Shy Beginnings

(One-Shot)

Disclaimers: I don't own anything apart from some DVD's/books for this series.

AN: This is a short drabble prompt for 'The Houses Competition" based on the first two movies/script books of Fantastic Beasts (the third one along with any subsequent ones will not be included for one obvious reason: TeamDepp!)

House: Gryffindor

Class: Herbology

Category: Drabble

Prompts: colour lilac/spell orchideous

Word count: 987 (2.5 pages)

Summary: Newt shyly tries to win Tina's favour with his brother's help.

The magic intensity settled in the air, leaving everyone rather stunned for various reasons. Jacob however, felt he had lost it all. Queenie was gone. She had taken off to join that wizard, Grindelwald, everyone was against. Feeling as if he was on auto-pilot, he moved away from the others. Queenie was gone! His mind was still processing that fact.

After returning the charm to Dumbledore, Jacob found himself in the Scamander home for lunch with the others. Well, that's what they all told themselves. In reality, they were there for moral support. Theseus had just lost his fiancée, Leta.

While finishing dessert, talk turned to what to do next. Queenie's name came up. There was a short awkward moment of silence before Jacob asked, "How are we going to get her back?"

"She's made her choice," Tina replied. "Not much we can do. We don't even know where Grindelwald's followers have gone. Also, I can't stay here. I need to get back to America. So do you, Jacob."

"I'm not go—"

"You have to," Tina interrupted. "For the same reason I do. We're both here illegally at the moment. We need to get that straightened out, first."

"You're just going to leave her?" Jacob asked incredulously.

"We need the proper legal papers to stay here," Tina said with a sigh. "We have to go back to America to get it sorted. Right now, none of us can do anything until we know more about where Grindelwald went. That will give us time to get our documents done up. I don't plan on leaving her behind forever!"

"Accio, niffler," Newt muttered under his breath. Avoiding his brother's gaze, he bent down to pick the animal up.

"Must you always let that bloody creature loose?" Theseus complained.

"Well, I ... I don't e-exactly let him loose," Newt stuttered, stuffing the niffler back into his jacket. "He tends to get out on his own." He kept his head down as the others laughed softly.

"In any case," Theseus began, rollings his eyes. "I'll help you both get back to America. There are Aurors here in the Ministry that are already tracking Grindelwald. I'll send a message when we learn anything."

"Alright," Tina pushed her chair back from the table. "I guess we should get going."

While everyone else began putting on their jackets, Newt returned the niffler to his creature case before locking it shut. He arrived last on the front porch, doing up the few buttons of his own jacket.

Theseus apparated them all to the port where the two illegals would board a ship back to America. Jacob settled in to the room on board, then watched through the window as Newt tried saying goodbye to Tina, but the poor man needed help with women. Theseus leaned in close to his brother's ear to whisper something.

Newt waited for Theseus to move aside before approaching Tina who was just putting her ticket stub into her purse. "I uh ... well ... I ... "

"Yes?" Tina watched him with those salamander eyes. She was used to him preparing himself. The man was socially awkward, so it took time for him to open up. She waited for him to figure out what he was trying to say.

"I hope you return soon," Newt said at last. After a moment, he quickly added, "for Queenie."

"We'll get Queenie back," Tina said.

"Yes," Newt nodded.

"We don't have much choice in the matter," Tina went on. "Jacob will make sure we get her back."

"I ... I know," Newt said, grinning shyly. "He's a good man. Jacob. V-very good man."

"Yes, he is," Tina replied as she turned towards the footbridge leading onto the ship.

"Uh ... wait," Newt suddenly went on.

Tina quickly turned back to him, close enough so that they were nearly nose to nose. "Was there something else?" She asked breathlessly.

"Well, I ... I have something ... for you," Newt stammered. "But I have to ... in private."

"In private?" Tina looked him over, her brow twitching in amusement. "Well, well, Mr. Scamander!" She teased.

"Yes, well it's magical, see," Newt went on. "Muggles ..."

"Alright," Tina moved over to where the wall of the station turned down another path. She went behind it out of sight. After Newt followed her, she asked, "So what is it?"

"Well, Theseus told me you like Lilacs," Newt said. He pulled out his wand. "I, uh, I've never done this ... before. Hope it ... works." He held the wand in front of them. "Orchideous!" A bouquet made of a branch of pale lilac flowers sprang out from the tip of his wand. Newt caught it before holding it out to her.

"Oh!" Tina exclaimed as she took it. "Well, I think that worked quite well!" She stuck the end of the branch into her purse so that the flowers sort of spilled out over the top.

Newt stuck his hands into his pockets. "You might need to ... to get some water for that ... when you get on board."

"I assure you, the flowers will be well cared for," Tina said as they both laughed.

Newt followed her back to the footbridge as the 'last call' sounded out. As she crossed the bridge, Theseus came to stand beside him. "Nice touch with the flowers," he said. "Maybe some day, it will be a little rock instead."

Newt turned bright red as he grinned nervously. Ask Tina to marry him? What a crazy idea! Yet it was something he had wanted to do for a while, he just didn't know how.

The Scamander brothers watched the ship take off over the ocean. It wouldn't be long before the four of them would be reunited. They would get Queenie back. Then somehow, some way, together they would defeat Grindelwald.

This was only just the beginning!

~the end