Newt was absolutely certain that studying the mating habits of Mooncalves was the most important task he could be doing right now. He definitely wasn't hiding in his magical suitcase to avoid the young woman who had been visiting the Ministry's Beast Division every day this week.
"This is purely professional interest," he muttered to Pickett, who gave him a distinctly skeptical look from his perch on an empty feed bucket. "The way they dance in the moonlight is fascinating from a scientific perspective."
The Bowtruckle made a chirping sound that somehow managed to convey complete disbelief.
The woman in question was Tina Goldstein, who had temporarily transferred from MACUSA to assist with a joint investigation into magical creature trafficking. The same Tina who had helped him in New York. The same Tina whose letters he'd been treasuring for months. The same Tina who had smiled at him yesterday in a way that made him drop an entire stack of research papers into a Fwooper's water dish.
A soft trill came from behind him, and Newt turned to find Dougal, his Demiguise, watching him with those large, knowing eyes. The creature was holding something—a small, shimmering object that seemed to change color with every movement.
"What have you got there?" Newt asked, grateful for the distraction.
Dougal extended his hand, revealing what appeared to be a tiny, iridescent hummingbird made of living crystal. It sat perfectly still in the Demiguise's palm, its delicate wings catching the light like prisms.
"Good gracious," Newt breathed, immediately reaching for his notebook. "Where did you find this remarkable creature?"
The crystalline bird suddenly animated, zipping around Newt's head in a shower of rainbow-colored sparks before darting toward the suitcase's exit ladder.
"Wait!" Newt scrambled after it, his natural curiosity overwhelming his desire to avoid the Ministry corridors. He emerged from his case just in time to see the creature disappear around a corner.
The chase led him through the Beast Division, past startled ministry workers and floating memos. The crystalline bird moved with impossible grace, leaving a trail of softly glowing sparkles in its wake. Newt was so focused on following it that he didn't notice someone coming around the corner until—
"Oof!"
He collided with Tina Goldstein, sending both of them stumbling. Acting on instinct, Newt caught her around the waist to steady her, then immediately forgot how to breathe when he realized how close they were.
"Oh! Mr. Scamander," Tina said, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I was just looking for you."
"You were?" Newt managed, suddenly finding the floor patterns fascinating. "I mean, yes, of course. How may I be of assistance? Professional assistance, naturally. Regarding creatures. Magical ones. Which is our shared area of... professional... interest."
He was babbling. Why was he babbling? And why hadn't he let go of her waist yet?
The crystalline hummingbird chose that moment to reappear, hovering between them in a shower of iridescent sparkles. To Newt's amazement, Tina's eyes lit up with recognition.
"A Cor Crystallum!" she exclaimed. "I've only read about them in old bestiaries. They're supposed to be extinct!"
"You know what it is?" Newt asked, momentarily forgetting his awkwardness in his excitement.
"They're mentioned in Native American magical lore," Tina explained, watching as the creature circled them. "They were said to appear to people whose hearts were..." she trailed off, that lovely blush returning to her cheeks.
"Were what?" Newt asked softly, finally meeting her eyes.
"In harmony," she finished, just as quietly.
The Cor Crystallum trilled a note that seemed to shimmer in the air like visible music. As they watched, it began to leave a trail of crystalline flowers in its wake, each one catching the light and refracting it into heart-shaped patterns on the walls.
"Remarkable," Newt whispered, though he wasn't entirely sure if he was talking about the creature or the way Tina's eyes sparkled as she watched it. "Would you... that is... would you like to help me document it? For research purposes, of course."
"Of course," Tina agreed, trying and failing to suppress a smile. "Purely professional."
"We could start now?" Newt suggested, suddenly brave. "Perhaps over tea? To discuss our observations in detail?"
"I'd like that," Tina said softly.
The Cor Crystallum gave what sounded suspiciously like a satisfied chirp and settled on Newt's shoulder, its crystalline form warm against his neck. As they walked together toward the Ministry café, Newt could have sworn he saw Dougal watching from around a corner, looking extremely pleased with himself.
The next few hours passed in a blur of shared observations, quiet laughter, and conversations that had very little to do with professional research. The Cor Crystallum flitted between them, occasionally creating tiny crystal flowers that Newt would carefully collect and offer to Tina, each one catching the light like a miniature rainbow.
"You know," Tina said as evening approached, holding one of the crystal blooms up to the light, "in some legends, the Cor Crystallum doesn't just appear to people whose hearts are in harmony. It's said to appear to those who need a little help admitting it."
Newt felt his ears turning pink. "Is that so?"
"Mmhmm," Tina smiled, looking at him with those bright eyes that made coherent thought rather difficult. "The crystals it creates are supposed to last until the truth is spoken."
Newt looked down at the collection of crystal flowers on their table, each one glowing softly in the dimming light. He took a deep breath, gathering every ounce of Hufflepuff courage he could muster.
"Tina," he started, then had to clear his throat and try again. "Tina, I... that is to say... I find myself rather hoping these particular crystals might... disappear soon?"
Her smile widened. "Was that a question, Mr. Scamander?"
"No," he said, finally meeting her eyes properly. "No, it wasn't. What I mean to say is... I'm rather fond of you. Quite extraordinarily fond, actually. And not in a purely professional capacity."
The crystal flowers began to glow brighter.
"I'm rather fond of you too," Tina replied softly. "Extraordinarily so."
The flowers erupted in a shower of rainbow light and dissolved into sparkling mist. The Cor Crystallum gave a delighted trill and did a loop-de-loop above their heads before landing between them on the table.
"Well," Newt said, feeling lighter than air, "I suppose that confirms the legends about the crystals."
"I suppose it does," Tina agreed, reaching across the table to take his hand.
The Cor Crystallum created one final, perfect crystal flower before disappearing in a shower of sparkles. This one, unlike the others, didn't fade away. Newt carefully picked it up and offered it to Tina.
"Would you... that is... might you like to have dinner? With me? Tonight? Or another night, if tonight isn't convenient. Any night, really. Or day. Whichever you prefer. I'm rather flexible regarding the time of day when it comes to dining with you."
Tina laughed, a sound that Newt decided was even more magical than any creature he'd ever encountered. "Tonight would be perfect."
Later that evening, as they walked through London together, Newt caught a glimpse of something silvery in a shop window – Dougal, giving him a thumbs up before vanishing from sight. The Demiguise had obviously planned the whole thing with the Cor Crystallum.
"My creatures," Newt murmured fondly, "are apparently better at this sort of thing than I am."
"I don't know," Tina said, squeezing his hand. "I think you're doing just fine."
The crystal flower from the Cor Crystallum sat on Newt's desk for years afterward, its rainbow light growing brighter whenever Tina was near. And if anyone noticed that a certain Demiguise looked particularly smug whenever he saw it, well, that was purely coincidental.