The salon was held beneath a closed pharmacy in Bucharest's old town.
Cordelia had not come. She claimed she wanted to stay at the Reserve to learn how to care for fire dragons from Charlie, and told Gavin to pick her up afterward.
In truth, though, she did not want to say another word to either Gavin or Newt for the time being.
It was billed as a "charity fundraising dinner," but when Gavin descended the stairs, he found something more like an exclusive, high-level academic salon.
More than a dozen wanted portraits of Deepwater Group members were posted on the wall by the entrance.
Beside each portrait were a bounty, confirmed crimes, and the person's last known location.
Three black-framed photographs hung at the turn in the staircase, with the names of Chiron members killed in Deepwater attacks written beneath them.
A golden banner hung at the front of the venue:
[Our thanks to Mr. Newt Scamander for destroying the evil Deepwater stronghold and uncovering the truth behind the missing Aurors.]
As soon as the two of them stopped, a woman with short, silver-gray hair approached them through the crowd.
She wore dark green Healer robes with a silver centaur badge pinned to her chest, and radiated a forceful, no-nonsense presence.
Intimidated by her bearing, Newt did not dare look her in the eye at first.
"Viorica Stancu, Romanian Branch President." She stopped in front of Newt and introduced herself.
Rather than offer a business card, she went straight to the matter that concerned her most.
"Mr. Scamander, how are the animals rescued from the Deepwater stronghold last night?" There were no pleasantries in her voice, only genuine concern, which instantly brought them closer. "The Society's three veterinary hospitals cleared their beds overnight. They're ready to receive any severely