Whazzup I'm back with another chapter.
Dedicating this chapter to Voldermort, who gave me a push to write it out in 2 days. I did crawl out of the Sirius Black hole, but then fell into the Thranduil Elvenking one RIP. But yeah idk Imma try to write more OTL.
Do please review and let me know what you think?
Chapter may contain lots of grammar mistakes because I did not re-read OTL
Day 05
When I was a kid, lot of grownups at family gathering would ask me what I wanted to be when I was grown up. As a naive little child who has not seen the ugly side of the world yet, I would think briefly for three seconds and then beam up brightly, saying whatever cool sounding job came into my head. Archeologist, idol pop star, vampire hunter, Princess… One time I wanted to be Indiana Jones, the next maybe a Jedi Knight, or be a part of the rebellion fighting against the evil forces of the galaxy. I'm pretty sure being a pretty guardian Sailor Moon was also one of the replied I gave to my aunts and uncles, which most likely earned me chuckles.
But now that I'm older but no wiser, if people would ask me the same question again my reply would be that I just wanted to be happy. Also I wouldn't mind waking up with a million pounds transferred to my bank account.
Right now, I am what eight-years old wanted to be: Being a private investigator. Naturally, as a P.I. I have a loyal and very quirky assistant. You guessed right, it's no other than Queenie Goldstein.
The both of us wearing trench coats, fedora hats and scarves wrapped around our heads, we tried to conceal as much of our identity as possible. Confidently, we strut down the street ahead to our destination. How Queenie obtained the exact location is beyond my knowledge. When I asked, she just smiled sweetly and winked at me, saying it's a trade secret.
Mission objective: Ser how the No-Maj by the name Jacob Kowalski was doing.
Reason: Overheard Newt talking today that he wants to leave something for Jacob before leaving the States, but he did not know where exactly the canning factory was he worked in. However, having made some plans with Tina to do whatever they were gonna do, Queenie sand I decided to do it.
Originally it was just me, but a brief look at me before I fully left the Goldstein apartment, Queenie grabbed her coat too and said that it's gonna be fun. I don't know if it'll be for her and whether she can bear to see Jacob again. But then again she's an adult and knows what's best for her. If she wants to see her Romeo one last time, who am I to stop her?
I also admit that the slight thought of Tina and Newt doing something together - and not telling me what exactly - irked me.
Just a little bit.
It did not help that Queenie kept glancing over to me with a knowing smirk, which I shut up with my finger pointed up, saying: "Not a single word."
Once we've arrived at the canning factory ('healthy can food for happy people' - what a lie), we perched against the brick wall next to the big gate, our heads buried deep in Muggle newspaper from a week ago.
"Ooooh, we should go to the department store afterwards. Maybelline brought out a new cosmetic collection!" Queenie pointed at an advertisement on the newspaper, which showed a drawing of a dapper girl putting on cake mascara.
Huh, I knew the Maybelline Company, but not that old. I made myself a mental note to Google the company's history once I was back home and had stable Internet connection. As for now, I pondered whether I dare to try using some cosmetic from this time. I do know that tube mascara has not be invented yet. Instead they were sold in a black block and the content was activated by dipping mascara brush in water and then rub it against the black material. In my opinion that means the mascara is not waterproof, and I have a tendency of getting panda eyes very easily.
My thoughts were interrupted by Queenie tugging on my sleeve; she pointed at an arriving bus that seemed to be full of factory workers. They were easily recognizable through the overalls they were all wearing. And they all look like they were dead on the inside.
That's relatable.
And one by one, they stumbled out of the bus, all of them rather be somewhere else than here right now. I do admit I had a bit of hard spotting Jacob in the sea of miserable faces, but when I did I excitedly pointed it out for Queenie. When turning around to face her, she looked bummed out. Of course she probably has already spotted him long before I did, maybe the moment the bus pulled in.
"Do you want to… go over?" I suggested.
"I… no. I'm fine." Queenie replied and then linked her arm into mine. "We're done here. Let's go to the department store, I want to see how the new mascara is!"
I can't tell whether Queenie is an incredible gifted faker and well trained in hiding her emotion or I am just bad at telling what people are thinking and feeling, so I just shrugged my shoulders and let the younger Goldstein sister lead the way to go shopping.
oOoOoOo
"You two had fun?" Newt asked as he used a knife to roughly cute some veggies and chicken into pieces.
I was perched on the ladder leading out of the suitcase, watching his arms moving the big knife effortlessly, his arm muscles twitching with the movement.
"Oh yeah. For some reason Queenie convinced me I need to buy new clothes. I swear her eyes inflated five times the normal size! And then she pouts and it's really hard not to say no!" I tried to demonstrate what I meant, but Newt only laughed out loud at my expression. I could never achieve Queenie's cuteness.
Briefly recalling what Queenie said to Jacob the first they met, I pictured both Goldstein sisters in front of me. I would say that physically and personality wise they were complete opposite as, and yet I can see how people would find them both attractive in their own kind of way.
Then there was me, plain ol' Jane.
Suddenly realizing that there was essentially two love stories unfolding right in front of my eyes: Queenie and Jacob, Newt and… Tina.
For whatever reason I can't shake off the feeling that Newt and Tina has been getting much closer to each other after the whole Grindelwald business? My rational side tells me that's what happens when you make new friends, and in Newt's case he has been traveling around alone for a long time, so having some human contact might do him good. The ugly side of me is jumping into the worst conclusion ever it sort of makes me hate Tina a bit, even though she did not deserve it.
My eyes wandered over to Newt's clutter mess called the table, trying to spot the framed photo of the girl he went to school with - Leta Lestrange was it? I have noticed the photo before, but never really dared to bring it up I to Newt. It felt like this was a taboo subject to him and I shall not upset the precious cinnamon roll.
Although Queenie may or may not have whispered one or two gossips to me about Leta and Newt. Not much, just that apparently they were both outsiders at school and it was a very deep friendship/relationship but it did not end well. The only thing that was bugging me was her family name. The Lestrange. That's the same family that has been fighting over the Ainsworth fortune? And the way Queenie mentioned Lestrange makes me think they are not a very pleasant wizarding family. Which does make me wonder what Newt was doing with a person like Leta.
Of course the easiest way to get answers would be to just ask, but I highly doubt I have reached the friendship level of unlocking tragic back story yet - so I'll just wait until he approaches me about it.
Which is never.
"You don't like shopping?" He inquired as he gestured with his chin toward the bucket full of half sliced cucumber with words carved on it. Without much objection I picked it up and followed him, although I do realize that I was considerable slower than him, as the bucket is heavier than it looks.
Following him outside, I gave the passing creatures a respectful now with my head. "Well - no. That depends? I don't like spending too much time in one store and waiting for my friends to be done trying on clothes." After a thoughtful second, I added, "I do love bookstores though. Would camp inside if it was permitted."
"You can't stay at one place for too long, can you?" Newt pointed out, throwing a piece of meat the graphhorns and then began petting them, their tentacle beard lovingly encircle him.
"Nah, I guess not. Never been able to sit still for a long time either. After a while, I have to do something." Which mostly results in either doodling on my school papers, or swinging my legs, or sending notes back and forth in class with my friends.
"But what about bookstores?" Newt pointed out, gracefully avoiding the incoming giant beetles. "It sounds like if given the chance you would live there."It sounds like givens the chance you would live there."
I smiled warmly at that thought. "That would be the dream."
Having reached the Kappas pond, Newt then gestured for me to bring the bucket to him. Then he took out a cucumber and with one strong throw, the piece of veggie flew high and far into the pond, but before it could land into the water with an elegant splash, something that resembled like a fish monkey (monkey with fish scales instead of fur) jumped out and caught the food. Well, that's certainly not how I imagined a Kappa would look like. I was more thinking something like Kapp'n from Animal Crossing.
"The things with bookstores is that - hey, why does this cucumber have my name carved on it?!" I noticed as I also picked one out of the bucket, wanting to feed the Kappas.
Sheepishly Newt scratched his head and gave me a loop sided smile: "Kappas feed in human blood, but a cucumber with the human name written on it also satisfy them. Anyway - you were saying?"
"Oh yeah! Basically what I was gonna say is that's not the same. It's never 'just a bookstore'. It's a whole universe! Maybe something even bigger than the universe! And all the books are different galaxies that you can jump into and get lost. Tired of all the assignments you have to hand in time? Why not take a trip to Middle Earth? Be a hobbit for once. Or, or, hide yourself in a wardrobe only to discover it's a gateway to Narnia! Fancy taking a trip to the east? Just join the monkey king and his band of misfits on their road trip! It's like - how should I put it? You're physically in the bookstore, but you're also not there. In that moment, you're everywhere. Be whoever you want, who's there to stop you anyway?"
At this point I was gesturing widely with my arms at the artificial sky, empathizing my love for bookstores, whereas Newt sat on a rock, arms on his knees and staring at me what I would descrIbe as utter adoration at my weird antics. Might also be just amusement, but at this point I will admit a bit that I had a tiny crush on him, so I was hoping he was looking at me with adoration. I'll take amusement too, at least that means I'm not boring.
Wow I must have rambled really weird things, if Newt still hasn't said anything yet.
Grabbing the empty bucket and the other bucket filled with the snack for the moon calves, I didn't wait for the wizard to get up, I just walked down the path.
Newt immediately got up and caught up with me in less than three strides. Damn his long legs.
"I- I was not making fun is you!" He apologized. "Your fascination for the universe and space is very admirable. But I mostly enjoyed listening to you talking about the things you love. You- you put a lot of passion in it. I just wish I was a bit more like you when talking to other people about the things I love."
At that I stopped and he followed suit. I was utterly surprised at what he said and that he admired that about me. Slowly a big smile crept onto my face. Slapping the British wizard lightly on his arm, I said: "You'll get there one day, fam."
oOoOoOo
Day 06
"Okay, okay, so his work usually starts at 7 AM, but the owner requires are factory worker to arrive at 6.45AM already, so they'd all start on time. Seems a bit too early for us to drop, so most people are still dead around this time. But, But! There's a break from 11.30AM to 12.30PM. Should be enough time to somehow drop the goodbye present for him."
I quickly scribbled the break time onto the blackboard with white chalk (feels so old-school) and added three exclamation marks, underlining it two times.
Holding some magical squid in his arms and feeding it with a bottle (because the mom died so it needs to be fed with a bottle), he furrowed his brows, staring at the number and words on the board. Sometimes it seems like he was squinting his eyes together, trying to decipher the hieroglyphs that is called my handwriting. I do admit that since I started typing all my essays on my laptop my handwriting has been getting very sloppy.
"How… did you and Queenie acquired all the information?" Newt asked.
"Queenie, duh." I replied, making it sound like it was the most obvious thing. "It"s very generous of you, leaving the egg shells for him."
"I have no need for them. I'm sure Jacob will sued to bring happiness for many people."
Pressing my lips together, I looked at the shiny egg shells and then around the inside of the suitcase. THere were so many different creatures living inside there, and many of them require extensive care. Which makes me wonder how Newt affords all of this.
"Hey Newt, how do you afford all of this?"
"Uh, savings." he said, however he was trying to look at anything except at me. Over the course of couple of days it usually means he was telling me a white lie.
I raised an eyebrows. "Neeeeewt. Look me in the eyes."
He did as I told him, and then did the I'm-watching-you-gesture. Raising his head, he gave me his signature sheepish smile. On cue, Cabbage the Niffler arrived and tried to pocket something out of Newt's vest coat, but he pulled away. That's when a night bulb lit up over my head.
"Oh my God! Cabbage is your secret saving account! What happened to 'paws of things that does not belong to you'?" I accused him and mimicked the last part in a very bad British accent.
"I do not!" Newt defended himself. "Well, maybe."
For a few second we just stared at each other before bursting laughing out loud.
And here I thought Newt was some goodie good in two shoes! I picked up Cabbage so Newt could set the bottle down and then put it back with the other squid babies. A range of different and fascinating creatures can be find in the suitcase. Tina, Queenie and me try to come down here as often as possible to help out whenever we can. Although both Tina and Queenie have to work during the daz, so it's mostly just me and Newt. However I do feel like that I am not as helpful as Queenie and Tina.
Exhibit A: Tina is an Auror and as part of her job and personality, she is not afraid to jump into dangerous situation without a second thought if it means to save someone that needed to be saved. This seems to be a really bad way to start explaining the sentence, but basically Tina is not afraid to jump into the cave inhabited by the three-headed-snake and feed them. In fact, I think they like to hang around her neck a lot.
Exhibit B: Queenie. Queenie Goldstein. Goldstein Queenie. C'mon, does this even need to be explained? How can you not like her? Every creature likes her? If this was a Disney movie she'd be the one who starts to hum something and all the creatures will start forming a circle around her, eagerly listening and then perform a full musical dance.
Exhibit C: Plain ol' Oswin. While I can't stay in one place for a long time and don't mind being in a new place and make spontaneous decision what to do and how to explore the place the best. There are still many things that I fear. I am too scared to ask the waiter/waitress for extra ketchup because I fear I might be annoying them at their work. I say I love dogs, but when they try to get too close to my face, I back off. I don't like bugs and when I see snakes, I will scream and run to the other end of the world. Which basically means there are some creatures that I am very wary off. And when Newt asked me about it I said I don't think I'd ever get used to some.
I think he was a bit hurt by that remark. At least I think so because for a second he looked very worried. It made me feel like I was the vilest thing walking this planet.
Sucks for him he's stuck with the person who's the worst at taking care of his creature most of the time.
Speaking of being stuck with me…
"What is exactly going to happen once we're back in Britain?" I asked.
We walked down the stony path and entered an area that was a blend between eh rain forest and the Savannah zone. Ellie the Erumpent stopped drinking from the pond as Newt approached her and began to pet her.
"You will go live Archer, your great-grandfather." He finally said after a while. Why the dramatic pause?
I had to pause too, but it didn't take me too long to regain my composure. "I'm no scientist or Time Lord, but… isn't that like the grandfather paradox?" Or the great-grandfather paradox. Either way, bad idea.
"Quite frankly, I see it the same way. But he already knows you're here, doesn't he?" Newt pointed it out.
"Yeah true. Plus I don't really have anywhere else to go until I get back home."
Home. I can't believe that during my stay here I have something manage to forget that home is not the worn out suitcase, that looked like it has seen better days. It is not the suitcase, that I have affectionately dubbed the TARDIS in my head because both things are bigger on the inside. It was not the shabbily build together shack filled with all kinds of things up the ceiling, threatening to tumble down any time. It was not Cabbage who always tried to take of my earrings and hoard them in his hole. It was not the Occamies always trying to bite off my finger whenever I tried to pet them because for some reason they just hated me, nor was it Ellie who always tried to run make over whenever she saw me, because that's just how she hugs people. And it was definitely not the faint smell of cinnamon that seemed to be hanging around Newt even though he's been rolling around in mud with his creatures.
It should be the LEGO pieces scattered around the house because my brother did not understand the concept of picking them up, and then you'd hear the scream of agony echoing through the house.
Oh man, I definitely miss that. Even though sometimes I couldn't walk properly for days.
Realizing what I meant to go back to England and having the Ministry of Magic investigating me, I wished I could just live here forever.
"I'm going to miss this place." I said and kicked a stone into the pond.
"This place is going to miss you too."
Something is stuck in my throat and if I don't swallow it down I'm gonna cry and I don't want to do that. So instead I face the other direction where Newt doesn't have to see it.
It never occurred to me that once I'm back at the Ainsworth estate that it meant saying goodbye to Newt.
And now I really wish I would have gotten more time together with him.