Obscure

Court

"What do you mean Tina stunned you? She wouldn't... she couldn't!" Jacob insisted disbelief lacing his voice. I rolled my eyes, this must've been the fifth time I'd explained the sequence of events only a half hour or so ago - it was rather simple or so I thought. 

Newt smiled at me understandingly from his perch on the top rung of the ladder as I shot him an exasperated look. I hadn't told Newt or Jacob that Mr Graves was there, which I know was bad but I still held on to the hope that I wouldn't have to fully explain myself - at least not yet. 

I let out an impatient and childish huff and charmed a loose thread so the kitten could play with it. Newt gave the lid of the case one more unlocking charm before giving up and muttering "Well we're stuck here for a bit. And Victoria, as exhaustive as it is please be a little more forgiving of him - he is a muggle after all."

"Muggle, no-maj, idiot, good for nothing, you know any term you prefer best." Jacob laughed and I couldn't help but give him a sympathetic giggle.

"Oh, yeah, muggle." I mumbled. It hadn't even crossed my mind that Jacob was a muggle. My instinct was to sneer - I couldn't help it. Jacob was so lovely and likeable but the years and years of constant lectures on the pecking order in life from my parents had taken a toll on me. If you were wondering their pecking order was: pure bloods, half bloods, muggle born, squibs, freaks like me and then finally muggles. I had started to break this conditioning with Credence and it was working but nonetheless I wasn't one hundred percent there yet.

"Why don't we just apparate?" I queried, eager to move the conversation on.

Newt scoffed slightly, "I can't leave this, this is my life - if I loose this that's it. These animals need me and equally I need them. You don't have the strength - you are still recovering from the effects of a cruciartus curse whether you admit to it or not and Jacob you can figure out for yourself."

I only nodded and returned to playing with the kitten, "What's a croociartus curse?" Jacob asked, butchering the pronunciation. I didn't even raise my eyes, I didn't want to be the one to tell him.

"Jacob, imagine the worst pain you've ever been in." Newt murmured quietly, "Now imagine that millions of times worse, so bad you can barely even remember your own name. The pain burning through your very existence. There are very few wizards who can evade such a curse and most who are exposed to it loose their minds. Victoria was exposed to this curse before we found her - remember?" I didn't hear any response from Jacob but I felt someone engulf me in a warm hug, cradling my head and rocking us back and forth gently - I heard muffled crying so I pulled back quickly.

"Hey, big guy, it's ok. I'm ok now. You guys saved me remember? It's all ok." I soothed, wiping his tears gently and he smiled meekly as I leaned forward and kissed his forehead softly.

"No one should have to experience that. Much less you. You're so strong and nice a-and..." he sniffled, a hiccup interrupting his train of thought.

"It's ok - I'm fine now! Thanks to you and Newt." I laughed, however before I could continue praising and comforting the man the lid of the case was roughly snapped open and a blinding light showered the three of us. 

I heard the cat screech and run off clearly knocking over some of Newt's expensive as hell equipment. Great. I really don't want to go hunting for him again - he shredded my arm with his tiny razor teeth last time the little git.

Newt and I had immediately raised our wands and I had pushed Jacob behind me. Newt looked at me and we both nodded. He motioned he was going to go up the ladder and that I should shadow him. I followed him up the ladder cautiously, wand clutched tightly in my hand, ready to launch into action if necessary.

The first thing I saw when I emerged from the case was Tina, her face was as expressionless as I remembered - evidently still under Graves' control. Next my eyes were drawn to the all too familiar room. It was the court room. I had spent many hours here, watching helplessly as witches and wizards begged for their lives only to be sent to their deaths by everyone's favourite psychopath - Mr Graves.

I should've been scared in this rigged trial that I knew there was no way of winning. 

But I wasn't.

My eyes landed on Mr Graves, I smirked. If he expected me to roll over and let him walk all over me he had another bloody thing coming. Oh boy was this going to be fun. 

Newt stared at me mouth agape - obviously curious as to my gleeful expression. It took me little time to walk up to him and kiss his cheek, both to really rub Graves' face in the fact I would no longer be his little lap dog and to reassure Newt that I was here for him too.

"Madame Picquery, shall we begin?" I asked, my voice boldly reverberating in the intimidating hall. I quickly did a sweeping analysis of the jury - as I suspected they were all very much under Mr Graves thumbs. I couldn't help but think how each one had been blackmailed meticulously, each threat tailored uniquely to match the victim. I thought how many of them would go home after this and hug the person who Graves had threatened to make disappear, happy that they were still with them. 

"What is the charge or accusation?" I shouted - hell yes was I going to be my own damn defence and I couldn't help but grin as I saw Mr Graves loose it for a second, quickly his snake like expression returned but it didn't matter because I had seen him crumble. I had learned the incredible skill of taking power in situations where you may have none from none other than Martha, who I had seen quell and even at times start riot like arguments just with a few words and a smirk. I could see why she does it - it's just so much fun.

Piquery cleared her throat, "You and Newton Scamander are accused and found guilty of being a sympathiser to Grindelwald, on top of this Mr Scamander is found guilty of smuggling magical creatures illegally into New York and both of you have been found guilty of not obliviating a no-maj as the law states you should. Both of you have been sentenced to death and we will be confiscating the case you both just emerged from." at this Newt cried out and I hurried to him. I knew those animals were his life force and I knew that his own death to him was nothing in comparison to the suffering those creatures might endure. He hugged me tightly sobbing and babbling hysterically about how his beasts were harmless and innocent. I could only support and hold the man as each sob that escaped his lips felt like a stab to my heart. 

It wasn't long before I was ripped off of Newt and with my last energy I screamed, "Graves you will pay for this!"