Chapter 3
After the encounter they had in the past days, Newt and Leta seem to have a silent agreement to befriend each other and start hanging out together.
It all started when Hufflepuff and Slytherin had Potions class together. Newt was arranging his books on his table when Leta suddenly showed up and sat next to him.
“Hi!” Leta greeted with enthusiasm.
“Hello!” Newt greeted back.
Soon enough, when you hear the name Leta Lestrange, there is always a Newt Scamander next to her.
Every morning, the two would greet each other and eat breakfast together in the dining hall, usually at the end of the Hufflepuff table so no one would take notice of a Slytherin in their table.
“What is it?” Leta asked Newt. She noticed the sudden change in his mood when he opened the letter dropped by an owl on their table.
“It seems that Theseus got a promotion in the ministry,” Newt answered dejectedly.
“That’s great!” Leta replied. She knows Newt loves his older brother. He even sends him letters every week about how he’s doing at school. He just doesn’t like to admit it.
Newt shook his head. “Not really. My parents think his job in the ministry is cool and they want me to do the same despite my refusal.”
“I think being friends with magical beasts that even powerful wizards find scary is way cooler,” Leta assured him. Newt smiled as thanks.
After eating, they would walk to their classes together and see each other off. They will see each other again in the afternoon to go hangout somewhere in the school grounds or the library to do their assignments. Leta will usually copy Newt’s work in Charms and Potions while Newt will get ideas from Leta’s work in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
On weekends they would visit Hogsmeade together. Leta will buy those chocolate bars she loves from Honeydukes and Newt will look for some interesting books about magical creatures.
Leta also started to have a genuine interest in the magical creatures that Newt loved so much. She would always trail behind Newt when he goes to feed peppers to the fire salamanders for his elective class in Care for Magical Creatures. She still fears them, but Newt is always happy to guide her and slowly get to know them.
In just a few months, they became so close to each other that the only thing separating them was that they belonged in different houses.
Hogwarts is a small school and green and yellow are noticeable colors. So, everyone would notice the unusual friendship that they have. Even Professor Dumbledore teased them in one of his classes which made Newt blush so much he couldn’t produce a word to defend himself.
But not everyone is cool with a Hufflepuff and Slytherin hanging out together. Before, his fellow Hufflepuff just thought of him as annoying and let him be, but now some call him a traitor and question his loyalty to their house.
But that didn’t stop their friendship. If ever, it only made it stronger as two outcasts find comfort with each other.
In their fourth year, Newt bravely asks Leta to be his partner in the dance and Leta happily accepts.
The night of the dance, Leta showed up in an elegant dark green dress and Newt in a black dress robe.
“You look so pretty tonight,” Newt commented when Leta showed up.
“Only tonight?” Leta teased.
“No, you always look pretty…uhm…just especially tonight,” Newt answered shyly.
“Thank you. You look nice as well.” Leta replied and took the initiative to hold his hand.
None of them found enjoyment in dancing, so they spent the whole night in a quiet corner talking and eating food from the buffet.
Newt thinks it’s one of the best nights he spent in Hogwarts.
“Leta! I don’t think we’re allowed to vandalize the school,” Newt scolded Leta when he noticed the scraping sound on the wooden table they were sitting in.
“Don’t worry, no one looks under these tables,” Leta replied before closing the cover on the table.
“What have you written there anyway? Can I see?” Newt asked.
Leta smiled. “Nope, it’s my secret.”
Despite the closeness that the two share, there are still some walls, especially in Leta’s life that Newt cannot and might never be able to penetrate.
And every year on this particular day it shows.
Leta would just stay in bed all day skipping all her classes. She would then take a walk on the school grounds where Newt would meet her and give her the food he swiped from lunch. Leta refuses the food, but Newt convinces her in different ways.
Newt never figured out how to console her. All he can do is be there for her. Give his shoulders to cry on, his arms to hug her, and sway her in a hum that soothed him when he was a child.