3. Jacob Kowalski

"Bah-!" "Jacob, it's just me, Theseus." Theseus forcibly covers Jacob's mouth before he can alert Queenie of his presence in their now-shared apartment. Jacob instantly calms down, and Theseus removes his hand away. "I didn't mean to scare you," Theseus starts in a hushed voice, "but I was wondering if I could ask you about something." Jacob tilts his head to the side and gives him a confused expression. "Me? Couldn't you ask Newt?" Theseus' smile turns forced, "I could, but Newt and I aren't known for agreeing with each other often."

"Also, I just need someone with a fresh opinion." Jacob nods, but he looks at the door of his new room. Theseus follows his gaze and sighs, "c'mon, I'll get us somewhere more private."

Theseus grabs Jacob tightly by the arm and disapparates the two away.

"Woah," Jacob lets out as he admires Theseus' living room. Unlike his own or Newt's, it is filled with mini statues and paintings of people Jacob didn't recognise. The wallpaper was a pure white that sharply contrasted the dark brown wood of the cupboards. The armchairs were, too, covered in dark brown leather. Something he'd expect from someone whose reputation was the War Hero to live in. "Welcome," Theseus' voice snaps Jacob out of it, "to my house. Make yourself feel welcome," he adds as he signals Jacob to sit in the armchair across from him.

"I apologise for not keeping up with you and Queenie in America," sincerity dripped from Theseus' voice as two cups of tea flew in from the kitchen, "How have you two been?" Jacob smiles and gives a list of all the things Queenie and he has gotten up to Muggle or magically, good or bad, Jacob had it all. And all Theseus could do was sit there, give his best smile as he remained silent, his own memories flooding his head.

"So, how about you? Any more Grindelwald stuff?" Theseus shook his head. "If you want to hear about Grindelwald stuff, you're better off asking Tina. The British Ministry refuses to do much - Paris was the biggest thing the Ministry has done, and it was in foreign lands." "But wouldn't Grindelwald come to Britain since the thing broke?"

"The blood pact?" Jacob shrugs, "The thing that broke in Bhutan."

"If that was the case, then shouldn't Dumbledore go after Grindelwald? There's really nothing stopping him now apart from a couple frantically loyal supporters." Jacob pauses and pieces everything today. "Is that why you teleported me here?" Theseus doesn't question Jacob's voice of synonym and nods. "I mean, look, I don't know much about whatever Dumbledore has planned, but everyone seems to have trust in him." But Theseus resorts, "Isn't that the problem? Grindelwald almost killed you almost a decade ago. And he's still around, bending the rules of politics and killing those who get in the way."

"That's true…."

"It's just - this battle could have ended years ago. So to think it's still going on…." Theseus wrily turns around to look outside to the cold streets of London, where Muggles and possibly wizards alike are strolling around. "Isn't it awfully selfish?"

Theseus turned back around and gave Jacob a questioning look. Only now does Jacob truly process what Theseus was suggesting: Dumbledore wasn't doing enough, and they should do something about it. Now, Jacob realises that despite their appearance, the brothers are far from alike. Newt's trust lay in individuals; Theseus' trust lay in the organisation.

"Dumbledore…isn't he the only wizard that can take him down, though? It wouldn't be smart to really…I don't know…."

"Jacob, I work for the Ministry," Theseus takes a breath in. "Maybe Newt never told you, but the Ministry's never been fond of Dumbledore. 'Doesn't cooperate with the system,' they say. Dumbledore has every reason to doubt me, anyway." Jacob's mouth turns into an 'o', "Is it the same for the other magical governments?" Theseus takes his time to wonder why Jacob is even concerned, but the thought hits him hard. His sister-in-law…

"Everyone thinks Dumbledore's the greatest wizard as of now, but most don't agree…let's say, how he takes action. Especially since Grindelwald is twisting magical governments all over the world right now. Who knows who's on which side anymore," Theseus explained. It felt like he was lecturing Newt, except one knows exactly what he's doing, and one….

"I get where you're coming from, Theseus. I just don't think it's safe, man…."

"You don't fight for us because it's safe either," before Jacob could speak up, Theseus continues, "in fact, I think you're the bravest out of all of us. You fight for a world where you don't belong, where you're the enemy. I can see why Newt likes you so much." Jacob gives Theseus a sincere smile and asks, "You don't consider yourself brave?"

Theseus shrugs, "Hufflepuff's like Newt and I aren't known to be particularly brave."

The conversation flows away from Theseus' thoughts into Jacob's endless questions about how's education at Hogwarts and what is it like to be a Hufflepuff?