missing you • newt scamander ls

c h a p t e r • 7

Newt slid a stack of coins.

"Hmph, MACUSAs' offer more than that." Gnarlak picked at his cigar.

Newt then placed a strange looking golden device on the table, Celeste recognizing it.

"Moonoscope?" Gnarlak acted interested for a moment, before turning away. "I got five."

Newt, looking uncomfortable, reached into his coat for something, taking his hand out to reveal a wiggling orange cocoon, wrapped with a translucent slimy layering. He placed it on the table.

"Frozen Ashwinder egg." He said.

"Now we--" Gnarlak's eyes landed on something green and leafy on Newt's coat.

Pickett. Newt's bowtruckle.

Gnarlak pointed twisted finger at the creature.

"Wait a minute, that's a bo--that's a bowtruckle, right?" Pickett climbed into Newt's chest pocket, whimpering.

Newt covered the pocket.

"No."

"Aw come on, they pick locks, am I right?"

"You're not having him."

Gnarlak, instead of looking unhappy, smugly turned away from Newt.

"Well, good luck getting back alive, Mr. Scamander, what with the whole of MACUSA on your back." Gnarlak stood up and pretended to head for the door.

"Alright!" Newt said unwillingly.

"What?!" Celeste whisper-exclaimed.

Newt looked just as uncomfortable as Celeste, and then reached into his pocket and took out a whimpering Pickett, who was flailing his arms as Newt held his fingers around his body and held out the bowtruckle for Gnarlak.

Gnarlak took it, beady black eyes staring at the bowtruckle, who was still flailing in fear. 

Newt looked down, trying to gulp down the developing lump in his throat.

"Something invisible's been wreaking havoc around 5th Avenue." Gnarlak said, still looking at the bowtruckle, who seemed to have given up on trying to run away. "You may want to check out Macy's department store. Might help what you're looking for."

Newt wiped at his eyes, finally looking up.

"Dougal." He said. "One last thing, there's a Mr. Graves who works at MACUSA. I was wondering what you knew of his background."

"You ask a lot of questions, Mr. Scamander. That can get you killed."

A house elf carrying a case yelled out:

"MACUSA are coming!" 

Tina stood up at once.

"You tipped them off?!" Tina yelled incredulously at Gnarlak, people disapparating everywhere in the bar.

Gnarlak grinned and laughed smugly, as MACUSA agents apparated into the bar.

"You git!" Celeste said, glaring at the goblin. 

"Sorry Mr. Gnarlak." Jacob said, before landing a punch on Gnarlak, making him fall unconscious.

"Yes!" Celeste high-fived a pained looking Jacob from his fist hitting Gnarlak's hard head. "He reminds me of my foreman." 

Celeste turned around to see that Newt had disappeared from his chair, and, looking back, saw that he was scrambling under the tables to try to find a certain bowtruckle who had escaped Gnarlak's grip.