Author notes and review replies will be at the end of each chapter. This has not been pre-written so I'm afraid no chapter updates! Disclaimer: I do not own Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Warning, contains: violence, sensitive subjects, emotional manipulation, war, blood and gore and eventual sexual material.

Based on this tumblr prompt by

'Where Newt is stuck in a tower because of his overprotective brother Theseus that locked him in there for his own "protection" and his only company is his Niffler that sometimes runs off from the tower to find gold/shiny stuff. One day the Niffler steals from a prince on a black horse that is travelling through the the woods but instead of stopping the Niffler the prince follows the them all the way to tower only to find the beauty we call Newt Scamander and fall in love. The rest is up to you']

~Chapter One: The Niffler mistakes Newt for treasure~

Arising from slumber, the Niffler blinked dark eyes up at the tall ceiling. Late afternoon sunlight draped through the room and the Niffler rolled into an upright position, brushing tiny hands over his snout. A glint of gold caught his eye and he stilled completely. Black fur ruffled, accompanied by the disgruntled sniff from the creature when he realised it wasn't any kind of treasure. No, rather, it was Newt.

The young man had his head laid against an open book on the window ledge. Face turned away but from the slow, even rise of his shoulders it was clear he was asleep. The Niffler slid down from the end of the double bed that would normally inhabit the human. Trotting across the floor and clambering up the chair Newt sat upon, the creature settled next to his head. Out of habit and boredom, the Niffler patted harmlessly at the coppery curls of Newt's hair, some strands indeed appearing gold in the shift of the sunlight.

Time passed as languidly as the soft breeze fluttering through the wide window. The Niffler quite happily occupied with messing with the locks of hair until he must have tugged too hard and Newt stirred. The Niffler shuffled back so not to be knocked off the ledge and down to the ground which was a good forty feet below. Newt finally sat up though his head fell forward, his mind still caught up in sleep. Low-lidded eyes staring ahead until they widened and turned to the Niffler.
"What are you doing?" Newt whispered. A pause. The Niffler blinked before moving forward to place tiny hands on the pages of the man's book. Newt looked to it and a small smile appeared on his face.
"Well, seemingly I was in the middle of reading. You're very clever with that subject change" he chuckled. Running his fingertips over the words, Newt sighed. "I love this book...just read it a lot you know?"
"Then I can buy you more"

Newt couldn't help but jump at the secondary voice but it didn't take him long to realise it was just his brother. Who else would it be after all? Theseus had emerged from the trapdoor among the floorboards. Such an entry sounded more ominous than it was, it was simply the easiest way in and out. It led to a series of spiralling stairs down the tower.
"I don't know what's been written recently, I wouldn't know what to want", Newt replied finally sitting up and turning properly to his sibling.
"Anything on magical beasts surely? I'll see what I can do"
"Thank you" Newt nodded, a genuine smile on his lips and Theseus grinned.

"I see that the Niffler continues to keep your company" came the wry comment and Newt turned to the fluffy black creature. Gently combing fingers through the fur atop its head, the Niffler allowed the young man to continue the soothing ministrations.
"He often fetches gold, though I continually insist he take it back" Newt mentioned and Theseus laughed. Aware of what had been said, the Niffler suddenly propped up straight and turned to the window. Snout wiggling a little with the anticipation of a new find. Within minutes the little rascal had slipped from Newt's touch and crawled into the ivy scaling down the bricks of the tower.
"There he goes, speak of the devil" Newt sighed. His eyes following the path of the creature as he made it to the bottom and darted off into the long grass. "...Theseus it's been a while since we went outside".
Theseus didn't correct his brother that he himself had actually had been outside quite a lot because he knew the actual request Newt was getting to.
"What is there to see? You can see more from up here"
"But I can't really interact with anything from up here"
"You're right, I'm sorry. We can go really soon okay? Sometime this week"
"You mean it this time?" Newt raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, we can even go to the glade", Theseus knew of an area nearby that was often inhabited by small, harmless magical beasts that Newt would find seemingly never-ending entertainment in. Newt's eyes widened and Theseus cherished the glow in his younger brothers face.
"Really?!"
"Yes".

Going 'out' never consisted of anything more than wandering around the tower. Perhaps a distance of two miles in radius. Theseus wasn't worried about prying eyes so far away from the kingdom and its surrounding town. But he made sure Newt never went further than this perimeter just to be safe. The older man had been foolish in not keeping up the routine of taking Newt out to the designated area around the tower for the last two weeks. Theseus should have remembered it made Newt agitated. His younger brother otherwise never really made comment about the tower or what was beyond the surrounding forests. Newt only ever wanted new reading material and the odd trinket to do with his beast studies. To which Theseus was thankful for.

Wandering to the small kitchen section in the wide room, Theseus refilled the kettle and set it on the small fire he lit. Newt instinctively collected two china cups from a glass cabinet against the wall. There wasn't exactly much crockery and cutlery in there, let alone cups. Probably three of each. One for Newt, one for Theseus and a spare set in case of breakages.

A small round table of a beautifully carved wooden frame sat near the kitchen counters and Theseus settled in one of the two seats.
"Ah, honestly I envy you. Nothing out there but noise and aggravation"
"I wonder if it's as bad as you make it seem", Newt fetched sugar and milk from their respective homes.
"It's worse, especially for you. The people that write those books you love? God knows where they are because every person I meet doesn't even care about others of their kind let alone other species. You'd find it insufferable".
"Ever thought about travelling to where those writers are?"
"What some big ministry where they get the beasts imported and shoved in laboratories so they can make notes? I don't think so…" Theseus trailed off when he saw the worry shining in Newt's eyes. He cleared his throat and quickly got up to collect the whistling kettle.
"I didn't mean it like that…so what's your book like? The one you were definitely not asleep on", Theseus quipped and Newt rolled his eyes.

"Magical beasts you can find at night, it's one thing I'm really keen to learn for myself. You can't even begin to see what kind of creatures might be here in the dark let alone elsewhere in the world. They're very camouflaged see. Whether predator or prey, it works well both ways. Of course some beasts can trick prey into thinking they're safe or maybe even distract them. Like imitate a fellow species or imitate even a light source or specific sound. I sometimes hear strange noises outside. I reckon there has to be some types in the forest-"
"When you turn twenty-one we can leave", Theseus quickly interrupted. Not out of boredom but out of reassurance as he watched Newt's surprised expression (from his facts being cut short) soften with understanding. Theseus continued,
"Go somewhere with so many beasts you'll have to buy hundreds of journals to write about all of them. I mean it Newt. Here is just better for you right now. The town is still recovering from the war, the roads and tracks are damaged so travel is difficult and there's a shortage of young men and women. I don't want them harassing you for work or anything else", Theseus grit his teeth momentarily, "None of them are nearly as kind as you are Newt, they wouldn't care about your creatures. I'd fear for the Niffler…"

The younger brother went visibly rigid before shivering. Newt silently watched as his tea was poured. Newt knew about the war, he'd seen the scars on his brother's face let alone on the rest of him. His spine and chest were like tears through a canvas. So Newt was grateful, so eternally grateful for the fact his brother had protected him from it. In some ways he was ashamed he couldn't have helped like other men his age but he knew in his heart of hearts that he wasn't built for anything like that. He'd have...died, most likely. It would have broken his older brother and achieved nothing.

"I know, I'm looking forward to it".
"Of course you are, we both are. As you were saying?"

Newt continued cheerfully as they sat there, comfortable. Theseus took this opportunity to glance around the room out of curiosity, something had always changed between his visits and it was a bit of a personal game for him to find out what. He'd come to the conclusion that the Niffler now had a proper nest made up for him on the end of Newt's double bed. A collection of towels and pillow cases tied and wound into a nest. Judging by the specks of black fur among the white, Theseus figured the Niffler hadn't been uninclined to the potential bed. Other than that everything was the same, the bed with drawers beside it, open with clothes and trinkets peeking out. Various books, quills, pages, scrunched up paper and scruffy sketches lined the surfaces. A bookshelf with gaps filled with more trinkets, bits of creature that Newt had found as well as plantation. A wardrobe and then down from the lifted flooring for the bedroom was a sofa atop a large albeit slightly scuffed rug. Then a coffee table; that too scattered with work. The kitchen area with it's freezer section packed with ice that Theseus always brought more of on some of his visits. The fire stove and cupboards. A closed off room contained a bathroom and near that was a hole in the wall to give way for the Nifflers treasure keep. It didn't break through to the outside luckily.

Newt had finished, leaving the brothers in a gentle silence for some time. Sipping the last of his tea before placing it down on the table and standing, Theseus piped up, "So anything about magical beasts that you don't already have, got it", he winked at Newt who nodded eagerly.
"I promise to take you to the glade this week too Newt, sorry I've left it so long"
"It's fine, just make sure you do this time okay?"
"Of course"

Theseus swept his deep red coat away from his hips as he knelt down to unlatch the trapdoor. His visits with Newt varied in time, sometimes he'd stay and chatter for hours and other times; like now, it'd simply be a check-up. As he lifted it up and settled his feet on the first of the steps he paused.

"I know what you're like, you'd try to save this country from its ruins but there's no helping it and no point getting attached" he told Newt, his tone firmer and his younger brother just nodded.
"I know Theseus".
His older brother beamed and offered a quick wave before disappearing into the gap and closing the trapdoor behind him, locking the latch.

Newt stared down at his unfinished tea and sighed. Really it wasn't long now, about a year before he turned twenty one. But his mind was knotted with doubt. Last time his brother had promised their leave when he was to turn eighteen. But the war drafted Theseus through before anything could happen.
But there was no war now and nothing for Newt to be worried about.
Hopefully.

Standing he wandered back to the large stone window ledge, leaning out into the sun he inhaled the sweetness of the surrounding valley. So close and yet so far had been a cliche saying never so true. Glancing at the Ivy at the right side of the tower Newt shook his head. He couldn't scale the building like the Niffler. He wasn't nearly as nimble.

Speaking of the devil, a blur of black fur came into view and Newt turned with an amused smirk as the Niffler came plodding in. His pocket fat with treasures and the young man shook his head.
"What did you find now?"
Turns out it was a lot of coins that Newt imagined some poor soul was scouring his or her purse looking for. As well as what looked like a cufflink, some keys and an earring.
"Honestly, where is so close and so wealthy that you can find things like this?" Newt poked at the trinkets and the Niffler slowly placed his little paw upon Newt's knuckles in a remarkably calm way of saying 'don't touch'.

Newt sighed once again, he believed it was all he seemed to do nowadays. Leaning back in the chair and kicking his feet up onto a spare space on the window ledge, he folded his hands behind his head.
"Bring something back for me next time yeah?"
The Niffler squeaked and Newt took that as a 'no'.

As night fell and Newt was fast asleep, the Niffler went out into the world. Unlike other creatures, the darkness of the night didn't bother the Niffler. He preferred the daytime of course where anything that glittered, glittered far more brightly. But there was a charm to the later hours especially when the little creature scoured his favourite 'treasure trove'. This being the castle that the forests surrounded the back of. A great grey-stone building with a black and white crest lined with silver decorating the flags and drapes of the wide windows. These curtains were illuminated by the light coming from within. Intimidating during the daytime, the building was even more ominous as the moon gazed upon it, casting it in shadows. The Niffler cared little for the descriptive sentiments of easily frightened humans though and scaled the walls of the castle with ease. The war had made it's mark upon the towers with cracks crumbling through the bricks.

Once inside, he scrambled quickly along the cool stone floor of the dining hall. The Niffler tried to sense the sweet tang of treasure through the stench of meat and mead but he struggled. It didn't matter too much. A feast was being served which meant many soldiers would stumble back out to their dorms in a drunken stupour, the perfect targets for a gold hungry beast. But for now the Niffler focused on the finer things, such as the rings aligning the fingers of the man sitting in the tallest, grandest chair. All precious jewels embedded in shimmering bands. As cold and clean cut as the man who wore them. He was stockily built with a cloak of wolf fur about his shoulders. Chained with a silver clasp across the front. Nearly as eye-catching as the shock of white hair upon his head. Combed back like icicle tips. A moustache of the same tone above a curled up lip. Truly the only gold on this man was his right eye. The iris a cool amber, uneven with the darker eye on his left.

His gaze was unyielding as he looked about the dining hall. His fingers tracing repetitively over his pristine cutlery before him. Nothing was on his plate. The Niffler scampered up to underneath the table of this man. Dark eyes widening at the tiny crystals embedded into the heels of his black boots. But as the little beast reached out to snatch them, the man moved away and stood. A new pair of boots appeared. Oil slick black with no diamonds, how disappointing.

Crawling away and up a tall metal lamp onto a stone ledge high in the walls above, the Niffler discovered the reason for the hindrance. Another man had approached, this one like the dark to the cold of the cloaked individual. He wore a calf-long black coat trimmed with white on the inside as revealed by the slits in the sleeves up to his elbows. A white shirt beneath open to the collarbone, a sleeveless leather tunic down to the hips was fastened with a belt complete with dagger holster and a pouch. Then just as dark trousers. There was nothing flashy about this man, even his eyes were dark and without sparkle. At this the Niffler squeaked indignantly.

"Sir Grindelwald, we've received a letter from the Lady Seraphina", the new gentleman spoke in hushed words to the apparent Sir Grindelwald.

"Another one? Does that woman not know we are very occupied with the recovery of this settlement? The South is not our top priority", the older man grumbled. Taking the envelope from the other.

"Simply passing on the message".

"I know, forgive my harsh words Prince. I am simply weary from this work".

"I can tell...the feast not suiting your fancy?" the Prince nodded his head in gesture to the empty plate of Grindelwald. The older man followed his gaze slowly before narrowing his eyes and pausing.

"I do hope you are not assuming my lack of work because I have decided to feast"

"I never said such a thing".

"Well, the only thing I lack right now is an appetite. You are holed up in your chambers doing paperwork no doubt? We have people we pay to do such a thing", the Sir commented.

"I find it more satisfying to do it myself Sir"

"Do as you please. At least get that Porpentina onto the financial situation of the agricultural businesses. If I have another farmer at that door tomorrow I swear I shall burn through the fields".

"That's the problem they already have Sir". The Prince offered a swift nod and turned on his heel, coat splaying as he left. The older man scoffed at his exit and turned to the letter. Sitting back down he opened up the paper with a single thumb-nail. Unfolding the sheet, he read through it. The usual complaints regarding lack of funding and people and so forth.

Seraphina was too far away to help with the Kingdom which was good at least. If it was just the odd letter coming through Grindelwald wouldn't have much problem taking hold of the progression here. Seraphina was always meddling, always trying to involve the wrong people. Another scoff and the letter was thrust onto his empty plate with a dismissive hand.

With pouch already containing crystals from the boots of Sir Grindelwald, happily retrieved as the older man turned to a goblet of mead. The Niffler had begun his continued expedition throughout the castle. He was quickly drawn to the word "Gold" spoken by someone down one of the dimmer corridors.

"Miss Goldstein, I won't call for you again"

"S-Sorry Perci-your highness. I was...preoccupied".

How annoying, it wasn't even the type of gold the Niffler wanted. It was a woman dressed in a long navy gown, loose on her slim frame. Her short dark hair pinned back though strands fell about her face in her rushed state.

"I can tell, do you have the letter from Seraphina?"

"You mean the real one? Of course Prince"

"I need it, it seems like there is more turmoil than anticipated in the Southern lands, something about a-"

The Prince was cut off by the low thudding of footsteps coming toward them.

"I will collect it later Miss Goldstein, thank you". The Prince once against executed a swift leave and Tina was quick to continue her jog down the corridor, paperwork in her arms. Turns out two drunk soldiers had found their way up the stairs but were quite comfortable to just lie there at the top. The Niffler pressed his fur down, the soldiers had awfully shiny gems on the handles of their daggers.

Tina finally made it to the room considered to be her office. Adjacent with her own chambers that she shared with her sister, Queenie. The young woman was grateful to finally slump everything on the table before wandering into her bedroom, slipping off her work shoes with relief. There was a constant mixture of gratitude and aggravation toward being chosen as one of the more prolific workers in the castle regarding documentation. Gratitude because it showed her skill. Women and literacy was now no longer uncommon so this was a genuine show of her ability, not just a 'rarity'. However it was laborious and Tina often envied her sister who worked as a fortune teller in the town. Queenie; despite her employment was allowed settlement in the castle by order of the Prince.

Speaking of, what had Percival...or the Prince rather, been referring to in the South? The young woman's thoughts were quickly interrupted by the arrival of her ever-cheery sister. Still clothed in the translucent pink robes that went over her simple white dress, she was a flurry of brightness. Beads and gems glittered through her hair like dew droplets on flower petals. Very different from the arguably bland colours of Porpentina.

"Oh Tina! You must come to town tomorrow, there was the most lovely looking gent at the bookshop today! Who knows? He might come tomorrow", Queenie spun around before clasping her hands together with a dreamy smile.

"If he's so perfect why didn't you take your chance?" Tina questioned and Queenie parted her mouth in an inaudible gasp.

"And abandon my chances with Jacob? You are wild Tina".

The older sister rolled her eyes. She knew all too well of her siblings fascination with the baker in the castle's kitchen. A portly young man with dark curls and a contagious laugh. Tina couldn't help but be fond of him too. They'd met him in the town a few years back and Queenie had been enchanted. It was an ongoing attraction now the man was within the walls of the castle. Even though Tina would consider herself inactive in the world of relationships, she was stunned at how slowly her sister was pacing herself with the baker.

"You're not even going to ask my what this mystery man was like?"

Oh yeah, this man from the bookshop.

"I didn't intend to"

"Well I'm going to tell you since you're so enthusiastic", Queenie winked as she darted over to lie on the bed, on her stomach. Ankles kicking in the air. Brushing a golden curl from her face she grinned.

"He had lovely curly auburn hair and such a jawline Tina! Good build, must have been one of the soldiers. Had a few scars. Hazel eyes which is such a rarity nowadays and a couple of the cutest freckles, oh you'd have loved him even though you say you wouldn't like anyone I talk about".

"You're not wrong".

"But he's more than a pretty face! He was asking the book-keeper about any new works on Fantastical beasts! How wonderful! No one bothers about that kind of thing nowadays".

"Yeah with good reason, there's more important things to worry about than...I don't know...dragons".

Meanwhile the Prince, Percival had made his way back to his chambers. The usually organised space ruined by the paperwork littering his desk and the floor around it. The financial upheaval after the war along with letters to grieving families, rewards to returned soldiers, medical necessities for the wounded and funerals to attend and prepare. The Prince was up to his ears. Of course the Sir Gellert Grindelwald had been right in the fact that they did have people they could have do this but the Prince had also been correct in the fact he preferred doing it himself. It occupied him, distracted him from the frustrations of the new order sweeping the castle. Ever since Seraphina had left as the main advisor for the Southern allies, Gellert had stepped up and now everything was changing. Ever so slowly, like the shift of molten lava under rock. Burning and ready to surface at any point.

Everything was tense as it was what with the King's absence. Missing from the war, many feared the worst. As his only relative yet only his nephew, Percival was the most likely candidate for his position but there was discussion from all members of the castle council. Both Gellert and Seraphina very eligible for the throne. Especially since most 'heir only by blood' methods had been left as time had gone on.

Especially now there was this issue in the South. The Prince had already organised the essentials to deal with it but there was one last thing to collect. He had a meeting with a merchant in the forest the following day to receive the necessary object. It wasn't a short ride but it would be worth it and he wasn't worried about being scammed, he'd done dealings with this merchant before.

Running fingers through his slick black hair grazed with grey at the sides, he closed his eyes and rested his cheek against some of the sheets on his desk. He was so tired. As workaholic as he was, there was something inevitably draining about the stone walls around him. The forest meeting tomorrow would be both business and probably a little bit of pleasure in just getting out of this place.

The Niffler had found coins in the pouches of the soldiers as well and was very pleased with the days findings. It didn't bother him in the slightest that warnings for thieves were being handed out like hot cakes. As if they'd catch him. The Niffler had even found something worth taking from that man draped in darkness. A silver pocket watch that he'd carelessly left on his desk after falling asleep for the night. At the thought of time, the little beast briefly recalled what Newt had said. Despite his one-track mind for treasure, he was an intelligent animal and knew that his...owner, so to speak, was in a slump. Then again...parting with his gold was a big deal. The Niffler had already decided he was to find a nook in the castle walls to rest this night. Tomorrow, maybe tomorrow he'd look for something specific. Like something he didn't really want but Newt might like.

A/N: Right so, I adore this pairing obviously and was inspired by a prompt on tumblr after really wanting to do a story for these two but not knowing what to do so here we are! The chapters are really long and I will upload as often as I can but for now I hope you like what I have got!

~LAW09