After learning the truth about the briefcase swap, Elenora handed Newt his briefcase with a sigh. "Here, Newt, I guess this belongs to you," she said, shaking her head at all the confusion the cases had caused.
Turning to Orion, she asked, "So, where's my briefcase? Do I need to track down this Jacob to get it back?"
Orion held up a hand to stop her. "No need, Elenora. I already have your briefcase," he said, pulling it out from behind him. "I went by Jacob's place and took it with me. With all the swapping going on, I wanted to make sure it was safe. And just in case it had something magical inside, I didn't want it to end up in the wrong hands."
Elenora internally panicked, though it was fine if a Non-Maj saw it. He didn't understand what was inside it a wizard. Someone like John, Elenora was anxious.
'Did he look what was inside the briefcase.' Elenora clenched her hands.
Though this had been a problem ever since she lost her briefcase but only now that she was getting this much anxious.
Elenora eternally though looked relieved and reached out for her briefcase. "Thank you, Orion. I thought I'd lost it for good."
Orion handed it to her with a nod. "I understand how important it is to keep your belongings safe, especially if they hold anything valuable or magical. After seeing the havoc caused by Newt's creatures, I figured it was better to be cautious."
Elenora gave him a grateful smile. "I appreciate it. I didn't realize how far this situation had spiraled until now. Hopefully, this is the last time any of us have to deal with briefcase mix-ups."
Newt chuckled lightly. "It's been quite an adventure, hasn't it?"
Orion smiled too. "Indeed. Now that everyone has what belongs to them, we can focus on the real matters at hand.." Orion was saying, planning to end the talk and get a chance to talk with Newt in alone but before that he heard a voice.
Not only him but almost everyone who were their heard this voice.
"Help… someone, help!" the voice cried, muffled but unmistakably pleading.
Everyone froze, exchanging confused and concerned looks. Elenora stared down at her briefcase, her hands shaking slightly. She was visibly anxious, her mind racing. Had someone somehow gotten trapped inside her briefcase? But she had no idea who, or how that would be possible.
"Elenora…" Newt started, his eyes serious. "Is there… someone in your briefcase?"
The voice cried out again, louder this time, "Please, get me out of here!"
People nearby began to give Elenora strange, suspicious looks. It was clear they thought she might be hiding someone inside her magical case.
Tina, also looking concerned, asked, "Elenora, if someone's in there, we have to get them out."
Elenora's face flushed with embarrassment and worry. She had no idea who could be in there. She hadn't put anyone inside, and her case was supposed to be safe and secure. But the urgency in the voice left her no choice.
'If only I had strong magic, then I could have put some pivacy enchantments on it...' never she felt the helplessness of having so weak magic more than today.
"Elenora," Orion said firmly, stepping in. "Explain this. Is someone trapped in your briefcase?"
Elenora shook her head, clearly as bewildered as everyone else. "I… I don't know! I haven't put anyone in here, I swear!"
The voice cried out again, now desperate, "Anymore, can anyone hear me!"
Seeing that there was no other choice, and with everyone staring expectantly, Elenora took a deep breath, her hand hovering uncertainly over the case latch. She glanced up at Orion, Newt, and the others, her voice barely a whisper. "Alright. I'll open it."
She unlocked the briefcase with a click and slowly lifted the lid. The group held their breath, peering inside as she carefully opened it. At first, it looked empty, but then, from the depths of the briefcase, a small figure began to emerge, blinking at the sudden light.
It was Jacob.
His eyes were wide with relief, and he scrambled to the edge, breathing hard. "Thank goodness! I thought I'd be stuck in there forever!"
The entire group stared at him, dumbfounded. Newt looked like he was suppressing laughter, while Tina raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
"Jacob?" Orion managed, still processing. "How… how did you get in...?" Orion was saying but as he was saying he remembered that he didn't saw Jacob back then when he get this Briefcase.
Jacob shook his head, still a bit dazed. "I… I don't know! I just opened it, thought I'd stored some of my baking in there, and suddenly… whoosh! I was falling into this… Magic Manor! Brooms flying around, talking paintings… I didn't know what was going on!" Clearly, the man was babbling at this point.
Orion crossed his arms, an embarrassed smile breaking through his usually stoic expression. "This the muggle I talked about, apparently it seems like he got stuck inside before I went there to get the briefcase back."
"So you are saying this man was inside their ever since yesterday !." Newt asked.
Tina shook her head in disbelief, a smirk tugging at her lips. "What a simple Briefcase swap could do...."
Jacob finally looked around, realizing he was outside again and with all these unfamiliar faces. "I thought I was lost in some magical mansion forever!.... I ... I" he exclaimed, scratching his head. Looking very confused but Orion didn't let that continue. He wave his hands calm the man down.
"What you do." Tina was alarmed, suddenly realizing just what kind of man she was sitting in front of. He was nothing less than an Dark Lord. Maybe worst.
"Nothing.. just calm him down for the time being..." Orion shook his head and let Jacob sit and relax for the time being.
Orion looked back at Elenora. He was now interested in knowing what was inside that Briefcase.
'A magical Manor he said' Orion wondered, his curiosity was getting strong to see what's inside but seeing how the woman was protecting the Briefcase it was something important to her so he didn't express what he was thinking.
xxx
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