Chasing Grindelwald

7: The Ministry

JACOB
    The next morning, after a hasty breakfast of leftover bean soup and rice, Newt suggested what they should do now that they were in Europe.
"My old professor, Dumbledore, said we could gather information on where Grindelwald is from any of his followers," he said, staring into his empty bowl.
"So the first thing to do would be to capture some rogues, and interrogate them?" Queenie asked.
"Obviously," agreed her sister, who was scowling out the window in the direction of the field, as if expecting one of the bad guys to pop out of the grass. "The real problem here is catching one. We would need to know where to find them, so any strongholds they might have are bits of important information we should focus on. Newt, don't you know anyone who works in the Ministry? You used to work there, so you must have some ties to people we can work with. The more the better."
Newt chewed his lip. "My brother works in the Ministry, and I have a few friends there, yes. But all my friends work in the Department of Magical Creatures, so they'd really be of no help. Our only chance for Ministry help is my brother."
Jacob didn't like the doubt in Newt's voice. "Well, I'm sure he'll want to help fight against Grindelwald, right?" He asked Newt.
"Well..." Newt looked hesitant. "I'm sure he would. I'd certainly like to think so. But...people change. Sometimes....not for the better." A pensive look veiled the magizoologist's face, and the table fell silent for the rest of the meal. Finally, Jacob spoke.
"Are we going to see him, then? Your brother?"
"That's probably our best bet," Tina said cautiously, with a furtive look at Newt. "Besides, even if he won't hear us out, the Ministry of Magic is still in London. We can look for Grindelwald's followers while we're there, and get the information we need."
"Then it's settled!" Queenie said with false cheerfullness, trying to lighten the mood. "I've always wanted to go to London. I know that!" She added, casting Newt a look. "But it'll still be nice to go, even if we're on a mission."
Newt just nodded and stood, buttoning his vest.
"We should get ready, then."
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LATER, IN LONDON
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    The three wizards and the no-maj (or was it Muggle, since they were in the United Kingdom?) emerged from an alley off the main streets of London. It was so different from New York; from old, Victorian-style buildings all crammed together on narrow cobbled streets, to newer apartment buildings and shops on bustling avenues. Jacob stared around, amazed at it all, even though he'd been to Europe before.
"All right," he asked, tearing his eyes from the cityscape. "Where are we going, exactly?"
"We're going to the Ministry of Magic, which is like MACUSA, only for the United Kingdom," Queenie explained. "I picked up on that," said Jacob. "But where's the Ministry? Is it one of these buildings?"
"No, actually," Newt said absently. "The visitor's entrance is here, so we'll have to be stealthy about things. Come on!" He stepped into a blue police box.
"It's a little cramped in here, don't you think?" Queenie complained as they jammed themselves inside the booth. The door closed, and weak light filtered through the windows. "I'm not a big fan of small places."
"Neither am I," Jacob admitted from the corner. "So, this is the entrance to the Ministry?"
"One of the entrances, yes," Newt said distractedly, punching some letters into a typewriter on a little shelf. The box shook. "Ah! I knew the password was house elf."
     Jacob gripped the walls behind him and closed his eyes until the box's shuddering stopped. Newt opened the door again, only this time, the box didn't open into the grey streets of London.
     The four stepped into a huge bustling atrium, even bigger and more full of witches and wizards than MACUSA. Jacob felt a bit self-concious, since he was a 'Muggle' to all these wizards, but they didn't notice him. Newt had lended him a brown cloak to drape over his suit so that he could blend in easier, and it seemed to be working so far. He stared around the atrium. A golden fountain portraying a wizard, a witch, a centaur, a house elf, and a goblin spewed sparkling water. Some wizards fished in the pockets of their robes when they passed it, tossing golden coins into the water.
"That goblin looks a lot nicer than that one from last winter," Jacob noted. "He must have just been a bad guy."
"Most goblins are manipulative, actually," Queenie told him under her breath, as there were a few goblins clustered around a nearby newstand. "I've never met a nice one, to be honest with you."
"I know a few that are more trustworthy than most," Newt put in, getting them a spot on an elevator. "They work at Gringotts, our major bank. But...I would still safely say that no goblin has ever liked wizards. They hate us, in fact, for the most part. Wizards and goblins have a rough history."
   Jacob didn't like the sound of a creature that even Newt Scamander didn't seem to care for, but he didn't have long to think about it. The crowded elevator lurched, and they shot backwards, sideways, and finally upwards. The baker's organs felt like they had been rearranged, and he followed Newt and the others out gratefully.
"All right," he breathed. "Where to now?"
"Department of International Magical Cooperation," Newt said gruffly. "My brother is the head of office there. Everyone else is probably out to lunch about now, so we're here at a good time to talk to him."
"People won't be swarming his desk like crazy, you mean?" Tina asked as the jostled their way through a crowd of people exiting an elevator.
"Exactly," Newt agreed.
"Mr. Abernathy used to eat lunch at a different time than everyone else, too," Queenie said conversationally as they walked, her tone casual like they weren't on a major mission. "Thought it made him all important and stuff."
"Yes," Newt muttered. "My brother has the same views on himself. But normally he brings a lunch, since it saves him time."
    The magizoologist led them down many corridors and hallways, until finally they arrived at a big, dark wooden door with a chrome border. The golden plaque on the door read:
Theseus Scamander
Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation

    Jacob read the sign aloud slowly, and whistled. "Sort of a mouthful."
Newt smiled dryly. "Isn't it?" He knocked sharply on the door, his face impassive. Jacob could tell he didn't want to talk to his brother at all, let alone ask him for help. There must have been some sort of sibling rivalry between them in the past. But what other choice did they have?
"Come in!" Came a voice from inside. Newt closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened the door.
   The man behind the large black desk was suave, no doubt; he had the same light brown hair as Newt, and the same freckles, but his hair was neatly trimmed and combed, he wore a crisp suit and cloak, and his features seemed more...boss-like. Newt was a natural leader, in Jacob's opinion. He always had relatable views on things, and he didn't have to force people to follow his lead. Theseus seemed more like the kind of leader that had to express his authority, assert dominance, and make sure everyone knew where he stood and what his opinions were. It seemed like he had to earn everyone's respect by looking respectable and unapproachable. He looked at the four of them over the tops of the papers he was reading, his eyes narrowing when they landed on Newt.
"Er...Hello," Newt said awkwardly. "I..." He cleared his throat, shifting on the spot uncomfortably. "I assume you've heard about Grindelwald."
"Yes, yes," Theseus said, still staring at his papers, sounding bored. His accent was thicker, his voice deeper, and not nearly as inviting as Newt's. "I know you caught him last year. No need to keep mentioning it."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Scamander," Tina said coolly, stepping forward. Theseus set his papers down and raised an eyebrow at her, as if daring her to continue. Tina, however, had nothing to lose, so continue she did. "Are you implying that you, supposedly one of the most important officials in the British Ministry of Magic, haven't recieved the news that there was a breach in MACUSA that resulted in the escape of Gellert Grindelwald himself? I thought it was international news, at this point."
   Newt, Jacob, and Queenie stared at the former Auror, both impressed and terrified, as Theseus gathered his composure.
"Of course-" he cleared his throat. "Of course I've heard. But that's hardly relevant to Newton, now is it? Now...who, may I ask, are you three? American embassadors?"
"I'm Porpentina Goldstein, American Auror," Tina prompted. "This is my sister, Queenie, and that's Mr. Kowalski. He's-uh-"
"I'm also an embassador," Jacob said quickly, trying to sound as casual as possible. "Yeah, this is my first trip. The boss said I could tag along for, uh, training purposes, ya know." He tried to ignore the sweat trickling down the side of his face.
"I see," Theseus said. "Well, there's got to be some other reason you came here. Spit it out, Newton, I haven't got all day."
"Neither do I, as it happens," Newt said frostily. "We're here because Miss Goldstein has been issued to track down Grindelwald himself. Of course, there are many other Aurors on the case, but she's one of the best. I suggested we come here to see if you had any information on where he might be. If any countries had sent any news or warnings about his whereabouts, I assumed that this would be the best place to look."
"Mm," Newt's brother suddenly looked interested. "Well, I do have some-"
   The office door opened, and a woman with ebony plaited hair and chocolate brown skin came in, clutching a leather satchel. She noticed Jacob first, then the girls, and finally Newt. As her eyes fell on him, they widened. Jacob could've sworn she looked nervous for a split second, but she quickly replaced the look of anxiety with one of smugness.
"Leta, darling!" Theseus stood and welcomed her with open arms, hugging her and kissing her cheek as he took the bag. "Thank you for bringing this. I knew I'd forgottem something. Oh, and my brother's come to visit with some of his American friends. They're just here for business, but you can stay if you want. I'll try to be quick." He turned back and started going through some files in his desk, not noticing the stoney look on his younger brother's face.