#fb:cog

It was that, Gellert thought, that tied Newt so closely to him. Newt wanted to prove to anyone and everyone in the magical community and around the world how their lack of knowledge on magical creatures has been more detrimental as a while. If, Newt suggested, more people took an interest in magical beasts then they’d see they had just as much a right to live as any witch, wizard, or muggle.

The fire, the passion in Newt to defend his beasts was like a devastating incident- one you know you should look away from but can’t help but stare at it.

The issue then became, how best to tell Newt about all of it? He couldn’t very well just barge into Newt’s room and have his wicked way with him.

For the most part since “hiring” Newt, the young man spent much of his free time caring for his beasts or talking to his brother through firecalls. Not that Newt had much free time that is.

If Gellert were to ask plainly, it may come off as a threat. Newt was smart, after all. He knew he was also a hostage to keep Theseus in line.

How could he ask permission to court Newt, without Newt thinking it was a demand?

What Gellert didn’t know, however, was that Aurelius was much cleverer than people generally gave him credit for.

-

“Are you sure about this, Ari?”  Newt asked, putting the dress in front of him- studying his appearance in the mirror. The little boy had brought a package with him that morning, oddly arriving to Newt’s room with a grin.

Usually, Newt went and picked up Ari for their lessons after he ate breakfast. Mr. Grindelwald, despite being exceedingly busy, always tried to share breakfast with Aurelius. The Magizoologist was well aware of why he was there and what kind of man Gellert Grindelwald was. The draconian laws he put into place and how he dealt with “rebel-rousers” and his own place as a hostage. He tried not to think about it.

It made his relationship with Aurelius’ father exceedingly more complicated. The fact that he didn’t really have a choice in being here made the possibility of a further connection exceedingly more complicated. It made the power dynamic incredibly unstable. Which wouldn’t be a good start.

Not that any of this was particularly good but that was especially not great.

“Uh-huh, Vati said it was for you.”

This wasn’t actually a lie, Gellert had told Aurelius he had purchased the dress for Newt with the intention of asking Newt if he was interested in being courted. Of course, Gellert hadn’t been ready to do it just then, and if he’d noticed that morning that the package, he’d been preparing was gone well…fortunately for Ari, Gellert had been much too preoccupied that morning.

The dress was rather beautiful, if Newt thought about it. The blue chiffon material was soft and smooth. It revealed much of his back and shoulders, the shoulders of the dress were a mix of materials. The top few inches were the same dark silk with the rest of the sleeve a sheer blue material that poured around his arms, pulled tighter around his wrists with a ribbon and strips of the cloth further criss-crossed to another bit of ribbon that curled around his pointer finger.

The top of the dress was held up by a kind of thick blue material around his neck, not unlike a collar, a bit of silver in the shape of a flower connecting the collar to the rest of the dress.

The silver matched around the waist and the tops of the sleeves where it became more sheer. Around those areas, silver filigree danced around it.

Newt couldn’t help but think about how much a flower crown would complement the look.

“Hmm, I hope you aren’t tricking me, Ari. Pickett would be very upset if he couldn’t see you because your father fired me, or you were grounded.”

Aurelius just grinned, looking as innocent as an angel.

Newt didn’t say anything for a moment, brushing his hands down the material once more before offering his hand to Aurelius. The child had perched himself on the bed to wait while Newt got dressed behind a screen.

Despite his status as a hostage, Mr. Grindelwald had never treated him unkindly. Sure, he was officially there to be Aurelius’ Nanny, but that didn’t mean he had to give Newt such a nice set of rooms. Including a sunroom of sorts for his calmer creatures. Initially, Newt had avoided Mr. Grindelwald, as per his brother’s tearful instructions.

But no, he couldn’t think about ‘Seus now. He usually ended up crying himself when he thought of his brother, the way Theseus had clung to him. Promising that he’d find a way to get Newt back.

The day he’d moved into Nurmengard had been terrifying.

Aurelius had initially been just as nervous around Newt as he’d been around the boy. Thankfully, it was Newt’s creatures that drew the boy in, his fascination with them enough to allow Newt into his life.

And, of course, it’d been touch-and-go at first but eventually they found a nice rhythm.

Mornings were spent in the library, learning the basics of English and French. As well as Arithmetic and history. Teaching Aurelius history had caused a bit of a disagreement with Mr. Grindelwald.

Grindelwald hadn’t wanted Aurelius to be taught anything of the muggle world, seeing it as useless nor much of the wizarding world before his reign began. Newt had put his foot down at this, though.

“I-if you want Aurelius to believe in your truth, h-he needs to know it! If you lie to him now, hide things now, when he grows up and learns the truth, he will never trust you or your rule a-again.”

Newt had been terrified when he said that to Grindelwald, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched and looking at the ground.

Grindelwald hadn’t said anything for a moment, and Newt was convinced he was about to die when the Dark Lord sighed.

“Fine.”

In the afternoons, Newt usually made lunch for Aurelius. This happened so Aurelius would not only become over-dependent on servants and house elves, but also so Aurelius would know a variety of recipes from a variety of cultures. After that, if Mr. Grindelwald didn’t take Aurelius for a magic lesson, or Mr. Nagel didn’t take Aurelius for a lesson on self-defense (actually hand-to-hand combat and basic swordplay which Newt had been very surprised about), then Newt would teach him about Magizoology.

That, initially, had been one of the reasons why Newt had been appealing as a nanny. He wasn’t the world’s only Magizoologist but apparently, he was the best.

Even if he stayed out of the limelight as much as possible, avoiding the fanatics and revolutionaries alike, Newt’s book had caught fire in terms of popularity.

Theseus had been very upset when Newt published his book, as it reminded the world that Theseus Scamander, an anti-anti-statute of secrecy advocate, had a baby brother.

Basically, Newt had put a giant target on his head.

Newt adored teaching Aurelius about his creatures though, mostly because he saw in Aurelius a lot of himself at that age. The same wonder and respect that had him dismembering Horklumps as a child.

Usually, Mr. Grindelwald would work late into the night so Newt ate dinner with Aurelius. If there was some kind of event going on, some sort of political thing or a celebration for Grindelwald’s victory, Aurelius would stay with Newt after making a short appearance. More often than not, they ended up in Newt’s case or the sunroom. If not, Newt would help bath Aurelius and take him to Grindelwald’s office to say goodnight.

Sometimes Mr. Grindelwald would take Aurelius to tuck him into bed, other times, Newt would do it.

As much as Grindelwald’s policies disgusted Newt, he couldn’t help the rush of emotion when he watched Grindelwald interact with his son. You could say whatever you wanted about Gellert Grindelwald, but it was obvious and undeniable that he adored his son.

The day Aurelius went behind his Father’s back to give Newt the gift early, they had stopped History a little early. Everything had become a bit too much for Aurelius, the discussion of the Wars scaring him a great deal. So, Newt thought it best if they end it there and go on with the day.

With Aurelius hand in his, Newt led the boy towards the kitchens when they ran into- almost literally- Grindelwald and an unfamiliar woman.

The huge floor to ceiling windows (enchanted so no little boys could fall out of or break) lit the hallways with bright sunlight. Reflecting off the Alps snowfall making everything almost blinding.

This blinding light bounced off the unfamiliar woman’s golden hair, her subdued pink dress and dark blue coat complemented each other very well. The woman was pure femininity, and for some reason, Newt felt a stab of fear looking at her. Fear and shame.

“Vati!” Immediately, Aurelius had run to Grindelwald, arms outstretched, clearly expecting his father to pick him up. Grindelwald grinned, picking up the boy and holding him against his hip. Despite Aurelius’ age, he was rather small and skinny. Grindelwald and Newt had worked together on making a diet that would make sure Aurelius stayed healthy.

Grindelwald said something in German, to which Aurelius quickly responded. German was both of theirs first language, but Newt had yet to grasp the unfamiliar tongue. The distant feeling that had been seeded from the appearance of the strange woman only increased at this.

“Ah, Newton this is Ms. Queenie Goldstein. I’ve hired her to take on some of the care for Aurelius. You see, there was some things I’d like to discuss with you privately…” Grindelwald continued on but none of it reached Newt.

He was being replaced.

This stranger was coming in and taking Aurelius away from him! And of course, why shouldn’t she? She’d make a much better mum- Nanny for Aurelius then Newt ever could. Newt was nothing.

He didn’t belong here. He was only here because of Theseus- Grindelwald didn’t care that Aurelius adored Newt and vice versa. He didn’t care about the hours they’d spent together going over Aurelius education, or quietly reading in the library long after Aurelius had gone to bed. Or any of it.

His heart was breaking. When he felt the slight sting of tears beginning to form, without another word, the Magizoologist spun on his heel and walked away.

He refused to let Aurelius see him cry, nor would he give Grindelwald and Goldstein the satisfaction of knowing they’d broken him.

-

Grindelwald felt like he’d been smacked in the face. Newt had walked away while he was in the middle of a sentence!

Even when they were arguing, Newt never had that look on his face. The utterly heartbroken one which didn’t even make sense to Gellert!

Why would he-?

“Vati? What’s wrong with Newt?”

“I’m not sure.”

To his right, Ms. Goldstein watched Newt walk away- an odd look in her eyes before a small “oh,” escaped her lips.

“He thinks I’m replacing him, that he’ll never get to see Aurelius again.”

“Was? Vati, aber es-!”

Before Aurelius said another word, Gellert gently put Aurelius down and promised he wasn’t sending Newt away.

“Remember, Kleiner? The dress? You stay with Ms. Goldstein and I’ll get everything sorted out.”

-

Gellert Grindelwald found Newt in the Solarium, idly brushing his demiguise’s fur. The small creature seemed to be trying to cheer Newt up as his tears dripped onto the silver coat.

The beast noticed Gellert first, his eyes flashing blue before slinking away and invisible. Newt, his back to Gellert, dropped his shoulders. Even without seeing the young man’s face, Gellert knew- could practically feel the emotional exhaustion radiating off him.

“Am I t-to return to my brother, then?”

“If that is what you wish.”

Newt glanced over his shoulder before curling into himself, his hand brushing away the evidence of tears.

“What is it you wish? Was I just something to play with until you found a socially accepted bride? Or was I really just that deluded and nothing that happened between us meant anything at all?”

Gellert gaped at him, looking completely gob smacked and confused.

“Liebling, let me explain” Gellert said coming to kneel before Newt. The German took Newt’s hands in his, the gentle action doing something to the Magizoologist’s heart.

“I hired Ms. Goldstein so you wouldn’t feel compelled to answer me one way or another. If you were under my employ, I feared you would feel pressured to answer how you think I would want.”

Newt felt the air in his lungs vanish, the room seeming to spin.

“I don’t understand.”

The German smiled, reaching over to brush a strand of Newt’s hair back. The red-gold hair as soft as silk in Gellert’s opinion.

“Liebling, I love you and I’d like to marry you. Aurelius already sees you as his mother and there are few people in this world who won’t just cower at my decisions. You have fire, mein Feuervogel, fire and love. Please let cherish you the way you deserve.”

The Magizoologist’s voice died in his throat and all he could do was nod.