A few hours later, the crew met at the Ministério da Mágica. Dumbledore stood there, waiting. He didn't carry any form of luggage. All he had was a locket tied to his neck, bearing the blood pact.

He touched the blood pact, fiddling with the intricate designs on it, muttering, "Gellert. . " everytime. He too was traumatized to go against his best friend.

"Enough Albus" Minister Francisco snapped, "You've had enough of it".

Albus nodded, "It's for the best".

"We're here" Tina declared, making her way towards Dumbledore. She was wearing her usual leather coat, her sling bag across her shoulder.

"You did not hear that" Albus's ears turned slightly red.

"Hear what?" Tina asked. Newt quickly pulled her hand and motioned her to quiet down.

"I'll explain later" he whispered into her ear, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"No, Newt, I think Tina deserves a better explanation" Albus decided, "Maybe not at the moment".

"Hello people. Lovely to see all of you in one place" a male voice drawled on, like a dad at a family reunion.

"Theseus, pleasure" Tina greeted him warmly.

"Brother" Theseus said, "Care to greet me with a quick hug?"

"We'll save the hugging and kissing for later" Jacob winked at the pair. Tina and Newt turned violent shades of red.

"Alright, let's get going" Albus Dumbledore gritted his teeth, unable to control himself, "And Minister?"

"Yes?" Francisco asked.

"If you ever receive a letter from my dear friend, Horace Slughorn, please tell him everything that I'd want to explain" Albus said.

"I'll do anything" the Minister said, quite informally, ". . Anything for you".

"Very well. Let's get going".

Nagini and Kama gave them the address to the lair and wished them good luck. Bridget hugged Tina and Newt. Then she shook hands with Theseus, maintaining her formalities with a war hero.

"I could use a hug--" Theseus began.

"Okay" Bridget chuckled and pulled him into a soothing hug. Then she pulled away, bid them goodbye and made them promise to her that they'll manage to write a few letters.

"Go get your man" Tina whispered into her ear.

"Shut up. There's nothing between Harold and I" Bridget smiled, "I'm going to miss you".

"Hey, it's not like this is the end" Tina shrugged, "If I don't come back, at least you'll know my favorite flowers and my will. . "

"Nope, I'll never let her die on my watch" Newt cut her off midway, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Aww, look at you!" Bridget clapped her hands with joy, "You're back!"

Tina rolled her eyes, "Come along, Mr Scamander. I've put up with your shenanigans for months. Give me a break!"

After ending on a cheery yet sad note, the crew were off. They hired a carriage to go to the town, from where they would have to walk.

"So, what is with you and your will?" Newt whispered into her ear, "Do you have one?"

"I do have one in the process" Tina answered, sarcastically and in a British accent, mimicked the tone of her solemn will, "I, Tina Goldstein, leave all my books to Newt Scamander".

"You would do that?" Newt, being the adorable man he was, didn't quite get the sarcasm.

"Fat chance" Tina grinned, "As if I'm ever going to give you my books".

Newt lowered his voice, just enough for them to hear without the other's intervention, quite speaking from his heart, "But if we get married, you're supposed to share your books with me".

"What?" Tina asked, startled. She couldn't hear him properly.

"What?" Newt didn't realize he actually said that.

"You guys talk about books. . ?" Jacob said, "When there are greater things at play?"

"It just feels right" Tina replied, "Getting our mind off things".

"Well Tina, if you're ever going to make a will. . " Theseus said, "You should make your last request as Newt Scamander must hug his brother at all costs" .

"What's with you and hugging?" Jacob piped in.

They had a good laugh about it. However, Dumbledore, who was usually interested and had something to say about his former students, hardly said a word.

"So how are your creatures, Newt?" Theseus said, and winked.

"They're all fine, I suppose" Newt said, shrugging, "I've recently heard from Bunty that everything's going well".

"I meant about your rather special creature?" Theseus smirked, "Oh I don't know. . perhaps your Thunderbird?"

"Oh yes, after I had set Frank free, I still believe he's out there somewhere" Newt answered, oblivious to the meaning.

"You should've really loved your Thunderbird, huh?" Jacob piped in, getting the hang of the conversation.

"Huh, yes" Tina said, "Newt did love Frank. I was especially saddened to see him off".

"Funny you should say that, Tina" Theseus said, slyly, "I wouldn't think so if I were you".

"What? Is it not correct for Newt to be missing his creature?" Tina snapped.

"Never mind. You guys don't get it" Jacob made a swift move, slicing his hand through the air, "Anyway, Theseus, how's your life coming by?"

"I guess it's going well" Theseus smiled weakly.

"It's going perfectly well" Newt defended his brother, "Theseus is lucky".

Theseus offered him a smile. Of course, Newt didn't want Jacob to trot over the dangerous Leta territory, which the latter was unaware of.

"Professor, how's the new term at Hogwarts?" Theseus began, engaging a conversation with him.

"Oh, yes, very well" Albus answered.

"Aren't you going to like. . tell us about it?" Theseus prodded him, "Like did you meet any new students? Were they interesting as the Scamander brothers?"

"Oh shut up" Newt rolled his eyes.

"I did meet a few students. But I can't remember everyone, can I?" Albus shrugged, "There was one peculiar student named Tom Riddle. Just started Hogwarts".

"Tom Riddle? Isn't he Merope's son?" Theseus asked.

"Indeed he is" Albus resorted to looking at the beautiful scenery outside the narrow window, "Merope, yes".

"Uh, sorry to bother but where y'all from?" the driver of the carriage said.

"Have you been eavesdropping?" Tina retorted.

"Tell me. Where y'all from? I've never seen a bunch of folks like you" the driver smiled to himself, "And it isn't my job to eavesdrop, ma'am. I was merely hearing".

"We're from all over the world" Newt answered, "Here and there".

"Seems like it" the man, who had no exposure to world culture, said. He was merely a driver. He hadn't been to many places outside and never probably stepped out of his comfort zone.

"Very well" Albus said, "How far is our destination?"

"About fifteen minutes from now" the driver replied, immediately.

"Oh boy" Dumbledore slunk back, his hopes fading away and his memories of the Mirror of Erised, coming back to his head, dying to haunt him again.