Soulmate AUs Day Twenty-Eight

Prompt: Soulmate finding agencies/matchmakers/websites etc

Blind Date


"Theseus," Newt whined. "Do I have to?"

"Yes," Theseus replied, with a roll of his eyes. Merlin, little brothers were more trouble than they were worth. He pointed to the armchair, then withdrew his wand "If you don't sit down, and stay, I'll stick you there."

Newt reluctantly curled up into the cushions, and pulled the parchment and quill toward him. At least he seemed to be mildly amenable to Theseus' plan.

"This is probably the most embarrassing thing I've ever done in my life," Newt declared, but he got to work writing down what was hopefully his better qualities.

"More embarrassing that performing an erumpent mating dance in the middle of New York?" Theseus challenged.

"Oh yes." Newt was still scribbling away, and so missed Theseus rolling his eyes for the second time.

"Your priorities are fucked up," he muttered. When Newt seemed to be done with his parchment, Theseus snatched it away from him. The list read; Good with animals – especially magical creatures. Has ten OWLS. Skinny.

"You've only written three things!" Theseus grabbed Newt's quill, and added to the list. Nice smile, quick with a wand, very tidy, can cook, great arse.

"Theseus!" Newt squeaked, and lunged for the letter.

Theseus jumped away from his little brother, and sprinted for the owlery. "Nice try!" he called over his shoulder. "Take this to Lovegood's Good Loving, please," he asked his favourite owl, Hermes, who seemed to hoot in amusement before taking off. Newt arrived behind him moments later and watched the owl and parchment fly away, a forlorn expression upon his face.

"You're a meany," Newt said. "And I hate you."

"Ouch," Theseus replied dryly.


Percival stared at the letter in his hand.

Dear Mr Graves,

A match has been found for you! Through the liberal application of tea, magic, and intuition, Lovegood's Good Loving has found your other half. A date has been arranged for you to meet…

"TINA!" he bellowed. His number two raced in, and blanched upon seeing the insignia upon the envelope on his desk. She looked at him, and gulped.

"What is the meaning of this?" he hissed.

Impressively, Tina stood firm, and spoke clearly. "An opportunity for you to meet somebody, perhaps even your soulmate."

"I see." Percival was not impressed. "And who give you the authority to do this?"

"Madam President," Tina said with a wince, and Percival's jaw dropped.

"Out," he snarled. She scarpered. Moments later he was striding through the fireplace, and straight into Seraphina's office. He slammed the letter down on her desk. She didn't look up from the report she was reading until he'd paced the length of her room twice.

"Really, Percival, I thought you'd appreciate the opportunity to get away from all of us, at least a little," she said.

"You set me up on a blind date! Using a dating service!"

"Yes," Seraphina replied. "And they've got a 100% success rate."

Percival paused. "Really? That can't be right."

The President shrugged. "Treat it as an investigation if you like. But Percival – give it a try. Since the… incident, you've barely left the office. It would be good for you to get out, socialise with someone that you don't also have to work with."

Percival huffed, and stalked out of her room. He picked the letter up from her desk, on the way.


Newt waited anxiously by the Bethesda Fountain, wearing his customary peacock blue coat, and looked for a man wearing a navy scarf with business robes. He turned on one foot, and bit back the urge to hum. There was a man in a bowler hat nearly as tall as him, a girl with auburn hair coifed like Queenie's, and Percival Graves…

Newt froze. He placed his hand on his wand, and tried not to stare.

Tina had written saying that Director Graves had been found, and returned to work only weeks later. So, it probably was the real Percival Graves who was making his way straight toward Newt.

"Hello, I'm Percival Graves," Percival Graves said when he was close enough. He offered his hand, and Newt stared at it, then suddenly realised he ought to shake it, which he summarily did.

"Oh, erm, hi," Newt said, and realised Percival probably didn't actually know who Newt was.

"That really is a magnificent shade of blue." Percival gestured to Newt's coat.

"Thank you," Newt stuttered.

"I've made a reservation somewhere just a few blocks from here. I hope that wasn't too presumptuous."

That was when Newt realised that Percival was wearing a navy scarf over a business robe.

"Oh."

Percival began to frown. "It was, wasn't it. Merlin's balls, but it's been a while."

"No! I mean, yes!" Newt winced. "Look, I'm sorry. Err, can we start again? My name's Newt Scamander, and I met you when you weren't, well, you."

Percival's face shuttered. "I see."

"But I didn't know!" Newt continued. "I mean, my brother set me up on this dating service, and I just received the owl with the time and place and I didn't realise it would be you!"

Percival ran a hand through his hair. He seemed tired, and Newt felt impossibly guilty. "And now you do know, I suppose you're not interested."

"What!" Newt exclaimed. "No! – I mean, yes, I am interested."

After a few moment's silent appraisal, Percival arched a brow. "Alright… so, dinner then?"

Newt, having thoroughly embarrassed himself, grasped at that life line. "Yes please."

Percival offered him his arm, and Newt accepted. "Newt Scamander," Percival mused. "Why do I know that name?"

Newt winced, and wondered how exactly he should began explaining all the events of the last time he'd been in New York.


'Lovegood's Good Loving' is a dating service that I have stolen from the fic Take Our Time by Lary and it can be found on Archive of Our Own.