DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them belongs to J.K. Rowling. This fiction is purely for my own enjoyment and yours. No money is being made by me or anyone else from this fiction.

Author Note: As always thank-you everyone for the reviews, I take great joy in reading them after every new chapter (no mean one's so far thank god) and thank you to The Queen of Thornes for constantly putting up with my many messages, questions and spelling/ grammar mistakes.

I put another section of Author Notes at the end of the chapter where I responded to a few reviews and questions. I got a bit lengthy in my replies so I thought it best to reply to you guys down there so I don't take away from the story.

Let's see some ship name suggestions thanks to you guys: Newmione, Gramander, Hermewt... Further thoughts?


"Oh- er- hello, Minister." Newt says in greeting, closing the case.

Hermione shifts awkwardly, unsure what to do.

"Theseus Scamander? The war hero?" Enquired a man, who Hermione recognized as Momolu Wotorson from the stands.

"No, this is his little brother. And what in the name of Merlin are you doing in New York?" Asked the man Newt identified as the British Minister before Newt could get in a word edgewise.

Oh good. The British are here. Hermione winced at the thought.

Though I don't recognize this minister, he must not have lasted long... An unknown British citizen on international soil, apparently now an accomplice in an assumed crime… Wonderful

She shrank back slightly, edging away from the British envoy, towards Jacob who was still standing stock still, eyes wide. Apparently noticing her retreat from the corner of his eye, Newt stepped forward slightly, blocking both her and Jacob from the man's view. Peeking around Jacob she notices Tina, staring at the trio, a deep frown on her face, taking in their peculiar actions.

"I came to buy an Appaloosa Puffskein, sir." Newt replied, the lie clear in his voice.

Hermione's brows crinkled at his response. She never did get around to asking him what he was doing here. There was no doubt in her mind that buying an Appaloosa Puffskein was not the true reason for his visit to New York.

"Right. What are you really doing here?" Asks the suspicious envoy, clearly no more fooled by Newt's answer than Hermione herself.

Her eyes widen in fear as Seraphina Picquery's gaze falls upon her partially hidden form, the formidable woman's lips pulled tight as she turns.

"Goldstein-and who are they?" She demands looking once more to Jacob and Hermione.

"This is Jacob Kowalski, Madam President, he's a No-Maj who got bitten by one of Mr. Scamander's creatures." Tina explains motioning to Jacob.

Furious reactions from the MACUSA employees and dignitaries fill the room.

"No-Maj? Obliviated?" outraged questions meet her confession, the stands filling with whispers.

Jacob looks around the room with fear filled eyes.

"And her?" Madam Picquery demands, her statement silencing the room at once.

"This is Hermione, Mr. Scamander's accomplice-" Tina explains walking over to Hermione, hidden behind Jacob and Newt, grasping Hermione's upper arm in a tight grip, pulling her out from behind Jacob with a gentle but firm tug.

"Ah-No-" Newts begins, stepping towards the two women.

"Hermione who?" The powerful voice of Madam Picquery fills the room once more, her gaze on Hermione, the recipient of her question clear.

"Well you see-" Tina begins.

Her statement is cut short as Madam Picquery holds up her hand, demanding silence.

Hermione takes a breath, mumbling quietly. Newt looks on, eyes wide and concerned. He looks as though he wishes to grab her and Jacob and Disapparate from the room.

Wouldn't work... She thinks shaking her head slightly.

"Just-" She pauses for a moment, thinking her answer through.

Suddenly whispering fills the stands as her clear voice fills the room, causing Hermione's eyes to dart about the room in question, a confused expression on her face.

"Mudblood…" Hermione can't help the wince that escapes her as the single word falls from Tina's mouth, confusion evident in her voice, eyes scrunched in confusion as she takes in the crude slur carved into Hermione's arm.

Having been in a rush to leave Newt's case she completely forgot about her current manner of dress.

Her arm was now clearly on display.

With that single word a hushed silence fills the room and Hermione takes stock of their reactions. Many faces show their confusion, the word clearly being more of a British thing. The British Envoy looks as though he's sucked on a sour lemon, his eyes cold as he takes in her disheveled appearance. Madam Picquery's expression is drawn tight, lips pursed, the slur clearly known to her, though her opinions regarding Muggleborns are unknown to Hermione.

Oh Newt. Poor sweet Newt looks as though he's been punched in the gut, a sad, worried expression pulling at his face.

Hermione pulls her arm from Tina's grip with a gentle tug, dropping it her side, not bothering to hide it, expression defiant as her eyes fall on the British Envoy as if challenging him to say something rude. The man looks away, disgust clear on his face. Newt follows her gaze, understanding filling his expression as his eyes fall upon the man's form.

"I don't understand…" Tina intones quietly from her side.

"It's a highly derogatory term for a Muggleborn Witch or Wizard; that is, a Witch or Wizard born to Muggles, or No-Maj as you call them here." She says, voice low, expression softening ever so slightly at the woman's confused expression.

She didn't know. A small voice whispers in Hermione's mind. She feels no ill will towards the woman before her.

"It's a term used by those prejudiced against Muggleborns, individuals who consider themselves to be of better breeding than those without two Wizarding parents. These individuals consider Muggleborn Witches and Wizards to be of "lower breeding" or worth, and undeserving of Magic. Yes, I'm a Mudblood, and proud of it!" She continues, voice louder now, clearly heard throughout the echoing room.

Of all the reckless things to do. Her mind chides, the tone reminding her of her younger self.

Her statement is met with furious whispers from the assembled crowd, many of their expressions telling. She can't help but smirk slightly as she looks to Newt, his mouth hung open, eyes filled with a touch of admiration as he closes his mouth, an odd sort of smile twisting his lips as he turns from her.

"Merlin's beard." He says in a breathless voice and silence fills the chamber at his exclamation.

"You know which of your creatures was responsible, Mr. Scamander?" A beautiful witch with dark hair, Hermione recognizes as Madam Ya Zhou, intones from the crowd, having collected herself easily after Hermione's outburst.

"No creature did this... don't pretend! You must know what that was; look at the marks..." The words rush from Newt's mouth as Hermione follows his gaze, eyes widening in recognition as she spots the hologram depicting the mangled corpse of a man.

"That was an Obscurus." He says, tone grave.

The room fills with noise once more as Hermione finds herself lost in memory.


Obscurial. The word circles about her mind as if taunting her, a snarl tears from her lips, feet firm against the cold stone floor as she stands, the contents of her desk flying across the room, the sound of breaking glass and heavy thuds filling the room. Her eyes burning as she blinks the tears from her eyes, breath coming in ragged gasps before falling back into her chair with gulp of air, the sound of sobs fill the space now… a sound that would permeate the office for many hours yet.

It was only a few short weeks after her promotion to head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures when the incident report came across her desk. The word meant little to her at first, a fleeting memory, nothing more than a blurb from a book, stored in the back of her mind.

The Obscurial, host for the Obscurus, a parasitic and dark force, is the physical manifestation of the repressed energy of a magical child (or Obscurial). A physical manifestation of energy created when a young Witch or Wizard is forced to repress their talent thorough physical or psychological abuse. When unleashed the force is violent and destructive. The children in question almost always die before their 10th birthday.

By this point in time Obscurial and Obscurus were basically a non-issue in much of the world thanks to the protections put in place by Muggle authorities in regards to the treatment of children, of course, some cases still slipped through the cracks, but still the creation of an Obscurial was rare.

To learn that an Obscurus was wreaking havoc upon the Greater London area came as a shock to Hermione and many of her colleagues. Not all Muggle parents were as accepting as magic as Hermione's own had been. She knew that but still she found it difficult to shake her shock.

The incident report stated that the child in question was a young girl, aged 9. The young girl was sent to live with her distant, Muggle relatives after the untimely death of her parents at the age of 4, this particular branch of the child's family were known in the community to be devoutly religious. When faced with the young girl's accidental magic at a young age her relatives panicked, fear and hate filling their hearts. They believed the young girl to be possessed and attempted to beat the "evil" out of her, often locking her in a small room where they withheld food and recited scripture through the hard wood door.

This abuse, both physical and mental continued for quiet a while until finally the young girl snapped, releasing the Obscurus within, freeing herself from the small room before killing one of her Guardians.

Once free the young girl ran, lost and alone, with little knowledge of the outside world. She was easy prey for the less savory types that could often be found in less reputable sections of the city. Odd reports of an invisible force tearing up entire city block leaving behind the mangled remains of unfortunate victims began flooding into the Muggle authorities until finally someone with knowledge of Obscurial alerted the appropriate offices within the Ministry.

Which is how the Incident Report found it's way onto her desk and within the hour she assembled a task force of her most knowledgeable and trustworthy agents before giving the order to find the young girl and somehow bring her in alive.

That order and the events following would haunt Hermione for the foreseeable future.


It wouldn't do to dwell on such things now. Hermione thinks with a shake of her head, ears once more filling with the muttering and exclamations increasing in volume in the chamber.

"You go too far, Mr. Scamander. There is no Obscurial in America. Impound that case, Graves!" Seraphina Picquery demands from her spot on the floor.

Hermione's eyes dart to Percival Graves as he stands, summoning the case. It lands next to him. Hermione and Newt draw their wands at the same time, the occupants of the Hall becoming increasingly tense.

"No... Give that b-!" Newt begins to say to Graves, clearly distraught.

Hermione raises her arm, wand pointed at Graves, spell on her lips as Madam Picquery's voice fills the room once more.

"Arrest them!" She shouts.

And with that all hell breaks loose and a number of spells come flying at the group standing close together in the centre of the room. Hermione's senses go into overdrive, a sliver of panic building an invisible force feeling as though it's choking the life from her.

Danger! Her mind shouts as though she's back in the final year of the war, on the run from Death Eaters and the Ministry, fighting for her life. Adrenaline courses through her veins, her magic screaming for action. She grips her Vinewood Wand tight in her hand.

"Protego Maxima!" Hermione intones stepping forward, raising her wand in the air.

A small, low-level shield forms around the group in a stunning display of magic. A shimmering, blue bathed dome descends around them, separating the opposing sides just as the first volley of spells reach the group. Silence falls over the group as the shield falls into place. The colourful array spells cast in their direction exploding in a rain of sparks as they crash against the dome.

While still more powerful than any other variation of the shield charm, the Protego Maxima Hermione chose to use was not as large or powerful as the one cast in combination with Fianto Duri and Repello Inimicum that Professor Flitwick put in place during the final battle.

Breathing heavily, Hermione continues to hold her wand hand steady, ready and willing to strike at a moment's notice. She barely registers the shocked exclamations coming from Tina and Jacob behind her.

"Stunning." The single word registers in her mind now, Newt's quiet, wonder filled voice reaching her through the panic and adrenaline.

Wand still held high, the Magic of the shield withstanding the steady barrage of spells being fired at it, Hermione looks over her shoulder at Newt standing only a few steps away. His mouth parted, eyes wide, a small amount of apprehension leaking into his expression as though another piece of the puzzle has slid firmly into place.

Her eyes slide towards Jacob and Tina's shocked forms just as Jacob reaches out to touch the shield.

"Don't touch it!" She nearly shouts, panic gripping her once more as she struggles to remain focused, sending a steady stream of power into the shield.

Jacob pauses, his fingers a hairs breadth away from the shimmering blue dome. He looks to her in shock before dropping his hand once more.

Suddenly a crackling sound fills the air, Hermione's head whips around, stray curls smacking her, Poppy's loud clacking filling her ear as if in warning. The blueish white light of a shield penetration spell smacks against the dome, a small crack forming in the place the two spells meet. She narrows her eyes following the path of the spell back to its caster. Percival Graves stands a short way off, wand raised, an excited look on his face.

Odd. The thought filters through her mind as she her magic falters slightly under the constant barrage of spells, his spell the first chink in her shield's armour. Biting hard on her lip, teeth breaking the skin of her bottom lip in her effort to hold the barrier. She glares at the man as another shield penetration spell shoots from his wand, barreling towards the group.

She can't help but think the look on his face would be more at home on a cat toying with its prey.

The blueish white spell hits the same spot again, the shield shuddering under the force of the spell.

A whining sound fills the air around her as the sound begins to filter in once more, the crack spreading further until finally the shield falters, falling under the constant force being applied. She registers the spells whizzing past her from the corner of her eyes as if in slow motion. Spells hit Jacob, Newt and Tina, sending them to the floor, knees smacking hard against the shining marble.

Her focus narrows, eyes solely focused on the man known as Percival Graves, a small smirk curves his lips as he sends a powerful stunner. Slashing her wand through the air Hermione produces a small but powerful shield, absorbing the spell, a foot sliding behind her in an attempt to steady herself as the force of the spell pushes her back. She can't help the sneer that curves her lips, the urge to fight growing stronger now. She moves her hand in the beginnings of a pattern, an offensive spell on her lips as a spell smacks into her side.

'Constant Vigilance!' Her mind screams in a rather accurate imitation of Mad-Eye Moody as she falls to her knees. She feels her wand being pulled from her hand by magic, eyes wide and angry as her and Newt's Wands fly through the air, into the waiting hand of Percival Graves. He picks up Newt's beaten old case before walking towards the incapacitated foursome.

"No- no- don't hurt those creatures- please, you don't understand- nothing in there is dangerous, nothing!" Newt shouts from the floor now magically restrained.

A mixture of guilt, regret and empathy fill her now, the sneer falling from her lips as Newt begs from his position on the floor. How she wishes she could help him now. If only she had been stronger, faster, more focused...

Stronger. If only her shield charm had held.

Faster. She fought in a war... how could she be taken down so quickly.

Focused. She shouldn't have let her guard down. Why didn't she think to summon Newt's case to them before erecting the barrier?

Tears form in the corners of her eyes, the mental barrage of criticism consuming her.

"We'll be the judges of that!" Seraphina Picquery intones before addressing the Auror's now standing behind them.

"Take them to the cells!" She commands.

Hermione's eyes stay firmly on the floor as they're hauled to their feet, restraints placed around their wrists. A single tear falling down her face as Newt's normally gentle voice fills the room once more.

"Don't hurt those creatures- there is nothing in there that is dangerous. Please don't hurt my creatures- they are not dangerous... Please, they are not dangerous!" He screams, desperation clear in his voice as they're dragged from the room, the heavy doors swinging shut with a resounding thud behind them.


The foursome sit in a MACUSA holding cell awaiting word of their fate, Newt with his head in his hands sits in one corner to one end of the bench, an aura of utter despair for his lost creatures swirling about him, muttering quietly under his breath. Hermione sits at the opposite end of the bench lost in her thoughts.

They took my bag... they took my bloody bag, full to the brim with sensitive information. She curses in her mind, head in her hands, recalling the moments before they were shoved into the cell, the struggle that ensued as they attempted to remove her purse. The way Tina and Jacob watched on in confusion, Newt too wrapped in his own misery to notice. In the end the Aurors' were able to wrestle the purse from her body by physical force alone, though she had managed to catch one of them between the legs with a swift, well-aimed kick.

Served him right. She thinks, a small amount of pride sparking before being extinguished as she thinks of the consequences once more. A bag full of sensitive future knowledge, somewhere within the MACUSA, herself once more a criminal in the eyes of the law and she had no idea the kind of punishment this era of the MACUSA were fond of.

Doomed. The single word fills her mind as she lifts her face eyes falling on Newt's muttering, hunched form.

Both of us are doomed. She corrects running a hand over her now exposed face in frustration. Tina and Jacob would probably be fine. Jacob Obliviated and sent on his way, robbed of his newfound knowledge regarding Magic and the Wizarding world but no one worse for wear. Her mouth pulls into a frown at the thought. While not the worst fate it was still one that she found distasteful.

Tina would probably receive a slap on the wrist for her actions, but Hermione and Newt... They both drew their Wands' in the Pentagram Office, in sight of Dignitaries and High-Ranking officials from every single continent. More to the point, Newt was believed to have loosed an Obscurus on the city of New York and Hermione, an unknown British citizen, a Muggle-Born witch, very nearly attacked a high-ranking official in site of the President and all the assembled to see. Not to mention her statements regarding 'Mudbloods' and the rather spectacular display of advanced magic she performed in their sight.

Oh yes Hermione Granger and Newt Scamander were most certainly doomed.

"I am so sorry about your creatures, Mr. Scamander, I truly am." Tina breaks the silence in the room, clearly on the verge of tears.

Hermione sighs, as Newt remains silent his head still in hands.

"Can someone please tell me what this Obscurial-Obscurius thing is? Please?" Jacob asks from his spot against the wall, voice carrying.

"There hasn't been one for centuries-" Tina begins before being cut off by Newt.

"I met one in Sudan three months ago. There used to be more of them but they still exist. Before Wizards went underground, when we were still being hunted by Muggles, young Wizards and Witches sometimes tried to suppress their magic to avoid persecution. Instead of learning to harness or to control their powers, they developed what was called an Obscurus." Newt begins in way of explanation.

"It's the repressed magical energy of a Magical child, a result of strong emotional distress, and energy that is released when the child or Obscurial loses control, reaching their physical and mental breaking point. This energy manifests as an invisible, parasitic, dark force that when released is unstable, uncontrollable, violent and extremely destructive until it disappears, returning to its host once more." Hermione explains as though reciting a passage from a textbook after noticing Jacob's confusion.

Tina seems to realize something then.

"Obscurials' can't survive long can they?" She asks, glancing between Hermione and Newt.

"There's no documented case of any Obscurial surviving past the age of ten. The one I met in Africa was eight when she-she was eight when she died." Newt explains, his voice wavering at the mention of the young girl.

"'No documented case', 'documented' being the key word." Hermione can't help but add in, as though they were having an academic debate, instead of sitting in a holding cell, explaining the reason they'd been locked up in the first place.

Newt and Tina turn their gazes sharply to her now. She shrinks back slightly at the intensity of their stares, cursing her mouth and inability to keep some knowledge and opinions to herself.

"You-" Newt begins before being cut off by Tina, a look of irritation crossing his face as his eyes slide over to the young woman's form.

"What do you mean?" The statement that tears from Tina's lips is more of a demand than a question.

"Uh-just a hunch." Hermione finishes lamely, averting her gaze, unwilling to share her suspicions regarding an incident that occurred in 1899 to the room, a theory which made its presence known after her own experience with an Obscurial.

"What are you telling me here-that Senator Shaw was killed by a- by a kid?" Jacobs asks, breaking the silence that filled the room after Hermione's answer.

Silence fills the room once more, their expressions telling. Jacob receives all the answer he needs.


Author Notes: Crimson-Midnight-Moon: Ahaha sorry for the wait dear ;)

feline17: I'd have to agree... i'm not quite sure she'll truly be able to stay away from changing anything either but I suppose we'll see. I've heard of the show though admittedly I haven't got around to checking it out (i'm deep in the anime hole atm, the fall season is just ending for many shows.) Ahaha now that's an idea that makes me giggle, Newt keeping Hermione in his case with his beasts. I'm not sure a girl like Hermione would appreciate being stuffed in a case for the foreseeable future. Ahh I know, I didn't hate Tina in the movie but I just wanted to scream at her at times... she actually kind of reminds me of a younger Hermione in some ways, like her eager to please attitude and the way she closely follows the rules. I'm trying my hardest not to cast her in a horrible light because I don't really think she deserves that even if i'm basically shoving her to the side forcefully in order to inject Hermione into the story.

RoPete: I've actually only seen the film the one time. I'd love to see it again but I have anxiety attacks and sadly being in a dark, loud theatre with a bunch of other people is a nightmare... I was surprised I managed to hold it together the first time, so I imagine i'll have to wait for it be released on DVD before watching it again. I bought a copy of the screenplay before seeing the film which is how, with a combination of the screenplay, research and my own memory i've been able to recreate the film in such a way. I really wanted you guys to be able to relive the film vividly through my writing so i'm glad it's working!

S. Apollymi: Huh... now that's an idea! I can't say i'm sure since I haven't started the next chapter yet but I think i'll probably stick to the film. Not quite sure! We'd be dealing with a very serious problem if everyone learned about the knowledge swimming around in her head!

Paystin4life: Oh don't you worry they'll give in eventually ;)