Note: As the title suggests nothing is to be taken at face value. Since there are a lot of rumors floating around, some I hope to be true, I've collaborated into this short story. I do have a lot of questions about Newt's family, only his brother and mother are mentioned in the film. So I took the opportunity, to try and explain things away, how Newt is how he is. He was hurt by someone. Maybe more than just one person, and he expects to be hurt. He loves his beasts but also he uses it as an excuse to escape. And I will explain the scars on his back, a scene which was supposed to be in the movie, where Tina happens across Newt with his shirt off and she see the scars. I will also built on Tina's and Newt's relationship, It will take time for him to open up the her, as he loved someone who didn't love him back, and who turned out to be a completely different person than he expected.
Newt was born Newton Artemis Fido Scamander in 1897 to Armand and Selestine Scamander (nee Lovegood) named after the first thing his mother saw when she woke up, a newt crawling on the outside window sill, (and she looked down at her newborn baby boy swaddled in her arms, he did sort of look like a newt all bundled up) and named after his Paternal and Maternal grandfather's, Artemis Scamander and Fido Lovegood. Newt had a sweet, kind nature much like his mother, the polar opposite of his older brother Theseus, born in 1894. Theseus, the mischievous, attention seeking troublemaker. Though he matured in his later years, went on the be a desperate people pleaser, who had accomplished so much, head boy at Hogwarts and best quidditch seeker, best in his Defense against the Dark Arts class to one of the best Auror's. Most people highly looked up to him and for some reason they thought that Newt was entitled to do great things as well, as if they expected it, having always been referred to "Theseus little brother." It always came with a bit of enthusiasm. Theseus always had tried to please their father when they were younger. When he was around. Their father was often away, traveling, on one of his adventures while Selestine stayed at home, breeding hippogriffs and raising her two sons. Selestine had strawberry-blonde hair, when the sun light hit it just right, it would look red but not as red as Newt's. At a young Newt took great interest in her was his mother's fondness for them and his father's sense of adventure that sent him on the path to becoming a magizoologists, which his other brother teased him relentlessly about. To his father it was another disappointment.
Their father would be gone months at a time. When he was home he was a tyrant, toward his wife and younger son. But he absolutely doted on Theseus. It was a bit later before Newt developed his magical ability. Selestine feared that he might be a squib. She would love him, magic or no magic. but she feared for him, what her husband might do to him. He despised muggles and muggle-borns, having come from a line of pure blood supremacists. He had only married Selestine to preserve his families blood. Armand was concerned about his son's magical capabilities.
"Theseus started to exhibit his powers when he was six. The boy is now eight. I swear, If he has no power , Selestine, I'll kill him. I'd rather than put shame to my family."
"It takes longer sometimes for a child to develop their magical potential. We must be patient Armand."
"I hope you're right. No son of mine will be a rotten squib. Not bloody likely."
He'd grow infuriated when he'd catch her teaching Newt about muggles. Once he burst in on them when Selestine was showing Newt a muggle magic trick. She was sitting on Newts bed, holding a thaumatrope, with a picture of a bird on one side and a cage on the other. When she spun the strings the images blurred together, "See, it looks like the bird is inside the cage..."
Armand barged in, "What have I told you, teaching him muggle magic tricks." He pulled her off the bed. Newt got up, about to say something, anything that would stop his father from hurting his mother. "One word out of you and you'll be next, boy. "
Selestine had befriended a muggle Irishman before Newt was born. They would spent many days and nights together when her abusive husband was away, careful that the children would not see them together. He had happened across her in the fields one day, gathering food for the Hippogriffs, she had used magic to stun the rodents. He had seen her. He had not turned away in fear or hatred of her magic. He loved it, as it was a part of her. All her life she wanted someone to love her, no matter what, who always spoke to her with words of affection. This was the man she was meant to be with. But then slowly but surely reality sunk in, she could not go away with him. She would be endangering herself and her unborn child. She didn't tell him that she was pregnant with his child. She had to convince him to leave her. She never saw him again till 8 years later.
"My wife and I have separated. I know it took several years to get my affairs in order, after you turned me away. But recently I couldn't stop thinking about you. I want you to come away with me. Tonight."
"I can't go with you." She wanted to but it would be a fairy tale life, their happiness would not last forever. Wherever they go, Armand would find them.
"Tell me why..." He was interrupted by Newt coming in through the back door.
"Mum, we're almost out of feed for the Hippogriffs."
"There should still be some in the barn.. ..Wait a minute. What have I told you about running in the house? Come over here." He looked down at the floor, his shoulders slumped."No, you're not in trouble. I'd like you to meet someone. Newton, this is my friend Tom. Say hello."
"Hello." He briefly looked up at the man, then to his mother, "Can I go and feed the Hippogriffs now?"
"Alright. Go on."
"How old is he?" Tom asked, already doing the maths in his head.
"Eight."
"He's mine, isn't he?"
She shook her head, "You should go." She opened the door for him but he made to shut it.
"He's mine, and you damn well know it. He's got red hair like mine. I left my wife for you. I came back for you and find I have a son. I've always wanted. We can have a life together."
" People will talk."
"Then we will go somewhere, where nobody knows us."
"Theseus." As much as she feared Theseus was his father's son, she still loved him, he was still innocent, and impressionable. She couldn't leave him behind.
"Bring him with. I will treat him as my own son."
"I'm not going with you."
"Why not? You can't keep my from my child, Selestine. You're coming with me or..."
"Or what? You're going to beat me to force me to come with you. Well I got news for you I'm bloody used to it by now."
"He beats you?"
"I fear he will be a squib." She seems Tom's confusion. "Non-magic. I would love him magic or no. Dear God, how could I not." She took Toms hands in her." He is my son. Our son. But I'm afraid for him. Afraid that Armand might kill him if he is. "
"All the more reason to come away with me."
"I can't. I can't leave the magical world behind. I can't take my children from it. If they live in a world without magic bad things will happen if they can't learn to control it."
"Then I will let them use their magic, we can still send them to school."
He wasn't making things any easier for her. "I can't. This world is all I know. My work... "
"Your work and your world. Is it really worth the safety of you and our son?"
"Yes." She was really afraid of having to give up her magic and her children would never fully learn. She had heard bad things happened to young wizards and witches who don't learn to control it.
"I won't go until I get a different answer."
"Leave."
"I told you..."
Selestine Lovegood was a liegemen's, She could hear Armand's angry thoughts as he came toward the house. " My husband is coming. He'll kill you if he finds out. Now go."
Just as Tom goes out the front door, Newt comes in through the back door again.
"Father's home. He doesn't look happy." He says.
"Go upstairs and wait for mummy."
Soon, Armand and Tom cross paths, arguing.
"I know you. You're that muggle. That was always hanging around, don't pretend you think I don't know."
"What's it to you? I'd treat her better than you ever will."
"Stay away from my wife, you filthy muggle." Armand knocks him to the ground with the blast of his wand. He looks up to see Newt looking down from an upstairs window. Armand looks back down at the muggle, realizing. Armand points his want at the muggle and says, Avada Kedavra."
Selestine enters the upstairs bedroom, witnessing her lover being struck down. Her son at the window.
Through her tears she pointed her wand at the back on Newt's head, trying to stay as quiet as possible so he would not turn around. "Obliviate" She hated to have to use magic on him, but she had to, to spare him the pain and trauma of it all. One day he might find out the truth and perhaps would understand why she had to do it.
She then closed the curtain with the wave of her wand.
"Mum?'
The sound of the back door opening and slamming shut. "Selestine! Where is he?"
"You know that silly little muggle game you and I always play. Hide and seek? I want you to go and hide and not come out till I find you, alright?"
Newt nodded. He was a smart kid. She wanted him to hide from him. Till it was over. She would come look for him when it was safe.
"Where is he? You bring HIM to me."
"Armand, please. He's just a child." Before he can go into the hallway, she knows he's headed for the cupboard, where Newt is hiding. She hears his little thoughts, 'don't let it be worse than last time, please, I just want it to be over." Her heart swells in her chest, her body pumping with adrenaline, that tiger instinct to protect, she knows Armand's intent, that his intent is to kill the only thing she ever loved more than anything, more than her Hippogriff's. Though Armand's thoughts were blinded with rage, he meant them, and had no regret. Before he can even reach the hallway, she uses protificus totalus on her husband. "I've sent for the ministry. You will never hurt him again. You'll never hurt me again."
She waits for the ministry to take her husband before she goes to the cupboard in the upstairs hallway. "He's gone. He can never hurt us again."
NOTE: So you noticed that Newt's mother's maiden name is Lovegood. They are distantly related through Newt's great Uncle, Oswaldo Lovegood, the brother of Fido Lovegood. There will be more of Newt's 'fictional' family history down the line, and more information about his father, Theseus and even Leta Lestrange, I'll leave the details of their relationship open as we won't know the depth of their (Leta and Newt's) relationship until Fantastic Beasts 2, weather they were romantically involved or not. If there was, I think it would have been all one sided, on Newt's part. Also Tina will make an appearance and I will build on their relationship. I have tons of theories, I won't reveal till later chapters. But I will give you a hint, it has to do with Grindelwald's capture in 1945. I think Newt will play a bigger part in Fantastic Beasts sequels and Rowling is lying to us to throw us off or hasn't written it yet. But for now, tell me what you think.
