Author's note: Hello all! Here is the next chapter! Thanks so much for your feedback on the last chapter (and not hating me too much for it!) Let me know what you think of this chapter as well!

Chapter 21

As much as Newt would have liked to take Tina up to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts, he knew the short weekend they had needed to be spent formulating a plan. Part of said plan was informing Artemis Scamander of the potential allegations against Theseus. And they knew it wasn't going to be pleasant.

Sunday afternoon, while Theseus was out to lunch with Rebecca and her family, Newt, Tina and Agatha cornered him in his study.

And to say that Artemis was upset was a complete and total understatement. In fact, he was fuming.

"You cannot honestly believe this!" Artemis shouted. Not only was the idea preposterous, he was caught totally off-guard with it. "You're all out of your minds! I should have you all checked into St. Mungo's!"

"Artie, you have to understand, it's not just us that thinks this. Newt was informed of an investigation on Dumbledore by the Wizengamot!"

"Everyone knows that Dumbledore is a crack pot old fool! A loon!"

"A loon that saved your son from being expelled."

"Because of a damn stupid thing Newt did! Or said he did because he was afraid that Leta would be expelled," he roared. "What on Earth would Theseus need to follow Grindelwald for? He's a war hero! Merlin's Beard, Aggie, he's your son!" He was turning a shade of red and a vein was beginning to stick out on his forehead.

"Gellert Grindelwald is someone's son, too, Dad," Newt said to his father.

In an instant, the red in Artemis' face was receding.

"I raised the both of you to be tolerant of anyone and everyone. No man or woman, magic or not is better than the other. Everyone deserves fair treatment. And now you're telling me that my first born is a member of the pureblood…cult?" Artemis finished sadly. "You really, truly believe this of our son?" he asked Agatha while looking in his wife's eyes.

She nodded sadly.

He hung his head low. "Where did I go wrong? Just because Scamanders are pureblood – I – what are we going to do?"

"He has to be caught. He's aiding and abetting Grindelwald. I suspect he had a hand in Graves' kidnapping as well," Newt said.

"I'm going to be able to see him day to day at work," Tina said. "I'll be able to…"

"No," Artemis cut her off. "It's much too dangerous. Theseus…he could… You're a kind woman for offering, but you don't need to do this," he said.

Newt tentatively put his arm around Tina's waist and she leaned into him slightly.

"Tina isn't going to be talked out of this, I'm sure?" he asked her.

"I won't," Tina said quietly. "I'm hoping that by gaining his confidence, I can find out where Grindelwald is hiding."

"And if he catches onto your plan? Or what if Grindelwald has instructed him to hire you as part of his own plan?" Artemis asked.

She shook her head. "I know that Gellert Grindelwald knows me. And that's why it needs to be me that does this. I worked with Graves for months until he demoted me. And, I know that I was wrong to attack that No-Maj woman, but I now know that he moved me out of the department because I was getting close to realizing that information about Credence," she said.

"You attacked a Muggle?" Artemis asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It was a woman beating a child; I had to do something. And I'd do it again in a heartbeat," she told him.

"Sounds like you, Newt. We went on a family vacation when the boys were quite young. Newt, here, saw another boy attempting to burn a Bowtruckle with a magnifying glass. Bloody nose and black eye, right, my boy?" Artemis asked.

Sheepishly, he looked down to his feet. "You know I couldn't let him harm that creature."

"We were never allowed at that camp again," Agatha said.

"But none of us seemed to really mind," Artemis said with a shrug. "Looks like you two really are a matched set," he added. "Are you going to quit being coy about being a couple now?"

This time, it was Tina's turn to blush.

"For whatever reason, Tina Goldstein has agreed to be my girlfriend," Newt said.

"It only took 30 years," Artemis teased.

Agatha prodded him hard in the shoulder. "Artie! I told you not to tease him!"

The tone of the room had changed and it was welcome. They knew the mood wasn't going to be able to stay that way for long, plans had to be further developed and they'd have to be serious about it. But it was still a nice change, even for a short time.

…

That night, Tina and Newt fed the creatures and Newt insisted on helping her up the ladder out of the case.

In the hallway outside their rooms, their once-amiable silence turned awkward. A question, was plaguing both of their thoughts, but neither wanted to ask it.

It was an eternity before Newt quietly cleared his throat. He opened his mouth to speak, but Tina jumped in.

"I should probably get to bed. You too, right? You have a meeting with Isadora tomorrow morning, right?" Tina asked.

Newt's mouth was suddenly dry very dry. He nodded instead.

"All right, well…you…you sleep well, then," Tina said, hand on the doorknob to her bedroom.

Newt was simply watching her as she talked. The movement of her lips and the flutter of her eyelashes against her cheeks. He couldn't resist, he pulled her to him and kissed her.

"Good night, Tina," he said with a small smile when they stepped back from one another.

"Good night, Newt," she replied before quickly retreating into her room for the night. He waited until the door clicked closed.

Newt was proud of the slightly dazed look he'd left on her face and he smiled until he fell asleep in his own room.

He wasn't sure what time it was when his door opened. Bleary-eyed, he was able to make out that it was Tina. He pulled back his blanket and let her climb in next to him. He smiled as she snuggled into his shoulder and fell asleep.

When Newt finally awoke the following morning, he'd begun to think that he'd dreamed that Tina had come in his room for comfort. He was alone as he surveyed the early morning sun coming through the crack in his curtains.

Not much had actually changed in this room in his lifetime. Over the years, he'd added more stacks of books and a few odds and ends that he'd found in his travels, but it was basically still the same room. It was the room where he'd played with his imaginary creatures, where he'd learned of his acceptance to Hogwarts, where he'd quarantined himself in his depression while he waited for the school to decide his fate.

He stood from the bed and stretched before reaching to smooth the corner of the Hufflepuff pennant that was hanging on the wall opposite his bed. He was brought out of his walk down memory lane by a tentative knock.

"Come in," he called.

Tina was fully dressed when she opened the door.

"Good morning," Newt said

"Good morning," she replied quietly. Both her clipped tone and body language screamed that she was anxious. He hoped it wasn't because of him.

"Are you feeling all right, Tina?" he asked.

"Yes, no, I'm…I wanted to apologize for…last night," she said. "I should never have come in here. I just…"

Newt walked to her and gently put his hands on her upper arms. "You have nothing to apologize for. I don't mind. I'm actually grateful that you trust me."

"I just – I woke up from a nightmare and I was just lying there with everything running through my mind and…" she continued.

"Tina, listen to me," he smiled. Something about Tina being so uncertain was having the opposite effect on him. "I do not mind. You can join me any time you like," he said before he processed all of the connotations that his last statement held. "I don't mean…" he started, his confidence leaving him once more. "Oh, Merlin's Beard."

Tina finally smiled. "Thank you."

"I, erm, was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me tonight, just the two of us, in Diagon Alley. I could show you around and…"

"That would be really nice, Newt," she said, looking down at her feet.

"It is a total and complete mystery how you two even met, considering how much you both stare down at the ground," Agatha laughed from the doorway behind them. "How did you sleep, Tina?" she smiled.

"I, uh, um…" Tina stuttered.

"Oh relax, the both of you. Its 1927, darlings. We're not living in the dark ages anymore. Besides, you're both adults. Quit looking so sheepish. It's okay to be together if that is what the both of you want. Breakfast is in five minutes; you both need to eat before you go, all right?" she said. Without waiting for an answer, she turned on her heel and left them alone again.

"Would it be all right if I kissed you now?" Newt asked.

Tina smiled once more and then nodded. "I think that would be just fine."

…

Newt regretfully watched Tina disappear using the Scamander home's fireplace. He hated the idea of her going alone, but if anyone would be best suited to discovering Grindelwald's plan, he was sure it was her.

"I think she'll be all right," Agatha told Newt with a hand on her son's shoulder. "Have I told you how proud of you I am?"

Newt shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. "Not today," he said quietly.

"Don't be silly, Newt," Agatha said. "I'm proud of the man and wizard you've become. Don't let your dad tease you too much. We're both happy for you and Tina, you know. It's nice to see that there is something good in all this…" she said as she got teary-eyed.

"Mother, you needn't upset yourself all over again. You know worrying only means you suffer twice," he told her.

"Your grandfather had a few wise moments, didn't he?" Agatha said. "Although some would simply call it blarney, you know."

"Perhaps, yes. But I've always particularly liked that bit of wisdom, or blarney," Newt admitted.

"He loved you very much. He'd be proud of you, too. Always wanted to see what you'd become."

"I've been very lucky to always have your support. We both did."

"That's why your father is so taken aback by the whole situation with your brother. Something changed when Theseus went off to war; I'm certain that's the key to the whole thing," Agatha said.

"I'm going to do the research, Mother," he said. "I'm going to see what I can find in his official statement upon his return. Speak to some others that were there as well," Newt told her.

"And you'll be careful, won't you?" Agatha asked, but it was more of a warning versus an actual question.

Newt nodded and touched his mother's arm. "I will be, but you know that this is something that I need to do. I've got a meeting with Isadora Fanson of Obscurus Books, and then I'm going to the Ministry to read the archives and keep an eye on Tina."

Agatha nodded. "All right, good enough. Off you go, then."

She waved Newt off and he went through his normal routine to travel by Floo. In a flash, he was gone, leaving Agatha alone with her worried thoughts.

…

As Tina waited in the Ministry of Magic, she tried to process the last few days. Her sister had run off with a No-Maj dand Tina had no idea where she was. She'd posed as Newt's wife and then relocated to Britain with him. Now she was temporarily working for the British Ministry of Magic, living in the Scamander Family home, had a boyfriend, and was now involved in some kind of investigation of Newt's brother who was also her new boss. To be honest, she would have been surprised if she hadn't been having nightmares.

She was glad that Newt hadn't asked what the dream had been about. The most recent one was about Queenie – or rather, Queenie dying. And this was nothing new; Tina had been having these dreams since her parents had died. And as she'd grown older, they'd only grown more intense and last night's dream had been no exception. Her brain was now using details of things she'd seen as an Auror to create them and she had really seen some things.

In her moment of weakness, she'd gone to Newt and he'd been there for her. Just being near him had somehow managed to quiet her mind and she was able to sleep through the rest of the night. But when morning came, well, she'd realized things couldn't be like that – now when they weren't married. And that particular thing was incredibly far off.

"Miss Goldstein?" a voice called to her.

Tina's attention moved to the man that was hurrying towards her from one of the elevators across from her. He was short, rotund, and smiled broadly; he didn't seem to mind that his Ministry robes dragged on the floor a bit as he moved.

Tina stood as he drew nearer to her and she put a smile on her face despite the nervousness she was feeling.

"Good morning; I am Tina Goldstein," she said.

"Nigel Lautrec, Senior Undersecretary to the Head Auror, Theseus Scamander," he introduced himself.

"Wow – that is quite the title," Tina said. "It's very nice to meet you, Mr. Lautrec."

Nigel chuckled. "It's a very long phrase that means I handle all the bits and pieces for Mr. Scamander so he doesn't have to worry about them. It also means I get to meet nice folks like yourself," he said. "And I am charged with giving you the official tour. I understand that you have had an unofficial one."

Tina nodded. "Yes, I was here on Friday with Mr. Scam – well, Newt Scamander. I saw a little bit. And I did have a meeting with Theseus…Mr. Scamander…well, obviously. I apologize," she stopped herself. "When I'm nervous I tend to babble."

This made Nigel laugh once more. "No reason to be nervous, Miss Goldstein. We're all looking forward to learning what we can from you. None of us have really had any experience with MACUSA; we're sure you can teach us a few things. By the way, nasty business going on there; have they found the real Percival Graves yet?"

Tina shook her head. "Not the last that I had heard, unfortunately."

"Yes, yes, that is terrible news," Nigel said. "All right, then. Please follow me. We'll make sure you have all the proper identification and then we'll get you all shown around our humble Ministry of Magic. Please stop me if you have any questions along the way."

"And you'll let Theseus – Mr. Scamander – know that I'm here?" Tina said as they navigated through the bustling lobby of the Ministry.

"Mr. Scamander was called away on business today," Nigel told her as they walked. "Quite unexpected, actually."

"Oh, he was?" I was hoping he would be here for my first day," Tina said. "Oh, well. I'm ready to learn the ropes, Mr. Lautrec," she said, silently wondering where it was that Theseus had been called to with such urgency.

Tina's desk was conveniently located about ten steps from Theseus Scamander's office. She'd been shown the whole of the Ministry, got all of her identity information, and now she was seated mere feet from Theseus' office that she knew was empty. But she was reading through several dozen of the most recent Ministry memos regarding all manner of topics ranging from the illegal use of Summoning charms in the Muggle shops to the escape of Grindelwald. All of them were signed by Theseus Scamander.

She was finishing the eleventh memo when someone cleared their throat. Tina looked up and was looking at Isadora Fanson.

"Ms. Fanson, it is nice to see you again," Tina said. "What can…"

"Would you have a moment, Miss Goldstein?" she asked politely.

"Of course, of course," Tina said. Tina summoned a chair from the other side of the room.

"I think it would be best if we went somewhere to talk in private," Isadora said as she glanced around the room.

Tina did not like Isadora or her request, but she was going to give the woman the benefit of the doubt.

"Of course…sure…" Tina said. She stood from her desk and before she stepped away, she took a moment to neaten the memos that were strewn all over the top. A moment later, she and Isadora were walking out of the Ministry.

When they were away from the Ministry of Magic, Isadora cleared her throat.

"Newt had to make a trip back to Paris with Mr. Worme today. The French branch of Obscurus Books requested a couple more dates for Newt to make presentations, both at the publishing house and at a few of the bookstores around the city. He told me to tell you that he won't be able to meet you for dinner tonight. And it's been decided that when Newt returns, he's going to need to focus on his next edition, so he'll need less distractions. We've gotten you a room in Diagon Alley and your things will be then when you're finished for the day at the Ministry. It's just wonderful that they've found you a position there," Isadora said.

Tina didn't know what to say, so she stayed silent.

"Here is your key and the room number," Isadora said. "Tom's been the caretaker at the Leaky Cauldron for years; very nice man," she told Tina.

"Newt doesn't want me to stay at the Scamander house?" Tina asked.

"He, and Mr. Worme, both thought that it would be best if Newt had as few distractions as possible. His book is rather important. And we've lost valuable time since he went off gallivanting with you for those days," Isadora said.

"Oh, yes. I suppose so," Tina said, incredibly hurt.

"It'll be much more convenient for you, location-wise," Isadora said. "I really am sorry about all this. But you wouldn't want to impede Newt's career, would you? And surely, you'll be needed in the search for Grindelwald."

"Right," Tina said.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Isadora said. "You know, Newt was very sorry that he couldn't tell you himself that he was leaving for Paris. Don't be too upset with him."

Tina shook her head and forced a smile, despite the fact that she wanted to cry. "I'm fine," she replied. "Thank you for getting me the room. I'm sure it's lovely. I should be getting back to work now. Have a wonderful rest of your day."

Tina turned on her heel and headed back to the Ministry, where she managed to keep herself from crying for the remainder of the work day. In fact, she made it all the way to her boarding room before she collapsed into tears before falling into a fitful sleep for the rest of the night.

…

Author's note: so what do you think? Let me know!