Chapter Text
“Here we are,” Newt Scamander said as he opened the door to his home, “Hopefully the baby nifflers haven’t gotten out again…” he mumbled the last part more so to himself as he let his guests inside.
“Newt?” a female voice called from another room, “Is that you?”
“Yes Bunty,” he replied, and seeing the puzzled look on Tina’s face added, “My assistant, perhaps I forgot to mention her in my letters.”
Bunty came into the main room with a big smile on her face, “Welcome home...who’s this?” she asked, seeing the unfamiliar faces. Well, really only one was unfamiliar. She recognize the female--she resembled that of a picture she had seen in Newt’s case.
“Tina Goldstein.” she introduced herself, reaching out to shake the other females hand.
Shaking her hand, Bunty couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she closely examined her face; she was even more beautiful in person than in the picture she so frequently tried to avoid looking at.
The other man introduced himself as Jacob, a name that she recognized from the New York stories she had heard while working alongside Newt with his creatures.
Newt’s voice broke her from her thoughts “Bunty, you really must go home for the night. You didn’t have to stay so late.”
“I just wanted to make sure all the creatures were cared for, and I wasn’t sure how long you’d be gone.”
“Go home and get some rest, I can do the last rounds of checking on the creatures tonight.”
“Won’t you need help?” she asked, hoping to be able to stay a little longer.
“I’ll be fine, really, you’ve done more than enough.” Knowing he would keep on insisting on her going home, she decided not to push it any further and said her goodbyes for the night.
“Alright, goodnight Newt. It was nice meeting you Miss Goldstein, Mr. Kowalski.” she smiled at Tina and Jacob before making her leave.
It was Jacob who spoke next, “You sure you’re alright with all of us staying here, Newt?”
“Of course.” the magizoologist knew Jacob and Tina would need a place to stay, and was more than happy to let them stay with him.
Soon enough, Newt had shown Tina and Jacob upstairs to the two bedrooms where they would be staying.
Tina was glad to finally be able to bathe and change clothes, though her new ones were a pair of old pajamas she had been given by Newt. She settled into bed, and was overcome by the familiar smell of the magizoologist who occupied the home. She wondered how long it would be until he retired to his bedroom, as well as which room was his. She hadn’t noticed a door that looked like it should lead to another bedroom, but then again she was so tired she may have missed it.
Despite the exhaustion she felt, the auror couldn’t seem to fall asleep. She tossed and turned, but her mind kept going back to her sister and the last time she saw her. Not knowing how much time had passed, she eventually gave up and went downstairs, glancing around before opening the basement door. Not surprised that it appeared to be much bigger than an average basement, she slowly made her way downstairs wondering where to begin looking for her host.
When she made it to the bottom of the stairs and glanced around, she felt a small tug on her clothing. Looking down, she smiled when she saw a familiar face. “Hello Dougal,” she said, “I don’t suppose you know where I can find Newt?”
The demiguise took her hand and started walking, and Tina suddenly wondered what she was doing. ‘What will I even say to him?’ she thought, ‘What if he’s asleep? What if he wants to be alone?’
Before she had the chance to turn around and go back upstairs, Dougal had walked her up to what looked like a large lake, where she saw the magizoologist sitting and staring at the water. He looked up when he heard them approaching.
“Tina? Is everything alright?” he said the last word quietly, realizing that maybe that wasn’t an appropriate thing to ask. ‘No, her sister just joined Grindelwald. Of course everything isn’t alright.’
“I couldn’t sleep. I wasn’t sure if you’d be awake still…”
“I was checking on the creatures one last time, I found myself unable to sleep as well.”
Tina sat down next to him, unsure of what to say. There was a brief silence, before Newt went to stand, “I know you said you already read my book,” he started, “but if you would like, I still have the copy I intended to give to you.”
“You set aside a copy for me?”
“Yes, I did. I had planned on going back to New York to give it to you, but I couldn’t get my travel ban lifted. I tried five times.”
She gave him a small smile, “I’d be honored to be given a copy by Mr. Newt Scamander himself.” She got up and followed him over to his desk, where he pulled a wrapped package out of a drawer and handed it to her.
Tina slowly opened it, revealing the cover of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
“It was the first one printed.” Newt explained.
“Newt...you didn’t have to. You should’ve given it to your mother.”
Now he smiled, “I gave her the second, not that she knows that. Besides, you gave me the name, it only seemed fair.”
“Thank you, Newt.” Tina wasn’t sure how to respond, staring down at the book. Another silence came over them, before Newt broke it again.
“Well, I suppose we should at least attempt to get some rest tonight.”
She nodded, “I suppose we should. Please get some rest, Newt.”
“You too, Tina.”
The next morning Tina woke up feeling extremely unrested, having only gotten a few short hours of sleep. Going downstairs, she greeted Jacob who was in the kitchen cooking.
“Is Newt up yet?” she asked.
“He was up before I was, down in the basement. His brother just walked down there a few minutes ago.” the baker responded, his lack of sleep obvious in his voce.
“Tina?” a voice called from the doorway, “Is that you? Can you come down here?” Newt appeared, “Theseus needs to talk with you.”
Confused, she followed him down into the basement, seeing Theseus standing by Newt’s desk, where he had given her the book just a few hours prior.
“Miss Goldstein.” the older Scamander said.
“Mr. Scamander.” she responded, noting that it looked like he hadn’t even given the idea of sleep a thought the night before.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news from the Ministry. Due to the events in Paris, MACUSA has requested that you be sent back immediately. They want you put under investigation.”
“What?!” while Tina had a slight worry MACUSA would request for her to return soon, she wasn’t expecting that.
“As your sister joined Grindelwald, they want to make sure that you aren’t a threat. After the incident with Graves last year, I believe they don’t want to take any chances.” Theseus explained. “I was told if we didn’t have you on your way by tomorrow, you’d lose your job as an Auror there and they’ll send someone to retrieve you personally.”
“It sounds like even if I go back on my own I lose my job.”
“It is a possibility, yes.”
“We were trying to think of possible ways to keep MACUSA from forcing you back to America.” Newt spoke up, joining the conversation, “But as you are an American here under their authority, we’re having trouble coming up with anything. They have the power to call you back whenever they see fit.”
“That’s ridiculous! There has to be something we can do. Does the Ministry need me for anything that requires me to stay?” Tina looked at Theseus.
“Even if we did, as you’re an American here working for MACUSA, they have the authority to bring you home whenever they see--”
“Wait,” Newt interrupted, “The Ministry is only obligated to send her back because she’s an American Auror, correct?” Theseus nodded before Newt continued, “But what if she were to be employed as an Auror at the Ministry?”
“There’s still the issue of her being American, if it were as simple as she quit her job at MACUSA, then I’d suggest she quit.” the older brother paused, “I guess there is a way to take care of that problem, though I’m not sure you’d be willing to go through with it.”
“I’m not sure what could possibly be worse.” Tina replied, “I’m willing to hear what you have to say.”
“If you marry someone like Newt, then you’ll fall under the protection of the Ministry here, and they won’t be obligated to send you back to America, and if someone was sent, the Ministry would likely take your side.”
Newt and Tina both were silent. Had Theseus really just suggested that they get married?
Tina’s heart was pounding, ‘Newt and I aren’t even a couple…’ she thought, ‘and just two days ago I thought he was engaged to someone else! There’s no way we can--’ her thoughts were cut off when Newt spoke again.
“So what do you think Tina? Should we get married?”