iii - newt
Awkward silence consumed the room.
"H-How has it been?"
"It's been good."
"You...straightened your hair?" he mentioned, glancing at the floor.
"Oh, yeah I did. I've been doing it for a while."
His eyes darted back at the ground and at Willow's black lace-up heels. "You should keep it curly. It gives your hair more depth." Willow started nervously touching her wavy hair and Newt looked back up at her, but right back down. "N-Not that you don't look good with straight hair, you look pretty with straight hair and curly hair too, it's just factually, curly hair gives the hair more dimension and it gives it more volume-sorry." He abruptly stopped himself and flipped back up.
Willow laughed lightly. "Don't worry about it."
"Why don't you two catch up over dinner? I'm sure you're starving, Wills." Queenie proposed. Willow nodded and went to sit down at the table. "Come on, Mr. Scamander. You've been pacing for hours. Relax a little."
"Oh, but I must-"
"They're not going to poison you, Newt." Willow smiled. "Look at Mr. Kowalski. He's perfectly happy to be here." Jacob smiled. Newt looked back at his tattered suitcase and back at the chair across from Willow. He sighed and walked over, sitting across from her. His eyes were stuck staring at Willow.
He then focused on her pearly white Opaleye earrings and leaned in. "Did you know that a Hungarian Horntail's breath is hot enough to turn a rock bright red? Truly fascinating," he started, "and that the Antipodean Opaleye is considered the most beautiful dragon in the world? They have multi-colored eyes and pearly white scales. Least aggressive of the bunch too. It was incredible working with them."
"Yeah, they're really beautiful. I got to see one up close when one was trafficked to England a few years ago and Muggles noticed it so we had to Obliviate many of them. It dropped some of its scales and I got some molded into earrings."
Newt's eyes widened and a grin started growing on his face. He was hard to read and that irritated Willow all her life. The only thing he ever showed emotion towards was creatures. Willow knew when Newt showed fascination, excitement, relief. "Do you happen to have any on you? I'd like to possibly research their scales more, if that's alright."
"Yes, of course! They're in my case. I can retrieve them for you after dinner, is that alright?" Newt nodded and leaned back into his chair. "So, what're you doing in New York City?" Willow quickly changed the topic, feeling the awkward silence donning upon them again.
"I've come to get a gift for a friend. An Appaloosa Puffskein to be exact." His eyes started darting everywhere once again. Willow slowly nodded, confused, but agreeing.
Tina walked over and leaned over a chair as plates filled up with warm food right out of the pot and Queenie started lighting the candles at the table. "Haixue said you two know each other. I thought it was fitting to have you help me with this."
Willow scooted to the edge of her chair. "What did Newt do exactly?" Newt glanced at her, who looked back and gave a look of reassurance.
"He set 3 creatures out into the streets." Tina answered, "and he didn't obliviate Mr. Kowalski who saw everything happen."
Willow's head flipped back to Newt who was nervously looking at his hands. "Newt, you're kidding me!"
"You know they're not dangerous, WIllow. I'll get them back into the case as soon as possible. With your help, it might be quicker even." They both looked each other in the eyes, Newt's eyes pleading for Willow to understand him.
She rubbed her eyebrows, frustrated, but understanding. "You better be right, Newt." She said under her breath, still in disbelief about what Newt did.
"How do you two know each other?" Queenie walked over and leaned over a chair while Tina sat down next to Willow. "Did you two meet at...what's that one wizarding school called?"
"Ah, Hogwarts," Newt replied, his voice a bit hesitant to respond.
"Yes, Hogwarts! Such a funny name."
Willow started fidgeting with her fingers and looked down at them, looking nervous. "We met on the train in 4th year. His compartment was the only one not full, so I had no choice but to sit with him, really." She looked up, "We haven't talked in a while though. Ever since Newt-" Newt shook his head, telling Willow to not go that far. "Ever since Newt and I left Hogwarts, we've gone our separate ways."
Queenie pulled out a chair and slowly sat down. "Oh, I see. Aren't you two glad that you finally met again?" She said, cheerfully. Tina shot her a look which she ignored.
There was silence as Willow waited for Newt to answer. Of course she was happy to see him again, but was he happy to see her? He seemed like he didn't know what to say the whole time and kept taking glances at Willow and then at his food. Maybe he was waiting for the same thing as her, an answer. Willow leaned forward, prepared to finally give a statement. "I'm just eager to find out where he's been in the last decade. He's supposedly gone to 5 continents by now."
"How do you two know Willow, exactly?" Newt asked, changing the topic immediately.
"Well, Wills used to sleep over a lot when she and Teenie worked together," Queenie took a sip of her tea before continuing, "Wills was on an assignment from the British Ministry and worked very closely with the Aurors, almost moved here even! Teenie and her were very close. Very, very close." Queenie took a long sip from her tea and raised her eyebrows across the table at Willow and Tina, as if she knew something they didn't.
Tina and Willow both flushed pink of embarrassment. "Queenie!" Tina said behind her teeth. "Don't mention this now!" Willow stayed silent, remembering what happened with Tina.
"I'm stating the truth!"
"Just eat your food, Queenie!" Willow yelled with a laugh.