A Sad Ending but a New Beginning

The wizards appeared out of the Lestrange family tomb. The fire was fuming everywhere. Nagini held onto Tom tightly. Lorna was still stumbling a bit because she was a bit drained so Tina helped her. The blue fire turned into giant blue dragons that roared at the wizards. Newt saved Jacob from getting burned as he was too overcome with shock from Queenie's betrayal.

As they fought, they saw an elderly wizard appear. Nicholas Flammel. With a wand.

"Who is that?" wondered Tina.

"It's a friend," said Lorna. "Everyone! Come to Flammel!"

Everyone obeyed and gathered around her. "Together! In a circle, your wand into the earth. Or all Paris will be lost!"

The flames were rising. It was only a matter of time before it would spread like a living wildfire and burn everything and everyone in the city to a crisp. Newt and Theseus stabbed their wands into the ground, shouting: "Finite!". A golden barrier sprouted from out of the ground, a magical shield.

"Finite!" Tina cast.

"Finite!" Kama joined in.

Then Flammel. "Finite!" the magical barrier spread around the cemetery chasing after the blue fiery dragons and destroying them. But it was becoming too powerful, too hard to control.

Lorna saw her friends struggling. She knew she had to help. Gathering whatever strength she still bore, she stood up. Her eyes glowed orange. Newt saw her. "Lorna! Now!"

Lorna raised her hands out and they saw the blue fire extinguishing lightly. She was using her fire powers to put it out. But she growled in pain. It was too strong for her.

Newt shouted at her to stop, seeing the blood drip from her nose. Tina begged as well but she wouldn't listen to either of them.

Though his hand was burnt, Tom could see that she couldn't do it alone. Stepping out of Nagini's warm arms, he stood up and held his hands out. His father saw too. "Tom! Don't!"

Concentrating all the energy within him, Tom released a powerful burst of golden Obscurial energy. It helped the barrier. It contained the fire more and whoosh and crash!

The fire went out as the Lestrange family tomb's openings crumbled. It was over. Paris had been saved.

Lorna fell into Tina's arms, her nose bleeding. She gently settled her down and pulled out a handkerchief to help her. Nagini caught Tom as he was falling too. He coughed and breathed heavily. Though the fight was over, the feeling of failure rained hard on their heads. Jacob cried over his Queenie. Flammel comforted him. Lorna was heartbroken. Leta had sacrificed herself to save them. And the last talk they had involved her calling her a 'wicked woman. She had never felt more guilty than ever in her life. Tina offered her a warm hug. She allowed her to cry into her shoulders. Tina cried too over losing her sister.

Newt looked at Theseus sadly as he mourned for Leta. He shed tears too. Then unexpectantly, he embraced his brother and he hugged back, all that tension between them fading away. "I've chosen my side," he declared. Newt swore to himself that Leta's sacrifice would not be in vain. They would avenge her by taking down Grindelwald was devasted. He had lost Credence again. He couldn't believe he had chosen Grindelwald over him and everyone else who had saved and had come to Paris to help him. He blamed himself for not being stronger. He blamed the Ministry which tried to hunt him down.

Nagina sat close to him giving him a soft hug. "I'm so sorry," she said.

Newt sauntered over. "Tom?" He felt Tom's arms embrace him tightly. "You're all right. We're safe," he assured. "We're all safe,"

Tom was crying. "We failed dad. I couldn't stop him,"

"I'm so sorry," Newt apologised. He released him and glanced at his burnt hand. "Oh god," he whimpered. His hand was singed with black and red marks. Tom didn't need to answer. He was too grief-stricken to speak.

Lorna approached them, saddened to see her closest friend's son with burnt scars. "I can help," she offered out her hands. "May I?"

Tom slowly offered them to her. He watched her close her wet eyes. Tears fell down her cheeks and rained onto his hand. They didn't sting his wounds. Looking closely, he noticed that his sores were magically disappearing. Her tears were healing it. Once they disappeared, she gave them one final downpour before letting go. "There you go,"

Tom gazed amazedly at her. "You have healing tears,"

Lorna nodded. She glanced at Newt and Tina. "It's all my fault. I called her 'wicked'," she sobbed and turned her face away.

Newt pursed her lips and came over to her, giving her a gentle embrace which she returned. "You did everything you could. And her sacrifice wasn't in vain. She saved us all,"

Lorna let go of him and looked into his comforting brotherly face. Then she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Theseus.

"You saved us too," he said proudly. There was no animosity between them anymore. Theseus looked at his nephew who remained a little anxious about him. "Both of you," the way he looked at Tom made him realise that it was because of his Obscurial energy and Lorna's fire magic that they had saved Paris. "I am truly sorry I gave you away Tom. It wasn't right of me. I thought I was protecting your dad. But I was making him unhappy by taking him away from you," he looked at his brother apologetically. "I'm sorry Newt,"All Newt simply did was nod and forgive quietly. "I'm sorry about your brother kid," Theseus patted his back and that made Tom feel a little better if not at all.

All was quiet for a moment. Then Tom saw Teddy the Niffler, with singed black fur. "Oh my god," he stumbled over. "I've got you," he bent and picked her up. "I've got you," he wrapped her in his scarf keeping her warm and safe. As he held her, he noticed that something was in her paws. A sort of pendant with a silver orb in the centre. He gently took it and glanced at it. "What's this?"

Newt approached him and Tom showed the trinket to him. Lorna and Tina saw it too. That tiny charm made everyone's lips part in surprise.

"What happens now?" Lorna asked.

Newt held a determined expression on his face. "We head back to Dumbledore,"

"What about her?" Tom looked worriedly at Nagini. Even though he did know her, he couldn't abandon her as his brother did.

Lorna looked openly at the lonely Chinese woman. "She's coming with us,"

Nagini smiled a little in appreciation. Lorna pulled off her cloak and wrapped it around her for warmth.

"How did you do that? That fire magic?" she asked suddenly.

Lorna stiffened a little. "It's always been a part of me for as long as I can remember,"

Newt turned seriously to his brother. "You can't give her away,"

Lorna glanced at Theseus, a mixture of worry and bitterness.

"I won't tell anyone," the older brother swore. "I won't break my promise again. I know you were there for Newt when he needed someone and that's a debt I need to repay," he glanced at his brother with regrets spinning in his head. "I wasn't there for you when you needed me. I should have supported your career instead of trying to turn you into something you weren't. You're lucky to have all your creatures. And…you're lucky to have Tom as your son,"

Newt was speechless hearing him say those words. He didn't know what to say to him.

It took a few days to leave France and make their way back to Britain. Flammel stayed behind in Paris. Lorna escorted him back home, exchanging kisses on the cheek. Tom was stuck in a bubble of anger and sadness, too heartbroken by the betrayal of Credence. Newt tried to speak to Tina but she remained distant, too affected by her sister's treachery. Jacob too. Nagini was rather quiet too, too shy around nearly everyone except Tom whom she comforted and Lorna who showed her true kindness and honesty.

Theseus wanted to sit alone, to mourn for Leta. But Newt always came over to check on him. He still loved Leta too, even if that love wasn't as strong as it was all those years ago when they were teens. Theseus accepted his comfort. And during that time, things began to get better between them.

As they boarded the boat to Britain, Kama insisted he'd come with them. Newt didn't feel comfortable regarding the fact that he had tried to kill his son to try and kill Credence. But remembering how Kama had saved his son and Nagini before, he reluctantly agreed. Kama apologised profusely for his actions and promised to find a way to make it up to them. In his room with his dad, Tom opened the suitcase to let out a very angry Gilly. He tearfully apologised. Gilly licked his face to comfort him, seeing all the pain he had been going through.

They arrived at the British Port. Tom reluctantly placed Gilly inside his dad's case. But the moment they left the ship, they saw Travis and a group of unfriendly Aurors awaiting them. Newt stayed close to his son, and so did Nagini. Jacob felt a little scared too. As a Muggle, he would be obliterated again. This time of all the good memories too.

"You've got yourself into a whole of trouble Mr Scamander," Travis sneered. "Dumbledore was foolish to send to Paris. Just as you were foolish to not heed my warnings,"

Lorna was about to speak back when Tom bravely stepped in, forgetting all that grief from Credence's betrayal. He felt rage at those mean men talking to his father. "Dumbledore wasn't foolish. And you have no right to call my father that. He is more of a man than you will ever be,"

As he ranted, he could the Obscurial's gold but dark-natured energy spurning within him; he kept it under control. Travis however would not stand it. "You're coming with me kid,"

"He's not going anywhere with you," Lorna protectively in front of him.

"You so much as touch that kid," Jacob had regained his confidence to say something. "I'm going to boof you on the noise," he got into a wrestling position.

"A Muggle?" sneered Travis. He glared at Newt. "You've lost your mind,"

"No, he hasn't," Theseus stood his ground for the first time against his boss.

Travis was appalled. "You dare speak to me in this manner? You dare allow that kid to roam free?"

"His name is Tom," Theseus spoke up. "And stop frightening him. He's just lost a brother. Don't make him any more unsettled,"

"Do you have any idea what danger he is?"

"He helped us save Paris from being destroyed," Theseus stood up to him. "What harm could he ever do to anyone?"

Travis eyed Lorna sinisterly. "So, now you appear back in Britain. I'm arresting you too,"

"Lorna hasn't done anything wrong," Newt stood up to the selfish man. "She never has and she never will join Grindelwald. She said so herself to Grindelwald when he offered her a chance to join him,"

Travis still didn't care. "Arrest them,"

Aurors raised their wands but Tom swerved in front of the grownups and made a stand. "How can you all just follow him?"

"He's the Head of Magical Law and Order," a female Auror said.

"And so you follow him? What kind of a wizard should have the authority that does whatever he wants? He is nothing but arrogant and selfish and cares only about his position of power," Though he had never met this man before, he knew enough from his family to know what a true tyrant he was. With every word he spat out with deep repulse, Travis's fish clenched. Turning his back slightly, Tom gazed at his dad. "My dad saved New York and he was wrongfully banned from travelling. Dumbledore sent him to Paris because he believed in him. He is the most humane wizard that has ever existed. He's noble and true. He's a hero. He's my hero and my dad,"

Newt felt unintentionally awkward. He never wanted to consider himself a hero but the way Tom spoke with such honour and just made him feel truly appreciated, accepted. He saw a green flash on the tip of the wand. "Tom!"

Travis shot the killing curse at Tom. But Theseus cast: "Protego!" Tom was shielded by a spell. He gasped in shock, all his courage withering away too quickly.

Lorna shouted, "Expelliarmus!" Travis's wand was knocked out of his hands. His Aurors moved to defend him.

"Is this your leader?" challenged Tina. "An arrogant man who tried to kill a child? In cold blood?" Her words had an impact on the Aurors. Their unfriendly faces turned to ones of disbelief. They began to back down.

"That monster is a danger to us all," Travis bellowed.

"Lorna was right about you," said Theseus. "You really are just another tyrant like Grindelwald. I don't know why I put my loyalty to you first before my family. That is not another mistake I will make twice. Arrest him,"

Travis tried to disarm him but the Aurors turned on him and he was bounded in invisible magical bounds in a flash. "What about the Muggle?" another asked.

"He's a friend," supported Tina. "He's one of us now. He played a big role in this fight. And he still will," Jacob blinked. For the first time since the charade in New York, she was beginning to accept him into the wizarding world. He didn't know whether it was because she felt guilty for Queenie turning sides or because she admired his willingness to protect Tom.

Travis was escorted away from the scene. Tom breathed heavily, petrified. Travis had just tried to kill him. Newt hugged him tightly. "It's all right. It's all right,"

Theseus looked at his nephew with concern. Tom looked up at him. "Thank you,"

"That arrogant jerk is going where he belongs," said Lorna.

"He won't hurt Tom again, right?" asked Jacob worriedly. Nagini copied his expression.

Theseus shook his head. "He won't. Come on. Let's get to Hogwarts,"

It wouldn't be too long now till they'd arrive at Hogwarts. In a few hours, they arrived at King's Cross, London. They came to a tall pillar in the centre of Platform 9. Theseus walked right through the wall. Tom was surprised. Kama trailed after him.

"Where'd they go?" was the first words Jacob had said since the harbour.

"To the platform where we'll be taking our train. Follow me, everyone," Lorna gently took Nagini's hand. Though very anxious, Nagini trusted her and dashed alongside her. They disappeared through the wall.

"Let's run together," Newt suggested. He held Tom's hand; Jacob grabbed the other. Tina held Newt's spare hand. She felt a little awkward. "Three. Two. One!"

Jacob scrunched his eyes as they sprinted through and the next thing he felt was his mind whizzing around until they came out onto an open platform. "Woah. That…was…not bad,"

Newt led them around the corner and there in front of them was a grand steam train of red and black. Platform 9 and ¾ hung above the platform. Theseus, Lorna, and Nagini awaited them.

"That's the Hogwarts Express," Tom recognised the picture from his birth family's old photographs. "Amazing,"

"And this is gonna take us to Hogwarts?" asked Jacob.

"Yep," said Newt. "Can't remember what it was like the last time I was on there," They quietly stepped onto the train and sat in some carriages. Tom picked Gilly out of the case and Bobo sat on the Graphorns head. Tom stared out through the window as the city turned to country land. They travelled through the fields of Britain to the highlands of Scotland. Newt tried to talk to Tina again but she chose to be alone. He sighed, feeling neglected.

As the train circled around a circular section of the train track, Tom saw a grand castle in the distance. "That's Hogwarts?"

Lorna peered through with him and Nagini. "It sure is,"

"It's beautiful," the Chinese girl murmured.

Jacob breathed out in wonder. "Woah,"

In less than an hour, they exited the train at a train station called Hogsmeade Station. Not too far away was the town of Hogsmede, where Lorna lived with her father and uncle. They boarded a carriage pulled by Thestrals; winged, skeletal horse-like creatures visible only to those who had seen death. Tom could see them. He remembered the green flash killing his birth parents that night in America. He greeted a foal standing beside its mother strapped to the carriage. He stroked it, giving it an apple.

Jacob blinked as he thought he was going crazy but once Newt explained everything, he understood. They boarded the carriages and the Thestrals pulled them to a grand bridge that connected Hogwarts to the mainland. And up ahead, under the white cloud skies, they saw Dumbledore approaching.

Newt, Lorna, and Tom walked forward. Tina tried to too but Theseus gently stopped. "I think it's best if they speak to him alone,"

The three met Dumbledore in the middle. By the looks on their faces, he could see they had suffered terribly on their mission. "Is it true?" he spoke up. "About Leta?"

Newt nodded sadly. "Yes,"

Dumbledore sighed. "I'm so sorry,"

"It's my fault," Lorna spoke up, a tear dripping down her cheek. "I should have protected her better,"

Dumbledore came forward and held onto her hands. "Don't say that Lorna. The fight isn't over for you yet. Don't give in to regret. You're stronger than you know,"

Lorna still couldn't feel less guilty. Dumbledore saw Tom staring at him a little anxiously. This was his first time meeting him. "You must be Tom. I've waited so long to meet you," he greeted.

Tom nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the pendant. "I think this is yours,"

Dumbledore stared down at it, his eyes widening.

"It's a blood pact, isn't it," Newt spoke up. "You both swore not to fight each other,"

Albus nodded. He took it. "How in the name of Merlin did you manage to get…."

Teddy appeared out of Tom's pocket in his hands.

Albus giggled.

"Grindelwald doesn't seem to understand the nature of things he's considered simple," Newt said.

"Teddy's a hero," praised Tom.

Dumbledore raised his hands up. From across the bridge, Lorna watched as Theseus swished his wand and the metal bands disappeared off her father's wrists, freeing him. "Can you destroy it?" she asked.

"Maybe…" Dumbledore said. "Maybe," he clutched it protectively. "We have matters to discuss. Would you all like some tea?"

The three nodded.

"Invite the others in,"

The rest of the group followed behind them into the castle. Still holding onto Teddy, Tom said to Dumbledore: "Best to hide the teaspoons," he warned. They walked through a giant courtyard into the castle. Tom was enchanted by its structure and the paintings. When they entered a giant hall of floating candles and a sky floating above the tables, he had never felt more amazed than ever. They sat at the end of one of the four long tables and tea was brought. Newt made sure Teddy was kept under control.

Dumbledore was delighted to meet Tina and Jacob who felt quite awkward. Avoiding the betrayal parts, the group told him everything that had happened. And what had happened to Travis too? The mention of the man who tried to kill him made Tom stand up.

"Would it be okay if I looked around?" he asked.

"Of course," Dumbledore answered.

"Don't get lost," Newt advised. He and Lorna shared knowing glances remembering how easy it was to get so lost when they were newcomers. With Gilly trodden beside him with Bobo sitting on his head, Tom wandered curiously around the hallways, hoping this would distract him from all the trauma and heartbreak he had experienced in less than a week. He turned a corner and he saw a wooden door ahead of him. He pushed through.

Empty. Gilly plodded over to the far side of the room. Tom followed him. In front of him was a mirror. Ancient. Gold but rusty. The glass was a little ancient around the sides too but Tom could see his reflection. He approached it carefully, wondering about the purpose of its existence.

As he saw a magnification of his reflection on the surface, he saw two people beside him. His eyes widened. His birth parents smiling with love. Then he saw Newt. And Tina. Both holding hands looking happy. Jacob and Queenie too. Lorna stood still too, but she looked happier, appreciated, accepted. Then he saw his brother with him. He looked happy, with him, the opposite of what he felt back in Paris.

Seeing all his loved ones looking so happy made him tear up. Why wasn't this real? Was this the future?

"Tom…" a voice spooked him.

Tom turned around and saw Dumbledore. "Oh, professor I…I…didn't mean to…"

"It's okay," Dumbledore assured. "I come to this room quite often,"

"What is this mirror?" he asked.

Dumbledore glanced at the mirror and what the reflection was showing Tom. "It shows you what you most desire. What you desire is to be with your birth parents again,"

Tom felt guilty for wishing that. He didn't want to replace his adoptive dad at all or neglect everything he had ever done for him.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Newt would want that for you,"

"I really wish he and Tina were happy together. And Jacob and Queenie too,"

"That's a wonderful desire you have for others," Dumbledore said proudly. He took another glance at the mirror and he saw Credence. "I'm really sorry about all the heartbreak you've been through. No one like you should deserve to feel that way. That's what Carl always wanted for you,"

"You knew my birth father?" Tom asked.

He nodded. "I knew him very well. And your mother too. They were such great students here at Hogwarts like Newt. He wasn't friends with them but when they entered their first year and he was in his fifth year, he welcomed them humbly.

Tom wondered if perhaps Newt could tell him some things about his birth family. He just hoped he wouldn't make him feel replaced or unappreciated. "Your dad will never feel like you're neglecting everything he's done for you. He loves you so much Tom which is why he really wants you to be at Hogwarts. He and I talked again after you left," Tom flicked his head up in surprise. He thought his dream had gone away but it felt like it was coming true. I've made discussions with the headmaster and it's all been sorted," Dumbledore smiled proudly. He pulled a letter out of his back pocket and offered it to Tom.

Tom took it slowly and stared at the envelope with his name and home address printed in black ink. Then he looked at the back and he saw the Hogwarts Crest stamped in red. His pain turned to excitement. He felt like he was crying again but out of joy. He felt the blood pumping under his skin ecstatically and his heart rate accelerating. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" he hugged Albus around the waist, much to his surprise.

"Oh sorry," he awkwardly stood back, feeling a little embarrassed.

"No need to apologise. Now come on. Your family will be waiting for you," the teacher gently guided Tom away. Gilly bounded beside him. As they left the room, Tom took one last look at his desire still shimmering in the mirror. The further he walked away, the more faded the images became until it was gone completely. Tom sighed.

Though it had been a sad ending to this adventure, the feeling of becoming a new student at Hogwarts felt like the beginning of something new. Newt was outside waiting for them. With tears of joy, Tom embraced him tightly and Newt expressed how proud he was that he was going to go to Hogwarts to learn magic. Everyone else was extremely proud too.

Soon after that small joyful celebration, Tina decided she needed to return home. Jacob decided he would do, afraid of losing his bakery with the time he's been away. Newt reluctantly accepted, believing some space is what they needed to get through what they were feeling.

"I guess this is goodbye. Again," Tina said sadly.

"I hope we see you soon," wished Newt. "I'll write to you. Every week,"

Tina sniffled and nodded. Then she approached Newt and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He blushed. Lorna noticed and smiled.

"Gonna miss you kid," Jacob hugged him tightly.

"I'm gonna miss you," Tom was despondent to see his surrogate uncle go. "We're gonna get through this together." Both had suffered great betrayals and needed comfort more than ever. "We'll write to you every week too,"

"Take care of him Newt," Jacob hugged Newt goodbye. Then he shook hands with Lorna who with generosity gave him a box of delicious wizard trees. Tina decided she would escort Jacob back. Standing in the centre of the courtyard, they gave one final wave to their friends and disappeared out of sight.

Theseus patted his despondent brother's shoulder. Newt side-hugged his upset son; he prayed he would hear from Tina and Jacob soon.

Nagini looked worriedly at Lorna. "What will I do?"

"I'll let you stay in my house," she said. "I know that you are in need of aid and I will give it to you,"

"Thank you," she said gratefully.

"And I'll come and visit you," Tom spoke up. "I promise Nagini," she was touched by the generosity of these sweet people.

"Congratulations Tom," praised Theseus. "Hogwarts will be really lucky to have you as a student,"

"I'm so proud of you son," Newt knelt in front of him again and held his cheeks. "I know that this school will guide you on the path that you are meant to follow,"

"But I know exactly what I want to be. I want to be a Magizoologist. Just like you dad. That is the best job in the world," Tom flew his arms around his father who hugged him back. "I love you dad,"

"I love you too son,"

The smiling Dumbledore led his daughter, Theseus, and Nagini inside, leaving the father and son alone together under the now-visible son, bundled in love and joy. Tom felt true hope and the willingness to live his life. Though he had lost his family and his brother, he had the best dad in the world. And he wouldn't trade anything for the happy life which was beginning to come to light.

And that's Crimes of Grindelwald done. I really hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed typing it. The next chapter will be about him starting school. And, spoiler alert, Tina and Nagini will appear in Secrets of Dumbledore. I really missed them when watching the movie. See you all soon.