The French Ministry and Cemetary
Lorna and Newt tried to catch up to Tina but she was such a fast walker on the streets. "Tina!" Newt cried out as they managed to reach her. "Please, just listen to me…"
"Mr Scamander, I need to go talk to the Ministry," said Tina back not looking at him. "And I know how you feel about Aurors. You shouldn't even be out in public. You'll be arrested for travelling without documentation,"
"I may have been a little strong in the way that I expressed myself in that letters," Newt nervously blabbered.
Tina flashed her annoyed face at him. "What was the exact phrase? A bunch of careerist hypocrites?"
Lorna eyed Newt a little disappointedly. "Really?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't admire people whose answer to everything that they fear or misunderstand is 'kill it!"
"I can vouch for that," Lorna said.
Tina was offended. "I'm an Auror and I don't..."
"Yes, and that's because you've gone middle head!" blabbered Newt.
Lorna smacked her forehead. Tina fumed. "Excuse me?"
"It's an expression derived from the three heads of the Runespoorf," Newt tried to explain, still losing Tina every second.
"The middle one is a visionary,"
"Every Auror in Europe wants Credence dead-except you. You've gone middle head," Newt hoped that this would be enough to soothe her temper but it wasn't doing any good.
Tina crossed her arms. "Who else uses that expression, Mr Scamander?"
Embarrassed and more awkward than he had ever felt, Newt simply answered. "I think it might just be me,"
"Guys," Lorna spoke up. Staring at her worried face, Tina and Newt looked up and they saw giant black folds of fabric floating in the air, shrouding the buildings of Paris in black. "It's Grindelwald. He's calling his followers,"
"It's too late," breathed Tina worriedly. "Grindelwald's come for Credence,"
"We've got to find him," Lorna voiced determinedly.
"It's not too late. We can still get to him first," Newt was not going to neglect his brother to his son. He started walking away; the women chased after him.
"Where are you going?" Tina asked.
"The French Ministry of Magic,"
"Are you crazy?" asked Lorna. "You will be caught and arrested. And that's the last place Credence would go!"
"There's a box hidden at the Ministry. It's a box that can tell us who he really is,"
"A box? What are you talking about?" Tina asked, grabbing his shoulder, and pulling him to face her.
"Trust me," implored Newt. "This may be our only chance to save my son's brother. And I will not let him down," Though uncertain about his hasty plan, Lorna would follow him anywhere. She looked assertively at Tina.
"All right. Let's go,"
Inside the house, Jacob and Tom rested quietly whilst Kama remained in his coma state. Jacob snored whilst Tom twiddled his fingers worrying about his father and brother. He wondered what Credence was doing right now. Was he thinking of him? Did he miss him? Was he alone? His thoughts were interrupted by a loud growl that made him jump. His jumping gasp made Jacob jolt awake. He screamed.
"Sorry Jacob," Tom apologised. "I heard…"
The growling came again. Jacob looked down at his stomach. He sighed. It was his hungry belly. "Sorry kid,"
"I wish there was food here too. I wish that Dumbledore's host would show himself," he slumped back into his seat closing his eyes.
Jacob eyed him worriedly. "Everything's going to be all right kid. Your dad's goanna finds Credence. We'll find Queenie as well. And then we can all go home and be happy,"
"But that's the thing. Once we do find them, what happens next? I know that I and my brother are hated by the wizarding government just because we carry Obscurial. And I feel like ever since dad adopted me, I've been a burden on his life. He's risking everything to protect me. But if…if I lose him…" his wet eyes leaked and he began to cry.
Jacob stood up and sat next to him offering a hug. Tom accepted it and his dear friend patted him affectionately like a surrogate uncle. "Your father loves you, Tom. Aside from his creatures, you're one of the best parts of his life. Everything he's done and is doing for you right now shows how much he loves you. Don't ever think you're a burden. You're a very special kid,"
Tom sniffled. "Thanks," he muffled against his clothes. "You're the closest I'll ever have to an uncle," Jacob was warmed by his words. Just then the sound of wooden planks made them pull apart. They almost screamed but behind them near the staircase was a very elderly man with white hair and shrouded in white robes. Jacob held Tom's hand protectively as he became a little scared.
The man held his wrinkled arm out, a little self-shame expressed on his apologetic face. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt either of you,"
"Are you…are you…." Tom couldn't breathe. He felt like he was looking at a ghost because of the pale man who looked like he was meant to die very soon. "Are you our host?"
"That's right my boy. Albus told me friends might drop in here for protection,"
Jacob managed to speak up. "We're…sorry we didn't knock,"
"No matter,'
"Are you a ghost?" he asked nervously.
No, no, I am alive, but I am an alchemist, and therefore immortal," he said.
"You don't look a day over three-seventy-five,"
Tom mentally smacked himself hearing Jacob's choice of words. "What's your name, sir?"
"Nicolas Flamel," the alchemist offered one of his wrinkled hands.
"Tom," Tom gently took the hand and gave it a gentle shake.
"Jacob Kowalski," Jacob shook his hand but his grip was a bit too tight. The elderly man cringed. "Oh my sorry,"
"It's all right," their kind host assured.
"So, Mr Flamel…" Tom spoke up. "How do you know Albus Dumbledore?"
"He and I have been friends for many, many years. I was even a personal tutor for his daughter when she needed help controlling her special powers. I suspect you two know Lorna,"
"Sure do," answered Jacob. "She just popped by out that fireplace not too long ago. Cool girl. Say, sir, do you think you have something that could…."
Before he could finish, they heard a strange humming. They turned around to see a glowing crystal ball. "At last," Flamel stumbled towards it. "We have some developments,"
"Is it predicting something?" Tom asked, coming over to him, vibes filling him up with hope but a bit of anxiety too.
"You could say that,"
"Hey, I've seen one of these before," Jacob approached it. "It was at this fair in New York. There was this dame there, and she had a veil. I gave her a nickel and she told me about my future. And she missed out on quite a bit actually,"
As he spoke, the crystal ball glimmered and the light burning within revealed a tall young man wearing red and black walking with a beautiful Chinese girl in blue. Tom's eyes enlarged. "That's him! That's my brother!" For the first time since learning Credence was alive, his tears of joy burst out. "I can't believe it," His excitement was cut off by the image changing into a large raven statue. "What's that?" Again, the crystal ball showed another person. A beautiful witch with blonde hair.
Jacob felt his heart take flight. "Hey! That's Queenie! There she is Hi, baby!" the golden raven appeared.
"Where is this? Is this-is this here?" Tom asked.
"Yes. This is the Lestrange tomb. It lies in the cemetery of Pere Lachaise," the alchemist explained.
"Jacob, we have to go there. If that's where Credence and Queenie are going, we need to get there," said Tom.
"No. I'm going alone. You need to stay here,"
Tom huffed. "I'm going to stay here and hide whilst you and dad risk your lives. I should be helping you,"
"Tom, I promised your dad I'd keep you safe,"
"Well then, why can't I come with you?"
"Because this is dangerous. And besides, you need to look after Mr.." he turned his head but he paused. "Kama. He's gone,"
"What?!" Tom turned his head and stepped forward. Kama was gone. "Oh no. He's going after Credence. I need to get to him," before any of the men could stop him, he flew right out the door and into the streets.
"Hey!" Jacob grabbed his bag. "Thank you, thank you, Mr Flamel!" he shook his head with a tight grip again and the man cringed. "Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry! Hey!" he ran out the door trying to catch up to Tom. "Hey wait!" Even if he was older, the eleven-year-old boy was too fast for him. Still, he continued crying out to him to slow down. But he gave up and stopped running, panting heavily. Footsteps approached him. He saw a regretful Tom approaching him. "There you are kid," he hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry I ran away. I'll go back to the house,"
"No. No. You're right, kid. I promised your dad, I'd take care of you and I have to do that by having you with me," he let go and held his hand. "Come on. Let's find your brother and Queenie," holding hands they marched off into the streets of Paris following signs to the ancient cemetery where their loved ones would be.
Oblivious to their senses, Kama stood upon the rooftop eying the boy with narrowed eyes.
Newt and the two women arrived at a telephone box in the middle of a deserted street in Paris. They saw people going in and people going out. "That's where the French Ministry is," said Lorna.
"The box should be in the ancestral records room," said Newt. "So, three floors down,"
"Now time for some disguises," Lorna reached into her purse and pulled out two potions and two little boxes.
"Is that Polyjuice?" Tina asked.
"Just enough to get us inside. Since Newt and I are criminals in their eyes, we need to must be under disguise," He handed one of the little boxes and potions to Newt. Opening the box, he saw some small hairs. Plucking them into the potion, he sipped the liquid and his face morphed into his brother's.
"Who's that?" asked his brother.
"That's my brother, Theseus. He's an Auror. And a hugger,"
"An annoying one," said Lorna, after sipping the transformation potion herself. She was Leta Lestrange with her hair down. "I'm Leta Lestrange," she explained. "Now come on. We haven't got long,"
In their disguises, the pair and Tina walked into the elevator. Roots morphed over the small piece of construction and they felt themselves lowering down. They saw darkness. Then flashes of green and white appeared. Pressing a down-arrow button, Tina made the lift go down to the third level below ground. They exited the lift, finding themselves in a large room where there were house elves cleaning windows and typing magically on typewriters. Above the level, they saw the balcony of the second floor. But the moment they walked out into the open, they saw Theseus the real one staring down at them. Quickly Lorna pulled them both back under the ceilings and they paced quicker down the hallway, fearing they had already been caught.
"Don't suppose you can Disparate on Ministry premises in France, can you?" asked Newt to Newt.
"No," she answered quickly.
"We'll have to act first," said Tina. Suddenly she felt her skin morphing. "Oh no,"
"What?" Newt realised he was turning back to normal. In mere minutes, he felt his face shifting and his locks turning lightning. Lorna's hair turned dark again and her skin turned tanner.
"Oh no," she cursed. "They must have put an enchantment on this place to uncover anyone using the Polyjuice potion,"
"Uh guys," Tina pointed to a moving-face poster.
"Emergency!" a loud voice echoed on the homophone. "Emergency! A tracked wizard, Newt Scamander, has entered the Department of Magic!"
"Newt!" Theseus's voice roared behind them.
Lorna turned her head and saw the Head of the British Auror Department bounding after them. "Time to go," she pushed Tina and Newt into running. They ran around the round hallway.
"Newt! Lorna! Stop!" Theseus shouted out.
"That's your brother?" Tina asked.
"Yes, I think I may have mentioned in my letters that we have quite a complicated relationship," he answered awkwardly, pulling the women across the hallway where two slow wizards were pushing some trolleys.
"Newt, stop!"
"Does he want to kill you?" Tina asked.
"Frequently," he said.
"He's really getting on my nerves right now," cursed Lorna.
"Enough!" Behind them, Theseus shot a spell but quick on reaction, Lorna flicked her wand and the flying suitcases and bookcases from the trolleys floated in mid-air a few crashing against the windows. He stared at her, his brother, and their friend. He needs to control his temper," she waved her weapon and he was bound to a chair, his hands wrapped behind him. The chair rolled away into a separate room. "I think that might have been the best moment of my life," she sighed in relief.
"That is the best thing I've ever seen you do in a while," said Newt relievedly.
"If he's here, that means others will be here too," said Tina warily.
"Guys, you get to that box and then find Credence. I'll keep the Ministry distracted," said Lorna.
"No Lorna," Newt tried to say.
"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Just be careful you two,"
Newt gave her a tight hug. "You be safe,"
"You too," she patted her back and looked over at Tina. "You take care of her,"
The American Auror nodded. Lorna walked off and disappeared, leaving Newt and Tina to run ahead towards the ancestry records room.
"How is she gonna take care of things?" Tina asked Newt.
"She has a way of distracting people," he answered. "She used to do this all the time when we were at school. Those were the good years,"
"So…" Tina paused. "You two are not…"
"No Tina," Newt stopped her walking. "She and I are only close to her as brother and sister. She's always stood by my side. And looking out to me. More than my brother or anyone did," the way he spoke, Tina saw how dejected and unsupported he had felt his entire life with his career. She began to wonder if this was how Queenie felt because she didn't support her love for Jacob.
"Come on," she spoke up. "We need to get to that room,"
It was getting quite dark and Jacob and Tom could see the archway of the cemetery up ahead. The cold was casting a freezing spell that they tightened the buttons on their coats and Tom tied his father's scarf around his neck. Bobo in his pocket sought warm refuge within the folds of the scarf's fabric. Approaching the creepy rusty archway cautiously, Jacob noticed Tom slowing down. "You okay kid?" Tom didn't answer; he was holding something back. "You wanna find your brother don't you?"
"l do…it's just. What if he doesn't recognise me?"
Jacob scoffed. "Of course, he will. It's only been a year,"
"I'm not the same kid I was when dad found me. I feel like ever since I left New York, I've changed so much,"
Jacob stared at Tom intently. "It's not just that is it,"
Tom pursed his lips and hung his head down. "A lot of times he was abused by our guardian because I was always getting him into trouble. After I was adopted by Mary when she found me on the streets, I resented everything she was doing to make wizardry look cruel. So I always did things like destroying pamphlets or throwing away banners…but every time she found them missing, she'd always blame Credence for my actions. What if he doesn't want to look at me that same way again?"
"He will," Jacob clasped his shoulder. "And when he realises you came all this way to find him, you both will be back together again. Now come on. Let's go find him," they walked through the maze of dirty memorials and stone tombs but there was no sign of Credence, that Chinese girl or Queenie.
"Man," Jacob panted. "This place is like a maze,"
"We're gonna have to split up," said Tom. He tried to walk away but Jacob grabbed his hand.
"No way kid. We split up, we'll never find each other again. And with Grindelwald probably here already, you could get into trouble. We'll find another way to track them down,"
"But how?" Tom suddenly felt his mind freeze. Jacob noticed and tried saying his name but his ears blocked out the sounds. In the void of his mind, he could hear voices in his head. Close voices, not far away. He could hear his brother's voice. And a girl's voice. They were talking.
Credence, we can't trust him.
He gave me that clue for a reason. This may be the only chance I have to find out who I am.
We have no idea who he is.
Recognising the fear in that voice made Tom's heartbeat accelerate. Had Credence encountered Grindelwald? Did he tell him to come here? Had he bribed him with the offer of his lineage? He couldn't let that happen. Concentrating that power within his mind, he traced the voice's source and turned his face north along a plain pathway. Up ahead he saw a giant tomb with a golden raven. "That's it. This way," grabbing Jacob's hand, he pulled him along but the Muggle panted beside him.
"Tom, what are you…"
"I heard him, Jacob. I heard him. And that Chinese girl too. I can feel them. They're at the tomb ahead,"
"I don't know what goes on your head kid but it sure is a special gift," he complimented. They reached the large tomb at the end of the alleyway and looking up they saw the golden raven. The Lestrange family tomb.
Hope you're all enjoying the surrogate uncle and nephew relationship between Jacob and Tom. And it seems like Tina and Newt's affection for one another is getting stronger every moment. Sorry for the wait. Been busy doing my first week of university lessons. See you all soon.