Almost

Chapter 2: Nest

Katherine excitedly grabbed Charlie's hand as they bounded into the Nest ahead of Crawley.

"Come look at what I've added!" she said to her uncle. "Ezra, will you get the cat something to eat?"

Without waiting for his response, Katherine hurried Charlie up the stairs of their cabin. He paused at the top of the stairs as she turned left into her bedroom, noting the open door of a room clearly belonging to Crawley. But he shook his head and followed his oldest niece.

The room was light and airy, with birch tree trunks painted on the walls and a verse of poetry lining the top. She kept her magic so lively quiet, it purified to control; a badge of no longer being but choosing, the vessel no longer filling but creating.

He was about to ask what it was from when he noticed Katherine pulling on a string that hung from the ceiling, causing an iron spiral staircase and growing skylight to materialize.

"Wicked," Charlie said, following Katherine up onto the roof.

Because they had come through the fireplace, he hadn't seen the addition to the a-frame cabin. A platform had been added off the side of the roof. On it sat what at first looked like a pile of sticks; but, as he looked closer, he saw they formed the shape of a bowl. There was a small gate that Katherine opened, revealing the inside of what could only be described as a person sized nest.

"Shoes off, please," she said, pointing to her socked feet.

He kicked his shoes off and followed her, laughing as he looked around. It had clearly been decorated by Katherine—the nest had a wide ledge around the perimeter where you could sit, and every inch was covered in big pillows and blankets. There was a table in the center, with a large divot in the middle that held a candle with no fewer than seven wicks. Katherine sent a surge of magic to light them all fluffed a giant pillow. She sat cross legged on top of it, grabbing one of the many blankets off the floor to put over her lap. Charlie sank back into a seat like he was soaking in a hot tub, his arms up on the sides.

"This feels like the architectural embodiment of you."

"Thank you," Katherine said with a smile. She couldn't help but be proud of the addition—it had taken weeks to get just right. But it was the perfect place to keep putting her ever growing collection of pillows and blankets.

"How do you keep the actual birds out?" Charlie asked, looking up at the sky.

"Crawley finally found a formal spell that keeps animals and weather away. So, even in the winter, I can sit up here and not have to shovel out snow."

"It's brilliant. I don't think I'd ever leave."

"I work up here a lot. It's peaceful." As if to prove her point, Katherine pulled out a book that had been wedged between two cushions.

"Newt!" Charlie exclaimed as he recognized the front cover.

Katherine laughed at the childlike excitement on his face. "I didn't realize you were on a first name basis with Mr. Scamander."

"Well, I reckon not," he agreed. "But I've read that book a thousand times."

"I was looking at his entry on Swooping Evil, to see if it could help with Iz. But it was a dead end."

"Have they found anything?"

"Hard to say," Katherine admitted. "I only ever get secondhand information."

Charlie nodded quietly, sensing it was a sore subject. Instead, he took a deep breath of the crisp air of the forest. "Well, at least it's quite the view. You could definitely keep a dragon here."