Short Stories

Eleven: Winter

(A/N): This is completely non-canon and probably very inaccurate.

I sat on the seat of the taxi as it lurched forward and began its journey. I rubbed my hands together in a attempt for feeling to return to my frozen fingers. I silently cursed the winter snow and myself as I rubbed my hands together.

How could I forget to put on the warming charm? I thought angrily at myself. As the taxi moved down the road on the slick roads, I watched the winter snow fall down peacefully on to the road.

"Alright. Here we are." The taxi man announced. I thanked him and payed him in Muggle money and hurried into the MACUSA building. I hurried into the doors and entered the building. It was immediately much warmer, and I sighed in relief. I levitated my winter coat, scarf, and winter cap off of me. I placed a charm on my snow-covered clothes to follow me as I hurried to my office in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures side. I immediately noticed Tina and Queenie standing in my office conversing loudly with a tall ginger-haired male.

"Hey Tina. What are you doing here?" I asked. The three of them turned their heads at me. Queenie's face broke into a grin.

"Hey, (Y/N). This man here is Newt Scamander. I found that he brought in some illegal creatures, so you're here to take them away." Tina explained. Only then did I notice the wand inconspicuously pointing at 'Newt' to keep him from apparating away. I looked up at the man, seeing as he was quite tall compared to me, and the man's face looked distressed and scared. His fist was clenched tightly against the handle of the suitcase.

"Tina. Put your wand away. There are wards up to keep people from apparating in and out of the building. Now, Mr. Scamander, please hand me your suitcase or I will be forced to take it away from you by force." His grip only seemed to tighten on the handle.

"No." I sighed. I had been expecting this. He obviously is very passionate about creatures.

"Sir, please hand me your suitcase." I took out my wand and threateningly pointed it at him. His face seemed to pale, and he took a step back, but he moved the suitcase to the back of him, almost protecting it from me. Using wordless magic, I stupefied him, and he froze. A stab of guilt went through my heart; it was clear he had no bad intentions for these animals. I levitated my winter clothes onto the coat rack in my office. Then, I went in front of him and kneeled down. I pried the suitcase out of his freckled hands and stood up.

"Tina. Queenie. Get out." I could feel Queenie probing around my thoughts for why, so I threw up my shields, effectively blocking her from my thoughts. Queenie frowned slightly while Tina scowled at me.

"Why?" Tina complained. I shot a chilling glare at her and slightly raised my wand. Tina frowned, but she knew better than to duel me, and she left the office with Queenie.

"Now, Mr Scamander. I understand that you have no intention on selling or harming these creatures and only to help them, so I'm going to make an offer. You get out of here and help those animals be free, and I'll help you get out of this situation." I unfroze him and handed him his case.

"Do we have a deal?" I asked, putting out my hand.

"Y-yes." He shook my hand. "But if I may ask why, why are you helping me?" He asked quietly. I pulled my hand away and went around the tall man to reach my desk.

"Because I love creatures. I got a job here so I could help creatures, but since I'm a woman, they won't listen to my protests. Now I'm here working an office job sorting and resorting papers. If there was any chance to help any creature, I'm going to take that chance." I sat down in my chair and pulled out a drawer full of potions. Sitting down, I looked through one of my drawers and pulled out an invisibility cloak.

"Take this. It's my invisibility cloak. It should cover the suitcase up." I dug around my drawer before finding a dead pen and transforming it into a similar looking suitcase.

"If you can, please return my cloak. Now, when I open that door, pretend you don't have your suitcase with you and get out of this wretched building as fast as you can. Got it?" I said. Newt gulped nervously but nodded. He levitated the suitcase with his wand and draped the invisibility cloak over it. Then, he charmed it to follow him. I nodded at him, grabbed the fake suitcase, and opened the door to my office. Outside was a curious looking Queenie and Tina.

"I'll take it over to the cells where it'll be exterminated. Mr. Scamander, don't bring illegal creatures into America again." I kept a stoic face as he left with the case drifting behind him. I gripped the pseudo suitcase in my hand and started walking towards the extermination center. Tina let out a relieved sigh and Queenie lead her out of there. I clenched my jaw and when I was out of sight, I transfigured the suitcase into the broken pen and threw it into the trash. As I walked back to my office, I looked out the large window in MACUSA, watching the winter snow fall down peacefully.