- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 94
About ten minutes later, the bank’s alarm suddenly blared, and Leo saw two figures appear in front of the wall he was observing.
It was Newt, who had just entered the bank, and Jacob Kowalski, a Muggle who had been planning to apply for a loan to open a bakery but got inadvertently caught up in the situation.
Jacob was a World War I veteran, now working a monotonous job in a canning factory. His dream was to open a bakery using his grandmother’s secret recipes. He had come to the bank today to try and secure a loan to pursue his dream. Instead, he found himself being dragged into the bank’s vault by the mysterious man before him, witnessing all sorts of unbelievable things—all because of an egg.
“Sorry, but you’ve seen too much. If you don’t mind, just stand still—it’ll only take a moment.”
Newt politely adjusted Jacob’s clothes and stood him upright, preparing to cast a memory charm on the already terrified man who could barely keep his balance.
“Sorry!”
But Jacob, thinking Newt was about to cast some dreadful spell on him, shouted an apology, grabbed Newt’s suitcase, and knocked him to the ground before quickly running out of the alley and disappearing into the crowd.
By the time Newt, who hadn’t expected Jacob to react that way, recovered, the Muggle was long gone.
“This is going to be a problem,” Newt muttered to himself.
Using magic in front of a Muggle without erasing their memory was a serious violation of the Statute of Secrecy, one that could lead to imprisonment.
“That was one nimble fellow for his size!”
Just then, a voice echoed from the far end of the alley. Newt turned to see a young man standing there, as if he had been there the entire time.
“Sorry, but I can’t afford any more mistakes,” Newt said, instinctively raising his wand to cast a memory charm, assuming the young man was another Muggle. But the young man quickly pulled out his own wand and said,
“No need to get so worked up—I’m a wizard too. I just didn’t expect you to get taken down by a Muggle, so I didn’t have time to draw my wand and help you out.”
The young man was none other than Leo, who had intentionally hidden there to intercept Newt.
He knew that Newt was one of Dumbledore’s most trusted wizards and a key figure in future events, so he had purposely come to make contact.
“It’s my own fault. Sorry to trouble you.”
Newt, not one for socializing, put away his wand upon realizing that Leo was also a wizard. He picked up his fallen suitcase, preparing to leave the alley in search of Jacob.
Unfortunately, just as he turned to leave, a woman in a trench coat walked directly into the alley.
As she passed Newt, she grabbed his arm, then pointed her wand at Leo, pulling him toward her with a magical force before Disapparating with both men from the alley.
When Leo saw the woman pointing her wand at him, he could have used magic to counter or used his physical strength to break free, but he chose not to. He had already recognized the woman as Tina Goldstein.
…
“I’m a witch from MACUSA. Who are you two?”
In an empty alley across from the Woolworth Building, Tina held out her credentials with one hand and pointed her wand at Newt and Leo with the other, demanding answers.
“Newt Scamander.”
“Tom Fawley.”
Both Newt and Leo glanced at Tina’s credentials and answered simultaneously. After answering, Leo added,
“Hmm… I think I’ve seen you before. Weren’t you the one who helped me get my wand permit three days ago?”
“Cough… That’s not important. What’s important is what’s in your suitcase and what just happened,” Tina quickly changed the subject, feeling slightly embarrassed after recognizing Leo as the wizard who had come from London three days earlier.
After all, she was no longer an Auror but just a clerk in the Wand Permit Office. She technically had no authority to detain Newt and Leo.
It was like a civil servant responsible for registering documents suddenly trying to arrest and interrogate two suspicious individuals on the street like a police officer.
In normal circumstances, Newt and Leo could have simply ignored Tina. If she used magic against them, they could have filed a complaint with MACUSA.
However, Newt, being a good-natured person, didn’t mind. Even though Leo had clued him in on Tina’s current role, he still politely replied,
“The suitcase contains a Niffler. You know how they are—always causing trouble and attracted to shiny things.”
“Oh, Merlin’s beard! Don’t you know it’s illegal to privately own magical creatures in America, especially at a time like this, after what happened yesterday? Are you sure you didn’t do this on purpose?”
Tina’s tone was filled with agitation.
Newt quickly shook his head, trying to explain, “No, I only arrived here today. The Niffler is just… well, it’s incorrigible, always getting into mischief.”
“Alright, I believe you didn’t do it on purpose. But what about the No-Maj? Did you erase his memory?”
“No-Maj?”
Newt looked confused.
“Muggle, No-maj is what they call them here in America,” Leo interjected to explain.
Newt gave an embarrassed shake of his head.
“You’ve violated Chapter Three, Article One, and Chapter Eight, Article Five. I’m taking you both to MACUSA for questioning.”
Tina’s expression turned stern as she looked at Newt and Leo.
Leo sighed and shrugged, “This doesn’t really have anything to do with me. I just happened to be there and saw everything.”
“Yes, this gentleman had nothing to do with it,” Newt quickly added, trying to clarify.
But Tina, not convinced, grabbed both Newt and Leo by the arms and marched them across the street toward the Woolworth Building.
“You’re both wizards from Britain, and you were both in that alley at the same time. It’s hard for me to believe you’re not connected. Whatever you have to say, you can say it at MACUSA.”
Seeing no other option, Newt and Leo followed Tina toward MACUSA.
“Mr. Scamander, you seem to know a lot about magical creatures,” Leo remarked as they walked.
Newt wasn’t much of a talker, but when it came to magical creatures, his enthusiasm immediately showed.
“Yes, I’m conducting a year-long study with the goal of writing a book to raise awareness about the importance of protecting them.”
“Oh, Merlin, that sounds like a truly meaningful endeavor. Many people find them strange, but I think there’s nothing strange about them. It’s just that people’s minds are too narrow,” Leo said earnestly.
…