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[The video opens and it's at a peaceful little cottage. The video stream was a little shaky because the person holding it was clearly freaking out just a little bit because something just happened that freaked him out considerably.]

U-um.. I was.. I'm watching the cottage, for Mr. Scamander a-and I know I can.. I can reach people on the Network and I don't want to bother him because. I.. I'm sure this is fine but..

It pans over and there's a Braixen, paws on her hips, head tilted curiously at Credence. Really? You were just going to take a video instead of using the gear to see what happened? She just evolved!! She had been struggling against nature for awhile but these things happened, Credence.

Except to Credence they didn't and now Tina was a different creature and he was confused.]

This is... It's a stupid question. I just.. don't know why this happened or how or what to do.

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I. ... Tina is mine...

[ He felt.. awkward now. Though it wasn't surprising, Tina was more suited to Newt wasn't she? She was smart and strong and adapted well and oh, maybe Newt would be better for her..

Tina trots over and takes the gear so she can sit in his lap. Credence lets her hold it and he sets his arms around her like he often did with Modesty back home. ]

I'm glad she ... she felt comfortable.. I don't know what I did though... Will she do this again?

[Whoops. Oh well it was a legit mistake. Newt did have a LOT of pokemon at his cottage. Hermione just assumed Credence would know if his own pokemon had evolved.]

Oh I'm sorry, I just thought that because you referenced Newt's cottage that you were caring for some of his pokemon as well. Well this is even better! See how much she cares about you. You must have a very close bond with your pokemon.

I'm sure she's completely confident in your abilities to care for her in her new form.

[Hermione frowns for a second, studying Braixen.]

She might? Many pokemon have two evolution stages. Some have only one, and some don't evolve at all. The pokegear should be able to tell you if she'll evolve again, and what she'll evolve into.

[ It's okay, Hermione. Credence really wasn't that impressive of a human being. ]

She helps me out a lot.. More than she should need to... But I'm taking care of Mr. Scamander's as well. Tina.. helps a lot there too.

[ Ugh, at least none of Newt's Pokemon had left in a huff over anything. Credence wouldn't have been surprised if they did. ]

Tina, can you show me again..?

[ Tina toddles over, taking the gear. She messes with it a little, turning off the sound so it just had the words and she sits next to him to show him. ]

Okay.. so this.. says she's a .. b.. Bry-ax-en..? I think? And will become a Delp-hox. Right?

[ Tina doesn't care that he's mispronouncing everything. She just nods and smiles happily. ]

I'm sure Tina enjoys helping you - if she didn't want to help, I'm sure she wouldn't, isn't that right Tina?

She's helping you because you're her friend and she wants to support you just like you support her. That's what friends are for after all.

[A pang of homesickness hits Hermione hard as she thinks about Harry and Ron. She forces the feeling down - she's trying to help Credence after all. If he's observant, he may have seen a swift look of pain in her eyes before she conceals it.]

I'd be happy to be your friend and help you too. I'm Hermione Granger.

[ Credence understood pain well enough to catch it but.. Perhaps she didn't want anyone to know. It would be better not to point it out, wouldn't it? ]

Credence... Credence Barebone. I only just.. arrived. I stay with Mr. Scamander mostly, I.. I'm not very good at any of this. He's teaching me quite a bit, but.. he's not here right now.

[ Obviously, or else Credence wouldn't have been panicking. Why did these things have to happen now? ]

[Hermione gives Credence an understanding smile.]

I've only been here a few weeks myself, don't worry. It's all very overwhelming. Mr Scamander has been extremely helpful to me as well. He has a wonderful way with creatures, it really is marvellous to watch.

In fact, I couldn't believe someone else from my world was here. I thought I was the only one, so it was a huge relief when I met Newt.

[ Tina turns quickly, tugging on Credence's arm. She was from his world too! Tell her, tell her! ]

He's a good man.. he.. Apparently we had met in our world.. We're... I mean, I'm from there as well.

[ She wouldn't know him, he wanted to say. It wasn't as if Credence could really bring anything to the table. ]

Are you.. magical..? Like he is? A wizard?

[Hermione blinks and then takes a surprised inhale.]

Wait, you knew him from back home? Oh my goodness that's wonderful! But your accent sounds American...that means he must have met you while he was travelling, which probably makes you much much older than me. I mean, the time where I'm from me... Oh goodness this is getting confusing.

[Hermione takes a second to collect her thoughts.]

What I mean to say is that I'm from a period of time in the future in our world. The 1990s to be exact.

And yes, I'm a witch. Are you a wizard as well?

[ She had no idea how confused Credence was daily. So many animals, so many things he wasn't used to seeing and the different people especially. Credence was so exceedingly out of his element. ]

Ah.. Um.. I'm from.. the 20s..? 1926, actually..

[ Credence looks down into his lap, running his fingers over Tina's fur gently. ]

I'm.. not. I'm not yet, I mean. Mr. Graves, a friend, he said he would teach me how to be a wizard.

Oh that's the period of time Newt Scamander was in America doing research for his book, which mean you must have crossed paths with him around that time. This is all just fascinating! I'd love to hear what America was like back then.

[Hermione frowns. That doesn't sound right.]

But...I mean you're either born a witch or wizard or you aren't. It's not something you just learn, otherwise anyone could do it.

Perhaps he meant he'd teach you how to use your magic, which, given he's told you about the magical world, must mean that you are one. A wizard, I mean.

Do you have a wand?

I'm not sure when we.. I mean, I don't remember, he's from a little ahead of me... Um..

[ Wait what? Now.. Credence was more confused. Either born one or not? Well, he supposed that made sense but wouldn't he have noticed if he had magical power..? ]

Oh, maybe.. That could.. be it, I'm not sure how to tell.. I don't, no.. I'm.. I wouldn't be allowed to have one, where I live.. do you need one?

[ Tina lifts her tail, holding up her stick to look at then looks up at Credence. Well, she could give you her stick if it made you feel better, Credence! ]

[Hermione can tell Credence seem to be more and more unsure and confused, and attempts to explain further. Teaching hat initiated!]

Don't worry. I had no idea I had any kind of magical ability until I got a letter from the headmistress of the magical school in Britain - both my parents are muggles...er...that means they don't have any magic at all. They're just regular humans.

Wizards and witches who have parents who are also wizards and witches have an advantage - it's much more likely that they'll also have magical abilities, and they know about it from a very young age.

People like you and I usually have no idea unless we're told about it, although more unusual or strange things tend to happen around someone with magic. It's called accidental magic. It doesn't happen to everyone, but sometimes your magic will just sort of...burst out unexpectedly without you realising you've done magic.

So you see, you don't need a wand, but it helps to channel and focus your magic.

[Hermione gives Credence an encouraging smile.]

There are very strict laws about revealing the presence of magic to non-magicals, so it's highly likely that you do have it, or this Mr Graves wouldn't have told you about magic in the first place.

I... was adopted, my mother was... Ma says she was wicked, that was all... but Ma, she.. hates magic.

[ He furrowed his brow. Maybe that's why she.. focused on him more than his sisters. She knew that there was a potential there..? Could she know that? She doesn't seem to, but he remembered he'd found that wand and Ma was so angry..

Oh he had to go back to that point didn't he... ]

I've never.. noticed anything. There are strange things that happen, in New York, but nothing... nothing that's me.. Mr. Graves said there was a special child in the home I live in so it could... It could just be them if it's anything strange anyway... If there's a school... would I have gotten anything?

[Oh boy that was a lot to take in. Credence's background sounded similar to Harry's, and Hermione felt a twinge of pity for him. However there were a few glaring obvious points in his comments that she felt she had to address as gently and tactfully as she could.]

Um... Have you ever considered that perhaps your foster mother said those things because she believed your mother had magic? My friend... his parents were killed by an evil wizard when he was a baby, and he was taken care of by his relatives who hated magic as well. They never told him that his parents had magic, but they made it very clear that they despised both him and his parents.

Also... Perhaps you are the child Mr Graves is referring to?

I.. I thought so in the past, but.. I never questioned it. It's better not to... show interest. She would get angry.

[ He was wringing his hands gently, looking nervous. Tina was trying to calm him down with soft paw pats. ]

I'm sorry... about your friend's parents.. that's.. horrible.. I didn't even think there were evil wizards but.. I suppose there are evil people too..

N-no, no, I don't think so. He would.. he surely would have told me or could have been able to tell, he said it wouldn't be... too hard..

That's completely understandable. It's about self preservation.

[She gives him a gentle smile. It's obviously a hard topic for him.]

Unfortunately it's just like politics. Those with power can easily abuse it. Which is one of the reasons that they set up magical schools - to teach children to control their abilities, but also to highlight the seriousness and responsibilities of having magic. But of course, you still get those 'bad apples' so to speak.

Despite everything he's been through, Harry is still courageous and kind. He befriended me when everyone else just ignored me or teased me.

[Hermione didn't want to push it, but she still thought it was odd that Mr Graves didn't confirm Credence's abilities before offering to teach him. Maybe it was different back then?]

[ Credence only knew the politicians that Mary Lou interacted with and they weren't exactly fans of the Second Salemers. It didn't help that they talked about witches and wizards and to everyone else they didn't exist. ]

A school sounds really.. really nice.. And Harry does too. He sounds..

[ Like maybe someone Credence could meet and be friends with as well. That was a comfort, the idea of making more friends that were like Mr. Graves. ]

I'm sorry... that people were cruel to you.

[Hermione smiled warmly. It was sweet the way that he cared for others' feelings.]

They weren't exactly cruel. Just mean. They used to say some hurtful things. [Well, Malfoy and his cronies still did but she'd learnt to ignore him.]

I tried to ignore it for the most part, but it still hurt. I didn't really have a proper friend until I met Harry. He's a very genuine and caring person. I think you two would get along wonderfully.

And Hogwarts is fantastic. I'm worried that I'm missing my studies while here but people have assured me that no time will have passed once I return. I certainly hope that's the case.

[ Being mean and being cruel didn't seem too far off from one another when you were the victim. Credence had dealt with plenty of mean people and their words felt biting and cruel for no reason. ]

S-So I'm told.. that time stops... Ma was angry with me when I suddenly came here. I wouldn't want her to be angrier because I disappeared. If she'd even let me back into the house.

[ Vanishing was very much like witchcraft, wasn't it? ]

I'm glad you have Harry.. It's good to have a friend, when things are difficult.

[Hermione gives him a sympathetic look. It was like when Harry knew he had to go back to his relatives for the summer.]

That will be difficult I'm sure. Perhaps you can contact Mr Scamander when you return? I'm sure he'd be more than happy to help you.

She might not notice you were gone, or perhaps Mr Graves could obliviate her memory?

[Hermione was definitely grateful she had Ron and Harry for friends. They'd been through a lot together already]

Have you got a best friend back home?

M-Maybe.. if.. if he would want to talk to me back there. But.. Mr. Graves did say he shouldn't.. he can't interact with.. with a Muggle, so...

[ Or whatever they were called. The word had stood out to Credence as particularly strange from such a distinguished man. ]

Ah.. .. um...

[ What could count as a friend? ]

Mr. Graves is a friend... and Modesty, my little sister, she and I get along well. Better than my other sister and I at least...

Well, I'm glad you have people you can turn to for help at least. It's important to have a support network. I didn't really understand that until I met my friends.

Maybe...we could exchange numbers and keep in contact?

[Hermione looks hopeful. She hadn't really made any friends here yet...and Credence seemed really nice.]

[She wanted to stay in contact? That surprised him. He hadn't exactly made a great first impression. He needed to learn not to over analyze these things though.]

O-of course.. I would like that, thank you...

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It'll be fun when these two actually meet ^^

She'll have to visit the cottage :3

Good thing there's a party to attend!

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