23

                                    

                                          
AN: I decided to have the reader use a time-period [20's] appropriate pet name for Newt, you'll know it when you see it. It was used a lot for boyfriends, especially in America. If it seems too out-of-place, just comment and I'll stop using it in future chapters!
                          
This is also kind of a filler/set-up chapter. I assure you, though, I'm doing everything I can to keep it interesting!

                          
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One Month Later...
                          
The first week had been rough. ______ had the sinking feeling that something awful was going to happen, but Newt assured her things would be okay. She didn't have to look over her shoulder, Tina was going to deal with it. MACUSA would find him, and ______ would be safe.
                          
Newt hoped that was the case. He hadn't heard from Tina ever since they left New York, and the silence made him doubt what he was saying. He didn't want to scare ______ by telling her this, though, so he kept his fears and his doubts to himself. Surely Draculous wouldn't take it as far as to chase her across the ocean, right?
                          
Newt had to go back to work. He felt bad about leaving ______ alone for so long, and he wished he could've just worked from home. Working at the Ministry of Magic wasn't for him, he got bored sitting still in an office. ______ insisted him that she would be fine on her own, she loved Britain. She would take a bus into town, spending a good part of her day there.
                          
She learned to stop looking for him in every shadow, worried that she would run into him right around the corner. She wanted to leave it behind, she wanted to move on.
                          
When Newt was heading home one particular night, a co-worker stopped him right before he got out the door. "Scamander!" Newt heard his voice ring through the air before they jogged to catch up with him. "You're out of here in a hurry. Do you have somewhere to be?"
                          
Newt stopped, turning to face him but refusing to look him in the eyes. "Oh, uh, not particularly. Just heading home, I have to feed my beasts."
                          
"I just wanted to give you an invitation," he passed Newt an envelope. "Ministry's throwing a party, they announced it last night, told us to pass it on to anyone who might've missed the meeting. You're never the type to stay late, so I thought I'd hand it to you."
                          
"Oh, thank you," he took it, then thought for a moment. "At this meeting... did they happen to mention anything about bringing spouses?"
                          
His co-worker raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea you were seeing anyone. They didn't mention it specifically, but I don't see why it would be an issue."
                          
"My erm... she's a Muggle," Newt muttered. Wizard's opinions on the matter varied wildly, and even though it was legal in Britain, it wasn't accepted by everyone. Newt dreamed of a day where it would be commonplace, accepted without a second thought, but right now that wasn't the case.
                          
Lucky for him, this particular co-worker didn't seem to care. "I'm sure that would still be fine. She's with you, right? The Ministry won't care very much, they can't without making a scene. It would be a bad image for them. Go ahead and bring her, I look forward to seeing you there."
                          
"Thank you," Newt mumbled, turning back and leaving. Might be fun, he thought. He was never someone who was drawn to big parties, or any parties at all for that matter, but the thought of bringing _______ to meet other wizards sounded promising. He wanted to show her that there are more kind wizards out there than there are bad ones. Not to mention, since the laws in America were so strict, he wants to prove to her that they don't have to hide their relationship like she and Draculous did.
                          
Newt headed home, happy to be greeted by ______. "Newt!" she exclaimed when she heard the door open. "Go ahead and take a seat, I'm finishing up dinner. I got this recipe from someone I met at the marketplace today, and I think we're both going to like it."
                          
Newt walked in, and instead of sitting down, he went up behind her and put his arms around her, kissing the back of her head. "There's something I want to ask you," he started, getting her attention.
                          
______ turned back, looking Newt in the eyes and smiling. "What is it, daddy?"
                          
"Would you like to come to a party?" Newt asked hopefully. "It's at the Ministry of Magic, I got handed an invitation today. I'm not usually one for parties, but..."
                          
As he trailed off, ______ turned off the stove, moving the pot the was using. "I can go?" she asked. "I'm used to wizard events being, well, separate. Back home, I'd never be able to show my face anywhere near a wizarding community."
                          
"Of course you can!" Newt reassured her. "The Ministry sometimes throws parties for some special event, or a new deal or someone new being appointed Minister. I don't really know the semantics of this one, but I think... I think we'll have fun. No one's going to throw you out for being a Muggle, I promise."
                          
______ leaned back on the counter, thinking about it. She had been out of the house quite a few times since they got here, sure, but something about this party felt like something might go wrong. Deep down, there was a fear that somewhere in a room full of wizards, one of them will know Draculous, or have been working for him. She had no idea how far his reach was. "I... I don't know, Newt. Maybe it would be better if you went without me."
                          
Newt shook his head and took her hand. "I don't want to go without you, ______. It wouldn't feel right. I promise you, if you're by my side, nothing bad can happen."
                          
______ smiled at him. "Well, I guess it would be fun to get dressed up and get out of this house. Are you sure that this is going to be safe?"
                          
"You'll be in a room filled with some of the best British wizards. Even if something went wrong, you're going to be surrounded by those who protect their own."
                          
"Does that count me?"
                          
Newt leaned over, smiling and kissing her on the forehead. "It does. You're an honorary member of the British wizarding community."
                          
_______ smiled, hugging him. "Thank you, Newt."
                          
"You're safe here. I promise," he muttered, pulling back and looking her in the eyes. "I'll be here."