Newt's POV
He panicked a little when he was told the next morning that he would not be allowed around other students. In the night Tyler and Sherman taught him how to return to his human form.
There was a lot he would have to learn. Most of it were things he should have learned as a young child. It would take a lot of catching up before he would be ready to meet the pack.
To his relief Dumbledore told him that he would've allowed to continue his education. Instead of expelling him they were giving him his own room. He would be taught by tutors and the professors when they had the time.
On top of his regular school work Sherman Blackstone would be teaching him about the pack. Tyler would assist in his transformations until he could do them himself. The dirty blond haired man looked slightly hurt at his suspicious looks.
Newt couldn't help it however. He knew what the man wanted from him. He just wasn't sure if that was what he wanted in turn.
Staying close to the pack in England wasn't his goal. He wanted to be a magizoologist. That would mean learning all he could about magical creatures. He travel across the world helping abused creatures and helping them return to their natural habitat. That could not be done from England.
Finishing his education came first however. No one would take his work seriously without it. Without the bullying he would be able to focus on his studies. The only regret he had was not being able to see Leta.
It wasn't until he was alone with his father that he really understood how this happened. His father was not a Scammander by blood. Riley took the name of his wife rather than her take his.
His true name was Riley Donner scion of the Donner family. Matthew Donner a brown haired man that came with Sherman Blackstone. It only occurred to him later that this man was his family. An uncle he never met and wouldn't have if he didn't have the wolf laying just beneath his skin.
His father had been one of the clan. A pureblood wolf who never transformed. If someone didn't transform before the age of eighteen they never would. His father had been one of the rare few. Most of the clan wanted to see him dead after that. With the help of Sherman Blackstone he was able to escape.
According to the elder man it was part of being a black wolf. There were two wolves that were the most sought after in any clan. A white wolf and a black one.
A white wolf eased the changes of the other wolves. They looked after the young teenagers that were trying to go through their first change.
A black wolf looked the clan as a whole. A black wolf could not die until the next one was born. According to Sherman all black wolves could feel when one was born. They could feel again if the black wolf successfully transformed.
Black wolves rarely successfully transform. Most could not accept that they were chosen by the moon. Newt was one of the rare few.
In turn Sherman would teach him as long as he could. Newt was horrified to learn that Sherman would slowly die. He would only be around long enough to teach Newt for a short time.
When Newt tried to argue that he didn't want the man to die he said with a smile that told the pain he felt, "Newt I am old. I know I don't look like it. When I tell my age people seem to think I am kidding. I'm not. In truth I am ready to die. I have been since my mate died centuries ago."
It was then that he understood. Sherman had been alone for a long time. Without his mate he could not find true happiness. Somehow he didn't think that the man was the same one that had first transformed.
When Newt chose his mate he would have to be careful. If he chose the wrong mate then he could end up in the same situation. No longer wanting to live but neither being able to die.
It was two days before he was allowed out of the hospital wing. The matron spent most of the time fussing over him. She had seen the aftermath of the bullying. Even when no one else would she helped him. For that he was grateful.
Being free for the first time in two days made him want to run. According to the older wolves that was normal. They all felt the need to run. As a pup he would feel it stronger than most for at least a few weeks.
Dumbledore allowed Newt to get his own things from his dorm. The other Hufflepuffs watched him with a wary eye. No doubt they were mistrustful because of the rumors. No one knew what went on in the Hospital Wing. It made the rumor mill go berserk.
None of the other students had gone through his stuff. It wouldn't have taken much to get through his protections.
After they got his trunk he hesitated for a moment. There was still the creatures he had been nursing back to health. If he didn't go get them they would die thinking he abandoned them. If he did get them then his professor might take them away.
Seeing his hesitation Dumbledore asked his blue eyes showing their amusement, "What is it, Newt?"
Newt mumbled almost unintelligible, "My creatures. I have been looking after some injured ones I found. Please sir, they will die without someone to help them."
The adults exchanged glances before Dumbledore said softly, "Lead the way, Newt. As long as you can take care of them we won't take them from you."
So with slightly less hesitance he showed them his hiding place. Only he and Leta knew about it. Just off the southwest corridor on the first floor. A little known crack in the wall that had a small spiral staircase. It led to a small alcove where he could see the courtyard below him. His creatures lay all around the small area.
Upon seeing him they vocalized their happiness. A little raven chick that just got his feathers in hopped closer to him. When the others tried to follow they found it was too small to fit everyone. Only Dumbledore was allowed to stay. He helped Newt pack up his creatures. There was a gentleness that Newt had never seen before.
From there they went to his room. They were connected to Dumbledore's who would be his mentor. If Newt had any issues he was to go to the man. Between there rooms was a mixture of a common room and a classroom. It had two desks. One for him and one for his tutors.
His father for the first time in years hugged him. The warmth that Newt felt from it was loving. No matter if he was wolf or human his father would accept him. There was no need to be afraid of what he was anymore.
Though he still had a confrontation with his betrothed to worry about. When he brought it up to his father he could see the worry in his eyes. Wizards weren't nearly as accepting as his mother had been.
During a free moment in his first week of his new schedule he sent off a letter to Gellert. It was simple and didn't provide a lot of information. Only stating that Newt needed to see him during his Christmas Holidays. By the weekend he had a reply that Gellert would be there two days after he returned home.
With that his semester passed quickly. His days were spent learning from his tutors while his evenings just after dinner were spent with Sherman. The older black wolf showed what it truly meant to be free. It helped him understand his creatures better as well. As he became more intune with his wolf side he too became intune with the creatures around him and in the forest.
Weekends were spent doing homework given out by his tutors
and learning dueling. Albus as the professor insisted he be called was teaching him. It started off with easy spells and simple stances to using the entire room.
While he was not a match for his professor he could hold his own. Every time they dueled he learned something new. His magic hummed beneath his skin contentedly now. It was being used the way it was meant to. To protect and save creatures. Soon it would be a career rather than just a hobby.
As the winter holidays drew closer his wolf finally settled down. Tyler despite his original claims continued to come around. The two wolves were nearly inseparable in running through the forest.
Newt introduced Tyler to all the creatures he had befriended over the years. Tyler showed him the freedom that came with their animal form. It had not taken long to learn that friendships born under a full moon were meant to last a life time. Even if he didn't choose Tyler as a mate he still wanted to be friends with the older wolf.