'Tina, could you light the fire again please?'

'Incendio.' Tina was helping Jacob cook in Newt's apartment. Most of the cooking was still done the No-Maj way, but Jacob appreciated a few magical shortcuts. Queenie would normally help him, but she was with Newt in his case, experimenting with Legilimency on his creatures, so Tina had offered to fill in for her sister.

'Thanks.' Jacob placed a saucepan on the freshly-lit stove and dropped in a dollop of butter. He stirred it as he waited for it to melt. 'By the way,' he said in a conversational tone. 'How're you doing, Tina? After the shenanigans in Paris and everything?'

'Oh.' Tina was surprised by the sudden serious shift in conversation. Their previous exchanges had all revolved around fire, carrots and curdled milk. 'I'm fine, Jacob, thanks for asking.'

Jacob scrutinised her carefully. 'If you say so,' he said finally, in a tone that clearly indicated that he didn't believe her. 'You spoken to Newt then? He didn't mention anything about no salamanders now, did he?'

This brought a smile to Tina's face. 'He- He said my eyes are like fire in dark water. That he's only ever seen it in salamanders.'

'Oh, he really said it!' Jacob was half-amused, half-exasperated. Tina looked confused, so Jacob explained, 'He asked me for tips on what to say when he found you.'

This got Tina's attention. Newt had asked Jacob for advice? He'd planned what to say to her? That would mean he was thinking about her...but surely not in the way she was thinking about him. Newt hadn't left Tina's thoughts for a single day of the last year.

Jacob chuckled at Tina's gobsmacked but hopeful expression. 'He's quite besotted, as the British say. Soon as he heard you were in Paris, he was off with a shot.'

Tina shook herself out of her reverie. Pining was not going to anyone any good. She decided her best move would be to strike back. 'I hear you did the same for my sister.'

'Yeah.' Jacob's eyes were suddenly dreamy, and a bunch of chopped carrots flew out of the pan when he tried to drop them in. Tina Summoned back the stray pieces, but Jacob didn't seem to notice. 'Mind you, you Goldsteins ain't easy to find. Queenie had me running all over Paris then dumped me at Flamel's while she went running back into battle. It's worth it though, she's quite extraordinary.'

Tina felt her conscience jab at her heart. 'You're a good man, Jacob,' she said. 'I'm sorry about the way I treated the two of you in New York. You must understand - I just didn't want Queenie to get hurt.'

Jacob was already waving aside her apology. 'You and me both, Tina. But Queenie said Theseus is gonna help arrange for us to settle here, in England.'

'He is?' Tina's eyes widened.

'Uh huh. He's trying to recruit you too, you know. Wants you on his Auror team here in England.' Jacob winked as he continued, 'Where Newt happens to live.'

Tina felt the tell-tale signs of a warm glow in her cheeks. She turned away from Jacob to hide her face and began to set the table with her wand, ignoring Jacob's amused chuckles behind her.