Newt won't meet your eyes, fingers fidgeting with his napkin. The restaurant is lovelyâcandles, white tablecloths, the sort of place normal people bring dates. But Newt has never been normal, and watching him try is somehow worse than if he hadn't tried at all.
"What makes you say that?"
"I've talked about Mooncalf mating habits for twenty minutes." His ears are red. "And doxy dental structure. And you haven't touched your food because I keepâI'm doing it again, aren't I?"
You reach across the table, stilling his restless hands. "Newt."
He finally looks up, blue-green eyes anxious behind falling curls.
"I asked you to dinner because I wanted to spend time with you. That includes the Mooncalf expertise."
"Most people find it tedious."
"I'm not most people." You squeeze his fingers. "Though I am wondering why you chose here instead of somewhere you'd actually enjoy."
He blinks. "This is where people go on proper dates. Pickett saidâ" He stops, looking mortified. "I took romantic advice from a Bowtruckle."
Your laugh startles both of you. "What did Pickett suggest?"
"Flowers. Candlelight. Trying not to talk about creatures." Newt's smile is self-deprecating. "I managed one out of three."
"The flowers are lovely," you assure him, nodding at the slightly wilted bouquet he'd thrust at you earlierâclearly picked from someone's garden. "But next time, take me somewhere you love. Show me your world, not what you think I want to see."
His expression transformsâhope and relief and something warmer. "There's a Kelpie sanctuary outside the city. It's not romantic, exactly, butâ"
"It sounds perfect."
"Really?"
"Really."
Newt's smile is sunshine breaking through clouds. "I'd like that very much."
â When Newt's Niffler keeps stealing your locket, he finally admits the creature has excellent taste.
The Niffler had stolen your locket again.
This was the third time this week, and you were beginning to suspect it wasn't entirely accidental. Newt's creatures had personalitiesâdistinct, complex onesâand this particular Niffler had decided, for reasons known only to itself, that you were worth stealing from.
"I'm terribly sorry," Newt said for the third time, carefully extracting the locket from the Niffler's pouch while the creature chittered indignantly. "He's usually very well-behaved about only taking things from my pockets."
"It's fine," you said, watching the way Newt's fingers movedâgentle, practiced, respectful of the creature even while disciplining it. "Though I'm starting to think he likes me."
Newt glanced up, and there was something soft in his eyes. "He has excellent taste."
The words were so quietly sincere that you almost missed them. Almost.
You'd been working with Newt for six months now, cataloguing his creatures, helping him organize his research for the book he was always talking about writing but never quite seemed to start. It was supposed to be temporaryâa few weeks, maybe a month, just until he found someone more qualified.
But Newt had a way of making temporary feel permanent, of making you feel essential in ways that had nothing to do with qualifications.
"Here," he said, holding out the locket. But instead of simply handing it to you, he hesitated. "May I?"
You nodded, confused, and watched as he carefully fastened it around your neck, his fingers barely brushing your skin. He was close enough that you could see the freckles scattered across his nose, the way his hair curled slightly at the temples.
"There's a charm on this," he said quietly, still focused on the clasp. "Protection magic. Old. Powerful. Did you know?"
"It was my grandmother's."
"She must have loved you very much." He stepped back, finally meeting your eyes. "The Niffler can sense it. The magic. He's drawn to powerful things, but more than that, he's drawn to things that matter. Things that are treasured."
Your heart did something complicated.
"Newt," you started, but he was already moving away, back to the Niffler, using the creature as a shield the way he always did when conversations turned personal.
"Right, yes, back you go," he murmured, gently depositing the Niffler back into its enclosure. "And no more stealing. I mean it this time."
The Niffler made a sound that suggested it absolutely did not mean it.
You watched Newt move through his caseâthis impossible space he'd created, full of creatures and habitats and magic that defied explanation. He belonged here, you thought. Among things that were misunderstood, underestimated, seen as dangerous or inconvenient by people who didn't bother to look closer.
"Newt," you said again, more firmly this time.
He paused, his back to you, shoulders tense.
"Why did you really ask me to stay? Six months ago, when my temporary position ended?"
"I told you. I needed help with the documentation."
"You're perfectly capable of documenting on your own. You've been doing it for years."
"Yes, well." He turned slowly, and there was color high on his cheeks. "The creatures like you."
"The creatures."
"They're excellent judges of character." He was fidgeting with his wand now, rolling it between his fingers. "Better than I am, certainly. They knew immediately that you wereâthat youâ"
He stopped, jaw working, clearly fighting with himself.
You stepped closer. "That I was what?"
"Important," he said quietly. "They knew you were important. The Niffler steals from you because he wants your attention. The Bowtruckle only lets you hold him. The Occamy rearranges herself to fit in your hands specifically." He swallowed hard. "And IâI knew it too. That you were important. I just didn't know how to say it."
Your breath held.
"I'm not good at this," he continued, the words coming faster now, like he was afraid he'd lose his nerve. "At talking. At people. I spend most of my time with creatures because they make sense in ways that humans don't. But youâyou make sense to me. The way you move through the habitats, the way you speak to the creatures, the way you organize my notes without making me feel incompetent." He finally met your eyes, and the vulnerability there was staggering. "The way you look at me like I'm not strange. Like I'm just... Newt."
"You are just Newt," you said softly.
"Most people find that disappointing."
"I don't."
He let out a shaky breath. "The Niffler steals your locket because it's precious. Because it matters. And Iâ" He stopped, looking away. "I keep asking you to stay for the same reason."
The confession hung between you, fragile and honest.
You closed the distance between you, and he watched you approach like you were a creature he hadn't fully studied yetâcurious, cautious, hopeful.
"Newt Scamander," you said, reaching up to cup his face, feeling him lean into your touch like he'd been starving for it. "Are you telling me I'm your queen of hearts?"
He blinked, confused. "Iâwhat?"
You laughed softly. "The Niffler steals hearts. Shiny things, precious things. You're saying I'm the thing worth stealing."
Understanding dawned in his expression, followed by something that looked almost like wonder. "Yes," he breathed. "Yes, exactly that. You're the thing worthâI would steal you, if I could. Keep you here. Not in a case, obviously, that would be terrible, but justâhere. With me. If you wanted."
"What if I told you that you don't have to steal me?" You brushed your thumb across his cheekbone, watching his eyes flutter closed. "What if I told you I'd stay willingly?"
His eyes opened, wide and green and disbelieving. "You would?"
"I have been. For six months or else I wouldnât be here."
"Iâ" He laughed, surprised and a little breathless. "I thought you were just being kind. Patient with the strange man and his creatures."
"You're not strange. You're extraordinary." You leaned closer, watching his breath catch. "And I'm not being patient. I'm being selfish. I stay because I want to. Because watching you with your creatures is like watching magic happen. Because you see the world differently and it makes me see it differently too. Becauseâ"
He kissed you.
It was unpracticed and a little clumsy and absolutely perfectâthe kiss of someone who'd spent more time with creatures than people but was trying, really trying, to be brave.
When he pulled back, he looked dazed.
"I've wanted to do that for four months, two weeks, and three days," he admitted. "Not that I was counting."
"You were absolutely counting."
"I was completely counting." His smile was crooked, shy. "I have a whole journal entry about the exact moment I realized I was in love with you. It was when you sang to the Mooncalves. They'd been agitated, and you justâyou started humming, and they calmed immediately, and I thought, 'oh, this is it. This is the person I want to document creatures with for the rest of my life.'"
Your heart felt too large for your chest. "That's possibly the most Newt Scamander declaration of love I could imagine."
"Is that bad?"
"It's perfect." You kissed him again, softer this time. "Though for the record, I've been in love with you since the first week, when you apologized to an Erumpent for disturbing its nap."
He flushed, delighted and embarrassed. "That was just common courtesy."
"That was adorable."
From somewhere in the case, the Niffler chittered approvingly, and you both laughed.
"So," Newt said, his hands settling tentatively at your waist like he wasn't quite sure he was allowed. "You'll stay? Not temporarily?"
"Not temporarily," you confirmed. "Though you should probably warn the Niffler that he can't steal from me anymore."
Newt glanced toward the enclosure, then back at you, and his smile was pure mischiefâa rare expression that made him look younger, lighter.
"Actually," he said, "I think I'll let him keep trying. He has excellent taste, after all."
oh my god dude you're gonna LOVE newt hes so insanely cute.. thinking abt childhood best friends to lovers with him and learning how to navigate a relationship and then sex... both reader and newt nervously stumbling over eachother in bed trying to figure out what feels good for eachother.. getting to fuck him nice and slow while he tries not to ramble and bring up random creature-related stuff he thinks of.. kissing his freckles and checking in every 2 seconds because!!! hes so!!! ANYWAYS i feel you probably get it by now but have fun watching the movies.. they're so fire
SYPNOSIS: gentle (clumsy) sex with your nerdy boyfriend
CHARACTER: male reader x newt scamander
NOTE: for the life of me, i swear i couldnât figure out how the fuck to write reader awkward. I TRIED.
p.s. requests are always open!!
WC: 1.3k
WARNING: both reader and newt are awkward as hell,, soft, gentle sex,, worried!reader,, fingering,, spit as lube,,
you had known newt scamander since the two of you were small boys sneaking dragon-scale beetle wings into potions class and pretending you werenât secretly terrified of boggarts. hogwarts had come and gone, and though most people drifted apart, you and newt never did. maybe it was the way he talked about creatures like they were people. or maybe it was the way he looked at you like you were one of a kind.
even after the war, after the travels and letters and long silences that werenât really silence at all.. you found your way back to each other.
you had known him forever. but kissing him for the first time on a rainy tuesday, both of you shivering in soaked coats and awkward laughter, that was new. Being in love with him â that was new.
newtâs back hit the mattress with a soft whumph, curls haloed around his head, lips pink and already kiss-bruised. his vest had been tossed somewhere in the corner, his shirt hanging open, and chest rising and falling like heâd just sprinted through a storm. you slowly kissed down his jaw, his throat, his collarbone; pausing at every freckle like you had all the time in the world to learn him by heart. âi feel like my mindâs going to split in half,â he whispered, voice thin and wavering. âI keep thinking aboutâ aboutâ bloody mooncalves and whether this is normal forââ you smiled against his chest. âyou can talk about mooncalves later.â newt let out a helpless sort of laugh that turned into a shaky gasp when your hand slid down his chest, fingers grazing the trail of hair below his navel. his thighs tensed, and you paused again, looking up to meet his eyes. âyou, uh, okay?â
âyes- yes, mhm.â he got out, blinking excessively as he stared at you. it didnât take long for you to strip him, and yourself, so now here he laid beneath you, in all his glory. when you finally touched newt, fully, his hips jerked like heâd been struck with lightning, head tipping back into the pillow. he was already so hard, leaking at the tip, and the warmth of your hand coaxing him into a slow rhythm had him trembling. your name spilled from his lips and for the first time ever, you felt like your name was holy. the way he sounded lit a fire within you, and he just kept spurring you on, feeding that flame. you stroked him slowly, lazily, still unsure if he liked it, but it was just enough to keep him gasping, flushed and twitching under you. âfeel good?â you muttered softly, a small bit of anxiety washing over you as you waited for the answer. âuh-huh, uh-huhââ newt rambled out, his fingers clenching in the sheets. then you decided to experiment, pressing your thumb to the slit of his cock, and he made a sound that was practically a whimper, one hand flying to cover his mouth.
âyouâreâ ahâ very good at that,â he breathed. you let out a small, appreciative chuckle, kissing the crease where his hip met thigh. âyou make it.. easy.â by the time you slicked your fingers, newt was so worked up he was trembling, continuing to grab at the sheets like he was about to fall off the edge of the world. easing a finger in, he gasped soundlessly, thighs tensing. he felt as if the silence was stifling, so his eyes darted to the side. âiâve uhm- read a few things,â he muttered, ears going red. âsome diagrams. diagrams are very helpful.â you smiled, nuzzling under his jaw. âiâd rather explore the subject.. hands-on.â he made a sound, half laugh, half gasp when your lips pressed to the soft spot under his ear. âoh..â newt just muttered, staring at the ceiling wide eyed. you started thrusting your finger in and out, slowly, letting him adjust. he did his best to keep his breath even, focusing so hard that he almost started dissociating.
when you eased another finger in to prep him properly (you didnât really know what you were doing, you were too worried), he made a panicked little noise like he had just startled a hippogriff. you curled your fingers, experimentally once again, watching newtâs face intently. âOHâ Iâ Iâ fuck,â he squeaked, voice cracking. âmerlin, donât stopâ pleaseâ iâll name a niffler after youââ your eyes lit up at his tone. so that felt good. curling your fingers again, newt mewled helplessly, arching his back when you added a third one. âoh bugger,â he gasped. âitâs a bit- bit strangeâ like, ah, being filled..? i donât think that makes any sense, iâm sorryââ
after a bit more prepping, you slowly lined the tip of your cock to newtâs hole. you didnât push in, just looked at him. âyou- youâre ready, right? you sure youâre okay?â you asked softly, fingers just brushing against the inside of his wrist. he nodded quickly, a little too fast. âyesâ yes, I justâ erâ this is rather uncharted territory for me.â you smiled softly in response, keeping your composure. âfor me too.â when you pressed in and pushed your cock half way in, newt was writhing, and rambling. âdid you knowâ uhm, some nifflers purr when you stroke just under their ears?â he said, breath hitching when you kissed the spot below his jaw. âiâll make sure to keep that in mind.â you breathed out, sinking in the rest of the way, both of you gasping like you were coming apart at the seams.
he was so tight, his gummy walls sucking you in, clenching around you tightly, his breath catching in his throat, mouth open but silent. you froze. âokay?â you asked, barely holding on. âmhm,â he hummed lowly, face scrunched up. âjustâ slow..â you kissed his lips as you started to move, keeping the rhythm unhurried, every thrust deep and smooth. newt clung to you, legs wrapped around your waist, hips shifting to meet you every time you sank back into him. and god, he felt so good. every little gasp, every moan, every time he said your name like he couldnât believe this was real. you kissed along his jaw, whispered how good he felt, how beautiful he looked like this. you kept rolling your hips, slow and deep, dragging yourself out and pressing back in again until newt was shaking, his words tumbling out in a mess of half-formed thoughts. âthis isâ better than mating dancesâ those are very involved, some creatures take hours toâ ah..â donât laugh, Iâm trying to stayâ haah!â intellectual aboutâ oh bloody hell, right there..â you captured his lips in a sloppy yet tender kiss, your thrusts steady, slow, filling him again and again until all he could do was gasp and moan, fingers digging into your back. he huffed softly, chest heaving, clearly trying not to preen. âsuppose some creatures present similarly when breeding... fire-crabs, for example, often arch their backs andâ nghhgg!ââ newt cut himself off. at first you thought something was wrong. ânewt? too much?â you murmured softly. âthereâ hell- again, again.â he urged you in a desperate tone, clutching you closer. your cock prodded at his prostate again and he was blissed out. a couple moments later of that same deep, steady rhythm, he came untouched, crying out your name, his cock spilling between your stomachs, body clenching so tightly around you that it dragged your orgasm out of you too â deep, hot, spilling inside him as you groaned his name into his mouth. you collapsed over him, panting, bodies slick with sweat, completely tangled. âthat wasââ he began, voice hoarse. âastounding,â you finished for him, brushing sweaty curls off his forehead.
âi.. was going to say impossibly filthy, but yes. that too.â
Summary: Theseus Scamander x Hufflepuff!Reader -> At school, Newt Scamander was your best friend. But despite that, you never really got along with his brother. Until you eventually did.
Disclaimer: Fluff, best-friend's brother, rivals/friends to lovers, partly reader falls first-he falls harder. Slight spoilers for Crimes of Grindlewald. Reader works in Muggle Artifices, physical touch love language, reader helps Theseus through grief, sprinkle of angst, happy ending.
You found it odd, really. Being able to get along with one brother, but not the other.Â
Since attending Hogwarts and being sorted into your house, youâd found peace in very few people. Being muggle born, but having magical powers wasnât exactly common.Â
âI canât believe they even let her in,â whispered one Slytherin girl as you walked down the hallway.Â
âI canât believe theyâre letting her stay,â whispered back the Ravenclaw girl who was linking arms with her.Â
Keeping your head down, you pushed past both of them and carried on your way. It hadnât been the first time youâd heard comments like that, and you were sure it wouldnât be the last.Â
Once lessons had finally finished, you escaped into your common room where you got around an hour of peace, sitting with Newt whilst working on your Charms essay, before the Head Boy came storming inside.Â
Really, it was more of a stroll. But anything Theseus Scamander did annoyed you to no end.Â
Going around the common room, handing out the different scored essays and warnings, he congratulated or warned different students until his hands fell into his trouser pockets and turned to where you and Newt were sitting side by side on the floor.Â
âAnd one of my Professors told me that she had to undo a rather powerful knotting charm,â Theseus said, though you didnât look at him, unlike Newt. âTwo students; A Slytherin and RavenclawâŠâ You could feel his eyes on you, though you still didnât look at him. âTripped all the way to their classes. You wouldnât know anything about that, would you, Y/n?â
You didnât answer. You didnât look up. You just kept working on your essay.Â
âY/n!â Theseus raised his voice a little to get your attention. But, from the way you held your shoulders, he already knew youâd spotted him the minute he walked in.Â
Finally looking up at him, you shrugged. âWouldnât know a thing. I donât really have friends outside of Hufflepuff.â
His eyes narrowed at you just before Newt jumped in. âI-I think, whether Y/n knows something or, likeâŠlike she said; doesnât. They more than likely deserved it.â
Theseus hummed before lowering his voice. âAs Head Boy, you should know that should I find the culprit, I must deduct house points. But as your brotherâŠâ Theseus crouched down. âAnd, since sheâs your best friend, I have to agree. TheyâŠâ Theseus turned and looked at you, purposely trying to ignore him. âThey had it coming.â
The short pause in your note taking told Theseus youâd heard him. And the smile that you refused to let show warmed him more than heâd expected.Â
Over the next two evenings, people started disappearing from the halls and common rooms since they were headed home for Christmas. Newt had said heâd meet you back at the common room, but after seeing him run down the hallways and out into the courtyard with Leta Lestrange, you knew you wouldnât see him for a while.Â
âWhat are you doing here?â
Looking up, you searched for who the voice belonged to. And it wasnât long before you found it, your mostly natural face turning into a scowlâŠkind off.Â
âTrying to find a spell that will hide me from idiots. Clearly itâs not working.â
âHa, ha.â Theseus mocked. âBut seriously, the final train leaves in an hour. Arenât you headed-â
âIâm not going home.â
âWhat?â
It was easier to speak the truth to Theseus, but even some truths were too hard to say when looking people in the eye. âMum and dad thought it was best.â
âWhat?â
âYou know, youâre really living up to this âidiotâ nickname.â
For the first time in a long time, you saw him nervous. âN-no.â
âGod,â you breathed in shock.Â
âWhat?âÂ
âI know you and Newt are brothers butâŠJesusâŠget you talking about one girl and suddenly youâre like twins! All nervous and bumbling, not knowing what a word is. Maybe âidiotâ suits you.â
âStop calling me an idiot.â
You shrugged. âShame. Itâs stuck now.â
âY/n.â
âDonât Y/n me!â you told him as you closed the book on your lap and approached him.Â
âThen stop calling me an idiot!â
Suddenly, you stopped in your tracks realising, not only had he taken a few steps towards you, but now there was barely three inches of distance between you both.Â
And nobody was a witness.Â
You could kiss him, or kill him, and nobody would ever know.Â
With heavy breaths, Theseus spoke in a quiet voice. âWhy arenât you going home?â
âI already told-â
âI mean the real story. The truth.â
You swallowed, somehow unable to look away from him. âWhat I told you was the truth. They donât think itâs a good idea.â
âWhy not?â
âThey tend to care what people think. Family, friends, neighbours. Iâm the freak.â
âYouâre not a freak.â
You found yourself chuckling a little. âI am a freak. I go to a school we canât talk about, the fact I made a bookshelf levitate when I was seven is still a story told at parties. But itâs never in amazement or wonder. Itâs mostly inâŠwarning? Fear. They just want a normal holiday.â
âAnd, do you?â
âDo I what?â
âCare?â
You paused for a moment. âCare about who?â
âTheir opinions?â
âYou know I donât.â
Theseus smiled and you scolded yourself for how it made your stomach turn. Usually, it would churn. But not this time.Â
âYeah,â he whispered. âI do.â Reaching out for your hand, his fingers brushed yours, briefly. âI donât think youâre a freak, Y/n. And I know you donât care about peopleâs opinions butâŠI think youâre wonderful, Y/n. Truly.â
Just as your breath hitched in your chest, the sound of the common room door opening echoed throughout the room. In shock or fear, both yourself and Theseus jumped apart. And the feeling of his hand no longer being in yoursâŠ
Your hand had never felt so cold.Â
In front of you, Newt and Leta were standing together.Â
âNewt,â Theseus said.Â
âHello,â he replied before looking at you. âY/nâŠyouâre still here?â
You nodded, hiding your hand behind you as if it was evidence you didnât want him to see. âY-yeah. Mum and Dad decided to head to the Coast. I prefer Christmas in the village soâŠâ
You could feel Theseusâs eyes looking at you and in the short moment Newt looked away, you dared to look at the older Scamander brother and lightly shook your head when you saw his face.Â
The subtle nod that came from him told you everything you needed; He wouldnât tell Newt. But he is wondering why you just lied to your best friend.Â
âLeta and I were just going to check on the raven. I just wanted to grab some things beforehand.â
Both of you nodded before smiling in Letaâs direction.Â
âHi, Theseus.â
âH-Hi.â
You smiled a little to yourself, watching as Leta ran to follow Newt down the hallway.Â
âYouâre not stupid, Theseus.â You told him. âBut youâre still an idiot.â
And as you passed him by, he nodded with a soft chuckle. âYeah, maybe I am.â
Though you and Theseus never spoke about what happened in the common room, you did eventually tell him why you lied to Newt about your Christmas Stay-Cation at the castle.Â
âHe doesnât need to worry about why Iâm here or not.â
âBut why lie? Why not just tell him the truth, like you told me?â Theseus asked.Â
Heâd been coming down the breakfast early every morning, trying to catch you before Newt or Leta even woke up. Mostly, you were avoiding everyone. You dined early, headedâŠsomewhere, which he was still yet to figure out, and would return to dinner later than the rest.Â
âHe doesnât need my family drama, or my sob story, when heâsâŠhaving fun.â
âHe and Leta are close, arenât they?â
You nodded. âIâd go as far as to say sheâs his best friend.â
âWhat about you?â
You shook your head. âHeâs my best friend. But that doesnât mean it goes the same way.â
Theseus shook his head in disagreement. âNewt cares for you-â
âI know he does.â You smiled, and for a second Theseus scolded himself for being struck by it. âAnd I know he sees me as a friend. But what he and Leta haveâŠitâs justâŠmore.â
âAnd what about you and I?â
That was when your smile disappeared, your face falling to a deadpan. âYouâre tolerable.â
Theseus smiled, if a little smug. âThatâs better than being an idiot, at least.â
It was only after he graduated that you started to realise just how much you missed him. Even if he was a pain in your arse most of the time.Â
Leta and Newtâs friendship was growing a little stronger day by day. Even more so when Newt nearly got expelled.Â
âI thought you were looking after him,â Theseus had said to you in a low voice as you waited outside of Dumbledoreâs office.Â
âHeâs a capable human being, Theseus. He doesnât need me babysitting him.âÂ
âReally?â His tone was harsh. âSo why am I here then?â
From where you were both standing close in front of one another, in a whispered argument, the door to the office fell open.Â
âItâs alright, you may enter. Thank you, Ms. Y/L/N.â
You looked towards the Professor and nodded, but not before looking back at Theseus once more. He may wear the suit and tie of a Ministry Auror, but that didnât stop him from being the same boy youâd expertly ignored throughout school.Â
âThis isnât my fault, Theseus. You canât blame me for this one.â
The next time you heard from Theseus was just before the war. Heâd sent you a letter. First to agree with you that, yes, it was odd him writing to you of all people. But then to apologise for how âthings were leftâ between both of you, the last time youâd spoken.Â
Finally, it was a plea.Â
âI donât know what will happen after today. But, should the worst happen, please look out for Newt. Yes, heâs a capable human being. But heâs still my brother.â
Youâd written back almost immediately.Â
âI will, I promise. But try and stay safe.â
You would never know it, but the moment Theseus received your letter, it had been the first smile of relief heâd given in a long time.Â
Maybe it was the war, maybe it was the fact youâd both grown up, maybe it was the fact that since youâd started working at the Ministry in the âMisuse of Muggle Artifactsâ office, youâd surprisingly seen more of Theseus than youâd care to admit.Â
But, whatever it was, youâd seem to have grownâŠcloser.Â
Maybe close enough that you could call him a friend.Â
Newt was away, in search of another beast to add to his growing sanctuary. Theseus had finally started dating Leta â something that you knew hurt Newt more than he was letting on.
âWhy donât you just try?â
âIâm happy where I am, Theseus.âÂ
Despite your efforts to walk away, pretending to be on urgent and important business as you put disenchanted library books back onto the shelves, Theseus continued to follow.Â
âPlease,â Theseus sighed. âYour talents are wasted here. Iâve seen the kind of spells you can cast. Youâd be a great Auror.â
You shook your head. âAside from the fact that I have no desire to join your boys club, Iâm a muggle.â
âYouâre a witch.â
You sighed, turning around sharply. âTo you, I am a witch. But to them, I am a muggle. Besides, what Iâve found is that most witches and wizards donât know what even half of the items in here are actually for.â
You could see the uncertainty in Theseusâs eyes, so, hurrying towards one of the tables, you pulled a couple of items. And, after a couple of guesses, he still got their functions wrong.Â
âIâm right where I need to be, Theseus.â
Clicking his tongue as he leaned against your desk, he shrugged. âThe offer is always open.â
âThank you, Theseus. And if there is anything I can help with; muggle or otherwiseâŠâ
Theseus smiled. âItâs nice.â
You smiled back. âWhat is?â
âThis,â he motioned back and forth. âBeing friends.â
âWeâve come a long way.â
âYeah,â you smiled. âI guess we have.â
As time moved on, so did your friendship with Theseus. What had once been a rivalry of sorts, eventually became a friendship you began to cherish.Â
With your work in Muggle Artifacts, youâd landed yourself a few different temporary transfers to different Ministries.Â
And each time, youâd find yourself sending a post card to a few people â but the only one to ever reply was Theseus. Usually it was to tell you about a restaurant to visit, or a site to go and see. Either way, despite being half a world away, you still had someone you could share at least half of a memory with.Â
Despite all of this, the first time you hugged Theseus was just after the first battle with Gindlewald.Â
Queenie had joined the dark side. Dumbledore was refusing to fight him forâŠreasons only he knew. And LetaâŠLeta was dead.Â
The Ministry was closed for the evening but youâd stayed late trying to disenchant a brandy bottle that would only pour water from Hogwarts black lake in an upwards stream.Â
It was as you passed the main offices on a brief break that you heard it. A quiet mumble, a soft cry and then a smash of a glass which echoed only pain.Â
On a gold plaque, you read the name.Â
Theseus Scamander: Head of the Auror Office
It was fresh. Both the plaque and the words. You did have half a mind to give Theseus his own, rather normal, brady bottle as a congratulations for his promotion. But, upon pushing the door open further than the three inches it already was open, you realised maybe it wasnât the best idea.Â
The bracket of the door was broken from where heâd clearly slammed the door closed. You figured maybe that was why the door was open and he didnât know.Â
âTheseus?â
Inside his office, you found everything from his desk on the floor. His coat and jacket were stamped into the carpet. Beneath your heels, glass crunched and the door fell open a little more when you gripped onto it for stability.Â
Then you saw him.Â
His hair was all over the place, his eyes were red, his cheeks were stained from tears. The tie around his neck was loose, but not fully gone. And, despite trying to keep his composure, the minute his eyes met yours, it was gone in an instant.
Racing inside, you quickly wrapped your arms around his frame as he fell to his knees, bringing you with him. Sobbing into your shoulder and neck, you held him a little tighter before using your wand to fix the door, quickly and quietly.Â
Once it was fixed and locked, you waited until Theseus had calmed a little before moving your head back to look at him.Â
You didnât say a word. You didnât have to. Theseus knew you. Despite the years and the growth, he still knew you.Â
Iâm so sorry. Donât worry. Iâm here. Youâre not alone.
Drying the falling tears, you looked him over. There were no cuts or stray shards from the shattered glass. Just a sad and heartbroken man.Â
âIâŠI canât go home. Sheâs still there. I canâtâŠâ His voice broke and it broke your heart.Â
Holding back your tears for him and for Leta, you pulled him back in for a tight hug. And, over the years, you helped him where you could.Â
First, it was with staying at your place until he was brave enough to face his own home. Each day, youâd take your break from work and walk to the local bakery. On the way, like youâd done for so many years, you passed Theseus and Letaâs home.Â
And each time, youâd spot Theseus. And each week, he got closer and closer to the door, until one afternoon, you watched him walk inside.Â
That night, he didnât come home. But you found him. Sat in his kitchen, going through Letaâs things.Â
Just eighteen months after her death, Theseus decided to move.Â
âItâs too hard,â he had told you. âItâs like Iâm waiting for her to walk inside andâŠcome home.â
You understood, and over the following few years, you watched Theseus find a way to live again, as well as just breathe. You even helped him get ready for his first date.Â
âYou should know, I have less experience in this world than you do.â
You reached forward, taking the second tie from him and throwing it back into his wardrobe. âBlue. Definitely blue. And- come here.â
Positioning him in front of you, you fixed his hair before he could run his fingers through it again out of nervousness. Finally, you fixed his tie.Â
âThere,â you smiled, softly. âHandsome as ever.â
âYou think Iâm handsome?â
âUhhâŠâ You stalled, both because of his question and because, standing so close to him, sent you right back to Hufflepuff common room, the first time youâd held his hand.Â
Quickly, you cleared your throat. âYou better get going. Before youâre late.â
Looking at the clock, he swore. âYouâre right. Thanks for your help.â
For the first time, Theseus kissed you on the cheek. It was barely a second thought. Just a quick kiss as a goodbye before the door closed behind him on his way out.Â
And yetâŠ
It sent your head into a spin.Â
âPull yourself together,â you told yourself as you cleaned up your home.Â
By the time you saw him again, everything was normal. Until the day things started to change.Â
âAlright, what is going on between you two?â Newt finally asked.Â
Heâd been noticing the change for a while. Maybe just under a year?Â
You and Theseus had been growing closer â closer than ever. Newt felt for certain that things his brother and you didnât tell him, you most certainly told each other.Â
Newt also knew that he hadnât seen that kind of light in his brotherâs eyes since they were kids. The kind of light that only came to him when he was around you.Â
But in the most recent weeks, something hadâŠchanged.Â
âWhat? No. Nothing.â His brother had always been a terrible liar.Â
âTheseus.â
âNothing itâs-.â
Newt smiled to himself as he fed Dougal. âYou like her.â
Theseus forced a laugh. âI-I donât know what youâre talking about.â
âAnd she likes you, too.â
Theseus leaned forward, quickly following his brother, being sure to avoid the stray tail of another long-named animal. âShe-she does?â
Newt chuckled. âYou should see the way she looks at you when youâre not looking.â
âAnd-whoa.â Theseus ducked to avoid another branch. âAnd how is that? Exactly?â
âLike how you look at her when sheâs not looking.â Newt explained. âDonât you find it rather annoying? Looking at one another when the other isnât looking back?â
His brother chuckled. âI guess that is kind of annoying. But,â he smiled. âDoes she really look at me?â
âAre you kidding?â Jacob said, emerging from behind the tree of Pickettâs family. âShe canât take her eyes off of you. And neither can you, for her.â
A blush spread across Theseusâs face as he smiled and looked away.Â
âSo, when are you thinking about doing it?â
âWhat?â
âAsking her out,â Jacob specified.Â
âRight,â Theseus nodded. âAsking her out. Soon. Maybe.â
âMaybe?â
âSheâsâŠsheâs myâŠfriend.â
Jacob chuckled. âSheâs more than your friend.â
Jacob had a point.Â
A very correct, very good point.Â
But despite his age andâŠwisdom when it came to asking a woman out on a dateâŠfor the first time, he felt like a fish out of water.Â
Not that he liked to admit it, but heâd been shot down a couple of times over the years â politely, but it was still a no. He didnât want you to say no. He didnât want you to say no, find it odd and then leave your friendship for dust.Â
He didnât want to get it wrong.Â
Not with you.Â
Three days later, he spent twenty minutes pacing outside your office door. Heâd had his speech rehearsed (and written down, just in case he forgot). He knew you â you knew him. There was no reason to be nervous.Â
And yet, he was.Â
Maybe you had been right all those years ago. He wasnât stupid, but he certainly was an idiot.Â
âKnock, knock.â
âJust a minute!â Your voice shouted from somewhere inside, followed by the sound of a box falling, a creak of a ladder and then a clatter of something else.Â
âY/n?â He rushed inside, looking for you amongst the different muggle items youâd educated him on over the last couple of years.Â
âTheseus?â
âYeah,â he answered. âI was hoping- where are you?â The more he looked around your office, the more lost he seemed to get.Â
âUhh,â you looked around you. âBetween the tapestries and the telephones!â
Theseus looked around him. âTelephoneâŠtelephoneâŠAh!â
Spotting the small sign just across the room, he followed it until he found you stuck in the middle of a pile of different fabrics and wires.Â
âAre you alright?â
You nodded with a chuckle as you dusted yourself off. âIâm fine. Did you need something?â
âUhh,â Theseus had to knock himself back into shape. Looking at youâŠthis was why he wrote his speech down. One simple look at you, and it was like his brain cut off entirely. âYeah. Yes. I was hoping I couldâŠask you something?â
âOh, well, just give me a moment.â
Theseus watched you for a moment, struggling to find a normal way out of the pile. âWould you like some help?â
âPlease.â
A soft chuckle escaped him. âAlright, pass me your hand.â
In three swift movements, your hand was in his and he soon hand you standing in front of him. For a second, he was reminded of a memory heâd almost forgotten about.Â
Brushing his thumb over your knuckles, he watched your breath hitch in your chest for a moment. And he smiled.Â
âWhatâŠwhat was it that youâŠwanted to ask me?â
âWellâŠâ Theseus took a breath.
Heâd known you for years. There was once a time youâd purposely not look at him, annoyed by his very existence. But nowâŠnow your eyes wouldnât leave him. And heâd never been more grateful. From the minute he saw that hint of a smile on your face in the Hufflepuff common room, something inside of him had wanted to see it again.Â
And that ChristmasâŠ
He knew you. He knows you.Â
And you know him.Â
âI was hoping youâd accompany me to dinner. As a date. A romantic one.â
âIâŠâ You were speechless, but the fact you didnât curse him or push him away was a good sign. âYouâŠâ
He chuckled. âYou know, itâs not often I see you speechless.â
âWell, itâs a shock.â
Theseus cringed a little, âA bad one?â
You just smiled. âOddlyâŠno. Not at all.â
âOddly?âÂ
You rolled your eyes with a soft chuckle. âConsidering our history started out because I cursed your shoelaces because youâd annoyed Newt-â
âI knew that was you!âÂ
You laughed, feeling Theseusâs arms pull you closer before you could move away.Â
âI knew that was you,â he laughed.
âYou were rather annoying at that age. And every age.â
He chuckled. âAnd now?â
You shrugged, trying to hide your smile though you were failing. âA little less so now.â
He smiled, leaning closer, pressing his forehead to yours as he kept you in his arms. âSo, what do you say to a date?â
You smiled. âIâd love to.â
Theseus lifted his hand and rested it on your cheek, his thumb brushing your cheekbone before he leaned across and placed a kiss on your other. âWonderful.â
A smile broke out on your face that Theseus knew he would never forget.Â
âIâll pick you up at seven tomorrow,â he told you. âIn the meantime, would you like some help withâŠall of this?â
You chuckled. âLove some. Maybe you can help me find my wand.â
Theseus shrugged and stepped back for a moment to draw his own. âAccio.â
There was a small tapping sound before your wand came rushing out underneath the pile of wooden crates in the corner and straight into Theseusâs hand.Â
âI believe this is the wand youâre looking for.â
âThat it is,â you smiled. âThank you.â
With a wave of your wand and a simple spell, things started moving back into their rightful place. And, despite Theseus saying tomorrow would be your first date, that didnât stop either of you from taking it earlier than planned.Â
Your Tom and Nagini drawing is so, so beautiful! I wanna know, do you draw digitally or digitalise your ink and paper art.
Also consider drawing another rare Tom ship: Tom X Newt Scamander
Thank you đ§Ą
I draw digitally on an ancient iPad with Procreate. I fear the latest update may be the death of her, but sheâs hanging on.
Consider me sold on this ship!! Newt just found out that Tom not only speaks parsel tongue, but he knows of a centuries-old basilisk âtrappedâ beneath Hogwarts.