King - Lauren Aquilina

The bowtruckle was the first to pick up the bustling noise outside the bathroom door. Stealing a glance over where Newt laid, he pondered whether he should alert his friend. Newt just lolled his head in a different position, as the steam relaxed him. He tried clicking and saw no result from the sleeping body. Pickett frowned at his other options as they all required longer limbs. So, with a huff, he left his tree and sought for an answer from under the door. A swarm of billywigs and doxys whizzed by him in hoots of laughter. Snuffling under the chair was the murtlap with-who-knows-what in his jaws. Fafnyr was playing a game of cat and mouse with the niffler, and the case gaping wide for all sorts of creatures to escape.

He thinned his lips at the chaos. Since his tiny voice wouldn't make much of a difference, he dove back under to find Newt out of the tub with a towel draped around his hips. "Pickett?" He questioned with alarm. Newt knelt down to pick up his little friend and creaked the bathroom door opened. Newt's eyes were met at the sight of his creatures making havoc in the living room. His mind reeled. Words couldn't describe of he felt there and now. Was he careless on leaving his suitcase unlocked-he didn't want Fafnyr to think negative of him-wait, is that the niffler in his tail? There were too much noise of clicking, buzzing, grumbling and what-have-you that brought his utmost attention to the crowd.

He didn't usually enjoy using his motherly tone on any of them, in fact, he hardly raised his tone at all. So, who was at fault on leaving his case unlatched? For Fafnyr's sake, Newt knew that if he locked it-he would've betrayed his words. His jaws clenched and he pointed to the case.

In his stern voice he shouted, "Alright, all of you, back in your beds right now! Don't make me repeat myself." Newt made eye contact to all of the ones that met his, they followed willingly, which struck out on him. He needn't to worry about his billywigs and doxies as they fluttered their way back in. Just then the door to the apartment clicked. His face blanched first, fearing that Mrs. Esposito have finally came up to investigate. However, he reddened in seconds as two figures poked their heads through. Newt thanked the heavens that he was covered, but not entirely obsolete to the two women who immediately fled.

All that was left was Fafnyr in the living room. He carefully dropped the niffler in and shut the lid with a slam, drawing Newt's attention back. With his tail, Fafnyr closed the latch.

Fifteen minutes ago

A strange-looking creature flew and landed at the ends of Fafnyr's nose. It tilted its tiny head, observing the beast with small black eyes. Another of its kind flew onto his back, and tugged at the bat-like wings. Fafnyr stirred and blinked his silver eyes down at the critter. Why were there so many of them attempting to pluck his nerves? They had small bodies with sharp grins, and ears that were their wings.

"Hello, friend." The one on his snout, snickered. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

The one on his back managed to lift one of his wings in its tiny arms with much strength; he was trembling by the sheer weight. "Yes, yes, look at how large your wings are. Can you feel em?"

"Excuse me, mind letting go?" The larger beast huffed.

"Oh, of course, dearie-oops." The fellow not only obeyed his command, but accidentally nipped the membrane of the wing. "Did that hurt?"

'Did that hurt?' It said.

Fafnyr peered at his shoulder, ignoring the creature with a cheeky grin. There have been many points in his life where Fafnyr has forgotten about them. He couldn't measure their weights, as in, he couldn't sense them whenever he moved about. To be fair, they weren't a part of his body that he could normally be aware about. "Not really," he answered honestly.

Dougal hung close to Fafnyr. "Are they bothering you? Sorry, these are what you call, a 'doxy'

'I don't care for them as long as they leave me-'

"If your animagus is a dragon, are you able to breathe fire?" The one on his face prodded at his jaws.

The other doxy pointed at his wings again. "If that didn't hurt, how do you use these then?"

"Just for decoration?"

The two of them engulfed themselves into a laughing riot. But Fafnyr didn't join in. Questions. There were so many. Even if there weren't, Fafnyr hated to be asked about himself-like he was in interrogation.

How do you feel? Does your body hurt if I touch you? When you transform, are there anything I should be concerned about?

"I-I don't know!" He blurted out. He hadn't realized that his breathing staggered. He rubbed his face with his claws and shook the buggers off.

The habitats fell silent on his outrage. Then it was the niffler who drew his attention. "It would seem that because of what you are-you're simply not happy."

"If you want to change, then don't sit there and mope. Will yourself in believing that you can. Become that person you want to be." One of the doxy began, but their tones were softer but pensive.

"Speak your mind and you might be heard. If all else fails, revert to drastic measures. What's life without a little violence?" The other cocked its head.

The last thing that Fafnyr needed was to use brute force. But lately, he hasn't been able to get his point across with the wizard. He supposed that these fellas were right. If he craved to return to his actual being, he should use whatever vehemence he had left in him-to draw power and confidence- even if it would gain a slight mistrust to not only to Newt, but to the sisters as well.

A few other creatures joined the circle, and that only confused the poor dragon even more. "Why are all of you helping me? Don't you fear me?"

"Please," the niffler scoffed. "you're most fearful compared to a two-carat engagement ring. If you were a 25-carat emerald-cut diamond ring, then I wouldn't count myself lucky to be in your presence."

"Okay?" That was nothing but jibber-jabber to him, but he reluctantly nodded in appreciation. "Thank you for your support."

"We'll create a diversion long enough for you to make your stand. Once all eyes are on you, go big or go home." The murtlap nodded. He scouted anybody who was willing to go through with the plan and scaled the ladder to the latch.

Present time

Newt flew back into the bathroom-donned on his clothes and whipped back outside. He walked the lengths of the living room and knocked quietly, muttering that it was safe to return. As expected, Queenie hopped right in along with a tomato faced Tina in tow.

"Everything alright, honey?" she questioned. "We noticed the change in altitude when we first entered the apartment building."

"I don't have a clue, maybe we could ask him." Newt replied. He laid his green eyes in a disapproving stare that Fafnyr has ever seen on him.

Deep inside, Queenie had exciting news involving a specific no-maj, but it had to wait as the hybrid child began to perform a hostile dance. His tail whipped aggressively, slithering in a surly manner. Tina quickly summoned a silencing charm in the apartment, just as Fafnyr growled dangerously with rancorous eyes. He swept the floor almost elegantly towards the two witches and wizard.

He grunted loudly and snared his jagged teeth, hissing and snarling. He advanced the group with careful steps, but dared not to make contact.

"What do you think he wants?" Newt said unsure.

"Who knows, and it defiantly doesn't look that promising." Queenie replied.

Fafnyr gnashed his teeth and roared. It was Tina who thought back the beginning. When her sister and her drew their wands, almost instantly the child reciprocated out of fear. However, this time, it felt as though he was yearning for something else.

Just as the thought fleeted over Tina's mind, her sister followed in pursuit. "Newt! Get out your wand!" She exclaimed. Her sister did the same, as Newt slipped out his own. That piqued the dragon's interest—he neared the trio; his tail inching for Newt's ankles.

"On the count of three," they pointed their rods at the beast and cited a spell. "Now!" Tina shouted. They whisked their wands toward Fafnyr who embraced the spell.

A whirlpool of wind came spiraling about around Fafnyr. However, only to Newt's eyes, Fafnyr was reverting back into human. His body shrunk greatly, his tail shortened its length just as the horns on his head melded down into silver locks. His scales blended until he was left with alabaster skin. The teeth, though, left him an unorthodox appearance. Lying on the floor was an exhausted boy. Newt blinked and carefully knelt to the floor, his hand reaching out to the whimpering child. To his surprise, Fafnyr grasped onto his finger and rasped out.

"...Ne...Newww...t." the remaining strength in Fafnyr finally gave in. He loosened his grip and fell unconscious.