Strings Attached

Chapter 15

Celeste opened the letter, hoping for good news but she paled incredibly. "To Head of the department of magical law and enforcement, Grindelwald has escaped the grip of Mr. Spielman. You won't need to be stationed at Azkaban anymore. Everyone needs to be reported back to the ministry as of now." She read the news loudly and everyone just paled and froze.

"That can't be true. He can't have escaped." An auror said, but Celeste's grim expression just intensified. "We need to go. We are in deep trouble." Celeste said, before summoning her broom like every other person did.

All aurors and hitwizards marched straight to the minister's office. Everyone was tense, this is going to make it to the news. Celeste was sure this would be blamed entirely on Spielman.

"It's good that everyone of you could make it." The minister spoke up as Celeste and the team entered to a room already filled up with angry aurors.

"As if we didn't have other things to do. We told you, we need to send more force." Albert said, his voice above an octave. "Mr. Fischer, your concern is appreciated but we are dealing with the aftermath of Grindelwald's escape." Minister said, trying to speak above angry shouts.

"It could have been avoided if you took any of this seriously." Theseus spoke up, his demeanor stiff and angry. "I sent the most experienced person to get him. I was serious about it." Minister said, only for an angry scoff to resound the room.

"As if an old man had a chance against him. We already told you, let Celeste go with Spielman. This disaster could've been avoided. But no, now we all are at big risk." Gilbert said, glaring at the minister.

"We are not going to dwell on choices. We are going to focus on finding Grindelwald again." Minister said and everyone just angrily stood up and left the room.

"I didn't give any orders yet." Minister exclaimed as he watched everyone leave the room except Fischer family and Theseus.

"When will you take this seriously Mr. Fawley? Your incompetence let a dark wizard escape our grip. I did my best to capture him, and this is how you take that opportunity?!" Celeste exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with anger.

"Mrs. Scamander, please calm down." Fawley said, trying to do some damage control but Celeste just turned around her heels and angrily left the room.

But it was nearly impossible to escape the ministry as the media started to hound her and other aurors as they were trying to make their way out.

They kept shouting incoherent words and all Celeste wanted to do was smash their camera against the walls but she kept walking, ignoring the jabs and the question.

Nearly half an hour later, she apparated to her cottage in dorset. Newt seemed to have reached home and she could see a shadow in the living room.

She entered the cottage and removed her coat as she felt exhaustion replacing all the hot anger she felt. She magically hung her coat.

"Celeste?" Newt's muffled voice reached her ears, making her sigh sadly. She walked towards their living room.

"Hey love." She greeted Newt, her face couldn't even manage to fake a smile. Newt's hopeful face was replaced by worry and anxiety.

He stood up from the couch he was sitting on with the draft of his other book. He kept the draft on the table and looked at the exhausted Celeste.

"Hey? What happened?" Newt asked as he approached the woman. Celeste just brought him into a tight hug, exhausted cries left her mouth.

Newt got worried real quick. He rubbed her back as she kept crying. It was not her usual sad cry, but angry and frustrated.

"Celeste, you are getting me worried. What happened?" Newt asked, trying to get the woman to calm down. "Grindelwald escaped again. He didn't take this seriously." Celeste said, tears running down her face. She kept hugging him tightly, and Newt didn't dare to move an inch.

Newt's face paled at the news. He was sure it's gonna make the news tomorrow. He didn't know what to say to calm Celeste down.

He tried his best in trying to sooth her. Celeste stayed like that for a long time, until her cry subsided into small hiccups.

"Hey, it's going to be just fine." Newt said, wiping tears from Celeste's face. "I don't know newt. First Credence, now Grindelwald. Is Fawley serious about anything?" Celeste said, frustration was evident in her voice and on her face.

"Credence?" Newt asked, his face morphed in confusion. "Fawley is obsessed with trying to find him. He showed me some 'evidence' this morning." Celeste said, airquotting evidence.

"He wants him gone. And this time he crossed the line. This morning after meeting with aurors and hitwizards, he told me to stay back. And then had the audacity to ask me to be at your ban hearing and offer you the freedom in exchange for you going to Paris and destroying the obscurus." Celeste said, now pacing in the room.

"He threatened to take my job and your job away if I didn't comply with the offer. And now his carelessness resulted in Grindelwald escaping!" Celeste said, frustratingly messing her hair.

"How can he though? Why is no one objecting?" Newt asked, his heartbeat picked up. "Because they either end up jobless or they just get a slap on the wrist. No one dares to do so. Neither do I. Because I am scared he will take away my job." Celeste said, sitting on the couch with an annoyed huff.

"Maybe you can do something, without him suspecting it?" Newt asked, sitting beside her, playing with his thumb in nervousness.

"I can't. He always blames me for any inconvenience. So it would be very clear that I am turning the ministry workers against him. It won't work." Celeste said, gritting her teeth.

"I am scared Newt. He is out, Credence is alive. This means only one thing." Celeste said, her voice cracking. Newt blinked at the words.

"No one is safe. Not you, not me. Not Britain. Not even this world. He has an agenda. We need to know what that is. Or else we are gonna see a war in the coming years." Celeste continued, her finger twirling her ring.