The Return of Newt Scamander (Book #1, A Newtina Fanfiction)

Chapter 22

(Tina P.O.V.)

Tina, Queenie, and Annie stood across the road, staring at the Marble Arch. It was raining steady, making it so there was barely anybody out on the streets. They were lucky for that, that way they could avoid gaining attention from passing muggles. 

The three walked together to the Arch, looking out for anything that might tell them where Credence may have been taken. They split up, looking around the Arch's walls. Tina had taken one of the outer ones while Queenie had taken the interior area, and Annie searched the opposite of Tina's. They were hoping there was some kind of secret doorway that led to some underground basement, since the map said Credence was right here, yet it seemed that he wasn't. 

Tina fumbled with anything on the wall, anything that could possibly be a lever, a button, some kind of trigger, but found nothing. She suddenly heard a scraping noise, like stone against stone, then a sudden thud that ended it. 

"Guys, I think I found something..." Queenie said. Tina walked over to her sister, seeing her staring at a gaping rectangular hole in the wall. Annie came from around the corner from behind them, seeing the doorway and gasping.

"Well, isn't this just dandy!" She said as she approached it. She stepped in, beckoning for them to follow her. Tina went in next with Queenie right behind her. When they were all in the small dark space, they heard a grinding noise from behind them. Turning around they saw the door closing, locking them inside. 

"There's no going back now..." Queenie whispered. The only option they had left was to go down, down into depths that held who-knows-what. Annie lit her wand, and so did Tina and Queenie, and they began to shuffle down the slick black stairs one by one. Annie moved surprisingly fast, considering she was a larger woman and Tina was sure she was in her sixties. They went around the curve, suddenly being able to hear loud voices echoing off the stone walls. They could see a bright light coming from the end of the stairs, and they approached it slowly, stopping at the end of the tunnel while Annie peered around the corner. Tina heard a soft gasp come from her, and she turned around, looking back at the sisters. 

"There have to be hundreds of people. They're all waiting for something, I think. If they are Grindelwald's followers, we need to be careful, I'm sure they won't be happy with our presence." Annie turned back around looking out again. "I see somewhere we can hide. You see those boxes?" 

Tina looked straight out in front of her, seeing a pile of boxes that weren't too tall nor too short. 

"Yeah, I see them. Let's go." Tina said as she peered out to look if it was clear. She saw the rows of people Annie was talking about, and luckily they all had their backs facing towards them. Tina ran to the boxes first, ducking behind them as she beckoned for Annie and Queenie to get over there quickly. Queenie went next, dashing across the empty space and squatting right next to her sister. Then came Annie, who went only a little slower but came at a fast pace. She attempted to squat next to Queenie but failed as she fell down, sitting down instead. Luckily it made no sound, and anyways if it did it would have been covered up by all of the chattering people in the room. Tina peered over the boxes, looking out at the people who sat, waiting for something. In front of them, there was a large stage, at least that is what it looked like, with a large object with a cloth over it, concealing it from view. Then something moved onto the stage, and the people started to clap. Tina squinted, and saw it to be-

Grindelwald! But something floated next to him, or, someone.

"My fellow wizards and witches. Today is a great day for all of us. Today is when the world for all of us magic folk, changes. Instead of being forced to hide our magic, we will be able to use it freely." Applause exploded from the crowd, and Tina thought she could see a hint of a smile on Grindelwald's face. He continued his speech.