"Come in."
Theseus was at his desk, head bowed and writing when you stepped into his office.
"Sorry to intrude, Mr. Scamander," you said, sitting down. He looked up and smiled at the sound of your voice.
"Miss Littlewood, your presence is hardly an intrusion." He gave you a look that made your body warm and your heart sink simultaneously. You usually welcomed that kind of attention, but somehow, with Theseus, it felt wrong…
"Are you too busy for an interview?"
"I just finished my work," he said, glancing down at the letter he was writing. "Something at the Ministry has prevented our guests from arriving this afternoon. They'll be here tomorrow instead."
"I hope it's nothing serious," you said, hoping to get material for your article. Theseus forced a smile.
"Not at all."
"Well," you said, pulling out your notebook and charmed quill and letting them levitate beside you poised and ready to take notes. Theseus raised a brow at you.
"Is all that necessary for a conversation between friends?"
"Just want to make sure I get my facts straight," you said, flashing him a smile. He sat back in his chair and chuckled.
"You know, I've never been interviewed by someone quite as engaging as you," he said, eyes flicking to your quill as it scribbled his words.
"Can I quote you on that?" You grinned. You liked Theseus. You could tell he was a good man, though perhaps a bit of a charmer. "Can you state your name for the record?"
"Theseus Scamander," he said.
"Ok, Mr. Scamander, you're being awarded a medal for bravery during the war. How does that make you feel?"
"Embarrassed, quite frankly. I was scared the entire time I was fighting. There is nothing brave about war, Miss Littlewood."
"But," you said quietly, tilting your head, "you saved countless civilians. Surely, that constitutes bravery."
"I did what I had to do, and I helped who I could." Theseus ran a hand through his hair. "Honestly, I just couldn't stop thinking about my family… do you have much family, Miss Littlewood?"
"No," you said. "No, I have no brothers or sisters, and my parents died when I was younger."
"I'm sorry," Theseus said. "I didn't mean - "
"No," you waved a hand dismissively. "No, it's ok. Go on." He gave you a sad smile.
"I was worried about my mother, of course. And I was worried sick about my brother, who was fighting - "
"Newt fought in the war?" You looked at Theseus with wide eyes, and he seemed surprised.
"Oh, yes," he said. "Yes, he worked with dragons along the eastern front."
"Dragons?" You leaned forward a bit.
"Ukranian Ironbellies, actually. It was a classified program for the Ministry, but they had to cancel it." You furrowed your brow.
"Why?"
Theseus smiled at you. "Well, the dragons kept trying to eat everyone. Except for my brother, of course."
"That sounds like Newt," you said, smiling warmly. Theseus chuckled, regarding you with a strange look.
"It does, doesn't it?"
A knock at the door made you both jump. You looked up to see Newt standing in the doorway, shifting uncomfortably.
"Sorry to interrupt," he said, looking at Theseus and taking a few steps into the room, "but mother has called us all to the dining room for dinner."
"We can finish later," you said, grabbing your quill and notebook. Theseus nodded as you stood. "I'm going to wash up a bit. See you both at dinner." You turned and flashed Newt a smile as you made your way out of the office. You had stopped just outside the door to pocket your notebook when you heard Newt speak.
"How's the interview going?" His voice sounded strange, like he was trying too hard to sound casual.
"We had really just started," Theseus said, "but we were talking about you."
"About me?" Newt asked. "What in Merlin's beard for?"
"She seemed interested in your involvement in the war, is all." You heard Theseus' chair scrape on the floor as he stood. "Almost more interested than in my involvement." You heard Newt cough and smiled as you imagined him blushing.
"I do believe Scarlet is a very good reporter. I'm sure she had a reason to ask."
"On a first-name basis, are we?" Theseus was teasing him now, and you heard Newt sputter a bit. "Alright, Newton, I can take a hint. I'll let her be."
"No, Theseus, that's not what I - "
"No?" There was a smile in Theseus' voice. "Perhaps I should ask her to accompany me to the awards ceremony then… she's quite beautiful, don't you think?"
"Oh.." Newt said, sounding incredibly strained. "Yes, I… sorry, what?" Theseus laughed.
"Come on, we mustn't keep mother waiting."
You were gone before they could say anything else.
You were quiet at dinner, lost in your thoughts. You hadn't had a chance to ask Theseus about Grindelwald yet, and it weighed heavily on your mind. You were here to do a job, afterall, not hang around with eccentric men like Newt Scamander. You felt your stomach flip a bit at the thought of him and bit your lip.
"Are you alright, dear?" You looked up to see Mrs. Scamander eyeing you with concern.
"I'm fine," you said, forcing a smile. "I'm just… tired."
"It's exhausting to be young," she said, nodding. "Don't you think, Theseus?"
"Very exhausting," he agreed. "You should rest tonight, Miss Littlewood. Tomorrow night we're having a party with some of our closest relations. I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting them - most of them are in top positions at the Ministry."
"I can't wait," you said flatly. You hated those kinds of parties, truth be told. Everyone at them was always so self-important.
"I think I'll leave you all to socialize tomorrow," Newt said. "I have some work to do on my book and - "
"Newton," Theseus interrupted. "You are not getting out of this party. Need I remind you, you work for the Ministry?"
"Nobody will care if I'm there or not, Theseus," Newt said. "They'll all be looking to speak to you."
"You're coming," Theseus said with some finality. Newt clenched his jaw, eyes flicking to yours and then down at his plate. You knocked back the rest of your Firewhiskey, closing your eyes and feeling the buzz of alcohol in your system.
After dinner Theseus suggested you all make your way to the sitting room to catch up on everything he had missed on his travels. You hung back in the dining room momentarily, finishing your drink before standing to follow them. As you passed through the doorway you were surprised to find Newt waiting for you on the other side.
"Oh," you said, stopping abruptly before walking into his chest. "Hello."
"Are you alright?" He said. You raised a brow at him.
"I think so? Why?" Newt pursed his lips.
"You just… I'm sorry, tell me to sod off if this isn't my business but… you seemed upset at dinner." You offered him a half-smile and laughed.
"You're awfully intuitive, Mr. Scamander." He stayed quiet, waiting for you to speak. "I'm… not feeling well," you said finally. "And I'm not a fan of big parties." These things were true, of course - although you left out all of the confusing things you were feeling about him from the conversation. His eyes softened.
"I'm also not looking forward to tomorrow evening," he said, looking over your right shoulder. "I was rather hoping I could escape to my case."
"Can I come with you?" You joked. Newt gave you a shy smile and offered you his arm.
"We'll suffer together," he said.
"Together," you agreed, linking your arm with his.
That night you couldn't sleep. You were too busy thinking about everything and nothing, tossing and turning until your sheets were twisted around themselves. You sighed, sitting up in your bed. The house was still and quiet as you made your wall down the hallway, past the dining room and through the sitting room. You stopped suddenly, noticing light coming from underneath the library's closed door. You felt your heartbeat quicken as you made your way over and knocked softly.
"Who is it?" you heard Newt's muffled voice ask. You smiled, opening the door and peeking your head in.
"Can I come in?" You said. Newt looked up at you in surprise from his desk.
"O-oh! Yes, of course. Please." You shuffled in, smiling at him shyly.
"I couldn't sleep," you said, curling up in the armchair in front of his desk.
"I see," he said. He looked around the desk, grimacing. "Sorry for the mess, I wasn't expecting anyone."
"It's perfect," you said. He had removed his jacket and waistcoat again, and his bowtie was loose around his neck. The first couple of buttons on his shirt were unbuttoned and he had rolled up his sleeves. Newt noticed you staring and colored.
"I work best at night," he said, by way of explanation. You nodded.
"What are you writing about?"
"Thestrals," he said, glancing down at his papers. "Fascinating creatures. They can only be seen by people who have seen death."
"Oh," you said quietly. "Yes, I know." Newt looked up at you, a strange glint in his eye. You gave him a sad smile. "I've seen one before."
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and for some reason the sadness in his voice made you instantly tear-up. You wiped at your eyes and smiled.
"It's ok," you said. You met his eyes and felt your heart clench at the unguarded look he was giving you. "My parents," you explained. He nodded slowly.
"Can I show you something?"
You gave him a shaky smile. "Sure."
You followed him down into the case and through his meadow until you reached a small lake. He sat down on the grass and motioned for you to join him. You were both quiet for a moment, watching the stars from the night sky glisten on the water's surface.
"I'm sorry," Newt said suddenly. You looked at him, but he was staring at the lake. "I'm sorry about your parents." You bit your lip.
"They died when I was ten," you said. "Dragon Pox." Newt nodded.
"I can't imagine," he said, his voice watery.
"It's ok," you said, to him and to yourself. "I'm ok." You looked out at the lake. "I do miss them, though."
"Tell me about them?" You glanced at Newt and saw him looking at you. You smiled.
"My dad used to carry me on his shoulders, even when I was too big. I used to climb in his lap and he'd tickle me until my sides hurt from laughing. He smoked a pipe, and I can still smell the tobacco, sticky and sweet. I hated it." You chuckled, stretching out your legs in front of you and looking up at the sky. "My mom always smelled like baby powder and perfume. She used to hug me to her chest, and I remember feeling so safe with her. She would sing me to sleep every night."
"What song?" Newt asked, quietly. You thought for a moment and then began to sing.
"If you love me, dear Bedelia, half as much as I love you, there is nothing in this world could ever cut our love in two. I will give you all my money on the day that we are wed, and I'll even take your breakfast up to bed." You stopped, glancing at Newt and coloring. "I can't sing it like she used to."
"It's beautiful," Newt said. A sudden flash of lights over the lake caught your attention. You looked up, gasping as the sky filled with waves of green and golden light.
"What is this?" You asked.
"I charmed the sky to look like the Aurora Borealis," Newt said.
"Newt," you breathed, staring up in awe. You turned to look at him, watching the way the lights reflected off his freckled skin. He was beautiful. You reached over, taking his hand and lacing your fingers with his. He stiffened momentarily, turning towards you in shock and catching your eye. There was a terrifying moment where you thought he would pull away, but then he squeezed your hand in his gently and offered you a shy smile. You turned back to watch the sky, but could only think about the feel of his hand in yours and the wild beating of your heart.