AN: if you thought I was never going to post more of this... you weren't the only one :P hope you enjoy, lmk!

CHAPTER THREE

Cassiopeia had to allow her body a few deep breaths. It was as if her heart was going to pound out of her chest. She had no idea what was going on. She had no idea what to do. Cas looked back to her shattered house and regretted it. She thought her heart had to have just cracked a rib. She looked back at the boy levitating beside her, continuing her deep breaths.

Newt Scamander, she suddenly thought. Credence knows Newt so Newt must know what's going on and she knew she couldn't handle him alone. Credence trusts Newt. Cas trust Newt.

She was going to find Newt.

Her heart twisted, as she looked back at the house more. Again, if you could call it that. A hut. A shed. Certainly not a home, but it saddened her nonetheless. She knew everything was about to change.

There was no need to go and pack, for she didn't think she owned anything more than the clothes on her back. To Newt, she thought again. If only she knew where Newt was…

Cas tugged on the tips of her light hair, thinking up a plan. She didn't have an owl, or any sort of messenger bird here. It was just her, for miles. What was she thinking? How could she ever think she could hide from her father? She was so, so stupid!

Well, Cassiopeia was going to use her brain now. She didn't have an owl, so she'd have to go somewhere that had one, and her brain was working because she didn't have to think very long. The Leaky Cauldron. She was sure that pub had seen weirder things than a women magically dragging along a boy behind her, but she was also sure that they'd never seen a pale blonde, blue-eyed women that looked questionably similar to the wizard currently terrorizing the country weirder things.

She knotted her hair up into a bun and used her wand to pull out pieces of hair and cut them into bangs, long enough to cover her eyes. Then Cas took a deep breath. She knew the best way to get to the Leaky Cauldron from here. She swished her wand and signaled the Knight Bus.

It was only seconds before the bus creaked before her.

"Leaky Cauldron," Cas told them, avoiding eye contact, but she could feel the bus operator's eyes on her.

"Same for him?" He asked, pointedly.

"Yeah, sleeping draft. Doesn't travel well," She answered his unasked question, quietly. If her eyes didn't catch anyone's, she figured she should be okay, especially the way her father has been terrorizing people lately. They've seen his eyes. They could recognize hers.

Cas heard the stretching of fabric, which she assumed was a shrug when the operator said, "Didn't ask."

Without another word, she continued on, and carefully magicked Credence down into a bed. Once she sat at the end of it, the bus took off. Her feet hit the ground to steady her and her arm flew to Credence, so he didn't roll off the bed.

She kept her hand on Credence's leg and her feet planted on the ground the entire time. Cas shouldn't've expected anything less- this wasn't her first time on the bus… it was just her first time trying to make sure an unconscious being didn't get a concussion from the driver's insane driving.

After a long three minutes, the operator announced, "Leaky Cauldron."

Cas and Credence weren't the only ones getting off here, so she let the others go first. Then, with a deep breath, she went to brave the wizarding world.

"One bedroom, please," Cas said, softly, when she felt the eyes of the man at the desk/bar.

"For the both of you, miss?" he responded, and Cas choose not too think too deeply on that comment.

"Yes." There was a silence, and since she wasn't looking up, she added, "He doesn't travel well."

"Many things go on within these walls," the man answered, before saying, "Room 243."

"Thanks," she turned to seek shelter in her newly established, though most likely temporarily, home, but then remembered about contacting Newt. "Wait," she said, and he looked back up to her. "Can I have a piece of parchment?"

"Certainly," he said, pulling one out. She brought it close to her and grabbed the feather pen from behind the desk.

Quickly, she scribbled:

NS

Meet me at the Leaky Cauldron at your earliest convenience.

CG

"I will pay you grandly if you could send this off now," Cas muttered to him, trying to keep her voice low and unlistenable from the many people still crowding the bar this late at night. "I'll be at Gringotts in the morning."

She folded it up and handed it to him. "For Newt Scamander."

He took the letter from her in silence, and she hoped a nod was involved in the taking.

Cassiopeia nodded in thanks and hurried to find their room.

Once there, she yet again gently placed Credence down on the bed with magic.

The boy didn't even stir, his face loose and pain free, not like anything Cas saw when he was awake.

Locating a wooden chair in the corner, she went and sat, pressing her forehead to her fingers. She had the tight and painful face now. The pressure of her fingers did little to relieve it all.

Cas needed a break on the magic. She looked up at him. He would probably continue to sleep as her magic wore off, just long enough for her to rest her mind, so she broke the spell.

He stirred in his sleep, but didn't wake.

A long sigh of relief escaped her, but it was too soon.

Suddenly his eyes popped open and with great force, a feat that should not be possible with the amount of magic she spent, he sat up in a panic.

"You," he breathed, the word hard to say. The power inside him must be resisting her magic, but her magic was still pretty strong. She didn't think he would stay conscious very long if he had to resist so hard.

"Me, yes." Of all the things she couldn't said, that's what her tongue went with? "I mean, I'm Cas. Do you remember what happened?"

Credence nodded, slowly, blinking hard. He was struggling. Either the remaining aspects of her spell were going to dissipate or he was going to fall asleep again.

Cassiopeia really, really hoped for the latter.

"I put a spell on you because you destroyed my house. I didn't know what to do," Cas tried to explain, but Credence just got paler and paler. "I'm getting help. You said you needed Newt. Newt Scamander?"

His head was lolling, his strength fading.

"He's coming, but I'll take care of you till then. He'll know what to do," She said, assuredly, though just as much to herself than Credence. She went to his bedside as he fought sleep.

"Hey now..." Cas whispered soothingly, putting her hand on his cheek and rubbing gently. His eyes began to relax and they fluttered shut. She pulled the blanket up around him and tucked him in.

She went back to the chair in the corner and questioned her actions. Where did tucking him in come from? She's never had a mother. She was sure she was never meant to be a mother, scared Cas didn't know how to be one, but it seemed to come naturally to her.

"Okay, Cas, you just tucked a kid in a bed..." she muttered to herself, these thoughts weren't things she was suppose to think of. That was all she did. Tucked a boy into bed. No need to get all worked up about it…

It was her exhausted mind, she told herself. She was emotionally compromised from the onslaught of emotions she's been through for the past few hours. The side effect was bringing up emotionally stressing thoughts that need to be shut down.

And despite being to exhausted, emotionally, mentally, and physically, Cas knew she couldn't sleep till Newt got here. It wouldn't be safe for Credence or her if she fell asleep.

She couldn't fall asleep.

And yet, she did. Cas fought hard and didn't even notice the switch from reality to dreams. It was a quick knock at the door that startled her awake. Her eyes were on the bed before her eyelids even opened. Cas believed in using a wide and literate vocabulary, but a low "damn" slipped from her lips.

The bed was empty.

She froze, unable to move. Even with the muffled whisper of "Miss Grindelwald?" through the door, she couldn't move.

Newt knocked again, before whispering her name again. Finally, he said, much louder, "Cassiopeia, it's Newt Scamander. You sent an owl for me. It sounded like I needed to respond with utmost urgency."

The use of the only name she wished she had loosened her limps and she dashed to the door.

"Newt!" Cas cried, throwing open the door. The suddenness of it clearly startled the man before her. Eyes wide, he just stared back at her like she was a madwomen. "He- he…" She took a breath, but from the way her already pale face dropped a few levels, Newt had to be able to tell something was wrong. "Mr Scamander, I'm sorry. I-" she tried again, in an attempt to regain her skill of etiquette and coherency but coherency didn't seem to be an option at the moment.

Newt regarded her for a second, trying to read her body language like an animals. Cas' snow white hair and pale blue eyes still startled him at first glance. The dark circles under her eyes made them especially piercing. It was all too familiar at the moment, maybe even a little too much. Her hair was in a loose a braid but most of the hair had fallen out and some pieces were sticking up like bed head.

He paused within himself. Newt had looked at her to read her body language, not take in her body appearance. He brought himself to focus on different parts of her body- her wide, wild eyes, her small mouth slightly ajar, the way she stood there at a loss for words. He figured one thing had happened and then another thing had happened, and the second thing had surprised Cassiopeia very much.

"Credence," she finally choked out, causing Newt to still, "Credence came to me, said he needed you."

"Credence Barebone?" Newt questioned, suddenly pushing into the room, but Cas moved around him and out the door. He looked back around the room, mentally processing the desk, the chair, and the disheveled bed. Where was Credence now? Did Miss Grindelwald fall asleep while waiting for him?

He walked closer to the bed, figuring this was where he had laid. The sheets were twisted and disheveled and Newt doubted the bed or Credence made a lasting imprint on either object. Trying a locator spell would be useless.

"I never got his last name..." Cas suddenly said in a small voice from behind him. "He was right there," Cas pointed to the bed, "He was right there and I was sitting there," her finger went to the direction of the chair, "And then I fell asleep. I-I am so sorry, Mr Scamander. T-to bring you all the way out here for nothing." Cas spoke slow, still in shock from what had transpired, like she couldn't even believe it herself. "The bartender didn't even see him go out." So, she had gone downstairs to see if anyone had seen Credence leave.

Her light eyes were still wide, her hands still shaking. Newt felt like Credence probably didn't just knock on the front door. Whatever had happened bewildered her.

"Not for nothing," Newt muttered softly, his eyes darting back to the empty bed. "I didn't even know he was still alive."

"Mr Scamander?" Cas asked, hesitantly. He didn't say anything, but she needed him looking in her eyes to ask the question. She needed to see the truth. She spoke again, "Newt?"

"Yes, yes, sorry," he said, suddenly turning around to face her.

She took a deep breath when his eyes met hers. "What role does my father play in this?" His eyes flickered back and forth, between Cassiopeia's and the beds, deciding to stare at the bed.

"Not a very small one, Miss Grindelwald," Newt answered, somberly. He wasn't looking at her, but Cas could feel it was the truth nonetheless.

She shut her eyes, wishing she could be back at her hut, wishing she could never have to hear the name Grindelwald ever again. "Cas. Cassiopeia, please," she corrected, eyes still closed. "I don't care about being proper or etiquette. Call me anything about that. Call me Bob for all I care, I'll answer to it."

"Of course… Cassiopeia," Newt replied, with a slight smirk. "And I do feel Cassiopeia suits you better than Bob."

Cas couldn't help but give a small smile, though a very tired one.

"And I'm not one much for being proper or etiquette either. Newt will do," he said with a quick shrug. He caught her eyes real quick before looking away, chewing the inside of his lip. She still gave off an anxious, jittery vibe. Just like he would a beast, he weirdly felt like he wanted to gain her trust. He wanted to learn how to calm her down. Newt wanted the weariness in her eyes to leave and for them to match the tiny smile she held on her face.

Newt knew she could probably use some sleep, but he had a feeling he knew what to do to make her smile.

Then Cassiopeia said, "Can't I just go somewhere where no one knows who I am and where I've come from doesn't matter? Does a place like that even exist anymore?"

As if this night couldn't get any worse, when Cas went downstairs to see if anyone had seen the boy, someone recognized her, and when one person recognized her, it wasn't soon after the whole bar recognized her.

The same man who had told her "many things go on within these walls", now looked at her with distrust. Most of the reactions resembled that- distrust, disgust, suspicion- but what bothered her the most was the few that actually seemed interested in her. After she finished questioning the bartender, she ignored all the other onlookers and went back up to the room.

But Cas had a feeling she was officially out of hiding now.

Now they stood here at a standstill. Newt, all the way down here for nothing, though he says otherwise. Cas, now knowing how much her father had impact her old friend and an innocent boy's life.

In spite of all of this, he made her smile, but she was tired. So, so tired. Cas didn't even have the strength to complete her smile, it sat there weakly on her lips. Just as well, Cas wasn't feeling very complete either.

Thinking back to what happened at the bar, Cas voiced a dream laying heavily on her heart: "Can't I just go somewhere where no one knows who I am and where I've come from doesn't matter? Does a place like that even exist anymore?"

Newt has always been odd, so when his face lit up at her words and he laid down his suitcase flat, flicked the locks up, peered in, and then said, "I want to show you something," she knew she was in for something odd… ly delightful and the curiosity broke through the weight of dread that had been suffocating her moments before.

He stood up straight and took a step into his suitcase, and another and another, and he started disappearing as if walking down stairs. Cas stood there, just watching him, before it was just the tip of his head peeking out.

"Follow me," Newt said, before falling completely from view.

Cas went around and peered in, not seeing very much. A wooden desk, chairs, kind of like an outdoor workshop… inside a suitcase.

"Cassiopeia?" He called from somewhere inside, and she took the plunge. Feet first, she kept stepping down till she was in Newt's workshop… except it wasn't just a workshop but an entry way to way more amazing things than Cas could ever imagine.

She was speechless for a moment, taking it in. A massive beetle came by, rolling a ball of what she assumed to be actual dung, nearly three times the size of the bug.

Feathers floated down from the ceilings where birds, nameless to her, though albeit somewhat familiar, flew about. A… beaver-looking thing scuffled up to her, feet away but clearly sniffing her.

"That's my Niffler," Newt suddenly informed her, proudly.

"A what?" Cas responded in surprise, having no idea Newt brought an entire world with him in his little suitcase.

"Niffler," Newt repeated himself, matter of factly, as if she had merely misheard him versus having no idea what he was talking about.

Cas didn't know what else to do than to bend down and stick out a hand for the Niffler to smell. He didn't but clearly he wasn't like a dog and wasn't interested in being pet. His eyes were on her chest, staring intently. His body was tense and by the time Cas thought she should move away, he had pounced on her. A few set of claws dugged into the top of her dress for balance and the others began quickly pulling at the buttons. She stood up with a screech.

"Nonononono," Newt muttered, lunging at the both of them, and pulling the small creature away. He had loosened the buttons but hadn't managed to pull it away yet, however she now had approximately eight claw holes on the top of her dress. "That was bad," he snapped at the wriggling Niffler in his arms.

"So sorry about that. He likes shiny things," He apologized, his gaze averted.

Cas took a few breaths and smoothed out her dress. The claws didn't touch her skin but the rips now revealed it. No underclothes were revealed, so she figured it was fine not to worry about it. "It's okay."

Just then, an annoyed squeak came from… Newt? There was no way such a tiny, high-pitch noise could come from him.

"Tell that to the Niffler, Pickett!" Newt exclaimed loudly, before finally being able to bring the Niffler up to address him. "We don't do that to our guests. Now, apologize." The creature let out an indignant snort and shook his head, as if defiantly saying no.

"Newt, really, it's okay. It's instinctual. I understand. I won't wear anything button-y or shiny when coming over, I get it," Cas put in, not wanting it to get in trouble.

"You're lucky she's so nice," Newt grumbled at the Niffler, before putting him down. He huffed at Newt before padding away, though it did stop and turn to Cas, and a gave a quick nod, like a salute.

She was going to take that as an apology.

"So, you're long past your secret nook and cranny days," Cas commented, referring to the many times she followed him up to the highest part of a tower or the deepest darkest corner of the Hogwarts castle.

"Just a little bit," Newt responded with a flash of a grin.

"I'm so proud of you." And Cas really, really was. Newt blushed slightly, before looking down at his coat. "Hey, Pickett, let me introduce you to our guest."

This time, a scared little squeak came from Newt's coat, which caused him to say, "Buddy, she's really, really nice. You'll like her."

Finally, a small green leaf popped out before another leave and two eyes peered from Newt's coat pocket. Two vine-y… arms? were holding him up.

"This is Pickett, a-" Newt began, but Cas excitedly cut him off.

"Bowstruckle, I remember!" She then bent down again and walked closer, to be at Pickett's eye level. "Hi Pickett, I'm Cas," she said, and then did what felt natural to her, stood out her hand for the little guy to shake. Pickett's armed snaked around hers, pulling himself out more, before pulling himself into her hands. He stood there in her palm and Cas nearly went cross-eyed in amazement.

She looked up to speak to Newt and realized he was only inches away, and there eyes met for just a second, before his flickered away. He cleared his throat and took a step back.

"Sorry," Cas muttered, looking away, before her attention found Pickett again. He had tiny, beedy, black eyes, but they showed no recognition of her. She glanced at Newt, before looking around again.

There was a place that no one knew who she was or cared where she came.

Then she looked at Newt, who was trying to look at her but kept looking away.

He knew who she was and where she came from, but he didn't seem to care. She watched it with the way he fall in love with Leta Lestrange, the way at some point through their school years, he became a friend to her.

Newt saw past all that everyone said she was and tried to figure out who she actually was for himself.

"Newt, I truly and completely and utterly love this place. Thank you for bringing me here," she said so genuinely grateful, Newt couldn't do anything but look at the floor, cheeks colored. "I never want to leave here," Cas sighed, sadly.

"You don't have to," Newt muttered, before clearing his voice. "I mean, you're welcomed here. Any time. The beasts would love your company. I know Pickett already loves your company," he nodded at the Bowstruckle still in Cas' hand, before looking off to the side. He had slightly relaxed, sitting in her palm.

Cas felt like a beast just then. Hunted, alone, misunderstood, and there was Newt, offering companionship and a place that was safe from the ones that hunted and mistreated her. Just like he did in the nooks and crannies of Hogwarts, was he doing today in a magical suitcase. And she wanted it now, just as badly as she wanted it when they roamed the grounds together in school.

Second AN: so when I pulled up my writing document to, you know, write, this came up and I forgot I had already posted it, so I edited it and wrote a little bit more, then came here to see it was already up haha but this one includes an extra few paragraphs setting up the next chapter so I'm updating it on here too. Next chapter is being worked on! The amount of followers is blowing me away!