#fwooper

Winter was near. Newt shivered as he felt the cold air rushed by. He pulled his collar impossibly higher, then started to descend down the steps towards the Forbidden Forest. The late October sky bore an orange hue; weak sun rays shone through what was left of the leaves on the trees. A flock of students stood at the edge of the Forest, colored in blue and green scarves, a stark contrast with the autumn aesthetic. Their Care of Magical Creatures professor, however, stood out even more, as a large, bright pink bird perched on her shoulder. 

Newt approached the end of the steps and stood by the pumpkin patch. Class was dismissed, and the students hurried back into the warmth of the castle. They paid no attention to him, chattering mindlessly as they passed by. Newt’s attention was on the professor, as she made a flourish movement with her wand, and the Silencing Charm was lifted. The Fwooper started to sing almost immediately, but the professor didn’t seem to mind. She appeared to be enjoying the song. Then, as if feeling Newt’s eyes on her, she turned to him and let out the most brilliant smile.

“Newt!”

Newt’s feet moved on their own accord, unable to help but being drawn to that smile like a moth to a flame. He felt his face break into a smile of his own.

“Y/N!”

Y/N swirled her wand one more time, and the Fwooper’s song could be heard no more. The bird flapped its wings away, and started to munch the treats in the bucket nearby. 

“Newt! You are here!” Newt was pulled into a hug so tight that he felt all the air had escaped his lungs, as he often found himself to be breathless around Y/N. 

“I had a meeting with Dumbledore today, so I thought I would pop by and say hello.” Newt smiled into Y/N’s hair, inhaling the crisp autumn’s breeze with a hint of sweet apple scent and-

“Your hair smells like dungbomb!” Newt exclaimed and broke the embrace.

“No thanks to Guinevere here.” Y/N rolled her eyes at the Fwooper. “She has been refusing a bath ever since a Gryffindor boy threw a dungbomb at her just because he was rubbish at Silencing Charm. I’ve tried treats, sneak attacks, bribery… nothing works on her.”

Newt allowed himself a fond smile as Y/N raised her wand for a Scouring Charm. As if sensing the imminent danger of a thorough bath, the Fwooper stopped her quest for devouring the treat bucket, glared at Y/N and flew into the hut by the Forest. 

Y/N sighed and pointed her wand at herself. “Well, I can keep Cleaning myself, but if that ball of a bird keeps refusing baths, you’re keeping her!” 

Newt smiled and brushed a stray hair away from Y/N’s face: “ Maybe, if Mummy and Daddy lived together, then bath time wouldn’t be so bad after all?”

“What?” Y/N widened her eyes at Newt.

“Dumbledore had agreed to pen the foreword for my book; it’s being published in a fortnight.” Newt added gently: “ I’m coming home!”

Newt pressed their foreheads together, bringing their clasped hands to his lips. “Move in with me?”