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( chapter five. )

❝ thanks for the offer ❞



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Every time I was in the interrogation room, memories of my father's office at Hogwarts came flooding to me.

You would think that these are my happiest memories. For example, I met Papa once a week and we had tea while I poured out my heart and worries to him. Or that he told me ahead of time how many OWLs I had managed to get and hugged me proudly.

But no. These things never happened.

Because the things that occurred in his office are the most painful, horrible memories of my life. And every single one of my wounds and resentments started in that office.

So it's no wonder I shuddered every time I had to enter one of the interrogation rooms in the Ministry.

When the three men that were already inside, heard the doorway open, they raised their heads at us. Newt was led to the other end of the table, strongly suggesting that he was the victim here, the beggar who wanted to get into their favour, who was asking for something. Theseus gently grabbed my waist and headed for the two free chairs. I sat on the edge of the table, with Theseus on my side. The three men who were already waiting for us were Torquil Travers (head of the Magic Law Enforcement Division, Theseus' immediate boss), Arnold Guzman (an... American) and Rudolph Spielman (who was wounded in Grindelwald's escape, had a clear scar and burn on his face and neck).

"Hearing commences!" Travers looked at me expressively, indicating that it was time for me to start taking notes. The quill swirled quickly between my fingers as Travers slammed a folder in front of them containing Newt's Wanted poster and photographs of the Obscurial attack in New York, collapsed buildings, and uprooted districts.

Theseus licked his lips in a haze.

"You want an end to the ban on your travelling internationally," Travers demonstrated Newt's original request, which I have written in large letters on my parchment. "Why?"

All three stared at Newt, waiting for the young man to answer the obvious question. Why did you want to apply for the travel ban to be lifted? But though why? I can't even imagine.

"Because I'd like to travel internationally!" Newt replied. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Theseus's mouth stretch into a stray, barely visible smile that he wanted to wipe off his face as soon as possible before anyone could see it.

"Subject uncooperative and evasive on reasons for last international trip," Spielman read from his own files.

"It was a field trip," Newt explained. "I was collecting material for my book on magical beasts-"

A book that turned out great, nonetheless.

"You destroyed half of New York!" Travers objected immediately. I snorted a little.

"No, that's factually incorrect on two counts-" Newt's words flowed quickly, trying to defend himself. True, it's not because half of New York was demolished, no, no, two more buildings would have had to be demolished to have a half!



"Newt!" Theseus interrupted, quiet but stern, signalling softly but firmly with his face and hands that his brother didn't need to talk that much because he might be getting into more trouble.

So Newt stopped but frowned.

"Mr Scamander, it's clear you're frustrated and, frankly, so are we," Guzman, the American, spoke up, for the first time during the trial, and being American, there was little chance that Travers or even Spielman would listen to him. In anything. "In the spirit of compromise, we'd like to make a proposition."

One of my hands involuntarily slipped on Theseus's thigh and squeezed. Well, that's what you did! You were planning something and that was it, right? Newt also looked carefully at his brother, but Theseus just nodded, signalling to just listen all the way through. He could have even told me that.

"What kind of proposition?" Newt finally asked, quite gently.

"The committee will agree to lift your travel ban under one condition," Travers said as he would just give the younger Scamander brother the greatest gift of his life.

"You join the Ministry. Specifically, your brother's department." Spielman continued.

"No," Newt just chuckled as he processed the sentence to himself. I had to squeeze Theseus' thigh so I wouldn't laugh out loud. You've planned this well, Thes! But you don't even think your brother would go into this! Don't you know him at all? Theseus, as soon as he heard Newt's response, just scowled, which made me laugh as well. „I-that isn't my kind of-Theseus is the Auror. I think my talents lie elsewhere-"

„Mr Scamander. The wizarding and non-wizarding worlds have been at peace for over a century." it was already clear from Spielman's first words that we would be witnessing a high mannered speech trying to convince each of us of something. "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-magic world as well."

My spine shook as a shiver as he mentioned the purebloods. To the best of my knowledge, I was the only one in the room who came from a noble family. And my family was known as the greatest pureblood maniacs.

The liquid, pensive surface of the table began to swivel and revealed a picture of Grindelwald, the same picture that looked back at us every single meter from the walls lately. The man turned on such a huge fear in me that I couldn't even believe it.

I started thinking about the worst. Is there anyone in my family who supports him, who turns to his side in the war and betrays every wizard? My mother, the widow who loved all of Papa's ideals? My eldest brother, Sirius, who most closely resembled our father and, as a firstborn, tried to fulfil all his requests? Belvina, who is obsessed with power? Cygnus, my twin brother who knew about every single crack in my life? My fragile, innocent brother Arcturus, who had just left Hogwarts a few years ago?

Me?

„They see Grindelwald as their hero, and Grindelwald sees this boy as a means to make this all come true." Spielman gave me an expressive but brief look, indicating that he knew exactly who I was, what my name was, and what my status was. He saw a threat in me. In my presence. In my relationships. And then it was Theseus's time to squeeze my thigh.

Grindelwald's image slowly changed, releasing the image of the obscurus. Credence Barebone. For a long time I studied his case, his life path, I analyzed every step and decision that led to him becoming an obscurial.

„I'm sorry. You're talking about Credence as if he were still here." Newt frowned in unrest and looked at the boy's image with a sore, almost grieving look. At the boy, he wanted to save, at all costs. He was saved from one point of view.

"He survived, Newt. He's still alive." It was Theseus who told his brother the news. I didn't know that either. After all, how could he have survived? It was a miracle itself that he made it through young adulthood.m of living a young adult life. "He left New York months ago. He's somewhere in Europe. Where exactly, we don't know, but-"

"And you want me to hunt Credence down? To kill him?" No! You can't expect that from him! I yelled in myself, but I knew Theseus was in my head and could hear everything I thought. Theseus only looked at me for a moment, but that was just enough for me to sink back into my chair and not stand up to the "high-ranking wizards" and start arguing with them.

"Same old Scamander!" a voice that came from behind of us, surprised me. He stepped out of the shadows amid a deep, chilling laugh. We had no idea he was even present for the meeting. Not Theseus, not me. It was Gunnar Grimmson, one of the Ministry's mercenaries and bounty hunter, with a special interest in magical creatures. Travers loved to hire him because he relentlessly searched for anyone, no matter the target. If someone has to be found by Grimmson, they will surely die a horrible and torturous death.

And as much as Travers loved to hire him, Theseus was just as reluctant to do so. If someone had to be found, we would solve it without him.

"What's he doing here?" Newt scowled as he recognized Grimmson's figure in the dark. Grimmson tortured and even killed several magical creatures that Newt had protected. His reaction was not unexpected.

Theseus, what is he doing here? Theseus! I gripped his hand with whitened fingers, begging with my eyes for him to look at me. Even Grimmson's sole existence filled me with fear. If Grimmson is present, everyone expects a bloodbath.

Calm down, Lulu! Theseus finally turned his head at me, stroking my hand in the greatest possible cover. He's not here to hurt us.

„Taking on the job you're too soft to do." the man sidestepped, examining Credence's face, documenting all his facial features and characteristics. "Is that it?"

Newt thus ran out of patience. He jumped out of his chair and stormed out the door.

"Travel documentation denied!" Travers gave the final bow, shouting after Newt. Theseus and I stared at the closing door, waiting for Newt to come back. And the other three began talking to Grimmson almost admirably.

"Well, gentlemen, I suppose that means the job is mine!" The light-haired northern, ruthless assassin settled in Newt's spot as we got up from our seat to catch up with the younger Scamander in the hallway.

"Newt!" We cried out with Theseus, already in the empty ministry corridor, though no soul stepped outside us, the dark, shiny bricks almost suffocated us.

Newt only stopped after a second shout to turn to us.

„You think I like the idea of Grimmson any more than you do?" Theseus walked toward his younger brother, and I almost snorted and listened to their conversation from a distance.

"Listen, I don't want to hear how the ends justify the means, Theseus." Newt protested fiercely, knowing well his brother and what he was trying to argue with.

"I think you're gonna have to pull your head out of the sand!"

"Okay, right, here we go." the younger brother began desperately, yet fiercely. "What a selfish . . . irresponsible . . ."

You are not, Newt. Not even a bit.

"You know, the time is coming when everyone's going to have to pick a side." Theseus leaned closer to him, trying hard to convince him, then pressed his finger gently to Newt's chest. "Even you."

"I don't do sides." Newt may have looked into his brother's eyes for the first time, probably only to convince Theseus. Then he headed for the exit.

"Newt . . ." Theseus called after him, still not giving up. "C'mere."

He pulled his younger brother into a hug, which Newt didn't reciprocate but he did not push his brother away either.

I could only hear the whispering of a few words in Theseus Newt's ear with utter effort.

"They're watching you."

Then... Newt left.

"And you, do you really choose this side?" I leaned against the railing firmly as Theseus returned to me with hard steps, and I pointed my finger toward the courtroom. "Which hires Gunnar Grimmson to find an innocent boy who can't even make out what his life is like? Gunnar Grimmson? Don't you remember he killed a group of house elves three months ago and we found the bodies on the streets of London? I had to write the massacre record! After visiting the location, I couldn't eat for days! Is this the person you want to stand behind and support? Trust him?"

"I didn't say a word about trusting him! You think I do?" Theseus protested, trying to find the answer to the question in my eyes. I just sniffed, indicating that I had no idea what was going on in his head. "I don't think that man is on anyone's side, just fighting for his own life and working for the one who offers him the most. We always say he's a mercenary, don't you remember?"

"I don't even know what to believe anymore," I shrugged, a little hopeless, trying not to think exactly what it meant that the Ministry would accept a... torturer so easily. A sadist. What all this means for our lives, our morals. I always got tired of politics and intrigues soon, even though I grew up in the Black family and had quite a bit of experience in both.

My father was very proud of me in a few things. But it did take a long time to see through the webs, and although I didn't like to get involved in the manipulation, I had a brain for it. An affinity.

It was my only Slytherin trait, and that, too, was the result of my Ravenclaw brain.

"Lulu, please ... He won't hurt you. Ever." Theseus looked me in the eye and I saw almost immediately that he understood the emotions running through my blue vortices. Of course, since he has seen them terribly many times. He had seen me despair, shattered, bent and mended, terrified to death. He placed one hand gently, absolutely gently, and hesitantly on my face, caressing my skin with his fingers. "He is not..."

"I know exactly," I nodded quickly, not letting him utter the words that make me remember even more. "Just because I'm not a fantastic beast, just a ... simple pureblood, doesn't mean I can't be afraid of a hitman who knows all our weaknesses if he's on the wrong side."

"We can't predict everything, Lulu. It worries me as much as it worries you."

"And I should have gotten used to not being able to predict anything."

hello hello, witches, wizards and muggles !!!

well, I didn't know how many of you are here waiting for a new chapter but here it is anyway!

this part, apart from the last conversation, is entirely taken from the trial scene in the film, so maybe nothing is exciting about it, apart from the Lyra reaction, I wrote the dialogue out of the screenplay version ❤❤❤

well, why do you think Lyra was so triggered by the presence of grimmson, what could have happened in Lyra's past?