asking if he knew what it meant but the nomaj shook his head, nonplussed.
"I swear on my sweet mother Katerina, it isn't me."
Aberforth frowned at Credence.
"Oh? And who might that brother be?"
"You."
Albus Dumbledore and Newt Scamander both stood at the foot of Theseus' bed with the Defense Against the Dark Art's professor's wand out, sifting through the air where a large glass-like ball was suspended above the older Scamander whose eyes were open and watching with gritted teeth. The contents of the orb were hazy black smoke entwined with what looked like pure white and silvery lines.
Newt watched the progress with wrinkled forehead as Dumbledore made gentle flicker of his wand. The Professor's expression didn't look reassuring as minutes ticked by and the younger Scamander was growing concerned.
"Professor?" he asked uncertainly.
Dumbledore blinked but didn't look at him. "I'm sure you are familiar with this, Newt. You've tried this with the Sudanese girl, like what you once told me. This is the obscurial… and the life force to which it is latched. Your brother's life force is basically attached to the obscurial. Like its normal host. The curse may be broken, but its remnants are still inside him. He may yet be susceptible to its control."
Newt gave the professor a quick look while Theseus sighed and asked, "Can you remove it?"
Newt threw his brother a look while Dumbledore made a twirl of his wand, "Stelra etnea."
The magical circle disappeared, leaving the older Scamander staring in the empty ceiling while the professor sighed. "I can try… the obscurial is in an alien host, but it can continue residing there as a parasite, waiting to take over as it has the will of its owner. Having it inside you is very dangerous. But I don't think removing it will be any easier without damaging you." A concerned look appeared on his face.
"The Sudanese girl died." Theseus sat up with difficulty but unlike when he first woke up, there was already color on his cheeks, "Is that what you mean by damage?"
"She died because she was so weak," Newt told his brother as he stared into space, remembering the event with a pang on his heart, "She was already frail to begin with and her obscurus was devouring her… she didn't stand a chance."
"But I do?" Theseus asked his younger brother who glanced up at him quietly, "I'm stronger than her, and much older. Newt?" Newt didn't answer him but his eyes spoke volume of his hesitation. Dumbledore was watching the Magizoologist meaningfully, before putting a hand inside his pocket and turning to the already lively Scamander.
"I'm glad you're gaining your strength, Theseus, but I'm afraid you're not strong enough for the process. You've just been saved from a deadly curse and even without our Head Nurse sending hexes after me— I am against it. We need you to rest, that's the only way we can secure that your life would not be in danger. That is what Newt would want too, I suppose?"
Newt nodded, bowing his head with hands pressed together looking dejectedly on the floor. Being the man who knew most about an Obscurial, the younger Scamander couldn't help feeling frightened for his older brother. The Sudanese girl he found near Yiduoshazi was weak, yes, and the damage done to her by her power was colossal by the time he came—but what made an Obscurial truly frightening was its ability to suck the life out of its host and make them every bit of a dark creature that it is. Credence' power allowed him to scatter himself without a form—escaping death and so on—but that too has its limit. No real human can be an Obscurus. No real human can keep escaping their body without damaging their soul—and should Theseus be possessed once again, Newt doesn't think his brother's body could take the blow any longer. They needed something permanent to remove the Obscurus and he had a fair idea of what must be done.
"Newt?"
The Magizoologist looked up straight to his brother who he found was sitting up with his legs dangling at the edge of the bed. Theseus was giving him a calculating look, as if reading him and gesturing for him to come forward. With a heavy heart, the younger Scamander did and stood beside the bed glumly.
Then Theseus patted his head out of the blue, the same way he would when Newt was still a kid that had him clenching his teeth and closing his fists. No. He won't let his brother die no matter what—
"Don't take what I said seriously, you idiot." Theseus reprimanded him, his hand sliding down Newt's shoulder and staying there, "I won't die easily. How could I leave my younger brother mopping after me like this, anyway?"
Newt kept his head down, his lips trembling which he tried to hide by brushing the back of his hand on his nose and sniffing. "Cause you're also a proper idiot who can't take care of himself."
"Remind me who didn't jump away from a killing curse already under his nose?"
"Yeah? Who lets himself get capture by Grindelwald and had tons of curses in his body—?"
"Who exactly angered him in the first place—even got called out by name and nearly got toasted in Paris if I hadn't been around beside him?"
"Who in their proper head raids a rally of Grindelwald's followers with only a bunch of aurors without thinking of heading to his death!"
"And who appears there out of nowhere with only a niffler—a niffler you hear!?"
"Now, now," Dumbledore chuckled at the Scamanders as he stepped forward and put a hand on the Newt's shoulder, unable to help himself from seeing exactly how he admired the brothers. "We all had things we did in the past that had repercussions, might as well bury the hatchet as muggles use to say. Theseus, you still need to rest more and Newt—I have something I wish to discuss with you."
Theseus immediately raised his eyes at the professor. "It's not something highly dangerous again, is it? Professor? You've been in the habit of sending my brother to these errands that always had him nearly losing his neck, you know."
Dumbledore merely smiled, but before anyone could make another move, the portrait door swung open, followed by hurried footsteps and in came Tina Goldstein with a forbidding look on her face. The three men all turned to her with a start.
"The village!" she began, breathless, "Credence has it under attack!"
Newt stared at her, and then saw from the corner of his eyes his older brother doubled down, clasping his chest with visible pain across his face.
"Theseus!" he held his brother's arm, eyes rounding on what he was dreading to happen.
"He's calling!" the auror gritted his teeth with an angry glare in his blue eyes. "Dammit, Newt if he controls me, you've got to kill me!"
-NOT SO END-
I really tried, I did. I guess I'll see you in the final REAL FINAL CHAPTER! WHERE TISSUES ARE FREE FOR EVERYONE!
p.s: sorry for unauthorized use of names! feel free to tell me if I have to remove it! THANKS! LAST LAST CHAPTER!
WITH EPILOGUE! T_T