The Subway Station

In a park in Jersey, not far from New York, a happy couple was playing with their son. Little Tom was being tickled by his dad whilst his mother painted them together. They played ball, ate sandwiches and cakes, and then walked and skipped around the park. It soon turned dark and it was time to return home.

Carl Elms carried their boy in her arms towards their hotel. His wife carried the baskets. They came to their room and once they were inside, they waved their wands and their baskets and items magically levitated back to their normal positions. Even Tom was magically lifted over to his bed. Tina carolled a special lullaby and she put him to bed.

Her husband smiled and gently rubbed her arms. "We'll be heading home tomorrow. It's been so great to get out of Britain for a while,"

"How I pray that when Tom comes of age, he'll be happy at Hogwarts,"

"He will dear," Tina was full of hope. "Do you think he'll be in Gryffindor?"

"I think he'd make a decent Hufflepuff," his father teased.

His wife chuckled. They kissed. Then they left the room and closed the door. They went to the dining room and turned on their special radio. But the moment they turned the lights on, they saw a powerful wizard sitting in the room. Carl pulled out his wand but with a flick of magic their wands were disarmed and they were magically bound to the floor.

The intruder stood up.

"Grindelwald," Carl hissed.

The powerful wizard approached them sinisterly. "You have knowledge which I require,"

"Never," Carl spat back.

Grindelwald pointed his wand at his wife. The tip glowed green.

"No!" Carl begged, scared for his life.

"It won't just be here my wand will strike. You wouldn't want your little boy to get hurt. Do you?" he threatened.

"Dad?" a voice echoed.

The three heads were turned and they saw a little Tom in his clothes appear into view. Carl breathed in and out slowly.

"Don't move pumpkin," his wife begged their son.

Tom stood still; his eyes glued to the wizard whose different coloured eyes glared into his soul. He became scared.

Tom was running through the streets of New York in the dark. Bobo poked his head out of his pocket. He chirped anxiously. Tom cried out his brother's name several times but it was no use at all. He felt helpless.

Just then he remembered someone. "Of course. Newt! Newt!" Tom's cries rose higher but all he could hear was the audible falling of the snow and the rumbling of the rickety engines of old cars and trucks. "Mr Scamander! Mr Scamander!" he shouted out again and again but no help came. He came to a corner and spoke out desperately, "Hello?"

Total silence. Tom sighed. He slumped onto the path and pressed his face into his hands. "What should we do Bobo?" Bob hugged his cheek. "I'm all alone," He had never felt more alone in his life than ever. For a moment it was just him for a while. But soon he felt something cold and powerful crawling over his skin. He felt the light around him dark. A shadow seemed to crawl over the body of the buildings. Tom turned his head and sensed a powerful force of energy coming toward him. He gasped. Quickly he grabbed his case and he ducked into a side street, pressing himself against the wall. He saw the same black mass of energy from before swirling past him. And for a moment he thought he could almost sense a pair of eyes watching him from within the force of violent energy. He realised that instant that it was an Obscurial. Just like the one Newt kept in his suitcase.

Frightened than ever, Tom turned and rushed down the alleyway but the Obscurial and the mind within it pursued him. It had a mind of its own, closing in on him. Tom cried out for help.

Newt, Jacob, Tina, and her sister Queenie were on the roof. The Thunderbird Frank had detected something awful had happened and they had to check it out. As Newt stood, he heard a screeching of powerful energy coming from the streets. He saw a glimpse of mass force down in the streets. And the low but audible shrills of a boy.

"Is that the Obscurial thingie?" Jacob asked.

"That's more powerful than any Obscurial I've ever seen," breathed Tom.

"I can feel something," Queenie said. Her tone was full of fear.

"What is it?" Jacob asked.

"I think…I think it's someone in trouble," she said.

Newt glanced closer at the streets. Just at that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a little boy running for his life. "Oh my god. Tom,"

"Who?" Tina asked.

"It's Tom!"

"You mean Tom as in the kid?!" Jacob asked. He didn't get an answer. Newt disappeared.

Tom was running for his life. He heard crashing and clattering hearing the black energy cloud destroy everything behind him. When he turned his head, he tripped and fell to the ground. He tried to get up but the roar of the black energy made him turn and he saw it around to descend upon him. He circled against the road preparing to meet his end when all of a sudden he felt a pair of arms touch his shoulders and then a feeling of his stomach twisting and turning.

Tom screamed as he felt himself slam against solid ground. "Get off me!" he thought he was captured.

"It's okay! It's okay Tom!" Newt's voice screamed. "You're safe now,"

Struggling to breathe, Tom looked up and saw Newt's face, warm and full of joy. "You're safe now," he promised.

Tom flashed his head to him. "Oh, Newt!" He threw his arms around him.

"It's all right!" he stroked his back. "It's okay. You're safe. You're safe now,"

Tom had never been more scared than ever. Newt's warm arms made him feel safe again. The warm wizard pulled back and he rubbed his wet cheeks. "What happened?"

"That Obscurial attacked my home. It killed Mary and one of my adoptive siblings. And my brother…there was a man with him. He took him. And then when I was out looking for you, it came after me. And it nearly…" he stopped. He was beginning to cry. He had come so close to dying that he felt like his heart had stopped.

Newt gave him another tight hug. "It's all right. You're safe now," he promised. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to you," He stood up and helped Tom stand up too. Taking in his surroundings, Tom released they were on top of a building. He saw Jacob and two women stumbling to him.

"Hey kid," he waved.

"Hey Jacob," Tom waved. He saw the two women looking peculiarly at him and instantly hid behind Newt.

"It's all right Tom," Newt assured. "This is Tina and Queenie Goldstein,"

"Hi," Queenie, the stylish witch with short curly blonde locks waved to him.

Tom gave an awkward wave. When his eyes laid on Tina, he cocked his head and stepped further out. "Do I know you?"

Tina nodded. "You do. I came to your home a few months ago. You the youngest kid Tom aren't you,"

Tom nodded. "You were that witch who defended my brother,"

Tina nodded again. "I'm so sorry about what that awful woman did to you and your siblings,"

"She's dead,"

"Good," Tina was delighted to hear it. "I'm so sorry I couldn't do anything to stop her sooner. I spied on you and your brother for weeks to check on you. I'm sorry I couldn't do something about it,"

"Guys, please help me find my brother. A man took him away after that mass of energy killed Mary,"

Newt became concerned. "Tom…can you describe the man?"

Tom struggled to remember what he looked like. His head bounced back to the decimated church hall, watching the man with Credence as he spied on them. "He was tall. He had black shaved hair. He wore a black suit and his face looked straight,"

His description was enough for Newt. "Percival," he breathed.

"What? Who?"

"I think the guy who took your brother is the same one who's been using us as a scapegoat to get us and all my creatures into trouble,"

"Newt please will you help me find my brother?" he implored.

"Don't worry. We'll help you," Newt promised. "And then I'll take you guys out of New York,"

"Thank you," Tom was beyond in dept to that kind man.

"Guys look!" Tina pointed down to the streets. They all peered down and they saw a tall man in black marching toward the path of destruction the Obscurial was taking.

Tom recognised him immediately. "That's him! That's the guy!"

"I think he's interested in the Obscurial!" Newt wondered. "Here Tina!" she passed her his suitcase. "Look after my suitcase! And here's everything you need to know about taking care of them," he passed a book too. "And take care of Tom!"

"What? No! I'm coming with you!" Tom said determinedly.

"Tom, I cannot let you get into trouble," Newt rubbed his face with his hand. "Stay with Tina! She'll look after you!" He turned his back but Tom wouldn't let him give up. He grabbed his coat and they both disappeared.

They apparated to a rooftop. Newt was getting angry at Tom. "Tom! You can't come with me!"

"That man has my brother! And you didn't abandon me when I needed help! So I'm gonna help you!"

"Tom, I'd never forgive myself if…" Newt was interrupted by the screeching roars of the Obscurial flying towards them. Quickly he grabbed Tom and they apparated to another building watching the magic force of rage plunge down towards a city square. They saw buildings lighting on fire, people screaming and running, cars being thrown and destroyed. And Percival Graves approaching it.

Newt glanced at Tom with a serious expression. "Stay close to me at all times,"

Tom nodded.

Newt took his hand and they apparated to the city square. They hid behind a car and watched Percival Graves approach it. He called out to it, speaking to it, to the child or grown young man behind it. To survive so long, with this inside you, Credence! Is a miracle. You are a miracle. Come with me, think of what we could achieve together!"

Tom was heart-struck. "No. It can't be," he sank to his knees. "He can't…"

Newt touched his shoulders. "I'm so sorry Tom. This is what happens to someone who's repressed their magic for so long,"

"All that anger…it's turned him into this," Tom was beginning to cry a bit. "I can't believe he…" It was his brother that had nearly killed him. Or was he trying to get hold of him to keep him from danger?

Suddenly Tina appeared out of nowhere.

"It's the Second Salem boy. He's the Obscurial!" Newt warned. "It's Tom's brother!"

Tina was flabbergasted. "He's not a child!"

"His power must be so strong. He's somehow managed to survive!"

Tom turned to him. "What do you mean?"

"Usually, children who repress their magic don't survive past the age of ten. Your brother is so lucky,"

"Newt, we have to save him!" Tom would not see that man Graves get a hand on his brother. He wanted him for something.

"I'll distract Graves!" Tina shouted. "You guys get to Credence! Stay close to Newt, Tom!" She charged out to face Graves. "Graves!" Grave turned his attention off Credence's Obscurial and they shot spells at one another.

Newt hugged Tom close and they apparated away to get to Tom's brother before anyone else could. They watched the Obscurial fly away into the air. They apparated to the building watching it come towards them again.

Tom cupped his mouth. "Credence! Credence! It's me!" But the force came charging towards them in mid-air.

Newt teleported them to another building. "Credence! I can help them!"

But there was no stopping him. He was full of so much rage from cruelty, hatred, and neglect. It had transformed him into this unstoppable force who would destroy anything and anyone in his path. They pursued him to a subway station. They went underground and they watched its Obscurial crawling against the ceiling.

Tom clutched tightly onto Newt's hand. This was their chance. "Credence…it's me. This is Newt Scamander. He's here to help you,"

He looked at Newt who nodded back, promising him he would help his brother. Newt walked forward gently, keeping a firm hold on Tom's hand. "I've met someone just like you. A girl. A young girl who had been imprisoned. She had been locked away and shed been punished for her magic,"

The Obscurial becomes calm and less violent. It transformed back into Credence who looked scared but calm as he eyed his brother and the kind wizard who assured him that he was not the only one who had magic and was unrightfully punished for him.

"Can we come over to you?" Newt asked.

Credence didn't answer; he was so scared.

"I promise you we can help you," Tom assured. "I'm scared too. I have magic too. We can figure this out together. Mary is gone and we can go somewhere safe,"

Credence nodded slowly. Tom and Newt stood up. Newt heard a rock move. He turned his head. He saw Graves shoot a spell. "Look out!"

Quickly he pushed Tom to the ground and blocked Grave's spell.

"Run!" Newt shouted to both boys. "Run!"

Tom didn't want to leave him.

"I'll hold him off! Go! Go!"

Reluctantly Tom ran to Credence. "Come on!" They sprinted along the subway rail away from Newt who battled Graves to give them time.

Newt battled Graves but Graves overcame him and pursued the boys. Suddenly a train came riding towards them. Quickly Graves flicked his hands and Credence was tossed to the side out of danger but Tom was about to run over. Quickly Newt recovered and he apparated him away to safety.

The duel wasn't over. Newt shielded his son and Credence from Graves who kept shooting spells at him. Tom kept Credence close by. They couldn't run into the train tunnel and their way to the surface was blocked by Graves.

Tom watched in fear as Graves shot electricity at Newt. "Newt! Leave him alone!"

But matters become worse. He saw Credence suffocating in fear. He screamed as he transformed back into his Obscurial form. "No! No!' he tried to grab his hands but they turned to black energy. The force of dark energy flooded the station. Newt grabbed Tom, trying to keep out of danger but with Credence's rage increased with Graves trying to talk to him, it was getting impossible to dodge his violent attacks. It roared as it towered over them. Newt shielded Tom with his body preparing for the worst when Tina's loud voice rang the station.

"Credence! No!"

The Obscurial calmed down but it remained powerful as if to attack if provoked.

"Don't do this please," Tina begged. She walked forwardly slowly.

"Keep talking Tina! He'll listen to you," Newt said.

"Please," Tom begged. He couldn't lose his brother.

"I know what that woman did to you," Tina sympathised. "I know that you suffered," Tom could almost see his brother's face looking out at them. He felt his heartbeat relaxing. It was going to work this time. "But you need to stop this now. Newt, your brother, and I will protect you," Tina promised. She pointed to Graves. "This man, he's using you,"

"Don't listen to her Credence. I want you to be free," Graves denied.

"You don't care about him!" snapped Tom. "I saw how you treated him back at the church! All you've done is used him and now you want to weaponize him for your own selfish wants! You are not taking him away from me!"

"He doesn't believe in you! He just wants to hold you back!" Graves lied, shouting at Credence. "He just wants to get you into trouble as he's always done,"

"That's a lie!" Tom denied. "Credence, please don't go with him! Please trust Newt and Tina! We're the ones who care about you! I care about you! Please…don't neglect everything we've had together,"

Credence's Obscurial calmed down. He began to regain his human form again.

Tom sighed in relief. "That's it," Newt's hand touched his shoulder.

Suddenly Aurors arrived in the station. Credence began to geocode scared. Tina turned and shouted, "No! You'll frighten him!"

"Wands down! Anyone harms him they answer to me!" Graves wanted.

"Please! Don't hurt him!" Tom begged. But the Aurors shot at his brother. "No!" he screamed. "Leave him alone!" He could hear Credence screaming inside the ball of black energy. "Stop!" he screamed. Newt tried to pull him down to safety but he remained determined. As he screamed, bursts of powerful magic erupted from his hands and it struck a squadron of Aurors. But the impact weakened him. He fell into Newt's arms but then he heard a loud 'boom'.

The Obscurial exploded. Tom looked up. All that was left of Credence were wisps of black energy that floated around. He fell to his knees crying. He closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands. A despaired Newt crawled over and placed his hand around his shoulder. Reacting to his touch, Tom threw his arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulders. Newt embraced him tightly. "I'm so sorry," he felt like he had failed the poor boy. But Tom knew that he had tried everything he could. He didn't want to leave his arms at all.

That's the Subway Battle done. How did you all find it? I hope you all loved it. What did you think of Tom's character? Only one or two chapters to go for Fantastic Beasts 1 and then it's 2 and 3 to go until the next one comes out. See you all soon. Please send reviews for ideas and opinions. It would be most helpful.