Flower Press ✶ newt scamander

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨

A cold breeze swept the loose strands of Marigold's hair away from her face. She hugged her arms around her body, trying and failing to warm herself up as she followed the trail of expensive goods and the tiny paw prints through the lightly coated snow streets. Lady Marigold knew she should have turned on her heel to retrieve her coat but she wasn't ready to face Leopold's fury yet nor did she want to lose sight of the beast that had managed to get a head start on her.

Store after store, Marigold peered through the windows in hopes of catching the Niffler but to her misfortune she always seemed to just miss the pesky beast that sought out anything with a sparkle.

Marigold's final day in New York had gone sideways. Her entire schedule had been forgotten from the moment she had stepped into the bank, her necklace had been stolen by a peculiar animal that had tracked her down hours later only to steal her jewellery again, and not to mention, August Wentworth had seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving his sister with the beast that was her future husband.

Marigold was worried about her brother. Lady Marigold knew August was capable of looking after himself and he had a tendency to get lost in the beauty of cities but something about his disappearance felt wrong, especially since Marigold also knew that her brother would never intentionally leave her alone with Leopold.

Passing a Solicitors office that had been established during the war and a Gallo and Dove store, Marigold spotted the Niffler perched upon a car, twisting the silver mascot sculpture off the bonnet. A trail of valuable and stolen items that laid amongst the street connected the beast to S.J Bernstein Watches store that appeared to be missing more than a few ticking wrist and pocket watches. Lady Marigold passed the store after she crossed the street, her cheeks were reddened, her breath was visible from the mid November air and every stride she took was quiet and quick.

Her eyes never left the beast, not even as it tore the sculpture from the car bonnet and scurried toward the Voclain and Co jewellery store that faced a perfume store that Marigold had visited with her brother and fiance during their second week – Leopold had hoped, as he had when he bought Lady Marigold a fur coat, that a bottle of perfume would sweeten their relationship. It hadn't. Marigold's love could not be bought.

Marigold's right foot stumbled over her left and with her eyes locked on the beast ahead as it squeezed under the door of the jewellery store, Lady Marigold crouched behind the sculpture-less car. Chasing the Niffler, as she had done since it arrived in her hotel room and snatched her necklace for a second time, was not working in Marigold's favour.

With cold fingers pressed against the steel body of the car, Marigold peeked over the bonnet. She watched as the Niffler clambered up onto the shelves that were decorated in diamonds that shone like stars in the night sky. It moved swiftly, snatching necklaces, rings and earrings, all of which surprisingly fit into its stomach pouch.