Chapter Four
The Creatures
Morning sun peeped in through the long, lacy curtains of the room Tina shared with her sister. The bright golden rays touched her cheek as she lay asleep, kissing her awake with their warmth. Across from her her sister slept sound as newborn babe, completely unaffected by the harshness of the morning sun. Nothing in the world fazed Queenie when she was deep in slumber. The same could not be said about Tina. From an early age, the dark-haired witch found herself unable to sleep past a certain hour, while her sister could easily sleep the day away if given the chance. Being an early-bird suited Tina though. She'd always been the one to wake Queenie when they were just girls, and even as adults it often proved to be a chore. She'd let her sister sleep a while longer. The apartment was still quiet, which gave her the sense that she alone was the only one awake.
Tina slowly rose, propping herself up with her pillow and reached for the book on her bedside table. It was almost strange how much she already treasured the book Newt had given her. To her, it was like having a piece of him she could keep when he had to return home. The thought made her smile, and she hugged the book to her chest for a moment before opening it. Her thin fingers delicately turned the pages while her brown eyes simmered with amazement at the hand-drawn illustrations printed onto the thick parchment. It was easy to tell by the ornate details that each drawing had taken many skillful – probably tireless – hours to get just right. Even the writing was structured and precise, yet it flowed together in a compassionate tone that spoke as if Newt was reading the pages to her. Her heart fluttered.
Queenie shifted in her bed and Tina quickly shut the book out of fear of her sister accidentally reading her mind. It was clear to her that she would receive no peace reading Newt's book in her sister's company. She would have to save it for the days Queenie was out with Jacob, or on the off chance she got home before her mind-reading sister did. Tina was already suspicious about what her sister might have been eavesdropping in on since Newt arrived. It would be naive of her to think that her sister was completely in the dark about how much Tina had missed Newt after he left. She was sure Queenie didn't have to be a mind reader to know that. When she watched Newt board that ship a year ago, it was the most bittersweet moment of her life. The bashful Magizoologist had a way of warming her heart with just the thought of him. There was goodness in him she'd never seen the like of. Day in and day out, her job was to deal with nefarious wizards, witches, and magical beings that thrived off of causing misfortune to others - which made Newt's optimism and his caring nature a welcomed reprieve.
Feeling both elated and rested, Tina got to her feet and placed the book of magical creatures back on the table parallel with her bed. Her arms reached high over her head and a content sigh escaped her lips as she stretched. The witch spotted her robe lying over the foot of her bed and she snatched it as she went to investigate the rest of her quiet apartment.
The wooden door squeaked and groaned as she slid it, opening it enough for her to slip into the other half of the flat. Thankfully the noisy door didn't seem to disturb anyone's slumber, nor had the sunlight pouring in though the two widows. Tina could easily make out Jacob's sleeping form, sprawled out on the floor in a heap of throws and pillows. Newt, however, was nowhere to be seen. Had she not already spotted the vivid blue coat still hanging next to hers by the door she might have panicked. By the look of it, and given the frankly disappointing number of hiding places in the small apartment, she deduced Newt was taking care of his creatures. His case was horizontal to the floor, just inches from the couch, the latches flung open.
Tina tiptoed across the floor so as to not wake Jacob and lingered with the magical case at her feet. She bit her lip, looking at it quizzically while she debated whether or not it would be rude of her to venture down without an invitation. Should I knock? She was unsure what the proper etiquette was with wandering into a suitcase. Surely it isn't the same as breaking and entering.
She laughed at herself for thinking something so absurd. "Drop in and say good morning at least…" she whispered to herself, building up the courage she needed.
With a sideways glance Tina knelt and opened the lid, carefully maneuvering down the narrow ladder. The disorganized clutter that greeted her was something she'd forgotten about. Newt's books and papers – even plants – lay scattered about, but not carelessly. The wizard had a knack for creating breath-taking habitats for all of his creatures that were clean and safe, while living out of a shack overflowing with clutter. It was just a way he showed how much effort and care he placed on the beasts before himself.
Tina expertly stepped around the mess and out into the open. "Newt!" she called in a somewhat hushed tone, not wanting to frighten any of the creatures around her. She stuck close to the shack, peering into each enchanted exhibits. She'd forgotten how utterly magical the inside of his case was. With each enclosure a new set of smells filled her nose, the earth changed beneath her feet as she walked, and the temperatures fluctuated to keep each individual animal at its happiest.
Tina called his name again, this time her cry being received by a gentle tug on her robe. She spun to find an ape-like creature with silvery hair and large round eyes leering up at her.
"Oh," she said surprised. "Your name is, Dougal, right?"
The creature cooed approvingly, and she smiled down at him, tucking a tuft of hair behind her ear.
"You wouldn't happen to know where Newt is, would you?"
The Demiguise replied with another noise, similar to a cat's purr, and took the end of her robe in his tiny hand as he waddled back towards the rickety hut. Tina took small steps to keep pace with the helpful animal, impressed by the creature's attentiveness. She worked with Auror's who didn't listen as well.
Dougal led her inside once more and stopped just short of the wooden ladder she used moments ago. He pointed to a hidden alcove beyond the timber rungs and cooed again.
There, surrounded by his books and trinkets, she found Newt breathing gently, asleep, with a journal open on his chest and a quill still in his hand. His hair was more disheveled than usual, and she could make out the scar-covered skin on his stomach where his shirt pulled away from his trousers. The light that bore down on him from the slender cracks in the roof illuminated the freckles on his pale cheeks, but didn't even remotely seem to bother him in his slumber.
Tina beamed at the sight of him and how peaceful he looked lying in his hammock. She didn't want to wake him; in fact, she wouldn't. She was perfectly content just watching him sleep. The soft rise and fall of his chest transfixed her, as well as the way his pinky finger twitched every so often. A faint snore, low and gentle, parted his full lips with each breath he took. Tina would embed the sight into her memory forever, noting how impossibly radiant he was.
"Tina?" He mumbled sleepily a few moments later.
Her heart skipped a beat. His eyes were barely open, but he'd still managed to catch her ogling him. "Good morning," she said quickly, hoping he wouldn't find her gaze too peculiar.
Newt remained lying still for a minute trying to gather himself, squeezing his eyes shut, then opening them wide.
"Good morning," he finally replied, with a yawn. He stretched as best he could in the cramped space, his hammock swaying.
"When I couldn't find you upstairs I figured you were down here taking care of everyone." Tina nodded her head toward the direction of the doorway. Her tone was flustered, and the words spilled from her mouth quickly as if he'd caught her doing something she shouldn't be. She wasn't looking at him, perhaps to hide the light pink coloring her cheeks.
When Newt finally wrestled free of his hammock, he brushed a hand through the thick mop of reddish-brown hair on his head and smoothed his wrinkled shirt with the other. Embarrassingly, Tina had found him in a less than presentable state – bare feet, untucked shirt, and he wasn't even wearing his braces: had she not been wearing a robe and pajamas the wizard might have felt more uncomfortable about his current attire. Usually, he was a morning person; he had to be for his job. On mornings like the current one, when he allowed himself a few extra hours of rest, his body was slow to respond when he needed it to.
"Sorry," he yawned again, this time shielding his mouth with his hand. "I meant to sleep upstairs, I just, uh, got distracted," Newt gestured to the quill and journal lying in the hammock.
Tina shrugged. "Its okay. This little nook you've got is…it's very you." She smiled at him with approval.
Newt found himself oddly satisfied knowing she was fond of the little corner hidden among the clutter. She was right, in that the alcove very much suited him. He needed little to feed his own pleasure, which allowed him to go above and beyond to provide for others – mostly his creatures – with everything they could ever need.
The dark-haired witch's eyes surveyed the books and baubles that made up the tiny niche, and it wasn't until she caught sight of one of his drawings tacked to the wooden shelf did Newt's heart begin to race.
"Um…"
She'd already taken hold of the picture before he could stop her. "Is this me?" Tina studied the drawing in mild awe.
Newt bit his lip. "…Yes," he admitted. He carefully judged her expression to try to grasp how the sketch made her feel. His fear was that she would be inclined to think it was odd he'd even attempted to draw her portrait. After all, the two of them had only been in each other's company for less than a week when he'd sketched the picture.
After what felt like hours, a gentle expression softened her features, which in turn lifted the heavy weight bearing down on the wizard. Newt stepped closer to her, gingerly pulling her arm lower so he could also see the image.
"The only problem is," he said, gently placing a finger under her chin and lifting her line of sight to meet his. "I couldn't get that marvelous spark of ambition in your eyes just right…ruined the whole thing." The feeling from the lake returned as he watched her eyes well with tears.
When she broke the glance a soft, almost nervous chortle escaped her lips. "Again," Tina murmured, as she handed the drawing back. "You don't give yourself the credit you deserve."
Newt looked at the sketch he did a year ago the night he'd left New York; and in doing so fought the urge to frown. The longer he glared at the woman on the wrinkled page the more he recognized his depiction looked nothing like Tina. In truth, he was sure no charcoal sketch by even the most skilled artist, or even a photograph, could ever accurately capture Miss Goldstein and her radiance. As with all things, having a copy paled in comparison to the real thing. Anything but the real her would be overshadowed by the light that flowed from her.
Even so he placed it back on the shelf with the tack, to serve as a reminder how good it felt when he would eventually be in her company once more after his trip back home.
"Teenie, you down there?" Queenie's voice called from the top of the ladder.
"Yeah," Tina called back, drying her eyes quickly with the sleeves of her robe. "I'll be up in a minute."
A moment later there was a rustling at the top of the shack, and soon Jacob and Queenie appeared. She was still in her pajamas and robe like her sister, while Jacob's attire was exactly as it had been the day before with a few added wrinkles. The Muggle's eyes roamed over the interior with the hint of a smile beginning to take shape on his face.
"Hey, yeah. I remember this place." He looked at Newt. "All your animals are in here."
The wizard nodded. "That's right."
"Aw, honey," Queenie looped her arm through Jacobs excitedly. "Wait till you see 'em again." She glanced at Newt in such a way it was as if she was asking permission to view the beasts. The wizard eagerly obliged with a wave of his hand. As everyone filed out of the cramped interior of the tiny hut, Newt hurriedly stepped into his boots, tucked in his shirt, and threw on his waistcoat from the previous day before rejoining his friends outside.
"I've actually got someone to introduce - well, reintroduce you to, Jacob," he said, leading them to the woven nest of Occamies.
As usual the serpentine birds squawked as their mother approached, eager for their breakfast. With his skillful hands, Newt reached into the bed of dried grass and scooped out one of the slender, feathery creatures. It chirped and sang in delight as the Magizoologist removed a large insect from one of his pockets. He dangled the bug by one of its spindly legs over the Occamy's head and, in an instant, it snapped up its meal, swallowing it whole. The Occamy coiled around Newt's hand and flapped its wings happily to thank him for the grub.
With his available hand, the wizard motioned for Jacob to come closer. "Your Occamy." Newt tilted his hand allowing the creature to slide into the Muggle's open palm.
"Mine…?" He looked confused for a moment before the memories in his mind came out of the fog and into view. "Oh…this is the little guy who hatched in the bank."
Newt smiled and nodded. "Jacob, meet Jacob."
Jacob looked up at him with surprise in his eyes, until they eventually fell back onto the Occamy in his hand. "You named him after me?" He sounded touched.
"It only seemed appropriate." Newt half-shrugged.
Jacob was the only Occamy with a name thus far. Sooner or later Newt would need to return the Occamies back to freedom in Asia. The creatures were just over a year old and starting to take flight. Eventually they would need wide-open skies – something he couldn't give them in his case. Naming them only made it that much harder for him when the time came to part ways, and on the chance he chose to keep one, little Jacob seemed to be the perfect candidate.
"That's great," Jacob said, eyes sparkling. "I'm honored."
Newt took little Jacob back from his friend and returned the creature to the nest with his brothers and sisters. He clapped his hands together to remove the grass shavings before placing them in his pockets. "Who would you all like to see next?" There were only a few creatures the group hadn't already met, but he always loved an opportunity to showcase his beloved beasts.
"Did you say something about dragons yesterday?" Tina asked looking intrigued.
Newt's eyes lit up. "Yes, of course! This way."
As he led his friends to the nearby enclosure he cautioned them about the jagged rocks that made up the terrain. Out of habit, the wizard fell upon his stomach when they reached the rim of the nest; the others hesitated to kneel for a closer look.
"Oh, they're beautiful," Queenie said breathlessly, her eyes glittering.
"Yes, but please don't touch them," Newt warned, reaching to catch Tina's outstretched hand before she could touch one.
"Sorry," she whispered.
He flashed her a forgiving smile and continued his teaching. "These are Hungarian Horntail eggs. You can tell by their unique shape and color."
"Do the markings mean anything?" Jacob asked, noticing the darker and lighter hued swirls on different eggs.
Newt bobbed his head. "The sort of deep red spirals indicate the gender of the dragon will be male. The cream markings mean—"
"It'll be female," Tina finished his sentence.
Newt looked at her and relished in the fact she was so captivated by the unborn creatures. "The, um, shells are the thinnest shell in existence. It isn't until the hatchling emerges that the pieces harden. Interestingly enough, the hardened shell casings are often used to make jewelry."
Queenie made a tiny gasp, "So when they say Horntail egg shell, it really is dragon egg fragments and not some silly name for a gemstone?"
Newt nodded.
Tina shifted beside him, moving from a kneeling position to lying just as he was, eyes sparkling in wonder. "So are you gonna keep 'em when they hatch?" she asked.
His lips formed into a hard line, and he shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. There's a group of wizards in Hungary who asked me to watch over the clutch until they hatch."
"Ain't they got a mother?" Jacob asked.
The wizard's eyes saddened. "Their mother was hunted and killed for her bronze horns." He would never understand the killing of magical creatures for selfish gain.
Queenie frowned. "That's horrible."
"Her nest was almost ransacked as well," Newt added. "Fortunately, the wizards were able to intervene before the poachers found the burrow."
"So what are these wizards you know planning to do with them?" Tina asked after a moment. There was a hint of concern in her voice, as if she was genuinely worried for the well-being of the unborn dragons.
"They are toying with the notion of using them as mounts. They think if riders can imprint with them as hatchlings, training them may be easier." Newt got to his feet as he finished talking, offering Tina a helping hand. She thanked him, and the two of them brushed the dirt from their clothes. "I might stay on for a while once they've hatched, but I won't be keeping them."
Even though it saddened him that he wouldn't be keeping the baby dragons, he was more intrigued to find out if the wizards would be successful in what they wanted to accomplish. Dragons were intelligent but rather brutish beasts; more often than not they did only as they pleased. Imprinting with hatchlings may very well be the key to getting them to cooperate at a higher capacity. Only time would tell.
Newt scratched the back of his head, thinking about who else he should show is friends and smiled.
"What?" Tina also smiled at him.
"Follow me."
There was a pep in his step as he led them to meet the newest member of his interspecies family. As they walked, he stopped to grab a rope with an assortment of dead squirrels hanging from it. Newt tossed it around his body without care, and it hung over him like a sash. Soon he led them to an enclosure of gigantic trees and a forest floor. The air turned cooler, shrouded from the warmth of the faux sunlight, and the earth gave way under their feet as they trekked deeper into the false woods. The trees seemed to go on for miles.
Newt stopped them just shy of a heaping pile of twigs and shrubs. "Do as I say," he cautioned them with his arm outstretched to keep them at a safe distance. He made a clicking sound using his tongue and cheek as he treaded closer. In front of them, the mound of leaves and branches stirred. Newt made the noise again, louder, and the pile of brush rustled.
"Come on," Newt murmured between clicks. He inched forward, still keeping his arms out, warning the others not to follow.
Suddenly a large eagle's head poked out from the clump of sticks. The creature immediately looked at Newt and cocked its head. The wizard grinned.
"That's it, Charlie," Newt coaxed the creature out by brandishing one of the dead mammals tied to him. "Come and meet Mum's friends."
The beast seemed hesitant and looked only at Newt, who continuously motioned for it to come closer. With a little more coaxing, and the offering of another squirrel, Charlie strutted out from his shelter to unveil his unusual body.
"What is that?" Jacob asked. Both his and Tina's bottom jaw went slack while Queenie beamed.
"He's a Hippogriff calf," Newt explained.
The wizard stepped slightly closer and eloquently bowed. He held the stance and waited until the animal did the same before stepping any nearer. The beast stood no taller than the middle of Newt's torso, and was beginning to shed his fluffy baby feathers on his head and wings. Newt tossed him one of the squirrels and Charlie skillfully caught it in his beak.
"He was my Christmas present this year," the Magizoologist smirked, allowing the Hippogriff to come to him first. "From my mother," he added rubbing the creature's neck gently.
Tina looked awestruck and eager. "Can we—"
Newt nodded. "Yes, but you must bow first, just as I did. Hippogriffs are very proud creatures, you see. Approaching one without proper etiquette is ill advised."
Thanks to his upbringing Newt's knowledge of Hippogriffs was extensive. He'd spent much of his life around them, and as such had acquired a vast understanding of them. He knew them to be the notoriously proud creatures they had a reputation for, but also found them to be extremely loyal beasts. Charlie was so far showing Newt his loyalty to him; an achievement the wizard spent the majority of the trip striving towards. The Hippogriff already trusted him enough to –after everyone had bowed – allow them to approach.
"He was a gift from your mother, you said?" Tina asked, fascinated by the creature. Newt took her hand and tenderly placed it on the animal's feathery head. Charlie cawed softly at the contact and rubbed into Tina's timid touch.
"Your mother breeds them," Queenie said reading Newt's mind. "And this one was a runt."
He nodded. "She knew I'd give him the attention his mother wouldn't. Hippogriffs usually only lay one egg, you see. Charlie here was a twin, but much smaller than his sister, Susan." Charlie nuzzled Newt's arm affectionately as the wizard continued to stroke the creature's feathers.
"I'm assuming you take after your mother?" Tina quipped with glee.
"To her delight and my father's dismay," he told her honestly.
Tina was still petting the creature's forehead as she spoke. "Why don't you get along with your father?"
Newt half shrugged, "It's more that we have less in common. My brother sort of set the bar high, and I disappointed him." He paused for a moment looking at his shoes. "He's far too kind to say it out right, though."
"Why would he be disappointed?" Jacob asked. "You published that book, and you do all this," he stretched his arms out, gesturing to the magical world around them.
"I'm not a war hero for one, nor was I at the top of my class. Theseus graduated Hogwarts, I got kicked out when I was halfway through my sixth year," he told the Muggle.
Newt was in no way upset with his father, nor did he think any less of him. He knew his dad loved him and would always be proud of him, just not in the way he was with Theseus. It was the way it was, and that didn't bother Newt. The same came with his brother. Theseus had always been the strapping big brother to Newt: always protective of his younger, lanky brother who kept creatures under his bed as a child. Theseus and Newt were as different as chalk and cheese, but that never got between them.
He tossed another small animal in the air for Charlie to catch. "Good boy," he praised, smoothing out the creature's feathers. The Hippogriff cawed and squawked again, starting to sound irritated. All the attention seemed to be getting to him.
"Shall we go back topside?" Newt suggested, not wanting to stress the Hippogriff any farther. "It is Christmas morning after all."
Newt tossed one last squirrel for Charlie to run after. He squawked and trotted after his meal, wings spread out. With his new baby content the wizard led them back to the shack, moving through the trees with ease. He walked with a smirk on his face, thriving in the company of his friends and in their astonishment of his creatures. The interaction with Charlie had gone over splendidly. Hippogriffs were sometimes difficult creatures to show off to a crowd of people given their prideful personalities. Much to Newt's delight, Charlie had done exceptionally well meeting strangers.
When they reached the shack, Newt slung the rope of dead animals off and onto a hook by the door before proceeding inside with the others. Had the wizard foreseen having so many visitors in his case, he may have thought to fashion a set of sturdier, perhaps even wider, stairs out of his case instead of a measly ladder. They each took turns venturing up the narrow rungs, Jacob having the most issues upon his exit, until they were all once more in the Goldstein apartment.
The sun filled the sitting room and the fire was burning in an attempt to remove the chill that lingered in the air. All the festive candles were lit and flickering with delight, while coffee brewed of its own accord on the stove. Holiday music played along with the soft bubble of the coffeepot that filled the room with its rich and heavy aroma. Jacob stood across the room as Newt emerged from his magical case – securely locking the latches. With the heel of his boot, he gently slid it under the sofa safely out of the away, and with his wand casted a quick charm causing a rope to coil around it. Queenie soon slipped out from behind the closed doors of her and her sister's room wearing a velvet green dress with beadwork and holly once again faceted in her golden curls. The blonde-haired witch looked as though she was some sort of Christmas nymph. Even her red lipstick matched her shoes.
She waltzed over to Jacob, who was once more struck dumb by her radiance. "You look—" he swallowed nervously.
Queenie giggled and rubbed her nose on his. "Thanks, sweetie."
Tina appeared a few moments later, dressed in an elegant red blouse with loose fitting gray slacks. She too was wearing lipstick, though in a much softer shade than her sister, as well as a piece of holly where her hair was pinned back; all undoubtedly Queenie's doing. Newt couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. She didn't seem to notice, however, and walked directly to the coat rack,throwing hers on.
"I have a gift for you, Newt. But it's not here," Tina removed his blue coat and handed it to him.
"You're gonna love it!" Queenie almost shouted.
The sudden commotion had Newt somewhat jumbled. "Where exactly is it?" He easily slipped into his overcoat and reached for his case.
"No," Tina stopped him. "Queenie and Jacob can handle that. We won't be gone long."
Before he could cite the conditions under which he was allowed to have the case with him in the first place, Tina grabbed hold of him. As she did, the two of them were instantaneously transported to a place Newt only guessed was upstate New York. Trees vacant of leaves surrounded them instead of the skyscrapers of the city, and the snow was deep enough to touch their ankles. The day was bright, sunny, clear for a winter's day, and blessedly free of wind. Through squinted eyes he could make out the mischievous smirk on Tina's face as she stood across from him with her hands buried in her pockets.
"This way," she inclined her head toward a denser grove of trees.
"I really should have brought my case," Newt commented after several minutes of stomping through the snow. His words came out in a peevish tone, which he hadn't fully intended. "It's just, if MACUSA finds out…" he spoke in a less harsh manner.
"My sister and Jacob will make sure everything is under control," Tina assured him. She was so carefree and jovial that Newt didn't want to press harder and spoil her mood.
"Can I at least know where we are going?"
Tina remained steadfast. "Nope. It's part of the surprise."
Newt pursed his lips and kept pace with Tina. Soon the thick snow under their feet melted away and turned to damp earth. The air seemed to rise in temperature as they continued their hike. Newt was savvy enough to note that the new climate was due to some sort of enchantment, similar to the ones he used on his enclosures, but had no idea why one was being used.
"Just up here," Tina said eagerly.
The trees began to part as the couple stumbled upon a rocky hillside. At its base was a dark break in the stone that resembled the mouth of a cave, which seemed to be their destination. Tina stood next to the threshold of the cavern, motioning for Newt to enter first. The Magizoologist didn't hesitate; his anxiousness quickly melded into intrigue upon seeing the cave. He considered himself somewhat of an expert at cave exploration; after all, he'd ventured into countless dens and hollows in search of magical creatures, knowing not what awaited him. This time he knew that whatever was dwelling inside wouldn't do him harm, on account Tina was the one to lead him there in the first place.
The mouth of the grotto was nothing that he hadn't seen a hundred times over; damp, cold and riddled with rock formations. If it wasn't for the slight glow of light coming from deeper within the cave, their path would have been difficult to tread. Curiosity pulled Newt farther into the depths of the cavern, and the closer he moved to the light, the more he could feel a warm breeze sweep over his hair. The moist air grew arid and the light grew brighter. Suddenly it was as if he'd stepped into a vast desert. The sight pulled at a memory, and it only took him a moment to realize why and what Tina's gift was to him.
She was lingering behind him, her eyes brimming with happy tears as she watched the realization strike him. Newt was about to speak when something nuzzled his back gently. The wizard slowly spun around to find, in all his magnificence, his Thunderbird. Frank squawked happily, flapping his massive wings in excitement.
In that moment, Newt struggled to find his words. He had only dreamed of seeing Frank again – healthy and free, but there he was. The Magizoologist wasn't able to fight the tears in his eyes - they fell down his cheek freely and full of joy.
"Hello, old friend," he murmured, rubbing his hand through the thick golden fathers while resting his forehead against the creature. Frank didn't move for the longest time, just letting Newt tenderly stroke his neck and nuzzle him. Affection flowed through both of them.
After a time, Tina approached and ran a gentle hand through Frank's dense feathers. Newt watched her with a warm heart, tears still in his eyes. She had not only managed to gain the Thunderbird's trust, but had gone above and beyond his expectations when he'd asked her to look out for the large bird.
"It wasn't long after you left we caught wind that Frank had found this place," Tina explained to Newt, still gingerly caressing the animal's neck. "I got in touch with some wizards and witches at work who, when I told them we needed to make a safe place for Newt Scamander's Thunderbird, Frank, to live, jumped at the opportunity," she smiled.
There was just the faintest trace of tears left in her eyes, unlike Newt. He swallowed and had to wipe the tears away with his coat sleeve before he could return the grin.
"It might not be Arizona, but at least he can stay in here when the weather is colder." Tina glanced at the sunny vastness around her.
"This…" Newt couldn't think of a way eloquent enough to express the level of emotion he was feeling. "Thank you," he told her. It wasn't a good enough response to express how he felt. An overwhelming mix of admiration, gratitude, and affection crashed into him and he couldn't think of a single phrase to sum them up equally. "Really, Tina. I—"
"I know," she gave a small chuckle.
Somehow he knew she could tell what he was feeling. Actions so often spoke louder than words. Surely she'd gathered from his tears and speechlessness just how elated he was.
What a Christmas it was turning out to be; the best in recent memory. His mother had given him a Hippogriff fledgling, he spent the Eve in the company of friends he admired and cared about, and Tina's gift to him was Frank and his wonderful new home. There was no better gift than knowing his creatures were safe and free.
When the initial shock had worn off, and the two of them had regained composure, Tina took the liberty of showing Newt all the features of Frank's cave. There wasn't anything she and her friends had missed; from wide-open faux skies that mimicked the hours outside, to the half-dozen lofty rock formations the Thunderbird could perch on - there was even a small canyon with a river flowing at the bottom. Native plants from the deserts of Arizona sprouted sporadically across the gritty earth. Their stroll about the cave swept well into the early afternoon, with Frank never straying too far. The creature displayed remarkable kinship and delight at sharing his cave with the two of them. Frank's story had had a happy ending, from the whips and chains of Egypt to living like a king in upstate New York. It filled Newt's heart with an incomprehensible amount of joy.
"We should be heading back," Tina suggested a while later.
The pair of them sat at the precipice of the canyon, feet dangling without care, watching the Thunderbird soar between the cliffs. He would have remained in the cave with Tina and Frank all day if he could have, but Newt knew she was right. He'd already been away from his case longer than he should have been. Perhaps that was the reason Tina was so adamant it stay behind; she knew it was the only thing that would stop him from spending his Christmas in the cave. Clever Tina.
"Probably best," Newt agreed with a sigh.
Frank flew overhead as the witch and wizard got to their feet, landing on a plateau of sand-colored stone. He cawed and cooed as Newt approached to issue his goodbye – pressing his forehead to the animal's beak. Newt embraced the large bird as best he could, tangling his fingers in its cream and gold feathers. "Goodbye, Frank," he told the creature as he pulled away. "Tina is absolutely magnificent, so don't give her any trouble, okay?"
Frank squawked loudly as if to agree, flapping his massive wings, and took flight once more to land on a higher rock formation. Newt stepped back, keeping his focus on the creature - not noticing Tina walk up beside him with her wand already in hand. It wasn't until he felt her hand take his that his gaze turned to her, and once again his eyes swelled with tears. She offered him an understanding smile and, in a flash, the cave with Frank was gone.
"Oh!" Queenie stood up quickly from where she was sitting on the floor with Jacob, unwrapping presents. "You're back." She ran to Newt. "You loved it," she grinned. "More than that, you were speechless!" she gave her sister a knowing look and turned back to Newt, "You're a sweetie."
Newt swore he saw Queenie wink at Tina, but the gesture happened so fast he wasn't sure; his eyes were still too puffy with emotion.
"Opening gifts?" Tina asked, directing the conversation away from herself and Newt. "Did you like what I got you?"
"Of course!" the blonde bubbled. "I knew I would."
Tina teasingly rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I'll never be able to surprise you, will I?"
Queenie wrinkled her nose and smirked, "Nh-uh."
The sisters' playful exchange suddenly made Newt aware that he'd only brought a gift for Tina. In his determination to give her his book, he'd neglected to bring a gift for Queenie - or Jacob, for that matter. New York was filled with thousands of shops, but it was Christmas. None of them would be open. There was nothing he could do, and he frowned.
"It's okay," Queenie suddenly said with an unconcerned shrug. "You made Teenie happy. That's a gift enough for me." She gave him a friendly peck on the cheek and returned to the floor with Jacob by the tree.
"There's still some breakfast on the stove if you both are hungry," Jacob pointed.
"He made cinnamon rolls!" Queenie added.
The fragrant smelling pastries made Newt's stomach rumble. Tina was at them first, having already tossed her coat over one of the chairs. She easily scooped the sticky bun onto a plate and asked if Newt wanted one.
"Please," he shrugged out of his overcoat, his mouth watering.
Like the Christmas cookies from the night before, Jacob's cinnamon rolls were exquisite. They were flaky, melt in your mouth good - with just the right about of icing to give them that extra sweetness.
(A/N): What did ya think?