It all started with a knock at his door.

Newt looked up from his writing, blinking a couple times. At first, he believed that he had imagined the sound – the boat he was currently taking from the United States back to England was rather old and rickety, after all. As Muggle transportation went, it was not exactly of the highest quality, so it was quite possible that the noise had merely been caused by the boat itself. Newt merely shrugged, turning back to the desk that had been supplied with his room, intent on continuing to make notes on the events that had transpired in New York. After all, it had been one hell of a few days. As if to affirm his thoughts, the bound suitcase sitting at his feet made a slight thumping sound, causing him to roll his eyes.

However, there came another knock, this time louder. Newt set his quill aside, climbing to his feet silently. He flicked his wand a couple times, making sure his clothing and tea set was abiding by the proper laws of gravity, before he slipped the wand up his sleeve. He strode over to the door, opening it with the intent to send the unsuspecting Muggle away as quick as possible, so he could get back to his work.

He froze when he saw the young man on the other side of the door. Newt felt his eyes widen and his jaw drop as a quiet gasp was wrenched from his suddenly too-dry throat. He wasn't one to display an overwhelming amount of emotion – however, in that moment, Newt had to grip the doorframe in order to keep himself from collapsing in shock.

Credence Barebone stood before him, his head bowed, looking as grim as ever. He didn't appear to even register that Newt had opened the door, merely continuing to stand there stiffly, swaying slightly on his feet. Now that Newt had gotten over the shock and was really looking at the boy, he noticed his grey pallor, the shaking that seemed to wracking Credence's form. He truly looked sickly – but then again, Newt imagined no one would look in tip top shape if they had just found themselves brought back from the dead.

Right. The boy was supposed to be dead – Newt had seen him die, had seen the way his magic had seemed to slither away…ah, that must have been it, then. Still, there were so many questions to be asked, so much information to be excavated from this boy's experience.

Credence shifted slightly, letting out a weak sounding cough, subsequently breaking Newt out of his musings. He blinked, before silently admonishing himself for allowing his wandering thoughts to sweep him away. He needed to act now and ask questions later, as it seemed like the boy was about to collapse.

Newt opened his mouth to say something, perhaps to invite the boy in, but Credence quiet, subdued voice broke the silence first.

"A-are you…N-Newt?"

Newt once again blinked in shock, before remembering that Tina had spoken his name to the boy when she was trying to calm him down. "Yes, yes I am. Newt Scamander, at your service."

Credence didn't say anything further, didn't even move. He merely stood there as he had before, as though he had not spoken.

Newt cleared his throat awkwardly. "And you're Credence Barebone…correct?"

At the sound of his name, the boy looked up, meeting Newt's eyes for the first time since he had arrived at his door. Newt had to swallow quickly, the pain and fear swimming in those black eyes overwhelming him – no one, especially no one as young as Credence was, should ever have eyes like that.

Seemingly sensing Newt's discomfort, Credence dropped his gaze back to his worn black shoes, his voice coming out strangely raw as he said, "I…I'm sorry for just…for being here and…b-but…I have nowhere else to go…"

Newt tilted his head slightly, as the boy's voice had trailed off. His swaying had also become more pronounced.

"Why don't you come inside and sit down…you are looking a bit peakish-"

"The woman…she said you'd help me…"

Newt paused. "Yes. I will help you, if you allow me to."

Credence raised his head slightly, though his eyes remained averted, his shaking hands clenched into bony fists at his sides. "Will you…teach me?"

"Teach you-"

"About…about m-magic. H-how to control it so I don't…s-so I don't hurt anyone else…" There was that agony again, the agony Newt had glimpsed in the boy's eyes. Only this time, it seemed to emanate from his very being, his hunched shoulders to his cracking voice. Newt remembered hearing that the boy's adopted mother and one of his adopted sisters had been killed as a result of the boy's errant powers – that would certainly be motivation enough to desire control over his abilities.

"I need…I-I can't…I-"

"Credence," Newt spoke calmly, as though he were speaking to a particularly volatile beast that had been cornered (and perhaps, in a sense, he was). "Why don't you come in, sit down, and have a cup of tea. You look dead on your feet."

"W-will you help me?" Credence asked – no, pleaded. Desperation, there was a fair amount of desperation there, along with that agony. A cornered beast indeed.

Newt knew he needed to placate the boy somehow, in order to be able to calm him down. The boy certainly needed calming down, as Newt wasn't necessarily fond of the idea of having an Obscurus loose on a boat in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. On top of that, the boy appeared to be sick and getting sicker by the minute, if the sweat breaking out on his forehead was anything to go by. However, promising to help the boy to control his magical abilities, something Newt knew next to nothing about, could backfire in the long run – especially considering the trust issues the boy had most definitely already acquired through his experience with Grindelwald. Newt most definitely did not want to be a contributor to the pain in the boy's life.

Newt felt like groaning. Why hadn't the boy sought out Tina? Not only did he appear to trust her more, even in Obscurus form, but she was most likely far more equipped to handle everything Credence had to throw at her, both magically and emotionally, than Newt was.

Deep down inside, Newt knew that Credence was probably desiring a fresh start, and what better place to begin that fresh start but in an entirely different country, where supposedly no one knew him nor what he had done? At the same time, the technicalities of bringing Credence (who was most likely well known across the wizarding world by that point) to England, especially in such a time of turmoil could be incredibly problematic. Focusing briefly, Newt did brief calculations in his head, nearly cursing aloud when he came to the realization that they were too far off the coast to Apparate back to New York at this point. How very Slytherin of the boy to wait several hours before confronting him (though, of course, the boy couldn't have known a thing about the limits of Apparition).

Credence shifted on his feet once more. Newt sighed, stepping aside as he gestured for Credence to enter the small room. "Let's have some tea and discuss this further, alright?"

Credence was hesitant, but he nodded, slowly shuffling his way into the room. His shoulder brushed Newt's and the younger man recoiled slightly, dipping his head in a parody of a flinch. Newt ignored the movement, quickly shutting the door and gesturing to the bed for Credence to sit down on. He removed his wand from his sleeve, discreetly casting a privacy charm on the door, lest there be any Muggles making their way down the hall that could overhear their – no doubt – sensitive conversation. Glancing at Credence, who had stiffly settled on the edge of the creaky bed, Newt waved his wand once more, the tea kettle immediately heating up and pouring two cups of the calming draught-laced brew. Credence only looked up from the ground when the cup was floating before his face, where he once again flinched, his hands curling into tight fists as his gaze once again focused on the floor. Newt raised an eyebrow, but turning around his desk chair to face the bed before he settled down on it.

"So," Newt asked, sipping his tea, "how are you alive?"

A/N This story is not necessarily plot heavy, as the focus is more on the healthy development of Newt and Credence's relationship, as well as Credence healing. This is a...very slow burn, just a warning! I have all 55 chapters planned out, but as for how often I am able to update...that depends on college and life. Regardless, I hope you enjoy and feel free to leave a review!