Archive of Our Own

The idea of a soul mate was a universal one in a sense. Newt couldn’t imagine being born and growing up not aware that there was someone out there for him. An exact match to him, his other half. He had wondered what they would be like sometimes. 

They would need to love creatures as he did, he had decided as a boy. And they would also enjoy running in the woods and getting all muddy in exploration. They would have to be soft with a kind smile, nothing like the cruel kids he had met at school as he grew up. They would have to be unconcerned about grades, he had decided as he watched others drive themselves half-mad trying to prove their worth on paper. Someone who didn’t care about last names and being famous, he decided as he entered society as an adult. Newt’s soulmate would be mild-mannered, with normal magic, a normal family name, with a quiet job and life. They would live out in the country maybe, likely English as well. 

Newt supposed he would see when they met. There was no sense in worrying over it all, really. 

Not when he had much bigger issues to tackle. 

The decision to go to university overseas was a big one for Newt to make. Most students who went through Hogwarts were placed into their careers almost immediately. Newt himself did take up work for the ministry as expected by his family. His brother managed to get him a desk job working to help house-elves relocate. It was deeply tedious and utterly boring, the only saving grace was that he was helping the elves. But the idea that this could be his whole life was rather upsetting. So he hoarded his meagre wages like a dragon and saved up enough to complete an application to attend a secondary school. It was rare to attend university but not unheard of in higher fields and for Newt to be a registered magizoologist, it was necessary. The best option was a four-year study on magical creatures and then going out into the field for more experience.

“You could save ten years' worth of wages and not have nearly enough,” Leta noted as she looked over his research on the local and not-so-local schools. The tuition and book fees varied wildly depending on the credentials.  

“Yes, it won’t be within England, I don’t have the funds. But there are a few feasible options,” he replied easily. They were at a wizarding cafe, chatting and catching up with one another. Leta had been the only real friend he had ever known and he would always try his best to keep in touch with her. Even after their time together at Hogwarts had ended, they met up regularly. 

“America? Really Newt?” She asked with open displeasure. 

He glanced at the notes she was reading over. 

“Well, it’s one of the top options at this point. They have an incentive offered for those outside the country. It would allow me to attend the best school they have.”

“I think a part of that is the idea with that incentive is that you would stay in America afterwards.”

“There’s no written contract of such a thing, and a magizoologist is constantly moving, they have to know that.” Newt defended. 

Leta hummed in a mild agreement, looking over the paperwork Newt had received. 

“You’ve already applied?” 

“There are three schools I’ve sent applications to,” he confessed. He had worried he might lose his nerve so he had pushed himself to do it before telling anyone. Theseus was going to be against him leaving for certain. His parents most likely as well. He hadn’t been sure of Leta.  

“You’re really doing this,” Leta said with a bit of wonder in her tone. “Good for you Newt, to chase after your dreams like this.”

“We’ll see how it turns out, but yes, I can’t be content at a desk for the rest of my life.” 

Leta nodded her head in understanding - she was also in a low-level ministry job and had no care for it. They had both once had dreams of something more and Newt hoped Leta would follow her own dreams as well one day, whatever they were. 

Newt picked a university in America, and when he announced it over the weekly family dinner everyone was as horrified as he had suspected they would be. 

“It’s too far, Newton. And America? It’s not a place for a real education,” his mum bemoaned as they sat over a half-eaten dinner.  

“The Ministry is a good place, you can work your way up,” Theseus pressed him and Newt shook his head in a negative. 

“I’m not you Theseus, the Ministry was never my dream. I want to study magical creatures.”

“That’s a hobby, how do you expect to live off of papers about nifflers and dragons?” His father huffed and Newt was long used to this vexing mindset. 

“I’ve already been accepted and will stay at the dormitory offered there. I’m going to leave in August and I’ve already informed the Ministry that I’ll be leaving my job.”

Newt accepted the protests and chorus of scoldings they immediately shouted, knowing that there was nothing they could do at this point. His money had already been accepted and he had already resigned from his job. 

The idea of travelling across the world alone wasn’t as daunting as it might have been for others. Newt would be sad to give up his weekly dinners with his family but beyond that, he had little to hold him back. Leta was his dear friend and they met when they could, usually a few times a month. Those meetings would have to be calls now, talking across the sea to one another. But they would still keep in touch, he was sure of it. Leta had already said she would visit him when he was settled.  

Newt’s main worry was making sure all the creatures in his care were placed somewhere they could finish recovering. Thankfully, many of them could be released into the nearby magical forest while for others he had to write to his old Professor, Dumbledore, to ask for assistance. The man was happy to help and together they arranged for everyone to be sent somewhere safe. 

“To America for school then?” His professor asked when they met with the new caretakers that were to take his last few creatures. Newt was sad to see them go but he trusted Dumbledore to see them looked after. 

“Yes, I’m going to study magizoology properly so I can begin a career in the field.”

“I expected nothing less from you, it was clear that you have a gift for it,” the man praised him and it was the first real positive reaction he had received since he had decided. It felt good to hear and it drew out a smile. 

“And who knows, perhaps you’ll meet your other half?” Dumbledore suggested lightly, a teasing air about him. Newt shrugged in reply, not too worried about that. 

“I know many magic-born focus on finding that person in their youth but I’m rather content right now. I suspect when I travel for work I might come across them one day.”

Dumbledore tipped his head in thought and then nodded. 

“You are correct, the meeting comes when it does and there is little to speed it up. Many great wizards have studied the magic of soul mates and few have ever found anything concrete. It is a fascinating area of magic nonetheless.” Newt watched the man drift a moment, always lost in his thoughts and theories at times. He was the most brilliant man Newt had ever known and he wondered what it was like to have so much knowledge in so many fields. More so when whatever you said was listened to by so many. It didn’t help that his soulmate was a famous trouble starter as well, Grindelwald always having controversial opinions. 

“I will write to the school. I believe I have a few colleagues there and they should know someone exceptional is coming to them.” Dumbledore added, coming back to the moment. 

“That’s n-not necessary,” Newt protested but Dumbledore wasn't having it. So Newt could only hope the man wouldn’t say anything that would cause there to be too many expectations waiting for him.

New York was very different from London. They were both cities but it was interesting how vastly alike and unalike they could be simultaneously. There were so many people in both places and yet the attitudes were vastly different it felt like. London’s buildings were centuries old and New York was still young in comparison. It felt a bit like the spirit of the place was the same, young and with something to prove as compared to the lazy confidence of London.  

Either way, it was somewhere brand new and Newt was excited to see what it held for him. He had always been able to find various creatures in London and he wondered how many were hiding in New York. 

With time, he hoped to find out. 

He had heard rumours that many wealthy people bought beasts illegally and then when they eventually got bored they would set them free in the streets. That all sorts of creatures lived in the sewers of the city. In some areas, even muggles had local myths of some creatures running about in the night. 

His room was small and simple but more importantly clean. The university had a magical elevator that allowed for thousands of single rooms. But the drawback of that was there were no true windows in the magical building. So Newt would have to make his own and customize the place to his liking if he was to stay there for the next four years. 

There was also work to consider as well. In order to pay for the next year’s rent, he would need to save money which meant he would need to have income. It was that or movie out into somewhere that cost less. Staying in the university was the best option however so he wanted to work, the sooner, the better.  

So Newt left his suitcase in his new room and went searching around the campus for work. Part of the reason he had chosen America was that the school had boasted various jobs on-site for those seeking it. It allowed them to live on the school grounds without the need to wander into the city. Newt had thought that would work well for his first year so he could learn the layout of the school grounds and the city around it. The school itself was cut off with a large cement wall up and around all the buildings, coiled like a snake guarding its eggs. There was a lovely but small courtyard in the centre of the campus with a fountain. Within the small green space were the more harmless magical creatures going about their day; fire frogs and flying fish and the like. It was quite lovely. 

Newt eventually found a student centre with a job posting board. He would do poorly at a cafe as he disliked crowds and knew nothing about coffee. There was a cleaning job which he suspected he could learn to do easily, but the pay was the least of them. Another called for assisting in the library. Tutoring might be out of his realm as well, given how most people found him strange. Perhaps putting books away would be best? It would be a quiet job if nothing else. 

“Are you sure you want to work here?” The woman at the counter asked when he presented his application. 

“I...yes?”

“We get a lot of students who quit when they realize how boring it is. You can't be noisy and you can’t put books aside for yourself either. No making out in the restricted area either.”

“I wouldn’t! I mean, that is… I don’t have a partner and I’m not interested in dating, I thought… I like quiet and I like books so I presumed I might enjoy this job.” He felt foolish now, more so with the woman watching him steadily. 

“Alright, I’ll give it to my boss, he’ll call you in a day or two,” she announced as she took his resume. 

“I’m Tina. I’ll be seeing you around here I suppose?”

Newt nodded his head. 

“This is where you give me your name, to be friendly-like.”

“Sorry! I…that is, my name is Newt.”

“Like the lizard?”

Newt nodded his head. The woman leaned in more and he glanced up startled. Their gazes met for a second and he flushed and looked away. Some people were bold like that but never Newt. To meet gazes head-on like that. 

“Sorry, I just always want to check,” Tina told him and Newt nodded his head in understanding. It wasn’t the first time it had happened. Some people were desperate to meet their match and would look into every set of eyes they possibly could. 

A part of Newt wondered what sort of person could look at him and see their match. He was rather odd and was fine with that. He never felt the need to try and fit in with the rest. Would his partner be the same? Or did Newt need to grow more and become someone more worthy of love to that degree?

Either way, he settled into his new life and threw himself into his studies. He was hired by the library and worked with Tina who had decided to take Newt under her wing. She had him come meet her at the library on Saturdays to study with her group and it wasn’t quite as lonely as Newt had feared. Tina and her friends were all on track to becoming aurors but they were nice enough to him which was better than his past experiences.

It was a nice afternoon with them, the group all thoroughly distracted by some new professor with a famous name and background.

“Anyway, the entire department is still whispering about him coming here of all places. Everyone thinks the President forced him to take the year off.” 

“Some of the best have burned out, though I’ve never heard of a Graves failing.”

“I think he knows himself enough, and I doubt anyone could have forced him to do something he didn’t wish to,” Tina said decidedly and the group all seemed to agree. Newt mostly ignored them, reading a fascinating book about acidic slugs. 

“There he is!” someone hissed and the whole group seemed to try to peer at someone without trying to be obvious. Tina, at his side, leaned in as if to talk to him and when he glanced at her she was looking at someone across the library. He followed her gaze to the back of a man, dressed in Professor robes. He was talking with the librarian and holding a book from the restricted section. 

“Who is that?”

“Professor Graves, he’s the head auror of MACUSA but took a year off to teach, which is like a vacation to a dedicated auror,” Tina explained, peering at the man with wide curious eyes. “He’s one of the strongest wizards in America.”

He was tall and lean, an obvious build to him even under fitted robes. He was dressed sharply, fashionable and he wore his clothing well which meant they were likely tailored to fit him. That equalled money, so a wealthy man. He was strikingly handsome, standing tall and confident as he spoke with the librarian calmly only added to that allure. He looked like the sort made for the papers and with people flocking to him. Newt peered at the man a moment longer before going back to his book. After a breath, everyone at the table quickly looked away, obviously caught staring. 

For the rest of the study period, they talked about the man furiously and Newt paid it all no mind. He found people that who were gossiped about were rarely as interesting as others made it seem. The new Professor was probably a boring by-the-book auror.  

Through Tina, Newt met Queenie and through her, he met her partner Jacob. He was a good-natured muggle who ran a bakery just off the school grounds and had seating in his  shop that he let Newt use as he pleased. Normally he would have preferred a spot under a tree tucked away, but he found that he rather liked Jacob’s upbeat personality. The man seemed to sense when Newt wished to be left alone and it was rather nice to have a friend beyond Tina. She was lovely and all but she was rather assertive and Newt never knew how to talk to her when it felt like a bit of a challenge between them at all times. She was going to be a wonderful auror really, with such an air of authority already. Jacob was much calmer and the whole bakery felt more relaxed so it was nice to sit at his bakery and read some days. 

“Is that a book on magical animals?” Jacob asked, friendly, as he brought Newt a fresh tea. 

“Yes, it’s about American creatures. I’m hoping to travel in the summer and see who I can find,” Newt explained, letting Jacob peer at the cover. The other man was genuinely interested in creatures, always listening to Newt’s explanations without showing any boredom. 

“That would be something. You’ll have to write to me and tell me all about what you find. I knew about magic but I never realized there were so many magical creatures! Imagine, rabbits with horns, and real flying dragons!”

Newt smiled in reply, feeling a fondness for someone who shared his excitement. Jacob had even liked the illustrations so much that he was trying to recreate them in pastries.  

“They are truly amazing,” he agreed. 

The bell chimed and Newt glanced at the stranger who came in, taking note of his fancy coat. It was a wizard, someone from the school, no doubt. 

“Hello sir, what can I do for you?” Jacob asked brightly, going back across the table to attend to the new customer. 

“I was referred to here. I would like something for a group meeting. Ten people, nothing too sweet,” a low voice said and Newt looked at him in the reflection of the glass. He was facing away but Newt recognized him at once. Professor Graves, the talk of the school still, even two months into classes. Apparently, he was a very strict teacher that expected the best out of every student. All the would-be aurors in his class worked hard to live up to that. Tina often exhausted herself by studying extra materials. 

The man didn’t seem that intimidating to Newt. 

“You shouldn’t have that out,” the man rumbled and Newt took a second to realize he was addressing Newt while Jacob was gathering pastries. 

“E-excuse me?”

“That book, you shouldn’t have it out in a no-maj shop,” the man clarified. Newt glanced at him, getting as high as his fancy tie before looking away. 

“Jacob is aware of magic.”

“But some of his customers might not be.”

“Then they’ll think I’m reading a mythology book,” Newt replied quickly. He respected his Professors but the commanding tone felt rather pushy to him. 

“You should be more cautious,” the man scorned him and Newt frowned down at his book without a reply. He didn’t want to argue with a Professor so he stayed quiet as the man returned to the counter and paid for his goods and left. 

“Well, he was... err firm?” Jacob surmised when they were alone again. 

“He was paranoid, some are,” he explained, looking at the back of the man as he walked back in the direction of the school. 

After that sour meeting, Newt felt a twinge each time Tina brought up the man, singing his praises and the tales of how wonderful he was. Newt didn’t begrudge her for it but he did wish he could hear less of that rather rude man. 

In his third month, Newt found a mistreated bowtruckle and forgot all about the professor. His days were spent nursing the poor abused creature back to health. Feeding it with an eyedropper and making sure he got sunlight but not too much. Newt had to scour the magical shops around New York to find a tree of wand quality that was small enough to be within his budget. He ended up with a half-dead tree in a pot, carrying it in the streets and trying to measure the damage that had been done to it. The seller had only sold it at a price he could afford because the man was certain the tree was going to die. Newt would have to give it a great deal of care to prevent that. He was good with plants but not as good as he was with creatures, so he wondered if he needed new soil or a bottle to mist it with. 

“What have you done to that poor plant?” someone asked and Newt glanced at the man walking by him on the street. He always started with their feet and swept up to a shoulder or maybe a hairline. Now he was caught on a fancy collar pin, recognizing the smart-dressed man as the rude professor from last month. 

Without permission, he was stepping too close to inspect the tree, frowning at it as he ran his fingers over the small branches and the wilting leaves. 

“This thing is over-sunned and over-watered to an extreme, you shouldn’t have it if you can’t take care of it responsibly.”

Newt frowned at the chiding but his mind was caught up with the issues with the tree. So it needed less water and somewhere shaded to recover?

Someone called the professor and he looked away, sending Newt another glare before walking off without another word. 

Definitely rude. 

But he did give Newt a place to start and he found a book in the library to help guide him further. With care, he managed to coax the plant back to healthy green leaves. His bowtruckle was beyond delighted to have a tree to live on.   

Newt kept his room tidy and never had any trouble with the people who checked the rooms once a month. He brought more plants that he found abandoned in alleyways beside dumpsters as he slowly explored the city a bit more.

The large fountain on the school grounds had sprites and pixies who found their way to his room when he offered them their favourite plants to nibble on. Fireflies liked to float around his room at night as well since Newt always left his window open. Birds would come and go but a few started to settle on the shelf when night fell. Newt minded them all happily, feeding the creatures and taking care of them as needed. 

He didn’t mean to come across illegal creatures but it sort of happened anyway. At Hogwarts, the forest and greenbelt had been filled with many magical creatures and one might think a city would hold far less. But the reality of it was the city creatures just knew how to hide much better. 

Doxies were common pets for many who were then overwhelmed when they began breeding and didn’t stop. In most cases, a responsible wizard or witch would deal with them, but those with little regard would collect the queen and dump her somewhere, knowing the rest would eventually follow. 

Newt came across a rather busy alleyway that at first glance looked to have a rat infestation but his eyes could see the distinctive markings. 

It took him a week of bringing their favourite food to earn their trust and to meet their queen. She was larger and more regal than her subjects, a beauty really. It took him another week to coax her to his room and into his suitcase where he set up a perfect habitat for them. The queen was very pleased with it and her group followed eagerly. A few curious ones would pop up from time to time, wandering about his room before eventually returning to their family. 

The demiguise was quite a surprise, but Newt had noticed him in the trees on a cloudy wet day, the leaves displaced as the beast moved. Someone had been stealing from the cafeteria and so they had set up pest traps which had prompted Newt to do a very thorough investigation of the grounds for anything that might be in danger of being killed. He might have disabled the traps as well but that wasn’t important.  

He found two nifflers, a billywig, a diricawl family, a fire drake, and three chupacabras. His suitcase was going to get rather full and Newt was well aware that if he was caught he might be expelled from the school. But he couldn’t just turn away the creatures, knowing that security was on the hunt for any magical beast with the intention to kill them rather than capture and help them.  

So he would coax them in patiently with their favourite foods and settle them into their ideal habitat in the suitcase. 

“What are you doing?”

Newt was coming to know that voice very well. That tone as well, commanding and expecting to be obeyed. 

“Nothing, sir,” he replied from where he was kneeling on the floor and peering under a shelf. The tight space held a chupacabra trying desperately to hide. Newt sat up, not wanting to reveal it to someone who might harm it. But the professor flicked his wand and magic yanked the creature out into the open. 

Before the man could cast a killing spell, Newt flopped on top of the creature, tucking it into a magical pocket before standing back up. 

“It must have…escaped,” he tried weakly as he stood and brushed his dusty knees, looking at the door and planning to make his own escape. 

“Into your pocket? Come now, does that really work?” Professor Graves asked and Newt winced. 

“I’ve heard you’re a prodigy of sorts when it comes to creatures. Does that mean that you feel as if you can just tote them all around the school as you please?” 

Newt opened his mouth to protest, wanting to say other students had clearly brought these creatures and then not bothered to care for them but in doing so he might endanger any he hadn’t had the chance to find and help yet. The less bossy people like this man knew, the better. 

So he looked to his feet without a word, letting the man stare him down as he pleased. 

“Magical creatures are illegal in America.” Graves reminded him, as if Newt wasn’t well aware. 

“But the school is a special area with permits, the fountain filled with creatures is proof,” Newt replied quickly. He had always planned to try and fall back on that if he was caught. 

“Do you think you’re above the law, Newton Scamander?”

“No, but I don’t think a law that would have life snuffed out for convenience is right.”

“Do you know what would happen if we were exposed to the world?”

“These creatures have been in this world long before us, living alongside muggles with no issue. I can’t imagine how relocating them back to their homes would be more trouble than killing them,” Newt explained, looking up to glare at the man’s top button of his robe. It was embroidered with moving nightshade flowers and Newt imagined that he had a great deal of wealth for the level of magical detail. 

“Imagine if those in power here put care into the land and life around them, taking care of it instead of just wiping it out as they pleased. We talk about how much better we are than those without magic, but are we? Humans of all kinds share that terrible disregard for all other life.” Newt was running his mouth but he couldn’t help it, still bothered by the traps he had seen around the grounds. 

“Well, you certainly have your options on the matter,” the man replied after a moment. He sounded amused. 

“Make sure that creature is taken to where it should be,” he demanded and then, he surprised Newt by walking away from him. He had expected the man to try and demand that he hand over the creature. 

Newt supposed he wasn’t truly as heartless as he had first thought then. 

By the time that the semester had come to an end, Newt had acquired quite the collection of creatures that were under his care and with no real way to travel back home. He couldn’t just leave them for two weeks but there was no way he could slip them by magical customs. 

A portkey perhaps, or maybe travelling the muggle way? He would like to go home and see his family, to visit Leta in person again. Muggle travel would eat up most of his time so he started looking into portkeys and the cost of using one. His library job made very little but Newt himself needed even less. Most of his pay was going to minding the creatures in his care and he had saved up a tidy sum that might be used for a portkey trip. 

The main issue with it was that it was rather illegal. 

So finding someone would take quite a feat and most importantly, travelling to some of the unsavoury areas of New York’s magical world. Newt was no longer a stranger to the city as when he had first arrived and he did know of a few black markets around. They seemed the most likely to help him find what he needed. 

“Are you sure about this?” Queenie asked when he had made the mistake of visiting Jacob. Queenie had been there and read his thoughts immediately, alerting Jacob as well. 

“It will be fine, I’m not worried about it,” he reassured her. Worrying was unnecessary anyway. 

“I’m sure Newt knows what he’s doing,” Jacob added helpfully, reassuring Queenie. She smiled up at him, her gaze going soft as she looked at her one. 

“If you think so,” she told him and Jacob gave her a warm smile in return. Seeing a pair together was a bit bittersweet. To think there was someone meant to be his other half - it seemed unattainable. Newt usually wasn’t one who could have someone understand him, much less love him. 

“Oh honey, everyone has a One,” Queenie cut into his private thoughts. She winced and looked apologetic immediately for it. 

“I think you’re too hard on yourself darling. You are a handsome and wonderful man, very caring and kind. Anyone would be lucky to have you,” she declared and Jacob gave a solemn nod of agreement. That drew a soft smile from Newt, the pair of them stood strong together. 

“Just be careful Newt, I’d hate for you to get into any trouble,” Queenie added. She was a bit intrusive but she also had good intentions. 

“I won’t tell Tina. She’ll have kittens if she gets wind of this!” She added.  

Newt nodded his head in agreement. Tina was someone made to be a law keeper, on the side of the laws without really thinking about them. 

“Thank you, I do appreciate that,” he offered carefully, wanting to thank Queenie for her discretion.

“No problem,” she replied brightly.  

The shops on the streets he went to were a bit darker, and the wares were not on display since most of them were illegal. Newt had come into the area once or twice tracking lost creatures and he knew there was a market for magical beasts. Making things illegal just made people who didn’t care about them before take an interest. They liked the idea of breaking the law and living dangerously more than the idea of the actual creatures. So few creatures in the illegal markets were treated well. It bothered him and Newt had already staked out the shops where they were sold working on ways to help the creatures. But in doing so he also learned who sold what and where, giving him an idea of where to look for a portkey. 

Newt kept the collar of his coat high and his head down as he walked, looking for the right sort of shop to start asking around. 

He did pause when he saw a crowd but after a moment he realized it was just people finding their one and consummating their relationship with others watching shamelessly. There was no controlling that urge when eyes first met, he understood. Still, it was rather crass for people to be watching, jeering at the pair. Newt turned away to focus on why he was there. He wanted to be quick and slip away without ever being noticed. 

But a rather large explosion did away with that notion. 

People shouted and a force of magic suddenly shoved Newt into a wall. He ducked down as spells began to fly in the air. Some of them sounded rather deadly. He looked behind him, intending to leave now but his eye caught on the inside of the wall that had been blown out. 

There were many illegal things, forbidden potion parts and such, but there was also a stack of cages. People were yelling that they were aurors and Newt knew if those beasts were confiscated they would be killed. 

Without thinking too much he crossed the street and ducked into the room. Most of the fighting was outside now, with people trying to escape and others attempting to capture them. So Newt hurriedly opened the cages with a spell and pulled the creatures into his pockets. Most of them were too weak to protest and his heart went out to them. He did hope all the aurors caught the terrible people who had done this. 

Once he had all the living creatures in his care, he went to make his way out. But then he noticed someone across the street, an injured dark wizard on the ground rising to point his wand at someone’s back. With a sickly green light emitting from his wand, it was clear what it was. 

A killing curse. 

Even worse, Newt knew that back. 

Without thinking, he quickly cast a disarming hex and the wand went flying as the spell lost its target. 

Professor Graves whirled in time to see Newt just as he ducked down and apparated away. 

The man’s rather ruffled hair stood out in Newt's mind. It was usually slicked back and all done up nicely. 

With quick speed, Newt went back to his room and rushed to put the new creatures into habitats in his case and gave them fresh water and food. Magic was flying everywhere as he acted as quickly as he could without making mistakes. He then left the case and began stuffing every magical, and thus illegal, creature into it. They had practiced this drill a few times for room checks and so they all went easily.

“I’m very sorry, but I do expect to be raided right away,” he offered in explanation as he hustled them into the safety of the suitcase and then pushed it under the bed into the far corner. He already had hiding charms on it and unless someone looked over every inch of the room he was certain it would be missed.

There were still a few non magical animals in the room, a pair of ravens on the shelf, some stray cats and a three-legged rat. Newt was working on them cohabiting in peace but he didn’t have much time right then. He pulled off his coat and shirt and jumped into bed, the lights going off with a wave of his wand, just before a loud and insistent knock came at his door. 

Before he could sit up much less answer, the door was forced open by magic and he blinked at the light of a wand in the darkness. 

“What were you doing there?” Professor Graves demanded and Newt winced at the bright light, pulling his blankets up around his bare shoulders. He hadn’t had time to put on a sleeping gown. 

“E-excuse me?” He asked, trying to sound as confused as possible. Tina was in the doorway with wide eyes. She must have led the angry man to Newt’s room. 

The professor looked around, taking in all the harmless creatures and plants. Newt’s room was technically tidy but very much cluttered. Most of his creatures were herbivores so he was growing many plants to feed them. 

He watched the man run his finger across one of the said plants and Newt winced when he saw a billywig hiding under the leaf. 

Rufus the cat gave a yowl of distaste to the man, jumping from the desk to the bed as if to illustrate he wanted to be sleeping. As if that was what they had all been doing until the man broke in. 

“Sir, I don’t think Newt was out,” Tina hedged weakly. “You must have seen someone else?”

Newt nodded his head, going for a sleepy befuddled look. He wasn’t great at this but he wasn’t about to get expelled if he could avoid it. 

The man looking around his room finally sighed and touched his brow as if he had a headache. Newt could visibly see him give up even as he looked to Newt who kept his eyes down demurely.

“I’m rather sure I saw… someone very like Mr. Scamander. I’d go so far as to say he even saved my life.” The words came out slowly and sounded rather annoyed. The man knew who he had seen but couldn’t really prove that Newt had been there without some more serious allegations. 

“Not me,” Newt lied weakly, glancing at Tina. She frowned at Newt a moment and then gestured to her foot subtly. Newt blinked and saw his own foot with his boot still on peeking out of the blankets. He tucked it back while the man in his room was still busy looking around. 

“Scamander, you are a menace,” the man finally decreed and then walked out of the room without looking back. 

“Night, Newt,” Tina said as she closed the door, her gaze promising that they would talk about this later. 

The door closed shut and Newt let out a breath of relief, laying back on the bed. 

“I cannot believe you went into a known illegal area!” Tina groaned in dismay when she had learned the truth. They were at Jacob’s shop, gathered at a small table with Queenie and Jacob, talking while business was slow. 

“To be fair, he did manage to get out just fine,” Queenie piped up and Tina glared at her sister. 

“He was seen! I thought Professor Graves was going to arrest you right then and there!”

Newt frowned slightly and nodded his head. 

“To be fair I did as well, I suppose I was lucky he didn’t know my room and needed to find someone.”

“He knew we were friends and came to the library, I told him you went to bed early and he demanded I show him to your room! Everyone was shocked.”

“Did you notice his hair was ruffled?” Newt asked and even Queenie blinked at that. 

“He was undercover, it was a rather big bust,” Tina explained, pulling out a newspaper to show him the cover. Professor Graves was there, looking severe and attractive as ever. It was a shame he was so mean, he was actually a good-looking man, very smartly dressed and standing confident. 

“He is rather fetching, isn’t he?” Queenie added to his thoughts. 

However, Tina didn’t seem to catch it.

“Of course he is, he’s very popular and charismatic,” she insisted.

“I find him rather rude,” Newt admitted and Tina looked scandalized. 

“Careful Newt!” Queenie giggled. “Tina’s been sweet on him for years!”

“I have not!” Tina flushed red-faced and Queenie giggled merrily. 

“It makes sense,” Newt offered to Tina. “A powerful and striking auror? Few in the field wouldn't admire him in some way.” 

Queenie crackled as Tina flushed redder but looked a touch mollified by Newt’s observation. 

“He’s not married either,” Queenie added sweetly. “He hasn’t met his One yet and is not interested in anyone but her.”

“That’s sweet,” Jacob observed as he came up to their little table. “Who is he?”

“The love of Tina’s life and the bane of Newt’s,” Queenie said lightly just to confound the poor man. 

The bell at the door jingled and everyone froze. Newt recognized the pocket watch and swallowed a sigh in reaction. 

“Evening,” Professor Graves greeted and Jacob was over at the counter right away, Queenie following to help him. 

Tina was red-faced and beyond embarrassed as Newt offered a weak smile of comfort. 

Newt watched in the reflection of the glass as the man ordered bread and bagels, Jacob fetching them as Queenie rang him up. She was in school for hospitality but Newt had a feeling she might leave it soon just to help Jacob. They had agreed that the shop needed to reach a few goals before they could marry. Queenie was rather eager to get there while Jacob already knew he had the love of his life secured. 

“Scamander, Goldstein,” The man acknowledged them both as he left with his purchase and Tina returned the greeting hurriedly while Newt just nodded weakly in reply. 

“I have a distinct feeling he’s keeping an eye on me,” Newt sighed once the man was gone. 

“Yeah, he wanted me to watch you as well,” Tina admitted. 

“His mind was like a steel trap, I couldn’t read anything,” Queenie sounded a bit disappointed. 

“He’s a loyal customer,” Jacob decreed. “He buys all the time so no chasing him off!” 

“He didn’t seem rude at all either,” Queenie added. 

“He probably just knows on instinct that Newt is a bucket of trouble,” Tina surmised and Newt couldn’t really disagree given that Tina had covered for him being in a dark wizard area. He knew it was hard for her to go against any rule and so it meant something that she had helped him out.  

Newt notified his family that he wouldn’t be able to visit them for the break. His parents were used to him needing to stay during breaks to mind sick creatures and Newt was being very good about calling once a week. His mum talked about their lives and his dad chimed in on occasion. It was rather nice, to hear their voices regularly. 

Theseus was more upset, since he worked such irregular hours for the ministry and Newt and he didn’t talk as much because of it. 

When he told Leta, she flat-out refused such nonsense and booked a trip to visit him. 

She was used to a level of wealth he would never know but she still found his tiny dormitory room lovely. Leta had never been the spoiled type, always happy with anything as long as it was genuine.  

“I should have expected it would be like the rooms you kept secret at school,” she teased him lightly, peering at the plants and the beasts eyeing her curiously. Leta was also a creature lover and asked him plenty of questions about those he had found in America. 

Pickett was even coaxed out to squeak at her. 

“He’s usually with me at all times, he’s rather anxious, but no one has ever noticed him,” Newt confessed as Leta smiled at the wary bowtruckle. 

“I was worried about you, leaving to be alone across the world. But you never really were, were you?” Leta asked with a fond smile for Newt. 

“Now you must introduce me to Tina, Jacob and Queenie. I need to establish myself as your most dearest friend so they know their place.”

Leta was of course all talk and completely lovely when Newt brought her to the bakery. Jacob and Queenie were both there and happy to meet her.

“You know, Newt had quite the sordid past,” she confessed to them and Newt groaned in reply. Leta was the worst when it came to teasing, even if it was all in good nature. 

“Really?” Jacob asked and Queenie clapped her hands in delight. 

Leta nodded her head, sipping her coffee. 

“All sorts of trouble, he was the scourge of our school, Hogwarts! But a professor was soft on him so he managed to escape any serious punishment.”

“Dumbledore was not soft, he merely understood my reasoning,” Newt defended weakly. 

“Yes, like the time you released all those stink frogs!”

“They were going to dissect them, it was horrendous,” he replied immediately, not regretting that choice at all. “And I recall someone helping me.”

“They were a bit cute, warts and all,” Leta admitted. 

“Newt was always an animal lover then?” Jacob asked. 

“Since I had known him as a boy, his brother and parents assured me he’s been like this since he was born. He has a gift, you know,” Leta added on with a fond smile directed at Newt. 

“He truly does, he sees creatures with such beautiful equality, sees them as individuals and not just animals. I think they understand that on some level, sense it,” Queenie explained and Leta nodded.

Newt flushed red, peering at his tea, slightly embarrassed at the heartwarming moment. 

“So, how did you two meet?” Leta asked, always knowing when to shift the focus off of Newt. Their friendship was developed enough that they knew unspoken things about one another and unseen cues most never noticed. 

“Oh it was amazing,” Jacob began. “I was a no one, struggling to open a bakery and then walked in this gorgeous gal.”

Queenie smiled fondly, listening to Jacob retelling their meeting. 

“Thankfully the shop was empty so we could lock up and cover the windows easily.” 

“I can’t imagine it, needing to have sex that bad,” Leta admitted without shame.

“Neither did I,” Queenie confessed. “But when I saw him, so handsome, I just needed to have him!”

“There are some studies that suggest it’s the touching that we need more than anything, that sex is the easiest way to have the most skin-on-skin contact,” Newt chimed in. 

“That would be less problematic than sex in the street, but I think a little less as intense. To be consumed, I’ve always heard it’s a once-in-a-lifetime sort of moment,” Leta mused. 

“It was very intense and became a rather profound moment for us both because of it,” Queenie agreed and Jacob nodded as well. 

“Romantic,” Leta decided with a soft smile. Newt knew his dear friend was aching to find her one. To meet the person she could connect with more deeply than any other. He knew her abusive past held her back from trusting just anyone and that her one was the person she would put her all into. 

Newt himself wasn’t as hungry for it, but he did like the idea of finding someone to match him. Someone he could connect with. He thought it must be like his friendship with Leta, something soft and dear. It would be someone like himself, quiet and common. 

“Sorry I’m late, Professor Graves came around asking about Newt. You really need to keep your nose clean, he’s definitely on to you,” Tina explained as she came into the shop, pulling off her coat. 

“I have to get a look at this man as well,” Leta decided with far less kindness about her, already planning some trouble in Newt’s name. 

“I’m Tina Goldstein,” Tina introduced herself all proper with her hand out, Leta took it and looked up at the woman with a smile. 

“Leta Lestrange,” she replied. 

The two stared at one another a moment too long and Newt glanced at the pair. 

Queenie squeaked out in delighted shock.

And then Tina leaned down and pressed her brow to Leta’s gently. 

“I've been waiting to meet you,” she breathed and Leta’s eyes watered as she smiled. Not her usual smile but something remarkable and utterly adoring. 

“I’ve been far more eager,” she chimed weakly and then leaned up to kiss Tina sweetly. 

It was an astounding moment and Newt felt his heart fill with joy for them both, a smile pulling on his face. Jacob looked delighted as well and Queenie was sobbing with a bright smile on her face. 

The chair Leta was in scraped as she moved to hug Tina and pull her close, tipping her head to kiss her more deeply. Tina knelt on the floor to help, pulling at Leta’s coat to get it off. 

“Oh my,” Queenie gasped and was up on her feet in an instant. 

All three of them were out of the shop and with a wave of her wand Queenie had the door locked and the blinds pulled down to hide what was happening inside. After a moment she waved her wand once more and the lights dimmed. 

Newt looked at her and then Jacob, a bit dumbfounded before Jacob burst out in a jubilant laugh. Queenie hugged him and then Newt as well, pulling him into their hug. 

“Oh, I’ve been hoping so much, that she would find someone at school, but this is even better! Leta is practically your family Newt so that makes you family too!” She laughed and Newt couldn’t fight a smile in reply. He felt giddy almost, just being a bystander of a pair meeting. 

Jacob wasn’t allowed on the school grounds so they went for a walk instead. The winter evening was thankfully not too cold for it. There was a lovely park where they could walk, filled with evergreen trees, pine, hemlock, blue spruce, and a variety of other plants that could withstand the cold. It had snowed earlier, just a dusting, and it made the park look that much more lovely. 

It was quiet, at the dinner time hour most were inside eating rather than out in the park. But Newt’s gaze drifted to another figure walking along the park, Professor Graves himself. Queenie and Jacob were talking about plans for a wedding or if Tina and Leta would want to wait and they didn’t see the man. 

He looked at ease, his shoulders not so tense as he walked slowly down the winding path. He hadn’t noticed them then either, his eyes looking out over the snowy park. He looked different, not nearly as guarded when he didn’t know Newt was about maybe. Newt supposed the man did have reason to suspect Newt, since he had been out that night and he did have a suitcase full of illegal creatures. It wasn’t very fair of him to cast the man as the bad one when technically, Newt was the one in that role. 

When Graves looked towards them, Newt cast his eyes to the snowy path before him. 

“Do you think Leta would want a quick wedding?” Queenie asked and Newt looked at her. 

“Leta had been very eager to meet her One, I imagine a wedding would be something she would want relatively quickly, to celebrate finding Tina,” Newt guessed. Leta had always talked about wanting to find her one, not so much about what she would do beyond living happily ever after. She was never one for big events though, always seeing them as a cruel masquerade rather than anything warm and welcoming. 

“Will her family wish to celebrate?” Queenie inquired and Newt winced. 

Graves walked closer to them, on the same path just opposite, not saying anything but somehow still very much present to Newt. 

“Leta broke away from her family after she finished school, they're not the good sort,” Newt explained, not willing to go any deeper than that. Leta could explain what she wished for them to know later. 

As the man passed, Newt glanced at him and nodded politely. He was wearing a scarf with ivy on it, the pattern slowly growing holly berries. Professor Graves returned the nod and then walked away, passing them without a word. Newt couldn’t help but note his profile, the way the man looked against the snow and green. There was no denying that he was rather fetching, though Newt had never denied that thought. 

When he looked back, Queenie had a mischievous look in her eyes. 

“Hush,” he told her, well aware she could read his thoughts about the handsome man. 

“Not a word,” She promised. 

“It’s kinda obvious with that look though,” Jacob chimed in. 

That drew a light laugh from them all, still riding the high of Leta and Tina matching. 

Leta called him the next morning and they all met for a late breakfast at the bakery. Tina and Leta were holding hands and both of them looked flushed and bright-eyed. They both had brown eyes but Tina’s were a shade lighter. Newt had always noticed when he looked at Leta, but now her eyes were a matching shade of brown, a few shades darker. 

“I was right,” he said without thinking, drawing everyone’s attention. 

“About your eyes, I mean,” he added and Leta smiled fondly. 

“We used to guess when we were children, which was mine and which was yours,” she explained to the rest of them, mostly to Tina though, she seemed unable to look away from her for very long. 

“Newt’s eyes are hazel. His One has dark, brooding eyes,” Leta added with an air of certainty. 

“Of course,” Tina agreed just to agree and Leta smiled at her fondly. 

“Do you have any plans figured out yet?” Queenie asked straight away and Tina nodded. 

“Leta is going to come live here, she was thinking about it anyway.” 

Newt glanced at Leta and she smiled in reply. 

“Newt always was my only real friend and I have missed him. Now I know that I’m meant for America with Tina being here as well.”

“I’m living on the school grounds but we can find an apartment nearby and if not, I can commute to school.”

“That makes sense,” Queenie agreed. “When Jacob and I met, I moved into his place right away. New couples usually need to spend as much time together as they can.” 

“You know, I rent the place above the bakery and there’s another place above that. The old couple was talking about moving out soon,” Jacob pointed out and Queenie looked delighted with the idea. 

“We’re right beside the school, it would work out perfectly!”

The new semester started right after the holidays and Newt found he shared a class with Tina. ‘Magical creatures and the Law’ was required by both of their programs and taught by none other than Professor Graves. 

Newt looked at Tina in dismay when they received their class listings but she just shook her head without any sympathy. 

“I’ve warned you multiple times that you’re going to have to be on your absolute best behaviour.” She told him and Leta offered a slow smile in reaction. 

“Oh Newt, you’re in so much trouble,” Leta surmised and he sighed but couldn’t argue. 

“I’ve had no real trouble in any of my other classes, so maybe this one will be the same,” he hoped. Tina and Leta both gave him identical looks of pity. 

“I’m just saying, that a law that doesn’t take the creatures into consideration, isn’t really a law made for them, but made for our convenience,” Newt explained, staring at his desk as the class peered at him. 

“A law is a law, there can be flaws within them and we can strive to fix them, but they must be respected until that change comes,” Professor Graves replied, standing at the front of the room and no doubt glaring at Newt. 

“Would you say the same of the marriage laws of the 1920s? It was illegal to marry someone without magic, as if they were lesser people. There was no harm intended by either party but fear made that into a law. Was it respectable to follow it, even when it encouraged discrimination?”

That caused a wave of whispers as Newt waited for the reply from the man leading the class. 

“I believe there was merit, that fear was based on a real threat-“ 

Tina raised her hand and the professor paused and nodded for her to speak. 

“My apologies sir, but we’re twenty minutes over class time and I have another class in ten minutes,” she explained. 

“Ah, we are, aren’t we? Very well, read the next chapter and prepare outlines for your essays. We’ll continue this another time Mr. Scamander.”

The class broke, and students rushed out to get to their next class. 

“I can’t believe I ever thought you were meek,” Tina told him when they gathered for dinner at the bakery. Newt had always been invited but now that Leta was there, she made sure he came and ate a good meal ‘at least once a day’. 

“When it comes to creatures, Newt is fearless,” Leta divulged. 

“He’s also impressively educated, holy moly, he goes toe to toe with Graves every class and he knows his stuff,” Tina explained. 

Leta chuckled and smiled fondly at Newt. 

“He was top of the creature classes every time. The professors talked about how he outpaced his classmates daily. Even Dumbledore took note of him for his unmatched skill. Newt’s going to change the world,” she explained and Newt felt a flush of embarrassment. 

“My goal is to write a book that helps the magical world truly see creatures. Not as pests to be done away with but creatures we should be looking after, helping and living in harmony with.” He divulged to the others, wanting them to know what she meant when she claimed he was going to make a change. 

“You’ll do it,” Leta said with utter conviction and Newt felt warmth in his chest. 

“I have to agree, professor Graves knows his laws and is a fair shake older than us, a seasoned auror, head of security in MACUSA and you can face him down. I can’t imagine anything will stop you,” Tina added in and Newt fought down a small pleased smile. 

He wasn’t trying to face off with the man, but the laws on creatures were rather terrible and Newt would never sit quietly as they were taught. Everyone in the class should think about them and their place, they should know that they weren’t fair and that they were cruel to all magical creatures. 

“I just want to educate the world. It’s good practice I think, since many people will be opposed to me one day.” 

“You’ll knock ‘em dead,” Jacob decreed and the rest of the group agreed loudly. 

Newt flushed and smiled at them, feeling so grateful for each of them. He had been worried to move across the world but here he was now, with old and new friends. His education was on track and his goals became clearer and closer every day. 

Professor Hicks was one of the best charms professors Newt had ever had and he did his best to take advantage of that. Charms played a large part in winning some creatures over so he wanted to be proficient with them. When the class was unable to completely cover a subject to his satisfaction, he would seek her out for suggested readings to help him understand better. 

He was on such a mission to find her as he walked down the professor’s offices, when he ran into professor Graves again. Although they often debated in class, the man had never seemed to go out of his way to punish Newt. He never seemed angry that Newt was challenging him or anything petty or the like. So even if he was rude, Newt did respect the man as his professor. 

“Who are you seeking out?” Graves asked him and Newt glanced up to his mouth and then looked away. 

“Professor Hicks,” he explained, feeling the man’s gaze heavy on him. 

“You really don’t like meeting eyes, do you? Is it a belief of some sort?” The man asked, voice genuinely curious rather than accusing as some could be. Newt knew there were some magical religions where people never meet gazes, some even choosing to wear a blindfold. 

“No sir, I’ve just been that way since I was a boy, according to my mum.” Newt offered. 

“Fair enough,” the man replied and turned his head as professor Hicks left her office, motioning the woman over to them. Newt glanced up at his face as he was looking away, taking in his stern features that had many students cowed. 

“Newt,” Hicks greeted easily. “Is Percival being hard on you?”

The name Percival confused him for a moment before he realized it was professor Graves. 

“No mam, he’s very fair, given how many discussions we have in class.”

Professor Hicks let out an easy laugh in response. 

“Those discussions are the talk of the school, you have a strong education behind you Newt, you truly know the laws about creatures in and out, across the world even.”

Newt offered a polite nod of thanks. 

“I try my best. If I want to change anything, I need to know what I’m changing.”

Professor Hicks made a knowing sound. 

“You’re already on the right track, the fact that most can’t really argue your points isn’t being overlooked. Even Percival here has talked about drafting some changes to the current laws because of your skilled debating.”

Newt was surprised by that and he glanced up at the man, looking to meet his gaze. 

Percival Graves was busy glaring at Professor Hicks, however, but Newt looked long enough to notice that he had one light and one dark eye. He had never seen that before. 

“I think the Professor has a good sense of what’s wrong and right, and when it’s pointed out to him, he feels the need to correct it,” Newt finally replied and Professor Hicks let out a bright laugh. 

“I do agree! You know him through and through already. Percival will run himself ragged chasing what’s right. Half the reason he was sent here was to take a break before he dropped dead!”

“Thank you, Lally,” Professor Graves grumbled at her. 

“Anyway, Mr. Scamander wished to talk to you,” he said as he stepped back to excuse himself. 

“No hard feelings Percival, off you go, we‘ll catch a drink later?” Professor Hicks said her goodbyes before turning her attention to Newt. 

Her words lingered in Newt’s mind long after, wondering if Graves really was taking his suggestions to heart. 

“He’s changing the creature laws? Wow, Newt you must have really made a point for him to go that far,” Tina pointed out when they had a shared dinner that evening.

“To be fair, he’s never seemed mad when you two argued, it’s not like you were offending him. Some professors would be angry to be questioned as you do.” She added thoughtfully. 

“Those lacking confidence don’t have the gift of teaching,” Leta added wryly. “There was one at Hogwarts that was always annoyed that Newt could run circles around him when it came to creatures.”

“I think he just felt I talked too much,” Newt defended. 

“He was a sour puss. Dumbledore was the only reason he never tried to give you low marks. It was clear the man was looking out for you.”

“Important man?” Jacob asked.

“One of the most powerful wizards in the world,” Leta explained. “Him and his husband.”

“They make the news around here, considering their opposing opinions,” Tina added. 

“I’ve always heard ‘what ifs’ of the two, if they hadn't met and remoulded each other.” Leta mused. 

“Remoulded?” Jacob questioned as he passed the potatoes to Newt. 

“Grindelwald is a near radical, Dumbledore picks up his slack,” Leta explained. “Grindelwald has been working for years to build a city where no-maj aren’t allowed. He’s all about pure blood. Without Dumbledore there to calm him, I bet he would be out in the streets murdering and plotting world domination.” 

“Ouch,” Jacob replied and Leta nodded her head in agreement. 

“Like I said, controversial. Meanwhile, Dumbledore is all about peace and harmony. I can’t imagine the fights they have behind closed doors.”

“But Dumbledore always seemed happy,” Newt pointed out. “He never spoke ill of soulmates or ever stood for bad talk of his husband.”

“It must be hard at times,” Tina surmised, “when your partner is a bad sort.” 

“By the way, I do believe in blood purity and dark magic,” Leta announced and the whole table fell awkwardly silent. Newt rolled his eyes and took another bite of food as he waited for the rest to understand it was a joke. 

“That’s not funny,” Tina scolded without heat and Leta offered her a bright smile in reply. 

“It was a tiny bit funny,” she insisted. Talk of muggle rights came up often and everyone was in agreement they were well deserved and no one was less than the other. They fell into talk of dark magic as well, explaining in-depth to Jacob and coming to the shared opinion it was rather vile. 

The idea that professor Graves was working to improve the laws about magical creatures surprised Newt. He was glad that the man had actually taken something away from their discussions. It changed how he talked in class, trying harder to get ideas across clearly. He knew that many creatures were sentient, much more than most people believed. They were not dangerous in the way most people thought either. Treating them as pests to be destroyed wasn’t fair. Professor Graves would listen to him but also challenge his views when human lives came into place. 

“I don’t believe their lives are worth more than humans, but that humans have a responsibility to look after creatures as we believe ourselves the higher beings.”

“So because we are stronger we should have to look after the weak?”

“If we are decent,” Newt said with conviction, truly believing his words. 

“We are considered the leaders in many ways and what do we do with that privilege? Humans are capable of terrible things but I do believe in great things as well,” he explained, looking up to meet his Professor's gaze and prove his ardent conviction. 

Professor Graves was already looking at him and it felt a bit like a stunning spell hit Newt straight on. 

Their gazes collided and Newt realized their eyes were a mirror of one another. 

It felt like nothing he had encountered before. The awe of seeing his first dragon fell short and even casting his first spell. The elation felt different, the pull of magic in his chest utterly distinctive to that moment. It jumped under his skin and pulsed through every inch of him, making his heart beat loud in his ears as he stared at the man meant for him. 

They had squabbled so much! But then professor Grave was never unfair or mean and Newt could admit he respected him. And of course, it was no secret that he was rather attractive. Wearing his fine-tailored suits and robes, looking so put together and precise. 

Newt felt a bit like a rabbit trapped under a wolf’s gaze as the man started walking toward him, but it wasn’t fear keeping him rooted in place. Tina was talking but Newt couldn’t hear her properly, she sounded far away even though she was right beside him. 

The urge to reach out was shockingly insistent, just as vital as breathing even. He just needed to raise his hands and touch the other man. He needed to feel the warm skin of his jaw and step in close to smell him. Some fancy cologne or aftershave and then something more unique under it. Warm breath rushed along his cheek as they stood chest to chest, the man’s hands curling around his middle. Newt clung to his professor's lapels, feeling rather overwhelmed. 

“Of course, it would be you,” Graves breathed, his lips brushing Newt’s ear. He didn’t know what to say so he just held on tighter, pressing their chest and thighs closer, wishing they had more skin-on-skin contact. He felt the man press soft kisses to the curve of his ear and then moved back to kiss his cheek lightly. Fluttering touches that made Newt’s belly coil tight in a new startling sexual hunger. 

He had heard of sexual attraction, and he knew many people felt it outside their soulmate, but he never had. He and Leta had shared a few kisses as children, just to try, and he had felt nothing. But this was far more different, this was the exact opposite. Just being close was enough to wake his senses, to make him want the man. Each soft brush tickled his skin and heated him up, making him want to press in closer. It also was strikingly comforting, the intimacy not daunting at all, and Newt melted a bit in the man’s secure embrace. 

Then Graves pulled back, shifting them, hips still slotted together, so he could look at Newt. It lasted a second at most and then Newt was being kissed. The light pressure somehow amazing and terrifying mixed together in a muddling way. He felt like he couldn’t breathe properly and opened his mouth to try and get air in foolishly. Newt’s mouth barely parted but Graves was there right away, driving his tongue inside Newt’s own mouth to lick at his tongue. It made Newt jerk in the man’s hold, shocked and confused by how hard his body reacted. It felt strange, wet and sloppy but oh so good for some reason, like he needed more or he might fall apart.  

Newt could feel his arms winding around the man’s neck to hold him close, not willing to let him escape or dare to stop this strange and amazing thing. His thighs bumped into a desk but Newt didn’t care, letting Graves push him up on it, seating Newt on the top as he kissed him and kissed him until Newt felt dizzy with it. The man’s hands were running up and down his thighs, the touch making him shiver and his cock ache. Newt just kissed harder, pressing more, the slide of tongues and wet lips all-consuming. 

He pulled back unwillingly but was too overwhelmed to keep going. His lips were parted as he dragged in a deep breath and stared at his soul mate. A pair of mismatched eyes were looking back and it really was unfair how gorgeous the man was. He was powerful too, all focused like he could command an army easily. Strong and sure. Some creature inside Newt purred at it, loved that he was so good, would be a good mate, a strong and sure kind. 

Newt kissed him again and it was like warm honey was pouring through his insides, stirring them up but making them slow and sticky. His mind felt hazy but Newt was aware that he was hard in his pants. It felt different from previous erections, hungry and desperate, biting at him, demanding more. And when Graves shifted to kiss him deep again, he felt the length of the other man pressed into his thigh. That made Newt moan into the kiss, feeling flooded with sensations but everything was good, everything felt sensual and his greedy mind told him it was fine to take everything. This was his one, the man meant for him, Newt could take everything he needed, he could tell him his every secret and show him every flaw he had. His other half. He wanted him over him, inside him, Newt wanted to lay claim to what was his now. 

The slide of a tongue in his mouth was all-consuming but Newt unwrapped his arms from his Professor to pull at the man’s robe. He wanted to feel skin and his fingers sought it, going under the expensive clothing. Magic undid his vest and shirt buttons, helping Newt, pulling up his undershirt until his hands finally found skin. Graves was hot to the touch and Newt’s hands spread out against his stomach greedily, curling around his middle under his clothing and exploring. He never knew skin could feel so erotic, dragging his fingers blindly to feel all he could.

Their kiss broke as the man hissed at him in reaction, he could feel what Newt was feeling, this bubbling lust and rising urgency to be together. He moved against Newt again, gripping his thigh to hold it there as he rubbed his hard cock against Newt. 

The man’s thigh nudged against his own erection and Newt wanted to rock back and chase the hunger. There was no reason to deny it, something in him muttered so he did, rolling his hips and feeling the heavy hot pleasure answer him. Newt’s fingernails dug into skin as he pressed and rutted against the man and felt him shove back in answer.   

He sees movement around them, Tina was somewhere, but it was all too far away and Newt doesn’t care. Let them see. He wanted them to know that Graves was his and that he belonged to Newt. He felt a bit like an animal claiming its mate, showing off to others to warn them off.  

Firm hands were pulling at his own shirt and Newt barely had time to blink before refined and precise magic was pouring over him. It was like a splash of cold water on a hot day, making him jump at first but then melting into something pleasant. His shirt opened itself and his pants unzipped on their own. His shoes hit the classroom floor with a muffled thump. 

Graves broke the ongoing kiss to attack Newt’s neck. To press a hot kiss here and there, his tongue was sliding on Newt’s skin, tasting him. It shouldn’t have felt so amazing but it did. It made a spark dash up his back and along the length of his cock simultaneously. It made him swallow back a whimper. 

There were strong and sure hands on his pants, fingers hooking into them. The pair of them fumbled for a bit, neither one willing to move back until they nearly fell off the desk. Graves caught them though and Newt couldn't fight back a sudden joyful laugh bubbling up in his chest. 

His brow pressed against the other man’s as Graves stepped back so Newt could close his thighs to slip his pants and underwear off. He pulled at Graves’ half-opened shirt as well and the man obediently let his robe fall off his shoulders and his vest and shirt were pulled off as well. He still had on an undershirt but that was easy to get under, easy to embrace him as the man stepped close again. Newt’s hands ran around his mate's sides and over his back and shoulders under the shirt as Graves latched onto his neck on the other side. Biting again and then kissing the sore spot before flicking at it with his tongue. Newt can’t explain why it feels so erotic, only that it does, that his cock was throbbing in response and little sounds were making their way out of his throat involuntarily. He was arching into each bite, pressing his neck up for more, wanting to be devoured.  

Then he felt a warm hand brush along the underside of his erection without warning. Just a light soft touch and Newt gasped at the feeling of a foreign hand on him. Of someone touching him where no one had before. He was on edge and he knew that he was going to fall apart at any moment. He wanted to do so with Graves though, together. He wanted the man inside him, marking him, touching him in a place no one else ever had or ever would.   

His thighs rose up and pulled at Graves’ hips, yanking him in. The man went with a startled grunt, chuckling when Newt hurried to undo the man’s slacks. 

“Please,” Newt breathed, he blinked away the tears in his eyes because he needed it so bad it was overwhelming him, needed it like air. The urge was screaming under his skin, everything feeling too real and not fast enough.  

“It’s ok, I got you,” Graves reassured him, Newt hiding in the man’s shoulder, rubbing his cheek on the bit of skin his undershirt didn’t cover. He smelled good and when Newt gave him a little lick, he tasted nice as well. Salt and musk, something all Graves. He rather liked the sound that the action drew from the man as well.  

The spell ran along his skin and into him. He felt the soft warmth and knew he was being prepped. Newt knew the spell well enough himself. He liked being filled when he touched himself. It made sense that his soul mate would want to fill him up. 

Graves tried to ease a finger in, all slow and gentle-like, but that wouldn’t do at all. Newt’s arse was on the edge of the desk, thighs spread wide. He fell back, laying on the desk for balance as he shoved a hand between them. 

His two fingers went in with ease, the slick there helping as Newt stretched himself. He wanted to be taken and he wanted it now. He shoved a third and whined out, arching into them, wishing they were his mates, wanting Graves’s cock inside him.   

Graves pulled back enough to see, watching Newt finger himself hurriedly. 

“Mercy,” The suave man muttered, eyes locked on what Newt was doing, looking at that part of him. He should want to die of embarrassment but something about the way Graves was looking at him made him feel powerful, like he could make this man feel as good as he was making Newt feel. 

Graves watched him add a fourth finger. Newt was holding onto Graves' forearm with his other hand, clinging to him. He needed contact, their thighs brushing against each other. Graves’ hands were on his bare thighs, just touching, feeling. Newt was aching with it now and he wanted to get off, but he just wasn’t able to. His fingers were usually enough but now they were lacking. 

As if he could sense it, Graves was leaning over him, pressing a kiss to Newt’s mouth. He whined in response, feeling sweat gather on his skin as he rolled his hips uselessly. 

“Please, p-please, plea…s...e,” he could barely think clearly and then Graves was pressing close all sure and soothing, Newt yanked the stupid undershirt off him so they could press bare skin together. 

He felt the first push, the burn of the stretch and then Newt was finally being taken. The strange feeling of something inside him, more than his fingers. The weight and heat of it. He hadn’t expected it to feel so hot. It opened him up, forcing him to stretch and Newt never realized anything could feel so bloody good. He struggled to breathe, holding on to Graves above him, fingers digging into skin, as he got used to this new sensation of being filled up in such a way. It was good, the slight burn and the heavy feeling of it. 

And then Graves moved and Newt keened. He would be embarrassed later, being so loud, but the friction…the friction was amazing. Every lazy pull and push inside was sparking something primal in him. Just a base, mindless pleasure coursing through his veins, it was edging him, calling him.  

Graves was kissing his mouth, his cheek and jaw, his ear and neck, licking and biting now and then and Newt could only hold on and fervently attack any part of skin he could find as well. They established a rhythm, Newt putting one foot on the very edge of the desk while his other leg was still around the man. Graves was holding him by the thigh, fingers digging in nice and hard as he moved. 

When he leaned in close and pushed in deep, Newt’s cock was trapped between their bellies and that’s all he could take. He came apart gracelessly.  He cried out, too loud,  feeling overwhelmed by the pleasure thrumming through him, owning him in those seconds. Graves muttered into his ear but Newt couldn’t make out the words. Clinging to the man, trying to pull him in so close they would be one. 

Fingers curled into his hair at the base of his skull and they cradled him tightly. He then felt a sudden heat, the pulse and the pleasure. The tight heat around his cock and the man under him, all ridiculously gorgeous freckles and milky skin. He had been driving him crazy ever since he had first seen him, sincerely good but so bloody teasingly mischievous.  

Newt couldn’t tell who was who as they both fell apart, pleasure overtaking their bodies and uniting them as one. 

He was not sure how long they stayed like that. How long it took before one of them breathed out and then the other followed as well. Slowly, their bodies felt more solid. Newt dropped his leg and his back ached from being laid across a tiny desk. He found that he was a bit cold in the large room as well. 

He blinked, still dazed, and he finally looked up to find that Graves was looking back at him. His eyes were both dark now, a matching pair to signal he had found his soulmate. Newt supposed his were hazel then.

Graves leaned in and gave him a lingering kiss, not at all sexually charged but something far sweeter and tender. Newt had never thought much of kissing before but now he wanted to know it all, every single type of kiss that was possible. 

“I should have known,” he rumbled as he brushed Newt’s damp hair off his brow and Newt peered up at him. 

“Why?”

“You’ve been plaguing me since I first laid eyes on you, running wild with beasts, always popping up where I least expected you.” Graves was moving back, helping Newt sit up properly. 

His clothing was in a heap around them. With a casual motion that spoke of power, Graves called his own robe to his hand and then pulled it around Newt’s bare shoulders. He was completely naked, he realized. Graves was topless and his trousers hung open exposing him still. Newt felt a flicker of sexual hunger in his belly at the sight of his cock. Different from his and just begging to be explored. Newt wanted to taste it, feel the weight of it in his hands and on his tongue. To think he had once thought sex was dull. 

“You will be a terror, won’t you?” Graves asked him, sounding very fond as Newt blinked up, meeting his gaze and feeling that rush of reassurance and security. 

“I’m not entirely sure. I don’t mean to,” he offered honestly and Graves looked more pleased than anything, leaning in to kiss Newt softly again. 

While his soul mate redressed himself, Newt looked around and realized then where they were and what they had done. 

The classroom was empty now but it wasn’t when they had started. People had been watching them, who knows how much they had seen! 

Graves looked around as well, as if thinking the same thing but he just let out a tired sigh rather than seeming truly upset about it. 

“I imagine it’ll be impossible to intimidate them now,” he commented more to himself. There were abandoned books and bags all over the room so the rest of the class couldn’t be that far. Newt will have to face Tina as well. At least they had barely seen anything more than her and Leta kiss. He wanted to be more upset, Newt was not a person who liked attention but he couldn’t fight a pleasant feeling in his chest, that his claim was seen. 

He reached out and took Graves’ hand, intertwining their fingers and the man smiled down at him. Newt was sure he hadn’t seen him smile before, because it was rather dazzling and hard to ever forget. His heart thumped in his chest and Newt felt like he was in the clouds. 

“Shall we get you dressed and go face the music waiting outside that door, no doubt?”

Newt glanced at the classroom door, firmly closed. Graves was probably right, the class must be waiting to retrieve their belongings. 

“What’s your first name?” He suddenly asked, because he found that he didn’t remember. Graves didn’t look upset by it, smiling still as he looked at Newt so fondly. 

“Percival.”

“Percival,” Newt tested the name on his lips as he looked up at his soulmate. 

“Will you kiss me again?” He requested and Percival smiled and leaned in to do so. He pressed his mouth to Newt’s and it was tender and perfect. Newt reached out, pulling Percival closer by his belt loops until Newt was sitting on the edge of the desk in just the man’s robes and Percival was back between his spread thighs.

He had just redressed but Newt wanted to see him again, all skin and scars. He wondered where he had gotten them all. From his career as an auror? He reached out, trailing a hand down Percival’s chest, feeling his heat through his shirt and vest, just faintly. 

Not nearly enough. 

“Again?” He requested and Percival laughed as he leaned in, kissing Newt again and again and again. The kisses grew deeper and Newt’s mouth was parting to feel his tongue again, wanting the slick, hot feeling twisting inside him again. His hands pulled at Percival’s trousers and the man went willingly. 

The world could wait, Newt decided. He wanted to know every inch of his soulmate and he already knew he wouldn’t be satisfied until he did.

It made him smile to think he had ever thought he would know what his soulmate would be like, and then he would laugh when he recalled his prior expectations. Nothing had prepared him for Percival but he would never change the stubborn wonderful man for anything in the world. 

Newt would often watch the world-famous auror from a powerful family, in their apartment in a busy loud city, fussing over his many plants, moisture-sensing spells and all. A man who prized his mother’s roses and frowned at the idea of tromping through a forest in his good shoes. 

He was absolutely nothing like Newt and he was still a perfect match, the two of them slotting together in such a natural way. It was like they had always been side by side their entire lives, such a profound comfort with one another.  

Newt could never imagine loving anyone as much as he did Percival. 

“Newt, my love,” Percival sighed tiredly. “If you don’t remove your niffler from my allamanda stansills double’s pot immediately, I will toss the beast out through the damn window.”

No one else, Newt was positive.