Fantastic Beasts: Betrayal

8 - The Secret

I was in Defence Against the Dark Arts, with the Gryffindors, for a change. There had been a change in lessons, and we had changed with the Ravenclaws, who now had Herbology, our usual lesson at that time. Professor Dumbledore decided to teach us about defending ourselves from Expelliarmus, something that I knew the basics of, but could have done with some extended work on. McClaggen, one of the Gryffindor students, was being taught by Dumbledore. I was to be up after him, but before he could finish, the lesson was disrupted by a crash and the entering of several members of the Ministry, Uncle Theseus among them. Uncle Theseus smiled at me when he saw me, and I smiled back, giving him a small wave.

"This is a school! You've no right!" We heard Professor McGonagall say as she walked in with the Ministry members. I recognised one of the members as-

"I'm the Head of Magical Law Enforcement." Well, him. "I have the right to go wherever I please." He turned to us. "Out of here."

Some of us turned to Professor Dumbledore, but I kept looking at Uncle Theseus, who was signalling for me to stay behind.

"Go with Professor McGonagall, please." Professor Dumbledore said. Quiet voices came from the other students whilst we all left. The Head of Magical Law Enforcement, Mr. Travers stopped us.

"Which one of you is Lia Scamander?" He asked, looking bored. I looked down.

"I am, sir." I said, looking at Uncle Theseus.

"Stay here." Mr. Travers said.

Everyone else left as I walked over to Uncle Theseus. I heard McClaggen argue: "He's the best teacher we've got."

Professor Dumbledore looked down and smiled. "Thanks, McClaggen." He said, clearly trying not to laugh.

"Get out of here!" Mr. Travers said angrily. McClaggen left, giving me a smile. I smiled back, then he walked out with the rest of the students.

"I'm sorry, but what do you want with me? Have I done something wrong? Is it the dragon? I only wanted for it-"

"Lia, we're not here for you." Uncle Theseus said, comforting me. I looked up at him.

"Then... what am I doing here?"

Mr. Travers sighed and turned to Professor Dumbledore. "Newt Scamander is in Paris." I was confused. Paris? Why didn't he tell me? But...

"What's wrong with Newt being in Paris?" I asked. Mr. Travers looked at me, then looked down, and back up to Professor Dumbledore.

"Because... well, firstly, he's not allowed to be in Paris. Secondly, it so happens to be that Credence is in Paris too." That really confused me.

"The Obscurus? But Credence is dead!"

"He survived, Lia. And Newt went after him a couple of days ago, to find him before Grindelwald does." I looked up at Uncle Theseus, worry written on my face.

"But... he could die! I want to go to him." I said decisively, looking at Professor Dumbledore.

"No, Lia. You can't. You could get hurt."

"I survived New York. I don't want to discover that Newt is dead and I'd never even... get to say goodbye." Professor Dumbledore remembered about my Boggart, then nodded.

"I'll take you to Paris-"

"Oh, no, you won't. Theseus, go and help your niece pack, will you?" Mr. Travers looked, quite frankly, very bored. Uncle Theseus nodded, turning to me.

"Come on, Lia." I held his hand and we both started walking to my dorm. "You can show me the Hufflepuff common room. It will be lovely to see it again."