Their Life

The Auror and the Author Part 2

Newt led Tina to a small Muggle restaurant. They found a quiet corner and ordered their food.

"How have you been?" Newt asked.

Tina shrugged. "Busy. Being an Auror means lots of hard work. My workload only increased after Grindelwald escaped."

"And you're in charge of this mission?"

Tin hesitated. "Well, yes."

Newt looked at her curiously. "Isn't that a good thing? I mean, it shows that they trust you, even after the mistake you made."

Tina grinned. "Oh, I know they trust me, sort of. They trust me enough to make me the Director of Magical Security."

Newt stared at her. "You're the Director of Magical Security? You told me they chose Jonathan Hess to replace Graves."

"They did. Hess was injured when Grindelwald escaped. He died a few days later."

"And they put you in charge?"

Tina nodded.

"Well, how is it?"

"I told you, it's hard work. More paperwork and fewer missions."

Newt laughed slightly. "And it's the missions you like best."

"Yes. I had to fight to come here. Piquery's excuse for not wanting me to come was that I needed to stay in New York and deal with any issues there, but I know she just doesn't want me near Grindelwald."

Newt frowned. "Why is that?"

"Well, while Grindelwald was still being held at MACUSA, he was threatening to, well, to kill me . . .  and you. . . . I was the only qualified Auror who never guarded him."

At that moment, their food came. They were silent for a few minutes as they ate.

"What have you been up to?" Tina asked presently.

"After I got home I just worked on my book until I finished it."

"How was the book signing?"

Newt groaned. "I thought it was awful. There were far too many people, and I had to talk to all of them."

Tina laughed. "In other words, lots of people came so it was a success."

"I guess you could put it that way." Newt grinned sheepishly. "I have a copy of my book for you. I wanted to take it to you right after my book signing but I wasn't able to. I got back yesterday and I was going to get a ticket to New York today but I clearly don't have to do that anymore."

The conversation turned to their childhoods. They talked about school, life before school, life after school, and anything else they wanted to talk about. They continued talking long after they finished their food.

"Tina," Newt said after a slightly longer pause. "Would you like to see the book?"

Tina raised her eyebrows. "You have it with you?"

Newt nodded sheepishly. He pulled a package out of his pocket. He handed it to Tina and shifted his chair to sit next to her.

Tina carefully pushed the paper away to reveal a beautiful book. She smiled.

"You used my title."

"I -- uh -- I couldn't come up with a better one," Newt said shyly. "Believe me, I tried."

Tina flipped through the book.

"This is beautiful," Tina breathed.

"I'm glad you like it. That's actually the first copy ever made." Newt reached over and closed the book before lifting the cover to reveal a message in his messy scrawl. "I signed it for you."