Henry isn't crazy, Regina finds herself outnumbered when it comes to the boys, and the magical creatures get the respect they deserve.

***

When Henry had made the decision to enter the mines, he had expected to search until he found proof of the Dark Curse's existence.

But never in his wildest dreams (and boy, his dreams had been wild since he received the storybook from Ms. Blanchard) had he imagined he would be standing, covered in dust and gravel, and learning his brother was a wizard. He watched as Harry pocketed his wand and gave him an anxious look.

Henry was quiet for a few seconds before loudly shouting, "What?!"

Harry sighed, already feeling his head start to ache. "I was born this way, Henry. You know that school that I told you about? Hogwarts? It's a school for witches and wizards. We start learning magic at eleven, even though you're born with it. I'm an anomaly though, because I started learning magic when I was seven because it got too strong for me not to have a channel for my magic."

"A channel?" Henry asked, looking confused.

He had a frown on his face, and Harry couldn't tell whether or not it was confusion or anger. "My wand helps channel my magic and stops it from going haywire," he explained, and Henry hummed, shaking his head. "What?" Harry asked.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Henry's voice was small, almost too soft for Harry to hear, but since it was almost silent in the mines, Harry did hear it. "I couldn't, Henry. I wouldn't have even told you today without Mum's permission if those rocks hadn't been falling," he admitted.

Henry huffed, throwing his hands up in the air. "Am I not trustworthy?" he demanded.

"No!" Harry groaned and shook his head. "You knowing is illegal, technically!" Harry looked over at his little brother and sighed, moving closer to him. Merlin, he wished Draco and Hermione were there. He could feel their magic in his own magical core, and he felt it respond softly to the slight distress signals that his magic was throwing them. He needed them to balance himself. He took a calming breath and faced his brother. "Muggles - non-magical beings, that is - aren't legally supposed to know about magic. It's forbidden, Henry. I told Mum ages ago that we needed to tell you, but she was waiting. I've got no bloody clue, but she was waiting." He gulped and mumbled, "Merlin, she's not going to be happy with me."

"But - "

Henry's next question was cut off by the sound of someone calling out their names. "Henry! Harry!" They recognized Archie's voice immediately, and they looked at each other before taking off in the direction the voice was coming from. They were met with the sight of a dusty Archie Hopper carrying a match and his umbrella. "Henry! Harry!" he shouted again.

Henry shone his flashlight onto him. "Archie!" he grinned. "You're here to help us!"

Archie sighed in relief at seeing the two boys safe and relatively uninjured. "No, I . . . boys, listen. We gotta get out of here. It's unsafe and collapsing."

Henry frowned in disappointment. "So you're still against me."

Archie sighed, shaking his head. "Henry, there's no time for that," he scolded. "Come on, boys." He started waking the way he came, but when he heard footsteps only getting further from him, he turned around and froze at the sight of Henry grabbing Harry and slowly backing up. "Boys," he warned.

Henry ignored him. "You don't believe me? You'll see. You'll see! Come on, Harry!"

As Henry ran away from Archie, Harry in tow, the shrink shouted, "Henry! Harry! Come back!" He turned to look toward the exit and sighed, then he turned back and chased after the brothers. "Boys! Hey!"

Harry and Henry sprinted for a good five minutes before both slowed down, and Henry turned around to look at the way they came. "I think we lost him!"

Harry sighed, looking at the other boy. "I'm going to keep my wand in my sleeve so I know we can be protected if we run into danger again."

"So you know protection magic?" Henry asked, his previous anger dissolving into curiosity.

Harry grinned, relieved to finally discuss what he had wanted to talk about since Henry had asked about Hogwarts. "We have all sorts of spells, jinxes and curses that can be deadly if used correctly, even everyday magic like the Levitation Charm, which levitates things into the air and makes them feather-light sometimes." he explained.

Henry looked at him in awe. "That's so cool!" he gushed, and Harry grinned.

A glint of light hit Harry from the spot his flashlight was in, and he moved towards it, Henry immediately following. "Hey, look at this!" He knelt, and he grabbed his wand to use magic to push away the dirt and broken wood and rock. "There's something down there!"

Henry looked down into the small hole with his face right next to Harry's. "Whoa," he whispered. "What is that?" he asked, and Harry shrugged. He could have made a bigger hole, but he didn't want to risk the already unstable foundation of the mine tunnel.

Archie's voice eventually caught up to them, and Harry hid his wand in his jacket pocket almost immediately. "Henry? Harry? Boys!" They saw a flickering light glow into Archie's shadow before he actually appeared. "Henry! You gotta slow down!"

Henry pointed at the hole in the ground where his flashlight was shining. "There's something shiny down there."

Archie shook his head, not caring. "Henry, this is seriously dangerous. We gotta get out of here!"

Henry huffed childishly. "It could be something, Archie!"

Archie looked at Harry anxiously, and Harry sighed, shrugging. "Look, I'm frightened for you, Henry."

Henry crossed his arms defensively. "Because you think that I'm crazy?" he asked.

Archie vehemently shook his head. "No! No, absolutely not! I'm frightened for you because we are trapped underground in an abandoned mine, and there is no way out."

Harry looked at Archie in alarm. "What do you mean, there's no way out?" he asked, his voice low.

Archie sighed. "Just that. Before I came down here, the tunnel collapsed. I found a small way down here, but we can't go back that way."

The ground shook violently, and Henry grabbed onto Harry tightly. "We gotta go!" he said, and after giving one of the flashlights to Archie, he started leading the way, holding Harry's hand the whole way through.

***

Outside at the entrance of the mine, Pongo barked from where he stood, resisting the tight hold Ruby had on his leash. As Regina watched from above, Marco stood with Graham and Queenie and oversaw Emma and Newt helping the workers try to open the entrance, which only seemed to collapse more as time went on.

Marco sighed, running a hand over his head. "Archie is smart," he told Queenie, sounding like he was trying to assure himself as much as her. "He'll keep the boys safe until we get them out."

A muffled squeak of alarm came from within Emma's jacket, and she froze with her ax in the air before she hit the blockage again. Just in time, too, as the ground began to rumble under her feet. "Back up!" she called.

The moment before Marco echoed her warning, Newt dropped his ax and grabbed Emma's arm, pulling her away as the entrance collapsed further. "Stop!" Regina yelled, almost tripping in her heels as she stumbled down into the crater. "Stop!" The workers abandoned the entrance, and Regina angrily whirled on Emma. "You're making it worse!" she accused.

Emma's eyes narrowed to slits as she reared like Achilles. "I am trying to save my kids!" she snapped. "You know why they went in there in the first place, don't you? Henry took Harry with him because you made him feel like he had something to prove!"

Regina crossed her arms, her blood red lips curled into a sneer. "And why does he think he has anything to prove? Who's encouraging him?"

Emma growled. "Do not put this on me, Regina Mills," she warned, feeling her magic spark under her skin. "You will regret it."

Regina scoffed. "Oh please, lecture me until the oxygen has run out," she snarked as she turned and walked back to Marco and Graham.

Emma snarled wordlessly, and she turned back towards the mine collapse, unable to get the image of Regina holding back tears out of her head. "This would be so much easier if we could use our magic," she ground out.

As if on cue, Ted and Teenie poked their heads out of the pockets they had crawled into, and Newt sighed, absently scratching the back of Ted's head as Emma quietly shooed Teenie back into her pocket. "I know, but . . . " He shrugged helplessly. "Muggles."

***

Inside the mines, Harry stopped and looked at the other two. "Do you hear that?"

They listened, and they could clearly hear a dog barking above them. Henry grinned in relief; he would know that bark anywhere. "It's Pongo!"

Archie nodded quickly and ushered them forward through the mine. "Follow the noise!"

***

One lesson Lucius had drilled into Emma over and over was to know when to end a fight, and with that lesson in mind, Emma scaled the crater to join a fidgeting Regina. "We have to stop this arguing," she stated. "We won't accomplish anything."

Regina sighed, then nodded in agreement. "No, we won't."

Emma straightened, giving Regina her full attention. "What do you want me to do?"

Regina looked at the entrance, biting her lip in worry. "Help me."

Emma nodded firmly and held out her hand. "For our sons."

Regina looked long and hard at her, then she nodded and shook Emma's hand. "For our sons."

***

Archie followed the sound, listening as it got louder and louder. "It's loudest over here!" he called as he reached a dead end.

Henry aimed his flashlight around the mine, and he frowned when he took in a sheet of metal. "What's this?" he asked.

As Archie moved the piece of metal out of the way, Harry moved closer, ever the Gryffindor, and peered at the contraption behind the metal. "It looks like an old elevator."

***

Regina ran her hands through her hair. "We need to find some way to punch through the ground," she thought out loud. "We need something big."

Emma frowned. "Something big," she repeated, thinking of some of the strongest spells she knew that could accomplish that in a heartbeat. So what was the closest equivalent to the Reductor Curse?

Queenie, ever the mind reader, spoke up from next to Archie. "Are there any explosives we can use?"

Judging by the way Marco's eyes lit, the answer was yes.

***

Archie stepped into the elevator and looked up the shaft, light shining down and illuminating his face. "It's to get the mine workers in or out," he deduced. "It goes all the way to the top. That's why we can hear Pongo."

"Can we make it work?" Henry asked, looking at the wheel in the elevator.

Harry shrugged. "Let's give it a shot," he said, stepping into the elevator and peering closely at the wheel. "But it's really rusted, and very old, so we have to be really careful."

Archie nodded and carefully grasped the wheel, attempting to turn it. When it wouldn't budge, he gestured to the boys. "Come on! Come on!"

Harry set his flashlight on the ground and stood on Archie's left, Henry squeezing to fit on Archie's right. The three grabbed the wheel and twisted together, and slowly, the elevator started to rise.

***

Ruby crouched behind one of the construction vehicles, and Emma watched as one of the workers led a line up past the barricades. "OK," she took a deep breath. "We're all clear."

Regina nodded grimly. "Blow it," she ordered.

Emma nodded and darted behind the police cruiser, Newt and Queenie already crouching in wait. Regina and Graham joined them, and one of the workers pressed the detonator.

***

The elevator shook violently around them, and Harry yelped. "Bloody hell!"

Archie ignored the curse in favor of grabbing both boys and dropping to the floor of the elevator. As the elevator landed back on the ground, Henry cried out in shock more than anything else, and Archie clutched the children close to his chest.

***

Above ground, Emma didn't wait for the smoke to clear. She ran out from behind the cruiser and made her way down into the crater, disappearing into the smoke.

Queenie poked her head above the top of the cruiser, followed by Newt. "Do you see her?" she asked worriedly.

Newt squinted through the dust, then silently shook his head. A few seconds later, a flash of red made Regina run around the cruiser. "Did it work?" she demanded as Emma emerged from the dust and the smoke.

The blonde shook her head, coughing to get dust out of her mouth. "It didn't open," she reported.

Graham gulped, looking worriedly at Emma. "Then what did it do?"

***

"Have a good day," Mary Margaret waved as she gathered her belongings and headed for the exit of the hospital.

"Hey!" Mary Marget stopped in her tracks, looking in surprise at David as he walked over to her with a wide smile on his face. "Where are you going?" he asked.

"Home," she answered. "I'm done for the day." She frowned in concern, looking David up and down. "Shouldn't you be resting?"

"Actually, Dr. Whale wants me to start physical therapy," David shrugged. "I'm supposed to walk thirty minutes a day on a treadmill or outside with an escort. But they're kind of short on personnel because of that thing that happened in the mine."

"Oh," Mary Margaret sighed and nodded, remembering Emma's phone call apologizing for skipping lunch. She had a very good reason to do so, after all.

David tilted his head, watching her stare out the window. "So . . . maybe there is a volunteer willing to help?" he asked hopefully.

Mary Margaret looked at him in surprise, then she gave a small smile in response.

***

David looked out at the lake with an adorably thoughtful look on his face, Mary Margaret assessing his expression curiously. "I'm trying to remember this place," the man finally said. "It's like . . . " He shook his head in frustration and turned around, and Mary Margaret followed him back up the path. "It's like I woke up in some strange land."

"Is anything coming back?" Mary Margaret asked. David silently shook his head, and Mary Margaret frowned. "What about when you're with her? You remembered your dog."

"Yeah . . . " David winced and scratched the back of his head. "I lied."

Mary Margaret gawked at him. "You did?!"

"She's so lovely, I didn't want to disappoint her," David told her. "But none of it feels right." He snorted. "A dog named Ajax? Who'd name a dog that?" Mary Margaret giggled her agreement, and David shook his head. "None of it makes sense. None of it . . . none of it feels real."

Mary Margaret sighed sadly. "That sounds lonely."

David paused in his steps, a frown on his face. "Actually . . . one thing does feel real." Mary Margaret tilted her head expectantly, and David turned to her. "You."

Mary Margaret froze, pinned in place by the intensity in his gaze. "What?" she sputtered.

"I know it's crazy, but I swear, you're the only thing in this whole place that feels . . . " David swallowed, looking at her like he was trying to memorize her face. "That feels right." Mary Margaret slowly smiled, but just as he stepped closer, David blinked. "Kathryn."

Mary Margaret's heart dropped, and she nodded slowly. "Right."

"Kathryn," David repeated, stepping past Mary Margaret. The teacher blinked in surprise, then she turned and realized David had been acknowledging his wife, who was walking up to them with a basket in her hands. "You're here."

"I know it's outside of visiting hours, but I needed to see you," Kathryn told him, handing out the basket she carried. "I made some cranberry muffins. They used to be your favorite."

David nodded slowly as he looked at the basket he now held, and Mary Margaret cleared her throat. "I should leave you two," she mumbled, heading for the bridge that led back to the hospital.

"Wait!" David ran to catch up to her. "Mary Margaret!" She paused and turned around, and David gave her a hopeful look. "See you tomorrow?"

Mary Margaret swallowed, then smiled at him before walking at a leisurely pace.

***

"What was that?" Regina snarled in anger, storming past Emma to the workers. "What the hell was that? You said you could do this!"

"Madam Mayor!" Emma ran to catch up to her.

"They could have killed our sons!" Regina spat.

"I know," Emma put a hand on her arm. "But this isn't helping!"

"If we knew exactly where they were, we could drill down to them," Marco offered. Squirming from Emma's jacket pocket made her look down, and she saw Newt attempt to stop his own niffler stowaway from getting free. "Maybe . . . maybe rig something to bring them back up - "

Newt let out a yelp that he quickly smothered, wringing out his hand as Ted leapt from his coat and scurried along the ground. Emma heard Pongo barking from the fire truck, and she quickly crouched down to allow Teenie to land safely on the dirt. Teenie darted along the ground after Ted, and Emma flung open the door to the fire truck. "Come on, buddy!"

Pongo jumped from the fire truck and scampered after the nifflers, who had stopped among the dirt and were digging away with their paws. Pongo barked in agreement, sniffing where the nifflers had stopped. "Brilliant," Newt breathed, patting his knee. "Come on, up!"

Ted squeaked in protest, but as Queenie led Regina, Marco, and Graham over to join them, Teenie scampered up Emma's leg and back into her jacket. Ted finally climbed up Newt's coat and dove back into his pocket, and Emma grinned at Regina. "It's Archie's dog," she said. "He's found something. This is where they must be."

Newt went to work sweeping dirt away from the sheet of metal he could feel on the ground, then he gripped the edges. "Sheriff?" he asked.

Graham bent and helped him pull away the metal, and Emma blinked when she saw the grid-patterned bars in the earth. "What is that?" she asked.

"It's an air shaft," Graham answered.

Pongo barked excitedly, and Queenie looked down through the bars. "That must lead down into the mine."

***

Harry covered his eyes as dirt showered onto them, and Henry blinked it out of his eyes as he attempted to shine his light up the shaft. "Is there any way you can . . . ?" he trailed off, remembering what Harry had said earlier.

Harry shook his head, glancing at Archie out of the corner of his eye. "Maybe if it was just us. But now . . . "

Henry slumped in defeat, and he dropped to sit across from Archie. "I'm really, really, really sorry," he whispered.

"It's alright," Archie told him with a smile.

"I just wanted to find proof," he began to explain. "And I dragged Harry with me - "

"I agreed to come," Harry argued.

"No, it's really alright, Henry," Archie shook his head, holding up his hand to stop Henry from apologizing. "You know, I'm sorry, too." Henry frowned, and Archie sighed, resting his arms on the top of his knees. "Look, I don't think you're crazy," he said. "I just . . . I just think that you got a very strong mother who's got a clear idea of a path that she wants you to be on. When you step off that, she . . . she gets scared. And you know, that's natural." Henry nodded, and Archie continued. "But it's also natural for you to be able to be free, to think the things that you want to think. So . . . anyway, I didn't mean those things I said, and I never should have said them."

"Then why did you?" Harry frowned, sitting next to Henry and folding his arms.

Archie smiled sadly. As much as Regina might want to think otherwise, he could clearly see resemblances between the boys, and he knew where that resemblance came from. "I guess I'm just not a very good person," he answered. "I'm not the man I want to be."

The elevator groaned and shuddered around them, and Harry clutched at the bars of the elevator, looking up in surprise.

***

"Alright," Emma held up her hand. "Gun it!" Ruby put her foot down inside the truck, and the line attached to the grate started to lift it out of the ground. Graham and Newt used their crowbars to aid in the lift, and when the grate pulled free, Emma gestured her hand across her neck. "Alright, stop! We got it!"

Ruby nodded and leaned out the window of the truck, and Emma bent down to peer down the shaft. Newt whistled lowly, and given he was on the outer ring of the group, no one noticed Ted poke his head out of Newt's coat and look down the shaft as well. "Bloody hell," the magizoologist mumbled.

"So," Regina folded her arms and looked expectantly at Emma. "What's next?"

***

"I think you can be him," Henry said after a moment. "I think you can be a good person. I mean . . . you're Jiminy Cricket."

"Henry," Archie sighed, readjusting his position in the elevator. "Henry . . . Jiminy Cricket was a . . . he was a cricket, OK? It was a conscience, and . . . and I hardly think that's me."

"But before he was that, he was a guy who took a long time to figure out the right thing to do," Henry pointed out.

Archie opened his mouth to counter . . . then he paused and blinked, tilting his head as he thought. "He kinda sounds like me," he admitted, a note of shock in his voice.

"Now it's harder for you because of the curse," Henry told him like it was the simplest thing in the world. "To hear the voice inside of you, to be who you wanna be."

Archie pondered his words, even as the elevator shaft shook again.

***

"We need to lower someone straight down," Marco explained as he set up the rig. "Or the line will collapse the sides of the shaft."

"I've got the harness," Graham returned to join them.

"Lower me down," Regina ordered.

"Oh, no way," Emma shook her head. "I'm going."

Regina scowled at her. "He's my son!"

"He's my son, too," Emma narrowed her eyes. "And so is the boy I adopted, who I promised I would do whatever it took to be his best chance. You've been sitting behind your desk for ten years. I can do this."

"I'll do it."

Regina reeled in surprise, and Emma whipped around to see Newt examine the harness, a determined look in his eyes. "What?" she demanded as she stormed up to him. "Newt - "

"Emma, you know what I'm capable of doing," Newt held up his hand to cut her off. "You can do this, I know you can . . . but when you adopted Harry, I also swore to keep him safe. He disappeared on my watch. It's only fitting I go down there and get him." Emma swallowed hard, and Newt cupped the back of her head. "Emma, this is nothing compared to what I've done before," he whispered. "You trust me, right?"

Emma closed her eyes. "There's no one I trust more," she whispered.

Newt nodded. "Then trust I won't come back up without them."

Emma took a deep breath. "Hook him up."

Newt kissed her forehead, then he removed his coat and held out his hand for the harness in Graham's hand. "Mr. Scamander," Regina walked up to him stiffly.

"Madam Mayor?" he looked up expectantly, no fear in his hazel eyes.

Regina pursed her lips, then whispered, "Bring him to me."

Newt nodded curtly in return.

***

"Hey," Archie leaned forward, looking intently at Henry. "Can I ask you again?"

"Ask what?" Henry asked as he searched through his backpack.

"Why do you think it's so important that your fairytale theory is true?"

Henry paused in his rummaging. "I don't know."

"Give it a shot," Archie urged.

Henry sighed and pulled out a few chocolate bars, handing one each to Archie and Harry. "Because . . . this can't be all there is."

"I understand," Archie nodded.

"I thought if I found proof . . . " Henry trailed off and huffed, dropping his chin onto his arms. "But I didn't find anything."

"That's not true," Archie shook his head as he unwrapped the bar. "I was lost when you found me, right?"

"You mean, you remember?" Henry perked up.

"No, I don't remember," Archie shook his head. "But I do remember the kind of person I want to be." Henry beamed happily, and Archie nodded. "I just gotta listen harder."

"I like the sound of that person," Harry admitted.

"You know what?" Archie smiled, reaching out and ruffling Harry's hair. The boy giggled and attempted to tame his unruly hair, making Archie chuckle. "I do, too."

Showers of gravel clattered into the elevator, and Harry winced as light suddenly bounced into his sight. "What's that?" Henry asked, attempting to shield his eyes.

Archie squinted through the grating, and he grinned. "I think it's a rescue!"

Booted feet suddenly landed on the edges of the top of the shaft, then hazel eyes peered down. "Harry?" Newt called. "Henry? Archie? Are you OK?"

"Uncle Newt!" Harry cheered and clambered to his feet.

"Mr. Scamander!" Archie sighed in relief as he got to his feet. "Yes, we're OK."

"Brilliant," Newt beamed as he clicked on the radio attached to his harness. "Alright, stop the line." He reached down and picked up the grate at the top of the elevator, setting it to the side. "Let's get you out of here. Henry, you first."

"But Harry's - " Henry began.

Harry shook his head. "Get Henry out."

Archie picked up Henry and held him up to Newt, who bent down and hoisted Henry out of the elevator with one arm. "OK, Henry, you hold on as tight as you can," he ordered. "Harry, you next."

"Coming!" Harry grabbed onto Archie.

"You can do this?" Henry asked in surprise.

Newt chuckled as he hefted Harry out of the elevator as well. "Compared to my day job? This is easy."

"You got them?" Archie asked. "Are they safe?"

Newt adjusted his grip on Harry, then he froze when the elevator groaned. "Archie?" he asked in concern.

The elevator shuddered violently, and Archie gulped. "It's gonna fall!"

Newt looked around frantically, trying to find something for Archie to grab onto. "Can you grab onto the harness?" he asked.

Archie considered, then he set his jaw. "You get them out of here," he ordered. "The boys come first."

"Archie!" the children protested.

"It's OK!" the man smiled at them.

The elevator finally dropped like a stone, and Newt fumbled to slide his wand into his hand. Before he could, though, he grunted in surprise when something latched onto his harness. He wobbled and steadied himself, then he glanced down and burst out laughing. "What the bloody hell is your umbrella made of, Dr. Hopper?"

Harry laughed with glee when he saw Archie dangling from his umbrella, the handle hooked onto one of the carabiners on Newt's harness. "I honestly should figure that out, shouldn't I?" Archie grinned up at them.

Henry cheered happily, and Newt laughed. "Harry, turn on the radio, will you?" Harry reached up and pressed the appropriate button. "I've got them," Newt said. "Bring us up!"

Harry flung his arms around Newt's neck, and Henry tucked his head into the crook of Newt's neck as the line lifted them back towards the surface. "Thank you for coming, Uncle," Harry mumbled.

Newt chuckled. "What kind of uncle would I be if I didn't look after my nephews, little one?" Henry's head shot up, and he looked at Newt with such hope that Newt grinned at him. "If that's OK, of course?"

Henry nodded fervently. "Yes, please!"

Newt laughed, then Harry winced when sunlight nearly blinded him. Cheers erupted around them, then hands so familiar to him grasped him by the waist and hoisted him off of Newt. Harry twisted and plastered himself to his mother, and Emma sobbed in relief as she pulled him to her chest and buried her nose in his hair. "Thank God!"

"Mum!" Harry gripped her jacket tightly.

Regina all but ripped Henry away from Newt and pulled him away from the crowd despite Henry's attempts to wriggle free. Newt watched with narrowed eyes, then he grabbed Queenie's hand and let her help steady him. "Hang on," he told her, bending down and holding out his hand.

Archie grabbed it, and Newt pulled the therapist out of the shaft. Marco was by him in an instant and helped bring Archie to his feet, and the moment Archie staggered onto solid ground, Marco wrapped him in a tight hug. Newt sighed in relief and let Queenie fuss over him, including taking off the harness. "We have another nephew now," he informed her with a dopey grin.

Queenie giggled. "Didn't we have one the moment he entered the bakery?"

"Henry!"

Regina's shout made them look over in worry, but their fears were for naught as Henry crashed into Harry, the poor wizard stumbling back several steps before falling on his back. Gasps echoed around them, but Harry's gleeful laughter stopped any worries. "We made it!" Henry whooped.

Harry entwined around Henry, his grin splitting his face. "Thanks to Uncle Newt!"

Newt playfully bowed, making Emma giggle. "One does their humble best, little one."

Regina's jaw clenched as she watched the boys, but before she could say a word, Emma turned in her path and held her chin high. "There's no harm in letting them play together while we work with the crowd," she said. "Right, Madam Mayor?"

Regina seethed, but she couldn't find any excuse to deny Emma. "In that case, Deputy - " She forced out the word like it was poison. " - you can clear the crowd away."

Emma nodded sharply, and she turned to the two brothers, bending down and putting her hand on Harry's shoulder. "Stick together," she told him. "And stay within eyesight of Newt and Queenie, OK?"

Harry nodded. "OK, Mum."

Emma kissed the top of his head, then she strode towards the civilians crowding around the barricades. Regina watched her leave, then she walked up to Archie, who was brushing gravel off his umbrella. "Thank you, Dr. Hopper," she began.

"I have something to say," Archie interrupted, beckoning her away from the crowd. Regina frowned, then she followed Archie away from the crowd. "I'm gonna continue to treat Henry," Archie told her. "And I'm gonna do it my own way."

Regina frowned in disappointment. "My relief at his safety hasn't changed a thing, Dr. Hopper," she told him. "You will do as I say, or - "

"Or what?" Archie challenged, and Regina did a double take at the steel in his voice. "You'll ruin my life? You'll do your worst? Because I will always do my best."

"Don't test me," Regina warned.

"Oh, I don't need to," Archie shook his head. "Because you're gonna leave me alone and let me do my work in peace."

"Really?" Regina raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"

Archie's grin was unexpected. "Because someday, Madam Mayor, you may find yourself in a custody battle. And you know how the court determines who is a fit parent? They consult an expert . . . particularly one who has treated the child." Regina's blood froze, and it must have shown on her face, for Archie's grin widened and he nodded at her. "So I suggest that you think about that, and you allow me to do my work and let me do it the way my conscience tells me to."

Regina swallowed, and when Archie walked past her to rejoin Marco, she didn't move to stop him.

***

Henry sat on the edge of the crater, backpack at his feet, and he watched Archie eagerly speak with Marco, Pongo's tail hitting their legs as it wagged to and fro. He looked down at his pack, fiddling with its straps sullenly. He didn't look up when he heard the footsteps behind him, nor did he turn when someone sat next to him.

"Magic is a slippery thing, Henry." He looked up in surprise, and Newt smiled at him. "Harry told me what happened in the mine," he told him. "He's telling Emma and Queenie now."

Henry lowered his head. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "He revealed his magic because I took him down there."

"Harry takes whatever family he can get and latches on with no intention of letting go," Newt told him. "It was that way when he met Emma, and it was that way when he met me and Queenie. He would have done whatever it took to keep you safe in that mine." He winked. "It's the Gryffindor in him."

Henry giggled. "He told me he was the Slytherin of the group."

"Well, yes, that's true," Newt nodded. "But he was put in Gryffindor for a reason. They value bravery above all . . . and he was very brave today. As were you."

Henry sighed and lowered his head. "If magic is real, why does Emma not believe in the curse?"

Newt rested his forearms on his legs. "Emma only knew about magic once Harry was in her custody," he said. "And even then, the magic you're describing with this curse is very different from the magic she knows and has worked hard to learn. Emma took on so much when she adopted Harry, and there is so much she's still working to understand. When you came to the bakery and told us all about the curse, she focused on what she knew." Henry frowned and looked down at his hands, and Newt nudged him softly. "We believe there is a curse," he admitted, and Henry looked up at him in delight. "What kind, we don't know . . . and we don't know if it's the exact curse you're describing. But Emma's magic was caged when we first met her . . . and Queenie's sister insists that only a rather dark, powerful curse could possibly trap magic like that for so long."

"I knew it," Henry grinned.

"But Henry, Harry was right when he told you it's dangerous for Muggles to know about magic," Newt leaned forward, eyes sharp. "And it is especially dangerous when it comes to our family. There's more you haven't been told, and it's not for me to tell you. But I can tell you this . . . Emma wanted to keep our magic hidden because a single misstep from us means our entire family is put in danger. Emma, Queenie, me . . . and especially Harry."

Henry's eyes widened. "Why?" he demanded, fear in his voice. "Why is it so dangerous?"

"Because magic is a gift, hon." Henry jumped and looked up as Queenie joined them, a sad smile on the blonde's face. "Some of us treasure it, some of us take it for granted . . . and some of us consider it something to hoard and use for power." She sat down on Newt's other side with a sigh. "Unfortunately, a wizard in the latter category uses magic to do more harm than good. It's how Newt and I came to stick together like glue."

"It's a big mess, kid," Emma said as she sat on Henry's other side, Harry with her. "And I hate messes that I'm stuck with until there's a clear answer how to clean it up." She sighed and turned to Henry. "I'm sorry I never told you," she told him. "But ever since I learned about the Wizarding World, Harry and I have been hiding with Newt and Queenie for his safety. Hiding our magic has become second nature. We still have to do it here." She looked down at her hands and took a deep breath. "When I adopted Harry, I learned a few things that . . . coincide with what I've learned here," she finally said. "And after all this time, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I have no idea what's going on . . . but I know you're not crazy, kid. And we'll figure out what's going on here. I just need to figure myself out, too."

Henry smiled. "OK."

"OK," Emma chuckled and nodded. Laughter came from Marco and Archie, and she tilted her head curiously. "Is Marco Archie's father?" she asked abruptly.

Henry giggled. "No. They're just old friends."

Emma hummed, then she nudged him. "You really scared me," she told him. "Both of you scared me."

"I'm sorry," Henry apologized.

"Me, too," Harry leaned his head on her shoulder.

Emma squeezed their hands, then she looked up as Archie and Marco walked over to them. "I'm glad you're OK, boys," Archie told them.

"Thanks, Archie," Henry beamed.

"Alright," Emma sighed and checked her watch. "We better roll out of here. Apparently, Newt saving you has put us in temporary good graces with your mom, so we get to take you home."

"Yes!" Henry whooped and jumped to his feet.

Queenie brushed off her skirt and accepted Newt's help to her feet, then she paused. "Wait," she craned her neck. "Listen!"

Harry quieted and tilted his head. It was Archie who looked up in wonder. "Crickets!" he breathed.

"They're back," Henry beamed up at Emma. "Things are changing."

***

"Alright, kid," Emma parked in front of the mayor's house. "Home sweet home."

Henry sighed as he climbed out of the bug. "I wish we could have stayed to celebrate with everyone."

"Maybe in the morning," Newt checked his watch. "It's getting late. You better get inside."

"OK," Henry put on his backpack, and he smiled at Harry. "That didn't go how we wanted . . . but I still really enjoyed spending today together."

"Me, too," Harry grinned, pulling Henry in for a hug.

Henry hugged Harry just as tightly. "Thank you for coming with me."

"Any time."

A screech made them back away from each other, and Emma turned sharply. "What was that?"

A dark shape flew across the moon, and Henry squinted. "I think that's the eagle I saw at my session the other night," he answered in surprise.

Queenie blinked. "You said an eagle?"

"Yeah," Henry nodded. "Weird thing is . . . they're not usually seen in Storybrooke."

Newt's eyes narrowed. "They're not?"

"No," Henry shook his head. "And . . . it looked like it was carrying something."

Emma looked at Newt in surprise. "You don't think?" she began.

Newt stepped further into the road and let out an ear-piercing whistle, one that made Henry wince and cover his ears. The whistle was answered by a screech, and the boy's eyes widened with wonder as the eagle dived towards them. Newt held up his fist, and the eagle landed on his hand, fluttering her wings. "Oh, yes," Newt nodded, taking the cream-colored envelope held in the eagle's beak. "I think someone's looking for us."

"Iustitia!" Harry grinned and ran to Newt's side. "She's here! Who wrote to us?"

"Emma?" Newt handed the envelope to her. "It's your title."

"Wait," Henry blinked. "You get your mail . . . from birds?"

"Typically owls," Queenie nodded, placing her hand on Henry's shoulder and leading him towards the group; Newt was digging through his pockets for a reward for the eagle, and Emma was using her pocket knife to open the envelope. "We have an owl named Guinevere, and Harry has a snowy owl named Hedwig that he brings with him to Hogwarts. Our dear friends, the Malfoys, use this eagle named Iustitia."

"That's one of your friends," Henry turned to Harry. "Draco, right?"

"Yeah," Harry nodded with a grin.

Then the rest of Queenie's words registered, and Henry gawked at Emma. "Did Uncle Newt say title?!"

Emma blinked, then she sighed as Newt snickered. "It's a very long story, kid," she said as she removed two sheets of parchment from the envelope. "Let's just say part of why it's so dangerous for us to reveal our magic is because Harry's family is a big deal in the Wizarding World."

"A big deal, she says," Newt smirked at Iustitia, who cawed at him in reply.

Without looking, Emma swatted the back of Newt's head with one of the parchment sheets. "Says the heir to another one of the 'big deal' Houses." She checked the pages, then she smiled and held one out to Harry. "From Draco." Harry cheered in delight and took his letter, and Emma slid the other sheet back into the envelope. "I'll look at that when we get back to Granny's."

"Sounds good," Newt nodded. "We'll bring this beauty back with us. Maine is a long way from Britain."

Iustitia cawed in agreement, then a snuffling sound caught Henry's attention. "Um, Uncle Newt?" he blinked. "Your pocket is moving."

"Hmm?" Newt looked down, and he sighed and extended his hand. "Emma?"

"Yep," Emma smirked as she held out her hand, and Iustitia transferred to her. "Troublemakers, as usual."

"Don't I know it," Newt grumbled as he fished through his pocket, and Henry did a double take when he pulled out Ted, the niffler squealing and thrashing about, trying to free himself from Newt's grasp. "What have you got, you little rascal?" Newt scowled, dangling the niffler upside down and shaking.

Henry yelped and backed away as showers of coins fell out of the niffler's pouch, and he swore he saw one of Queenie's rings bounce on the ground, too. "What is that?" he stared in shock.

"That's a niffler," Harry giggled. "Uncle Newt is a magizoologist - an expert in magical creatures. Looks like a platypus and they love anything shiny like coins, jewelry, gems - "

"Watches, glitter," Emma continued wryly, and Henry looked up to see her grabbing another niffler before it could snatch her necklace. "These two in particular grab anything they can get their hands on."

"They hid in my trunk when I went to Hogwarts at the start of term," Harry giggled as Emma cradled Teenie in her free hand. "I brought them back during the holidays."

Something large finally clattered onto the pavement, and Newt blinked in surprise. "That's new."

Queenie bent and plucked the item from the ground, and she tilted her head. "It looks like glass," she said in surprise.

"Wait!" Henry's eyes widened, and he hurried forward to look intently at the object in Queenie's hand. "We saw something like that in the mines!"

"Yeah, we did," Harry nodded in agreement, seeing the oddly-shaped piece of glass. "We saw a similar piece in the mines before the next collapse happened."

"And we thought we saw something shiny deeper in the mines," Henry added, looking up at the adults. "But after the collapses, we stopped looking."

Queenie frowned. "I have no idea what object this could have come from," she admitted. "But I feel like I've seen it before."

Harry tilted his head and examined the glass. "Me, too," he agreed.

"Well, Henry," Newt folded his arms as he tucked Ted into the crook of his elbow, "it looks like you might have been on to something."

Henry grinned. "I told you so!"

"Now," Queenie held up the glass to the moonlight, a cunning glint in her eye. "We just need to find out exactly what we have here."

***

Harry got to his and his mother's room and immediately jumped onto his bed. He reached into his pocket, found Draco's letter, and ripped it open, seeing his best friend's letter covered both the front and the back.

Haz,

I miss you. I haven't spoken to you in a few weeks, especially since we've been home from Hogwarts. We've tried to Floo call the reserve, but we haven't been getting an answer. Eventually, we realized you weren't home, so we sent letters instead. I hope this got to you alright.

How've you been? I've been alright, I suppose. I saw Mia the other day when we went shopping in Diagon Alley for a day out. She said she hasn't been able to reach you, either. We're getting a little worried about you, Harry. Just reply when you can, okay?

How are Emma, Newt and Queenie? I miss them. And I hope I can come to you this summer. I don't want to go two and a half months without seeing you. I think I'd die without seeing you, and we can't have that. When you have time, give us a Floo call, yeah?

Mum and Father are worried about yours and Emma's magic. Before we left school, your magic was a little haywire, and my parents noticed when we left each other. How've your nightmares been, Haz? I know the last time we Floo called, you said that you were having nightmares, resurfacing memories of your time with that wretched family. I hope you're doing okay.

Has anything interesting happened since we last talked? Give me the details! I'm going to die of boredom here in Britain without you, Mia, and school to occupy me. Seriously, I think I'll die of boredom in the next week and a half if you don't talk to me.

Uncle Remus and Uncle Sev said to tell you they miss you and can't wait to see you again. Remus said he has something for your birthday already, even though it's not for another month and a half. He said "it's something of your Aunt Lily's I thought he'd like", so I hope whatever it is, he's ready for your crushing hug.

Theseus also said hello. He stopped by the other day to talk to Father about something, and he came to see and check on me. He wanted to know if there was any change in our dreams. I think all the adults are worried about what it means for us. I hope it doesn't get bad. It's how I met you, and I'm not ready to let them go yet.

Where there is you, there is us. Always.

Anyway, I miss and love you, Haz. Answer this letter as soon as you can, yeah?

All my love,

Dray

Harry smiled down at the letter and ran his fingers over the words his best friend wrote. The words "where there is you, there is us. Always," made Harry smile dopily, and he flipped onto his back, hugging the letter close to his chest.

"Draco's letter?" Emma asked when she came back out from the bathroom, her hair wet and clad in pajamas, and she smiled at the sight of her son.

"Yeah," was his only response.

Emma raised an eyebrow at the shortness. "Anything interesting?"

Harry shook his head, holding the letter closer to his chest. Emma just shook her head, smiling. She was so glad that her son had a best friend as good as Draco Malfoy.

***

Draco is such a good best friend, isn't he? And now letters are starting to come through . . . oh, and Henry knows!

Some ideas come to us as we write, and as I was writing this chapter, the lightbulb moment that came to me was "it'd be really cool if Newt was the one who went down the mineshaft" . . . and hey, if it means we get big bro Newt and little sis Emma moments, we're all for it!

So next up is an episode I know everyone is likely looking forward to . . . because we are looking forward to it, too! It's time for "The Shepherd," where David's memories finally sort themselves out . . . wonder who gets to shine this time around? ;)

And we love the nifflers. 'Nuff said.

~ Miss Moffat

***

Well...that happened, didn't it? How'd everyone like Draco's letter? I know I was excited to write that part. I was happy with how my portion of this turned out, but it wasn't my best writing or anything.

As always, stay safe, stay sane, and stay cool xx

~Miss Singer <3 <3