Watched both movies far later than the world, but got curious. And yes, I looked up stuff about animagus and this is impossible in the Harry Potter World, but that's what fanfiction's about. Breaking rules :P

Warning: Mentions of torture and... wizard discrimination, I guess?

I shifted, wincing as the bruises and injury on my side ached when I did. I was slightly hunched over, and chains rattled around my wrists as I glared darkly at the legs of men passing by. I had been waiting for my chance for a long time, and this seemed to finally be it. The auction is in a little less than an hour. They have to let me go and give me my wand if they want me to try and change. I can do it without, but they don't need to know that. No one would buy me otherwise. People don't want to get in trouble for human trafficking, but black-market animal sales are something entirely different. I grit my teeth, before letting it out through my nose softly. No. Don't be impatient. It's nearly time. Just have to wait. I folded my arms over my chest and sank back against the bars of the too-small cage I was in, closing my eyes for the wait. Just a little longer and I'll be out of here.

Newt Scamander shifted uneasily on the large passenger boat, giving glances every so often to the wealthy people he saw heading downstairs to a lower section of the boat; flashing IDs at a guard. He'd heard about there being a possible auction on the ship of a number of rare and magical creatures. He'd been hoping he was wrong but this time, he obviously wasn't so lucky. Taking a deep breath, he shifted away and made for another section of the boat. If there are creatures here, they wouldn't be kept where people would see them. I'll have to check the lower decks. Thankfully, I've been there before. He slipped his wand out and apparated to the door just outside the basement of the boat, double-checking that no one was around. With a whispered spell under his breath, he aimed his wand at the lock, though it didn't budge.

He winced, wondering how he hadn't expected protective charms over what might be a huge gathering of magical creatures. But, if I'm lucky… He attempted to apparate into the cargo hold and grinned when he appeared inside. No Anti-Apparition spells. Perfect. He was quick to notice the cages and complaints of the creature trapped inside, lifting the blanket covering one cage and feeling his heart ache for the small Augurey trapped inside. It was slim, sickly, and had feathers missing in large patches.

"Don't worry, old boy. I'll get you safe. I promise," he murmured as the bird cooed softly.

He pulled out his wand and went about opening cages, coercing the various rare creatures into his suitcase while keeping an ear out for anyone coming down. He reached an empty cage though, feeling his blood go cold. There's one more. Upstairs for auction. Medium size, injured. Do I… Do I wait? No. I can't. I'll get caught here once they notice the other empty cages. I'll have to come back. Their guard will be up, but it will be my only chance. He hastily used his wand to end up in a corridor upstairs, letting out a soft sigh of relief and planning to return to his room for now, when he heard a sudden commotion. One look sent his blood racing as white scales whipped around the corner and charged right at him. He dove out of the way and into a perpendicular hall, using an invisibility spell as the beast ran right past to a dead end.

Is that… a dragon? The creature let out a whine of frustration, turning quickly and seeming to look right at Newt's hiding place for a moment, blue eyes staring cautiously. I've never heard of one like this. It could be an Antipodean Opaleye, but they're pupil-less. It growled then, as men ran past Newt's hiding place and aimed wands, weapons, and chains at the creature. A single man stepped through the center of the group with a smirk.

"Now, now. Is this any way to act?"

Newt's brows furrowed. Is he… talking to it? The dragon growled deeply. And why isn't it using its fire? The man nodded to one of his men who raised his wand and sent an attack at the creature. It flailed and screeched, slamming its tail against the wall with nowhere to go.

"Come on, speak," the man demanded, and the dragon finally turned to face him with a hiss.

"You rat-eyed snake," it spat, tongue flicking in distaste.

The man huffed. "That's not very nice, you know. I could have done a lot of things if I wanted, but I held back."

"You just don't want damaged goods," the dragon snarled, taking a menacing step forward as the other men did the same.

The man just sighed, waving a hand. "Get her back in the cage and throw the body overboard. I've got to cover this mess up."

The men charged forward, and Newt clenched his eyes shut, gripping his case tightly. There was nothing he could do as the dragon was hauled downstairs once more, but a plan had formed in his mind. He would get the dragon out of there. He had to.

I bit back cries of pain as the lightning magic from the man's wand snapped against my back like a whip.

"Where did they go! Where the hell did my creatures go!"

"I don't know!" I shouted in return, panting as the chains holding me up over a pipe dug into my wrists. "I was upstairs with your damn rich bastards. How the hell would I know where they went?" I pulled against my chain, leaning towards the man with a growl. "And they're not your creatures."

His wand snapped up, pressing dangerously into my jugular, but I didn't even flinch. He wouldn't kill me. Especially now that he has nothing left.

"Don't test me, you overgrown lizard," he growled back, taking a step away and flicking his wand. "Crucio."

I flailed in agony, writhing in my chains until he stopped the curse, leaving me half conscious and just as furious as before. B-Bastard. When I get out of here… I'll sick the Death Eaters on him. He just gave me a cold look and walked out, leaving me hanging there with the untold threat of more torture should he not find any signs of the creatures that had vanished. But where could they have gone? They were here and… I glanced at the small cage closest to mine. Hope Jarvey is all right. I was finally getting somewhere with him. I sighed and closed my eyes, possibly blacking out for a moment, because suddenly someone was messing with my chains and I snapped my eyes open in preparation to struggle.

"Sh!" The man shushed me, struggling with the chains for a moment before putting down his suitcase and pulling out a wand.

I jerked away from him, eyeing the wand with the smallest ounce of fear and caution and he paused. Blue eyes seemed to read me like a book and he held his free hand up.

"I only want to help. I promise."

"A lot of people have promised me help before," I grumbled. "Nothing good ever comes of it."

He looked down but quickly raised his gaze again. "I'm not like them." He flicked his wand at the chains, releasing me and I landed on the ground with far more grace than I thought possible in the pain I was in. He's… taller than me, I mused, eyeing him from perhaps an inch below him. Skittish, but… there's something about him. A… hidden power or strength.

"We need to get out of here before they come back," I muttered.

"Right. Yes. Just, um… one thing."

I frowned at him as he gestured to my cage.

"Do you happen to know what was in there?"

"Yes."

He perked up. "Would you mind helping me find it?"

I bristled. "What for?"

He sensed my agitation. "To help. I would be rather thrilled if I could help it escape with the others."

My body relaxed. "You have them?"

He nodded, picking up his suitcase and lightly patting it. "Safely in here. I was hoping to relocate them somewhere safer, out of the way of Muggles and… and people like the man attempting to sell them."

"You… care for them?"

He slowly bobbed his head again with a small smile. "Yes. I'm actually writing a book about magical creatures. I've been traveling to gather information. I hope to show people that they don't need to hunt them, just better understand—"

I perked up then, head whipping around towards a back door. "We need to go. Now."

"But the creature—"

"Is already on its way out," I cut him off, pushing him towards the door.

"Where are we going, exactly?"

"The ship decks. I need space."

"Space? For what?"

I groaned as we slipped through a corridor up the stairs. "Do you always ask so many questions?"

"Sorry."

"No, it's not…" I sighed softly, unable to help but feel a little guilty for upsetting him. "I just think we should worry about the problems directly ahead of us, before dealing with the rest."

"Right. You're quite right… But surely, it wasn't the dragon."

I resisted a wince, knowing that's exactly what it was. He'd seemed to figure out something wasn't adding up too.

"But… I never saw a cage large enough for it, and I've never heard of a talking one. The species was questionable too. The scales suggest—"

"Move!" I hollered, grabbing his elbow and pulling him as I spotted some of the men who assisted the head dealer down below.

They shouted after us and I groaned as we hurried up the stairs, grimacing. The stitches they put in were terrible and they've torn. We finally made it to the upper decks and I shut the door behind us, leaning heavily up against it.

"What I wouldn't give to have my damn wand," I grumbled, catching his attention once more.

"You're a wizard?"

"Witch, thanks," I hummed. "Know I don't look it. Never have, really. Bit more of an outdoorsy type, but… Oh, you've got me rambling when we have no time."

"And now you have even less time than before," a familiar voice cut in and we both whipped around; myself growling. "Hello again, Lux. Who's your friend? The one you connived with to abduct my creatures?"

"I told you, they were never your creatures."

The man sighed. "Well, I never honestly expected to get you to understand business with all your 'save the creatures' talk. I suppose it's your ability that makes it so. Wonder if you would think the same if you weren't being hunted down like the rest of them."

"Lux, was it?" The man at my side breathed out. "What does he mean?"

The dealer, Abraham, grinned devilishly. "Oh, you haven't told him? Why not? Perhaps because he's a wizard?"

"Stay out of it," I snapped at the both of them.

"Or what?" Abraham challenged, drawing his wand. "You're powerless without your own wand."

Oh, I really don't want to do this. I grit my teeth, hesitating as more men joined Abraham with wands and weapons of their own.

"Come now. You're outnumbered. Outmatched, even with your friend. Perhaps we should just take him first, hm? I'm sure he'd be more willing to cooperate with the whereabouts of my creatures than you."

I remembered the pain of being tortured by the forbidden curse, the ache, and burning of his lightning whip. "No," I growled, reaching out and pushing the man behind me. "I won't let you touch him."

Abraham's grin widened. "I'd like to see you stop me."

Thunder rumbled as rain began to fall from the sky and my growl grew a little more menacing.

"Oh, I plan on it."

Newt stared in awe as the woman beside him shifted into the dragon he'd seen in the hallway before, except this time, much larger. It roared at the men, who shifted back in shock, even Abraham took a few steps back. Lux slammed a clawed hand into someone, knocking them overboard and crushing another with her tail without remorse. Curses and attacks were thrown at her, most bouncing off her near harmlessly, though a few stuck in her side, in her wings. No… Newt breathed out, raising his own wand and attacking some of the men in return. Soon, all that was left was a struggling Abraham and he too was taken by the dragon's flames. Newt let out a small sigh of relief, but it drew the dragon's attention to him and he froze.

There was a cold fury in those blue eyes that demanded he not move as Lux growled. This is more than just a transfiguration. She's… almost a werewolf. A were-dragon? No, that's impossible. She's lost herself though. I'm not facing the woman anymore. I'm facing the creature. Or what her mind has conjured up. She's psychologically unstable. I need to be very careful. He slowly held up his hands as the dragon growled lowly. Come on. I'm harmless. Lux didn't back down though, and he realized then that he was still holding his wand, remembering how she'd reacted to it when he first pulled it out to help her. Slowly, he began to slip it into his pocket as the dragon watched his every move.

"I'm not here to hurt you, Lux," he said calmly, watching her for any sudden movement.

Slowly, she stopped growling, but still didn't come closer and he held out a hand.

"Come with me. I can hide you. Get you off this boat. Keep you safe."

She watched him and edged ever closer before she reared up with a cry of pain. She whipped around to see the half-burned Abraham holding a different wand up.

"Expulso!" He shouted, explosions slamming into Lux as she roared, then using a different spell that forced her to wail and swing her head around.

The Conjunctivitis Curse, Newt recognized, reaching for his own wand once more in an attempt to defend her.

"Avada—"

"Expelliarmus!" Newt shouted, snapping the man's wand out of his hand and catching it.

The second the man turned to him though, teeth came down on his figure and he was gone. Newt was a little bothered that Lux had eaten him, but as he watched the dragon squirm and thrash with cries of pain, a part of him knew that like any other creature he'd dealt with, she was only defending herself. The next problem was, calming her down. Abraham's spells had injured her and blinded her temporarily. He'd be able to treat her, but only if he could get to her first, and with the storm causing more noise around them than needed, he was running out of options. She can't see me. She's scared and the thunder and rain makes it hard to hear me. She might try to run, fly. With her injuries though… He bit his bottom lip for a moment before trying to get closer, shouting over the noise of the rain.

"Lux! Lux, listen to me! You need to calm down! I-I know you're in pain, but he's gone! They're all gone!"

She wasn't listening, and Newt groaned when he spotted her wings starting to open up. She's going. I can't let her go like this, but if I get her in my suitcase now, she'll cause more harm than good. He grimaced at what he was about to do but knew it was his only option. He ran towards her, dodging flailing limbs and a swing of her tail, jumping on her back just as she started to get her wings to move. He secured his suitcase as best he could and held on for dear life as she suddenly took off and flew away from the boat. The rain pelted into his skin like icy needles and he slowly pulled himself further up the back of the dragon to get closer to where she could hear him.

"L-Lux! Lux, you're hurt! You can't be flying!"

A whine escaped her, and she started to pump her wings harder, angling the two of them up and cutting through the storm clouds. Newt let out a sigh of relief without the rain and used his wand to dry himself off before he could get chilled by the wind. He relaxed at the sight of the stars around them shimmering off the dragon's white scales like jewels. It had been a while since he'd flown and that was while on a hippogriff, not a dragon. No, she's not even that, is she? I need answers, but first, I need her down and out of the sky. I need her treated and safe before she gets us both killed. He reached down and lightly ran his hands over the scales on the side of her neck.

"Lux, please. You have to land."

He could already see her wings struggling with every flap. The blood that dripped steadily down the wound on her side and the tears that ran down her face from the curse placed upon her eyes.

"Do you need me to direct you?" He asked, hoping to get more than just grunts and whines from her. Come on. I know you can speak like this.

"I can… smell," she eventually hissed, letting out a small noise of pain as she faltered in the sky. "T-There's land nearby… I can… make it."

Newt wasn't convinced but settled in for the ride. He must have dozed off slightly at some point, a drop in altitude jolting him back into awareness as he tightened his grip on his suitcase. Blinking away the haze in his eyes, he looked around to see the clouds just as they descended through them. Adrenaline spiked, and he leaned over to check on Lux, but what he saw didn't look good. Her head was lolling downward, and they were just gliding now; her being unable to flap her wings any longer.

"Lux? Lux, is there land?"

She didn't respond, making him wonder if she was even conscious and a grimace formed on his face as he looked out over the horizon. The sky was clearing from the storm and he thought he saw hills in the distance. He pat Lux's neck to try and rouse her.

"Lux. You just need to make it to shore. Can you do that? Lux?"

"…try," she breathed out with a hiss as she tried to give her wings a few last flaps.

Newt could tell it wasn't working. If they made it, it would be only just, and he prepared for a rough landing as best he could. Sure enough, Lux's wings gave out just before they reached the sand, dropping them into the ocean as waves tossed them about. Newt crawled onto the beach, coughing and hacking, checking his suitcase and ensuring it was all right before whipping around to check on Lux. She'd beached herself, but the waves lapped up towards her face, threatening to drown her if she didn't pull herself up just a little further. Newt scrambled to his feet and rushed over, tugging on her neck and patting her face despite the danger, hoping to get through to her.

"Lux! Lux, you need to move o-or change back. I can't help you like this."

A small whine escaped her, and Newt eyed her uncertainly, biting his bottom lip and dragging his suitcase over—opening it.

"Lux, I need you to come in here. I have a workshop with medicine to help you. I-I won't be able to join you right away, but only because I need to make sure my case is somewhere safe first. Can you not change back?"

"N-Not when wings… damaged."

He grimaced, seeing the tears and burns on her fragile wings and nodding as he went over, and she struggled onto her feet. "We'll have to be quick."

She didn't respond and slid into the case as best she could. He hastily checked on her—she obviously had a fever—and started to get an oculus potion going to help with her swollen, irritated eyes. As soon as it was done, he held the potion to her jaw, watching her drink it before eyeing the workshop uncertainly.

"I need to go now. I can't trust anyone to not come upon my case," he breathed out, giving her a look of concern.

She was unconscious though, making his worry grow as he cringed at the festering, half-stitched wound on her side. I'll have to clean it, stitch it again, get clean bandages. It's possibly infected, which could be causing the fever. Another glance at her injured wings made him softly sigh. I can't do much about these. Treat the burns, use a healing salve to help speed up the process. She can't go out like this. Not until she can change back. Oh, what have I gotten myself into? He shook his head of the thought and bounded back up the ladder. No sense in worrying about it now. I need to find an inn.

Newt shut the door to the room he'd found after discovering they were in Equatorial Guinea, ensuring it was locked before snapping open his case and heading down the ladder. It had been at least a days' worth of travel and he wasn't surprised to find Lux still in bad shape. He'd no choice but to come up with somewhere for her to rest out with his creatures before, which brought about a number of other concerns.

He carefully tended to her wings and prepared to deal with the injury on her side. It was definitely infected, and he dragged a hand down his face as he went back and forth between his workshop and her. It took a while, be he had soon done all that he could for her for now, leaving her to rest. What he didn't expect, was what he found a few days later when he checked up on her and dropped off a Fwooper he'd rescued from a wizarding pawn shop.

He'd known his creatures would've been curious about the new arrival, but he hadn't expected so many of them. Most were creatures he'd rescued from the cages on the boat with her, but he'd noticed his Niffler and even Dougal nearby. He'd ended up shooing them off, for the most part, but there was a particular one who hissed and spat at him.

"Rat!" It snipped at him, tail puffed angrily.

A Jarvey; a talking, over-grown ferret really. One of which had played a part in his expulsion from Hogwarts, but he'd chosen not to blame this one for something it had nothing to do with. Past grudges weren't going to play any part on whether he saved a magical creature or not. He was cautious though, unable to help it knowing the temperament of Jarveys first hand. It was slightly smaller than it should be, most likely due to its treatment while being held for auction, but he'd never encountered one so fiercely protective of someone.

"It's all right," he said calmly, holding up his hands. "I don't want to hurt her. I'm treating her. I'm helping."

The Jarvey was still puffed up, but a sigh slowly escaped Lux, somehow calming it.

"Jarvey…" Lux murmured, looking relieved as she peered open a sapphire eye. "I'm… glad you're safe."

It let out a huff. "Snake."

Lux rolled her eyes as she slowly pushed herself up with a cringe. "It's dragon… you weasel."

Newt couldn't help but crack a small smile, coming closer to help treat her. "You've bonded."

Lux shrugged, tapping the annoyed Jarvey on the head gently with a claw when it started to hiss at Newt again. "He was in the cage closest to mine… I tried to make it easier for them. He's the only one who was around for long. Though, he didn't make it easy."

The Jarvey clambered up her arm and onto her shoulders as Newt checked Lux's injuries.

"You're healing well. How are your wings?"

Lux stretched them out, giving a few tentative flaps. "Sore, but tolerable. I can probably change back now." She grimaced slightly but managed to shift back, stumbling slightly as Newt grabbed her arm to steady her.

"Are you all right?"

She nodded slowly, pulling away from him. "Just trying to orientate myself. The size difference is still new to me. I didn't get a lot of chances to shift forms stuck in that cage."

He eyed her. "How are you able to change like that?"

Her blue eyes went to his. "You wouldn't believe me."

He shrugged, and she let out a sigh.

"I'm an Animagus."

"But a dragon Animagus—"

"Has never been heard of. Thought to be impossible. Trust me, I've heard it all," Lux grumbled, taking a seat and scratching Jarvey's head as she looked at the creatures nearby. "And you weren't kidding about the magical creature sanctuary, were you?"

"How did you end up…"

"On auction?" She sighed, heavily as she passed a hand through her hair. "My own fault really. I was young and stupid. Took a trip to the Ministry to register at 18. Wanted to mess around with it a bit and I was spotted shifting back. Got kidnapped and Abraham found out what I was. Animagus are rare. Dragons are rarer. Now, put them together and you do the math. He wanted to know how much I was worth."

"I'm sorry," Newt murmured, but she shrugged.

"Not your fault and if anything, I owe you my life for getting me out of there."

"No, no, no. I-I was just trying to help. In a situation like that…" He trailed off, neither of us wanting to talk about it anymore and he cleared his throat, standing after having finished rebandaging the injury on my side. "Would you… like to see my creatures?"

Lux eyed him for a second before taking his offered hand up. "All right. Why not?"

We'd ended up staying in Equatorial Guinea for a month while I healed, Newt being kind enough to help me along and give me something to do. I mostly helped with feeding his creatures, the ones that didn't require larger food that was hard for me to carry with my injuries. In return, he taught me little tidbits for some of his creatures. Mostly for Jarvey though, since he'd proved to have mixed feelings for Newt and tended to stick to me more. Not that he minded. He had a better connection with his Bowtruckle and Niffler than I did. Though, that's probably because I tend to look at the Niffler's gold when it's not around more than I should. I've got an eye for shiny objects.

Currently, though, I was going around and checking up on the creatures while Newt snuck me onboard another ship. I didn't have any papers or anything on me and had a bit of a dislike for ships after the last one. But Newt wants to get Frank back to Arizona. We can't stay in one place forever. I finished tossing a fish to said bird, earning a pleased chortle as he leaned down and nudged my head with his beak.

"Oi. Newt's going to get jealous if you keep sucking up to me, you know," I grumbled, lightly pushing him off. "You're just glad there's another big flying creature down here, aren't you?"

Frank cooed and flew up onto the highest rock in his section of the case as I threw another fish to him just as Newt wandered in.

"Are you spoiling him?"

I cracked a small smile. "Just a bit. He wouldn't leave me alone. It was either this, or I shift into my dragon form and we wrestle again. I assumed you'd rather I do this than clean up the mess from last time."

He nodded, looking relieved that I'd chosen the lesser of the two evils and moved over to help me clean what dishes he had left. Both of us found the mundane task of dishwashing comforting and peaceful rather than doing it with magic.

"Can't thank you enough for getting my wand back," I hummed, elbows deep in soapy water as I scrubbed a bucket.

"I hadn't realized it wasn't his," Newt admitted, "But it seems like a nice one."

I scoffed through my nose. "You'd be surprised. Pinewood with a phoenix feather core. Hard to deal with sometimes, but it enjoys silent casting and figuring out new spells. Very independent."

Newt nodded, humming in thought. "Much like yourself."

I didn't respond to that comment, passing him the bucket to dry and dunking in some dishes we'd used in our own meals.

"Is there… Is there somewhere you need to go?" He asked suddenly. "You don't have to come with me. If there's family waiting for you, you can—"

"There's not," I cut him off.

"Oh."

Dammit, I did it again. I sighed softly. "They're Muggles, my parents," I admitted to him. "I had to sneak off to Hogwarts. Told them I was going to a boarding school. When I came back, I decided to admit what I was to them and they… kicked me out. It's part of the reason I left to the Ministry to register as an Animagus. Thought they'd change their mind, but I went back to find they had a little boy while I was gone. I'd never seen them so happy. Not when I was around."

"Sorry," he apologized. "I shouldn't have asked."

"It's fine. We've been trading information for a month now. Think we can pass around a few personal questions," I replied, managing a small smile. "I was a bit of a terror child anyway. Liked to sneak off into the forest while my parents weren't looking. They hated that. Even more so when I made friends with a raccoon. He used to sneak into our trash and I let him in the house a few times. Scared my mom half to death."

Jarvey ran up my back and settled on my shoulders with a hiss. "Snake!"

I scratched his head with a damp finger. "He wasn't as cool as you Jarvey. Don't be jealous."

"You're good with them; animals," he noted, and I hummed, giving him the last dish and drying my hands.

"Parents had a small farm. Dealt with them all the time. Not all were pleasant but being calm and having patience works wonders. You?"

"I've been with magical creatures all my life. My… mother is a Hippogriff breeder though… she doesn't approve of my interests in Magizoology."

I frowned. "That's a shame. You're good at it. Don't see why she wouldn't support something you're good at… Though, I'm not exactly an expert in what mothers should be like." I scratched the back of my head.

"What were you planning to study?" He asked curiously as we put the dishes away.

"Well, I was never really sure. Wanted to work for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures mostly. Never really got into my other courses other than that, Charms, and Transfiguration. When I discovered my Animagus… This is going to sound a bit silly but… I figured I could become a Dragonologist. My Animagus is a dragon. So, I thought it would make understanding them a little easier."

"I… I think that's a great idea," he smiled, making me scratch my cheek in embarrassment.

"Thanks."

"So… what are you going to do now?"

I shrugged, taking a seat on a stump and looking out at the view before me as a Giant Dung Beetle rolled something past us. "Don't know. Probably drop by MUSCA and get a copy of my papers… Need to update them, actually."

"You're not going to…"

"Register?" I grimaced. "No. Not particularly fond of the idea now. Can't trust any witch or wizard to find out about what I am and not try to use me for it. Well, except you, apparently."

He cracked a smile, knowing I didn't mean any harm by it. "I'm honored."

I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "You don't mind if I stick around, do you? I can leave once we're in New York."

"No, I… enjoy your company, actually," he said. "You're welcome to stay. I would… like to learn more about dragons from you, if possible. I've not come across any that need my help yet, but…"

"All right," I hummed, cracking a small smile myself. "Partners it is then. So, what are we going to do in New York?"

"Not sure yet," he replied, checking his watch. "The boat will be docking soon. We can see about getting your papers first if you'd like."

"Whatever you want."

He nodded, moving towards the workshop. "Yes. Right. I will go up now. Have to get through security and then… I-I'll let you out after that."

I gave him a small salute. "I'll keep the peskier ones in check while you're out." I caught a rustle of leaves nearby and pointed at it. "That means you, Dougal."

The Demiguise shimmered into view, giving me an innocent look that I didn't buy for a minute. He realized this and wrinkled his nose, disappearing again and scampering off as I gave a surprised Newt a look.

"See? You're covered."

"Y-Yes. Yes, all right. I… will see you in a few moments… Lux."

"Newt," I hummed, and he ducked into the workshop as Frank let out a screech. "Yes, all right!" I complained, shifting into my dragon form and shaking out my body. "We can play for a bit but no messes!"

The Thunderbird chirped happily, flapping his wings and diving towards me. Oh, something tells me there will definitely be a mess.