Fantastic Feats and Who May Hide Them - Fantastic Beasts fanfiction

Escaping

Encroaching footsteps caused Tina to start and Celia to lift her head, though she didn't raise her hand from Newt's hair. She didn't know what Tina stood to lose beside her job, and Celia was under the impression that all she would lose herself would be her memories. Newt stood to lose everything he cared so deeply and fervently about.

Three Wizards in white coats unlocked the doors, and Tina stepped away from the bars. Celia showed no inclination toward standing, though Newt shifted to look up at them through the frayed edges of his hair.

"Step back, please," one of the women said.

Celia elevated one slender eyebrow, considering whether or not she would. At last she decided the woman had been polite, whereas the man who had grabbed her before had chosen to yank and bespell. Celia laid one more kiss on the top of Newt's head and rose, and Newt stood after her. Celia took a single, slow step back.

Tina's and Newt's arms drew before them without their permission, and they left the cell without fuss. Once the door had slammed shut, still vibrating on its hinges, Celia stood at the bars staring out at them as they left, a startling loss welling in her chest.

Newt abruptly turned, though he continued walking. "It was good to make your acquaintance, Celia."

Her lips flickered up.

"I hope you get your bakery."

She smiled then, and wiped under her eyes with her scuffed, gloved fingers. She waved goodbye, and he turned his back.

Only a few minutes later a bulky man arrived and when she backed away from the open door he gestured. "Come on," he said.

Celia stared at him over crossed arms from the back of the cell.

He sighed. "Look, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm gonna send you home."

"You're going to take my memories."

His head tilted with impatience. "Yes, that too. But it's got to be done. You're not one of us."

"You're going to steal from me the only happiness I've had in weeks and send me back to the misery I'm still trying to crawl out of."

His gaze flattened. He gestured again, more sharply. "Come with me yourself, or I'll pull you out."

"And isn't that just like a man," she softly replied. "To take what he wants when it doesn't throw itself at him." She then took measured steps toward him until he backed out of the doorway. He scowled, solidified a wide hand on her shoulder, and guided her through the dark columns and up the stairs.

Celia's feet felt as insubstantial as air, only as powerful as air struggling to slip through water. Her body dragged, her hands ached, and she wanted nothing more, in this moment, than to live in that cell forever if it meant she didn't have to forget.

Almost as soon as they reached what appeared to be a main floor, Celia spotted Queenie trotting toward them, beaming. Her eyebrows twitched together and up, but there were too many white people with wands around now for her to feel safe enough to speak.

"Hey, Sam!" Queenie greeted, falling into line beside him. "They need you downstairs. I'll Obliviate this gal," she offered.

"You ain't qualified," he dismissed, ignoring her as he continued walking.

Queenie's lips pursed, and her eyes darted down as she thought. "Hey Sam?" she tried again. "Does Cecily know you been seeing Ruby?"

Sam's face drooped with shock. "How did you...."