Return to New York

Slow Progress

"Over time, she will not be able to turn back." The ringmaster turned to face the cage, grabbing hold of the bars with one hand. "She will be forever trapped in the body of a snake."

The snake raised her head, a forked tongue flicking between scaly lips.

Suddenly, there was a shout and a crash. The snake lunged forward, through the bars, hitting the ringmaster in the chest. People screamed. There were a handful of tiny creatures flying through the tent, setting fire to the fabric. Tina acted quickly, Apparating out of the tent. She turned around, desperate to find Credence. Everyone around her was in a panic, running from the burning tent.

Tina instinctively began running in a direction. Pointing her wand at a tent, she put out the flames as she passed. She ran down the street but she stopped abruptly. The large creature in the cage had burst free and was roaring at everyone around it.

She saw something out of the corner of her eye. She turned.

"Credence!" she called, running in the direction she believed she had seen him. Soon, she was on an empty street. She couldn't see anyone around her. She searched the street but Credence was nowhere to be seen. 

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Tina turned Apparated back to the main street. It was all but empty. The ringmaster was the only one left. He had just picked up what looked like a hat. She recognized it as the tent they had been in just minutes before.

"The boy with the Maledictus, what do you know about him?" she demanded, walking towards him.

The man walked away. Tina followed after him, determined not to let him leave without answers. He climbed up to his wagon. Then he stopped. "He's looking for his mother," he admitted. "All my freaks think they can go home." Then he climbed onto his seat and urged the horse to start moving. "Come on, let's go," he called to the house elf who snapped his fingers. The last few boxes packed themselves away and the elf Apparated onto the wagon.

Tina heard something behind her. She turned slowly. A dark-skinned man stood a few yards away. He approached her slowly. She noticed the feather in the band of his hat fall to the ground but she ignored it.

"Come," she said, motioning for him to follow her. She led him off the street to a nearby café. They took seats and a waiter approached the table.

Tina ordered a coffee but the man waved the waiter away. The two of them sat in silence, studying each other until Tina's coffee came and she had paid. They continued to study each other as Tina sipped at her drink.

Then Tina leaned forward.

"Look, I think you and I were at the circus for the same reason, Monsueir . . ."

"Kama. Yusuf Kama," he offered. "And you think right."

"What do you want with Credence--"

"The same as you," Kama interrupted.

"Which is?"

"To prove who the boy really is."

There was a moment of silence. Tina studied him, not sure if she should believe him. He leaned forward slightly.

"If the rumors of his identity are correct, he and I are -- distantly -- related." Tina continued staring at him so he continued. "I am the last male of my pure blooded line and so, if the rumors are correct, is he." 

Tina still didn't reply. 

"Have you read the predictions of Tycho Dodonus?" Kama asked.

"Yeah," Tina said, staring at him intently. "But that's poetry, not proof." She didn't care for prophecies. She didn't believe they could be trusted.

"Hmm." Kama looked thoughtful. "If I could show you something better . . ."

"Hmm," Tina said, hinting for him to continue.

". . . more concrete. Something that proves who he is. Would the Ministries of Europe and America let him live?"

Tina narrowed her eyes slightly. "They might."

"Then come."

Kama stood up and moved away. Tina hesitated, unsure if she could trust him.

I've got nothing to lose, she reminded herself. 

She got to her feet and quickly caught up to Kama.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name," he said.

"Goldstein," she replied. Her tone was cold, as it nearly always was now. She had gone through too much in the last few months and had realized that it was best not to feel. She had learned to hide her emotions, locking them away to a place where no one, not even she, could see them; to a place where they couldn't hurt her.

Kama led her to a corner where he offered her his hand. She took it hesitantly and he Disapparated, appearing in a dark place. Tina instantly recognized it as a sewer. She whipped out her wand, pointing it at Kama.

"No," he said. "This is where we must be. Come."

He started through the tunnel and she followed after him. They came to a large space. There was a long, low, makeshift desk along the wall. The wall itself was covered in glowing writing. Kama was staring up at it.

"Here is everything you must know," he said.

Tina glanced at him suspiciously. She moved forward slowly, looking up at the wall. Kama moved away. There were a few names on the wall. Above the name 'Credence Barebone' was another name: Corvus Lestrange.

Tina started. Lestrange? She searched the wall. Another name jumped out at her. Leta Lestrange.

Before Tina could figure out what the connection between the two was, she heard Kama's voice.

"Expelliarmus."

Her wand flew from her hand and she spun around. Kama was standing out of the room, bars magically forming to block the entrance. She rushed forward but Kama was gone.

A/N: FINALLY FINISHED A CHAPTER!! I hope you enjoyed it. Please vote and comment.

I've only got Physics and English homework and I had lots of free time so I was able to finish this. Anyway, I hope I'll be able to get the next chapter up soon.

Have a good day!

Bye!

Written January 30, 2019.