prologue
Every train compartment was filled to the brim, some even having to squeeze in even 7 or 8 people. Willow walked with her guitar case in hand from compartment to compartment, trying to find one that could fit her and her instrument. She was starting to lose hope, but suddenly at the very end of the last train cart was an almost empty compartment. Inside sat at a boy with curly brown hair and a nervous look. He wore beige trousers with a white button-up and blue tattered coat and a Hufflepuff scarf swung around his neck. His hazel eyes darted between his briefcase and the window. Out of breath, Willow pulled the door aside with her free hand and the boy quickly latched his briefcase together, flipping his head up to meet Willow's eyes.
They stared at each other for just a moment. Willow looked into the softness of the boy's eyes, the way the light reflected off of them was just perfect. The yellow of the Hufflepuff scarf and the green from the scenery outside complimented his eyes so well. Before she could admire his eyes any longer, he turned away quickly and started batting his eyes quickly.
"This seat isn't taken, isn't it? Sorry, the other compartments are extremely full and I can't fit my guitar case anywhere." Willow said, out of breath
He quickly nodded and she rushed in, settling herself in the seat across from him with her guitar case by her side. "Oh gosh, thank you so much. It's bloody insane out there. So many first years." She took her oval glasses off and wiped them before putting them back on. "What's your name?"
The boy looked back up at her, but not directly into her eyes. "Um-Newton Scamander. 4th year Hufflepuff. You can just call me Newt, or Newton. I don't really mind."
Willow chuckled. No one often shares their year and house when introducing themselves. It was deemed old-fashioned and proper. "Is that how you always introduce yourself?"
Newt smiled. "Well, that's what my brother told me to do every time I meet someone new. I have to be proper and all sorts of other things esteemed wizards do."
"Well, I'm Willow Wu. 4th year Ravenclaw. I think my brother works with your brother at the Ministry." Willow reached out her hand to Newt which he shook gently. Suddenly a small green stick-like figure stuck out of Newt's sleeve. Its pure brown eyes looked directly into Willow's. "Is that a Bowtruckle?" Newt looked down at his sleeve and panicked. He quickly took his hand away from Willow and pushed the small green twig back into his sleeve.
"Nothing to worry about-sorry-"
"I love Bowtruckles!"
Newt looked back up. "Do you really?"
"Yeah! My father used to own one when I was a kid before we moved. They're so intelligent. Does yours have a name?"
He smiled brighter and his eyes lit up. "His name's Pickett. I found him on school grounds last year. He's a bright one." The small bowtruckle made its way out of Newt's sleeve and into his palm. "Ah, he's a bit shy. Magical creatures are often misunderstood these days. I plan to change that once I get older. Maybe write a book of some sort."
"I think that's amazing. My parents expect me to work for the ministry. Become an auror or something. Who knows though? Maybe I'll join a band and live my life free of everything. Anything but a desk job."
"I agree, working a desk job is my worst nightmare." Newt slightly laughed.
"You were the Hufflepuff last year who went against the boggart that turned into a desk!"