Yep, two chapters in one day! I don't think I will have time to post tomorrow, so here you go...
Chapter 11
Walking out of the bathroom the next morning, Tina paused at the top of the stairs, hearing a snippet of conversation in the kitchen.
"What's with the goofy grin? Why so happy this morning?" Theseus asked.
"It's a good day," Newt responded.
"If it's only that, why are you blushing?"
No answer. The tea kettle whistled.
Tina silently chuckled to herself. Would Theseus have ever guessed about his little brother's activities the night before?
She dressed quickly, throwing together a small bag of person items. At the meeting last night, they'd been informed they'd be away from home on a raid for a few days. When she walked in the kitchen, she grabbed an apple, biting into it with a satisfied crunch.
"Good morning, Tina." Newt smiled at her, almost shyly.
"Good morning, Newt. Theseus."
Theseus finished his tea and stood up, clutching his own personal bag. "Morning. You ready to go or do you want some tea first?"
"I'm ready to go." She bit the last morsel off her apple and threw it in the trash.
Theseus stepped out the door. "You coming?"
"Be there in a minute."
He closed the door with a shrug.
She strolled over to Newt. "Thank you for last night."
His blush returned with a vengeance.
"I'll be back in a few days." She kissed him on the cheek and walked to the front door.
"Tina."
She looked back.
"I love you." His eyes focused on the sofa in front of her.
She smiled. "I love you too, Newt." Then she glided out the door, meeting up with Theseus on the sidewalk.
"Sheesh, everyone seems to have goofy grins on their face this morning."
Tina smacked him on the back. "It's a good day."
Together, they apparated to the Ministry.
Once inside, Travers hustled them into a planning room. Several other Aurors waited inside.
"Alright, everyone! Yesterday, we received a tip that Grindelwald is hiding out in Manchester. He's got several of his fanatics with him, and we've got to go in hot! You all know your roles. Go get that bloody git!" Travers sent them all to the portkey to Manchester.
They ended up on the outskirts of the city, and set-up their logistics headquarters at the local field office. The tip directed them to a well-kept farm house. Reconnaissance over a 24-period identified several known Grindelwald followers coming and going from the residence. The actual owners of the house, an aging Muggle couple, were not seen, presumed dead.
The next day, emotions ran high as the team of twelve prepared to raid the place. They talked themselves up, each one claiming they would be the one to capture Grindelwald. When the time came for the invasion, they were ready.
The wand sharpshooters descended on the house first, taking out a good number of followers by surprise. Then Theseus, Tina, Richard and three others burst inside. They lost a few, who apparated out of there.
Theseus barked out orders. "I'll clear this floor. Glover, take Rosco and head upstairs. Tina, you and Richard take the basement."
They all nodded and separated, going on their designated missions.
Tina, her wand up, slipped down the basement stairs carefully. Adrenaline flooded her body, putting her brain on high alert. She loved the excitement of these raid, of the possibility of accomplishing their mission and capturing Grindelwald. She lived for this part of the job.
Richard covered her back. The stairs dead-ended at a hallway. She motioned for Richard to go left, while she investigated the right. Tina peered around the doorway at the end of the hall. It opened into a handsome, wood-paneled billiards room. There, on the other side of the game table, stood Queenie.
"Queenie!" Tina breathed out, rushing around the table.
"Teenie!" Queenie fell into her sister's arms. "I've missed you so much! I can't believe you are still in England."
"I wouldn't leave without you! Jacob's still here too. Oh, Queenie, he loves you so much. Come back with me." Tina urged her.
Queenie drew back out of Tina's arms, but still held her hands. "I can't, not yet. Don't you see, Teen? They won't let Jacob and me be together. But Gellert, he's going to change things. You'll see. Join us, Tina."
Tina tried to pull her hands free, but Queenie held tight.
On the other side of the room, an unnoticed closet door swung open. Grindelwald stepped out. "Yes, please join us, Tina."
Tina realized her mistake. She'd been so distracted finding Queenie, she forgot to secure the room. Such a stupidly simple error. She wrenched her hand out of Queenie's grip, but it was too late.
"Pertrificus Totallis!" Grindelwald incanted.
Every muscle froze, and Tina almost fell to the floor like a wooden board. Before hitting, Grindelwald waved his wand and Tina levitated into the air. She couldn't scream or retaliate, only breath and move her eyes. Fear wrapped around her heart.
A blast whistled at them from the doorway. Grindelwald ducked, but it grazed his arm. Even wounded, he threw up a shield.
Theseus stood there, eyes intense. "Let her go."
"And lose my prize? I don't think so, Scamander." Grindelwald grabbed one of Tina's arms, Queenie grabbed the other, and they apparated out of there.
"Damn it!" Theseus yelled.