Chapter Text
Newt was sitting alone in a dingy waiting area, he was staring absently ahead. After a few seconds, he felt something tugging at his sleeve, he looked down to see that Pickett was swinging on a loose thread.
The thread snapped and one of his buttons went rolling down the corridor, Newt and Pickett stared at it transfixed. Then they began to chase after it, Newt arrived first and as he picked it up, a female voice said. "They're ready for you, Newt."
Newt looked up to see Leta Lestrange standing in front of him, wearing a pink dress. He stuffed the button and Pickett into his pocket before he asked in a steady voice. "What are you doing here, Leta?"
"Theseus and Mr. Fawley thought it would be good if I joined the 'Ministry family'."
Newt tried to not flinch as he remembered that Leta and George absolutely hated each other but they acted friendly in front of Theseus so he wouldn't notice anything off. "Did they actually say the words 'Ministry family' ?" She laughed lightly as they walked down the corridor. "That sounds like something they would say."
"Theseus was disappointed that you haven't come to dinner more often. Once a month is that often." Leta chastised calmly.
"I've been busy."
"He's your brother, Newt, he likes to spend with you. And so do I."
Newt breathed in deeply as he saw that Pickett was climbing up his coat lapel. He opened his breast pocket and said. "Oi, you! Hop in."
Pickett climbed in as Leta questioned. "Why do strange creatures love you so much?"
"There are no strange creatures- only blinkered people." They finished together. Leta smiled brightly which Newt returned but his smile wasn't as bright.
"How long did you get in detention for saying that to Prendergast?"
"A month I think." Newt remembered how Theseus had burst into laughter when he found out the reason for the month long detention.
"And I set off a Dungbomb under his desk so that I could join you, do you remember?" Leta asked as Theseus started walking towards them.
"No I don't. Sorry." She came to a halt as Newt walked towards his brother with a smile on his face.
"Hello."
Leta announced without waiting. "We were talking about Newt coming for dinner."
Theseus nodded distractedly. "Really? Before we go in there-"
"I know this is my first attempt but you have been teaching me so that I know what to say." Bewt smiled which Theseus returned.
"This isn't going to be easy, you know? Just try and keep an open mind, will you? And maybe a little less like-" He gestured towards Pickett, Newt's blue jacket and his messy hair.
"Me?" Newt interrupted as he remembered the letters that George had sent him to prepare him for this.
"It wouldn't hurt." Theseus replied with affection in his voice. "Come on let's go."
He led Newt into the office where Torquil Travers, the Director of Magical Law Enforcement; Rudolph Spielman, the ICW's Head of Incarceration and Leroy Turner, the American Envoy to the ICW were all sitting around a table.
Newt sat down as Travers barked. "The hearing commences." A quill began to write as Travers opened a file that was in front of him. "You want to travel internationally, why?"
"Because I want to see some of my friends in New York." Newt answered as he remembered that George had written to 'give detail but not too much detail'.
Spielman said calmly. "Subject cooperative and answered question truthfully. Why exactly did you travel to New York, Mr. Scamander?"
All three looked at Newt as he answered. "It was a field trip. I was collecting material for my book-"
"You destroyed half of New York!" Travers growled as he looked down at pictures of the destruction of New York.
"That's actually factually incorrect on two counts-"
"Newt!" Theseus hissed sternly but he was sure that Turner had snorted but hid it under a cough.
Travers took a deep breath. "Mr. Scamander, it is clear that you are frustrated and frankly, so are we. In the spirit of compromise, we would like to make you a proposition."
Newt glanced warily at Theseus, who nodded as if to say listen. "What kind of proposition?"
"The committee will lift your travel ban under one condition." Spielman began as he leaned forward. "You join the Ministry, specifically, your brother's department."
Turner barked angrily. "That would be impossible! President Picquery has already offered Mr. Scamander a job as a consultant under Mr. Graves' department."
"No- I wouldn't do that. Theseus is the Auror, I'm the researcher. My talents lie elsewhere."
Travers explained with a steady voice. "Mr. Scamander, the wizarding and non-wizarding worlds have been at peace for over a century. Grindelwald wants to see that peace destroyed, and for certain members of our community his message is very seductive. Many purebloods believe it is their birthright to rule not only our world but the non-magical one as well. They see Grindelwald as their hero, and Grindelwald sees this boy as a weapon to see all this come true."
Newt leaned forward as Credence's face appeared in front of him. "I'm sorry but you are talking about Credence as if he is still alive."
"He survived, Newt." Theseus murmured in a quiet voice which made Newt stop cold. He nodded in reply as he continued. "He's still alive. He left New York months ago and our intelligence told us that he is somewhere in Europe."
"And you want me to hunt him down and kill him?"
"Same old Scamander." Newt noticed that Travers, Spielman, Turner and Theseus all looked uncomfortable as Gunar Grimmson appeared from around a pillar.
"What's he doing here?
"To do the job that you are too soft to do." Newt looked furious as Grimmson walked towards he image and said. "Is this it."
The magizoologist stood up and stormed towards the door. Travers called after him, sounding apologetic. "Travel documents denied!"
Spielman suggested quietly. "What if we have Ms. Lestrange hunt down the Obscurus? It would be a lot cheaper."
"You are right. Auror Scamander, go tell her." Turner stood up and all but flew out of the door.
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Theseus chased after Newt as he called. "Newt!" Newt stopped and turned around. "You think that I like the idea of Grimmson any more then you do?"
"I don't want to hear you justify it, 'Seus."
"You have to pull your head out of the sand!"
Newt sounded exasperated as he replied. "Okay, here we go. Selfish...irresponsible."
"You know, the time is coming when everyone has to choose a side. That includes you, Newt! Everyone has to choose one in the end."
"I don't do sides. I thought you already knew that."
"What was New York then? You know which side Percival will be on." Newt turned around and was about to walk away when Theseus hugged him. "C'mere."
Newt was about to pull away when Theseus breathed into his ear. "They are watching you. Be careful."
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Newt was walking briskly down one of London's many streets when he noticed that a man was following him. He turned into a dark alley and pointed his wand at the man before he whispered. "Ventus."
Newt leaned against the wall of the dark alleyway when a black glove appeared in front of him, it gave a little wave before it pointed towards the roof of St. Paul's Cathedral. On the dome, a small human figure gave a little wave.
Newt apparated to the roof with the glove in his hand, he handed the man his glove back before he said in amusement. "Dumbledore. Were the less conspicuous rooftops full then?"
Albus Dumbledore just smiled in reply before he raised his wand. "I do like a view. Nebulus." A swirling fog filled the entirety of London and they disapparated.
They passed the Landseer lions before Dumbledore asked. "How was it?"
"They're convinced that I didn't just go to New York for my book." Newt explained in answer.
"They don't suspect that I did send you?"
"They don't I made sure to not mention anything about you." Newt looked up at one of the lions that they had passed before he continued. "You told me where to find that trafficked Thunderbird, Dumbledore. You knew that I would have to take him home and you knew that I would go through a muggle port in New York.'
"I've always had an affinity with magical birds. Did you know that in my family there is a legend that says a phoneix will come to any Dumbledore who needs it. They say that my great-great-grandfather had one that took flight when he died. It never returned."
"With respect, I have a feeling that isn't the reason why you sent my to New York." A silhouette of a man appeared in the fog and Dumbledore grabbed Newt's arm before they disapparated.
They appeared in Victoria bus station and they started to walk again. Dumbledore said. "Credence is in Paris, Newt. Well, he has just arrived there but he is searching for his family. Have you heard rumours about his real identity?"
Newt shook his head before he replied. "No, I haven't."
"They say that he is the missing son of a famous French pureblood family. A son that everyone believed lost..."
"Not Leta's brother." Newt looked astonished. "Surely the Blacks would know wouldn't they?"
"You would think but Sirius Black II has told the purebloods that the family tapestry still says he is missing. But that doesn't matter, an Obscurus grows out of the absence of love as a dark twin. If Credence has a real brother or sister then he could still be saved." Dumbledore paused for several seconds before he continued. "Credence in Paris means that he is in danger or is a danger to others. We may not know who he is it but it is best that we find him. I do hope that you will be the one to find him."
A card appeared in Dumbledore's hand which made Newt look at it suspiciously. "What's that?"
"It's the address of a very old acquaintance of mine. A safe house in Paris, reinforced in with enchantments."
"Safe house? Why would I need a safe house?"
"One hopes that you won't, but should things go wrong then you would need a place to to have a cup of tea."
"No! Absolutely not." They apparated onto Lambeth Bridge as Dumbledore looked at Newt with disappointment. "I'm banned from International travel, if they find out that I travel out of the country then I will be locked up in Azkaban."
"You know why I admire you Newt?" Newt looked dumbfounded so the professor continued. "You don't seek power or popularity. You simply ask, is the thing right in itself? If it is, then I must do it, no matter the cost." Dumbledore started to walk away.
"Why can't you do it?"
"I can't move against Grindelwald, it has to be you. I don't blame you though, I'd probably refuse if I was in your shoes as well." Dumbledore disapparated before Newt could say anything else.
"Oh, c'mon!" Dumbledore's empty glove appeared again, it placed the card in Newt's breast pocket and it tapped the pocket before it disappeared. "Dumbledore!"
Newt disapparated as the glove disappeared as well. He was quite annoyed with Dumbledore but he knew that he was going to Paris.