What is the life of a wildlife researcher? Spend years living with the animals? Newt and Grindelwald's acolytes play cat and mouse in the cloud forests of Kweilin.
Hunt for the Kingmaker
Water was everywhere. Aurelius overheard someone moaning about the damp ruining her boots and the constant need for Water-repelling Charms to be renewed on their garments. Damp rose from the mossy forest floor in a mist and moisture dripped down from the rocks and vegetation. They were back in the forest after a sympathizer informed Vinda that Newt Scamander had been spotted resupplying in a village downriver. The merchant recalled the magizoologist's boatman had made a fuss about them leaving before the rains came and made travel upriver impossible. Warming Charms were also very much in use with the chilly mists that cloaked the forest for much of the time. The terrain was a treacherous tangle of trees, brambles, and rocks interspersed with streams and tiny waterfalls. A misstep could easily send a man plummeting off into the abyss.
This round they had brought a tent with an Extendable Charm. They would have a warm place to sleep and eat after sundown. Lighting a fire in the open was something they would rather avoid. The magizoologist's trail ran cold at a tiny hamlet in the foothills. A witch from the hamlet had seen the foreigner but did not speak with him. She saw him barter occamy silver in exchange for some supplies at the local apothecary. Vinda had purchased a firestone from her during their little chat.
Newt Scamander must leave a trail just like the Qilin they were searching for. Follow Dumbledore's little pet and he would lead them to the beast… They had found nothing so far. It was as if the forest had swallowed the man whole. Carrow dryly wondered if their prey had broken his neck falling off a cliff – common enough in those parts – and was lying rotting in the undergrowth. Vinda fixed her with a stare that made her clam up. A yelp announced that Krafft had been bitten by a viper and a Snakebit Potion needed. They were all sick of scenic wilds of China and her unpredictable wildlife.
It had taken weeks of hard work to get close to the Qilin. Such a magnificent beauty! Newt cautiously crawled to where the Qilin was drinking from a streamlet. The female was gravid and possibly due soon. Newt moved purposefully and calmly, mindful not to startle the beast. She lifted her head and looked at him with her starry eyes, making soft huffing sounds and rattling her scales. A warning to back off? Newt stopped.
"Teddy…" Newt hissed in annoyance as the niffler popped out of his pocket and ran in front of the Qilin, drawn by the otherworldly glow of her scales. When the glow died away, he stopped and stood on his hind paws, puzzled. The Qilin regarded the tiny niffler before nuzzling him with her nose. The niffler squeaked as the Qilin inspected him. Curiosity sated. She allowed the niffler to return to Newt.
"Thank you… for not hurting Teddy…" Newt whispered. The Qilin bobbed her head as if in reply.
"Stay, you little pest…" Newt pushed Teddy into his coat pocket and squashed a handkerchief on top of him, ignoring the squirming from the creature. It was nearing sundown. They would need to find a safe place to set up camp before nightfall made travel too risky.
New York
"I've not heard from him since March…"
"Oh sweetie, maybe they don't get owls that often in China…"
"I know, but with Queenie…"
The two witches were sharing a Sunday tea in a café outside New York's Central Park. Tina had seen another Director rise to the position. Director Bullhorn stepped down after a love charm scandal involving a married witch in Wand Permits. The outraged husband was a master duellist and - well, one could say the Director hopped off into the sunset. He made a better bullfrog than a wizard, in Tina's honest opinion. Director Eric Raffety was eager to get things shipshape after being posted over from Maine. Under Raffety, Tina was reassigned back to an Auror team. He hinted that based on her past performance reports under Graves, Franklin, and Twoshoes, it was a surprise she had not been assigned to lead a team or even head one of their many branch offices. Things were looking up for her career now they no longer suspected her loyalties.
The two flies in the ointment were Queenie and Newt. Tina wished she knew they were safe.
"You know, Professor Dumbledore would like me to join him in Europe later this year, just before the election. I was wondering if you'd like to join us…"
"More research papers to write? Magical theory was never my strong suit."
"Well, methinks it would be more than just work… Perhaps an adventure even. He did say we'd need all the help we can get…" Lally's eyes glowed with excitement at the thought of visiting Europe.
"Sorry, I'd rather stay in New York in case Queenie or Newt comes back…" Besides, I don't trust the old man…
"Hon, sure you don't want to see more of Europe than Paris and London?"
"I think I have enough of Europe for now. Do be careful." The old man is likely up to something. She had no real reasons to dissuade her friend from travelling to Europe at Dumbledore's invitation.
Nimue had owled from South America a photo of her newborn. The little family had set up a teashop in a magical village in the Andes. Nimue also gushed about how Santos had dropped by on her campaign trail. Tina supposed that the rest of the Graves clan would have received similar letters and copies of the No-Maj photo. Senor Encanto seemed to have put on weight after retiring from dancing. Nimue was still as fair as ever, though the local shawl and skirts hid much of her figure. She held their infant son Luciano in her arms. There had been no further updates from the rest of the Graves after their most recent loss.
Newt was surprised that the Qilin had not wandered far from where he had set up camp. She seemed to be staking out a site for her den and the coming birth. He could see the attraction of the place. A ready source of clean water, shelter from the elements among the rocks, and a ready source of grass in the clearing. It was everything an expectant mother could ask for.
Newt was struck by a sense of awe watching the mother-to-be feed on the dew-wet grass. She had good reason to fear humans, yet she trusted him enough not to flee or attack. With a contented sigh, Newt heated a pot of tea and took out some biscuits for his breakfast. All was well. The sun rose, golden shafts through the mist and trees. The gurgle of running water and birdsong served as accompaniment to his breakfast. He allowed Dougal and a few of his more harmless roommates out for a frolic in the morning sun. The wyvern poked his snout out for a bit but that seemed to startle the Qilin. Newt regretfully coaxed the wyvern back into his enclosure. It would be good for him to stretch his wings in the open instead of inside the Extended false sky of the suitcase. Well, if it did for Frank, it could do for Wally the wyvern. At least until he got home to Europe.
Nurmengard
"Madame, congratulations. You are with child," Bedivere plodded through the customary words.
Surely Severine must be aware of the dangers of a pregnancy at her age. The male Princes beamed with undisguised pride – a child, hopefully male, to carry the family name on. Severine looked wan. Bedivere prescribed a series of nourishing potions for both mother and child, to be filled at their earliest convenience on their next jaunt to town. They would likely need to make another trip soon with how young Louis was ailing.
Queenie was waiting outside the Princes' suite for Bedivere. She smiled at the guard who was to escort the healer back to his cell, pleading to consult the healer for some female ailment. The guard showed them to an empty room and quickly left them. The whispers of the Prince baby would soon spread through the castle.
"Madame, may I enquire as to the nature of your complaint?" the healer asked when the guard was out of earshot. The blonde shook her head.
"No, it is not me but Galahad… How is he?" she asked in a whisper. "I hear things…"
"He is well for now," Bedivere replied.
"But Grindelwald intends to have him killed, doesn't he? Once Vinda and the others return…" Queenie whispered and clutched his arm.
"Ma'am, perhaps it would be better for you to forgot what you learned." He would hate for Queenie to run afoul of Grindelwald, and Galahad would hex him to the next millennia. Queenie had been a light in their captivity.
"So how far along is Madame Prince? She has been letting out her robes more…" Trust a witch to notice.
"Three months at least. She should have a professional midwife, given her history," Bedivere replied. There were footsteps approaching. "So, a tisane of redleaf mint before bed. If the dizziness persists, you may come to me…" the healer added aloud for the guard's benefit. Queenie murmured her thanks as the healer followed the guard back to his cell. It seemed Galahad's condition was stable enough not to warrant a visit today.
"Alois, we should get Severine to civilization where we can get a midwife…" Benoit insisted. "This mountain chill, it is not good for her or Louis."
His twin puffed on a pipe, staring into the darkness outside. The Princes, like so many of the noble pureblood supporters, had been instrumental in the Alliance rehabilitation. There had been no more acts of mass terror like in Paris, Athens, and Madrid. The Alliance's vision of magical supremacy was made more palatable to the common wix. Minister Vogel had recognized it as a legitimate political party in Germany, even though he held off endorsing Lord Grindelwald as a candidate.
"She cannot lose this child too…" Benoit insisted. "Louis should leave as well."
"Where can we send them, Benoit? Europe will be caught in the hurricane soon."
"London. We can write to Aunt Sabrina."
"That harridan? Severine and Louis would do better with a manticore for a host."
"Then who, Alois? Severine's Scottish friend? The one with some pub overrun with goats in the Highlands?"
"Fine, I will write to Aunt Sabrina. She will likely demand some form of payment… Did she have a daughter- Aileen?"
"Turned out to be a squib, so I heard. Left the girl at a convent in Dublin… likely a nun by now."
"Pity, I was hoping we've some other kin in London. All this Non-Magique politicking – they make me nervous. Even Britain might not be safe …" Alois had always kept abreast of changes in the No-Magique world. They could not afford to remain ignorant after the technological changes during the Great War.
"I will speak to Severine about this – she has been most insistent on staying. Something about blood debts needing to be fulfilled. She will not rest until our guest in the dungeon is dead."
"She does know it is not going to change anything for her daughter, does it?"
"Well, one can hope even without it. Cognac?" Benoit offered his twin a glass which Alois declined. He would need his wits about him as a mouse later. There was more spying he needed to do before they leave Nurmengard. The Princes had historically played both sides in any conflict. They had cousins embedded deep in the Ministries under false names. Some veered towards Grindelwald's vision. Others were not so enamoured.
Newt awoke to Dougal shaking him awake. He blearily cast a Lumos. He rose from his camp bed, dislodging Teddy and Pickett as he did so. The pair squeaked their displeasure as they scrambled to grip the blanket. Both landed on the wooden floor of his shack with a thud. Most of the menagerie were asleep or lounging in their enclosures. The demiguise was pointing at the ladder leading up from the suitcase. Something was happening. Perhaps the Qilin…
Newt hurriedly dressed and emerged into the night. A creature needed his help. He found the mother Qilin lying by the creek with the onset of labour.
"Steady, girl…" he soothed as she butted her nose against his hand. It had taken a month for him to be allowed to touch her. She had grown increasingly sluggish in the past fortnight. Her girth was huge. Newt had no idea how large a Qilin fawn would be at birth. Too little was known about the beast. Would there be problems with the delivery?
Well, there was nothing they do but go through it. Newt shed his cloak and rolled up his sleeves. Dougal picked up his cloak and shuffled back to the suitcase. It seemed to Newt that the demiguise was nervous.
Author's Notes:
Yes, it off to that Qilin hunt and rescue in the third movie. Likely I will skim through the events as portrayed in the movie.
