Left Behind
(One-Shot)
Disclaimers: I don't own anything apart from some DVD's/books for this series.
AN: This is a short standard 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: Standard THEME
Prompt(s): (Theme: Forgotten) Forgetting something, someone, being forgotten by someone / (Theme: Reconnecting) Reconnecting with something/someone / (Prompt(s): Action) Dragging something heavy across the floor / (Prompt(s): Colour) Salmon / (Prompt(s): Emotion) Disgust (Prompt(s): Word) Indecisive / (Prompt(s) Quibbler Extra: Sound) The ticking of a clock/Raindrops on the glass / (Prompt(s) Quibbler Extra: Speech) "Is 'No' a foreign word to you?" / (Prompt(s) Quibbler Extra: Action) Building something without magic to prove that magic is better.
Word count: 1,483 as according to AO3 (3 pages)
Summary: In which, Newt's favourite Niffler gets left behind.
"Oh, Teddy," Newt said. "What are you doing?"
The Niffler looked up at him, as if daring his master to interfere, before grabbing another stone to add to a small pillar of stones in front of him.
"Those are going to—" Newt began but the pillar of stones toppled over, leaving Teddy rather sad as he stared down at the disorderly pile of rocks. Newt sat down on the ground next to the Niffler. "Let me show you how it's done."
Newt stacked the stones up again, one on top of the other, until it fell over once more. He pulled out his wand, but Teddy protested. "Just watch," Newt said before swishing his wand over the collection of rocks. In an instant, they all piled on top of each other.
Teddy grunted at the pillar.
"You see?" Newt began. "Building the pillar without magic didn't work as well, did it? My spell holds them upright."
Teddy glared before reaching to grab the top dark grey stone. Another look passed between them before the Niffler stuffed the stone into his pouch.
"Really?" Newt raised a brow.
Teddy scampered off, daring Newt to chase him. Instead, Newt slowly stood up to stretch before following the pest inside. Once he entered the living room, he caught Teddy trying to stuff a silver lamp into his pouch.
"No, leave it!" Newt ordered.
Teddy did it anyway. He reached for another shiny object.
"No, Teddy!" Newt exclaimed, pulling the silver spoon away. "This belongs to the hotel. It is NOT ours!"
But Teddy had already grabbed yet another thing. The ticking of a clock was the only sound that was heard as they silently glared at each other.
Newt took a step towards the Niffler. "Is 'No' a foreign word to you?"
Teddy stuffed the coin into his pouch in defiance.
"Now really, that is quite enough!" Newt reached for Teddy.
At that moment, Jacob burst into the room. "Newt? The train is leaving in two minutes! We still need to get Queenie before we board."
That didn't leave much room for Aparating in time to pick Queenie up before boarding the train. Newt knew that one simply can not Aparate onto the Hogwarts Express. They would have to walk on board like everyone else.
Newt grabbed Jacob's hand, yanking him into the vortex. He dropped Jacob off next to Queenie, then inexplicably disappeared once more. A moment later, he reappeared, holding up the case. "Almost forgot my luggage."
"Let's go!" Queenie urged. "Tina is already on board."
The train whistled its last call as the three of them ran for it.
As they settled into a compartment, Newt felt himself over before glancing at his case. He sighed as he sat down. "I can't help but feel like I've forgotten something else."
"We were in quite a rush," Tina said. "I'm sure something got misplaced, somewhere."
"The Halloween festival will be starting in Hogsmeade soon," said Queenie. "The train will pull in just in time for us to join."
"Yes, it will," Newt glanced at his case once more. He just had that strange feeling that something very important was missing.
He glanced over the others, thinking hard. Everyone was here. He remembered going back to get his luggage, just quickly reappearing in the room to grab it before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Teddy watched as Newt flashed out of view. He waited a moment before Newt returned, but as Teddy slipped down to the floor to go to his master, Newt vanished again! Teddy stared at the spot. He was currently alone in a hotel in London. Surely, Newt will be back for him soon.
He waited for a couple of hours, but no one came back for him. The hotel workers came in to tidy up. When they saw the Niffler, they shooed him out with a broom. Teddy now found himself out in the lobby by himself. He looked up to the windows as he listened to the sound of raindrops pounding on the glass for a moment.
It was raining. Why was it raining when he was all alone? Lost in a big city with no idea how to get home was a terrifying concept. Yes, he had run rampant in big cities before, but Newt had always been nearby, calling to him or using that rather annoying summon spell to bring him back to Newt's hand.
But this was different. Teddy had a very distinct feeling as if he had been forgotten, somehow. Newt wouldn't be coming back for him any time soon. Teddy cautiously slipped out the door before dashing under a drenched bush to avoid getting stepped on.
Now came the big problem. Teddy had to find his way home. He glanced around, indecisive of where to go next.
Well, there was no point staying here, so he suddenly dashed out across the street. This caused cars to skid to a stop in an attempt to avoid squishing him. Teddy ducked under a bench on the opposite side of the street. That had been too close!
After a quick look around, he scurried forward into the rain. Where was Newt? In a panic, Teddy ran down the length of two or three blocks, dodging people as he went bouncing along. As he turned the corner into an alley way, a box dropped onto him, preventing him from going any further.
He had been caught but by who or what, he didn't know.
The man that had trapped him held the box up get a closer look. "A Niffler, huh? Well, you'll make a fine prize at the Hogsmeade Halloween party, won't you?"
The world went dark as the box was shut.
It was a long time before Teddy could see again. He poked his head out over the edge of the box to see the man who had caught him was standing by the window, drinking something.
It was now or never!
Teddy shoved hard, flipping the box down to the floor. He fled out from under it as the man whirled around, yelling at him. The door was open by an inch, so Teddy ran for it, shoving it open with his bill before tumbling into the street.
The man came after him, so Teddy ran around the corner into a path between two houses. The door to the second house opened for a group of children right at that moment. Hearing the man yelling at him, Teddy lost no time in running inside the new house, much to the surprises of those who were there. He found a place to hide in the living room until people gave up looking for him.
Once he was left alone, he came out from under the couch. Across the room from him was an ugly salmon coloured chair. It was nothing to a human, but for a little Niffler, the thing was very heavy. Teddy grabbed hold with both front paws, extending his claws around the wooden posts to pull. He dragged the heavy object across the floor to the window before climbing up to look outside.
Looking one way, he could see the town lit up with jack-o-lanterns while small fireplaces burned neatly in rows on either side of the street. Carriages were pulled along by various animals. He looked the other way, watching people going by.
Suddenly, Newt came into view.
Teddy frantically pushed up against the window latch until it broke off, letting the pane spring open. He flipped outside, landing in a pile of garden dirt. Teddy sat there for a moment, disgusted with himself for getting this dirty so fast. Forgetting all about Newt, he started cleaning. A Niffler must be presentable, after all, but oh my! What a mess he was in!
Finally, he hurried down the main drag of Hogsmeade, looking every which way for Newt. At last, he found the four humans sitting together outside a pub. Teddy hurried over.
"Oh where could he be?" Queenie moaned. "We've searched everywhere."
"You're sure no one saw him at the hotel in London?" Jacob asked.
"I owled the owners twice," Newt said. "He isn't there. Obviously, I did bring him along. But I don't remember even picking him up."
"He has to be here, then," said Tina before letting out a short scream of surprise. She looked down. "TEDDY!"
All four of them jumped to their feet as Teddy looked at each of them in turn, as if letting them know he was here with them. He looked up at Newt, last.
"There you are!" Newt exclaimed as he knelt down to pick the Niffler up.
Teddy instantly cuddled up under Newt's chin, safe at last. Now that the panic was over, it was time to reconnect with his lifelong friend. He slowly fell asleep in Newt's arms.
the end