Newt was kept very busy during his first few days back in London. It always surprised him how many things needed to be taken care of after only a few months away. Bunty was an incredibly capable assistant, but there were still some things she couldn't do for him.

Queenie, as usual, insisted he join them for dinner most evenings. He didn't mind since it meant he didn't have to bother cooking for himself after a long day. However, he had declined one evening in order to pay a visit to his brother. 

He and Theseus had become much closer in the last few years than they had ever been in their life. There had been years when they had never spoken, but the events in Paris had changed all that. Theseus had lost the most important woman in his life, and Newt had been the only one who could offer him comfort.

Newt had stretched himself thin those first few years. He had found himself trying to comfort his brother, his best friend, and the woman he loved, all while dealing with the loss of two of his closest friends himself. But it had only strengthened his relationships with each of them. 

He and Tina had gotten married a little over a month later. He had been living in New York with her since then and Nicholas had been born a year later. He was the greatest thing that had happened to them and had helped distract them from everything they had lost.

Jacob had also returned to New York after everything that had happened in Paris and had tried to get his life back together, choosing to cut himself off from the magical world completely, even from his friends. Newt wasn't sure if Queenie's betrayal had been worse for Tina or for him.

They didn't see or hear from him for over four years, until Dumbledore sent Lally Hicks to recruit him for his plan to thwart Grindelwald. Newt had been overjoyed to reunite with his old friend, though Tina, unfortunately, was unable to join them. Her recent promotion kept her very busy at work, and they agreed somebody needed to stay with their three-year-old son. Since Newt's expertise on magical creatures was essential to Dumbledore's plan, he had reluctantly left his family behind.

The following events had, on multiple occasions, nearly ended in disaster. However, they succeeded in foiling Grindelwad's plan, and, most importantly, Queenie had come home.

Newt's heart still ached at the thought of all she had gone through. When they met, she had been the sweetest, most innocent ray of sunshine he had ever met, but she had spent four years among nothing but hate and anger. If it hadn't been for Jacob's love and understanding, she might never have recovered.

By the time they made it to New York, Queenie's bubbly personality had all but returned. There were still moments where he'd catch a glimpse of the haunted look in her eyes, but Jacob's presence was always enough to chase it away. He wasted no time in assuring her he never wanted to leave her, asking her to marry him mere days after her return.

As it turned out, the law was no longer an issue. Many people had acknowledged his part in preventing Grindelwald's sudden rise to power, and with a few more influential voices—including the new leader of the wizarding world herself—speaking on his behalf, MACUSA had made an exception to their laws regarding wizard/No-maj relations.

But not everything had been that easy. Tina was thrilled that her sister had returned and happily attended her wedding, but the unique bond they had shared was not what it had been. Her trust had been broken, and it would take time to earn it again.

MACUSA had placed Queenie under constant guard for the first few months. They brought her in for questioning several times, and she happily gave them any information they wanted. She had been in Grindelwald's inner circle and knew names and locations and even a few plans, though those were likely to change. MACUSA was pleased by her cooperation, but they continued to keep a quiet watch on her and Jacob in case Grindelwald or one of his followers decided the couple made a tempting target.

But her relationship with Tina had been harder to mend. Tina knew her sister was back for good and wasn't just spying for Grindelwald like certain members of MACUSA had suspected. She also understood both why she had joined and why she returned, but her betrayal had cut deep. She wasn't even sure how to look at her anymore. It was several months before she even let Queenie meet Nick. And even now, the atmosphere was always a little tense when the sisters were in the same room.

However, though Newt's relationship with his brother had improved drastically in the last eight years, he was still surprised when Theseus knocked on his door in the middle of the day.

Newt stepped aside to let his brother into his house. "What brings you here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

"Yes, but I needed to talk to you."

Something in his tone put Newt on his guard. "Why don't I make us some tea?"

Theseus hesitated for a moment. Then he nodded. "But be quick. I've got to get back to work."

Newt led his brother to the kitchen and quickly prepared a pot of tea. Though he held with the belief that tea was always better when made the Muggle way, he knew Theseus was in a hurry so he used magic to make it almost instantly.

Theseus stirred sugar into his tea and sipped it slowly. Newt waited apprehensively for him to explain why he was there. He didn't have to wait too long.

"Mum and Dad found out that you're currently in London."

Newt frowned. "I don't understand. I haven't been keeping that fact a secret."

"Well, I just thought I'd warn you that they're going to want you to come to dinner one of these evenings," Theseus said.

"Oh. Well, that doesn't sound too bad. I know I've never had a good relationship with them, but it has been several years since I last saw them." Newt didn't really believe what he was saying. His relationship with his parents had always been shaky at best.

"Do you remember the Monaghans?" his brother asked.

Newt gave him a confused look. "Uh, yes, Percy Monaghan was in my year at Hogwarts. But what do they have to with anything?"

"I overheard our parents discussing what night they'd be available to come over for dinner," Theseus explained. 

Newt frowned. "And you think that's the same evening they want me there?"

"I did get that impression."

"I still don't really understand what I have to do with them."

Theseus shrugged. "I'm not exactly sure myself, but I'd be worried if I were you." He glanced at the clock and got to his feet. "I've got to run, Newt, but I'll let you know what happens."

"Uh, thank you, Theseus," he said, though he still wasn't quite sure what to make of his warning.

It was nearly a week before Newt heard anything from his brother. He had nearly forgotten all about it until he received a letter from his mother one morning. The message inside was written more in the style of a formal invitation than a letter from a mother to her son. It requested his presence at dinner at 7:00 on the 18th, but the tone suggested he wouldn't have much of a choice in the matter.

His suspicions were confirmed when his brother stopped by that evening. Apparently, their mother hadn't trusted Newt to attend the dinner, so she had sent Theseus to make him promise to go.

"Well, she's right." Newt looked at the invitation again. "I'm not interested in spending an evening with my parents when I could spend it with the part of my family that actually cares about me."

"Unfortunately, they don't know you have any other family because you haven't told them you're married."

"You of all people should understand why I'm so reluctant to tell them. I know you've always had a better relationship with them than I do, but you still know what they're like."

Theseus gave him an apologetic smile. "I know, Newt, and I'm not saying your decision is wrong. I understand that you're trying to protect them, and I respect that. But I think you'll be in more trouble if you don't go. The Monaghans are going to be there and I think they want to introduce you to them. If you don't show up, you'll have embarrassed them."

"That's not anything new. I've always been an embarrassment to them."

"Well, you did redeem yourself a bit with your book," Theseus said.

Newt was silent for a moment so he could think. His fingers worried the edge of the invitation as he stared through it. Then he looked up at his brother. "Are you going to be there?"

Theseus grimaced. "I wasn't invited. Sorry."

"Well, couldn't you come up with some excuse to be there too?"

"We'll see."

——

Newt nervously straightened his bowtie and jacket as he approached the doors of his childhood home. It was times like this that he missed the familiar weight of his case by his side. Though he rarely carried it with him anymore, he was still never sure what to do with his hands when he wasn't carrying it. 

He was late. It was only by nearly fifteen minutes, but he knew his parents wouldn't be happy with him. He had intended to be on time, but a problem with one of his creatures had delayed him. He suspected the Monaghans were already there, but he knew they wouldn't sit down for dinner until he arrived, unless it started getting late.

He pulled the cord and heard a distant bell. The door opened a moment later and a house-elf ushered him inside. He was led to the main sitting room, where five people were waiting for him. They all turned to look as he entered.

Newt froze in the doorway. It had been years since he had last seen his parents, and they had not parted on the friendliest of terms. Now, he found himself facing them again. Antigonus and Helena Scamander were eyeing him critically, and he could already see the thinly veiled look of disapproval on his mother's face.

"Newton, you're late," she said. She sounded cheerful enough, but the use of his full first name warned him that she wasn't pleased.

"Forgive me, mother. I was unavoidably detained." If he hadn't been so nervous, he would have laughed at how much he sounded like his brother.

His mother's look of disapproval darkened, but she brushed his excuse away with a wave of her hand. "Well, now that you're here. I believe you are acquainted with the Monaghans?"

Newt nodded as Leander and Persephone Monaghan stood. It was a long time since he had seen them himself, and he had only met them briefly, but he knew them by reputation. They were a well respected, wealthy, pure-blood family like his own.

"It's nice to see you again," he said politely. 

They exchanged formalities and handshakes, then Mr Monaghan gestured to the final person in the room. "This is our daughter, Antiope."

Newt nodded, offering the girl a small smile. "It's nice to meet you." He held out his hand.

She took it. "And you." 

She glanced sideways at her mother before dropping into a half curtsy. Newt shifted his weight and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. These old fashioned formalities always made him uncomfortable, and Antiope didn't look too happy about them either.

She was a very pretty girl with big, blue eyes and long, strawberry-blonde hair that was swept up into an elaborate hairstyle. Newt had never been good with guessing people's ages, but he suspected she was older than she looked. Perhaps in her mid-twenties, rather than the 18 or 19 she appeared to be. She had an innocent look about her that helped add to her childlike appearance.

Now that the introductions had been taken care of, they all made their way to the dining room. Newt found himself seated between Antiope and her mother. The first course was served, and he began to eat in silence. 

The conversation was monopolised by the two older women, with their husbands getting the occasional word in. Newt learned a lot about Antiope, though none of it came from her. She only spoke when asked a direct question. He tried to feign interest in the conversation, but when the topic settled on him and his recent accomplishments, he could only blush and stare at his plate.

The meal seemed to drag on forever, with each course taking longer than the last. He was almost convinced pudding would never end. When it finally did, they made their way to the drawing-room for coffee.

Newt stirred cream and sugar into his coffee, ignoring the surprised looks his parents were trying not to give him. Growing up, he had never liked coffee, but years of marriage to Tina had taught him to tolerate the beverage. Now, he welcomed it. The taste and smell made him feel closer to his wife, which was where he wanted to be.

He took his cup and began making his way around the edge of the room. The topic had inevitably shifted to politics, and he wanted nothing to do with that. Instead, he focused on the room itself. Nothing had changed since he had last seen it.

Antiope must have grown bored with the conversation because Newt soon found himself standing with her by the fireplace, looking up at a portrait of an imposing man.

"He's my great-grandfather," he explained. "He was the one who bought this house. We Scamanders have lived here ever since."

"He doesn't look very nice."

Newt smiled in spite of himself. "No, he doesn't." He had always hated the picture. He wished the man would relax, but he always continued to sit stiff and straight, as if he were still posing for the portrait. When he had been very young, he had asked his great-grandfather if he ever slept. He hadn't replied. His only response had been to turn his cold gaze down to stare at the young boy looking up at him. Newt had avoided that room whenever possible after that.

There was a pause. It was just beginning to stretch into an awkward silence when Antiope spoke. "Mr Scamander—"

"Oh, call me Newt, please."

The girl grinned at him. "Only if you call me Anne." She lowered her voice. "My mother hates it, but I much prefer it to Antiope. It's a little more normal."

"Very well then, Anne."

"Have you really travelled all over the world?"

Newt felt his cheeks go red once more. "I don't know about 'all over', but I have been to a lot of places."

"Where was your favourite?"

He fought the urge to reply 'New York'. It didn't even count, really. New York was his home, and it was more of a home than he had ever had in the old Scamander house. "I don't know, really. I've been to so many wonderful places. I once spent a month in China, studying Occamies."

"Mrs Scamander said you're hardly ever in London. Are you still travelling?"

"Uh— Occasionally. I mean, uh— Yes. I spend most of my time out of the country." Newt flushed and nervously scratched the back of his neck again. "You see, I used to travel to study magical creatures for my book. More recently, I've been working with certain governments to try and improve the rules regarding magical creatures as well as introduce new ones that offer more protection."

Anne looked at him curiously. "How is that going?"

"Not very well, I'm afraid." He offered her an awkward smile. "What about you? What do you do?"

She made a face. "Oh, I've just got a job at the Ministry. It's nothing interesting or even that important, but it's supposed to put me in a position where I can advance rapidly in the next few years or something."

"And what would you rather be doing?"

The girl's gaze dropped to her shoes and Newt thought he saw a hit of a blush on her cheeks. "I'd, uh— I'd like to paint. I'm quite good, actually, but my parents would never let me do it as anything more than a hobby." She glanced back at her parents before continuing more quietly. "Especially not after Perseus decided to leave the Ministry to start a bookshop. Adonis is the only one who's actually happy working at the Ministry, but that's only because dad let him be an Auror. I think Percy would have been happier if dad had let him choose what department he wanted to work in, but he was more concerned about getting one of his children into a high position. When Percy left, it was too late to move Adonis, so I wasn't given a choice either."

"I'm sorry. That sounds awful."

Anne shrugged. "It's not that bad."

"I used to work for the Ministry myself. After the war, I got a job in the Office for House-Elf Relocation. That was tedious, but I only worked there for two years. Then I moved to the Beast Division. I did quite well there. That's why I was approached to write a book on magical creatures."

"I read your book a few years ago. It was quite interesting."

Newt smiled. It had been nearly ten years since his book had been released, but he still found it strange to receive compliments. "Thank you. I'm glad you liked it."

"I was quite disappointed that I wasn't able to make it to your last book signing. Do you think you'll ever have another one?"

"I've been working on the third edition of the book," Newt said. "It's supposed to be released later this year, and I believe we'll be having a book signing to promote it. But, uh— I'd be willing to sign a copy for you anyway."

Anne's face lit up. "Really? That would be nice."

"You could send me your copy for me to sign, or you could wait for the third edition to come out and I could get you a signed copy."

"I think I can wait for the third edition," Anne said.

Newt smiled again. "Good. I'll make sure you get one."

He and Anne continued chatting as their parents continued talking about the state of the wizarding world. They were more concerned about the quality of the politicians than the situation with Grindelwald. Newt was thankful for that. His involvement in Bhutan was well known, but he didn't know how much they knew of his involvement before that. The less they knew, the better. He didn't want to have discussions about it with them because he would have a hard time talking about what had happened without mentioning Tina.

Eventually, Newt decided it was time to go home. He knew his mother was not going to be happy about him leaving before the guests, especially since he arrived after them, but it was getting late and he still had some work to do with his creatures.

He excused himself, thanking his parents more politely than he felt they deserved. Then he said goodbye to the Monaghans and took his leave.

Bunty was still in the basement when he got home. She looked up as he approached and offered him a smile.

"How was dinner?"

Newt gave her a tired smile in return. "Better than I expected. My parents had guests, so they couldn't ask me any questions that might lead into awkward territory."

"That's good." She pulled off the gloves she was wearing and dusted her hands on her skirt. "Well, I've just about finished up down here, though I know you can always find something to do. But—"

"Did you have dinner?" Newt interrupted.

"Uh, yes. I did. So, I'll just finish up what I'm doing, and then I'll go home."

"Okay. I, uh— I think I'm going to go up and write a letter to Tina."

Bunty nodded. "Say hello to her for me."

Newt nodded. "I will."

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to vote and comment!

So, it's been over a year since I updated this book, but with the next movie [finally] coming out, I've given myself a deadline so, hopefully, I'll be able to write quicker. I'm not making any promises. Also, according to my outline, this book is supposed to be 30 chapters long, but since I don't remember all the details I had in my head at the time of creating that outline, I will be shortening the book by combining some of the chapters. (I should really create a new outline so I can see how realistic the idea of meeting my deadline is.)

Anyway, I hope to get the next chapter up soon, but no promises.

Have a great day!

Bye!

Published: 23 December 2021

Edited: 29 July 2025