You were drinking your morning tea when you began to hear light taps and scratches coming from the outside of the case. You furrowed your brow, standing and climbing the ladder. Popping your head out into the sunlight, you were surprised to see a small brown owl staring back at you with a letter in its beak.
"Oh," you said with a smile. "Hello there." The owl hopped towards you, dropping the letter into your hand. You reached out, gently stroking its wing. "I'm sure we weren't easy to find," you commiserated. The owl gave you a small hoot, spreading its wings and taking off into the forest. You glanced down at the letter.
Mr. Newton Artemis Fido Scamander
Purus River, Arrependido, Bazil
Magical case, near tree
"Curious," you said, noting the Ministry seal. You climbed back down in time to see Newt entering the shed from feeding the Erumpent. "You've got a letter," you told him.
"Really?" He said, surprised. He took it from you, smiling at the address. "Near tree?"
"Oh, you know the Ministry," you said. "Can't be bothered with specifics."
Newt chuckled, tearing open the letter. His face fell reading it.
"What is it?" You asked, worried.
"It's nothing," he said, shaking his head and moving to pocket the letter.
"Ah!" You tried to grab for it, but he held it above his head. He was much too tall.
"Excuse me," he said, smiling down at you. "It's addressed to me."
"Not letting me read it only makes me want to read it more," you huffed. "It's bad news, then?"
"It's not bad," he said slowly, "just unwelcome."
"Oh." You were confused. Newt's eyes flicked from the letter in his hand to your crestfallen face.
"Oh alright," he said, handing it to you. You flashed him a grin before dropping your eyes to the page.
Dear Mr. Scamander,
The Ministry of Magic would like to extend to you our most heartfelt congratulations. You are this year's recipient of the Wizard of the Year Award, for your contributions to the academic lexicon of the Wizarding World in the field of Magizoology, as well as your dedication to research in the field.
Attached you will find an invitation to the formal award ceremony, to take place in two week's time.
With warmest well wishes,
Hector Fawley
Minister for Magic
"Newt," you said, raising your eyes to meet his. "This is fantastic!" He didn't share your enthusiasm, instead staring at the ground and clenching his jaw. "Newt?"
Newt shook his head. "I'm not going," he said. You gaped at him.
"What… why?" Newt gave you a soft smile.
"You know I don't like all that attention," he said. "Those parties are a nightmare."
You sighed. "Well… they are awfully nightmarish," you agreed. "But you deserve to be recognized for all your hard work, you know." Newt gave you a shy smile. "Just, promise me you'll think about it, ok?" You said, folding the letter and tucking it into the pocket of his vest.
He smiled at you and nodded. "Ok," he agreed.
"Oh! I almost forgot!" You said, kneeling down in front of him and inspecting his boots. You took out your wand and mumbled a few enhancements over them, smiling in satisfaction when you had finished your protection shield. You looked up at Newt. "I'm tired of healing your Dugbog bitten ankles."
Newt chuckled. "I'm sure I'll find other ways of injuring myself," he said, helping you to your feet.
"Yes," you laughed, "that's what you really should get an award for. Interesting ways to hurt oneself over and over again."
Newt looked thoughtful. "You really think I should go?"
"Only if you want to," you shrugged. Newt studied you.
"Will you come with me?"
You smiled, slowly. "Of course I will." His answering smile made you a bit weak in the knees.
"Well," he said brightly, "I should be off, then."
"Yes," you agreed. "Those Dugbogs won't bite themselves." Newt shook his head at you, turning and climbing out of the case.
You sighed. This was exactly what Gita had warned you about.
You and Newt decided to head back a few days early to submit some field notes to the Ministry, as well as give you the chance to catch up with Gita before your next expedition. After the ceremony you were headed to Germany to study Bowtruckles, as it was an especially active time of year for them - or so Newt said. He had studied them before, of course, but was interested in some advanced documentation of their behavior. You were glad to be back in London for a small vacation, in any case. Four months was a long time to be away from everything you knew.
"You're coming out with us, tonight, right?" You asked Newt. You had arrived in London that morning, heading straight to the Ministry to tie up some loose-ends and submit the paperwork necessary for your trip to Germany. You were currently sitting in his small office, drinking tea as you watched him try to organize the paperwork scattered across his desk. It was a futile effort.
Newt glanced at you from under his mop of hair. "You're not sick of me yet?"
"I'm afraid you'll die without me there to protect you," you said, setting your mug on his desk.
"You know," he started, lifting your mug and removing the papers underneath it, "I survived for thirty years of my life before meeting you."
"What a miserable life it must have been," you mused, smiling at him. He sat down in his chair with a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Please?" You asked.
"Just for dinner," he said finally. You grinned at him.
Later, at the restaurant, you instantly spotted Gita.
"Gita!" You called out, grinning. She turned her head at the sound of your voice, face breaking out into a giant smile.
"Autumn!" She called back, standing. You met her halfway, enveloping her in a huge hug. "I've missed you," she said, squeezing you.
"I've missed you, too," you said. She let you go finally, turning to Newt.
"It's good to see you too, Newt," she said warmly.
"Yes," he said, smiling awkwardly at her display of affection. She chuckled.
"Come on," she smiled. "I got us the best seat in the house." You followed her back to the table, turning and allowing Newt to remove your coat. He draped over the back of your chair as you sat down across from her.
"Tell me everything," you said. She smiled as Newt took his seat next to you.
"I don't think my life is quite as exciting as yours," she said, looking between you and Newt.
"Oh Merlin…" you said, eyes wide. "You're seeing someone!" Gita raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"How did you…?"
"She always does," Newt said, smiling into his water. You nudged him with your elbow.
"Who is it?" You asked, excited.
"Nobody you know…" she said, blushing.
All throughout dinner you and Gita took turns telling stories and laughing. Every so often you'd take a moment to glance at Newt, who was watching the both of you talk with a small smile on his face. He seemed happy to simply be in your company. It wasn't until after dinner that Gita turned her full attention on him.
"So Newt," she said, "has my friend driven you crazy yet?"
"Oh," he said, surprised to be addressed so directly. "Not at all."
"I'm a useful asset," you told Gita, sipping your wine. She snorted.
"More trouble than you're worth," she countered.
"Ah," Newt said, smiling at you. "Worth every bit the trouble." You flashed him a grin, looking back to Gita with an I-told-you-so look, but found her watching Newt instead.
Leaving the restaurant, Gita linked her arm in yours. "Let's go to a pub," she suggested.
"I must really get back to the creatures," Newt said, running a hand through his hair. You nodded.
"Of course, it's about time for feeding," you smiled. "Do you need any help?"
"Oh no," Newt said. "You enjoy your time. I can take care of them." He offered you a small smile. "Have fun tonight," he said.
"See you Saturday?" You asked. He seemed confused. "For the award ceremony," you clarified.
"Yes," he said, distracted. "Yes. I…" he trailed off, looking at the ground. "I had forgotten I won't see you until then."
You bit your lip. "Three days," you said. He nodded. "You'll call me if you need anything?"
"I won't," he said too quickly, cringing at himself. "Ah, I almost forgot," he said, reaching into his coat pocket. He pulled out three small vials. "For your knee, in case it acts up." He handed them to you, letting his fingers brush yours longer than necessary.
"Thank you," you said. Newt nodded, turning away.
"Goodnight Newt," Gita called. He jerked, remembering she was there.
"Yes, goodnight," he said to her, turning back.
"Goodnight Newt," you added. He turned his face towards you, giving you a soft smile.
"Goodnight Autumn," he said quietly before apparating away. You smiled.
"Um," Gita said, interrupting your thoughts. "What's going on with that?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," you quipped.
"Like hell," she said. You rolled your eyes.
"We're just very... " you raised your hand into the air, looking for the right word. "Close," you offered.
"Uh huh," she said, eyeing you. You blushed. "I'll get it out of you, you know," she said. "You're staying with me for the next few days… I can get you to talk." You laughed.
"Maybe you could focus all that energy on helping me find something to wear for Saturday instead?" You asked, hopeful. Gita smiled deviously.
"Not a chance."