Due to some rather ridiculous idiocy that Melody had almost forgotten about was prevelent in this time period, they were forced to keep Angel inside the case for the entire boat ride. She had honestly forgotten that in this time period, segregation due to the color of one's skin was prevelant. Especially in America, to her disgust.
She had been raised in a time when the idea of same-gender couples was slowly but surely gaining acceptance among the public. The idea of racism had never been an issue, which was rather surprising considering how bigoted her aunt and uncle were towards anyone "different".
(Though to be fair her aunt was surprisingly tolerant towards lesbians and men with boyfriends, whereas her uncle couldn't stand them. The idea of mocking someone over skin-tone was considered ridiculous among the Surrey Socialites, oddly enough. Religion, on the other hand, was another kettle of fish.)
Melody spent quite a bit of time teaching Angel how to read and speak English, and a bit more speaking with the 'colored' folk, much to their surprise.
The few fools who attempted to 'correct' Melody's open-minded nature swiftly learned not to try anything when confronted with an icy stare down with all the force of an irritated dragon. And if they attempted to 'correct' the folk she was happily sharing recipes, stories and general gossip with, then they found themselves trapped in their room for hours, unable to escape.
It was obvious to anyone with half a brain Melody was behind it, but they couldn't prove it and Newt turned a deaf ear to any complaints on the matter. After about a week of this, those who would protest her behavior learned to keep their opinions to themselves after some truly nasty bouts of diarrhea and other unpleasantness.
The expression in Melody's eyes said it all... that she was being nice and not discreetly disposing of their bodies over the side of the boat when no one was looking. With the alarming number of sharks following them, odds were they would never be saved in time.
It was with considerable relief for many people on the ship when they reached New York. Mostly for the bigots who didn't even understand how idiotic their beliefs were.
Newt was just relieved Melody kept her mouth shut while they went through immigration. And that they had sent their papers for wand registration in advance via Hedwig. Not that Melody needed her wand much anymore, but Newt really didn't want to start an international incident when he was about to publish his book at long last.
She at least had the decency to warn him that she intended to adopt another child before they left the country and that there would likely be quite a few headaches involved before they left.
The only thing she would say was that it was a matter of family honor and reclaiming someone who shouldn't have been left abandoned in the first place...and that Angel would likely have a new big brother in their 'special' lessons by the end of it.
Newt did not have to read between the lines to understand that Melody meant another Obscurial.
Melody POV
In retrospect, perhaps she shouldn't have drawn Mary Lou's attention to her. On the plus side, this meant she had a chance to speak to the woman regarding Credence.
He reminded Melody entirely too much of herself when she first started Hogwarts, especially when Dumbledore refused to let her stay anywhere but her 'relatives' home for the summer holidays.
"Excuse me Madam, but is there any particular reason you chose the Salem Witch Trials?" Melody inquired.
Newt was currently chasing after the niffler he had in his case... one that had formed a bond of mischief with Angel once she got over the shock of meeting him...so was unable to stop her from creating all sorts of chaos.
Either way her fiancee had a feeling of foreboding go down his spine that he knew meant Melody was up to her usual tricks again.
Seeing the gleam in Mary Lou Barebone's eyes, Melody nipped her fanaticism in the bud rather brutally.
"Because as I recall from the history books, the entire thing was caused by mass hysteria over a couple of girls caught eating some 'funny mushrooms' and acting strangely coupled with the stringent Puritan belief system that was prevelent in the time period. Not to mention how rural Salem was at the time... there were many people accused of 'witchcraft' by their neighbors who were simply acting out of spite or jealously. There was no actual proof of supernatural powers or abilities in the least, and when the governor learned of what was going on he took over the trials and immediately threw out all the remaining cases, thus ending the so-called 'witch hunt'," said Melody matter of fact.
Mary Lou looked at her with some irritation. The sad fact was that she couldn't even tell the girl off for calling her a liar... she was merely stating fact and pointing out flaws in her speech in a way that those listening could understand and follow.
"Are you calling me a liar?"
"You're entitled to your beliefs, madam. However I find it ironic that you chose to model yourself after people who fell prey to mass hysteria and misinformation, particularly since you just asked my fiancee if he was a 'seeker of truth' in your words," Melody replied calmly. "As the saying goes, those that do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
Mary Lou glared at her, and Credence squirmed uncomfortably by her side. Unfortunately even she could see that there was no way to gain further support from the crowd after the red head's comment about their name.
So it was little surprise that Mary Lou was very displeased seeing that same woman approach her after the demonstration broke up.
"Haven't you done enough damage?" she demanded, glaring at her.
"Why wands? People would normally associate that image with fairy godmothers, not witches," asked Melody.
Mary Lou sneered.
"The foul abominations use wands to cast their craft. I've seen it myself."
Mary Lou suddenly found herself pinned by a pair of vibrant green eyes.
"Does the name Pollux mean anything to you?" she asked flatly.
Mary Lou hissed at her openly.
"You're one of them!"
"And I know the real reason you despise magicals. It's because of your son isn't it?" said Melody evenly. "What if I could tell you that I could provide funding for the children you care for and take the reminder of what he did to you off your hands?"
Mary Lou's eyes were cold.
"What's in it for you?"
"I detest men like Pollux who would claim they have superior breeding, but don't have the common decency to own up to their own actions. The fact he left you alone and pregnant without providing even a single bent coin to his son's care is something I plan to take him to task about. Family cares for it's own," said Melody flatly.
Something seemed to pass between the two women.
"What will you do to him?" asked Mary Lou.
"Did you know if you kick a man in the balls hard enough, there's a strong chance they will break and his ability to have children will be hampered or destroyed completely?" deadpanned Melody. "If you want any particular punishments for his stunts, I would be more than happy to make them reality and if you wish, share pictures of what happens when you don't take responsibility for your actions. Children should be cherished, not treated as burdens."
Seeing the dark gleam in the older woman's eyes, Melody knew she had earned some measure of respect for that comment.
Melody followed Mary Lou back to the house she had bought with her limited funds to act as her headquarters for the Second Salemers.
"Credence!" barked Mary Lou.
Her son came down obediently, looking at Melody in open confusion.
Melody looked him in the eye and held out her hand.
"Hello Credence. My name is Melody Peverell and I am your cousin on your father's side of the family. I'm here to offer you the chance to come stay with me and ease some of the burden off your poor mother at having another mouth to feed," she said politely.
Credence flinched at the mention of his father, before he registered the rest of what she said.
"Mother?"
"It's up to you," she said dismissively.
She always got extra angry whenever his father was brought up.
"Credence, my fiancee and I are going to be in town for a few days. You don't have to make a decision right away, but I promise that even if you wish to stay here that I will make up for your birth father's foolishness in leaving your mother entirely without support," said Melody soothingly, like she would one of the skittish animals in Newt's case. "Would you like some time to think things over?"
Credence nodded slowly.
"Is there any place in particular you would like to meet up with me to talk?" she asked.
She arranged a meeting the next afternoon at an easily located statue. She knew better than to pressure Credence into making a decision right away. He might resent her for it later, and he would need time to think things over.
Magic only knew she had been beyond unhappy at that age at having those older and supposedly wiser than her making all the decisions for her and never once asking for her input on the matter. Credence reminded her strongly of herself when she was fifteen, so she would like to make up for the forceful tactics she had been put through by at least giving him the ability to chose for himself.
Only to find out Newt had apparently managed to anger his once-future wife in the original timeline because the case had accidentally been switched for a mundane's. And that some of the creatures had used it as a chance to escape.
Seeing the expression on Queenie's face when she looked right at the blond and cheerfully mentioned in her mind that she "didn't mind sharing" while looking at her twin sister Tina was hilarious. Especially when Queenie choked on her hot cocoa a little bit.
A pity she didn't mention it out loud, because she would have paid good money to see the look on Newt's face if he heard that.
Credence was waiting by the water feature rather nervously. His mother had been in a foul mood the entire night, but much to his relief hadn't taken it out on him for once.
So when he saw Melody, he almost felt something close to relief.
"Hello Credence. How are you feeling?"
"Were you serious? About taking me away from mother?" he asked quietly, looking around with a nervous expression as if his mother was waiting to pounce.
Sympathy filled her features, along with a distinct expression of empathy.
"Credence, do you know the real reason your mother hates magic and anyone who uses it?"
Credence shook his head. He never thought to ask, and merely accepted his mother hated it for reasons he never understood.
"You are a member of the Ancient and Noble House of Black, which resides in England through your father. I can only assume he came to America for some business and ran into your mother. While he was smart enough not to use magic around her and break the international agreement to keep it a secret from those born without it, that didn't stop your mother from picking up certain things about magicals...such as the fact that they use wands to cast spells. As a result she resents magicals because your father got her pregnant and left her all alone to raise you in a time where unwed mothers were treated poorly," explained Melody calmly, and to be honest rather bluntly. "To be honest if she had ever lived in Salem during the infamous witch trials, she likely would have been accused of witch craft herself simply because she was a woman who had a son out of wedlock. They were quite strict about that in that time period."
Credence bristles at that, but at the same time he is oddly relieved. Melody isn't giving him a prettied up lie. She is giving him the blunt truth in a way he could understand and hopefully learn to accept.
"Does my father..." he started, but choked up a bit. "Does he know or care that I exist?"
"I sincerely doubt it," she replied honestly. "The house of Black prides itself on it's 'purity', and a child born not only out of wedlock, but also to someone without magic would be something that would cause him to deny your heritage without hesitation. I know for a fact he has a legitimate son with his wife and from what I recall Pollux was quite the advocate of 'blood purity' and that only those from established magical bloodlines to marry into the family."
Credence's face said volumes.
"Why did you come here then?" he asked, his heart broken at being told the blunt truth.
"Because I find that sort of thinking to be complete codswallop," she replied. "And because I find it ridiculous to treat a child as a burden simply because of the circumstances to their birth. Besides... as a half-blood myself, I hardly have any reason to treat you like an unwanted addition to the family. I was honest about giving you a place where you can finally belong."
Credence blinked.
"My mother was born to a family without magic...the first in her family. Her sister was horribly jealous of the fact that her younger sibling was gifted and so much more popular than her. So when I was dumped on her doorstep a scant handful of hours after my parents were murdered, she took it poorly," said Melody. "For ten years, she made it abundantly clear I was a freak and an unwanted member of their family, until someone introduced me to the world my parents had known."
Credence listened with rapt attention, sensing her honesty.
"I am offering you a chance to prove that the circumstances of your birth are not what defines you. To prove those who think that the 'purity' of one's bloodline is all that makes a wizard. And if you just happen to give that fool Pollux a piece of your mind for leaving your poor mother all alone to raise you without any support... well you'll find me turning a deaf ear to any pleas for mercy," said Melody. "Besides, there's an easy way to test if you have magic or not."
Seeing his hopeful and somewhat eager expression, Melody grinned. She handed him a wand.
"Give it a wave," she said smiling. "Or you could do a 'swish and flick'."
Credence eyed the stick in his hand with trepidation...but looked at her for an example of what she meant. She had a normal stick in her hands and made a 'swish and flick' motion needed for the levitation spell.
He followed her movements in an unsure and rather sloppy manner...but he jumped all the same when it caused a jet of red light to fly out the end of the wand and hit a nearby tree. Fortunately all it did was break off a branch and she was quick to grab the wand before it landed on the ground.
Credence looked at it as if it were a snake.
"Now if you didn't have any magic, nothing would have happened. I can show you how to control it," she said cheerfully.
"Mr. Graves said the same thing," said Credence without thinking. "He wants me to find a child with magic."
"How old is this Mr. Graves?" asked Melody.
"He's at least as old as mother."
Melody did not look happy hearing that.
"I find it highly suspicious this Mr. Graves would be looking into a magical child in your mother's care when I know for a fact that someone from the magical police department was demoted for trying to remove you from that house. And since we've just proven you do have magic, it means that she was in the right to do so," said Melody.
Credence blinked.
"There are magical police?"
"As well as hospitals, schools...my fiancee happens to be writing a book to help with the conservation of magical creatures of all shapes and sizes. Creatures you've always dismissed as fantasy are often very much real, just hidden. I know for a fact unicorns, dragons, and mermaids exist," said Melody. "We can show you an entire world of fantastic creatures and magic, just waiting to be explored. All you need to do is to take the leap of faith and see it for yourself."
Seeing Credence looked unsure, Melody backed off a little.
"As I said before, we're going to be here a few days. I want this to be your decision, rather than be told what to do by the adults around you. I would understand your reluctance to be parted from your mother... while she might not be perfect, she is still the woman who raised you," said Melody. "I know all too well what it's like to be told what to do and never even given a choice by the people around me. I would like to offer you a chance to make the decision on what your future might hold one that you made yourself."
Melody at least made sure Credence had a proper meal in his stomach before he returned to his mother. He had a lot to think about, after all.