They arrive in a hospital with white walls and ceilings and healers looking harried as they rush around. Newt thinks American hospitals look rather much like British ones, all up, and then turns to see Tina talking in a low voice with the receptionist, a blonde witch who makes a face until Tina pulls out her Auror badge. "All right, you can go," she says, "but it's on you."

"Yes," Tina says, "I know. Come on," she directs at him, and Newt follows her down the busy hallways.

He isn't quite sure what to expect when Tina pushes open a door, but is still surprised to see Grindelwald - no, Graves - sitting in a hospital bed, frowning over paperwork. He looks up when they enter, his gaze sweeping over Tina, and she says, brightly, "Welcome back, sir!"

"Goldstein," he says. "I heard you were transferred out of the Department."

"...well," she says, "yes, but I still wanted to welcome you back, sir." She suddenly shoves Newt forward, and Newt yelps and stumbles a little on his feet. "And this is Newt Scamander, sir, I'm not sure if you read the reports on Grindelwald's capture but - "

"Yes, yes," Graves says, "a mess all around, I heard." He looks at Newt, and Newt looks back and -

It feels like his heart stops, for just a moment, before it starts beating again. Newt feels suddenly, strangely faint. " - from Theseus. You're a magizoologist?"

Still unsteady, Newt says, "Ah, yes?"

"Hm," Graves says. Newt scans his face for something, anything. It wasn't what they said, the rush of colour and the feel of coming home, but Newt is reeling because he never thought he'd have anything at all. Graves's eyebrows are furrowed slightly in his frown, but he looks over Newt like he's just anyone else. Maybe Newt's wrong. "And why, precisely, did you bring him here, Goldstein?"

Newt's brought back to the present by the question, and he finds he's rubbing at his chest, the feeling like a burn. He glances at Tina, who says, "Well, sir, Mr. Scamander was instrumental in Grindelwald's reveal and thus your release from his, uh - "

"In fewer words, Goldstein," Graves says. He rubs his temples, and Newt wants to - wants to - but no. He's probably wrong.

"Mr. Scamander doesn't have all his permits, sir, and I was hoping you might be able to - to sign this, sir?"

Graves looks over the form she shoves in his face, taking it from her with raised eyebrows, and Newt still feels like he's half-suspended in the air. "I see," he says. "Mr. Scamander, what is your purpose in visiting New York?"

"I wanted to, uh, buy an Appaloosa Puffskein?" Newt flicks a glance to Tina who's shaking her head vigorously. "I mean, um..."

"They're illegal," Graves says. Newt winces.

"That is, I was planning on it until I found that out," he says, quickly. "Now I'm just waiting for my creatures to settle down after that bit of excitement and we'll all be ready to go back home."

Graves looks at him, and Newt, flushing, ducks his head and tries to look anywhere else. "Do you have a list of the creatures you've brought into this country?"

"...no?" Newt adds, "They're not dangerous at all, I swear, and they won't cause any more trouble - "

"Mr. Scamander," Graves says. "It's exceedingly difficult for me to sign off on a waiver when it's unclear if you're participating in or going to participate in - " and he checks the list, "import, export, breeding, magical contamination, import or export of infectious diseases, release of foreign animals - "

"Oh, no," Newt says, quickly. "None of that, I swear."

" - or smuggling parts," Graves finishes. "Are you sure, Mr. Scamander?"

"Yes," Newt says. "I'm - I'm quite sure."

Graves studies him for a long moment. Newt sneaks a glance at him, the dark fall of his hair, the shadows under his eyes, and when he finally meets Graves's gaze it's not like the first time, but there's something curling warm in his chest. Newt bites his lip and watches Graves's eyes drop to the form.

He says, "Very well, then, Mr. Scamander," and signs his name with a flourish before presenting it back to Newt. "How long will you be in the country?"

"I... I'm not sure yet, sir. Mr. Graves," he corrects himself, quickly. "And, ah, you can just call me Newt."

He can feel his face heat at Graves's raised eyebrows. "Well, Newt, I do hope you restrain from causing more trouble for MACUSA while you're here. Was that all, Goldstein?"

Tina startles a little, says, "Yes, sir." She pauses, looking at Graves for a moment, and says, "It is good to see you again, sir."

"Flattering me won't make me more likely to transfer you back, Goldstein," Graves says. "Get out of here. And... thank you both."

He's looking at Newt when he says it, and Newt meets his eyes again, wondering at the lingering warmth when they Apparate away.