Rosier couldn't help but sigh in relief as the cave collapsed in on itself, burying the poor boy and his suitcase of creatures. Her hand reached into her pocket to check that the lamp was still there.

Nothing.

"No!" she hissed, "No, no, no!"

The lamp was gone.

"NOOOOOOO!"

….

"Oh Frank…." Newt sighed in relief, as he lay back against the stone, cold floor, "…I am going to be really sorry to see you go."

During the struggle near the exit, Frank had managed to get free, catching Newt and his case just before they hit the lava, getting them to safety as the cave collapsed.

"Really, really sorry to see you go." As he slowly pushed himself to his feet, he stared up at the blocked off exit, he sighed wearily, "I can't believe this… I wonder why she wanted that lamp- "Out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted his Niffler examining something very closely, "- so badly."

Quickly, he snatched the object from his Niffler's paws, both groaning and laughing at the sight of the lamp in his hand. When he finally managed to calm down, he examined the lamp a little closer. "Huh… there's some writing here." He started to rub it, "Maybe if I- "

When the lamp started to quiver and shake, glowing bright red as fireworks shot out of it, Newt dropped it in alarm, back away from it as Pickett and the Niffler quickly hid in his pockets, with Frank almost leaping in front of Newt to protect him.

In a cloud of red smoke, a fully-grown man was standing in front of them, dressed in a well-fitting suit (without the blazer), leather gloves on his hands, a wand appearing in his hand as he aimed it at a stunned Newt.

"Oh… sorry." The man quickly sheathed the wand, a smile instantly making its way onto his face, "I… thought you were going to be someone else."

Newt could just watch, stunned as the stranger rolled his neck around and stretched out his arms.

"Alright." The man straightened up, giving Newt a warm smile, "Three wishes. All yours."

"W-what?"

"How rude of me…" The man stepped forwards, and held out his hand, "… Albus Dumbledore, at your service."

"Newt… Newt Scamander." A sudden realisation hit him then, "Wait… Albus Dumbledore? As in, the missing teacher? From Hogwarts?"

"You know about Hogwarts?!" Dumbledore beamed.

"How did you end up- "

"- trapped in a lamp? Cursed to be a genie?" Dumbledore shrugged, "It's a long and very nasty story…. Why don't we get straight to the wishes?"

"W-wishes?" This was all getting to be too much for him.

"Three of them… So, muscles? Unlimited power?" He glanced at the Thunderbird, the Niffler and the Bowtruckle that all seemed to be shielding Newt, "Protection for your creatures? All creatures? No wishing for more wishes though… three and that's it. No substitutions, exchanges or refunds."

"…. Any three wishes?"

Ignoring him, Mick leaned forwards. "So, you'll grant me any three wishes I ask for?"

"No… there are a few exceptions." Dumbledore sighed warmly, "I won't kill anyone, I won't make anyone fall in love with another person and I won't raise anyone from the dead. I draw the line there."

Newt was silent for a few moments, before turning his attention up to the blocked-up ceiling. "Well… maybe we can get of here first." He then frowned thoughtfully, "Or… do I have to make it a wish?"

There was a brief moment of silence, before Dumbledore smiled warmly at him, "I think, on this instance, we can forgo the wish…" he gestured at Frank, "… I will clear the way for you."

…

"Abernathy, I have half a mind to fire you right here and now!" The President raged, "If it weren't for all your years of loyal service, I- " She stopped, "From now on, the treatment of every prisoner goes through me, before they're executed!"

"I assure you Madam President, it won't happen again."

Seraphina sniffed in derision, before turning to Percival (who had been glaring at Abernathy the entire time), "Can I trust you to put this all behind you?"

Judging by the look on Percival's face, he wasn't going to be as forgiving.

He wanted until the President had left the room, however.

"Don't feel too pleased with yourself Abernathy…" Percival snarled, "…You'll screw up again, and when you do, I'll be there to watch you crash and burn."

Before Abernathy could reply, Graves stormed away, missing how the other man's face darkened as he cursed under his breath.

"If only you'd gotten that lamp!" he hissed in anger, as his loyal second-in-command moved to his side.

"It was an unfortunate situation…" Rosier admitted, "… I didn't take the creature-lover's Niffler into account."

When Abernathy spun around to growl at her, she simply shrugged, not willing to let herself be cowered. "You'll just have to find another 'diamond in the rough'… unless you want to be Abernathy forever.

'Abernathy' was clearly not happy with this, as he started to pace around the small area, heading into another room before he lost his temper. This continued on for a few moments, until Rosier suddenly had a thought.

"Graves is looking for a spouse, correct? Why doesn't Abernathy put his name forward?"

"What?!"

Rosier shrugged, "I know you've been holding out for… him. But if Abernathy is the only one who puts in a courting request, then Graves's parents may force him to accept. Once you're married, a tragic accident can happen, and you've killed two birds with one stone. Graves is off your back, and you're free for… you know."

"Hmmmm…" Abernathy came to a stop, "… the idea does have it's merits. I knew there was a reason I kept you around. That wonderful, twisted mind of yours."

….

"Here, this should give us a bit of privacy."

Newt glanced around at the oasis that they'd landed in, "Where are we?"

"Egypt. Far enough from Cairo so that no muggles will accidentally stumble upon us." Dumbledore smiled warmly, "Now, about those three wishes?"

Taking a seat on a nearby rock, Newt shrugged, "I don't know… what would you wish for Professor?"

Dumbledore blinked in surprise, turning his face away slightly, before sighing wearily. "Nothing that you can help with Newton."

"What? What is it?"

Dumbledore took a deep breath, "Freedom. I've been a prisoner for far too long now."

"I-I'm sorry. I-I can have a look and-"

"- don't worry about it Newt." Dumbledore gave him a reassuring smile, "Either the one who trapped me has to free me, or someone with a completely pure heart."

"Maybe- maybe I can help you find the one who trapped you? Get them to set you free."

"You would go up against Grindelward?"

"Yes! Yes, I would."

Dumbledore was stunned once again, before a soft smile appeared on his face, "You're a unique man Newt… so, what will the first wish be?"

"Well… there's this man- "

"- Ah, ah, ah." Dumbledore held up a hand, "I won't make anybody fall in love, remember?"

"I know, but maybe if I'm not… me, it might help?"

Dumbledore was silent for a few moments, before taking a seat on a nearby rock. "Tell me about him."

"Director Graves… I think he works at the Ministry. Me and the government don't really get on, so it's not like I can walk in and ask to see him and- "

"- Maybe you don't have to." Dumbledore smiled, "If you wish for it, I can turn you into someone else temporarily?"

Newt thought about it for a few seconds, before his eyes suddenly lit up, and he reached into a side pocket. "Theseus!"

"…. Pardon?"

The younger man pulled a flask out of his pocket, "I always have a little bit of Polyjuice potion with my brother's hair in… just in case of an emergency. I can easily sneak into MACUSA with it."

"That is certainly one way of doing it. Are MACUSA searching for Grindelward?"

Newt nodded eagerly, "Yes, so whilst I'm trying to get on Director Graves's good side, we can also try and help with the Grindelward search to set you free!"

There was a brief moment of silence, before Dumbledore reached a decision in his mind and shot to his feet. "Well…. Let's make it happen then."