Pilot
The vast, moody silhouette of Hogwarts loomed over you, threatening to swallow you up without a second thought. The chill of the biting Scottish winter wriggled its way through your cloak, but you barely noticed as your mind swirled with an unsettling mix of anxiety and determination. Newt had reassured you over and over again that Hogwarts would be a safe haven, a perfect place to heal and start anew. Yet, the uncertainty of the new environment and hundreds of strangers gnawed at you.
“You alright?” Newt murmured from beside you. You glanced up at him, almost incredulous at his attitude towards the situation.
“...yeah. I’m alright,” you said, after a slight pause. You weren’t, and he knew it, but he turned away with a small sigh and faced towards the doors. With a seemingly-deafening crrrrrkkkk, the dark wood doors swung open unceremoniously. There wasn’t anyone behind the doors to greet you, and you felt your heart speed up. Newt gracefully scooped up your bags, two well-worn backpacks containing everything you had ever owned. As you looked up at him, the lines of worry etched on his face were painfully familiar, a constant presence since the accident.
“You ready?” Newt’s voice was gentle, a hint of uncertainty hidden in his words. His gaze softened as he met your (y/e/c) eyes, silently pleading for reassurance.
“As I’ll ever be,” you responded, swallowing the lump in your throat. You weren’t, and he knew it. You knew there wasn’t a chance to change his mind. After all, you’ve been trying for the past 3 weeks and he had been resolute in his decision. Despite his gentle, caring nature, that man was as stubborn as a stuck mule when it came to things he cared about. And he cared deeply about you. “If it’s even a fraction of what you’ve told me it’ll be… I’ll manage,” you reassured. Your face itched. Absentmindedly, you reached up to your cheek and were mildly surprised when your fingers were stopped by a cloth barrier. You were reminded of the bandages on your head that covered most of your neck, but only a bit of your face. However, the bit of your face it did cover had been itching something terrible. Sighing, you pulled your dark knit sweater further up, trying to cover as much as possible.
Newt hadn’t lied when he praised Hogwarts. Excluding his expulsion, his memories of his school years were nothing but positive. He loved that building, and he loved (most) of the people in it. He wouldn’t be leaving you here if he didn’t fully trust you would be safe and well-taken care of. “It’ll be good for you.” Newt admired the building with a mix of admiration and nostalgia. Snapping back to reality, he scanned your face carefully. “If you ever need anything, owl me. Even if you don’t, write to me. I want to know everything,” he added with a small smile, affectionately pinching your unbandaged cheek—his usual expression of affection. “Or speak to Dumbledore. He’s... he’s a good man.”
As if summoned, a tall figure with a long, brunette beard appeared in the doorway. His hair, dusted with white and gray, was groomed carefully and tastefully. The smile he flashed at you and Newt was warm and inviting. Even though he looked friendly enough, you felt your heart speed up even more and your breathing hitch. This was it. The moment you have been dreading since Newt first told you of his plans. You’ve been trying to prepare yourself for the actual goodbye, but nothing could’ve readied you for the wave of dread and anxiety that nearly tackled you to the ground when you laid your eyes on Dumbledore for the first time. Your eyes darted to Newt, desperation and worry clear on your face. He held back from saying anything in front of the headmaster, but the way he looked into your eyes conveyed a thousand words. He smiled weakly, and pinched your cheek again.
“Ah, Newt, you’ve brought our new guest,” Dumbledore said with a knowing smile. “Thank you for escorting her safely. I trust your journey was uneventful?”
Newt nodded respectfully. “Of course, headmaster. I trust Hogwarts will provide (y/n) with the sanctuary she needs.”
“As do I,” Dumbledore replied, his gaze flickering between you and Newt. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are matters I must attend to. I’m sure Professor McGonagall can assist you from here.”
With a nod from Dumbledore, Newt gently pinched your cheek one last time before reluctantly turning to leave, handing your bags to the headmaster. You watched him walk down the winding pathway for a bit, a mix of emotions swirling inside you - mainly despair at watching the man you loved and cared for so heavily leave you behind, but also an understanding for his reasons why. Newt claimed you needed something structured and concrete to assist in your healing. After all, you can’t be expected to heal swiftly from a magical creature’s attack when surrounded by many similar creatures. You didn’t see it like this, however. All you knew was the world you and Newt had made for yourselves, caring and studying magical creatures around the world. Hogwarts was foreign and new, something you didn’t want to explore. You loved your life before the attack, and you had no desire for anything new, even if Newt said it was too “dangerous.”
As the doors closed behind Newt, you turned back to Dumbledore, who regarded you with a kind smile.
“Welcome to Hogwarts, my dear,” he said warmly. “I believe you will find it quite enchanting.”