Chapter Three
The Park
The snow had finished falling by the time they decided to go back to the apartment. The city around them had fallen fast asleep, leaving the four of them alone in the vast concrete jungle. Newt was reminded again of his adoration of snow as it crunched beneath his boots while he strode alongside the others. The dreary gray snow clouds gave way to uncover the dark, clear sky above. The splendor of the city outshown even the brightest of the stars, yet the ambient glow made the sky magical, still.
Tina noticed him walking with his head turned upward. "It's a shame you can't see the stars in the city."
"Doesn't mean it isn't beautiful," he contested. "It's just a different kind of beauty…" Newt let his focus fall to her as he spoke. It was a philosophy he shared with few others – the ability to find beauty in the most unconventional places – but it was something of which he felt strongly about. The heavens didn't need stars to shine with beauty, somethings were just as radiant without ornamentation.
Tina smirked from his awkwardly affectionate gaze. She, in turn, looked up at the starless sky saying nothing more.
"We should walk through Central Park!" Queenie suggested suddenly. "Sometimes you can see the stars from there." She looked at Newt and winked – a gesture that he was unsure he totally understood. "I wanna see the fresh snow!"
It struck him that her look and the wink were because she'd been in his mind again – especially to suggest going to see the newly fallen snow.
Tina, however, didn't look to keen on the idea. "Aren't you cold Queenie?" she yanked her gray coat snuggly around herself.
The blonde witch just scrunched her nose and leaned closer to Jacob. "Nah, I've got Jakey. Now come on!"
It was a several block walk to the park from the bakery, many of which Newt offered Tina his coat; she always declined. Instead, she trudged onward with her arms folded tight to her, her scarf folded over her nose. Newt was much the opposite. His scarf was wrapped around him only twice, and his hands dangled out of his pockets; he didn't even bother to button his blue coat all the way.
"Are you not even slightly cold?" Tina's voice was muffled by her thick scarf, but her expression of disbelief and irritation was tangible on her face.
"I'm rather warm-blooded, I think," Newt stated. "More so than most, anyway."
With the many places he'd visited, the wizard always had the most problems adjusting to warmer climates. He was British after all, meaning he was more adapted to cooler temperatures. Nevertheless, he tried to think of a way to assist Tina.
"You could get in my case and I could carry you to the park." Newt was being completely serious, but the idea sounded more like a joke.
"I'll be okay," she shivered, repositioning the scarf around her face.
Newt remained unsatisfied by her refusal to let him help her. He moved his cumbersome case to his other hand, and, somewhat awkwardly, held out his arm for her to take. The two of them stopped a moment while Tina gathered the meaning of the unexpected gesture, before resolutely wrapping her arm around his. She gravitated close to him, matching his pace and instantly her shivers ceased. Newt smiled. A few lengths ahead, Queenie glanced back at them and smiled approvingly.
Soon the skyline parted to unveil the bare trees that filled Central Park, only a block or two ahead. Queenie and Jacob managed to stray well in front – almost a half block ahead – of Newt and Tina. Neither couple minded the distance though, the witch and the Muggle sashayed through their own world, similar to the one the Auror and the Magizoologist strode in. The city was theirs for the taking, and they each savored every second of it.
Much like the city streets, the park was barren and calm, which left its pillowy blanket of snow unscathed. Newt almost didn't want to disturb it, the way the snow glistened in the cascading silver moonlight had him awash with childlike wonder. His eyes swept over the glittering snow, following it as far as it stretched until he looked heavenward.
"Ah, you can see them."
The stars were faint – they didn't sparkle and shine the way the snow did below them –but they were there. Tina's gaze traveled with his, boring into the starry vortex above them, saying nothing. Newt pondered as he watched her, wondering what thoughts filled her mind to stem in the complexity of the gaze she held with the night sky. Only Queenie could tell him, but she viewed the stars so intimately, he didn't want to intrude. He kept his eyes on only her. He realized, observing her next to him - marveling at the heavens in the pale glow of the moon - that she outshined everything else. Tina's radiance was far more blinding and luminous than either the stars or the snow; it was warm and welcoming, and Newt struggled to keep from gawking.
"What?" she asked when her eyes finally fell to meet his.
"Nothing," he whispered, still unable to look away from her. She simply chuckled and turned her eyes back to the stars.
"Incoming!"
Newt abruptly heard Queeine shout, and not a second later, a large snowball struck the back of his head. Even with the warning, the frosty impact startled the wizard, and his eyes darted over the landscape to find his assailant. Queenie and Jacob were several yards away, each of them poking out from behind a tree bearing impish grins.
"Sorry Newt," she giggled. "That was s'posed to hit my sister."
Before the blonde had even finished her statement, Tina was already hunched over prepping a snowball. Another white sphere went flying by Newt, this time thrown by Jacob. The wizard stood awkwardly in place, watching the whole ordeal unfold before him, unsure what his first plan of action should be. He hadn't participated in many snowball fights in his days as a kid; he unfortunately lacked an adequate amount of friends to instigate one. Theseus and he used to play around in the snow, but that was just a bit of fun. The current outbreak seemed much more like sport.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Tina arranging to target him with another ball of cold white powder. Thinking quickly he used his case as a shield to thwart her attack.
"That's cheating!" Queenie bellowed just as Jacob got her right in the stomach with a snowball.
Newt was very aware that Tina was determined to hit him, even though his case was still blocking most of his body. He sprinted to a nearby tree and dropped his case to make some ammo of his own. The icy snow stung his fingers as he molded a few heaps into perfect balls. The wizard made a dash to another close tree, throwing snowballs at Tina as he ran. The first shot missed completely – flying far away into the snow landing in an explosion of white flakes. His second attack hit right in her shoulder. Joy coursed through him as the fight continued. Tina, Queenie, and Jacob were unsurprisingly better at it than he was; possibly because he was enjoying himself too much to make the fight a competition like the others.
None of them knew how long they'd been at it when their snow war came to an end, but they were all covered head to toe with white flakes as if they'd been rolling in it. There wasn't a single spot on any of them that wasn't dusted with white. The fight was too much fun for them to care; once or twice, they'd dove into the snow to avoid getting hit. Newt could hardly recall the last time he'd had such carefree fun.
"You know. I bet the lake is frozen," Tina hinted in-between gasps while they stood waiting for their breath to catch up to them.
"Ooo! Yes," Queenie clapped, already knowing what her sister was implying.
"What?" Jacob looked confused.
"Ice skating I'm guessing," Newt huffed, still winded.
A look of concern strained Jacob's face, and he shook his head. "Sorry ladies. I, uh, I'm gonna have to sit that one out. I ain't got the coordination for that." For the first time all night, Queenie wasn't smiling. "Sorry, doll," he apologized with a shrug.
"I think I'm gonna agree with Jacob on this one," Newt said, stepping close to his Muggle friend.
Apparently the Goldstein sisters were not taking no for an answer. "Aww, don't worry honey," Queenie's smile returned as she spoke. "I'll keep a strong hold on ya."
Tina's coaxing was less cordial. She gave Newt a look he'd seen before – one swollen with tenacity that she knew would get her what she wanted. Not even all the complaints and excuses on the way to the lake buckled the girls' determination. All of them were going skating whether they wanted to or not.
On account of the spontaneous activity, Queenie was quick to enchant the soles of their footwear, and in seconds magical blades materialized on the bottoms of their shoes.
"You girls go ahead," Jacob insisted, holding his arms out to his sides to keep his balance. "We've got this, don't we, Newt?"
"Um," the wizard's ankles wobbled insecurely. "Yes, absolutely under control."
When the girls skated off with poise and ease, Newt hastily took hold of Jacob's shoulders to steady them both. The Muggle and the wizard took turns guiding the other over the slick ice – farther and farther away from the stable shore and into the middle of the frozen lake. The girls, however, never faltered. They glided over the ice as if they were floating on air. Whether it was jumps or twirls, the sisters maneuvered the ice with elegance. Newt's eyes were mesmerized with Tina as he gaped at her in wonder; just like Jacob gazed at Queenie. Tina's long coat danced behind her as she soared over the slippery surface, blowing about beautifully. She spun hand in hand with her sister, their hair twirling in the breeze and laughing with delight.
Eventually, Newt and Jacob coasted to where the sisters were skating.
"You two make it look so easy," Jacob scoffed, still holding onto Newt tightly. The Muggle's knees were shaking and a sweat had broken out on his forehead.
"We've been doin' it since we was kids." Queenie spun in place.
"Well, it shows," Newt complemented.
They stood on the ice a moment; finally steady, just before Queenie whisked Jacob away. The sudden rush caused Newt's balance to reel, and had it not been for Tina's hasty rescue, he would've fallen right on his bum.
"Come on Mr. Scamander," she teased, looping her arm with his and pulling him farther onto the ice.
Tina may have been a vastly better skater than Jacob, but she was much less sturdy to lean on than he had been. Newt's ankle wobbled yet again, and instinctively he pulled on her to straighten himself out - only to cause catastrophe. His unbalanced weight offset Tina's and the two of them fell to the ice.
"I'm, um…" he and Tina were face to face, tangled in each other. Newt's cheeks turned red out of embarrassment; he knew he should have stayed on the shore. "…I'm terribly sorry," he faintly uttered.
"It's okay," Tina's cheeks flushed too, but she didn't try to move from under him.
"Did I hurt you?" Newt asked softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"No," she shuddered.
Tina's wide eyes were locked with his. Time seemed to slow in that moment and Newt felt a spark burst deep within him that he hadn't felt for a long time – or maybe never before. The feeling that swelled inside of him was an altogether new sensation. It pulled at him with urgency and warmed his heart in a joyous glee he'd never experienced. He felt dizzy and grounded all at once. No word could describe it.
Newt let his fingertips linger by her cheek, daring not to let his eyes wander from hers. He felt his heart pound within him, or was it hers? The proximity of their bodies made it difficult to tell.
"Newt…" she murmured hesitantly.
A loud outburst of laughter broke the moment, and time ticked at its usual pace once more. Jacob lay on the ice a few yards away chuckling with Queenie standing over him, also laughing. Newt and Tina sat up, both looking a little rattled. She was first to stand. He, however, remained sitting long enough to remove the enchanted blades from the bottom of his boots. Tina helped him up before gliding over to where her sister and Jacob were.
Free of the dreadful skates, Newt moved across the ice much easier. I should have just shuffled along the ice to begin with, and then maybe I wouldn't have embarrassed myself. He mentally kicked himself.
Jacob was standing by the time the wizard reached the group, and like him, the skates no longer protruded from the soles of his shoes. The Muggle looked only slightly shaken by his fall - he fixed his tie and smoothed out his coat with no shame.
"As I said, I'm not coordinated enough for this." There was a smile in his tone, even though his face held a serious look.
"It's getting late anyway," Tina noted.
"What time is it?" Queenie asked.
Newt removed his pocket watch. "Almost midnight."
The three of them sneered. It sure didn't feel like all that time had gone by. Certainly, it hadn't been four hours since they left the apartment. Newt felt somber as he realized the night was drawing to a close. His time in America was that much nearer to its end, and he hated it. The Ministry didn't need him again until after the New Year, however the dragons in Hungary and the eggs in his case had no set schedule. If something happened with them, he was obligated to be where he was needed; even if it meant cutting his trip short.
"Should we just poof back?" Queenie drew her wand as she asked. Doing so would save them a long walk, and there wasn't a Muggle around that would find it odd a group of people vanished suddenly in the middle of the lake.
"Just a moment," Newt removed his wand and pointed it to the shoreline. "Accio!" With extreme haste, his bound leather case flew through the air and safe and sound into his hand.
In a flash the four of them were once again standing in the Goldstein's residence, and it wasn't until the moment when they were nestled in the warmth and cheer of the apartment that they realized how exhausted they were.
Tina hung up her coat on the rack by the door as she spoke. "You two can sleep in the next room like last time."
"That's awfully kind of you," Newt said, slipping out of his own coat and hanging it next to Tina's. "But I'm more than comfortable sleeping on the floor."
He didn't want to put the girls out. Newt was thankful and very appreciative of their hospitality. In his case he had his own sleeping arrangements; his hammock surrounded by his many books was better than any bed, anywhere at all.
"Same for me," Jacob insisted. "You girls have cooked for us, shown us a hell of a night on the town," he smiled. "The least we can do is let you sleep in your own beds."
Tina and Queenie exchanged a glance and a shrug. Newt was glad they didn't press he and Jacob harder. The wizard already planned to venture inside his case once everyone was asleep; it felt senseless to give him a bed when he would more than likely end up in his hammock.
The girls gathered some spare pillows and blankets and sat the pile in a heap on the sofa.
"If you guys need more, just holla," Queenie instructed. She had already changed out of her red dress into a baby-blue silk nighty with matching lace trim. Her matching silk robe hung slightly off her narrow shoulders. Jacob looked bewitched. She grinned widely at him, certainly from reading his thoughts. "You're a sweetie," she gently kissed his cheek. "G'nite."
"Goodnight…" he barely whispered. The Muggle looked as though she had him under some kind of spell. He was completely entranced with Queenie's every movement. It wasn't until she was out of the room that Jacob could regain himself. Even then, he still seemed in slight awe.
Newt handed him a handkerchief from his pocket, noticing the sweat lining his friends brow. "No need to worry," he assured him. "She likes you."
Jacob patted his forehead and swallowed, "I know. It's just... She's so incredible, smart, beautiful…and I'm just me." His palms turned up as he shrugged, as if to emphasize how normal he thought himself to be. A hint of sadness washed over his face, and a bit of the twinkle faded from his eyes. "How can I live up to that?"
The Muggle fell to the sofa, laying his head in his hands. Usually Newt wasn't the best at consoling a human being – creatures yes, people not very well – but he sincerely cared for Jacob and wasn't about to let him wallow in his presence. Not once had Newt ever believed Jacob to be mundane in any way. He was brave, caring, and creative. The most interesting Muggle he'd met.
With a sigh, Newt sat beside his friend, gently resting a hand on his back as he'd seen others do when they needed comforting. "You are far more extraordinary than you think you are," he told the Muggle. "Back home I know very gifted wizards who don't possess a fraction of your kindness, and your courage…" Newt's mind wandered back to his last trip to America and all the help Jacob had been. "…for a Muggle you're quite alright," the wizard teased, bringing a laugh out of Jacob.
"Muggle?"
"Non-magical person," Newt explained. "Least that's what the British call them, anyway."
Jacob's brow furrowed and his lips formed a line as he rolled over the new information in his head. "So you guys have all sorts of magical jargon, too?"
"Yes," he answered, his face filling with confusion. "Though, I don't believe I'm up to date on what all of them are."
There was a slight, awkward pause before they both laughed; making the atmosphere of the room much lighter than it was only moments ago.
"What are you guys talking about?" Tina asked, coming into the room.
"Newt was just teaching me magical talk," Jacob chortled.
The dark haired witch cocked a brow in Newt's direction. "Magical talk?"
The wizard shrugged. "I'm surprised you're still awake." Tina looked as though she'd already been in bed. Her hair was more disheveled than usual and flat on the side she was laying on. Even the pant legs of her pajamas were wrinkled from being under a blanket.
"Queenie told me it would be rude not to say goodnight, so goodnight."
"Night," Jacob said.
"Sleep well, Tina." Newt's gaze met hers only for a moment, but still long enough for that strange rush from the lake to swell within him again.
"You too, Newt," she lowered her eyes and looked at him from under her lashes. When she walked back to the other room, Newt couldn't help but to watch intently until she slid the wooden door shut. He could feel his heart racing again, but not quite as feverishly as before.
"Oh boy," Jacob was starting to lay out some blankets to sleep on, all while shaking his head with a mischievous grin on his face. "Queenie's right."
Newt blinked, confused, and his brows stitched together. "Right about what?"
Jacob tossed two pillows form the sofa to his makeshift bed, continuing to shake his head. "Nope. I'm not s'posed to say nothin'."
Newt remained on the couch, glancing at his Muggle friend suspiciously. There was something unsettling about Jacob's vague remark, and whatever his secret was, it still had the corners of his mouth turned upward in a deviant smile as he lay flat on the floor.
"Goodnight, Newt," he said, rolling to one side.
"Night," the wizard replied, still wondering what he and Queenie had been discussing to merit a secret.
Eventually he sighed – a defeated but comfortable sound – deciding not to dwell on the mystery. Surely, whatever it was they were keeping from him would present itself in due time. He just would need to be patient until then.
The wizard kicked back, stretching his lean, lanky figure out as best he could on the tiny sofa while he waited for everyone to fall asleep before disappearing into his case. He used his forearm to brace the back of his head on one of the feather cushions, watching the orange flickers of dying firelight dance over the textured ceiling while his mind wandered. His thoughts retraced every waking moment of his eventful afternoon with his friends and it brought a smile to him. This was easily becoming the best holiday he'd ever celebrated.
A snore resonated throughout the quiet flat, it's point of origin being the bed where Jacob lay fast asleep. Newt took the noise as a sign it was time to tread below. The hour was growing late and there was still much to be done before he could finally turn in for the night.
The interior of the Magizoologist's shack was just as he had left it, in organized chaos; a fact he cared little to change. Newt rolled up his sleeves, loosened his bow tie, and even unbuttoned his waistcoat. Inquisitive Pickett scaled the hanging fabric and perched on Newt's shoulder, waiting to see what his caretaker was going to do. The first manner of business was the Horntail eggs. Their nest wasn't too far from the little hut, a design choice that wasn't by accident. Dougal ran to meet Newt as he made for the enclosure housing the dragon eggs. The silvery Demiguise embraced his leg and looked up at him with large eyes, almost like a child happy to once again see his mother.
"Evening, Dougal," Newt laughed.
The creature pulled away, but followed on the wizard's heels. "Have you been babysitting the dragon eggs like I asked?"
Dougal let out an assuring coo and hopped in front of Newt, wanting to lead him to the nest. The creature's enthusiasm tickled him. His Demiguise was a useful nanny ever since he'd looked after the Occamy hatchlings. Dragon's eggs, however, were slightly trickier to aid - but that didn't hinder Dougal's effectiveness.
The Demiguise stopped just shy of a medium-sized, round hole broken out of rocky terrain. Inside the shallow crevasse laid half a dozen, flaming red eggs - all roughly the length of Newt's forearm. Unlike most eggs, they came to a sharp point on one end, resembling that of a teardrop, and each shell was highlighted with its own unique design. The fragile eggs laid nestled in a bed of hot coals and pillows of ash and glowing embers. A clever enchantment kept the nest at the perfect temperature to warm and hatch the little dragons.
Newt laid on his stomach near the rim, resting his chin on his arm as he inspected them. Heat bellowed from the nest, brushing against his face – a welcomed sensation after all the hours in the cold. Dougal planted himself beside the wizard, watching his caretaker with observant eyes. When Newt first brought the clutch of eggs into his care, he made sure that the Demiguise understood that he wasn't to touch them or turn them like he'd taught him to do with the Occamies. The temperature of the nest made it difficult for any creature without fireproof scaling – like himself and Dougal – to properly turn and incubate the eggs. On top of that, despite their rugged appearance, the eggs were quite fragile.
"No cracks yet," Newt noticed, brandishing his wand.
With it he was able to safely lift, rotate, and place each egg back into the cradle of embers without causing any stress to them. Thankfully he no longer felt the need to hold his breath as he completed the task; he'd been positioning the eggs for over two months and was sure he could do it in his sleep, although he would never risk being so careless.
"Sleep, a while longer," he whispered tenderly to the unborn dragons. "I look forward to meeting you."
He lingered at the rim of the fiery burrow for a few brief moments, letting his heart swell with compassion and excitement for the soon-to-be baby dragons. Even though he knew he wouldn't be keeping them – he was only tasked with playing mother and guarding the nest – caring for them while he could would be a privilege. Once Newt returned them back to Hungary there was little chance he'd see them again, so he was going to make the most of it while he could. It helped knowing that the witches and wizards he was going to bring them back to would treat them with just as much care and devotion as he would.
As he finally looked away from the eggs a sudden yawn overtook him, bringing with it the realization of the hour. Time was a fickle thing inside the magical case. To Newt it always seemed lost the moment he traipsed down the ladder into his magical world. At any given second it was both day and night – a fact that aided the wizard little when he was inside. He wouldn't sleep until each animal had been checked on,regardless of the time. Sleep, no matter how tired he was, would elude him if he put himself before them.
From everything to the Mooncalves to the Graphorns, and even the rascally Niffler, Newt made sure everyone had enough food and water to last them until breakfast. Only then did the wizard feel selfish enough to saunter back to his shack with Dougal in tow. He yawned again, rubbing at his eyes. He kicked off his boots and shimmied out of his vest, folding it and placing it among the clutter on his work desk, next to a hissing potted plant. As his feet shuffled slowly to his hammock he slid off his braces and untucked his shirt in an attempt at making himself more comfortable without exerting the energy to change into his pajamas. His nook was beckoning to him, and he couldn't get to it fast enough.
The fabric of his hammock bowed deeper and stretched with his added weight as he situated himself. Dougal jumped in next, laying himself on Newt's legs. If he hadn't been so exhausted, maybe he would have shooed him away. Instead he sighed. "Really?"
Newt did his best to cozy himself, with the creature already asleep by his feet. He pulled a journal from the shelf next to him with the intention of writing some pages before he drifted off. Sadly, the wizard was only a page and a half deep when his eyelids grew heavy and sleep finally caught up with him.
(A/N): Thoughts? I love reviews!