A/N So, based on a rewatch of CoG, I'm not convinced that Newt's flat actually has an upstairs, given the bed in the sitting room… but as I've already ignored a few things from the end of the movie, I'm just going to pretend that it does. A lot of us ff writers have taken this liberty and darn it, I have people needing beds!
Losing in London
It was nearing midnight by the time the group reached Newt's home in London. While waiting for Queenie to finish assisting the interrogation of the two acolytes they'd captured that morning, Newt had convinced Theseus to stay at his flat for the night instead of returning to the house he'd shared with Leta. Newt's flat had never been this full—he was going to have to transfigure his kitchen table larger to fit them all—but Queenie had tipped him off about his brother's mental state and Newt knew that it was what his brother needed. As a result, the girls would be sharing Newt's bedroom. Jacob and Theseus were sharing the room that was meant to be Newt's study, but which stood unused because the magizoologist's work remained in the basement menagerie.
Newt himself had chosen to sleep with his creatures. He'd missed them while away and the feeling was mutual if the cacophony of grunts, whistles and roars that greeted him when he entered was any indication. He was pleased to find his creatures in good health; Bunty had clearly done an excellent job in his absence, though he noted that the kelpie's wound had regressed and felt a pang of guilt, briefly hoping that his assistant still had all 10 fingers. Newt returned the nifflers to their home and fed Cerberus. He'd move the zhouwu from the case in the morning, once he'd set up a new habitat for the big cat when tiredness wasn't nipping at his mind.
Satisfied that all was well with his beasts, Newt returned upstairs and found Jacob seated at the kitchen table while Tina and Queenie moved awkwardly around the kitchen, clearly out of their usual habitat.
"All settled honey?" Queenie asked. Newt nodded. He'd told them to behave as if this was already their home—and it would be for the next while—but Newt still found it strange to have others preparing food in his kitchen. Strange, Newt thought as he watched his kettle float from the stove to Tina's waiting hand, but also good.
"Have a seat. Your brother's gone up to bed already, but Teen and me are fixing something to eat," Queenie flicked her wand and the chair nearest Newt slid out. He settled into it with a sigh. Without a word, Tina turned from the kitchen counter and placed a steaming cup of tea before him on the table. She cast him a small smile before returning to the counter.
"Thank you," Newt said. He took a careful sip of the hot liquid and sighed. Just as he liked it. How on earth did she know? he wondered.
At the counter, Queenie giggled. "Aurors notice things," she said, winking at him over her shoulder. Beside her Tina frowned and raised an eyebrow at her sister.
"What are you making?" Newt asked, leaning slightly to see what they were doing.
"Just sandwiches," Tina said.
"There ain't much in the cupboards, but Jacob brought a loaf from the Paris house and Teen and me are good at making something outta not much," Queenie said proudly. She cast a smile at Tina, who returned it, then shot a glance over her shoulder at Newt with a small frown. Beside her, Queenie tutted, "Don't be silly Teenie. Newt would never think that."
"Don't read my mind," Tina muttered half-heartedly. It'd become an automatic response to Queenie's inadvertent reads, even though both knew that nothing would change.
"Excuse me, but what would I never think?" Newt asked. He paused with his tea cup half way to his mouth. Tina cast a warning look at Queenie, who shrugged back at her. Tina huffed a sigh and turned to face Newt and Jacob.
"It's nothing. I just thought, well, things were tough for us for a while before Queenie found work at MACUSA. Everything we inherited from our parents was kept in a trust until I was 25 and as orphans, we didn't have a lot. It was…well, it made us stronger. Adaptable–"
"Good at makin' sandwiches," Queenie grinned and a plate piled high with warm toasted sandwiches floated to the table and she sat down beside Jacob.
"And that," Tina conceded. "I– I just didn't want you to think less of m—us, knowing where we came from." Tina flicked her wand and four plates flew from the counter to the table. She followed them, settling across from Queenie and studiously avoided Newt's gaze.
"I assure you, Tina, that's not the case at all," Newt said. "Queenie is right. I would never think less of you."
"Yeah," Jacob added, "You two are the best thing that's ever happened to us lucky schmos!"
"Dig in honey," Queenie gestured to the plate of sandwiches. "There's corned beef and mustard on that side and Teen's favourite PB an' A over here. We made some with jam too. Oh, wasn't it just the berries to have jam again after the war?"
"Oh yeah! What's a donut without jam?" Jacob agreed, helping himself to a sandwich from the corned beef side of the plate. Beside him, Newt reached for peanut butter and was surprised to find a pale-yellow slice of something that we definitely not jam between the peanut butter and warm bread.
"What is this?" he asked, turning his sandwich for the others to see.
"Apple, silly!" Queenie explained, "PB and A! When we was kids, Tina hated apples, but we got loads o' them from our neighbour's uncle's orchard. She'd only eat 'em with peanut butter, so our Pa used to make her peanut butter and apple sandwiches to get her to eat something wholesome. Now it's her favourite!"
Beside her, Tina shrugged and Jacob chuckled. "I was the same with carrots. Hated the damn things. My grandma had to chop 'em real small and hide 'em in lasagne," he said with a reminiscent smile.
When Queenie responded with a story about porridge at Ilvermorny, Newt gave a contented sigh and took another sip of his tea, feeling some of his strength returning. He cast a grateful smile at Tina, who winked in response and took a sip from her own cup. Beside her, Jacob and Queenie were oblivious, deep in conversation about the foods they loved growing up while Newt and Tina sat silent, both content to listen and eat. In some ways, it was so much like their first night together and yet, also completely different. This night bore the weight of shared experience—of camaraderie and new love—and a shared lightness that they all felt at finally having a 'normal' conversation after a stressful day. It was a moment of peace in the maelstrom.
After a few minutes, the conversation turned to Jacob and Newt's journey to Paris. Queenie was rapt, her heart with bubbling with a contented mix of tiredness and joy—both hers and that of her companions, which seeped into her mind as she relaxed. As they listened to Jacob's account of their covert departure from England, she felt his hand grasp hers under the table. She gave it an affectionate squeeze and their eyes met for a brief moment of shared knowing before Jacob's gaze went back to Newt and Tina as he continued.
Queenie followed his eyes. Across the table from her, Newt wore a small smile, his eyes on his teacup as he chewed slowly and listened. He occasionally glanced over at Tina to gauge her reaction to details or nodded his head in agreement with Jacob, but largely remained quiet. Queenie felt relief from the magizoologist opposite her; he was happy, and glad to be home.
Beside him, Tina took small bites of her sandwich, listening to the tale with one ear, while the rest of her mind circled the fact that Newt's decision to defy his travel ban and sneak over the Channel to Paris was made because of her. Underneath the weariness that had settled over her sister as the day wore on, Queenie felt a growing excitement—the tentative hope and anticipation of new love. She herself knew it well, having spent the first few weeks of her relationship with Jacob practically swimming in the possibilities her mind conjured for their future.
Her mind returned to his. While Newt's thoughts had an earthiness about them and Tina's were changeable as the sea, Jacob's mind was steady and felt like home: like his voice, it bore the faint smokiness of a wood fire and the sweetness of honey and melted butter on warm bread. Queenie could listen to Jacob for hours and allowed herself to be drawn back to his mind as Newt took over narrating the story. She was enjoying Jacob's photographic memory of Newt's tracking charm in the square when her mind snagged on other thoughts nearby…loud, fierce and filled with malice, Queenie couldn't make out the words, but there were undercut by the sense of decaying–
"Roses…" Queenie said suddenly, her brow creased.
"Queenie?" Tina asked, "What's–"
Queenie's eyes snapped up in panic. "Rosier! She's here!" She seized Jacob's hand and pulled him to his feet, dragging him towards the basement door. "You have to hide!" As she drew him down the stairs, she reached out with her mind and hit the obsidian wall of Grindelwald's conscious. Ice ran down her spine. How had he found them?!
Back in the kitchen, Newt and Tina were on their feet immediately. He pulled his wand and spun towards the stairs to wake Theseus. Behind him, Tina gasped and he turned only to find her standing motionless beside the table.
"Newt! I can't move!" she cried, her eyes filled with horror, frozen in place, wand in hand. Still in place over her heart, Tina's locket glowed a menacing orange and Newt felt his heart sink. Of course. Of bloody course they'd curse the thing she loved most.
Behind Tina, the front door flew open and Newt immediately flung a series of hexes that were rapidly deflected by Grindelwald, who strode in as if the house were his own. Newt held his own until Grindelwald reached to the side with his hand and the kettle of boiled water flung itself at Newt. He ducked and, in that moment, was knocked back against the counter. Winded, he rose to find Grindelwald's wand fixed on him. Beside him, Rosier stood with her wand raised, its tip glowing the same shade of orange as Tina's pendant. The Goldsteins' former boss—Abenathy, was it?—brought up the rear.
"Here we are again, Newton," Grindelwald said with a glint of anticipation in his mismatched eyes.
"Not breaking our windows this time then?" Newt bit out, glaring at the intruders.
"No reason to kick up a fuss," The dark wizard shrugged. "I'm simply here to offer you one final opportunity to return what is mine. I must say, I thought that when my friends called in to your home in Paris this morning, we'd lost our last opportunity. But then you left the house empty and unguarded all day. Even when dear Ms Rosier told me she'd enchanted Ms Goldstein's locket with both a tracking and an immobilisation charm, I thought the extra weight would give away the game." His eyes roamed over Tina, who glared, still stuck in place. "I admit: I expected more from an Auror of your calibre, but then I suppose some of your kind do toss caution to the wind when sentimentality is involved. Did you even check it before you put it on?"
Across the table from Newt, Tina vibrated with rage, but in her frozen state she did and said nothing. It was a foolish mistake and she hated herself for it. Grindelwald was right. She hadn't even paused to consider why, when so many of their things had been wrecked, her locket had been left whole. This was her fault. She'd led them right here—to Queenie, to Newt's home—to Newt's creatures! Had she been able to move, Tina would have slumped with grief. Instead, she remained frozen under Rosier's spell.
Grindelwald turned back to Newt. "So, Mr Scamander, the only person missing from our tête-à-tête is dear Queenie. Tell me, where is she? Her poor judgement has been such an inconvenience."
Newt said nothing, mentally screaming at Queenie to stay hidden in the basement. He forced his eyes to stay focused on the floor and not dart towards the basement door behind his left shoulder.
Grindelwald sighed and gestured to Tina with his wand, "Have you not learned anything from yesterday, Mr Scamander? I can kill her with a thought. I can make you both scream until you beg to do my will. Fortunately for you, I value wizarding blood, even that of a half-breed. I am not a monster. So, I put it to you: return my vial or truly, I will have no choice but to kill you all, starting with Ms Goldstein here."
"I don't have it," Newt declared. "And you will never find it."
Ignoring his words, Grindelwald frowned. "Yes, I expected as much from you. Too much time spent with Dumbledore, no doubt. Unlike you, I have learned from our last encounter. Although it pleases us, Ms Goldstein's pain has not proved useful in motivating you. So, perhaps something different this time?" He raised is wand at Tina, "Imperio."
Newt's eyes darted to Tina, who didn't move. She glared at the dark wizard, gritting her teeth and downstairs, Queenie sensed the crashing of waves of sea water against solid obsidian. Grindelwald was pressing down on her sister's mind, but it was strong, moulded by her Auror training, and Queenie felt a spark of hope.
Grindelwald frowned and then raised an eyebrow at Tina in surprise. "No?" he asked.
"No," she spat out, defiant.
"MACUSA trains 'em to throw off the Imperius curse, sir," Abenathy explained. Tina's eyes darted at him and narrowed. Traitor!
"Well, I suppose we should expect nothing less," Grindelwald sighed. He cocked his head to the side, "I will not be denied. Perhaps a little push?" He turned to Rosier, who gave a wicked smile and stepped forward.
"Did you receive my message?" she asked Tina. "Your treatment of me at your home in Paris was appalling. No way to repay the kindness I showed your sister—or Monsieur Grindelwald's mercy in le jardin."
"Really? After you manipulated my sister and attacked my—Newt," Tina broke off, not sure what exactly he was to her. "I'm only disappointed I didn't leave a permanent mark," Tina finished with venom and steel in her voice. "Must have sacred you if you think you have to do this," She cast her eyes down at the locket holding her in place and Newt was suddenly transported back to the previous morning and the other Tina, the bloody-faced witch who'd mercilessly blasted the French woman into the ceiling for hurting him. She stood before him again now and he blinked at her, simultaneously delighted and horrified that she had the gall to challenge the acolyte when she was at her mercy.
"Filthy dégénéré…Crucio!" Rosier's face twisted into a cruel smile as Tina fell to her knees. The orange glow of the necklace faded, releasing her, but Tina had no control of her body, which shrieked with agony, muscles spasming. Her breath came out in pants, but she clenched her teeth and refused to scream, determined not to make Rosier's threat a reality.
With an approving smile, Grindelwald raised his wand, "Let's try again, shall we?"
"No!" Newt cried. Stupefy! He flung the spell at Grindelwald but jumped back with a yelp when a hex from Abenathy hit the floor at his feet. The spell went wild, roasting a lamp shade on the coffee table. Beside it, the American leered at Newt, daring him to try again, outnumbered as he was.
In the other side of the table, Grindelwald chuckled, turned his attention back to Tina, "Imperio."
Tina's body froze, her will no longer her own. Sensing success, Rosier reluctantly lowered her wand and moved back to stand behind Grindelwald. As she passed, the dark wizard gave her a nod of approval, "Merci amour."
Newt watched in horror as Tina now rose shakily to her feet, panting, and crossed the distance to stand before Grindelwald.
"Tina?" Newt called, hoping that it hadn't worked—that she was pretending to catch Grindelwald off guard. She ignored him and looked up at the dark wizard.
Grindelwald took her free hand and ran his wand along her palm, materialising a dagger the length of her forearm. He closed her fingers around its hilt and nodded at her. Tina turned to face Newt, the weapon raised.
"If you will not tell me where you've hidden my vial, tell me: where is the other Miss Goldstein?" Grindelwald turned his attention back to Newt and Tina took a step forward.
"Tina won't hurt me," Newt said with certainty. "It doesn't matter what you've done to her, she wouldn't. No even under the Imperius curse; she's stronger than that." His eyes met Tina's and although her gaze was distant, she paused and the arm holding the dagger began to tremble slightly.
Abenathy let loose a snort and Grindelwald frowned at Newt, "My dear boy, who said anything about harming you?"
"What? … No!" The horror of realisation burst across Newt's face as Tina plunged the dagger down and into her left thigh. Her body shuddered and she choked down a pained sob until Grindelwald narrowed his eyes, willing her to silence, and she stilled. The only sign that she could feel anything was the inadvertent quivering of her lower lip and shorter breathing.
With a howl of anger, Queenie suddenly burst from the basement, hurling a curse at Abenathy. The traitorous American hit the floor, unconscious but Grindelwald only laughed. Newt turned to look at the woman beside him and from the corner of his eye, he noticed Jacob just inside the basement doorway, hidden. With an imperceptible shake of his head, Newt urged the other man to stay back.
"Aah, there you are Queenie dear. I wondered how much pain it would take to lure you out," he said, flashing his eyes towards Tina. Queenie glared at her fallen hero.
"Let my sister go," she hissed, "You ain't gonna get anything from us! I already told the Ministry everything."
Queenie reached out with her mind, lunging over the sickly roses of Rosier's conscious and straight for the obsidian fortress, searching for the crack. But she found none. She pushed harder, nimble mental fingers running over the surface but like silk sliding off marble, her mind could find no purchase on his and Queenie frowned.
Grindelwald gave her a sly smile, tapping the side of his head with his wand, "There will be none of that this time, my dear." While his smile was smug, a bead of sweat ran down the side of his face. Queenie shut her eyes, doubling her efforts and slamming her mind against his.
Keeping his wand trained on Rosier, Newt's eyes darted between Grindelwald and Tina. The latter was blinking rapidly and Newt wondered if the mental strain of resisting Queenie was weakening Grindelwald's hold over Tina. Across from him, Rosier had noticed as well. He saw her eyes move between the two and over Queenie to him. They narrowed slightly and Newt suddenly realised that they were focused not on him, but behind him.
"Stop!" Rosier addressed Queenie directly.
Queenie's eyes opened and she glanced at the other woman. "No," she said through gritted teeth. In her mind, she still couldn't find a crack, but she could feel the walls straining under her will. By this point, most of the others she'd read would be crying in pain, but Grindelwald was no ordinary wizard and this time, she hadn't caught him by surprise. She focused on Tina's pain and the muffled screaming of her sister's consciousness trapped behind the obsidian walls and channelled her pain to push harder against her adversary's mind. Before her, Grindelwald's drew in a quick breath, sweat beginning to bead along his hairline. When Rosier took a step forward and raised her wand, his hand rose to tell her to stand down. Clearly, the dark wizard intended this as a show of his might. His eyes flew around the room, settling briefly on Tina before passing over Newt to the basement door. A slow smile spread across his face. "You cannot win this, Queenie. All I want is to have the vial returned to me," he said smoothly, "Retrieve its location from Mr Scamander's mind and I'll let your sister live."
Queen's eyes flashed to Tina, who stood still, panic in her eyes and a glimmer of blood running down the front of her left leg. She said nothing and Grindelwald continued.
"Please, my dear Queenie. Have you forgotten our cause so soon? Who will fight for our freedom if not me? Do it. Help me retrieve what is rightfully mine and I'll even let you keep your pet."
As he spoke, Newt's eyes caught movement behind him and he reacted immediately—and in the same second that Rosier moved. They acted as one, curse and shield charm flying simultaneously. His charm deflected her assault, but when he raised his wand to counter attack, he heard Tina's voice and his wand flew from his grasp. Behind him, the basement door banged wide and Jacob was dragged into the room at Rosier's will, his toes dragging lightly along the floor and his eyes wide in panic.
He came to a halt beside Tina, who raised her wand and at Grindelwald's unspoken behest, whispered, "Immobulus." Her wand tip glowed and Jacob froze. Satisfied, Rosier turned her attention back to Newt, training her wand on him once more.
"No! Jacob!" Queenie gasped, horrified. Her assault on Grindelwald's mind dropped away immediately and the dark wizard fixed her with a smug smile. His eyes darted to Newt.
"Really, Mr Scamander. Allowing vermin into your home," he mocked with a shake of his head. He fixed Newt and Queenie with a hard look, deadly serious. "Now, tell me where it is. Or dear Porpentina will kill them both."
Newt said nothing, his mind spinning, and he glanced at Queenie. They were trapped again, the people they loved most at the mercy of their worst enemy. A frown of frustration wrinkled Queenie's brow and she bit her lip, clearly thinking hard.
There was a beat of silence and Queenie said, "Release them."
"Tell me where my vial is."
Grindelwald looked at Tina. With a barely suppressed gasp of pain, she pulled the dagger from her thigh. Blood immediately flowed down the front of her leg and she awkwardly shifted her weight. Her eyes fluttered briefly and she blinked rapidly for a few seconds, fighting unconsciousness.
"Now," Grindelwald said when she straightened, "On with it."
With a glance at Queenie, Tina turned and placed the knife against the side of Jacob's neck.
"Whoa! Tina! What're you–?" the no-maj yelled in panic.
Grindelwald clicked his tongue and shook his head in pity, "Silly non-magique. Her will is mine."
"You sick bastard," Jacob spat out, unable to move but equal parts furious and afraid.
"No!" Queenie gasped; the intensity of Jacob's fear made her head ache.
Grindelwald raised an eyebrow at her and looked back at Tina. Her lip was quivering again and Queenie could hear his sister screaming in pain and frustration inside her head, mentally pounding against the dark wizard's will. But like Rosier's Cruciatus curse, the pain from her leg was a distraction and Tina couldn't summon enough mental fortitude to throw the curse off. She paused, the knife hovering against Jacob's skin.
"Do it," Grindelwald hissed. Queenie felt him press his consciousness onto Tina's, suffocating her will.
"No! C'mon Tina! Don't do this! It's me!" Jacob pleaded, his eyes darting to her in fear.
"Teenie, no!" Queenie cried in desperation, her mind reeling. "Stop!"
A tear of rebellion ran down the Auror's cheek and she leaned into the knife. Blood appeared around the tip as it entered and Jacob gave a gasp of pain. His eyes locked with Queenie's. He stood tall—Jacob Kowalski was no coward—but she could hear his mind brimming with fear regardless. He was going to die, but he knew she could hear him. I love you baby! He thought furiously. Don't give him what he wants! I love you Queenie, so much!
Queenie's heart twisted, wrenched between her sister's battle for control and the terror of the man she loved. Beside her, Newt looked on in horror, mentally cursing himself for letting his guard down and returning Cerberus to his usual habitat. Queenie heard him mentally going over the forbidden curses and how they could be resisted, but he found no answers. He could do nothing.
"Stop," Queenie's voice was a whisper. Tina froze and Queenie looked from her sister to Grindelwald.
"I don't know where it is," she cast a glance at Newt beside her, "But if I get its location for you, you'll let Tina and Jacob go?"
Grindelwald tried to mask a triumphant smile and Queenie felt a wave of disgust at his obvious satisfaction, "Of course my dear. As I said to Mr Scamander here, I do not wish to waste wizard blood unnecessarily."
"Promise me you won't hurt them." She gestured to Rosier, "That she won't hurt them!"
"You have my word," Grindelwald replied.
"Queenie, no!" Newt's face was panicked when she turned towards him.
"I'm sorry Newt," she said sadly. "Teen and Jacob are my family. I can't lose them."
"Queen! Don't!" Jacob called, "There's gotta be another way!"
She shook her head sadly and fixed Newt with a steady gaze.
"Queenie…" Newt stepped back, shaking his head.
"Do it!" Grindelwald commanded.
Newt winced and threw up every mental barrier he had. He braced for pain but instead, felt cool silk running cross his mind. Red balloons, summer sunshine and the fizz of lemonade. In his mind, Queenie's voice whispered, Pretend.
As if a ghost watching his own life, in his mind's eye, Newt saw himself clutching his head on the floor at Queenie's feet, begging for mercy. In reality, he frowned at Queenie, confused. She frowned back meaningfully and Newt felt a mental pinch that had him blinking in pain.
Newt! Queenie's voice snapped in his head. Fake it! The image of himself on the floor reappeared and realisation dawned. A moment later, he scrunched his face in pain and gasped.
"No! Queenie, please…stop!" he groaned, hands going to his head. In anticipation, Grindelwald stepped past Jacob and Tina, victorious anticipation shining from his pale face as he towered over Newt's hunching form.
"That's it, Queenie!" he said, his full attention on her "Don't hold back. Think of your Jacob! Where did he hide it?"
Behind him, Tina blinked. Sunshine was suddenly shining through the darkness enveloping her mind; the familiar summer delights of Queenie's consciousness touching hers. She saw them as children, playing on the beach at Coney Island with their parents, building sandcastles and drinking lemonade in the warm sunshine. The throbbing in her leg was gone, replaced by the tickle of sand as they laughed and buried their father's toes while he lay reading beside their mother. It was one of her happiest memories and Tina's eyes melted shut as she revelled in its recollection.
Tina, Queenie's voice rang in her mind, Come back to us Teenie!
Tina felt a surge of happiness burst in her chest at the memory, bringing new strength that pooled in her heart. In her mind, she gathered herself and began to force her way through the oppressive darkness, slowly pulling out of Grindelwald's grasp. It was like stepping into a fresh snowy morning from the stifling heat of a stuffy house, like breaking through the surface of a frozen lake and taking that first gasp of life-giving air. Behind Grindelwald, Tina blinked again and flexed her fingers around her wand.
Beside her, Jacob suddenly felt the feeling return to his body. He glanced at Tina and found her wand no longer glowing and her eyes searching his, their normal intensity blazing at him once more. Her eyes darted down the knife in her hand and understanding blossomed. Slowly, she moved her hand back, withdrawing the knife so that only the tip rested against his neck. She cast a glance at Grindelwald, who stood with his back still turned, his eyes fixed on Newt, who had sunk down to the floor and was sweating visibly and moaning theatrically.
Jacob blinked at Tina and they moved as one. Around them, the room seemed to slow. Jacob snatched the knife from her hand as she turned on Rosier. White light burst from Tina's wand and knocked the French witch sideways. Jacob took two strides forward and slammed the dagger into Grindelwald's back. Rosier hit the wall and fell to her hands and knees, gasping for breath. Not finished, the no-maj withdrew the weapon and embedded it in the dark wizard's right kidney. From her position on the floor, Rosier looked on in horror as Grindelwald slid to his knees, shock across his face. Tina raised her wand, but dizziness rolled over her and she wavered. Jacob took a step back, winding up a punch. With a crack, Rosier was across the room with her arms around Grindelwald. Tina's curse missed and exploded the skirting, which shattered into splinters. A heartbeat later, Rosier disapparated with Grindelwald in tow and Jacob swung at the air where they'd been moments before.
Time sped up again and Queenie surged forward to wrap her arms around Jacob. Newt rolled to his feet, dashing to retrieve his wand.
"Jacob! Oh honey! That was amazing!" Queenie cried, peppering his cheeks with kisses. His thoughts sang love for her and Queenie detected a thread of pride at his finally not feeling helpless. "I'm so proud of you!" she cooed, squeezing him again.
"I'll give him non-magique!" Jacob mocked. "I didn't survive the war because o' my pretty face."
Queenie grinned at him and pulled him in for a kiss, only to find her left hand covered in blood from his neck wound, which to her relief was relatively shallow and had missed his jugular. She gently ran her wand over it with a whispered 'Episkey' to seal the skin before returning to his lips.
"Thanks doll," Jacob said, drawing her in for a kiss.
Behind them, Tina's smile at Jacob's triumph faded as darkness pulsed on the edges of her vision and she frowned. With Queenie's presence gone from her mind, her leg was throbbing and the fingers around her wand had gone numb. She felt it slip from her hand and glanced down at the small pool of blood around her right foot. Ripples of pain from Rosier's curse ran up her chest and pooled at the base of her skull. With a muffled sob of pain that caught in her throat, she sank to the floor and slumped against the wall. A moment later, Newt skidded to his knees in front of her.
"Tina! Stay with me," he cried. She blinked at him as nausea rushed through her and her vision narrowed.
"You've lost too much blood. I have to put pressure on it." He clamped his hand down on her leg and Tina shrieked with pain at the contact, biting her bottom lip so hard that it bled. Stars burst in front of her eyes and Queenie spun around with a yelp, "Tina!"
Dittany! Newt's mind called as he summoned a tea towel to replace his hand, now slick with the blood seeping between his fingers. Queenie saw his mental image of its location on the medicine bench in the menagerie clearly and scrambled for the basement stairs. Aware of Tina's consciousness receding, and the anguish in Newt's voice as he swore, Queenie stopped on the first landing and wildly pointed her wand downwards into the room.
"Accio dittany!"
The fresh sea breeze was fading from her mind and by the time the bottle flew into her hand and she darted up the stairs to the kitchen, Tina was unconscious and Newt was hollering at Jacob to fetch the blood replenishing potion from the menagerie.
A/N Hope you enjoyed; please review if you did :)