A dazed Newt stumbled out with Jacob in tow, his thoughts a swirling mess.
This was the second time Tina had dragged him to the American Ministry of Magic.
Did friendship and trust between people always have to be this… fragile?
Perched on Newt's head like a regal crown, Garfield yawned and casually activated his 'King's Contempt' mode.
A bunch of magical scrubs... not a single decent duelist in sight. You think I fear you? Please.
But externally, Garfield put on the perfect mask, just an innocent, wide-eyed orange tabby, purring and blinking with that adorable feline cluelessness.
While Newt was interrogated and Jacob's fate debated, Garfield licked his paw in slow, smug circles, looking like a cat-shaped plush toy.
Jacob, as expected, was sentenced to have his memory erased.
As a foreigner, Newt was entangled in Ministry red tape and subject to a full investigation and holding procedure.
Garfield?
Garfield just meowed cutely, did a little roll, and pawed at a floating speck of dust.
Security clearance… cleared.
He was promptly tossed to Queenie, who caught him with shaking hands and nervous eyes.
She was clearly worried for both Newt and Jacob. Garfield blinked lazily and curled into her arms like a purring orange heating pad.
Meanwhile, Tina stood stiffly to the side, clearly miserable. Her plan, which she thought was clever, had backfired spectacularly.
She'd dragged Newt in, thinking the No-Maj senator's death was the work of a creature in his case… thanks to her total misunderstanding of the situation.
After a tedious inspection of Newt's suitcase, the Ministry found nothing but rare, beautiful magical creatures and not a trace of evidence.
With no solid evidence to hold him, they were left scrambling.
That's when Percival Graves, still under the disguise, stepped in with manufactured outrage.
He pointed at one of the creatures, Newt's venomous leopard… and spun an outlandish narrative.
"This beast was brought here deliberately. He intended to unleash chaos. Cause death. Stir conflict between wizards and No-Majs… even provoke war."
It was flimsy.
But it gave him just enough leverage to push for Newt's execution.
Graves was desperate because, during his brief talk with Newt, he'd slipped up, revealing far too much knowledge about Obscurials.
Newt, perceptive and sharp, noticed. The contradiction exposed a crack in his disguise.
Sensing danger, Grindelwald doubled down.
But Newt wasn't going down quietly.
With quick thinking and help from Queenie and the ever-surprising Garfield, Newt broke out.
They fled the Ministry, the sound of alarms echoing behind them.
Grindelwald, meanwhile, turned his focus back to Credence, the troubled young man he was manipulating.
He believed Credence's adopted sister was the Obscurial… but in truth, it was Credence himself.
Unaware, he told Credence to keep watching the girl.
On the run, Newt and his ragtag group, Tina, Queenie, Jacob, and Garfield, made their way into the depths of New York's magical underworld.
They entered an underground speakeasy run by goblins.
Garfield perched himself on the bar, ears twitching.
Ah. Prohibition-era America. You people really banned alcohol?
And somehow dragged the wizarding world into your mess.
The bar was noisy, packed with shady figures and muttering goblins. Shelves behind the bar were stocked with both enchanted drinks and smuggled human alcohol.
Garfield wasn't interested in the booze.
He flopped on Newt's head, swishing his tail, bored. His attention wandered toward a rather suspicious goblin who was giving him funny looks.
Then came the bargaining.
Newt, ever hopeful, pulled out magical objects, rare ingredients, and even a few creature-related items, trying to barter for information on the missing Thunderbird and the invisible Demiguise.
Garfield casually watched…
Until the goblin pointed directly at him.
"That cat. I want the cat."
Before Garfield could even protest, Newt hesitated… then handed him over.
Traitor!, Garfield thought flatly as he was passed like a loaf of bread across the bar.
Before leaving the underground bar, Newt turned and asked about the disguised Percival Graves, the conversation still lingered in his mind.
But goblin, the crafty old goblin who ran the place, cut him off with a knowing smirk.
"Don't ask too many questions, Mr. Scamander."
In his arms, the goblin held Garfield like a trophy.
Moments later, the double-crossing goblin sent word to the Ministry of Magic, hoping to cash in twice, first by selling information, then by handing over the fugitives.
It didn't go quite as planned.
Jacob stepped forward and clocked it right in the face.
Garfield, tumbled from the goblin's grasp, rolled, shook himself off.
"Seriously? One punch and you're out cold? Wizards really hide from No-Majs because they can't win a fist fight?"
Pandora, who had been quietly watching, nodded sagely. "I think so too."
Garfield casually padded over to the unconscious goblin and gave him one more parting gift, a swipe of his claws that left it sporting a lovely new nickname… the One-Eyed Goblin.
Mission accomplished, Garfield hopped back onto Newt's head, purring smugly.
"Cook, I appreciate your service. You understand me, yes?"
Newt didn't have time to argue. They still needed to find the Demiguise, the elusive, invisible beast.
Tina and Queenie quickly Apparated with Jacob, and the whole group reconvened at a luxurious attic hideout.
There, nestled among blankets and feathers, they found the Demiguise, quietly caring for the Thunderbird.
Garfield's presence seemed to unnerve the invisible creature. Though comforted by the humans, it visibly trembled when Garfield locked eyes with it.
Garfield tilted his head, swishing his tail.
"Why are you so scared of me, meow?"
The Demiguise said nothing, shivering in silence.
"Relax, I'm not going to yank out your hair to make an invisibility cloak. But if you shed, maybe save a few for me?"
It stared pleadingly at Newt, who immediately lifted Garfield off his head like a misbehaving kitten.
"Garfield, don't scare it."
"Garfield didn't scare it."
"Also, if the Demiguise happens to lose fur naturally, that's fair trade!"
Queenie translated between the two parties, chuckling softly at Garfield's logic. Garfield turned to Tina next, scrutinizing her.
"Tina, come with me. You'd make an excellent first maid. Meow."
Queenie giggled and shook her head. "Thanks, but I'd rather stay with my sister."
Garfield blinked lazily. "That's fine. You're headed to England in two years anyway. I saw it."
"Now Queenie, catching a Thunderbird won't be easy. Let me help."
Before Queenie could even translate, Garfield raised a paw. A glowing magic circle shimmered to life, descending over the Thunderbird like a net.
In an instant, the majestic creature shrank to the size of a cat carrier, flapping its wings in protest, completely contained.
Newt seized the opportunity, gently capturing the Thunderbird and placing it into his case, along with the now-cooperative Demiguise.
"Thank you, Garfield." He turned to Garfield, stunned.
"I only helped because you're hopeless on your own. Oh and I expect a reward."
Newt, used to this by now, dug into his pocket and pulled out a chunk of fast-dragon meat.
Garfield's eyes gleamed.
"You live… another day, Cook. But no licking me, meow."
Queenie couldn't hold in her laughter. She scooped Garfield into her arms, massaging behind his ears while he munched happily on the meat.
Peace settled over the house, the air warm and calm.
✦••┈┈••✦••┈┈••✦
But beyond those walls, the world was shifting.
Graves, blinded by his obsession, had completely misread the truth. He still believed Credence was merely the brother of the Obscurial.
In truth, Credence was the Obscurial… abandoned, misunderstood, and now slipping from his control.
Aided by Mary Lou Barebone, Credence disappeared into the chaos of New York.
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Phantom your way through a treasure trove of chapters waiting on P@treon!
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