Sorry for the long time it took to update! But I've got some good news: I've written down a few story ideas and I think I have th rest of the chapters planned. There'll be around twelve chapters altogether, but I hope I'll have time for more. Anyway, enjoy!
November was cold and brutal. Holed up inside the house, Newt, Tina and Queenie began to view the day they ice-skated as one of the warmer days; in fact, it was positively tame compared to the weather that now hit them.
Newt's cold cleared up earlier than Tina's, being milder. A few stuffy-nosed, red-faced, head-aching days later, Tina was better too. Queenie did her best and managed to stay perfectly healthy apart from her cold fingers, but those didn't count.
To everyone's immense surprise, the skies cleared and delivered a week of warmth upon the city. The first two days were spent inside, suspecting it was some diabolical trick meant to get them into the cold; then they realized it truly had heated up a bit.
Queenie, not wanting to waste this opportunity, remembered that apples were now in season. She set to baking what seemed like a full festival of autumn-y goodness, noticing only halfway through her fifth apple-strudel that, in fact, they were out of apples.
Tina and Newt agreed to get her some from the market. Both of them were eager to breathe some fresh air, after two weeks cooped up inside.
Outside smelled crisp and wet. It was heavily chilly, but still a great deal better than its preceding days. Both Newt and Tina were exhilarated to finally be out again.
The market was bustling with people who'd also jumped at an opportunity to leave the house. They were all bundled in coats and sweaters, their breath making steam in the early winter air.
Tina, firmly grasping Newt's hand, weaved through the crowds while hunting for an apple stand.
"Tina." Newt gave her arm a gentle tug in another direction. "Do you think Queenie would like an artichoke?"
Tina turned to him, puzzled. "An artichoke?! Come again?"
Newt pointed a gloved finger at a wooden stand heaped with odd-looking vegetables. A sign hanging on it bared the name "artichoke", written in sloppy handwriting.
"Oh! The scaly vegetable!" Tina laughed. "I didn't know its name. Yes, I think Queenie knows how to cook these."
Newt nodded. "I'll get her some, they seem quite good."
Tina agreed, deciding to buy Queenie's requested apples while Newt bargained with the artichoke seller. She left him with half a dollar and walked briskly through the crowd of people.
The apples were relatively easy to find. Newt wasn't.
Tina located the apple stand almost immediately. It was a prim and sturdy table made of light wood, heaped with bushels upon bushels of reddish-green fruit. The sunlight hit them just right, reflecting off the shiny skins; Tina, who never had been a huge fan of apples, found herself hungry all of a sudden. So she ate one after purchasing a basketful and heading back towards the artichoke stand.
The stand, while piled with vegetables, was free of shoppers. Newt was nowhere to be seen.
Tina, worried, stopped eating her apple; the crunchy fruit dangled half-bitten from her hand. She herself had trouble navigating the busy market; how on earth would Newt find his way back to her after wandering off?
First things first, she had to think properly. As much as she urged to run off in a random direction and recover Newt, she knew that plan would be useless to the both of them. Tina had no magical sense of direction that would lead her straight to Newt; likewise, using her wand would not help. There was no spell to track him now, and besides that, she couldn't use magic in front of a huge group of No-Maj people.
Despite her attempt at logical thinking, Tina was starting to panic. What one earth was she to do now? Go home to Queenie and announce she'd lost an adult man? Use magic? Go to MACUSA and ask for help? Grill bypassers to see if they knew where Newt went?
No, none of those options would work. She had to THINK.
Just as Tina buried her face in her hands, sinking down to sit on an overturned barrel, something tapped her in the back. She whipped around instinctively, taken by surprise, and-
"What happened?"
Tina breathed a giddy sigh of relief, relaxing again, hand on her heart.
"NEWT!" She grumbled. "You almost gave me a heart attack and I've been looking for you all over. Where did you go?"
Newt seemed a bit sheepish.
"I'm sorry I scared you. I just wanted to get something-" he pointed in a vague direction, "-and when I came back you were sitting here all devastated. There was no need for you to worry, I can take care of myself."
Tina blushed faintly. "You're right. I'm just an overprotective person, and I didn't know if you could find your way around-"
"It's fine!" Newt smiled, plopping down next to her on the barrel.
Tina smiled back at him, then frowned. "Wait. What exactly did you buy?"
Newt reached into the bulging cloth bag he was carrying. Rummaging around a little, he pulled out a small sack tied shut.
"Well?" Tina asked, curious.
Newt poked a finger into the little sack, loosening the bonds. He then pulled the strings away and opened up the bag, showing its contents to Tina.
She gazed down at the shriveled red berries, confused.
"What are these things?" She inquired.
"Cranberries." Newt said. "Dried cranberries. I heard they taste good so I bought some out of my own money… I wanted to try them with you. You know, to make some memories together?"
Tina felt herself flushing unintentionally. He was such a kind and sweet person, and always had a good interest at heart.
"All right then, let's taste some." She replied, moving aside to give Newt more room.
He budged up next to her and held out the bag, seeming happy to Tina. She reached into the little sack just at Newt did, their hands meeting.
Tina didn't want to pull away as if the contact bothered her, but the sack was an uncomfortable place to hold hands. She took a berry or two out and tried to ignore the awkwardness of moments ago.
Newt popped a cranberry into him mouth just as Tina did. Their eyes widened together.
"These are really good!" they exclaimed simultaneously, each reaching for another one.
Then they both started laughing.
They ate the entire sack of cranberries on the walk home, enjoying the fruits' tart sweetness and the air's fresh smell. All senses seemed to be just a little enhanced, making the world seem a bit brighter and a bit crisper. Tina could blame it on the berries, but she suspected it was Newt's comforting company. He was somebody she'd never get tired of being with.
Queenie was waiting for them with a knowing smile. Perhaps it was Tina's happy expression, or Newt's carefree walk, or her Legilimency; whichever the reason, she wasn't upset at the long time it had taken Newt and Tina to return. She just winked at her older sister and went back to the kitchen without another word.