#itriedok

A dark hallway, coated in cold, thick shadows was quickly illuminated and found to be unnervingly empty… just like every single one before it. Newt sighed, chastising himself for moving so slowly. “At this rate, we won’t find the creature OR meet back up in time to make it out together”, he thought to himself. Shaking his head, he continued his way cautiously, and much too slowly for his liking, through the hallways. He never should have let you run off.

-Flashback-

“C’mon, Newt! At this rate, the Augurey is gonna starve to death before we even reach the door to its room! Seriously. We’ll cover more ground if we’re separate. It isn’t ideal, but then again, sneaking into a foreign illegally implemented  smuggling establishment to release an Irish rain bird isn’t exactly ideal in the first place. Besides, I’m cold.” You and Newt had caught wind of a captured Augurey a week ago, and found it had been ‘transported’ to the southern Americas. Discovering where it was being kept only took a few cloaking spells and a few moments of holding your breath, and here you were. It was sweltering, despite it being the dead of night. You were dressed in black pants, a black blouse, and a long black coat, hair pinned tactfully out of your face. Newt, of course, wore his usual, with case in hand. You were currently following him through the dark halls, but you wanted to get this over with so that you could sleep, damnit. You needed your sleep. It was important to you. Newt shook his head.

“If we separate, one of us could get hurt, or lost. Then we could be found, and then hurt. And where would that leave the Augurey? Still stuck. We should stick together, [Y/n]. We’ll find it soon, I promise.” Newt continued to scan the surroundings for any potential hindrance or danger, while you rolled your eyes and sighed dramatically.

“Nobody is gonna get hurt, or kidnapped, or lost. Seriously, Newt. It’ll be fine! I’ll meet you back here in half an hour.” With that, you ran off, disappearing quickly into the shadows before he could reach out to stop you. With a huff, he frowned, and continued on his way.

  Now, he was worried out of his mind. He was about to reach the intersection you had split at, with a new Augurey added to his case, and you were nowhere to be found. He stood there, then paced, then leaned against a wall, and gave you an extra ten minutes. You didn’t show. Shoulders drooping, he slid his beloved case into a secluded nook where no-one would see it, and ran off to find you.

  After twenty minutes of increasingly frantic searching, he found your jacket.

Down a hall, he found marks on the walls from wayward spells.

Down another, he saw what he hoped against hope wasn’t yours - blood, staining the walls in dark red streaks.

Then a shriek sounded, and he took off running. He followed the dreaded sounds of pleading, the cackling of a sadistic pair of women, the snap of spells rebounding in close quarters. He ran, pushed himself faster. It couldn’t be, he wouldn’t believe it until he saw it --

And he burst through a the door to find you, gagged and bound, to a wooden chair.

  Tears streaming down your face, you choked in relief as Newt’s familiar figure came flying through the door. Within seconds, your two captors were slinging spells every which-way, while Newt stayed on the defensive. You felt your bonds give way and you slumped onto the floor, drained emotionally and physically. He had come for you. He hadn’t left you behind.

With that thought, you started sobbing. It was soft, it soaked your gag, it left your face uncomfortably wet with tears and the product of a runny nose. You couldn’t help it.

Reaching up, you pulled the gag from your face and threw it away. Then you wiped your face on your sleeve, and winced as Newt flinched when a spell put a scratch into his arm. Then, you reached into your pocket, and pulled out your wand. Standing, you joined the fray.

  Newt couldn’t possibly express how relieved he was to see you, and then see you stand. It had hurt to think you might have been taken. It had hurt beyond words. He returned his focus to the two females, keeping on the defensive. Knocking back one with a quick spell, he thought he had ensured she’d stay down for a few moments. With a quick glance your way to make sure you were mostly alright, he sent a binding spell towards the other. She went down, and Newt walked over.

“Who do you work for?”

“Take a wild guess, asshole.”

Newt contemplated her response for a moment.

“You’re collecting magical creatures for Grindelwald; why?”

The female only sneered, and spit on his shoes. “Bite me, pretty boy.” From behind him, you let out a small cry as the other female suddenly grabbed ahold of your arm, with a grip that was like a vice. Newt whirled around, face blanching. The one holding you let loose a feral grin, and held her wand up. Newt shook his head slightly.

“You don’t have to hurt anyone else. Really, we just wanted to help the Augurey. That’s all. If you’re going to hurt anyone… choose me. Not her.”

  Your eyes widened at his words. You had to get loose, had to get you both out. You didn’t want to see him hurt. The one holding you back snickered in your ear.

“Oh don’t worry, we won’t be hurting her. We already decided what we wanted to do.” She exchanged nods with her partner, who snapped up to her feet and grabbed Newt’s wrists, holding them behind his back. You braced yourself, not knowing what for, and saw Newt’s eyes widen.

  “Obliviate.”

 Your mind went blank as you slumped to the ground. Where were you? Good question. What on earth were you wearing? A frown flashed across your face for a moment, only to be immediately replaced yet again by utter confusion. You snapped your attention to the man in the blue coat as he grabbed your shoulders and shook you, uttering a name over and over… Your name? Must be. Yes, it seemed to feel right somehow. You looked into his frantic, panicked eyes, studied his unfamiliar worried features, and whispered softly,

“Who are you?”

A tear, solitary, made its way over the man’s cheek as he knelt there, holding your shoulders, staring at your face as if it were the only thing keeping him together. He repeated your question to himself over and over until you interrupted him.

“I’m sorry. Who are you?”

He shook his head, denying something. “No, it can’t be.”

You blinked, and waited. His face screwed up in pain.

“I’m Newt. Newt Scamander. I’m a magizoologist, and you’re one of the bravest witches I know. You’re my assistant. We travel the world, saving creatures. We’re friends.”

You turn his words over in your mind. Somehow, it all seemed to fit, as if they were floating bits of a broken puzzle that you couldn’t quite grasp when you tried. You frowned, and swallowed.

“Well, I don’t seem to remember you, mister Newt Scamander.”

He nodded, and wiped a tear from his eye.

“I know.” He let loose a deep breath. “That’s alright. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” He took your hand as if it were made of glass and gently helped you to your feet.

“Mister Scamander?”

He lifted his gaze to meet yours, and for some reason, the look sent a pang of… guilt? Flashing through your chest.

“Yes, miss [Y/n] [L/n]?”

You adjusted your coat. “I’m cold.”

A small hint of a sad smile graced his face.