January 11th, 1927

Dear Tina,

My New Year celebrations were remarkably relaxed. I spent the evening in the temporary attic zoo, working on my book. I should have a first draft ready in the next week to show my editor.

The repairs and reinforcements of my suitcase have just about been completed. The case really is a labour of love. Not only does it need special charms that off-set the weight of the creatures inside of it but the undetectable extension charms need to be fool-proof. Then each habitat needs its own type of care and attention, since they all have their own artificial environments. It was difficult, to say the least, when it came to dismantling the Thunderbird enclosure, knowing that it will never be needed again. However, it served its purpose, and thanks to that enclosure a trafficked beast has it's freedome. If I taking the habitat out now, I can prepare for whoever might join my group next. I need to go through and adjust the atmospheric spells on all the different habitats still, however when it is finally time for me to go back out into the field, my beasts and I will be ready. I have also fixed my case latch, so accidental escapes should be down to a minimum now.

Sometime, I would appreciate it if you would give me your professional opinion on ways that I could improve my case. Maybe when I see you next in New York you'll do me the honor?

I must say Tina, I was relieved when you wrote back. I was truly worried you would be angry with me for my actions regarding Jacob. He told me he felt like he was dying in that canning factory, and Jacob in the short time I have known him has given me so much. I needed to do something to repay his friendship. As I am sure you can tell, I don't always well-received by most people. Many people find me annoying and odd. Yet, Jacob accepted me and that kind of acceptance has been surprisingly hard for me to find, even in a magical world. However, I will keep my actions a secret from everyone else. Only you, Queenie and I will know. He doesn't know that it was me who assisted him. Frankly, he doesn't know any of us anymore. He really is a good man and I can understand why you sister took to him like she did.

I understand your concern for your sister. However, she is a smart lady and I am almost positive she is not acting out of grief. It could be quite possible that maybe knowing that Jacob had been provided for inspired a new sense of purpose in her life. I wouldn't be surprised if she found herself a job working in a muggle shop, just to be closer to people like Jacob. Also, she is probably keeping you in the dark about her actions because she thinks that it will prevent you from worrying. Even though you and I both know that it won't.

Despite having a brother, he and I haven't been close since we were children. We grew apart the second he boarded the train for Hogwarts, so I don't really have good advice to offer. However, I am more than happy to be your sounding board. Please feel free to tell me whatever you'd like, and I will do my best to understand and be supportive. You don't need to carry the burden alone. Please don't feel that there is any topic too depressing to bring to me. I'm sorry that is the most I can offer while being so far away.

How are you doing with being the only Goldstein at MACUSA? I will admit, almost selfishly, I am very pleased you are not on Grindelwald's security detail. In your first letter when you said that you couldn't give me any details about it, I knew you were on that case. The truth is, Grindelwald is powerful enough to imperius someone without a wand. Especially someone who is weak minded. Queenie also had a point, Grindelwald does have followers. I know you can take care of yourself, but please be safe.

As for your new assignment, I think hunting down a puffskein breeder sounds much safer. I know it won't be as exciting as an Occamy in a department store, but you never know what a puffskein might be up too. Be careful or you might get yourself a reputation in MACUSA as the person to ask for help with about magical creatures. However, I know you seem to have good luck running into men with magical creatures but that won't help with this case. After I received your letter, I received another letter from New York, asking if I was still interested in a Appaloosa Puffskein. Turns out if you say that in front of a national delegation of wizards, word gets out. You might not have Gnarlak as an informant anymore, but it seems like you might be doing fine without him. I know you well enough to know that by the time you receive this letter you will have either found who you're looking for or you are very close to it. Let me just say that it is a Russian Royal in the US on political asylum.

You know, you might like having a puffskein as a pet. If you do decide you want to get one, just know that it does have a tendency to stick its tongue up sleeping witches and wizard's noses and eat what it finds. Actually, now that I think about it, you are much more a kneazle kind of woman. Kneazles are tend to be excellent at judging peoples characters. They tend to sniff out shady or untrustworthy beings. Actually, I think the investigations team should invest in one to keep around for investigations. However that might be a bit too… odd for MACUSA. I have been trying to get Ministry aurors to enlisted abandoned kneazles but, once again, this is seen as one of my many "strange" suggestions.

I will say, I am surprised Professor Dumbledore came to see you in New York. He made it seem like he was going to write when he said he was going to be in contact with you. However, something to know about Dumbledore is that he typically several steps ahead of the game. He might very well be a Legilimens. Actually, now that you say that it would make sense. He often seems to know about things he shouldn't. Things would happen at school and he would seem to know when someone was lying. Mrs. Esposito is an excellent example, I most assuredly did not tell Dumbledore about her. However, it would have been interesting having dinner with Dumbledore, at least a small personal dinner. He used to eat with us in the Great Hall at Hogwarts but he never sat with students. I actually know very little about him outside of his academic accomplishments.

Also I am not surprised Dumbledore might have mentioned a teaching position to you. He is supposedly a candidate for the next Headmaster positon. I think he is always looking for talent to potentially bring to the school. He mentioned to me that if I was ever interested in teaching, to just ask him. Sometimes that is a tempting offer when stuck behind a stack of ministry papers. However the downside about being a professors is when would I find time to take care of my creatures?

For the record I think you would make a wonderful Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Does Ilvermorny offer Defense classes? Do you think you will stay working as an auror at MACUSA? I know in your last letter you said it was something you wanted to do since childhood. I would assume your plan is to stay in New York? Just curious.

The box you sent with your last letter was beyond generous. I don't know if there are enough words to say thank you. My creatures loved the things that you sent. However, I must thank you specifically for the socks. They are wonderful and fit perfectly. The temperature charm works wonders too. I have never been so comfortable with shoes on before. The time that you spent making them has been well appreciated. Thank you so very much Tina. It was more then I deserved.

I have included something for you in this letter. After receiving your thoughtful gift, I realized how inadequate the Fwooper feather I sent you was. I choose a yellow feather because your coat is blue and I thought they would look nice together. However, I didn't consider how a bright yellow feather in your hat would make you stand out in a group of aurors. I also didn't think about how you probably write with muggle pens while in the field, since quills and ink can be so messy. I am rather ashamed at my poor attempt of a gift, especially since you so thoughtfully give gifts for several of my friends including myself.

So I thought about it long and hard and I think I came up with the perfect gift to thank you for the socks. There is a tiny brooch in this envelope. I have put every type of shield charm I could think of on the little guy. For those very rare moments when you don't have enough time to cast a shield charm, this brooch should automatically protect you. I hope it's to your liking. It's an old school pin of mine. I tried to pick something subtle enough that you would feel comfortable wearing it daily but also nice enough to express to you how much your gift means to me. I hope its okay that I polished it before I sent it to you. Please forgive me if it isn't to your liking, I tried my best. I am out of practice at giving gifts.

I look forward to your next letter.

Yours,

Newt Scamander

Tina stuck her hand back into the envelope and pulled out a pin about the size of a quarter. It was what looked to be a small golden badger. The badger was standing on its hind legs, with its front paws in the air. She thought that the badger was a bit odd, but it somehow fit her understanding of him. She didn't understand the significance of a badger, but it was very nice. It might be a British thing. She would ask about it in her next letter.

She held it up to the light and the light from the lamps flashed across it. The most she studied the pin, the more and more she liked it. It wasn't overly ornate. There were no jewels or beads on it, which was fine by her. She like the simplicity of its design. Also, the fact that it was his own personal pin was not lost on her. It made her feel warm just thinking about it.

She set the charm down on the table and stood back by the windows. She shot a tickle jinx at it, and to her surprise, it came flying right back at her. It really worked! She look a pillow off the couch and put it in front of the pin. She was curious if the pin would still shield if it was covered by a coat or scarf. Another tickle jinx was sent in its direction, and the spell rebounded again. Tina was impressed, she knew that Newt was good at charms the first time she went into his case. However shield charms were a completely different type of charm. She walked back over to the table and picked up the pin to inspect it. Sometimes if you knew what you were looking for, you could feel traces of magic spells that had been case before. However, nothing felt off or distinctly magically about this pin.

She walked over to the mirror the girls kept in their bedroom and carefully pinned the small badger to her collar. She smiled at her reflection, and blushed. She brushed back the portion of hair that Newt touched before he left. She turned away from the mirror, and mentally chastised herself for acting like a silly child over a gift. However, she fingers found their way back to the pin and she felt herself smile, despite herself.

She wished Queenie was home so she could show her the gift from Newt. Tina sighed to herself. Since Queenie had left MACUSA, she was out later. She would rarely be home when Tina got back from work. Tina would wait an hour and if Queenie wasn't back by 6:30 she would make supper herself. She found herself eating alone, with Queenie coming in right before she finished supper. Every time Queenie came in she was smiling and laughing. Yet she never told Tina where she had been during the day. She wondered if Queenie had met a guy, and replaced Jacob in her heart, but she didn't know how to ask her. Tina had never felt this alone before.

She sighed to herself. At one point she knew Queenie was going to leave her, but Tina didn't think it would be so soon. Tina assumed they would be together until one or both of them got married. However she wasn't so sure anymore. Her eyes scanned the room for something to do, for something to distract her from her thought. Her eyes landed on Newt's letter sitting on the couch. She felt herself grow warm as she crossed the room to reread the letter.

This second time she paused at specific phrases. 'Dear Tina', 'You don't have to carry this burden alone,' and 'Yours, Newt' which all made her chest feel tight. However there were things with more meaning in the letter that she saw the second time around.

He wanted her to inspect his magical creature's case. He wanted her to make suggestions on how to make it better. That was an immense compliment coming from a man who literally takes his work with him everywhere he goes. Tina was sure that he just didn't invite people into his case and ask their opinions on how to make it function better. He trusted her with the very essence of his work, and that really spoke volumes from a man like Newt.

He also inquired as to her plans about staying in New York and he plans to be an auror. Was he asking if she would be open to the idea of moving to England? Or was he saying he might be interested in moving to New York? She shook herself. 'He might just be being polite', she reminded her. Sighing, she looked down at her hands. What did she want to do?

Tina had always wanted to be an auror because it seemed like the best type of job for her. A strict set of rules, a strong code of ethics, and adventure all were the things that Tina wanted at Ilvermorny. However, she wasn't sure what she wanted now. Yes she might be an auror again, but she couldn't help feeling betrayed by Madam Picquary when she accused Tina of keeping Newt and his case a secret. She tried to report it, but was turned away. That hurt her more then she would ever admit, especially since she did it in front of Newt, who was, at the time, a complete stranger. At times she felt isolated among her fellow auror. They were all good witches and wizards but no one seemed to second guess any orders they received and that concerned Tina.

What would she do if she left the MACUSA? What if she moved to England to be with Newt? She stopped herself again. 'He did not ask you to move to England' she reminded herself silently. What would happen to her and Queenie if she quit MACUSA? They would have to move out of the Brownstone they lived in. Maybe they could move to a different city, like Detroit or Chicago? Large cities with MACUSA branches. Maybe they should go out west to Hollywood and start fresh in the sunshine. She knew Queenie would love it there. However the thought of her sister stopped her short.

Actually she didn't know what Queenie would like, at least, not anymore. Tina sighed and looked at the clock, it was just about 6:30 and her sister wasn't home.

Suddenly feeling very tired, she decided to skip supper, and take Newt's letter to bed with her.

When Queenie arrived home at 8:30, she found her sister asleep in bed with Newt's letter in her hand. Queenie gently tugged it out of Tina's hand, careful not to wake her sleeping sister, and crept into the living room to read her sister's letter.