Theseus

"So, this Graves guy turned out to be Grindelwald and he wanted Tom's brother?"

"Yes," said Newt glumly. "I think he wanted to use an Obscurial as a weapon against your father,"

"That cursed bloke," Lorna hissed. "Thank goodness he's behind bars where he belongs. But how could MACUSA just kill Credence like that?"

"They wanted to kill Tom too," said Newt. "When he tried to stop them, he blasted out a surge of angry energy at them. If Jacob hadn't stepped in, they would have killed him. I managed to convince them to spare him in exchange for me obliterating the city with the Swooping Evil's Venom,"

"Never in my life have I heard of a brave Muggle like your friend. Was he obliviated?"

"He was. It broke Queenie Goldstein's heart. I wish I could have done something but we were all afraid for Tom,"

"Thank goodness you brought him here where he belongs. You can help him make a new start. And he can go to Hogwarts and learn to control his powers,"

"We have to keep him hidden for the time being. The Ministry will hurt him if they learn he's started to develop an Obscurial,"

"If he is kept under love and care, he can control it and it won't kill him," Lorna touched his hand in comfort. "He's lucky to have you as a son,"

Newt smiled a little.

The cellar door opened and Bunty and Tom came upstairs.

"It's amazing down there," squealed Tom excitedly.

Newt was delighted but his eyebrows furrowed when he saw bite marks on Tom's fingers. "Bunty…why did you let him near the Kelpie?"

Before Bunty could speak up, Tom said, "It's not her fault Dad. She told me not to go near it but I went to see it. It's my fault alone,"

Newt bent down in front of him. "Please promise me you won't disobey rules again with some of the creatures,"

"I promise," Tom said.

"I think I should take you up to your room," said Newt. "Come on,"

"And with that, I should take my leave," Lorna stood up.

"Please stay," Tom begged. He liked this woman.

"I would love to stay but I must get back to Hogwarts. I've got classes to teach and my father to visit. Good day guys and Bunty," Lorna saluted and then in a flash, she disappeared.

Newt carried Tom's suitcase upstairs to the third floor. They came to a spare room next to his. Inside was a small bed, a nice wardrobe, a plain set of drawers and a desk. "I know it's not much…."

"It's perfect," Tom sat down on the comfy bed. "I love it,"

"This is usually my guest bedroom but it was used. I'll make it more suitable for you," With a wave of his wand, Newt made the room more colourful, the bed cover's colours turned brighter and Tom's clothes and precious treasures flew out of his suitcase. The items organised themselves on the drawers and the drawers opened to allow the clothes to settle in. "There all done. I'll make sure we get you some more clothes and some spell books,"

At the mention of spell books, Tom turned to him in alarm. "You mean…"

"Yes. You're going to need a perfect education to control your magic. And I hope you'll be able to go to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry,"

"That's where my parents went," Tom pulled a red and golden scarf from his drawers. "This was my mother's,"

"She must have been a wonderful Gryffindor," said Newt. "Hogwarts was where I went,"

"Really?" Tom asked. "That's amazing,"

Their conversation was interrupted by the presence of a rushed Bunty. "Sorry Newt, but Theseus is outside your door right now. He doesn't look happy,"

Newt closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Who's Theseus?" Tom asked.

"My brother,"

Tom became excited. "I've got an uncle!"

"Tom I need you to stay up here," Newt implored.

"What? Why? He's family,"

"Doesn't mean we can trust him. He works for the Ministry and if he learns you're developing an Obscurial, he'll report you and they'll harm you. This is what I meant back in New York when I asked you to do everything I say. I just want to keep you safe. I'll introduce you to your uncle eventually but not now,"

Tom didn't want to be sheltered like this but seeing the love in his eyes made him recall his promise. "Okay. I won't leave this room. And you don't have to worry about me, I've got Bobo to look after me," Bobo poked his head out and hugged his cheek.

"Here's Gilly," Newt opened his case and quickly marched down and in less than ten seconds came back up with Tom's other best friend. "Try to be quiet," he quickly left the room, closing the door. Tom sat on his bed with his friends, smiling around at his room in his new home. He had never felt more happy or free in his life. As much as he missed Credence and his birth parents, he now had a new father, a new home and so many animal friends. And he couldn't wait to go to Hogwarts School for education, hopefully in over a year once he was between ten and eleven.

Newt stumbled downstairs. A tall powerful man in grey with crossed arms and furrowed eyebrows awaited him in the living room. "Would it kill you to come downstairs?"

"I was tidying things upstairs," Newt half-lied.

"You've put me in an impossible position," Theseus criticised.

"What are you talking about?" Newt asked. "I've just got back from New York,"

"The Ministry sent me to tell you that you're banned from international travel,"

Newt turned pale. Bunty behind him gasped. "What?"

"They said because you destroyed half of New York, that you're a danger to other wizarding societies,"

"I didn't destroy New York," Newt answered back. "It was an Obscurial. And I helped to repair the community and obliviated the entire city with my creatures,"

"That's not how they see it. We all heard from MACUSA what happened. We know that it was because of you that Grindelwald who disguised himself as Percival Graves was apprehended but they think you're too reckless with your creatures to travel anywhere,"

"Theseus please, you've got to tell them they can't do this,"

"There's nothing I can do,"

Though two floors up, Tom could hear the argument going on downstairs. "He captures that dark wizard killer and obliterates everyone's memories in New York and they forbid him from travelling? How so ungrateful?" he whispered to his creatures who mumble in agreement.

Theseus continued. "There's another thing I want to discuss,"

Newt held his breath.

"MACUSA also reported that you're harbouring a child who attacked them,"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Newt tried to lie but his brother was too smart for him.

"Newt…"

Newt sighed. "MACUSA attacked his brother. He shouted at them to stop because what they did was wrong,"

"That Obscurial had exposed the community,"

"It wasn't his fault. And it's not Tom's fault either. He couldn't control himself,"

"If he's developing an Obscurial then he needs to be brought to the Ministry for assessment,"

Newt was not going to let that happen. "He's dead," he said again. "He died on the way back. His Obscurial had killed him,"

Once again Theseus didn't believe him. Instantly he apparated. He suddenly appeared in Tom's room. He jumped and shuffled on his bed hugging Gilly close to him. Bobo hugged his cheek. He saw his adoptive uncle staring at him. He didn't look scary but the suspicious colour on his face made him remember the horrible feeling of being threatened by the wizards in the subway station.

Before Theseus could step forward, Newt apparated between them. "Stay away from him,"

"We need to know if he's dangerous,"

Tom was shocked that his father's brother would speak that about him.

Newt refused to step aside. "Tom isn't dangerous,"

"If you let me take him, I promise you I will make sure they don't hurt him,"

Newt refused again. "No,"

Before Theseus could speak again, another wizard apparated between them. The older Scamander was met face to face with an angry witch.

"Lorna…"

"Listen closely Theseus," she warned. "Newt loves that boy. And I will not let you take him away. So, you're going to go to the Ministry and tell them that he is dead and that Newt deserves to have his travel ban expunged,"

"I cannot disobey orders. I have a right to deliver that child to the Ministry to make sure he isn't a danger to our community,"

Lorna pushed her face further into his line of vision so he was blocked from Newt and Tom. "You call apprehending an innocent child like a crime an act of goodwill? He is a wizard, just like the rest of us. And deserves love and care after everything he was put through. If you love your brother, then you will request the Ministry to lift his expulsion and lie to them about Tom,"

"I am the Head of the Auror Office. I don't need to obey the orders of a schoolteacher," Theseus didn't want to start a fight but Lorna's attitude to him was becoming harder to handle.

"You will if you want your brother to come to your wedding," she warned. "Now get out. Before I make you," Theseus tried to speak again but she interjected. "And don't think of using your position in the Ministry to threaten me…because I've been in more trouble than you know. Go now,"

"Please Theseus," Newt begged. "You're scaring him,"

Theseus turned his attention to Tom who had stepped off the bed to hug his father. Newt kept a firm hold on him. Theseus tried to speak again but he couldn't take his eyes off his brother and his new son. He felt his heart twist. As much as he was loyal to the Ministry, he knew if he did this, his brother would never forgive him. "Be careful. They will watch out for him," Then in a flash, he was gone.

Lorna turned around. "Are you all right Tom?"

Tom nodded.

"It's all right," Newt hugged him tightly. "He's gone,"

"Was he gonna take me away?" he asked, scared to death again.

"He's not taking you at all," Lorna promised. "Not as long as I'm here to protect you and your father. And I know my father will too,"

Newt glanced at her. "How did you that Theseus…"

"I was walking out in London when I saw Theseus and Travis talking about you guys. Then I saw Theseus appreciate a moment later and I knew I had to get to you guys first. Sorry I didn't get there sooner,"

"Thank you," said Newt. "I know

"I don't think your brother has any intention of hurting you,"

"He was still going to take my son from me,"

"He changed his mind at the last moment," she said.

"Were you actually going to threaten him like that?" Tom asked. As much as he loved her kindness, the way she spoke to him made him feel agitated. She had displayed a whole different side against a person of the law.

Lorna sighed and didn't answer. She never wanted to hurt anyone but she was an actor for any form of justice that had to act upon. "Don't worry Tom. We're going to do whatever it takes to keep you safe until you're ready to go to school. Once my father learns about you, he'll do whatever it takes to ensure you get a spot at Hogwarts. Do you guys want me to stay a while in case anyone comes back?"

"No. We'll be fine," Newt said.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

Tom nodded. He knew that as long as he had his dad, everything would be fine.

"Please send me an owl if things go wrong," she said.

"Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you Lorna," said Newt.

Lorna smiled and then in a flash, she disappeared again.

The evening came and after a warm shower and dressing up in some new pyjamas, Tom dined with his father in the dining room. Gilly sat with them eating from a bowl. The Niffler joined them as well. Bunty on Newt's request had gone home. He believed she needed a well-deserved break after looking after the creatures as they were away.

Tom ate a little too fast. He had spent many months not eating another food that he was desperate for his body to replenish its energy so he wouldn't be so thin. His father didn't mind.

"Yummy," Tom marvelled as he bit some pie. "This is so good,"

"Lorna taught me how to do that," Newt said.

"Who is her father?" Tom asked.

"Her father is Albus Dumbledore. He's a teacher at Hogwarts. He teaches Defence against the Dark Arts,"

"That sounds cool. I've heard fascinating things about him. My….family said that he's as powerful as Grindelwald,"

"He sure is," Newt said admirably. "He was one of my favourite teachers when I was a student,"

"You and Lorna seem to be quite close,"

"We are. She was one of my best friends at school,"

"So, she and you aren't…"

"Oh no," Newt answered feeling embarrassed. "We're only close to each other as siblings. And she's one of my partners in Magizoology when she's not helping Dumbledore out with lessons at Hogwarts. She'll be joining me when I publish my book,"

"I hope she meets Tina," Tom hoped. "I think she would love her,"

"She'd have to get used to her first. This isn't exactly the first time; she's had a bad history with a woman who I once…." Newt paused. "Never mind. Now I should get you to bed. It's been a long journey and you're quite tired,"

Tom was indeed yawning. Newt escorted him to bed and once he was laid down, he pulled the blanket over him. Gilly hopped onto the bed and curled around his side like a puppy. Bobo slept next to his face again on the pillow.

Newt watched him try to sleep but he could see that he was troubled by dreadful memories. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. I'm just really happy to be here. Anything is better than that awful room in New York,"

"Don't think of the Second Salem's now," Newt ushered. "It's all in the past now. You'll never have to think of that awful woman again,"

"I'm really glad I fell into your suitcase,"

"Me too. Otherwise, I never would have gained another son," Newt kissed his head. "Get some sleep,"

Tom's eyes shut and Gilly shuffled closer. Newt quietly left the room and as he closed the door, he took one last glance at his son and smiled. Nothing made them happier than to have a child of his own. And to pass on his love of magical creatures too.

Oh, dear. So Tom is already in trouble with the Ministry. Well, we'll have to wait and find out. I would really love to hear everyone's opinions on Lorna Dumbledore. It would be most helpful. See you all soon.