The mysterious Newt did not appear for dinner. Mrs. Scamander mumbled something about him taking care of beasts and not having manners, but you didn't mind. She was wonderful company. The food was remarkable, better than anything you had tasted in a while - though your typical diet consisted mainly of cigarettes and Firewhiskey, so you didn't have much to compare it to. You did feel a twinge of guilt, however, when the main course was plated before you.
"I'm so sorry," you said, blushing and looking down at your rabbit. "I should have told you. I don't eat meat." Mrs. Scamander had simply raised a brow at you.
"So many animal lovers in the house…" she said, a small smile on her lips. She had cleared it away with a wave and replaced it with something else, as if it were a normal occurrence for her.
After dinner she stood slowly and looked down at you with affection.
"My dear, I wish I could entertain you, but I fear that I am too old." She squeezed your shoulder. "Make yourself at home, Scarlet. You are most welcome here." You sat alone for a moment, enjoying the quiet solitude of the dark house before realizing you wanted a smoke.
It was rather warm outside, though the sun had began to set already. You lit your cigarette and watched the sherbet sky. Again you tried to imagine growing up in such a place, but it made you chuckle. Life just hadn't been that way for you.
You were suddenly distracted by a squawking sound in the distance, and you turned towards the far off noise. You were beginning to think you had imagined it when you heard it again, faintly, coming from within the wooded area off the driveway. You walked towards it, curious, taking lazy draws from your cigarette. The wooded area was quite dense, to your surprise. You made your way over the sticks and moss slowly, unsure of what force was pulling you deeper and deeper into the wood. You gasped as you came into a clearing, the trees pulling back and allowing you to clearly see the magnificent silhouettes of two, full-grown Hippogriffs. You were in awe. You stood there, gaping, for what seemed like hours, before starting towards them. They had noticed you now, eyeing you warily as you approached.
"Hello, beautiful," you smiled, tilting your head. You were still quite a ways from them, but you were hypnotized by their elegance. You took another step. "I won't hurt you," you said. The Hippogriff closest to you fidgeted. "That's it," you said, taking another step.
You suddenly felt someone grab your arm and jerk you back behind the nearest tree.
"Thank Merlin I stopped you in time..." Your eyes widened in surprise, registering Newt standing before you, breathing heavily.
"What are you on about?" You said, rubbing your arm and looking up at him. He really was quite tall.
"You can't just walk up to a Hippogriff," he explained, irritation coloring his voice. "You'll get yourself seriously hurt."
You bit your lip. You had never seen a Hippogriff before in real life, only studied them briefly in school. "I didn't know…" you said, trailing off. Newt looked down to where you were rubbing your arm.
"I'm sorry," he said quickly, not meeting your gaze. You gave him a shaky smile.
"No, I'm glad you know your onions," you said truthfully. You turned, peeking your head around the tree and then back to him. "Newt, right?" You said, eyeing him. He nodded.
"And you're Miss Littlewood." You crinkled your nose.
"Scarlett," you said in distaste. "So how can I see them up close?"
"See what?" Newt asked, flicking his eyes to yours momentarily.
You chuckled at him. "The Hippogriffs!"
"O-oh," he said, confused. "You still want to?"
"Why wouldn't I?" You said, grinning. You watched them from behind the tree. "They're marvelous."
"They are," Newt said, stepping to your side. "But I'll introduce you tomorrow. It's best to meet them in daylight." You hummed in disappointment, but nodded.
"Alright, just promise me you're not all mouth and no trousers."
"Excuse me?" He said, giving you an amused smile and meeting your eyes for the first time.
"You know," you said, flashing him a grin. "You keep your promises, right?" He chuckled at you, and you raised a brow at him. "Well?"
"I keep my promises," he said. You nodded, satisfied. He didn't seem like the lying type. "Shall we?" He said, turning back towards the manor and offering you his elbow. You laughed.
"I don't need your help, Mr. Scamander," you said, walking ahead of him. "But I'll take your company, anyway." You threw him a look over your shoulder, smiling as he hesitated momentarily before following you.
"Shall we have a drink?" You said upon entering the foyer.
"I don't drink," Newt said absently, letting his eyes wander from painting to painting.
"Why does that not surprise me?" You smiled. Newt had much the same effect on you as his mother. He was easy to be around, and kind - you could tell. He felt comfortable. "Am I allowed to drink?" You said. Newt looked at you quizzically.
"Why wouldn't you be?" He asked. You shrugged.
"It's not ladylike." You followed Newt as he led you into a small sitting room, watching him as he poured you a drink of Firewhiskey.
"What is, then?" He asked, handing you the glass. You sat down in one of the armchairs, letting your head fall back.
"They tell me keeping quiet and powdering your nose," you said. You took a drink from your glass and smiled. "I'm ok with the powdering my nose bit, though." You gave Newt a lazy wink and closed your eyes. "What do you do, Newt?"
"Me? Oh… I'm a Magizoologist." You opened one eye at him in question. He colored. "I study magical creatures. I'm writing a book about them." You hummed, lifting your head.
"Really? What sort of creatures?" You were interested, and this seemed to both surprise and excite him.
"Oh, all kinds. I've been to Egypt and South America… to China and -"
"China?!" You interrupted. "But that's fantastic!" Newt blushed.
"I wouldn't say that…" You eyed him, wondering why none of this had come up in his file. You had read the youngest Scamander worked at the Ministry of Magic - you had no idea he was an adventurer, too.
"What's it like there?" You asked him, sitting up straight. "In China," you added.
"Hot," he smiled.
"I would give anything to leave London and travel the world…" you said, shaking your head.
"Why don't you?" Newt had tilted his head and was studying you curiously. You chuckled.
"The Daily Prophet doesn't pay me enough," you said. You downed the rest of your drink and smiled, closing your eyes. "I have this reoccurring dream that I'm on a boat, traveling somewhere far away…" You opened your eyes to find Newt watching you. "Do you think it's a premonition?" He was quiet for a moment.
"Yes," he said finally. You smiled.
"Good."
You were both quiet for a moment, lost in your respective thoughts. Newt broke the silence first.
"I should head to bed. We have guests arriving in the morning." You nodded. "Goodnight," he said.
"Oh, Newt?" He turned to you, eyes wide. "Keep that Niffler of yours away from my jewelry box."