This is the chapter you've all been waiting for, but it's still only a glimpse of some serious Newt action that's to come.

In response to the reviews:

Guest: Yesssss! You've made my day - I'm actually so happy there's at least one person who reads both stories. I also promise to update that one really soon! :) Hopefully this chapter will answer a few of your question, but I promise the next few will answer some more. Thanks heaps for the kind reviews as always, and I'm so glad to have you on board xx

AnadoraBlack: I hate to give away the plot but you may or may not be (may, definitely may ;) ) be on the right track! You've also made me so happy that there's actually someone out there that would go into such depth and analyse my story haha. Thanks for your reviews, I really appreciate them.

KirikaAndo: I still love that you introduced me to "Noot" it's still the greatest thing ever - thanks so much! I'm sure this chapter will be very exciting for you :)

I blinked a few times as Newt approached me and asked me to dance. I wanted to desperately say yes but I looked to the crowd to see where Andrew had gotten to. After all I had promised this dance to him, and I was a lady of my word.

It seemed Andrew didn't extend this courtesy to me as I saw from across the room Andrew was busy chatting with a fifth year Hufflepuff girl who was giggling furiously, it looked as though she was over the moon that a handsome older boy was paying attention to her. I was annoyed for a split second until I realised Andrew's proposal to me was on the condition of 'when he got back' we would dance. He wasn't back, I didn't owe him his dance yet. This was now a convenient arrangement for me.

I almost felt sorry for dear Mary Figglestill for a few moments as her escort was having improper relations with another girl in plain sight – but then I realised my date was doing the same. One quick look at Tom and his face was still close to Mary's – the same unreadable look on his face. It didn't look like he was enjoying the dance but at the same time he didn't look displeased about being forced to dance with her – I was still not happy about how intimate the two looked.

"I'd love to…" I said to Newt, accepting his offer for a dance.

I did intend to leave my acceptance with just those words but then it slipped out. My mother warned me that once I started choosing to use my Veela charms it would begin to come to me naturally, and appeared these special powers were now growing. I couldn't help it, for some reason Newt made me feel flirtatious.

"…professor." I finished, leaning in to whisper his title into his ear seductively.

I froze as the confidence left my body. Newt seemed to freeze for a second as well but then pepped up and smiled wildly. He offered me his hand silently and I accepted, placing my entire hand inside his palm and strolling over to the dancefloor with him.

We weren't the first teacher-student duo on the dancefloor after people began to re-enter the floor once Tom and Figglestill had been dancing for an appropriate amount of time. The elderly Astronomy professor – Professor Silvershade was dancing erratically with a tiny third year girl, making those around them laugh at their crazy antics as he swung her around. Even Professor Slughorn himself had picked a dance partner – a girl who's name, house or year I did know, but had her prefects badge pinned to her dress robes and they both dancing innocently. Therefore we didn't look out of place dancing as student and teacher, but I knew at the back of my mind the other teachers and students paired up didn't feel as raw as Newt and I did – it wasn't comical or for show like the other two.

Newt slowly placed his arms gently onto my waist and I placed an arm on each of his shoulders. Just as fast as my powers appeared, they seemed to disappear just as quickly. I suddenly felt nervous, Newt was making me feel this way. He gave me a small smile and I felt some of my fears and nerves vanish but I certainly didn't feel as flirtatious as I did moments ago. We began to sway slowly, we were now officially dancing.

"Do you remember your first dance with someone?" I asked him, in an attempt to make conversation so we wouldn't be dancing silently the whole time.

"Of course." Newt responded. Once again he immediately didn't take the social cue that this was now his chance to continue with more information, but after I gave him a look of expectation he took the hint.

"It was during my time at Hogwarts. One year instead of a Halloween feast they had a Halloween ball instead to try and change things up a bit, but the rumour was that our Headmaster Professor Black wanted to use it as an excuse to pair up notable girls and boys to continue on their family bloodlines..." Newt trailed off.

"Sounds about right. Great Grandfather Black had died before I was born, but a nasty rumour is that he died of disappointment when one of his grandsons – my father – married a Veela and intended to bring half-blood offspring into the family. I'm not sure what's worse, the rumour or the fact it could be true." I explained to Newt.

His mouth opened in awe and I wasn't sure if he was horrified of what I had just told him or whether he was embarrassed he spoke ill of my great grandfather before he made the connection that the headmaster of his time was blood related to me. My cheeks went rosy when I realised I had hijacked the conversation and after a few stutters Newt continued on.

"Yes well, let me tell you he wasn't a very popular headmaster that's for sure. But it was at that Halloween ball I had a dance with a very dear friend. That was my first dance and it's one I won't forget." Newt said with a smile on his face and I could tell he was reliving the memory in his mind. His smile was contagious, it made me smile as he looked so happy. I liked seeing him this way.

His smile quickly turned into a frown as he looked down at me and quickly spoke up.

"Not that I'm not enjoying this dance, mind you." He quickly blabbed on in defence.

"I didn't think anything of it. I'm just glad your first dance was a lovely one. Mine certainly wasn't." I responded.

"Why is that? What happened?" Newt didn't have to take a social cue this time. He was interested enough to ask me and had great concern in his eyes.

"Ah, it's a bit silly. It was a wedding I went to when I was eleven, by then I was expected to start socialising with the other children and my parents pushed me to find a dance partner. None of the boys wanted to dance with me as they had obviously heard from their parents I was considered a half-blood and thus they avoided me like the plague." I began to explain.

Newt let out a gasp, something I wasn't expecting. He then looked deep into my eyes and took a hand off my waist as he lightly brushed the side of my face as he studied my face carefully, even going as far as to tuck some loose curls behind my ears. I didn't even realise relieving a fairly painful memory was making me feel a bit upset, but I certainly felt better at Newt's compassion and small display of affection towards me.

"I can't believe we live in a world where there are people who would turn down the unbelievably wonderful opportunity to dance with you. I know you get told this regularly but you're so beautiful. There's more to you than just beauty but I am in shock there's those out there that would turn down a dance with someone as remarkable as you." Newt stated boldly.

My eyes widened at Newt's words. No one had ever said something so nice to me before, not even Tom. It wasn't just the words used either, but how gentle Newt was as he said it. He was genuinely trying to get his opinion across – there were no underlying motives. I suddenly grew a little self-conscious and looked around the dancefloor wondering if anyone noticed the intimate moment that Newt and I were having.

I looked around but no one seemed to be watching. Everyone was either still pre occupied with their dance partner or busy looking towards Tom and Mary who were still dancing. No one was paying attention to Newt and I. This was perfect, as I wanted to keep this special moment between Newt and I. Unfortunately however I wasn't used to hearing compliments that extended outside the way I looked and didn't know how to respond gracefully. I decided to continue on with my anecdote in hopes of occupying Newt so he wouldn't know how embarrassed I was or how awkward I felt.

"Well my older cousin Cedrella whisked me around the dance floor and asked every boy around the same age as me if they would dance with me, promising she would dance with them herself after she was done. Even though a pretty older girl offered to dance, no one took her up on her offer." I continued on.

Newt only sent me a sympathetic look – I could tell he wanted to speak up and probably say something to make me feel better but he didn't say anything so he could give me the courtesy to finish my story.

"Finally one boy took her up on her offer. It hurt that he only agreed so he could dance with my cousin, but we did indeed have a small dance. No one had ever taught me how to dance so I awkwardly grabbed his waist as he grabbed mine, not knowing that girls are meant to grab the neck. We lasted about a minute at the most before he scampered away muttering it wasn't worth it. So that was my first dance." I stated, and forced a grin on my face as I didn't realise the re-telling of a funny coming-of-age story of embarrassment would cause Newt to feel so sorry for me.

"I bet all the boys want to dance with you now." Newt quietly to me and I only then realised how close we now were – my arms were tight around his neck and rather than having his arms lightly touching my waist they were well and truly holding on. I was fearful to look around the dancefloor now, knowing we had long pushed the boundaries of a teacher-student dance.

I had also stopped looking towards where Tom and Mary were dancing and quite frankly, right now I wasn't too concerned about those two. All I was doing was paying attention to Newt's worried eyes which were fixed directly onto my face. Due to my mother's advice and my insecurities I previously thought there was nothing between Newt and I. The events of our dance had proven otherwise. I still couldn't be sure how he felt towards me, but I could no longer deny I held feelings for him, even if they may have only gone one way.

I gave him a nervous smile as these thoughts raced through my head. I almost spoke up and confessed all of my private thoughts to him there and then but held myself back. It didn't feel like it was the right time to tell him. Maybe there never would be a right time, but it certainly wasn't now.

"You wanted to dance with me, that's all that counts right now." I decided to answer with, ending the pity party I had started previously with a compliment towards Newt. The best part was that it rolled off of my tongue charismatically.

For a brief second I pondered on whether my newly awakened Veela charms could possibly be getting stronger. The thought immediately left me as I focused on Newt's wide smile beaming towards me.

"I have an idea." Newt said as he unwrapped himself from my arms around his neck but grabbed my wrist lightly as he began to lead me off the dancefloor quickly.

"Where are we going?" I giggled, enjoying his spontaneous idea and actions.

"I'm taking you to the outside grounds. If you stand just outside the castle and face the forest from there – the Hinkypunk's lanterns shine so brightly and beautiful this time of month. I'd love to show you." Newt stated, sounding excited as he began to lead me through the crowds of people as he kept a tight grasp on my wrist.

It was then I seemed to come back to reality. I dug my heels into the ground to bring us to a halt and Newt turned around and looked at me innocently. It wasn't a look of anger or annoyance but one of worry – he was apprehensive about my reasons for halting.

I didn't even know my reasons for stopping – watching Hinkypunks in their natural environment late at night with my favourite teacher (the 'teacher' part I was trying to not think about right now so perhaps one of my favourite people was a better term) sounded like the thing I wanted to do the most. But I knew I had to stay in the castle – it wasn't a good idea to mix up my feelings by spending quality one-on-one time with Newt at the moment. Plus I also agreed to escort Tom to this party, it wasn't decent for a lady to go off with one man when she was meant to be accompanying another.

Tom. For the first time in a while I remembered Tom, and Mary dancing. My eyes darted to the dancefloor – but Tom and Mary were nowhere to be seen. I turned my attention back onto sweet Newt and guilt immediately flushed through me as I knew I had to turn down his kind invitation, as much as I didn't want to.

"Oh I'd love to, I really would. I just don't think it's entirely appropriate that I came to the party with Tom and then would leave with another person." I truthfully responded to Newt, regret etched all over my face as I was ignoring every instinct inside me – which was screaming to go with Newt and to forget Tom.

"Right, yes, okay, that makes sense." Newt quickly stammered out, and I could hear the hurt and rejected feeing he must have been feeling in his voice.

"I would love to do it another time though, really." I stated enthusiastically.

Newt looked around nervously, as if he were about to say something he knew he shouldn't. Then he spoke up when it looked as though the coast was clear and no one was paying attention to us.

"Next time I'll ask you when you're…unoccupied, and when I can have you all to myself." Newt declared. Although the words sounded flirty or possessive he said them with such innocence I could tell he didn't mean anything by it and was just stating a simple fact. I wasn't sure whether I should be disappointed by it or not.

"Hello Professor Scamander, we haven't had the chance to meet properly." We both heard and spun around to see Tom standing there alone – no Mary in sight.

Due to Tom's possessive nature I expected him to be livid about the fact I was dancing with another man but instead he stood there pleasantly with a smile on his face, beaming at Newt.

Newt also seemed to be caught off guard as he didn't seem to know how to greet Tom, I assumed that his awkward nature took over.

"Pleasure to meet you, I've heard great things about you. Everyone around here seems to have taken a great liking to you." Newt said, taking Tom's hand and giving him a brief handshake but I noticed it was neither a long nor firm handshake.

"I must say you're a highly esteemed Magizoologist, if I knew the best in the field would be taking the class I would have continued the course after O.W.L. level. Care to join Victoria and I for a drink?" Tom asked Newt politely, indicating towards the bar that had been set up that was serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Newt was silent for a few moments and I realised that his attention was on me as he pondered Tom's proposal. I pretended I had not noticed his gaze as it made me feel a little shy. So much had happened in a short amount of time and I felt a little overwhelmed.

"I would love to, however unfortunately I have a task I need to do," Newt sighed as he turned down Tom's idea with an explanation "Tonight is my last chance for the month to study Hinkypunks, I'm researching on whether they should be considered beasts or spirits."

"Well we won't keep you then. Tori, shall we go do the rounds?" Tom turned to me, holding his arm out for me to take.

I was slightly relieved that Newt had turned down Tom's offer. Even though Tom was nothing short of a gentleman towards Newt it still made me feel uncomfortable to be around both of them at the same time. Tonight I was really confused about my feelings towards Newt – the less time I spent around him at the moment the better. He was my teacher and also he had a wife, we were not to be. I needed to let these feelings I also had for Tom develop properly, he was clearly the much better match for me, and I knew for a fact he was quite keen on me.

"It was lovely talking to you. Bye Professor Scamander." I said towards Newt, absolutely no flirty undertones this time as I used his formal title in front of Tom.

Newt frowned for a very small moment before he quickly pretended he hadn't, giving me a weak smile before he disappeared into the crowd making his way towards the exit of Slughorn's office.

I would have analysed why he frowned but I did not have the time as Tom was pulling me towards the bar area which was being manned by a House-elf bartender, and my full attention was drawn to Tom.

"What would you like to drink? There's almost everything you can think of here." Tom asked me.

I almost asked how Slughorn got away with serving alcoholic beverages to school students but then realised that there was probably a few reasons why. Mainly he didn't care about bending the rules or being slightly inappropriate, as long as it made his parties a success. That summed up Slughorn's personality in general.

"Oh um, a Butterbeer would be fine, thanks." I said to both Tom and the House-elf at the bar, realising that it may be bad form for me to be drinking alcohol at this event.

"Two Firewhiskeys, thanks." Tom said to the House-elf, ignoring my request in entirely and ordering a drink on my behalf.

"Really, Butterbeer would be fine, it may be a bit tasteless and rude if I drink alcohol considering I wasn't even invited and I'm only here as your date." I spoke up rather meekly.

"Don't listen to the lady, she wants Firewhiskey." Tom said to the House-elf, muttering the request fairly forcefully.

The elf paused as it studied both Tom and I carefully, deciding what to do. It then got two glasses and used magic to pour two Firewhiskeys, deciding to listen to Tom in the end.

Tom thanked the House-elf and then turned to me, I was pouting a little as I was unhappy that he didn't respect my wishes and let me have a non-alcoholic drink as I had wanted and instead had manipulated the situation to force me to have the choice I did not want.

"Cheer up beautiful, you'll have more fun drinking this instead, trust me." Tom stated as he clinked his glass with mine.

Reluctantly I took a sip, feeling the rough burn as the liquid poured down my throat. I had consumed alcohol before at weddings and other special events but never Firewhiskey – it was usually considered a man's drink and improper for a lady.

"So, what happened with Figglestill?" I suddenly asked Tom, as I found myself growing curious once again about their dance, and how I was not able to read Tom's expressions at the time of his dance with Mary.

"What happened with Scamander?" Tom piped up, matching my curiousity with his own.

Oh.