The Potions Master and the Magizoologist

Chapter 2

​ I sat pouting like a toddler on the end of the bed with Newt in it. I had my back to the wall, arms crossed over my chest. I could feel his eyes on me, but I ignored him. Tina quietly opened the door, carrying a tray of mugs.
​ "I thought you'd all enjoy a hot drink," she said with a smile. I gave her a harsh, but playful, glare. She rolled her eyes and placed the tray on the nightstand.
​ "Make sure you get something for Henry to eat," I grumbled. Tina nodded and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Immediately, Newt jumped up and ran over to his case. I furrowed my eyebrows at his actions. He opened the battered case and climbed inside. I slowly stood up. His hand popped out and motioned for me to follow.
​ "B-But, Mr. Scamander, Ms. Romanoff, they brought hot cocoa!" Jacob stuttered as I climbed down the stairs in the case.
My eyes darted around the room in wonder, causing me to miss a step. I slipped, and prepared for the hit. I was used to falling down a few stairs, always having my nose buried in my potions notes.
​ But instead of hitting the hard wooden floor, I felt arms around me. I opened my eyes and saw Newt's face very close to mine. I quickly collected myself and backed up into the small shack. Newt turned, red faced, back to the stairs to help Jacob get unstuck from the case opening. I began to wander out of the cottage.
​ "Oh, please wait for me before going out there," Newt said as he busily made some sort of mix of herbs. "There, this should help the sweating. And that should stop the twitch."
​ I vaguely heard Newt and Jacob talking about something called a Swooping Evil. But, I was too busy examining some substances in the medicine cabinet to care. After a moment Newt tapped my shoulder and gestured that we were leaving.
He moved toward the door, looking back at me before opening it. I stepped out and my jaw dropped. In the case, was a beautiful landscape of different conditions and filled with different magical creatures. Newt lightly pushed my jaw to close my mouth.
​ "Don't want to catch any flies. Come on, this way." He smiled cheekily and moved towards an area with dark clouds over top of it. He flicked open a curtain and a large bird with shimmering gold wings landed on the rock in the center. The bird spread its wings then closed them at its side. Its two tails swished behind it.
​ "This is Frank. He's a Thunderbird," Newt explained and pet Frank's beak. I slowly moved towards Newt. Frank looked at me, taking in my appearance and scent. He squawked happily and nuzzled his head into my shoulder. Newt gaped at me in awe.
​ "Wow, he really likes you. Normally Frank is very wary of strangers," Newt said softly. I scratched under Frank's beak. He opened his eyes and looked at Jacob as he drew closer. Frank lifted up and shrieked loudly, flapping his wings.
​ "Back up, he doesn't like strangers," Newt warned and put a hand up to stop Jacob. I put my hands on my hips and turned to Frank.
​ "Frank, shrieking at strangers in such a manner is very naughty." I pointed a finger at him. "You must be polite so that people will like you." Frank lowered his head and looked at me with puppy-dog eyes. I grinned widely and scratched his head. Newt laughed lightly and shook his head.
​ "Come on, let's go look around more," Newt said and pulled me away from Frank. Newt led me and Jacob throughout the habitats, showing glorious creatures of all sizes. We stopped at a tree of tiny green creatures. They looked like a cross between stick bugs and leaves.
​ "Bowtruckles. Pickett had a cold and needed body warmth," Newt explained and held out his hand toward the tree. Another bowtruckle sat on his hand, clinging to it. Newt tried, and failed, to get Pickett back on the tree.
"Pickett, they won't bully you. Go on, get on the tree. Oh, fine. This is why the others accuse me of favoritism." He put Pickett back into his breast pocket and looked toward a little hole filled with coins and other shiny things.
​ "Bugger, looks like the niffler got out. Pesky little thing." He shook his head.
​ "What does it look like?" I asked.
​ "A little dark grey creature, kind of a cross of a platypus and mole," Newt described. My eyes widened with realization. I quickly reached into my front pocket.
​ "You mean like this?" I asked and pulled out the tiny creature. Newt's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.
​ "That's a baby niffler! Where did you find him?" He exclaimed and took the niffler from my hands.
​ "He ran through my lab earlier. Nearly got eaten by Remy," I recalled. Newt gave me a horrified look. I just shrugged. Newt shook his head and handed me the niffler.
​ "Keep him until we can introduce my niffler to yours," he said and stepped away to care for more of the beasts in his inventory. I decided to explore a bit with Jacob. We came up to a room that was desolate, a blizzard blowing wildly around us. My bangs flew around my face as I looked around.
​ "What the hell is that?" Jacob asked slowly and pointed to a black mass in a bubble. My gaze was fixed on it, entranced. I trudged towards it, stumbling a bit. It was right in front of me and I felt my chest tighten with sorrow. Tears streamed down my face.
​ "Step back from it." Newt stepped into the room. I ignored him and continued to stare at the bubble. Newt picked me up from behind and took Jacob and I out into a large grassy area. He set me down and gripped my shoulders. I looked back at him dazed and still with tears falling.
​ "You can't go near that. It's an obscurus." He sighed and wiped my face with his thumbs. I nodded slowly. He gave me a reassuring smile.
​ "Hey, Newt, did you find what got out?" Jacob asked. Newt turned to him and nodded.
​ "Where would you say a medium-sized creature that likes broad, open plains- trees-water holes- that kind of thing- where would she go?" Newt asked. I squinted my eyes. Was there anything like that in New York?
​ "In New York?" Jacob asked, voicing my thoughts. A light bulb went off in my head.
​ "Central Park," I said and looked to Jacob. He nodded.
​ "Great, let's go. I'll need both of your help," Newt exclaimed. I nodded sternly, ready for an adventure. On the other hand, Jacob looked quite apprehensive.
​ "I don't know. Doesn't that seem like a double-cross? The girls took us in and gave us cocoa," Jacob said slowly. I rolled my eyes.
​ "Once they realize you're better, they will Obliviate you. Poof. All memories of magic gone." I explained and tapped my head. His eyes widened. He pondered a moment, then held a face of determination.
​ "All right, let's go." Newt and I looked at each other. He grinned and I smirked mischievously. This would be fun.