A/N I absolutely love Grindel-Newt. If you dont like it please go somewhere else.
I have a tumblr account now. willof-hounds. If you have requests or questions check me out there.
Newt's POV
From the time he was small he knew that he was different. Creatures of all kinds loved and cared for him. People thought of him as strange and didn't want to be around him.
When he was five he noticed that he felt a certain pull to run in the forest outside their manor. To be out under the light of the full moon. At first he was frightened of it. It didn't take long however to realize that no he was not a werewolf.
Finding a book in his parents library explained it. Though he didn't find it until he was nearly eleven. Though it was supposedly only a legend. He read:
There are those on this earth who can walk between the spirit and the human world. They are given the powers to change between human and animal skin.
Those truly intune with their other half find themselves drawn towards creatures and away from humans. They are drawn to the forests and the moon. Some lose themselves to their inner beast and never live as a human again. Others cannot bare the change and die trying to become their inner beast. Others still live and die by the power they receive.
The beginning of the transformation is said to bring unnatural colored eyes and bouts of extreme strength. It is said that the a new skinwalker cannot successfully transform without their clan.
The transformation is said to start in the teenage years. Those that survive typically would have full control before adulthood.
The book didn't have much more useful information after that. All he really knew was that he had some kind of animal inside him. What kind was the question?
For him the strange things didn't end there. Soon he went to Hogwarts where he realized most wizards thought skinwalkers were extinct. Most wizards also hated anything to do with creatures. To them creatures were simply mindless beasts that needed to be put down.
Only his favorite professor really showed an interest in creatures beyond killing them. Despite Newt being a Hufflepuff the man treated him kindly. He allowed the young boy access to all the books he could find on creatures. Newt had to hide his interest in skinwalkers. Even if he liked the professor there was no telling what his reaction would have been.
Things progressed normally or as normally as it could for an upcoming magizoologist. Until Newt's fifth year came along. His parents had been trying to find someone to betrothe him to. Finally a German wizard agreed.
Newt who had never been the confrontational type found himself agitated. He didn't want to be promised to some unknown person. Unbeknownst to the red head he was coming into his inheritance. Even for skinwalkers it was early. Most didn't start showing signs until they were fifteen or sixteen.
The change was causing him to be on edge easier. To try to take the edge off he was in the forest ignoring the fact that he supposed to be meeting his suitor. A hippogriff stood not far grazing. Its eyes occassionally watching him. They were a curious amber.
He lay on the grass allowing the sun to bear down on his face. There was no place he would rather be. Even Hogwarts didn't compare. There weren't any people trying to hurt him. The only ones he missed were Professor Dumbledore and Leta.
When Lena lifted her head to stare at something behind him he knew he wasn't alone. She didn't react in the way if it a family member. Whoever it was, was new to her. That meant they were new to him too.
He bent his head back to see a blond haired man standing in the grass. He was wearing a black dress robe open revealing a grey button down dress shirt and black slacks. He wore shiny black dress shoes. All in all he was the perfect picture of a pureblood heir.
He turned over ducking his head to avoid the other's stare. Even with his turbulent emotions he couldn't meet anyone's eyes. Lena stomped her hoof against the ground. She didn't like being ignored as all hippogriffs hated it.
The man said with a smile as he bowed low at the hip, "I'm sorry noble hippogriff. I should have greeted you first."
Lena eyed the man for a moment before bowing in return. Newt moved closer to her side to put distance between them. The man's mismatched eyes followed the movement as he straightened.
He said with a curious tilt to his head, "Your parents have the entire manor looking for you."
Newt wanted to tsk in irritation but he refrained. This wasn't the time to be showing that his emotions weren't in check. He glanced Lena who was watching them now. She had always been protective of him. Even when no one else cared.
The man said cocking his head to the side curiously, "You are certainly different from what I expected. I've seen your brother on several occasions yet he doesn't compare go you."
Newt felt his face flare up with a bright red blush. He ducked his head away and the whispers that he could hear but not make out grew louder. His connection to the clan he didn't even know was growing stronger. The dreams becoming more frequent.
He said quietly, "Are you the one my parents wanted me to meet? I told them I don't want to be in an arranged marriage. I want to tend to creatures and travel the world."
If his parents heard that they would have his head. They didn't want him talking like that. They thought he should be more Slytherin. He was a Hufflepuff for a reason. He wore his heart on his sleeve.
The man a quiet laugh as he responded, "I can see that. It's not often a hippogriff is so protective of a human. She must care for you a great deal. What's her name?"
Newt found himself replying before he even thought about it, "Her name is Lena. She has looked after me since I was a child."
He didn't hear her move and was somewhat surprised when she nuzzled his cheek. Without hesitation he reached over his shoulder to pet her. The feather were soft against his hand. The familiar motion calmed him.
When the man moved towards him, Newt was reminded of his presence. Blue eyes jumped up to meet the mismatched ones for a brief moment before skirting away again. His eyes rested on the green grass below his feet.
He heard and sensed the man move from his position. When he came closer Newt could see his shiny black shoes in his field of vision. He was close enough to smell the scent of expensive cologne that almost masked the true scent.
The scent was that of lunar flowers bathed in moonlight. It was unlike anything he ever smelled before. Who was this guy?
