December 29th, 1926

Miss. Porpentina Goldstein,

First and foremost, please address me as Newt, instead of Mr. Scamander. I insist. We fought Grindelwald together, I think that alone should allow us a bit of informality.

Secondly, I want you to know that I put the strongest locking spell I could find on the attic door, so far there have been no escapes. Dougal, as always, has been trying to leave but I think that he became a bit spoiled in New York with all of his freedom.

Additionally, please forgive me on my delay in writing back to you. The holidays have been an unpredictably busy time of year for me. This time last year I was out in Africa searching for magical creatures so I missed all the family traditions. However, this year it was insisted that I participate. It is poorly timed with my work at the ministry picking up. Never have I missed field research as much as I did this past week.

I very much enjoyed your letter and read it several times, along with the several times I read it allowed to Dougal and Pickett. Both are very interested in how you are doing in New York. I must say, that it was very difficult for me to write my first letter to you, but your return letter has sparked so many questions and thoughts that I feel like I won't have enough pages to write back.

I am curious about the magical ladle story, and I hope you will tell me the whole story when I see you in New York next. As for the Swooping Evil venom, it's a comfort to know it's working. I'm glad being an auror is everything you hoped it would be. It's strange, I had never really wondered or thought much about the aurors here at the Ministry until meeting you. It seems like such a dangerous position, but of course, you have to be talented to have it. Also, if telling Madam Picquery the truth about how great you were was all it took to get your old job back, then I would be glad to help as often as needed.

I am sure this will sound very, motherly of me, but I hope that you are not on the team guarding Grindelwald. Not that you aren't capable and competent, because you are. Please do not take this the wrong way, as you are a very talented and smart witch, it's just I would sleep better knowing that you were a safe distance away from that man. I'm concerned at what he might do to you, if he saw you. You were a major part in his downfall after all and revenge is something I'm concerned about.

Speaking of Grindelwald, I had an interesting visitor to my office the other day. Albus Dumbledore, one of my former professors, stopped by the Ministry to see me. He made it seem like he was visiting in regards to my book, which once it's published he would like to make mandatory reading for the students at Hogwarts. However, he asked a number of question about Mr. Graves and our adventures in New York. I would not be surprised if he contacted you personally about your experiences with Mr. Graves. I hope I have not inconvenienced you by giving Professor Dumbledore your contact information. I am truly sorry if I have put you out.

I must say, I think it is a wonderful idea to write the book as an encyclopedia. Originally, I was interested in that but my publishing house warned against that, since it could be seen as lazy writing. However, with the arguments you put forth in your last letter, I took myself back to the publisher. I am happy to report back on the change of format of the book. It honestly been a breezy to work on since.

One good thing that came out of my visit to my parent's house over the holidays was that my brother convinced me to set up my beast encyclopedias up alphabetically. I had been thinking about setting it up by habitat or danger level. He normally doesn't take an interest in my work, however he said that most encyclopedias were alphabetical and why fix something if it's not broken. He suggested I use a key when talking about the beasts but that anything more the alphabetically to make it too complicated. It was truly a moment in our relationship.

As we are speaking about siblings, I'm also very sorry to hear about Queenie. I can understand how much she misses Jacob, he really is a truly good man. I knew he was different the first time he saw an Occamy hatch. Instead of being afraid, he was curious. However, he did believe that everything he was seeing for a while was all a dream. So, I'm not sure if that effected his reaction.

However, I do have something to confess. I do hope that you forgive me when you find out. I'm hesitant to say anything because, I don't want you to become angry with me. I gave Jacob six Occamy egg shells before I left for England. As you know, he needed collateral for the bank to give him is loan, and Occamy shells are solid silver. If all has gone to plan, Jacob should have his bakery loan, and possible a bakery by now.

Please forgive me. I know Americans have very strict rules on the relationships between magical and muggle people, but Jacob needed help. I took the opportunity. However, he didn't see me. We never spoke. I just used a switching spell and put the shells into his suitcase outside the canning factory. I am sorry if I betrayed your trust. However, Jacob is a rare breed of human and I just wanted him to lead the best life possible. I'm sorry if you are angry with me. I will sadly understand if you choose not to write back after this letter.

If I don't hear back from you, I want you to know I wish you all the best in the upcoming New Year. Please stay safe, and I think of you often.

Yours,

Newt Scamander.

P.S. Please do not feel obligated to send items for my creatures. I would hate to inconvenience you. However, Pickett has made it known that if you would be so kind as to send a twig or leaf from a Tulip Poplar tree, he would be in you debt. I have included two Fwooper feathers, one for you and one for Queenie. These feathers are known for hat decorations and they make very good quills. However I don't think American witches and wizards use quills. Additionally I have included for you a flyer of my upcoming book. I hope you will accept these simple gifts. Happy New Year.

"Teenie? What did Newt say?" Queenie asked cautiously. Tina looked up from her letter and stared into her eyes.

"What about Jacob?" Queenie asked quickly.

"Newt, he gave him the collateral for his bakery." Tina said quietly.

"HE DID?!" Queenie shrieked happily. "Oh Teenie! This is such great news!"

Tina watched her sister as she started to spin and dance around the living room.

"But Queenie, he broke the law." Tina said flatly, the disbelief in her voice. She put her head in her hands feeling defeated.

"How did he?" Queenie rushed over kneeling next to her sister. "He never told Jacob who he was, they never met face to face. Think of it as an anonymous donation! Wealthy people do that stuff all the time Teenie!"

"He gave him Occamy shells. Those are a class C non-tradable good. Trade of those shells encourages poaching."

"Teenie, it wasn't a trade. Jacob didn't know they were Occamy shells." She started to look crestfallen. "Why can't you just accept that Newt did something good for Jacob? Why is following the law so important right now?"

Tina rubbed her face, unable to answer her sister.

"Can I read your letter?" Queenie asked, softly.

Tina silently handed over the letter, which Queenie accepted, sitting down at the table to read.

Tina was left with her thoughts. She was disappointed in Newt, but also worried. Logically she agreed with assisting Jacob. He was a good man, and he deserved a good life. However, at the same time she was upset that he might risk his own ability to return to the United States by helping Jacob. If his assistance was found out he probably wouldn't be able to return to see her. Her face flared in shame. How could she let herself become so selfish, she was putting her own happiness over both Jacob's and Newt's. She was ashamed.

She looked down in her lap and she saw the folded flyer and Fwooper feathers. One was bright pink and the other was bright yellow. Instinctively she picked up the bright yellow feather, somehow knowing it was the one Newt picked for her. It was beautiful. As she looked at the feather, she saw the subtle differences in hue about the sections of the feather. She noted its softness between her fingers. She could never use this as a quill she thought it was too special. It was too bright and beautiful to put in her hat, she would stand out too much and her job was to blend in. She set the feather aside and unfolded the flyer. In bright purple letter, it read:

"Coming this summer, a new compendium of magical creatures will arrive at a bookstore near you.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander

"One of the most useful household and educational books to come around in ages" – Albus Dumbledore

"A must-have for every witch or wizard who has ever had questions or concerns about magical beast" – Bathlida Bagshot- Author of History of Magic.

Book tour dates to be released this summer.

She folded the flyer and looked up at Queenie, who was smiling at her from the table.

"What?" Tina asked defensively.

"Of all the things in this letter to get worked up about Teenie, you picked the wrong thing."

Tina crossed the living room to stand over her sister's shoulder. Setting the feathers and flyer on the table in front of her sister.

"This part," she said pointing, "Newt explains how worried he is about you, even losing sleep about it. And here, he says you are a smart and talented witch. He found your letter fascinating." She raised her eyes suggestively. "Don't forget the part where he asks you to call him by his first name. Then he says he thinks of you often. Also, he signs it as 'Yours'."

Tina face flushed a deeper shade of red as she snatched the letter out of her sister's hand and sat down next to her to reread it.

"He did say those things" she whispered out loud, almost in shock, as her eyes flew over the text of the letter

Queenie had picked up the pink feather and had been spinning it in-between her fingers, as she watched her sisters face. Tina's blush deepened as she read the letter another time through.

"You're not mad at him, are you?" She asked softly.

"No, no I'm not" she replied softly, not looking up from her hands.

"You will write him back, won't you?" Queenie asked tentatively.

A small smile broke out across her sister's face "of course, I just need a few moments to recollect myself."

Tina stood, took the flyer, yellow feather, and letter into their bedroom and closed the door silently behind her.

Queenie smiled brightly to herself. She now had the next clue she needed to find Jacob.