Growing Into Something More
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.
Since attending Hogwarts and being sorted into your house, you’d found peace in very few people. Being muggle born, but having magical powers wasn’t exactly common.
“I can’t believe they even let her in,” whispered one Slytherin girl as you walked down the hallway.
“I can’t believe they’re letting her stay,” whispered back the Ravenclaw girl who was linking arms with her.
Keeping your head down, you pushed past both of them and carried on your way. It hadn’t been the first time you’d heard comments like that, and you were sure it wouldn’t be the last.
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.
Really, it was more of a stroll. But anything Theseus Scamander did annoyed you to no end.
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.
“And one of my Professors told me that she had to undo a rather powerful knotting charm,” Theseus said, though you didn’t look at him, unlike Newt. “Two students; A Slytherin and Ravenclaw…” You could feel his eyes on you, though you still didn’t look at him. “Tripped all the way to their classes. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Y/n?”
You didn’t answer. You didn’t look up. You just kept working on your essay.
“Y/n!” Theseus raised his voice a little to get your attention. But, from the way you held your shoulders, he already knew you’d spotted him the minute he walked in.
Finally looking up at him, you shrugged. “Wouldn’t know a thing. I don’t really have friends outside of Hufflepuff.”
His eyes narrowed at you just before Newt jumped in. “I-I think, whether Y/n knows something or, like…like she said; doesn’t. They more than likely deserved it.”
Theseus hummed before lowering his voice. “As Head Boy, you should know that should I find the culprit, I must deduct house points. But as your brother…” Theseus crouched down. “And, since she’s your best friend, I have to agree. They…” Theseus turned and looked at you, purposely trying to ignore him. “They had it coming.”
The short pause in your note taking told Theseus you’d heard him. And the smile that you refused to let show warmed him more than he’d expected.
Over the next two evenings, people started disappearing from the halls and common rooms since they were headed home for Christmas. Newt had said he’d 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 wouldn’t see him for a while.
“What are you doing here?”
Looking up, you searched for who the voice belonged to. And it wasn’t long before you found it, your mostly natural face turning into a scowl…kind off.
“Trying to find a spell that will hide me from idiots. Clearly it’s not working.”
“Ha, ha.” Theseus mocked. “But seriously, the final train leaves in an hour. Aren’t you headed-”
“I’m not going home.”
“What?”
It was easier to speak the truth to Theseus, but even some truths were too hard to say when looking people in the eye. “Mum and dad thought it was best.”
“What?”
“You know, you’re really living up to this ‘idiot’ nickname.”
Theseus chuckled. “Where’s Newt? Isn’t he-”
“He’s with Leta.”
“Oh.”
You smirked. “Jealous?”
For the first time in a long time, you saw him nervous. “N-no.”
“God,” you breathed in shock.
“What?”
“I know you and Newt are brothers but…Jesus…get you talking about one girl and suddenly you’re like twins! All nervous and bumbling, not knowing what a word is. Maybe ‘idiot’ suits you.”
“Stop calling me an idiot.”
You shrugged. “Shame. It’s stuck now.”
“Y/n.”
“Don’t Y/n me!” you told him as you closed the book on your lap and approached him.
“Then stop calling me an idiot!”
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.
And nobody was a witness.
You could kiss him, or kill him, and nobody would ever know.
With heavy breaths, Theseus spoke in a quiet voice. “Why aren’t you going home?”
“I already told-”
“I mean the real story. The truth.”
You swallowed, somehow unable to look away from him. “What I told you was the truth. They don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“They tend to care what people think. Family, friends, neighbours. I’m the freak.”
“You’re not a freak.”
You found yourself chuckling a little. “I am a freak. I go to a school we can’t talk about, the fact I made a bookshelf levitate when I was seven is still a story told at parties. But it’s never in amazement or wonder. It’s mostly in…warning? Fear. They just want a normal holiday.”
“And, do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Care?”
You paused for a moment. “Care about who?”
“Their opinions?”
“You know I don’t.”
Theseus smiled and you scolded yourself for how it made your stomach turn. Usually, it would churn. But not this time.
“Yeah,” he whispered. “I do.” Reaching out for your hand, his fingers brushed yours, briefly. “I don’t think you’re a freak, Y/n. And I know you don’t care about people’s opinions but…I think you’re wonderful, Y/n. Truly.”
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 yours…
Your hand had never felt so cold.
In front of you, Newt and Leta were standing together.
“Newt,” Theseus said.
“Hello,” he replied before looking at you. “Y/n…you’re still here?”
You nodded, hiding your hand behind you as if it was evidence you didn’t want him to see. “Y-yeah. Mum and Dad decided to head to the Coast. I prefer Christmas in the village so…”
You could feel Theseus’s 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.
The subtle nod that came from him told you everything you needed; He wouldn’t tell Newt. But he is wondering why you just lied to your best friend.
“Leta and I were just going to check on the raven. I just wanted to grab some things beforehand.”
Both of you nodded before smiling in Leta’s direction.
“Hi, Theseus.”
“H-Hi.”
You smiled a little to yourself, watching as Leta ran to follow Newt down the hallway.
“You’re not stupid, Theseus.” You told him. “But you’re still an idiot.”
And as you passed him by, he nodded with a soft chuckle. “Yeah, maybe I am.”
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.
“He doesn’t need to worry about why I’m here or not.”
“But why lie? Why not just tell him the truth, like you told me?” Theseus asked.
He’d 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, headed…somewhere, which he was still yet to figure out, and would return to dinner later than the rest.
“He doesn’t need my family drama, or my sob story, when he’s…having fun.”
“He and Leta are close, aren’t they?”
You nodded. “I’d go as far as to say she’s his best friend.”
“What about you?”
You shook your head. “He’s my best friend. But that doesn’t mean it goes the same way.”
Theseus shook his head in disagreement. “Newt cares for you-”
“I know he does.” You smiled, and for a second Theseus scolded himself for being struck by it. “And I know he sees me as a friend. But what he and Leta have…it’s just…more.”
“And what about you and I?”
That was when your smile disappeared, your face falling to a deadpan. “You’re tolerable.”
Theseus smiled, if a little smug. “That’s better than being an idiot, at least.”
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.
Leta and Newt’s friendship was growing a little stronger day by day. Even more so when Newt nearly got expelled.
“I thought you were looking after him,” Theseus had said to you in a low voice as you waited outside of Dumbledore’s office.
“He’s a capable human being, Theseus. He doesn’t need me babysitting him.”
“Really?” His tone was harsh. “So why am I here then?”
From where you were both standing close in front of one another, in a whispered argument, the door to the office fell open.
“It’s alright, you may enter. Thank you, Ms. Y/L/N.”
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 didn’t stop him from being the same boy you’d expertly ignored throughout school.
“This isn’t my fault, Theseus. You can’t blame me for this one.”
The next time you heard from Theseus was just before the war. He’d 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 ‘things were left’ between both of you, the last time you’d spoken.
Finally, it was a plea.
“I don’t know what will happen after today. But, should the worst happen, please look out for Newt. Yes, he’s a capable human being. But he’s still my brother.”
You’d written back almost immediately.
“I will, I promise. But try and stay safe.”
You would never know it, but the moment Theseus received your letter, it had been the first smile of relief he’d given in a long time.
Maybe it was the war, maybe it was the fact you’d both grown up, maybe it was the fact that since you’d started working at the Ministry in the ‘Misuse of Muggle Artifacts’ office, you’d surprisingly seen more of Theseus than you’d care to admit.
But, whatever it was, you’d seem to have grown…closer.
Maybe close enough that you could call him a friend.
Newt was away, in search of another beast to add to his growing sanctuary. Theseus had finally started dating Leta – something that you knew hurt Newt more than he was letting on.
“Why don’t you just try?”
“I’m happy where I am, Theseus.”
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.
“Please,” Theseus sighed. “Your talents are wasted here. I’ve seen the kind of spells you can cast. You’d be a great Auror.”
You shook your head. “Aside from the fact that I have no desire to join your boys club, I’m a muggle.”
“You’re a witch.”
You sighed, turning around sharply. “To you, I am a witch. But to them, I am a muggle. Besides, what I’ve found is that most witches and wizards don’t know what even half of the items in here are actually for.”
You could see the uncertainty in Theseus’s 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.
“I’m right where I need to be, Theseus.”
Clicking his tongue as he leaned against your desk, he shrugged. “The offer is always open.”
“Thank you, Theseus. And if there is anything I can help with; muggle or otherwise…”
Theseus smiled. “It’s nice.”
You smiled back. “What is?”
“This,” he motioned back and forth. “Being friends.”
“We’ve come a long way.”
“Yeah,” you smiled. “I guess we have.”
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.
With your work in Muggle Artifacts, you’d landed yourself a few different temporary transfers to different Ministries.
And each time, you’d find yourself sending a post card to a few people – 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.
Despite all of this, the first time you hugged Theseus was just after the first battle with Gindlewald.
Queenie had joined the dark side. Dumbledore was refusing to fight him for…reasons only he knew. And Leta…Leta was dead.
The Ministry was closed for the evening but you’d stayed late trying to disenchant a brandy bottle that would only pour water from Hogwarts black lake in an upwards stream.
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.
On a gold plaque, you read the name.
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 wasn’t the best idea.
The bracket of the door was broken from where he’d clearly slammed the door closed. You figured maybe that was why the door was open and he didn’t know.
“Theseus?”
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.
Then you saw him.
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.
Once it was fixed and locked, you waited until Theseus had calmed a little before moving your head back to look at him.
You didn’t say a word. You didn’t have to. Theseus knew you. Despite the years and the growth, he still knew you.
I’m so sorry. Don’t worry. I’m here. You’re 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.
“I…I can’t go home. She’s still there. I can’t…” His voice broke and it broke your heart.
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.
First, it was with staying at your place until he was brave enough to face his own home. Each day, you’d take your break from work and walk to the local bakery. On the way, like you’d done for so many years, you passed Theseus and Leta’s home.
And each time, you’d spot Theseus. And each week, he got closer and closer to the door, until one afternoon, you watched him walk inside.
That night, he didn’t come home. But you found him. Sat in his kitchen, going through Leta’s things.
Just eighteen months after her death, Theseus decided to move.
“It’s too hard,” he had told you. “It’s like I’m waiting for her to walk inside and…come home.”
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.
“You should know, I have less experience in this world than you do.”
“Still,” Theseus sighed. “Which one? Blue? Or-”
You reached forward, taking the second tie from him and throwing it back into his wardrobe. “Blue. Definitely blue. And- come here.”
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.
“There,” you smiled, softly. “Handsome as ever.”
“You think I’m handsome?”
“Uhh…” 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 you’d held his hand.
Quickly, you cleared your throat. “You better get going. Before you’re late.”
Looking at the clock, he swore. “You’re right. Thanks for your help.”
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.
And yet…
It sent your head into a spin.
“Pull yourself together,” you told yourself as you cleaned up your home.
By the time you saw him again, everything was normal. Until the day things started to change.
“Alright, what is going on between you two?” Newt finally asked.
He’d been noticing the change for a while. Maybe just under a year?
You and Theseus had been growing closer – closer than ever. Newt felt for certain that things his brother and you didn’t tell him, you most certainly told each other.
Newt also knew that he hadn’t seen that kind of light in his brother’s eyes since they were kids. The kind of light that only came to him when he was around you.
But in the most recent weeks, something had…changed.
“What? No. Nothing.” His brother had always been a terrible liar.
“Theseus.”
“Nothing it’s-.”
Newt smiled to himself as he fed Dougal. “You like her.”
Theseus forced a laugh. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“And she likes you, too.”
Theseus leaned forward, quickly following his brother, being sure to avoid the stray tail of another long-named animal. “She-she does?”
Newt chuckled. “You should see the way she looks at you when you’re not looking.”
“And-whoa.” Theseus ducked to avoid another branch. “And how is that? Exactly?”
“Like how you look at her when she’s not looking.” Newt explained. “Don’t you find it rather annoying? Looking at one another when the other isn’t looking back?”
His brother chuckled. “I guess that is kind of annoying. But,” he smiled. “Does she really look at me?”
“Are you kidding?” Jacob said, emerging from behind the tree of Pickett’s family. “She can’t take her eyes off of you. And neither can you, for her.”
A blush spread across Theseus’s face as he smiled and looked away.
“So, when are you thinking about doing it?”
“What?”
“Asking her out,” Jacob specified.
“Right,” Theseus nodded. “Asking her out. Soon. Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
“She’s…she’s my…friend.”
Jacob chuckled. “She’s more than your friend.”
Jacob had a point.
A very correct, very good point.
But despite his age and…wisdom when it came to asking a woman out on a date…for the first time, he felt like a fish out of water.
Not that he liked to admit it, but he’d been shot down a couple of times over the years – politely, but it was still a no. He didn’t want you to say no. He didn’t want you to say no, find it odd and then leave your friendship for dust.
He didn’t want to get it wrong.
Not with you.
Three days later, he spent twenty minutes pacing outside your office door. He’d had his speech rehearsed (and written down, just in case he forgot). He knew you – you knew him. There was no reason to be nervous.
And yet, he was.
Maybe you had been right all those years ago. He wasn’t stupid, but he certainly was an idiot.
“Knock, knock.”
“Just a minute!” 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.
“Y/n?” He rushed inside, looking for you amongst the different muggle items you’d educated him on over the last couple of years.
“Theseus?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “I was hoping- where are you?” The more he looked around your office, the more lost he seemed to get.
“Uhh,” you looked around you. “Between the tapestries and the telephones!”
Theseus looked around him. “Telephone…telephone…Ah!”
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.
“Are you alright?”
You nodded with a chuckle as you dusted yourself off. “I’m fine. Did you need something?”
“Uhh,” Theseus had to knock himself back into shape. Looking at you…this was why he wrote his speech down. One simple look at you, and it was like his brain cut off entirely. “Yeah. Yes. I was hoping I could…ask you something?”
“Oh, well, just give me a moment.”
Theseus watched you for a moment, struggling to find a normal way out of the pile. “Would you like some help?”
“Please.”
A soft chuckle escaped him. “Alright, pass me your hand.”
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 he’d almost forgotten about.
Brushing his thumb over your knuckles, he watched your breath hitch in your chest for a moment. And he smiled.
“What…what was it that you…wanted to ask me?”
“Well…” Theseus took a breath.
He’d known you for years. There was once a time you’d purposely not look at him, annoyed by his very existence. But now…now your eyes wouldn’t leave him. And he’d 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.
And that Christmas…
He knew you. He knows you.
And you know him.
“I was hoping you’d accompany me to dinner. As a date. A romantic one.”
“I…” You were speechless, but the fact you didn’t curse him or push him away was a good sign. “You…”
He chuckled. “You know, it’s not often I see you speechless.”
“Well, it’s a shock.”
Theseus cringed a little, “A bad one?”
You just smiled. “Oddly…no. Not at all.”
“Oddly?”
You rolled your eyes with a soft chuckle. “Considering our history started out because I cursed your shoelaces because you’d annoyed Newt-”
“I knew that was you!”
You laughed, feeling Theseus’s arms pull you closer before you could move away.
“I knew that was you,” he laughed.
“You were rather annoying at that age. And every age.”
He chuckled. “And now?”
You shrugged, trying to hide your smile though you were failing. “A little less so now.”
He smiled, leaning closer, pressing his forehead to yours as he kept you in his arms. “So, what do you say to a date?”
You smiled. “I’d love to.”
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. “Wonderful.”
A smile broke out on your face that Theseus knew he would never forget.
“I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow,” he told you. “In the meantime, would you like some help with…all of this?”
You chuckled. “Love some. Maybe you can help me find my wand.”
Theseus shrugged and stepped back for a moment to draw his own. “Accio.”
There was a small tapping sound before your wand came rushing out underneath the pile of wooden crates in the corner and straight into Theseus’s hand.
“I believe this is the wand you’re looking for.”
“That it is,” you smiled. “Thank you.”
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 didn’t stop either of you from taking it earlier than planned.
