The Qilin Twins

Nearly five years passed so quickly that Tom could still remember the first day he stepped foot in Hogwarts. He became one of the best students in his classes and his closest human friends were Ron and Lucille. He made close friends with all the Hufflepuffs who admired him for his love of creatures and his kindness and generosity towards all students and creatures alike. Abraxas Malfoy became his biggest archenemy, particularly at times when the selfish boy would torment his sister and Tom would stand up for her, claiming Lucille more bighearted than he would ever be.

Tom grew stronger in spirit but his heart remained plagued by the awful struggles he had been through since he was a young boy. At first, when he started he was so scared of unleashing his Obscurial. But in a way through all his talks with Dumbledore and Lorna, he began to assume that his unique power only emerged in times of critical danger, not during conflicts with the mean Malfoy and his no-good goons. He shared this secret with Ron and Lucille who to his relief never deemed him dangerous nor sought to share it with anyone else.

Nagini settled in very well at Lorna's house. Nagini told Lorna that she had been infected with a blood case since she was a child, doomed to one day be trapped in the body of a snake. She asked Lorna if she was suffering from a blood curse too. But Lorna simply said that she was born with the ability to transform. She was an animagus, a wizard who could turn into an animal but she had never before encountered an animagus who could turn into a magical animal like her. She didn't know a way how to help Nagini. But she promised her she would do whatever she could to help. And that was enough.

Tom made regular visits to Nagini as he promised. They began to grow very close. And Tom always told Nagini that she was not a freak like selfish people had always said to her, her whole life. And more importantly, she was not alone. She had friends. And that warmed her heart.

One early autumn day in his fifth year, Tom, Ron, and Lucille were chilling out on their favourite sightseeing with an early November snowfall blowing down on them. They wore hats, scarves, and gloves with their house colours. Lucille fed her pet cat Snowy. Ron was writing a letter to his family. And Tom was drawing whilst Bobo chirped on his shoulder. He drew his dad. Then Tina. Then Jacob and Queenie. He then drew his brother whose betrayal he could never recover from.

Lucille shuffled over quietly and saw his drawing. She sighed as she observed his depressed face hanging down at Credence's. She and Ron remembered how Tom had told them all his adventures with his family. For a while afterwards, he never told them about his brother. But eventually, he gave in and they did all they could to give him comfort. Though Ron had become a brother figure to him, Tom he could never replace Credence in his heart. No matter how hurt he felt that he had chosen to follow a dark wizard over him. "You okay?" she asked.

Tom nodded.

"You heard anything from your dad?" asked Ron.

"Lorna said she's going to take me to Hogsmede so I can meet him,"

"That show you have one lucky dad,"

"I don't get why my dad wants me to come with him when I've got school,"

"It's only the weekend," Lucille reminded. "It really doesn't matter that much,"

"I asked him if he could let you two come but Dumbledore insisted no because he was afraid he would get into trouble with your families,"

"I suppose that's fair," said Ron in agreement.

The squawking of a phoenix made them turn their heads up. They looked up to see the firebird descending towards them. Tom's face brightened as it engulfed itself in a ball of golden light, turning into Lorna.

"You never cease to amaze me with that cool trick of yours," said Ron admirably.

"Thank you. Now Tom, are you ready to see your dad?"

Tom nodded and packed his bag. "I'll see you soon guys," he hugged Ron and then Lucille. "I'll let you both know what happens,"

"Take care out there," Lucille beseeched.

"He'll be fine," said Ron encouragingly. "When will he be back, Lorna?"

"By tomorrow. He won't miss any lessons at all. Let's go," Lorna held out her hand and Tom clasped it. "We'll see you both soon," In a flash, they apparated out of sight, appearing in the town of Hogsmede, covered in snow. Tom steadied himself. Even after five years, he was not used to being teleported like that with anyone. Lorna led him through the village till they arrived at a giant pub with three broomsticks hanging above it. Newt awaited them.

"Hi dad," Tom hugged.

"You seem to get bigger every time I see you,"

"I haven't changed that much," complained Tom.

"Have a wonderful time you two," said Lorna. "Before you leave, are you certain you don't want me to come Newt?"

"We'll be careful," he assured. "All we have to do is go and help this creature and then we'll be back soon with a new friend with our creature family,"

"I'm so excited," Tom struggled to contain his enthusiasm. Every time they went on a trip to see a new creature, he sounded like he was the luckiest boy in the entire world. "Tell me what it is dad,"

"You just wait and find out," said Newt. Lorna said goodbye and left the scene before Newt grabbed Tom's hand and flash. They disappeared again.

A night passed since they left Hogsmede and they were now in China. Newt gently rowed them on a wooden boat. Tom sat silently hearing the croaks of toads and the twitching of insect wings and legs. "Dad…" he began "…are you sure I needed to come? I'd hate to slack off school like this,"

"I was not going to let you miss this," Newt said. "Besides, as Dumbledore and I are good friends, he can easily cover for you,"

Tom smiled, thinking of their good friend. Over the years, he had considered Dumbledore to be like an uncle to him. Aside from making friends at Hogwarts and enjoying the education of the magical world, he had become quite close to his teacher much as his father had.

Newt had never been prouder of his son than ever. He was so happy that he was enjoying Hogwarts with loyal friends and a perfect education of magical learning. But his smile dropped when he noticed something was off. "What's wrong Tom?"

A despondent Tom sighed. "I miss Tina and Jacob,"

"I do too," Newt replied sadly.

"I thought they'd at least want to come and visit us," Tom lamented their distant nature. Ever since Queenie had betrayed them and joined Grindelwald, Tina had buried herself in her work at MACUSA wanting to distract herself from grief. Even though she wrote to them, she couldn't bring herself to come and visit them. Meanwhile, Jacob had isolated himself, wanting nothing more to do with the magical world much to their dejection. They wrote to him but he never wrote back. No matter how much it hurt, Tom and Newt both understood what he was going through. It had broken his heart to see the witch he loved to walk through that ring of fire to join the wizard who claimed he could create a world where wizards could marry muggles. No matter how much they wanted them to be together, it was no excuse for her to join the side of a wizard who had massacred a large number of wizards in the world including Tom's birth parents.

"Do you think we'll ever come together again?" Tom asked his dad. "Like before?"

"I don't know," Newt confessed. "Sometimes things in life happen and there's nothing you can do about them. But I have a feeling we may yet see them soon,"

That gave Tom the encouragement he needed. They docked at the shores of a towering hill leading up to a mountain and a series of cliffs with a massive archway at the top. They hiked slowly up taking careful steps. They came to a large plain underneath the mountain archway. There they saw a beautiful deer-like creature with a furry back mane, hooves, tendrils from his cheeks and black beady hairs. It was lying on the ground grunting painfully.

"Beautiful," Tom breathed. "What is that?"

"That is a Qilin," Newt explained. "The purest creature in the world. And by the looks of it, it's about to give birth,"

"Give birth?" Tom repeated.

Before he could ask, Newt paced gently over to the Qilin who was about to give birth. It was lying down panting heavily. Quickly he opened his case and put on some clothes. He then got to work helping the mother deliver. Tom turned away. He was not used to seeing labour like this and therefore did not like to help in delivering baby creatures like his dad. He knew he would have to learn someday.

"All done," his father notified.

Tom turned around as the mother was standing up. He saw what looked like a slime ball behind her hind legs. It suddenly melted revealing a baby version of the creature who had just delivered it. Tears of joy escaped Tom's flushed face as he watched the Qilin mother and her baby nuzzle each other affectionately.

"He is so beautiful," Tom cooed. He couldn't stop crying at the sight. "Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?"

Bobo in his pocket moaned. "Oh, sorry Bobo," he apologised.

"They are the purest creatures in the world," Newt said. "Now time for the tricky part," he opened up his suitcase. As he did, Tom noticed a moving photo of Tina's face attached to the inside. He smiled. Despite her distanced nature, Newt always kept a picture of her inside his case, reminding Tom how much he cared for her. She looked so beautiful with her pretty wavy locks framed around her head. Every glimpse he took at her made Tom think of his mother. As much as he looked up to Lorna like an aunt or a very older sister, a part of him considered Tina a mother. He remembered how very caring she was to him back in Paris.

"Come on," Newt called to the Qilin mother and her baby. "Into the case,'

Suddenly a green blast came out of nowhere and struck the mother.

"No!" Tom cried. She was struck again and she fell dying. Turning around Newt saw three wizards approaching them. Quickly he formed a powerful barrier of magic between them. Tom closed the case as he watched Grindelwald's followers approaching them. He noticed one of them tearing through the magical shields with dark energy. Tom knew that was his brother but he couldn't get a clear glimpse.

"Take the baby!" his father abruptly ordered. "I'll hold them off!"

"I won't leave you!" Tom refused.

"Go!" Newt begged. "Grindelwald cannot get that Qilin!"

Tom refused again but his father facially implored him to run for it. He picked up the baby and sprinted down the forest, taking Bobo his bowtruckle with him. Every step he took felt like a drop. Running down the slope made him nearly stumble and nearly drop the baby.

Newt fought against the wizards and witches. He led them in an opposite direction, hoping he was directing them from his son. But he saw a tall black-haired familiar guy shoot up. He tried to apparate after him but Grindelwald's followers overpowered him. Before he knew it, he was blasted off a clifftop and the next thing he felt was his head and body battered over rock and earth.

Tom struggled to sprint fast through the dense forest. He felt like he was getting nowhere. He feared for his dad. Of a sudden, he heard powerful whoops above his head. He looked up and saw gusts of smoke chasing after him. And faces. The wizards were chasing him. They shot at him trying to grab the baby. With no choice, Tom pulled out his wand and blasted spells at them. He blasted two away but a darker swarm of smoke shot at him. He struck it but the impact made him blast backwards over a cliff. He felt himself splash into a pond of cold water on the lower cliffs.

Quickly Tom swam himself up to the surface, scooping the baby into his hands. Just as he climbed out and was about to make a run for it, he heard a loud familiar voice.

"Stop! I'll take that!"

Knowing better than to run, Tom turned around slowly, clutching the baby protectively. He turned and saw his adoptive brother Credence on the other side of the pool. He had grown his hair to his shoulders and he wore black and carried a wand. He approached him slowly but dangerously.

"You've grown," he said, looking at Tom who was no longer the young boy he left behind in Paris, half a decade ago.

"So have you," Tom never imagined he would see Credence again. Not like this and with a wand. "I've never imagined I'd see you like this,"

"Give me that creature," he ordered.

"Credence, please," Tom begged. "If Grindelwald gets that Qilin, he'll kill it. He'll use it to harm the world,"

"What has the world ever done for me?" Credence growled and pointed his wand at him.

"Brother, please. You're better than this. This is not who you are," For the past five years, Tom couldn't rid himself of the pain he felt when his brother left and walked through the flames of loyalty to Grindelwald. But a part of him also felt determined to bring Credence back to the good side.

"I know who I am,"

"Whatever Grindelwald has told you; it's all lies!" Credence wasn't moved by Tom's words much to his anguish. "Please don't make me fight you. We are brothers. Doesn't that matter to you?" Credence fired a spell at him. Tom blocked it. The boys engaged in combat. To Tom's surprise, Credence didn't shoot a single burst of dark Obscurial energy at him. He theorised Grindelwald had ordered him to save that dark power for a more important target.

Tom proved to be more intelligent in combat. He blocked Credence's strikes before blasting him 'Bombarda' and 'Stupefy'. He knocked his brother down into the pool. He seemed too stunned to fight back. Tom came slowly towards him. "The people who saved me have protected me for years. And they will for you too if you come with me back home," he offered a hand. Suddenly Credence shot a blast of dark energy right at him. And then the next thing Tom knew was the Qilin slipping out of his hands as he was thrown back. He felt his back slam against some flat rocks. His entire body was stunned, rendering him useless. He collapsed into the water. With a blurry vision, he watched as Credence grabbed the Qilin baby by its neck and shoved it into the sack. He then started walking away from him. Tom tried to reach a hand up and shout out, but exhaustion weighed him down. His vision became darker.

Newt felt pain coursing through his entire body. He couldn't move. He felt blood over his hands and face. He prayed that Tom was alive. And safe. His vision was so blurry he couldn't make out where he was. He felt like he would fall asleep and possibly never wake up again. He heard nothing. He felt his heartbeat decelerate. Gentle footsteps approached him. With his wounded head tilted left, he saw a tall figure approach him, too tall to be Tom. He saw long dark hair, a powerful face, and a pair of glowing turquoise eyes. It towered over him. It looked neither evil nor good. He gave into the dark and closed his eyes.

After what felt like hours, Tom managed to move a bit. As he opened his eyes, he could see that the sky above his head had turned brighter. Picking up his wand and leaning against some rocks, he managed to climb back into the forest. He made his way up through the forest. He struggled to find his father. He headed back to the spot where the Qilin mother lay dying. His father wasn't there.

Tom fell to his knees and pressed his wet face against the mother. "I'm so sorry. I let him take your baby," He closed his eyes, feeling deep disappointment within himself. He felt he had acted naively, carelessly. Maybe his brother couldn't be saved. As he cried over his failure, he heard a baby crooning. Turning his head down, he saw a sight which made his heart lift. The baby Qilin was struggling to walk a little. He held out his hands and it walked towards him, looking into his eyes with golden irises. "Twins," he sniffled. "You had twins," The beautiful creature of purity imprinted on him. It fell asleep in his warm arms. He held it over to the mother so she could see it. A tear escaped her eye. And then it closed slowly. It was gone. Allowing one last tear to fall down his face before he gazed apologetically at the baby. "I'm so sorry,"

The Qilin purred and nuzzled his chest. Tom gave its mother one last stroke. Then he wobbled onto both legs and wandered through the forest searching for his father. "Dad! Dad! Dad!"

There was no sign of him.

"Dad!" he cried out. "Where are you?" his voice dropped. Still, no answer came. He fell to his knees and cried into the ground. His tears rained into the soil.

"Tom!" the sound of his father echoed through his ears. He raised his head in shock as if something electric had powered him up. "Tom!"

Tom stood on his feet and follow the source of his father's voice through the forest. He came to a cliff just above the river and just behind the trees, he saw his father, bruised, and battered but alive. He smiled in tears.

"Dad! "He rushed forward to his father, falling to his knees. He embraced him. Newt's worn-out arms hugged him back. "I'm sorry dad," Tom sobbed. "I failed you. I let him take the Qilin,"

"It's not your fault my boy," Newt could never be disappointed in him.

"I was so scared I lost you,"

"I'm all right," Newt promised.

Tom sniffled as he pulled back. "The mother had twins," he lifted the baby Qulin to his father. It cooed and Newt raised a weak hand so he could stroke its furry face.

"Well done," Newt said proudly. "Well done,"

Tom sniffled again, managing to hold up a smile.

"As long as he doesn't know about it, there's still a chance," Newt was filled with hope.

Tom turned and opened the case. He did two long whistles. Teddy popped out. Then a little creature looked like a duck with a very long tail. "Take us home," he ordered.

The Wyvern quacked 'yes'. It flapped its wings and as it floated above their heads, it suddenly inflated itself with air, looking like a balloon. It swelled up before it dropped its long tail towards its owners. The tail coiled around Newt and Tom's bodies before carrying them into the sky with the Qilin and the case, high above the forest where the Qilin mother, who would never know her babies, would lie in death forever.

The Wyvern deflated and it now looked like a mix between a flying dinosaur and a duck with a long tail. It carried them across the sky. Tom cradled the Qilin twin protectively. He was not going to let it fall into the dark wizard's hands. The baby nuzzled his cheeks. Already it had grown a powerful bond with the young wizard. Tom knew in his heart that this was only the beginning of a great battle to come.

The stranger observed the creature carrying the wizard whom he had saved and his son high into the clouds. He narrowed his glowing eyes. Then in a flash, he turned into a small dragon and flew into the sky, hiding in the clouds so he would follow the Wyvern from a far distance.

I hope you all enjoyed that chapter. Who is this stranger that healed Newt and why he is following them? We'll have to wait and find out. Look forward to seeing you all soon.