#readerxnewt

       He was happy about their friendship and was gloomy about his upcoming departure; he had only booked his stay for a week. As such, there was no point in pursuing anything more than this small friendship with the muggle girl. His warm cheeks slowly began to pale of the thought of leaving. What was back in England that he couldn’t have here? There were certainly things here in America that he couldn’t have back at home. His mind wandered to how happy he had been over the past few days, but he brushed them off. It was preposterous to even consider staying more than his allotted time. He had a job to get back to, an apartment to take care of, and a meager life to continue. Now that his book was completed, there was hardly any traveling for him. What wouldn’t he give for one more adventure? He looked around the city, as if to find the answer graffitied somewhere on the buildings’ walls, but found nothing.

       Newt shook his head, pushed his hands deep into his pockets, and trudged on. As he was walking past an alley, a tuft of silver flashed by his eyes. Newt stumbled back and snapped his head into the direction of the alley. Sitting atop a dumpster, a fluffy screech owl rubbed and pecked at its feathers. In its talons rested a neatly printed letter. Newt glanced around him before ducking into the narrow street. As he approached the owl, he searched through his pockets for a treat. Finding a small pellet, Newt stroked the bird’s head before exchanging the food for the letter. The front was embellished with the United States’ official seal while the back was entitled to a Mister Newton A.F. Scamander. Newt tugged that the seal, breaking it, and pulled out the letter. It read as follows:

Mister Scamander,

       By the request of Seraphina Picquery, President of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, it is with great pleasure that we inform you of your transference to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. This referral for transference has been accepted by the Minister for Magic, Hector Fawley, on account of your incredulous skills with magical creatures. It has been brought to the Attention of MACUSA that your beasts may be a key component in recapturing Grindelwald and ensuring justice. With the added experience from your previous interactions with Grindelwald, it is imperative that you accept this request and begin immediately. Additional information will be provided upon arrival of the nearest department building.

Respectfully,

Harold Clemmings

Harold Clemmings

Head Deputy Aurora

       Newt stared blankly at the letter before him. The owl sat patiently, waiting for the man’s acknowledgment as he thought over his options. Everything was completely silent as he reread the letter over and over, making sure he was positive about the contents of the letter. A smile fell upon his face and he breathed a sigh of excitement as he ran his fingers through his hair. He laughed and jumped, energy coursing through him before he remembered he had to write back a response. He dug through his various pockets in search of a pen. Once he found his prize, his eyes darted around the alley, looking for something to transfigure. His gaze lands upon a pile of shredded cardboard relaxing in back corner of the alleyway. He swiftly walks over, crouches down, and taps the moldy paper with his wand as he quickly mumbles out an incantation. The cardboard folds in on itself, crunching and swirling as if it were a normal task. Soon enough, a few sheets of white paper unfold, elegantly bordered by grapevines and filled with straight lines to ensure neat handwriting.

       Newt carefully picks up the papers and begins to scribble out his acceptance letter onto one of them. Once satisfied, he flips over another sheet and stares at the blank page. Slowly, he begins to write an apology letter to Jacob, affirming his resignation and early departure from the job. He’s reluctant to let the job go, but it will pay off once he’s able to stay in America. He was sure Jacob would understand why he decided not to come into work today, but he couldn’t say the same about his coworker. Thoughtfully, he adds an addition to the bottom of the letter, addressed to (Y/N), formally apologizing for leaving her with all the work and hoping to see her soon. He scribbles out his signature, sends the owl off, and excitedly apparates to the nearest MACUSA office; this time foregoing all secrecy cautions.

**

       “Jacob, there are a dozen and a half customers awaiting your presence!” (Y/N) called out as she spun through the kitchen doorway. In the corner, right outside the office, Jacob stood keenly reading a letter. The young woman slyly crept behind the man and nonchalantly read over his shoulder. What could be so urgent at this time of day? As her eyes scanned the letter, and her mind became a jumbled mix of confusion, she unconsciously placed her hand on Jacob’s shoulder to get a better read. Jacob, now aware of her presence, shrugs her off and rolls his eyes, handing her the letter. “Looks like you’ll be doing more chores than normal today Peach.” (Y/N) read the letter with a bit of distaste and disappointment until she reached the end, which was addressed to her. She smiled at the recognition from Newt, but shook her head as if nothing were wrong.

       She tossed the letter into the trash before enthusiastically turning towards the ovens. “Leave it to Newton to leave all the work to the ladies. Well, nothing can be done.” Jacob eyed his worker suspiciously as she viciously rolled out the dough and threw flour around on the counters. “Right…” Jacob replies as she slams the dough down and rolls the pin around hectically. As (Y/N) attacks the desserts in a fervent frenzy, Jacob slips out the kitchen door, sighing, unsure of which would be harder to deal with, the squadron of impatient customers, or the disappointed woman berating the pastries.

…

       A few days had passed since Newt left the bakery. Cakes were shipped and desserts were devoured, but not a single cinnamon curled redhead entered through the doors. Jacob’s most prized employee slowly become paranoid as she vigilantly watched the entrance, hoping she’d see one specific person step through the glass door. Each time the bells chimed, her eyes would flash towards it, analyzing each person who walked through, but to no avail. Work wasn’t as fun as it had used to be. (Y/N), in moment of laze in the bakery, laid across the bakery’s countertop, arms hanging off the side. She missed Newt, that was for certain. She hated having to do all the work by herself, and she detested the lack of conversation flowing through the work place. Jacob would occasionally stroll by, attempting to uplift her spirits. She would smile for a bit, but then quickly fall back into her dulled nature. The bells chimed, getting the girl’s hopes up, but a mother and her pack of children came scampering in. Trying to seem upbeat, even as the children grabbed and tore apart the treats, she pushed Newt to the back of her mind and allowed work to take over.

       Another week passed by as quickly as an author attempting to bust out another chapter for her readers. Sadly, that wasn’t fast enough. (Y/N) was briskly striding down the steps of her university after a long morning lecture. Books were tightly grasped in her hands, papers were shoved untidily under her textbook’s cover, and a pen was smashed through her messy bun. A satchel was strung over her shoulder, filled to the brim with notes and journals. She hadn’t really paid attention to the mirror this morning, quickly shoving on an outfit on and jogging out the door. Sure, she had slathered a bit of makeup on for social obligations, but honestly, she didn’t have time to worry about appearances. She had a class to get to. Now that her morning class was finished, she had a few hours to kill before her lab began. Quickly, her mind began tinkering with various ideas on how to spend her time, but she was cut short after she hears a faint calling in the distance.

“(Y/N)?”

       The young scholar turns around and sees the last person she had expected to see. “Pardon me sir, have me met before?” The girl slyly stalks past the man, inciting the stranger to stare at her with a dazed gaze. The woman, noticing the man’s lack of cooperation, glances back at him before he jogs to catch up. “Well of course you do!”, the red head scampers behind her, desperately trying to read her face. “Well, if we had met before, it must have been an awfully long time ago, for, should I have met someone of great importance, they would have contacted me by now.” (Y/N) glances at the stranger she had come to be fond of, urgently trying to hide her growing smile. Newt rolled his eyes at the woman, keeping up with her quick pace. “Come now, you know very well that I’ve been busy.” The girl laughed, “I have too. We recently had this coworker disappear. Peculiar isn’t it? He left me with all the customers to care for, mounds dishes to wash, and all the cupcakes to consume by myself.” (Y/N) flung her arms about her wildly as she ranted, making the scene extremely over dramatic and ludicrous.

       Newt began to blush, whether it was from the wind blowing on his cheeks or the guilt we’d never know. “I don’t suppose that horrid coworker could ever make it up to you?” By now the two were strolling aimlessly down the streets, walking side-by-side. The stubborn woman on the left simply stared straight, thinking to herself. They passed by a little café, causing her to stop and stare in. Newt, noticing his companion’s disappearance, turns around a few feet ahead. He doesn’t say a word, but carefully steps beside the woman, awaiting her response. The breeze sweeps by, lightly swaying her skirt and hair. It’s silent for a few moments, the two staring into the café, occasionally glancing at each other’s reflections. (Y/N) finally speaks up, “Do you have a few minutes?” Newt glances at his wrist watch, noticing he’s going to be late for work. He looks back towards his old coworker, who continues to look on ahead. He looks back through the glass and swings his suitcase in front of him. “I have all the time in the world.”

       (Y/N) flicks her eyes over to Newt, making the first official eye contact during their entire exchange. “Then what are we waiting for?” She recklessly shoves the rest of her school supplies into her bag, crushing random papers into all sorts of places, before taking ahold of Newt’s hand and walking him into the café. “Caffe Reggio. They just started serving caffeinated beverages this year. I’ve been meaning to try it out.” Newt smiles at (Y/N), quietly listening to her as she talks about the little shop, while anxiously pushing the thought of work out of his mind. Before long, the duo is situated at a tiny table, towards the back corner, sipping on their drinks.

She placed her feet up on the desk and placed her hands behind her head as she leaned back into the chair. The scowl on her face quickly turned into a bright, teasing smile. “Do you know what that means?” Newt leaned against the open door frame and shook his head. “Can’t say that I do.” (Y/N) smirked before jumping up and out of the chair. “It means we have a lot to do without Jacob’s supervision. Therefore, everything must be done perfectly.” The girl walked out of the office, Newt trailing behind her, towards the kitchen. “You may just be here to pass the time, but I still have a quota to meet. And I don’t plan to fail Mister Kowalski.”

Newt placed the dough onto the counter before looking back at his temporary coworker. “Well then, our plans seem to be the same.” (Y/N) smiled at the man before hearing the chimes from the front. At the sound, the woman quickly peeked her head through the kitchen door to see a group of customers entering the building. “Shoot… The other workers aren’t in yet...Newt? You wouldn’t mind if…” Newt rose his hand to stop her from talking. “Consider it done.” (Y/N) looked back at Newt for only a moment before turning back to the customers, “I owe you one Newt! The list for today’s orders is posted outside of Jacob’s office. Come get me if you need any help!” With that, she slapped a friendly smile onto her face, smoothed down her uniform, and pushed through the door to deal with the customers.

Newt sighed before walking to Jacob’s office. Posted to the right of the door was the list, just as (Y/N) had instructed. He grasped the paper in his hands and scanned the paper. Dozens upon dozens of desserts were scribbled down onto the little sheet. Half of the requested items he had never heard of never the less made. What was a soufflé anyway? Sweet laughter rang from outside the door and reminded Newt of the expectations placed on him. He looked back down at the list with disdain and scratched at the back of his neck. Heck, how hard could it be? He had tamed the wildest wumpus, was challenged by the deadliest iron-belly, and had fought against one of the darkest wizards known to mankind. All of which he had survived. He could take down such a tiny list of pastries.

Or...Maybe not. About two hours had gone by and not a single, stinkin’ soufflé was edible. Each one came out as either a burning mess or disintegrated pile that looked as if an ash tray had been dumped into the ceramic cup. His anxiety was beginning to act up as more and more stress piled onto him with each tick from the clock. “Newt!” The man froze and began to act quickly, shoving the burnt disasters into the oven and swiftly grabbing a previously baked batch of cupcakes. His coworker’s head popped through the door. “How are things going back here?” Newt held out the batch of cupcakes to show (Y/N). She quickly examined them and gave a huge smile. “They’re practically perfect! Gosh, it almost looks like Jacob made these…” Newt timidly laughed and started to push her out the door. “Yes, yes. I have much more to do now. You go back to attending the customers.” The young lady smiled and replied before going back, “Of course. I’ll be back to help in about half an hour once the other workers arrive. You should have at least half of the list done by now anyway.” Newt’s heart sunk, but he grinned anyway and gave the girl a thumbs up. “Right! It’s basically completed!” The kitchen door closed and Newt instantly started to panic.

He hadn’t completed a single dish that she had asked of him. There was no way he was going to be able to make all of these desserts in time… Not unless… Newt placed his hand onto his side where the familiar bump of his wand sat. This was wrong on so many levels and he knew that. There was no telling what kind of trouble he was going to get in if anyone saw, but what else was he to do? Disappoint the girl and ruin Jacob’s income for the day? Absolutely not! Newt kept internally bickering with himself, but the ticking of the clock caught up to him and rushed his decision.

Newt whipped out his wand and whispered, “Colloportus.” The door clicked shut, but Newt barely paid attention to it. He was already levitating utensils and ingredients through the air. Dozens of bowls were being filled and mixed at once. The wizard rolled up his sleeves and began to focus on the tasks at hand. The heavily burnt pans in the oven were whipped out and flown to the sinks where they began to scrub themselves. The ovens roared with heat as various baked goods dashed in and out. The frosting was floating through the air and twisting into a perfect swirl atop of cakes while numerous fruits were being sliced by themselves and gently landing onto their own bed of dough. Beads of sweat began to form on Newt’s forehead as he concentrated on the organized chaos of the room. A fountain pen in the corner started to cross out pastries as the completed orders piled up.

Suddenly, (Y/N)’s fruity voice flowed past the door, “I apologize ma’am. Let me just check the back for extras…” Her voice floated off and the unmistakable sound of footsteps approached the door. Newt halted all of his current operations. Pans began to crash into the sink as they fell out of the air, already completed deserts dashed onto the counter, and silverware scampered around the room to reach their designated homes. Newt quickly called out, “Alohomora!”. The door clicked open just in time as (Y/N) walked through. Newt tossed his wand into the sink and pretended to be mixing a bowl that had been too slow to land. His arms were awkwardly outstretched into the air when (Y/N) looked his way. “Are you...you know what? I’m not going to ask. Do we have any more eclairs?” The girl walked past Newt and started towards the fridge. “I think we do.” He replied.

He watched the girl as she rummaged through the refrigerator, but a floating cup off to the side quickly caught his attention. “I believe they’re way in the back…” Newt began to slide around (Y/N) to get to the cup. “I don’t see them,” she stated as she started to turn around. Nervous, Newt grasped onto her shoulder and twirled her back around, “No no! Right there see?” (Y/N) swiped the man’s hand off of her shoulder, “Pushy are we?” She kept looking though, “Where?” Newt was reaching his hand out the catch the cup. Focused, he missed her question, hands still swiping through the air. “Mister Scamander.” Newt jumped and looked back at (Y/N). “Right, right.” He turned his back to the cup and prayed it wouldn’t float anywhere undesirable. He casually placed his hand on (Y/N)’s waist, not exactly thinking about his actions, and pointed her finger towards the eclairs. “There.” (Y/N) was blushing. The back of her neck was heating up at the close contact. Newt, still preoccupied with the cup, was completely oblivious.

“Oh I see! Right! T-Thank you. I will be on my merry way then. Good bye!” (Y/N) snatched the dessert out of the fridge and swiftly turned to leave the kitchen. It was too heated in there for her, and it definitely was not due to the ovens. Her mind would be ablaze for the next few hours on the pair’s close encounter. As for Newt, his conscious was clear, but his body was still rigid from the close call. The cup was still floating in the corner of the room, but he didn’t care. He grabbed his wand from the sink, now sticky from landing in a bowl of partially used marmalade. He licked his fingers before getting back to work. This time, without any further interruptions.

☽ ✧ ☪ ✧ ☾

The next few minutes passed without a hitch. All of the orders were made and packed away for delivery, the pots and pans were washed and tucked away, and Newt had time to even dust off his apron and clean himself up. (Y/N) entered the kitchen, eyes looking down at a clipboard gripped between her fingers, “Alrighty, Newt! Marijane just walked in to cover my shift up front. I can help you out-” Her voice dropped off when she looked at the sparkling kitchen. Her eyes flickered around the room, desperately searching for something that needed her attention. “I...I suppose you don’t need my help,” she gathered herself up and walked over to the baked goods, carefully inspecting each one. “How in the world were you able to complete that entire list? And with such precision!” She exclaimed.

Newt, who had been thinking he had done a phenomenal job, now was questioning his actions. Was this too much? Pressed for an answer, he came up with a response that he hoped (Y/N) would buy, “Magic?” The woman squinted her eyes, smirked, and chuckled at Newt, “I’ll say! This is stunning! Maybe you should reconsider your career, Scamander.” Newt laughed, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the counter, “I’ll consider it, but I like to think the orangutans will miss me too much.” (Y/N) let out a sputtered laugh, caught off guard, and placed a hand on her forehead, “How could I forget?” Newt chuckled alongside her until the laughs subsided.

    Not before long, the bells chimed from the front of the store. (Y/N) kicked the kitchen door open  her foot and poked her head out. Already, hair was falling out of her messy bun and flour was smudged onto her cheeks. The sun shined into her eyes and made her squint a bit at the visitor. “Up bright early I see.” (Y/N) smiled and closed her watering eyes from the sun. “I may hate getting up from bed, but it’s always a delight to come in early and steal a few treats.” (Y/N) greeted Jacob as he grabbed his own apron off the hook. “I should have known. You’re not here to help, you’re only here for the snacks.” Jacob chuckled along with his worker as he walked into the back of the kitchen. “Hey now, from the work I do, I deserve a bit of compensation.”

    Jacob rolled his eyes before grabbing out some bowls and measuring cups. “Of course. Now, I have some news to deliver.” (Y/N) clicked her tongue as an indication to continue as she poured some flour and sugar into a mixing bowl. “You’re going get some help today from my friend. The man from yesterday.” (Y/N) raised her eyebrows, yet it went unnoticed by Jacob since her back was turned from him. “Is that so? Does Mister Scamander even know the basics of cooking?” Jacob snorted at the thought of Newt cooking, but in actuality had no clue about his skill set. “I suppose we’ll find out, won’t we?” (Y/N) shook her head. She tossed in some baking powder, a pinch of salt, and a few cracked eggs into her mix. “As long as he doesn’t break anything, I suppose I don’t mind.” Jacob, working on his own creation simply replied, “Not like it was a choice anyway.” (Y/N) snapped her head back, “Hey now!” Jacob laughed and left no further comments.

    The bells chimed and a soft “Hullo?” rang through the bakery. “There’s the man of the hour,” Jacob said. “We’re in the back! Grab an apron from the front!” There was some shuffling from the front of the bakery before the kitchen door swung open. (Y/N) gave a small side glance at the man and snorted at his attire. He was well dressed, but he had a pink-frilly apron on. In his hands was the case from the day before, which he promptly placed in the corner of the room, before addressing his new co-worker and temporary boss. Newt, flushed and embarrassed, looked at the pair and began to stutter. “It was-you see-now there was only pink left-I didn’t-there wasn’t...any others…” Jacob laughed and began to unwrap his apron to trade with Newt. “Here man. You can take mine. I have some other business to attend to anyway. (Y/N)?” The young lady hummed in response as she watched the apron transaction. “Mind taking over the more tedious work? I’m sure Newt can handle a few basic cakes. Hand him the recipes.” (Y/N) gave a quick thumbs up, “Sure thing Mr. Kowalski.” He rolled his eyes “Jacob.” (Y/N) switched over to where Jacob left off and began working, but not without a reply back. “Kowalski.” With that, Jacob gave up and left to go to his office. Before he was fully through the office door he called over to Newt, “Go to (Y/N) if you have any questions. She’s reliable.” Newt sighed, yet gave a small grin, “Understood.” With that, Jacob finally left the two alone to their own devices.

    It was quiet for the first few minutes. (Y/N) had handed Newt a huge cookbook along with a list of what was to be made along with the appropriate pans. Newt began working on the easier cakes and cupcakes while (Y/N) handled the delicate pastries that required tedious sculpting and her entire attention. It was a comfortable silence: one that had both the workers entirely focused on their own pastries. As time flew by, more of Jacob’s employees began to arrive. The delivery boy came around back while the other workers took charge of the front. It was a perfect environment to get work done. The customers were cared for, the pastries were crafted, the desserts were shipped, and the checking accounts were attended to. (Y/N) occasionally stopped by Newt’s little station to check up on his progress. Occasionally there were minor mistakes to fix, but otherwise he was faring well. It impressed (Y/N) and certainly made her life easier as there were less tasks to deal with.

    Of course, it was all too good to be true. Newt, who had a full tray of raw cupcakes in hand, and (Y/N), who had a huge batch of serpent-like pastries, decided to turn and walk at the same time. It ultimately led to a huge crash and the both of them tumbled back to the floor. Flour, cake mix, and dough went all over the floor and the two of them. (Y/N), shocked and sitting on the ground in front of Newt, looked at the man with cake batter running down his face. At the sight, she burst out with laughter. She laughed so hard that tears began to form in her eyes and she was doubled over with her hand on her stomach. Newt, who was extremely embarrassed and afraid of being yelled at, looked at the woman and joined her laughter timidly. Jacob, who had heard the crash, came scrambling into the kitchen to see the pair on the floor. He streaked a hand down his face. “Guys…” was all he managed to spurt out.

    (Y/N), with drying, crunchy cake batter in her hair and flour across her torso, calmed down long enough to look up at her boss. “I...apologize...Mister Kowalski!” She said in between breathes. “We’ll clean it up. It was my fault,” (Y/N) said. Newt looked at her with a funny expression before cutting in, “It was a shared mistake.” Jacob turned his back and waved them off. “As long as it’s cleaned and those orders are remade.” (Y/N) called out to him, “Course sir!” Newt pushed himself off of the ground and held his hand out to (Y/N). She grasped his hand and started to pull herself up, but Newt’s feet slipped in the batter on the ground and he started tumbling forward. (Y/N) quickly put her hands up to catch him, and somewhat succeeded? Newt, now leaning forward onto (Y/N), had his hands on the girl’s shoulders while her sticky hands were pressed onto his chest. Both blushed profusely as they looked into each other’s wide, shining eyes.

    The young worker opened her mouth to say something, but the words were lost as she drifted into his stare. The swirl of the ocean captured her attention while the shimmer in her eyes struck Newt. Time stood still in those few moments, but it was  Newt who first recognized his staring. He hastily steadied himself before properly helping (Y/N) up. He muttered an apology and she quietly squeaked out her forgiveness.

    The two refused to make eye contact after the event and instead began to clean up the mess. (Y/N) cleared her throat before making conversation to push past the awkward moment. “So Mister Scamander, what brings you to America?” Newt furrowed his brows as he wiped down the counters with a rag. (Y/N) was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor. “Pardon?” he asked. (Y/N) flickered her eyes up to Newt before responding, “You have a thick accent. You must be from Britain.” Newt let out a sound of recognition. “Ah right, I hardly notice it myself.” He rinsed out the rag in the sink. “I’m simply here to see Jacob and some of my other friends. Just a small vacation from work I suppose.” (Y/N) picked up the soiled pastries and dumped them into the trash. “Where do you work Mister Scamander?” Newt froze a bit as he tried to come up with a lie. The pause in his response gave the girl a bit of suspicion. She glanced at him and figured he mustn’t have heard her. “Mister Scamander?” Newt quickly replied, “Sorry, sorry. I work everywhere in a way...I’m a… zoologist. I travel a lot.”

    (Y/N) smiled at his response. “Interesting! Do you specialize on any particular animal?” Newt, rushed for an answer, tried to think of an animal that she would know of. He couldn’t just talk about his beasts in front of the muggle. He spit out the first non-magical animal he could think of, “I really like Orangutans.” The worker looked over her shoulder as she washed her hands and began to clean herself up. “How peculiar…What can you tell me about them?” (Y/N) smiled at the man and his face began to heat up. “I uhh… They’re hairy and eat a lot I suppose…” (Y/N) looked at Newt with a uncomfortable, confused smile. “I suppose you’re right…” Newt just nodded his head and averted his eyes to the side before directing the conversation elsewhere. “And how about you Miss (L/N)?” The pastry chef turned to the man and tossed him a rag to wipe himself off. “I’m currently studying at New York University in a biology major.” Newt gave her a look that she had recognized all too well. She looked away from him and slightly frowned. “Yes, yes. I know. I’m one of the only women to be attending the college. No need to give me that look.” Newt, taken aback started up, “That’s not what I meant! It’s just an interesting degree and rare for a woman! I’m impressed.” (Y/N) kept her back turned, but lightened up. “Most people say I should drop out. It’s no place for a woman.”

    Newt looked at her with sympathy. It was different in the wizarding world. There were hardly any issues between gender and race. In the past, wizards had no time to argue over the importance of a person’s skin color or gender. It was unnecessary. For him, the discrimination came from being a wizard or not. Their worlds, while similar on many aspects, continued to remind him there were still many differences: physically and socially. It reminded him that he was in the presence of a muggle. A no-maj. Someone who had no idea about who he really was. A life she would never get to know.

    “Well, I think it’s splendid that you’re taking the time to further your education. Those who think otherwise may need to be educated themselves.” (Y/N) laughed at this as she started a new batch of pastries. “I like the way you think Mister Scamander.” Newt smiled at the woman and scratched at the back of his neck. A light blush covered his freckled cheeks. “You can call me Newt,” he stated. (Y/N) smirked and kept focusing on her job. “Scamander.” Newt rolled his eyes and turned back to his own station, preparing to start his batch of cupcakes all over again. The comfortable silence came back between the two as they worked in unison. Soon the pastries started to pile up and the orders died down. Once she had a moment to spare, the young employee looked over her shoulder at Newt, “Thank you, Newt.” Newt, noticing the use of his first name turned back to (Y/N). “For the help,” she continued. The man nodded his head and turned back around, a small grin on his face, “You’re very welcome.”

    Tina held Newt close in a welcoming hug before pulling apart to converse. “Newt! It’s so wonderful to see you. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Newt and Tina began to absentmindedly walk into the kitchen to regroup with Queenie and Jacob. “I do believe I owe you a gift from the last time I saw you. I figured you might need a bit uplifting, especially with recent events…” Newt wandered off in his speech as the conversation began to take a dark turn. Tina simply nodded solemnly before taking a seat at the table where Queenie was prepping dinner with Jacob’s assistance.

    “Dinner this late at night?” Newt questioned. “Why of course dearie. Jacob always returns home late from his job. It’s only polite to wait up for him.” Jacob blushes at Queenie’s comment and replies, “I’ve told her numerous times to start without me Newt, but she just refuses each time saying-” Queenie joins in with Jacob to finish the sentence,“-Things worth having are worth waiting for.” Queenie giggles at their harmonized speech while Newt shakes his head smiling at the two. “Newt, please feel free to take a seat.” Tina gestured over to the chair beside her. “Of course,” he said as he delicately pulled the chair out before taking his seat.

    Just as Newt sat down, Jacob spun around with a covered platter. “Ladies and gentle sir,” he began. “I present you with… Ta-Dah! One scrumptiously baked ham!” Jacob set the meal on the table himself while Queenie waved her wand to deliver the rest of the meal. Silverware and plates began to float into their designated spaces alongside the bowls of side dishes. Newt looked over the buffet in front of the group; his eyes shining with hunger. Queenie and Jacob had really outdone themselves this time. The steam coming off the food swiftly swirled around the table and kissed each member at the table on the nose. “Well don’t just stare at it. It was meant to be eaten now,” Queenie flashed one of her killer grins and the rest of the table began to dig in.

    Conversation flowed between the group. Stories were passed from person to person and the occasional gossip about coworkers was sprinkled into the mix. Laughs bounced throughout the room as Newt retold a story about his recent travels to Indonesia and his encounter with a muggle animal known as an “orangutan”. Apparently, the primate found it entertaining to climb onto the wizard’s back like a child and groom his hair for bugs. “Well, yes it was a bit tiring to remove the huge guy from me, and it was entirely necessary. Yet, I almost miss him.” The group chuckled as Newt concluded his story. The room was a bit quiet afterwards and only the sound of silverware clinking against the ceramic plates was heard.

    Newt cleared his throat and asked Tina the question that had been burning inside his mind, “How is MACUSA?”. Tina paused while lifting her fork to her mouth and Queenie shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Tina quit her previous actions and placed the fork down. Looking at her plate, she refused to make eye contact with anyone, but replied none-the-less. “It’s been a struggle. The entire department is at their wits end with frustration and blatant confusion.” Newt nodded his head in acknowledgement. “It’s been the same over at the Ministry. Folks all around the country are asking questions, hiding in fear… They don’t know how to react to his escape.” Queenie interjected herself at this point while Jacob simply stayed quiet at the end of the table. “He will be caught again. It’s only a matter of time now.” Jacob took Queenie’s hand in his own and rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb for condolences. Tina gave a half-forced smile at her sister’s attempt to lighten the mood. Newt leaned back in his chair and watched everyone’s faces. He looked at the timid emotions, the strain, the stress that had been put onto his friends. He just wondered if he looked the same.

    After some more pondering, Jacob pushed his chair back, stood up, and clapped his hands together. “No need to dwell on the negatives now. Let us look towards the future.” He began to pick up some dishes and continued, “And, it seems future starts with chores.” Everyone lightened up Jacob’s comment and began to help clean up. Once everything was orderly, the group moved to the door to wish Jacob and Newt off. “Newt, would you like to stay here for the time being?” The wizard looked over at Tina before raising his hands in defense, shaking his head. “No. I couldn’t possibly intrude. This time I came prepared to stay. I have a hotel room right down the street towards Jacob’s bakery.” The witch nodded her head in understanding and scratched at the back of her head. “Well of course you’re welcome over at any time. Although, Queenie and I still have work to catch up with. I do hope you won’t be bored during the days.”

    Newt scrunched his face at that sudden realization. “I hadn’t thought about that…” Jacob quickly cut in before the conversation could continue. “You could come help me out at the bakery. I swear I won’t push you too hard.” Jacob winked at his friend and Newt chuckled. “If you don’t mind Jacob that would be wonderful.” Jacob pat his friend on the shoulder. “It’s never a burden to have you around.” Newt appreciated the compliment, but a sudden thought struck him, “Won’t it be a bit risky to stay so close to Jacob?” The lot paused for a moment, pondering over the question, but Tina pushed the thought aside, “As long as you stay in the back, nobody shall suspect a thing.” The rest nodded in agreement. Queenie smiled at the boys, “Then it’s settled! After work you both must stop by for dinner, every night. It would be wonderful to spend more quality time together until the weekends.” Without any objections the group settled on a plan before heading off their separate ways. Jacob gave Queenie a quick peck on the check before Newt and him snuck out the back of the apartment building without any unwanted interactions.

    “I’ll see you tomorrow morning Pal,” Jacob called over his shoulder. “See you tomorrow,” Newt responded as he made his way down the cold, hand-laid brick streets.