Their Life

Redeemed Part 1

Tina sat in the corner of the damp cell, her knees drawn to her chest. She hugged her legs tightly, using them to hide her face. Sobs wracked her body. She hated crying but this time she couldn't stop herself. She had lost everything.

The last two years had been hard enough. It had started with the stupid article in the magazine. Even though it had turned out to be nothing, she had suffered for months because of it. Then there had been the fight with her sister. She had been selfish, too focused on the law, and she had ruined their relationship.

Tina had felt awful about it. She had wanted to apologize but she hadn't had the chance. Queenie was gone, having stepped through the blue flames to join Grindelwald. Tina had cried for weeks, hiding herself in Newt's basement. However, he had stayed by her side, comforting her, and they had become close.

Eventually, the pain had lessened. Things had still been difficult but she had still had Newt. He had made anything bearable. Things had seemed to be getting better.

Then Grindelwald had attacked. He had come that morning and the fight had been brutal. So many people had died. Hundreds of images flashed through Tina's head; images of the battlefield, dimly lit by the slowly rising sun and by spells and curses flying through the air. Most of them had dissipated when they were met with a shield charm. However, many had found their marks. People had crumpled to the ground, some never to move again.

There was one image Tina wished she could forget. She wished she had never seen it but she had and it was burned into her memory. Every time she closed her eyes she saw Newt's motionless form lying on the ground. His face and clothes were caked with dirt and sweat and blood. The shirt of him had been what had distracted her. It had taken her focus off the fight and led to her capture.

She couldn't believe it, she didn't want to believe it, but she had seen it with her own eyes. Newt had been lying before her in an unnatural position . . . motionless . . . dead.

"He's not dead."

Tina's head snapped up, startled by the sound of the familiar voice breaking through her thoughts.

"What?" she stammered. She looked around, searching for who had spoken. Her eyes fell on a figure on the other side of the cell bars.

Queenie.

"He's not dead," she repeated, stepping closer to the cell. "He was injured and unconscious but he's still alive. Dumbledore took him to Hogwarts to recover."

Having recovered from her initial shock, Tina scrambled to her feet, quickly closing off her mind. She had learned Occlumency years ago but had rarely used it around her sister. It took a lot of effort, especially since Queenie was so powerful. However, she realized that, now that the situation was different, Occlumency was probably a wise decision. They were on opposite sides now and it wouldn't do to let Queenie see anything they had tried their best to keep from Grindelwald.

Queenie realized what her sister had done. She tilted her head slightly, listening to what she could hear. It sounded like static with the occasional garbled thought, like a radio that hadn't been properly tuned. Knowing that she wasn't going to get anything, she let out a long sigh and gave up.

"What are you doing here?" Tina asked icily.

Queenie shrugged. "I wanted to see you. It's been a year and a half since we've seen each other."

"And who's fault is that?" Tina snapped.

Queenie frowned. "I don't think it's anyone's fault."

Tina's Occlumency faltered for a moment and her sister caught a glimpse of a memory. It was gone a moment later as Tina regained control of herself but Queenie had still seen it. She had seen the blue flame and the image of herself passing through it. Her face darkened.