SHIPWRECK. ❪ Newt Scamander ❫ ✓

seventeen

Tina, Trinity, and Newt were standing in a nearby alleyway in Furstemberg. They were looking out over the square where tree roots previously rose to form the birdcage elevator to the French Ministry.

"The box is in the ancestral records room. So, three floors down," Newt informed.

He rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a tiny bottle with a couple of muddy drops left inside it.

"Is that Polyjuice?" Tina questioned.

Trinity wanted to know what Polyjuice was, but she was sure Tina would look down on her. The last thing she wanted was to look stupid and inferior to the talented Auror.

"Just enough to get me inside."

Newt looked down at his coat and found one of Theseus's hairs. Then, he threw it into the mixture, drank it, and turned into his brother.

"Who - ?"

"My brother, Theseus. He's an Auror. And a hugger."

"Well, what about Trinity?" Tina asked, tilting her head to the side. "Won't someone obviously notice her?"

Newt pursed his lips in thought. "I haven't thought much about it, but I suppose we could pretend that she's a criminal that needs to be taken into custody," he suggested.

Tina nodded wordlessly, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "I can do that."

She stood behind Trinity gently, placing her nimble hands on Trinity's wrists. Trinity furrowed in her eyebrows, looking at Newt who nodded surely at her.

"This won't hurt if you don't struggle," Tina advised.

Tina waved her wand over one of Trinity's wrist. A blue electric wire wrapped around her wrist, then gently pulled her wrist behind her back, eventually tying both of her wrists behind her back.

•

Inside the ministry, from the second floor, Theseus zoned in on Newt walking in with his face, but Newt's clothes. Tina, Newt, and Trinity were all looking at the floor. Theseus squinted his eyes at Trinity and the electric bands wrapped around her wrists. Newt glanced up slightly, only to lock eyes with his brother.

Newt - still disguised as Theseus - grabbed the girls' arms and made a turn down a corridor. Theseus immediately stalked off in pursuit, leaving Leta and Travers, who still hadn't spotted Newt or two Theseuses. Leta backed away from the throng and slipped through a side door. Newt waved his wand at Trinity, the electric bands on her wrists popping. Newt, Trinity, and Tina ran along a corridor lined with pictures as the Polyjuice Potion slowly wore off.

"I don't suppose you can Disapparate on Ministry
premises in France, can you?" Newt hopefully asked.

Tina shook her head.

"Pity," he mumbled.

The Potion wore off completely.

"Newt!" Trinity exclaimed.

"Yes, I know. I know there's - "

At once, every portrait along the corridor turned into Newt. There were wanted posters of him. An alarm started ringing.

"Urgence! Urgence! Un sorcier suivi, Newt Scamander, est entré dans le Ministère! Emergency! Emergency! A tracked wizard, Newt Scamander, has entered the Department of Magic!" the voice of the alarm repeated those words.

Theseus suddenly slid from down the hallway. "Newt!"

The trio began running away.

"That's your brother?" Tina asked.

"Yes - I think I may have mentioned we have quite a complicated relationship," he responded.

"I expected him to be nicer," Trinity muttered bitterly.

Newt shook his head. "I hoped so too."

"Newt, stop!" Theseus shouted.

Newt, Trinity, and Tina sprinted through a second door, which led to the mailroom. Two elderly porters were in a circular room, pushing mailcarts across the room from opposite sides. Even at their slow pace, Trinity nearly ran into one of the carts.

"Does he want to kill you?" Tina asked.

"Quite often," Newt answered.

"No!" Theseus shouted.

As they sprinted past the mailcarts, Theseus sent a curse after them, sending the mailcart boxes flying. Tina turned around and blocked the spell, conjuring up a chair and tying him to it. She flicked her wand and the chair with Theseus tied to it slammed into a wall.

Trinity was busy staring in awe. She may have not liked what Tina did with Newt with the past, but she was very impressed with Tina's magical ability. Tina seemed proud of herself as well.

Newt quickly grabbed Trinity's hand and tugged on it. "I think that might have been the best moment of my life."