"Credence!" Tina cried in desperation, glancing back at the Aurors, drawing their wands. If she could just hold them back for one minute. . .

I gave everything to help him, and so did Graves, and if anyone thinks I'm giving up now. . . Well, they don't know Porpentina Goldstein.

"We're not here to hurt you," she half-lied. "We can help you. It's going to be okay. Let me help. Please, don't do this."

The Obscurus was still for a second, and all the world seemed silent in that one second. The Obscurus retreated, leaving behind only a shuddering boy. Tina and Newt ran to Credence before Graves could, and the couple embraced the boy, murmuring reassurances.

"This cannot continue to happen," Graves declared, turning on his heel to look at the Aurors. "Do you see, President Piquery, what the International Statue of Secrecy has given us? Do you see what you have gained by refusing to repeal Rapport's Law?"

"I will do what is best for all of wizardkind, if not just American wizards and witches," Piquery replied, looking Graves in the eye with a growing suspicion.

"Who has it really benefitted?" Graves shouted. "Us? Or them? I refuse to bow down any longer."

"Aurors, relieve Mr. Graves of his wand," Piquery ordered. The Aurors raised their wands, ready to fire. Newt practically dove over Tina and Creedence, ready to shield them from the spells about to fly. He was surprised when they never came. He risked a glance over his shoulder. Graves was repelling the curses with ease, directing them back to their casters when he shared a quick glance with Tina.

He let one of his beasts out, one with a very sticky excretion out of its tentacles. Graves staggered to his knees, dropping his wand. Tina leapt up and snatched it away from Graves as Newt drew his own.

"Revelio," he murmured, thinking of the special interest Graves had taken to him in the interrogation room. He prayed he was wrong, but the suspicion still remained. . .

He recoiled. He was right. Grindelwald stared him down.

"You think that you can hold me?" he demanded, a smirk playing on his lips.

"We will try," Piquery vowed.

He then looked to Credence, in a huddle on the ground. "Credence, free me. Free me, and you vill be revarded beyond your vildest dreams."

Credence got to his feet, and Newt looked to Tina, suspecting she felt the same tightening in her chest as he did.

"Leave me alone," Credence ordered in a voice so small and so angry that one could only obey. "Go away."

The Aurors began to escort the dark wizard again. Piquery looked back to Credence.

"The Obscurial is still responsible for several deaths," Piquery pointed out.

The boy looked to his shoes, trembling.

"And that's not Credence's fault," Newt said. "I'm not saying it will be easy, and I'm not saying that it will be all over in a week, a month, or even a year. But, if Credence will allow it, I'd like to teach him how to harness his magic."

He turned to Credence. "Of course, if that's something you'd like."

"Credence?" Tina called softly.

He looked up, as if he were registering what Newt had said just then.

"You can. . .help me? I'm not a freak?" his voice was trembling too with his last chance. It seemed he knew, too, that if he didn't try, his heart would break irreparably.

"Far from it," Newt assured him with a warm smile. He offered an open hand.

Credence silently glanced down to Newt's hand, and then to Tina, who nodded.

"Trust him," she advised in almost a whisper. "I promise, he'll catch you."

Credence nodded, first to Tina, and then to Newt.

"What about my sister, Modesty? She needs someone to look after her, I don't know where Chastity went-"

"Modesty?" Piquery asked. "Modesty Barebone?"

"How do you know-"

"We were to send a representative to take her to Ilvermorny for her eleventh birthday," Piquery informed him. "Ilvermorny will take care of her."

"And you can always write to her," Newt said.

"I think I'd like that," Credence said slowly.

Tina couldn't help thinking of them as her boys. She hugged Credence at the docks, before they could leave.

"I expect letters from both of you," she said. "Keep me updated. And be careful out there."

"I will," Credence promised, looking much more sunny than he had before in his life.

"And thanks for the good word you put in with President Piquery," Tina added, looking to Newt. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be on the squad again."

"It's nothing, not after all you've done," Newt said.

"I'll be on the lookout for your book," Tina added, a glow in her cheeks. "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

"I'll mail you a free copy," Newt promised.

"I'd like that," Tina admitted. "Very much."

She hesitated, but the question spilled out of her lips. "Does Leta like books?"

"Who?" Newt asked, blinking and breaking his own reverie.

"The girl in the photograph," Tina said, afraid that she might be blushing.

"I don't really know what Leta likes these days," Newt admitted. "People change. I've changed."

He hesitated, knowing that Credence was watching with heightened interest.

"I'll deliver your copy of my book in person," he promised decidedly.

"I'd like that," Tina repeated, small giggles bursting out. "Very, very much."

She then seemed aware that Credence was there again and gave him her warmest smile.

"You're going to be a great wizard," Tina assured him. "I can't wait to see what you become."

Tina thought about that a lot after that. She thought of her boys and hoped that they weren't getting into too much trouble. Letters came, as promised, but she always did worry.