《 Skip a Beat 》

On your side

Tina glanced to her side again, and found Leta gazing contentedly at Newt and Charlotte. Watching him introduce his animal companion to a friend, like he had done so with her, many years ago, as they stood upon one of the little islands surrounding Hogwarts. Almost in the exact way he was doing now.

Once Pickett had perched comfortably upon Charlotte's hand, significantly smaller than his, Newt moved his arm away and watched the young girl with a glint of pride in his eyes.

They all watched, as Charlotte stayed rigid in her wheelchair, staring with intrigue at the tiny creature before her, who stared right back with the same expression.

After what seemed like a year, Pickett reached out with a spindly green finger and lightly bopped her on the nose. A radiant, toothy grin broke across Charlotte's face.

As if in conformation, she looked toward Newt.

"He likes you!" he translated playfully.

At that moment, Charlotte swivelled her eyes back to her elder brother, her expression morphing into one of trepidation.

"Tina wants to know if we have any news. Tell her the news, Nicky!" she urged him, the speaker voice once again breaking the brief silence.

Behind her, Tina visibly bristled. There came a point, in her life, when it became difficult to track who was and wasn't a legilimens.

To his credit, Nick saved her from a humiliating explanation by speaking up with the news.

"Look- uh- I know it's only been a few days since your surgery, Newt-" He leaned forward slightly. Newt's carefree smile had, like Charlotte's, turned to trepidation. "- But, um, we want to know if you want to give the crutches another go. I think that, with yesterday... you went alright. Made it back in one piece. Er- not that I've told anyone about it."

He paused, perhaps to let the words sink in, then went on.

"Of course, only if you're up for it. It's going to be a little harder, since this recovery is a bit more painful, but we... I want you to be able to walk again as soon as you can. What do you say?"

From behind Nick, Charlotte gave him a thumbs up and Pickett enthusiastically clung to her thumb. Leta looked uncertainly toward him, but Newt found himself sparing only a thrilled Tina one quick glance before facing Nick again.

"I think- yes. That'd be w- yes. I'm ready."

Nick's answering grin was all that he could've hoped for.

Woo hoo! I hope you enjoyed. If you didn't that's understandable, because this chapter is a little boring.

I really wanted to add Charlotte again, and a little Newtina fluff. There'll be a few chapters like this... they might not be that interesting (I'm trying, okay?), but they have important information.

I'm really pushing myself on wrapping up this fanfiction now, because the first ten, fifteen chapters had no plot, really. I didn't actually have a plot until around chapter twenty. I'm starting to stress out because this is so long. I had an idea earlier that I should maybe delete a couple chapters that I don't need.

Also, a ginormous shoutout to crenin_the_fenin for mass commenting and making me smile like I'm on an advertisement for toothpaste :)

I never mentioned this because it's weird, but Grindelwald's first name sounds like a brand of yoghurt. So, naturally, I had to photoshop it.

Lol. My mum says that Gellert sounds like a shaving company XD so I photoshopped that too.

My talent deserves to be appreciated.

Anyway, I hope you have an awesome day XP

Cateye992, out!