When you entered the dining room for breakfast the next morning you were surprised to see Newt and his mother already seated and fully dressed. Newt glanced up at you as you came in, giving you a small smile.
"I must be late," you said, sitting across from him.
"Not at all," Mrs. Scamander said. "We're just early risers." You bit your lip, feeling a bit self-conscious with your rumpled hair and pajamas. "You look beautiful, dear," she said, patting your arm. You gave her a smile. "Tea?"
You grimaced. "Anything stronger?" She smiled, tapping your glass with her wand and filling it was hot coffee. "Thank you," you said. You wrapped your hands around the mug and brought it to your nose, inhaling.
"There's breakfast, too," she said, gesturing to the sausages on the table. You went to open your mouth but Mrs. Scamander stopped you, chuckling. "Oh yes, I forgot. Well, there's fruit."
You smiled. "Thank you," you said, reaching for an orange. "Can we meet the Hippogriffs this morning, Newt?" You made a show of looking out the window. "It's daylight now."
He offered you a lopsided smile. "As long as you promise not to go barrelling up to them."
"I wasn't barrelling," you said. "I was being adventurous." You took a sip of your coffee, raising a brow at him over your mug. "You of all people should appreciate that."
"Adventure is no excuse for recklessness," he said smiling into his tea.
"Well one certainly makes the other more likely, doesn't it?" You challenged.
"You'd better hurry before our guests arrive," Mrs. Scamander warned, giving her son a mischievous wink. Newt colored a bit.
"Oh! Let me go change quickly," you said, standing. "I'll meet you out front in ten minutes." You popped an orange slice into your mouth and headed off, smiling to yourself. You'd had worse assignments.
"Alright, now, come here slowly."
You stared at Newt, marveling at how he stroked the Hippogriff's head like they were old friends. The beast nudged his shoulder lovingly with her beak, squawking softly and spreading her wings.
"Just walk up?" You said, unconvinced. "Isn't that exactly what you told me not to do?"
Newt gave you a lopsided grin. "Who is the expert here?" You made a show of deliberating and he chuckled. "Come on, then." You walked forward until he held up a hand. "Ok, that's close enough. Now bow."
"Excuse me?" You looked at him, amusement dancing in your eyes. "Is this real, or are you taking the mickey?"
"Merlin's beard, Scarlet, bow." You shot him one last look before doing as you were told, looking up at the Hippogriff before you. She seemed to hesitate before bowing her head in return.
"Wow," you breathed, returning to an upright position. Newt motioned for you to stand beside him. "You sure?" You asked him.
"Do you trust me?" He looked at you, smiling, and you were momentarily struck by his confidence.
"Merlin knows why," you said, stepping forward. The Hippogriff squawked at you, tilting its head to the side. "I don't blame you," you said to her. "I'm not much to look at." She lowered her head a bit and you raised your hand. "But you… are magnificent." You gently touched her feathers, smiling when she didn't protest. "Your mum really breeds them?" You asked Newt. He was watching you with a strange expression, but nodded at your question. You hummed.
"We should get back," he said suddenly. You nodded.
"Until next time, friend," you said to the Hippogriff.
You and Newt made your way back to the manor in companionable silence. You had been walking for a while when he turned to you.
"Why didn't you eat at breakfast?" You were surprised by his question, opening your mouth without speaking. "I'm sorry," he said, staring at the ground. "It's none of my business."
You shrugged. "No, I really don't mind the question, I just wasn't expecting it." You resumed walking. "I don't eat meat, haven't since I was a little girl."
"I see," Newt said quietly. He waited a moment before continuing. "Why is that?"
You sighed. "When I was about 8 or 9 my mum made me help her prepare rabbit for dinner. I know it's silly, but I had never really made the connection that what we ate came from somewhere. That what we eat was, at one time, an animal." You shook your head. "I just could never bring myself to eat it again, after that." You turned to look at Newt, who was wearing a thoughtful expression. "You think I've lost my marbles?" You asked, smiling.
"No," he said slowly. "Not at all."
"That makes one of us," you sighed.
"Newt!"
You both looked up to see a man striding in your direction. Your eyes raked over him quickly - he shared Newt's curly mop and freckles, but was a bit taller and about twice as wide.
"Theseus," Newt smiled as the man drew near.
"I've missed you, brother," Theseus said, drawing Newt in for a hug. He noticed you and smiled. "And who is this?" You immediately understood why Theseus was so popular in the Wizarding World. He was confident, charming, and handsome all at once.
"Miss Scarlet Littlewood," you said, extending your hand. He took it, bringing it to his lips and kissing your knuckles, maintaining eye contact the entire time.
"The reporter," he said, not a question.
"May I have my hand back?" You arched a brow at him, offering him a grin. This was the kind of banter you were used to having with men your age.
"If you insist," he said, returning your smile. It should be easy to get him to talk, you thought. Maybe if you got him to spill about Grindelwald, you could get your old job back…
Newt coughed from beside you, drawing Theseus' attention away momentarily. He fidgeted next to you uncomfortably.
"I was just showing Miss Littlewood the Hippogriffs…" Newt trailed off, and you frowned a bit at the formal use of your name. Theseus flashed you a brilliant smile.
"An animal lover, are you?" Theseus offered his arm to you, and you hesitated a moment before taking it and making your way back towards the house with him. "You should fit right into our family, then."
"Is that so?" You said, glancing back over your shoulder at Newt. He was staring at the ground and frowning.
"We'll make you a Scamander, yet," Theseus said, giving you a wink.