The Ring of Blue Fire
The sound of heavy movement made everyone turn. They saw a large slab of stone moving aside. A chorus of loud voices echoed from down the passage. This was where Grindelwald was holding his meeting with all his followers.
Tom felt scared. He felt Newt standing closely behind him. Credence suddenly walked off. "Credence stop!" But Credence wouldn't stop. Nagini followed him. He pursued them into a giant round stadium of stone encircled by raven statues.
He tried to get to Credence but he walked too far ahead with Nagini behind him. She turned her face back to Tom and gave him a reassuring face, promising him that he wouldn't let anything happen.
Newt and Tom stuck together with Tina.
"It's a trap. Queenie-the family tree-it's all been bait," whispered Lorna. "We need to get out of here,"
"Not without Queenie," said Jacob. He peered around anxiously. "Look. There she is," before anyone could stop him, he scurried down the stairs to Tina's sister.
Tina looked down at her sister worriedly. She wondered if perhaps she could go down there and speak to her, regarding their previous arguments. She chose no. "We have to find a way out of here, right now,"
"I'm gonna try to get to Credence and his friend," Lorna said. "You stay with Newt, Tom," she walked off into the crowds gathering up.
"What are we gonna do, dad?" asked Tom.
"I'll think of something," said Newt. "We just need to stick together. Don't leave me whatever you do,"
"We have to cover more ground," said Tina. Newt looked at her worriedly. "I'll be all right. Just stay safe," she walked off, leaving Newt and Tom alone.
Newt clutched Tom's hand tightly. "We're going to get out of this. All of us,"
Tom nodded. Sticking together, they walked carefully towards the stairs and made their way down the rows of wizards and witches. Tom did his best to show no fear. But Newt could see how he was trying to conceal his fear. He felt Bobo shivering in his coat pocket. He tried to peak out but Tom shook his head. They found a large space on the stairs where it wasn't too crowded. They wouldn't attract too much attention there. They eyed the central podium intently as Grindelwald appeared into view. He was just like Tom remembered him all those months ago. White spikey hair. Different coloured eyes. Black clothing to match his dark nature.
"My brothers, my sisters, my friends," he addressed proudly. "…the great gift of your applause is not for me...No. It is for yourselves. You came today because of craving and knowledge that the old ways serve us no longer. You come today because you crave something new. Something different. It is said that I hate Les Non-Magiques," his words sent out a chorus of boos and complaints from his followers. "The Muggle. The No-Maj. The Can't-Spells. I do not hate them. I do not. For I do not fight out of hatred. I say the Muggles are not lesser, but other. Not worthless, but of other value. Not disposable, but of a different disposition. Magic blooms only in rare souls. Oh, and what a world we could make, for all of humanity...We who live for freedom, for truth. And for love," Tom gazed out towards Queenie and Jacob on the far side of the stadium. Whilst Jacob looked scared, Queenie seemed….a little happy. She was smiling. Tom narrowed his eyes. Why was she smiling? What was it that Grindelwald had said to her? He could read her mind. She had been to him. He had told her she and Jacob could be in a world where they could be together. He became more scared than ever.
"The moment has come to share my vision of the future," A French witch stepped up to Grindelwald, holding a glowing skull with a pipe. He took a long suck. Then as he breathed the smoke from behind his lips, images of grey and dark appeared in the air. Tom's heart clenched to see giant machines sending out booms. Planes, warplanes, shooting from the sky. The ground exploding with crumbling buildings and screams.
Feeling the scared state his son was in from the horrible reminder of what had passed not too long ago, Newt hugged him tightly.
"That awaits if we do not rise and take our rightful place in the world," warned Grindelwald, his propaganda words gaining more and more effort in drawing many to his side. No sooner had he foreseen the future, an army of wizards appeared from all entrances. Tom peered up and saw Theseus. So did Newt. They feared being separated. They feared for their friends' lives, for Credence.
Grindelwald no attention. "That is the enemy. Their arrogance. Their power lust. Their barbarity," Tom felt repulsed hearing every word he uttered. Yes, some muggles were just as worse as the Aurors who wanted him and Credence dead, but muggles like Jacob were kind and caring. Not all of them were bad. "How long will it take before they turn their weapons on us?" Grindelwald eyed every wizard he set his eyes on so they would heed his message. Do nothing when I speak of this. You must remain calm and contain your emotions," the dark wizard eyed the Aurors stepping cautiously down the steps, towards him, with wands drawn out. "There are Aurors here among us. Come closer, brother wizards! Join us. Do nothing. No force. They have killed many of my followers. It is true. They confined me and tortured me in New York. They had struck down their fellow witches and wizards... For the simple crime of seeking the truth. For wanting freedom..." as he spoke, Newt and Tom eyed one repulsive witch with ginger locks staring coldly at one Auror right next to her. "Your anger, your desire for revenge is natural,"
The witch drew her wand but a green flash struck her first. The crowd gasped. So did Tom. Newt covered his eyes so he wouldn't see this. Not like last time. The Auror dashed off like a coward. Grindelwald walked up the steps, knelt in front of the dead woman and crazed her pale forehead with his hand. He stood there silently. "Take this young warrior back to her family," two wizards came and picked up her body. "Disapparate. Leave. Go forth from this place and spread the word. It is not we who are violent," one by one, wizards and witches disappeared into puffs of black smoke. There were only the Aurors, the Scamander family, the Goldstein sisters, the Muggle Baker, Lorna Dumbledore, Credence, Nagini, Grindelwald, and a few of his followers now.
Grindelwald eyed all his nemesis's surrounding him. He eyed one particular person. "Lorna Dumbledore," he walked to the edge of the podium. "Come. So, I can see you,"
Newt and Tom eyed Lorna. She walked down slowly towards him. One Auror drew out his wand. Theseus did nothing. Lorna stepped on the bottom step as Grindelwald approached her, inspecting her. She showed no fear.
"Such beauty," he admired. "I have heard so much about you. Tell me, does your father think of me?"
"He thinks of you all the time," Lorna answered simply. "Why do you choose this path over a life with him?"
"It was his idea. That we would reshape the world,"
"Not like this," she shook her head. "Not in a state where wizards rule non-wizards as if they are just worthless beings,"
"You know…you and I are alike," Grindelwald flirted creepily.
"We are nothing alike," she shook her head.
"Oh," he formed a hoop with his lips. "But we are. We both wish for a world where we wizards could live freely," he circled her. Newt pulled out his wand but Tina from across the arena shook her head. It would provoke an attack and put her in danger. Tom looked up at Theseus who eyed him and his father with a desperate face, shaking 'no'. "You are right…about Aurors," Grindelwald circled his former lover's daughter again. "They are selfish. Cruel. Tyrannical,"
Lorna couldn't help but agree with what he was saying.
"Join me. And you will never have to submit to their rules again," he stood in front of her with an arrogant smile. "Join me…and we can accomplish what your father and I planned together,"
Lorna was silent for a second.
Newt and Tom held their breath. Would she betray them?
"You're right," she agreed to earn a smile from Grindelwald. "We are alike. But you forget one thing," Grindlewald's smile dropped. "I would never, ever, betray my father. I would never leave him for my own selfish desires. Which is what you did," the way she spoke made Grindelwald blink. Tom eyed him carefully. Sensing his mind, behind all that arrogance and lust for dominance, he felt love from him. Love that he still felt for Albus Dumbledore. "And I will never betray the people I love,"
Tom felt his heart lift hearing her say that. Newt was proud. Theseus still eying her carefully felt proud too. And a little regretful for believing she was a follower of Grindelwald. He felt foolish to think like that, after everything she had done for Newt. More than him.
Grindelwald stood back, keeping his cold eyes on Lorna. "Then you have chosen your side,"
Theseus stood firm. "Let's take him,"
Grindelwald spun around with his wand. A ring of blue fire rose from the stone, protecting him. Lorna apparated back before the flames could touch her. His French follower passed through. So did another one. A MACUSA traitor. A Chinese one tried to come through. But the moment he did, he screamed as the fire torched him, burning him to ash. Tom felt scared again.
"Aurors, join me in this circle. Pledge to me your eternal allegiance," demanded Grindelwald trying to sound influential again. "Or die. Only here shall you know freedom. Only here shall you know yourself," many Aurors cowardly tried to make a run for it. The flames chased them burning them to ash. "Play by the rules. No cheating, children,"
During the skirmish, Tom saw Credence walking down to the ring of fire, Nagini pulling on his arm. "Oh no," he sprinted down the steps, and fire came upon him.
"Tom!" cried Newt. He fought the flames with golden blasts to follow him. Lorna tried to help but the flames were surrounding her. With no choice, she pocketed her wand and unfurling her fingers, made fire flames appear. The Aurors eyed her intently. Leta observed, fearing for her. Tina was more amazed than shocked.
Tom dodged the flames. Suddenly a blue flame nearly hit him. He heard his father's screams but just as his hands were raised, a powerful burst of golden energy shot out of his fingers and fought the flames. Grindelwald looked at him intently. Tom struggled to breathe. He stared at his hands shocked. It was his Obscurial that had done that. But it wasn't black and full of rage. It was gold and full of powerful energy. Was it his father's love that had given him that?
Before he could ask himself, he just saw Credence approach the wall. "No! Stop!" he reached his brother, grabbing his hand that he had pulled free from Nagini. "Don't do this!"
"He knows who I am," answered his brother stubbornly.
"He knows what you were born, not who you are..." begged Nagini.
"He doesn't care about you! All he wants to do is use you! Don't join him!" Tom begged in tears. "He killed my parents! And he'll kill you too!"
But as he pleaded and pleaded with his brother, he saw a cold look in his eyes that he had never seen before. "You do wanna hold me back," he eyed all the Aurors that had been tracking him down. "You just wanna get me in trouble," It was just like what Percival Graves had claimed at the subway station back in New York.
Tom was shocked that he would say that. That moment of shock was just enough for Credence to pull his hand free and walk through the fire. Regaining himself, Tom screamed out his name and tried to grab his hand but his fingers just missed. His hand touched the blue flames and he screamed in pain, falling back.
"Tom!" cried out Newt.
Tom wasn't on fire. But his hand was burnt very badly. He watched as Credence approached Grindelwald who embraced him like a prodigal son. He sent a cruel smug smirk up at Tom who was tear-stricken; he had lost his brother again.
Nagini consoled him with a warm hug. Grindelwald eyed them darkly. He shot fire at them but Tom's Obscurial surrounded them, protecting them with gold energy. Newt, Tina and Lorna kept shooting at Grindelwald to save them. But nothing could prepare them for what was about to come next. They saw Queenie leaving Jacob and approaching the flames. Tina was shocked and brought to tears.
She walked into the flames but for a moment she stopped like she was about to burn up. But she made it through and took Grindelwald's hands. Jacob was heartbroken. Tina screamed out her sister's name but she apparated out of sight. Grindelwald killed more Aurors with his flames before focusing back on the Scamander brothers.
"Mr Scamander. Do you think Dumbledore will mourn for you?" he shot at them. Quickly Lorna apparated in front of them and her fire collided with Grindelwald's. But it was too greater and it began to compress on her. The brothers tried to help her but with the Elder Wand in his hands, Grindelwald was too powerful.
"Grindelwald! Stop!" shouted a sudden voice. Grindelwald stopped attacking the brothers and eyed the approaching witch.
"Leta..." Theseus stood up.
Lorna panted, out of breath. She was almost out of energy. Tina scurried over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, comforting her. Newt nodded at her and walked towards his brother who walked towards Leta. They fought off the flames trying to keep them from intervening with their caster.
"This one I believe I know," Grindelwald walked through the flames and walked up a few steps to her," Leta Lestrange. Despised entirely amongst wizards. Unloved, mistreated... yet brave," he eyed her admirably. "So very brave," he paused and stood down a few steps. "Time to come home," he offered a hand.
Leta took it slowly. Theseus eyed her bitterly. Newt was more shocked. And so was Lorna. But Leta didn't walk with Grindelwald. He walked back into his circle of protection," Leta turned to the brothers. "I love you," it was unclear to whom she said it. She pulled out her wand and shot at the retreating wizard. He blocked it behind his back. She shot another spell at the French witch who dropped the skull, causing it to explode into more flames of blue which turned into a tornado of flames. "Go!" she screamed. "Go!"
Theseus continued to fight to try and get to her. Lorna, having regained some strength, stood up and tried to save Leta. She blasted at Grindelwald but he blocked her spell attempts. Grindelwald raised his wand and to everyone's shock, Leta was disintegrated into ash that blew in the tornado.
Newt grabbed his brother and they apparated out. Tina and Lorna reached Jacob and they disappeared. Kama managed to get to Nagini and Tom and reluctantly trusting him, grabbed his hand and they disappeared out of the room.
The French witch disappeared.
"I hate Paris," muttered Grindelwald. He disappeared as the entire tomb exploded in flames of blue.
Oh, dear. Leta's dead. Credence and Queenie have joined Grindelwald. Jacob has lost a love. Tom has lost a brother. I hope you all liked seeing Lorna and Tom's powers in motion. I would love to hear any opinions. Thank for you your support. See you all soon in the final chapter of the Crimes of Grindelwald before it's time for the Secrets of Dumbledore.