Upon her arrival, Madame President immediately brought her to the investigative team working on the case.
It was tedious to say the least.
They were a handful of American witches and wizards who made it obvious the foreigner was not welcome. Her theories and plans were shot down as soon as she opened her mouth. Paperwork was tilted subtly in such a way that she couldn't see it. She had to heave a sigh at the pettiness of it all.
She had long since discarded her coat and bag to a chair in the corner, her wand was twisted up in her hair to keep it out of the way. She was bent at the waist over what small amount of information she was able to wrangle. Her ink stained fingers tapped the hard, wooden table.
The evidence- what little she had to work with- was clear as day. If you knew what to look for. Unfortunately, these investigators did not. They were scared. They were trying to find ways to connect this to Grindelwald. She could understand the connections they were making, but it was all wrong. Their single solution mindset was blinding them from finding the real answer.
She looked at the photos again. The dismantled building from that morning had distinctive cross hatch marks all over the bricks. Eye witness accounts claim it was "black smoke" that had "white eyes." It was so obvious. Professor Dumbledore was right. This is an obscurus. Hermione's heart broke, but she wouldn't let those emotions keep her from helping this kid. She'll find them and save them. She doesn't care how large the city is, she'll comb through every bit and get them help. Before it's too late.
Despite her exasperation with the rest of the team shooting down her theories about this being a beast, she doesn't think she actually wants them to know it's an obscurus. These wizards would end up getting the child killed in their attempts to "help." One man did agree with her. Percival Graves. Director of Magical Security and head of MACUSA's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He would back up her theories with his personal accounts. She was grateful for his attempts, but it didn't do much.
Hermione sighed and stretched out her back. A look at her watch showed she'd only been there two hours. It was growing later in the afternoon there in New York. The time difference from London made that day drag out. She was coming to the realization that she'd have to do this alone if she wanted it done correctly. There was no way she was taking this team of wand happy investigators to help a scared little kid. Perhaps Graves might be willing to be of assistance.
Madame Picquery flew into the room with a presence that demanded attention and respect. Hermione could certainly admire that in this woman. She was calm, her posture and facial expressions giving away nothing.
"I want this taken care of as soon as possible." She met each of our eyes. "What information have you gathered?"
Each of them described possible theories. Each one vaguer than the last involving a "dark wizard" with "great power".
Hermione was able to say her piece, but was quickly shot down once more.
"The International Confederation is threatening to send a delegation." Her eyes flicked to Hermione. "They think this is related to Grindelwald's attacks in Europe." Madame Picquery said.
"I was there. Lawson is correct, this is a beast. No human could do what this thing is capable of, Madame President." Graves chimed in.
"Whatever it is, one thing's clear, it must be stopped." She looked up at us. "It's terrorizing No-Majs and when No-Majs are afraid, they attack. This could mean exposure. It could mean war."
Hermione couldn't help but agree. She continued to look over the evidence trying to find something more substantial than pictures of bricks to convince these people.
"I made your position here quite clear, Miss Goldstein." Picquery's voice intoned.
Hermione looked up noting that everyone's attention was on the newcomers. A thin woman with short, dark hair and a tall man with messy auburn tresses.
"Yes, Madam President, but I-" The woman- Miss Goldstein- began.
"You are no longer an Auror."
"No, Madam President, but-"
"Goldstein."
"There's been a minor incident…" The woman trailed off sounding unsure.
"Well, this office is currently concerned with very major incidents. Get out."
"Yes, ma'am." The woman looked perfectly chastised as she walked away.
Hermione had to admire Madame Picquery's composure. She didn't allow an ounce of the irritation she was sure to be feeling leak out and let her words speak for themselves. Hermione had been in that sort of position before as head of her department and couldn't say she handled it as well.
Putting the interruption out of her mind she got back to work. Even though it was quickly becoming an annoyance. She itched to go into the city. Find the kid. Help them.
Percival Graves had left some time ago, Hermione didn't pay it any mind. The rest of the team was getting just as restless as she was.
"Madame President," She began. "I have a viable theory that should be backed up with field evidence." She was pulling all of this out of nowhere, of course. "With all due respect, I fall under the British Ministry and have permission to operate as I see fit."
Madame Picquery's eyebrow twitched and her lips pursed ever so slightly. "Be that as it may, this is still my country."
"Which is why I'm asking your permission."
She had just opened her mouth to respond when a man came running in. He and the president had a quick, hushed conversation. As fast as the man came in, he left.
Madame Picquery turned back to face the investigation team.
"There has been another instance of a muggle building crumbling."
Some of the investigators whispered to each other. Hermione heard the words "dark magic" and internally scoffed.
"Miss Lawson," She began. "Consider your request granted. The rest of you, find a solution."
Hermione had to give it to her. She definitely knew how to diplomatically deal with people she didn't care for.
She turned around and went to grab her stuff. She threw on her coat, released her wand from her hair and put the bag over her shoulder. She walked out of the Major Investigative Department with her head held high despite not knowing where she was going. She'll figure it out.
New York was not dissimilar to London with the scent of industrialization in the air, overcast grey clouds, and a wet cold that seeped into your bones. Hermione would never say that out loud though. She wrapped her thick coat tighter around her small frame and turned the collar up.
Getting out of MACUSA was slightly more difficult than she expected. She got turned around twice. She didn't know what it was about Ministries and confusing layouts. Finding the dismantled building was easier. She just had to follow the sound of sirens and look for the crowd of people. Finding a billywig flying about was unexpected.
Quickly, she reached her hand up curling around its form and avoiding the stinger. She sent a light stunner at it and it relaxed in her hand. She dug around in her beaded bag for a small jar and used her wand to quickly outfit it with a suitable environment. Carefully, she slid the billywig from her palm into the jar and put the lid on.
She held it up for a moment taking a closer look. These creatures were native to Australia, so what was it doing here? She put the jar in her bag making sure it won't be jostled. She'll figure that one out another time. There were more important things taking precedence at the moment.
The crowd around the building was frantically explaining that it was a gas explosion. Their expressions were slightly glazed. Another wizard must have already taken care of witnesses. Bugger.
She was walking up to get a closer look at the destroyed brick on the outside of the building when it started to float up and back to its original place. They were repairing the evidence. Great.
Hermione pinched the bridge of her nose, took a deep breath, and calmly walked inside the building. They were probably unseasoned aurors that didn't yet know not to mess with evidence. Even though it is covered thoroughly in auror training. She took the stairs two at a time hoping she won't let her temper get the better of her.
She heard voices coming from the room and stepped quieter.
"It might be." A man said.
"Then look for it! Look!" The woman said frantically.
There was a groan and Hermione craned her neck to see through the crack in the door.
"His neck's bleeding, he's hurt!" The woman said, worried.
A sudden shout and slight growling had Hermione throwing open the door wand in hand. A pale creature with willowy quills on its back was attached to the woman's arm. It was quickly tossed to the man who was able to put it in his beaten case.
"Was that a murtlap?" Hermione asks, confused frown marring her features as she takes in the scene.
It was the same pair that interrupted the investigation team earlier. The ex-auror and the minor incident. They were looking at her, stunned. A man was on the ground in the corner groaning, a sheen of sweat on his skin and a wound on his neck.
"Oh dear, has he been bitten?" Hermione asked as she walked over to the poor man, putting her wand away. With a reaction like that to a murtlap bite, she'd say he was a muggle. She was reaching into her bag for a poultice when he suddenly sprang to life.
"You!" He exclaimed pointing at the man in the blue coat.
"Hello." The man said simply.
"Easy, Mr.-" The woman said as she made her way over to him.
"Kowalski, Jacob." They shook hands and the other man took out his wand.
Mr. Kowalski recoiled immediately, trying to get away from the wand. Hermione paused her rummaging through her bag and looked up watching the others.
"You can't obliviate him!" The woman exclaims, sensing his intentions. "We need him as a witness."
"I'm sorry, you've just yelled at me the length of New York for not doing it in the first place." The man said exasperated.
"He's hurt! He looks ill!"
"He has been affected by a magical creature and can't be obliviated until after the effects have passed." Hermione explained, she turned to the woman. "Mr. Kowalski will be fine, murtlap bites are not fatal. In fact they're quite common."
"She is correct. Murtlap bites aren't serious. I admit that is a slightly more severe reaction than I've seen, but if it was really serious, he'd have..." The man trailed off.
"What?"
"Well, the first symptom would be flames out of his anus." He said, somewhat reluctantly.
Mr. Kowalski looked terrified and the woman looked horrified. Hermione frowned in sympathy.
"It'll last forty-eight hours at most!" The man assured. "I can keep him if you want me to."
"Oh, keep him?" The woman asked incredulously. "We don't keep them! Mr. Scamander, do you know anything about the wizarding community in America?"
Hermione stilled. Scamander?
"I do know a few things, actually." He began. "I know you have rather backwards laws about relations with non-magic people. That you're not meant to befriend them, that you can't marry them, which seems mildly absurd to me."
"Really? You're not allowed to interact with them?" Hermione asked frowning. She couldn't believe how backwards the wizarding world can be sometimes.
She looked to the tall man in the blue coat. Scamander?
"Who's going to marry him?"
That was a bit uncalled for in Hermione's opinion. She opened her mouth to defend the muggle, but the woman continued.
"You're both coming with me." She turned to Hermione. "And you? Who are you?"
"Usually one introduces themselves before demanding the identity of the other." Hermione said taken aback.
The woman sighed, impatient. "Tina Goldstein. I'm with MACUSA."
Hermione looked her over. Gone was the subordinate posture from when she was in front of her President, in her place stood someone confident but desperate.
"Auror Hermione Lawson. I'm with the British international investigation team." She pulled out her badge that was so conveniently made for her yesterday.
Hermione saw the man shuffle a bit out of the corner of her eye.
"I didn't know the British were involved." Miss Goldstein said warily.
"It's just me, I assure you." Hermione gave a quick smile and turned to the man next to them. He wouldn't fully meet her eyes.
"N-Newt Scamander. Pleasure to meet you're acquaintance, Miss Lawson." He nodded at her. "And I don't see why I need to come with you." He said turning toward Miss Goldstein.
Newt Scamander. Newt Scamander. Newt Scamander who – she assumes - is currently in the middle of an unexpected extended stay in New York in 1926 where he is the first person to capture Gellert Grindelwald. After the success of her book about Albus Dumbledore, Rita Skeeter decided to write a "tell all" about Newt Scamander and his role in the conflict with Grindelwald. Which caused Newt Scamander to correct her lies and confide other information.
Hermione was angry. That manipulative old man! Although in this time period, Dumbledore isn't really old. Still! He knew Grindelwald would be here and he knew she wouldn't hesitate to help a scared kid in need. She trusted him. And he used her the same way the ministry wants to use her, and the way Margaret and Edwin want to use her.
Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and a nauseating turn in her stomach.
Hermione did not appreciate being side-along apperated without her permission. And she let it be known. Extensively.
Newt thought it was amusing, Jacob seemed a bit terrified, and Tina was getting aggravated.
Hermione took a deep breath letting the chilled, winter air fill her lungs. She fingered the buttons on her coat. Between her snide comments about apperation etiquette, Hermione learned that Newt Scamander had a case full of creatures and some of them had got out. She allowed herself two minutes to be impressed, jealous, and angry at herself for not thinking of having her own case of magical creatures before. Then she let worry and urgency take over. There's no telling what would happen to those poor things if they're not found.
Which was why she didn't really understand what they were doing. They were heading to Miss Goldstein's apartment, that much was clear, but the creatures are still out there. She knew Newt shared her thoughts because he kept looking around and fidgeting.
Although fidgeting might just be normal for him. Who knew Newt Scamander was so awkward? Not that she really has a leg to stand on with her rather abrasive personality and her own restlessness. Although her fidgeting was something entirely different.
Hermione had a thought to leave the group at first. But her worry over the creatures and the obscurus won out over her indignation at being coerced into fighting Grindelwald. If there was anyone she thought would be able to aid her in helping the obscurus, it would be Newt Scamander. And she wants to help him get his creatures back.
They arrived at the apartment and Hermione looked around in wonder. Magical households will never get old to her. Introductions were made and Hermione found Queenie's bubbly spirit refreshing. Newt kept looking toward the windows and doors, seemingly trapped. Tina walked around putting away things.
"You need to sit down, honey." Queenie steered Jacob to the couch where he landed heavily, still sweating.
"Hey, he hasn't eaten all day. That's rough, he didn't get the money he wanted for his bakery. You bake, honey? I love to cook." Queenie spoke having a one-sided conversation.
Strange. But Hermione has seen stranger. She thinks of Luna and her gentle, odd wisdom and otherworldly mannerisms.
"You're a legilimens?" Newt turns, interested.
"Uh-huh, yeah. But I always have trouble with your kind. Brits. It's the accent." Queenie looks between Newt and Hermione.
Hermione panics. She throws up what meager occlumency shields she has. She was always rubbish at occlumency, she could read the text on how it works but could never quite get it right in practice. She's cursing it now. She has sensitive information that should be kept secret.
Her mental tirade pauses. If time is a loop, then this has already happened. It doesn't matter what Queenie sees in her mind because everything will work out anyway. Tentatively, she relaxes. She just won't think too hard about major events and dates around her.
"Hey, Mr. Scamander, Miss Lawson, you prefer pie or strudel?" She asks.
"I don't really have a preference." Newt says looking away from the door he was inching toward.
"Either is fine." Hermione gave a polite smile and fiddled with the sleeve of her coat.
Queenie turned to Jacob who was already sitting at the table. "You prefer strudel, huh, honey? Strudel it is."
They all watch as Queenie magically wraps and bakes the pastry. It reminded Hermione of the times she would watch Mrs. Weasley cook. She felt a pang knowing she won't see them for a long time.
Well, sit down, you two." Tina says looking between Newt and Hermione. "We're not going to poison you."
Dinner was a strange affair.
Queenie and Jacob got along famously. Their flirting was as cute as it was sickening. Hermione didn't really have an appetite to begin with. Newt avoided all eye contact and Tina kept glancing at him suspiciously.
Hermione didn't try to talk. Not that she could get a word in between Queenie and Jacob. She mostly sat there fiddling with her utensils and shifting in her seat.
It was a relief when Newt called an end to dinner and Tina showed them where they'd be sleeping. The men were put in a guest room and Hermione was shown to a cot in the sisters' room. She was thankful they were kind enough to let her stay. Her handlers never told her where they made arrangements for her. If they did at all. They were probably hoping she'd be gone by the end of the day.
The sisters decided to make hot cocoa and after receiving her cup and letting the drink warm her and soothe her worries, she told them she was going to freshen up a bit.
She walked into the tiny bathroom and took her coat off, storing it in her leather bag. She pulled her blouse out of the way and checked her bite wound in the mirror over the sink. Prodding only gave the slightest twinge. She cleaned it and smothered more murtlap essence on it. She ran her fingers through her messy curls feeling them catch on knots. It was a miracle, but she found a hair tie in the depths of her bag and messily threw her hair up in a bun out of the way.
She liked the Goldstein sisters. Queenie had such a likable personality. Tina reminded Hermione of her younger self. So quick to believe in authority. She didn't want to disrespect the Goldstein's hospitality, but she was on a mission. With a heavy sigh she decided that her mission was more important. She was going to leave when she could.
She was walking down the hallway and paused when she heard a thump come from the guest room. She heard it again and walked over to the door laying her ear against it. She reached for the door handle and heard it again, louder.
She opened the door just in time to see Jacob fall into Newt's case which quickly latched itself up.
She paused for a short moment. She's seen weirder things. She looked over her shoulder to see if Queenie or Tina heard anything and were about to come running. She looked back to the case biting her lip and flexing her fingers.
She could afford a detour.
Quickly, she closed the door behind her and quietly made her way to the case. She knelt down and laid it on the floor. The latches popped when she moved her thumbs, and she slowly opened the lid.
She looked over her shoulder once more and looked down into the case.
"Come on, Alice, we're all mad down here." She mumbled stepping down.