newtralize | The End Of Love

I don't think I could manage a beard. It's not really my thing. [Newt's rather disheveled appearance is rather misleading at times. There were certain things he did still take care of, even if it wasn't his hair or that his clothes are sometimes a bit ill-fitting for him.

Newt lets a few of the mooncalves try to lay on his legs and lap, seemingly very used to them doing what they're doing.] My brother is more suited for it than I, that's for sure. [His relationship with his brother was much better than it had been for a bit, but he couldn't help but be a bit bitter always being compared to the other at times.

He wasn't his brother and he didn't wish to continuously feel like he had to somehow fit into his shadow.]

Yes. I saved one in Egypt from traffickers and brought him back to the US. He was quite lovely. They're quite beautiful, especially when you can watch them when they're airborne.

Simply breathtaking. [It's said so genuinely.] But I'm someone who finds even the smallest creature to be a wonderful treat to witness, so my opinion may be rather skewed.

[He ponders over Percival's question and tries to recall which of his creatures has stuck with him. Honestly, he does have quite a few that he has kept over the years.] Well, I have a branch of bowtruckles. One in particular is very attached to me, but I think he's sleeping in my coat somewhere. I've got a niffler somewhere also and I couldn't manage my Swooping Evil to acclimate back to the wild.

[ It's quite a lot of information to take in, all he's discussing with the professor. Percival doesn't mind, after all it's a welcome distraction and it makes him feel more relaxed. He isn't in his own head, overanalyzing or fretting about things he couldn't control.

The mooncalves, absolutely surrounding him do well to help, like a living blanket. They're even humming, which is only adding to it. His blinks are long, slow and sometimes Percival snaps his eyes open in realization he's closed them too long. The tea, a warm an comforting thing in its own right, has undoubtedly begun to work it's magic as well.

He smiles tiredly, lopsidedly, at the mention of an Egyptian adventure and soaring Thunderbirds. He's thought of following in his parents footsteps before but seeing the sincerity on Newt's face gives him the passing idealization this is something he could see himself doing one day—for the first time in his young years. ]

I'd like to see them, [ Comes Percival's mutter, sleepy and half distorted by the mooncalf tucked against his head. He takes a slow, deep breath, causing the pile of creatures to gently shift. ] Maybe not the Swooping Evil... Unless it's nice? [ His face scrunches in consideration of something being called evil but being good. Surely it was if Newt kept it here. Still, it doesn't stop the drowsy string of: ] Doesn't it eat brains?

[Newt watches the other relax with a soft smile. The other seemed to at least be in a bit of a better mood than when he had first come upon the young man. They seemed a lot more at ease now and that was good. He can imagine what it's like to feel displaced, after all.

Of course, Newt gets a little huffy when they mention the possibility of it being nice or not and the mention of its diet.] Lilac is simply wonderful, I think you should know! Deciding whether something is nice based of its diet is rather rude. We slaughter and eat animals on the daily, but yes, let's judge a creature because it eats something particular. [This is a very passionate man, despite his quiet demeanor during the feast.

He does calm down a tad though.] It's best not to make assumptions based on how something lives. We can't really change how we work biologically. [He offers the other a smile.] Lilac has been a stalwart friend who has helped me a multitude of times. Too many times to count. What she eats means little to me.

[ Despite all his easing relaxation, to hear he professor pipe up so suddenly and insistently, Percival startles in the mess of mooncalves; a spike of anxiety hitting him and coursing through his lethargic limbs. An odd feeling, shaking from nerves and exhaustion, but he does well to hide it in his face, aside a touch
from his eyes. ]

No, I didn’t— [ Percival’s mousy trail dies off quickly. He hadn’t meant for it to seem like he was judging the creature based on his diet, but it seemed silly now to try and correct that he was worried about the name having “evil” in it, especially when the wizard who owned it was so accomplished and knowledgeable. ] Lilac is a wonderful name, [ He adds softly, genuinely.

The calmer tone settles him back down, though the thudding of his heart takes some time to ease back down. The calf nestled beside him feels it and begins a quiet song that a few others join in on, helping him ease further. He returns Newt’s smile gingerly. ] She sounds very nice. I apologize, I didn’t mean to assume. [ The pause lasts only as long as the blink he takes. ] I’d like to meet her too.

[Newt lightly pushes the mooncalves off him as he gets up to his feet. The loving creatures scatter and seem to move to surround Percival instead with their main caretaker was up onto his feet.

He glances at the other with a grin as he holds his arm out. A green cocoon hangs from his hand before he swings his arm. The cocoon seems to detach itself from the man as it suddenly seems to grow larger and fly into the air. The creature soars through the air before returning to them and landing on Percival's chest.

Well, Percival did say he wanted to meet her.] That there is Lilac. I can't introduce her back into the wild. She's become too fond of me, I suppose.

[ The faux alertness fades from Percival’s limbs, at least for a short time. He can’t help the chuckle as some of the moon calves that left the professor scuttle over to him and join the pile, content to still be surrounded by their comfort. For the time being.

For all his brave talk about seeing the swooping evil, that courage dims some at the actual sight of it. Her flight, of course, is breathtaking, but the heavy thud of her landing leaves him facing a face he’d only heard about, and he freezes.

A few of the doe-eyed beasts dart off when Lilac settles on him, either startled from the other creature or the surprise that rolls through the young wizard, but not enough to free him. Percival swallows thickly, not daring to look away from her. ]

She’s—very pretty. [ Is his breathing heavier? He doesn’t mean it to be, it was just all rather new. ] And, ah. Larger, than... I expected. [ Did she just lick her teeth or was that his delirium? ]

Oh yes. They can curl up into a small cocoon. Small enough that she stays hidden in my sleeve. She likes the warmth of it, I find. [Newt clicks his tongue.] Lilac. Don't tease him like that. Come on. Don't be mean.

[Lilac moves off Percival and flies over to Newt where she starts grooming Newt's hair.]

She's just playing with you. I've already fed her anyways. [He's joking. He's not actually going to let Lilac eat a student's brain.]

[ Ah, well that made sense why Lilac seemed to come out of nowhere. ] In your sleeve? Always? [ His tired mind has an issue picking out the concise words to use. ] Is—how? She doesn’t get... [ Squished? Obviously not. ] Cramped?

[ With her off his chest Percival breathes a little easier, body relaxing again against the mooncalves as he watches Lilac rustle through the professor’s hair, and he hides the grin at the silly sight. ]

Oh good, [ Is his cautiously nervous laugh. ] I’m glad. I enjoy keeping my mind. [ A small joke back. He wants to ask where he even gets food for her, now that he’s thinking about it, but stops himself with all the other stupid questions weighing on him. So another one hits him. ]

Do... mooncalves usually pile up like this? [ Not that he was complaining. Percival blinks slowly, exhaling the same. Did he already ask that? He feels like he did. They're just so comfortable. ]

Well, if she isn't in my briefcase or stays home, she sits in my sleeve. If she didn't like it, she wouldn't hide in my shirts all the time. I don't force them into spaces they don't want to be in. [Not exactly the truth, since he has had to take creatures in who would probably prefer being somewhere else, but it was either to relocate them to somewhere more suitable or for the sake of their survival.]

Don't worry. She knows better. She was just having a bit of fun with you. I don't normally have company when I'm tending to the creatures, so she was curious. [He chuckles gently.]

Not exactly. They're very friendly though, but they can be very shy. This herd just has been with me for awhile, so it might be my fault. I tend to fall asleep with them a lot, so they've possibly gotten used to my bad habits.

[ A lack of sleep quickly encroaches on Percival again. When he blinks it's uneven, one lid sticking closed a little longer than the other as he tries to listen to the professor while the mooncalves humming song continues and they settle back in. Despite his best efforts, even Newt's words fade in and out—and not from any sort of boredom.

His hand flinches as he dozes and drowsily rouses him, pulling some question from his subconscious that comes out a mumble more than anything coherent. Maybe a calf thought he was talking to them, because they make a soft noise back at him as if to answer.

That does wake him more, enough to hear the tail end of Newt's answer. He puffs a laugh, rolling his head to the side to look at the creature looking at him. ] I don't think there's much possibility about it, [ They've gotten very used to it. The calf gently headbutts him, only a clever ruse to nuzzle under the young wizard's chin. ]

'S not a bad habit... [ It was a terrible habit, truthfully, but a comfortable one all the same. One that, after a few moments, pulls Percival right under and into a deserved sleep. ]

[Newt knows the other is exhausted. He can tell by how sluggish the other is with his reactions and how delayed they are. The slight slur in their speech is probably not usual, so he can only imagine the other has gotten quite tired.

Charming.

And so he stops talking to observe the other drifting off. It isn't until the other seems to have well fallen asleep that he moves to gently scoop the young man up into his arms; mooncalves dispersing from crowding the student.

Next time Percival wakes up, he'll find himself comfortably tucked back into his bed in his dormitory. No eccentric professor in sight.]

[ There was certainly teasing to be had over the next few days in the Slytherin common room, of a sleeping Percival being returned to the dormitory. Rip Van Graves and Sleeping Beauty were some of the names thrown around, but Percival had rolled with them despite his initial fluster and over the next week only a few of his close housemates had kept up with it.

For all his worry about fitting in at a new school, Percival is doing quite well. There’s an appeal in being a foreign student, it seems, as the young man rarely appears alone outside of classes. Which isn’t such a bad thing—Hogwarts was a far more complex building than Ilvermorny was. While he’s still catching up on navigation, Percival thrives in (most of) his classes. So thorough is his note taking that students sometimes ask him to fill in bits they missed.

But no class holds his attention like Charms. He hasn’t been back to Newt’s office or his menagerie since his first day here, but he’s nearly finished Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in addition to their typical workload. He’s not obvious about it, he doesn’t stare openly, doesn’t ask too many questions that might make his interest known.

Today, however, as they’re dismissed Percival packs his things a little slower. Once the last students few students trail off, he scoops up all his parchments and books and walks up to the front of the class. ] I apologize for it not being sooner but I wanted to thank you for the tea, professor. [ His smile, this time, is more relaxed than practiced. ] And for getting me back to the dorm.

[The magizoologist was quite hands on in teaching and his classes always had so much energy. Newt wasn't particularly much of a conversationalist, but there wasn't much need for that to teach charms. Classes were chaotic and it would be a good day if the classroom came out relatively intact by the end of a class.

Today is one of those days where the classroom seems in complete disarray. Newt waves his wand and watches as the room slowly fixes itself right up, pausing when the other speaks up.] Oh, it really is unnecessary to apologize. After all, I believe it's important for teachers to care for their students.

[Newt tucks his wand into the loop sewn into his pants for his wand.] You seem to be doing well and that's really what matters. I hope Hogwarts has been treating you well, Percival.

[ When some papers rustle their way up behind him, Percival looks over his shoulder in time to dodge them, and then a couple other things as he makes the last leg up to the front of the room. ]

It has, [ The nod is confident. ] The stairs are still tricky and it’s much larger here than Ilvermorny, but a lot of the students have been helpful. [ He laughs: ] Some of the food I’m still getting used to, but it’s been fine.

[ Percival dips his head to look at his books and when he looks back up he pushes his hair out if his eyes with a breath. ] I was wondering, well—I’ve almost finished your book, [ A thumb worries over the spine of it. ] And I was curious if you… might like some help with your creatures. Again.

I'll be honest that I take comfort in British cuisine, but I have definitely eaten far better things throughout my travels. [And he can honestly say that British food is far from the most enjoyable, but he won't deny that he does love it all.] I think foreigners tend to have trouble eating the puddings in particular. [A quiet chuckle.]

Just because it's on your list of schoolbooks didn't mean you had to read it all so soon. [He's definitely teasing the other somewhat. Percival's request though. It does take him by a bit of a surprise.

A surprise and a touchy topic because the students technically weren't supposed to know. Still...] Would you like to take supper with me? [He couldn't have Percival out after curfew, but he doesn't think it would hurt to let him see them again.]

Oh, [ Just as quickly as he says it Percival recognized the razzing. ] I know I didn’t, [ It’s a nervous laugh that stumbles out of him but he keeps his smile all the same. ] I wanted to. Couldn’t put it down. [ Had to was more the term—so he could do his other schoolwork properly.

But the silence that follows in the professor from his question gives Percival a small bit of worry. He’d only asked because no other students were here, and he wonders if he’d stepped over a line—he knows he’s not supposed to know.

He starts to retract his question with a breathless sound when the surprise of this turns back on himself. Taken aback Percival blinks, his smile gone only for a moment before he replies. ] Yes, I would. [ Another beat and: ] As long as the pudding is good. [ A small grin with it; a tease of his own. ]

[There's a soft laugh from the professor.] I appreciate it. I'm glad that someone might have interest in the subject. People were far less enthused about it when I had been doing the research for it. [Newt was also not very popular amongst his peers.

To be honest, he thinks he isn't still, but Hogwarts has always had an eccentric list of professors.]

I will have you know that the house elves make a smashing toffee sticky pudding! [Newt lets out a huff as he ushers the other out.] Now off with you. I'll request them to serve extra food in my office, so you can come by when supper comes. [He always took his meals in his office. Newt still wasn't really much for being social most of the time.

Hopefully the other will be able to pay attention to his remaining classes before dinner comes.]

You’ll have to tell me about it—your travels, [ He clarifies. ] When you were writing the book. [ Though he might have heard some ostracizing from Newt's peers, he didn’t think them the excluding sort. Not to someone who made such a contribution to discovery as the professor has.

Books are held close as Newt politely shoos him out, Percival’s laughter at the insistence light and that grin still present as he walks. ] Until then, [ He glances over his shoulder as he walks down the hall, waving as he does.

Very little of his attention is poured into the classes that follow, his excitement for the evening occupying a great deal of his mind. Time drags so slowly, Percival is nearly sure supper will never come. The end of classes helps, in that his own time flies by more quickly. He finishes his homework in the time before dinner, hoping when the time came that the rest of his evening would be devoted elsewhere.

And when the time comes, Percival leaves early to make himself on time to Newt’s office. Punctuality is only polite, isn’t it? It certainly doesn’t make him look excitable. Even his knock is calm and considerate. ]

You'd be stuck hearing me prattle for quite awhile.

[Newt is known for rambling and he really didn't know how to stop when it came to talking about creatures. It really is an issue when the recipient to his rambling is far less enthused about creatures.

Newt doesn't think much about Percival's request, but that's perhaps he has to teach students throughout the day. He is ready when the other comes around. Somewhat.] Oh! Do come in- Harry, get back here this instant.

[Percival will open the door to the classroom in slight disarray and Newt holding a platypus like creature in his hands. The creature was currently trying to stuff a pocket watch into the pocket on its tummy.] Ah, yes. Hullo. Uhm- [He gestures at his desk which had been cleared of whatever objects Newt usually kept on it and now had dinnerware and food set a top of it.] Why don't you tuck in while I deal with this problem. I'll be happy to join you shortly.

[ Percival’s attention snaps up to the activities beyond the door in front of him, wondering just who—or what, rather—Harry is. But he has the clear and so he wastes no time in coming in and closing the door behind him to make sure whatever it was Newt was taking care of didn’t escape. And what a sight the room is in.

Though he’s on the opposite side of it, he can see the creature squirm and try to stuff its treasure away. Not unlike a student set loose on Hogsmeade for the first time, Percival is captivated by (what he assumes to be) Harry. And though he’s undoubtedly worked up a hunger for dinner, now he’s distracted, much like that first night here. ]

Is that a niffler? [ It seems also that his excitement was no longer held back either. ] The one you drew for your book? [ It had a striking resemblance to the illustration. ]

Yes it is. They're native to here, actually. Though you'll struggle to find them as they can make themselves rather difficult to find. Slippery little things. Nuisances to many, but I can't help but be at least a tad fond of them. Though...

[He turns his attention back to the niffler in his hands. The creature just looks up at Newt with innocent eyes.] Oh, no. No amount of looking at me like that isn't going to get you out of this. [He sighs though as he starts to shake the creature. Countless objects spill out, but Newt acts like it's just another day ending with y.]

This is Harry. He has been a companion of mine for some time now. I had him while traveling for my book. He is starting to get on with his years, but as you can see, he's sprightly as ever. Little bugger.

[ The niffler is a strange sort of cute, Percival thinks, but doesn’t dare say out loud. He’s nowhere near as frightened of it as he was of Lilac, but perhaps his thought on the small billed creature makes it past his silence. It could also be the same amazement when he first saw all those beasts.

However when Newt starts to shake Harry, Percival nearly laughs. It’s cut off when items start pouring from nowhere Harry should have been able to hide as many things from. Or at least until he catches a glimpse of green tumble out of that pouch.

It sounds surprised, disbelieving even, as he fishes in his pocket and seems to come up empty. It’s only a few steps closer to the small pile at Newt’s feet and Percival kneels down to pick up a collar pin; green gemmed and scorpion shaped. ]

I didn’t know it was miss— [ Percival takes a breath and looks up to Harry, who’s very pointedly staring at the pin in his hands. ] When did you take this? [ As if Harry could, or would, admit to the thievery. ]

The End Of Love

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