The Origins of Ariana Dumbledore

Chapter 2.3

Dinner With The Goldstein's

When James landed on his feet he silently cursed the two older wizards and sat on the sidewalk.

Ariana's hand tightened around Newt's arm and he slightly held her up, until she was ready to go. Ariana slightly looked around the street and she saw a sign name, Brownstone Street.

She noticed that the lights were starting to turn on since it was becoming dark.

After, she let go of Newt she started to head towards Tina, but Newt stopped her and said, "I got it. Why don't you go and help your brother?"

She looked behind her to see her brother still struggling with the after effects of apparating.

She got James back up on his feet, after doing a bit of convincing.

They both catch up with the three adults and the young brunette woman told the group, "Take a right here," and the twins wince when they hear Jacob start making various retching sounds.

It's clear to Ariana that the bite on his neck is clearly affecting him more and more. As the group rounds the corner Tina moves the group behind a large repair truck.

She then peers at a house across the street, "Okay - before we go in - I'm not supposed to have men on the premises."

"In that case, Mr.Kowalski and the three of us can easily seek accommodations-"

"Oh no, you don't," the woman sharply said, and she then quickly grabbed Jacob's arm and pulled him across the road, making the rest dutifully follow.

"Watch your step," the woman leading them to the apartment said.

They had been fortunate enough to sneak past the front desk and headed up the stairs. Newt and Jacob were in front of them while the twins were in the middle, making Tina the last one of the line.

They tiptoe up the stairs until a wooden plank creaks under James' foot. An old woman's voice was heard from down the stairs making the group freeze, "That you, Tina?"

Newt subtly whispers a quiet 'shh' to Jacob and the twins. Ariana stopped breathing when Tina answered.

"Yes, Mrs. Espotio," Tina's voice is calm but her expression betrays her. It's clear she's nervous.

"Are you alone?" The landlord asked.

"I'm always alone, Mrs. Espotio," Tina answers with a hint of bitterness in it.

There was a beat until the group started to move again.

When the group entered the Goldstein residences to say that the Dumbledores were impressed was an understatement.

Although the apartment was impeccable, it's magic was engraved everywhere. Ariana had a breathtaking smile on her face watching the magic work its way around the room.

Her eyes started on the iron that was working on its own in a corner, and a clothes horse revolved clumsily on its wooden legs in front of the fire, drying an assortment of underwear.

Ariana then notices the magazines are scattered around: The Witch's Friend and Transfiguration Today.

She sees her brother's dazed look focus on the center of the room. She moved her gaze to see what he was staring at and that's when she seemed to notice the blonde beauty standing in the middle of the room, in a silk slip supervising a dress on a dressmaker's dummy.

She then hits him on the back of the head and hissed, "Stop, staring you perv."

She turned to notice that Newt was peeking outside the windows, making him look more impatient to leave than before.