Creature Care
A pop of apparition on a dark street. We see a house, hidden in the shadows of two identical houses on either side. A light goes on in the window, but then it goes out again. It flickers on and off again sporadically, and Theseus drops his wand from the sleeve of his much-less-formal sweater into his hand. Leta does the same behind him, and the two advance carefully towards the house.
As they get near the front door, something warm envelops them. A shimmer in the air around them confirms the acceptance of the wards. Theseus relaxes slightly, but his grip on his wand doesn’t falter. He walks up to the door and slides it open.
He walks into the living room and spots- Jasper. Playing with the light cord.
“Ah, hello again Jasper.” Theseus chuckles as he spots the little creature. He puts his wand away and scoops him into his hand. Several others are running amok.
Footsteps, and then Newt peers in looking confused. “Wh- Oh, hello you two. Sorry about the chaos. I didn’t realize the baby nifflers got loose again.”
He picks up a pot and gently drops it on the one on the table. He picks up an apple and gently tosses it onto the scale so that it launches the niffler into the air. Newt catches it perfectly in his pocket with exactly enough time to turn and catch the other in his pocket as it falls off the table.
He tosses the button he lost early that day into the air, and the last niffler jumps into the air to catch it. The two fall gently into Newt’s pocket. With that, Newt walks over to Theseus, who is still holding Jasper.
Newt shakes his head with a laugh. “C’mere troublemaker, you’re going back into your nest.” He takes him from Theseus’ hands. “Dinner is right through here, it’s all ready, just under stasis charms. I was distracted after our meeting and I didn’t get to finish with my creatures. I only have one left, so I will join you shortly.” Newt guides them through the house, fumbling at the top of the stairs, turning to head to the basement with his creatures as soon as he’s done speaking.
“Oh no you don’t!” Leta says, smiling. She takes a hold of the fabric on his jacket to stop him from taking a step further. “We came here to spend time with you, Newt. We’ll join you.”
Newt nods uncertainly, and the three of them clamber down the stairs to the basement.
A large open area full of colors and noise awaits them. Leta and Theseus tense up unconsciously, faltering at the sudden onslaught of sensory input. Newt, on the other hand, relaxes entirely.
He guides them to a cage full of glittering things set on a table. He pulls off his coat and gently tips the nifflers into it. He locks it back up, placing a small charm on it. “Now don’t you go picking the lock again.” He hangs his coat up, then turns back to Leta and Theseus, who are looking around in awe. “Right, sorry, I forgot you’ve never been here before. Follow me, and stick close, I don’t want you getting lost.”
They walk for what feels like forever and yet no time at all, through warping hallways of different climates, scenery, color, lighting, and noise. Everything feels magical, even to three people who have been around magic their entire lives. It’s an overload until they pass by one room. It’s devoid of color, very dim inside as well, as though it’s leeching the life from everything around it.
Theseus and Leta shiver, slowing to a halt. They peek in, seeing a black moving…something.
“Keep moving.” Newt’s voice isn’t cold, but it is stern. “That’s an obscurus.” Leta and Theseus jump, then hurry on.
“You’re keeping an obscurus around? Are you insane?” Theseus asks wildly.
“She was a scared child, Theseus. I’m looking for a cure.” Theseus shakes his head softly, but drops it. Newt has a habit of collecting dangerous creatures, so this unfortunately isn’t new.
Suddenly they’re walking down a set of stairs, and after only a few feet of stone, a body of water stretches out in front of them.
“Now just the kelpie to take care of.” Newt pulls up his vest and starts to roll up his sleeves.
“Now, forgive me if I’m mistaken, Newt, but I could have sworn you said ‘Kelpie’, one of the most dangerous and illegal creatures in Britain.”
Newt turned towards the two of them as though he had forgotten they were there. He finished rolling up his sleeves. “Yes, well, perhaps. Oh, you may want to stand back,” he said, and then jumped backwards into the water.
Theseus and Leta watched anxiously as he fell into the water. Something moved, slithering around. It was difficult to see, but suddenly a green mass swept by Newt.
Before they could do anything, all the water rose and fell again, soaking both Leta and Theseus.
Newt moved towards it, and when it swam past him again he grabbed ahold of its kelp mane. He managed to straddle it even as it pulled him along, and eventually the kelpie moved out of the water. Newt shouted with glee as they flew through the air and then plunged through the water again. The kelpie did several more laps before calming down. Newt gently nudged it towards the shore with the reins.
He climbed gracefully out of the water, grabbing a small clay jar. “I told you to stand back,” he tells them, nodding towards the dry stairs.
“Drying charms, Newt,” Theseus tells him wryly as he waves his wand. All three of them became magically dry, although Newt immediately soaked his pants again as he knelt by the selkie. He rubbed the ointment from the jar over a scar on its neck and the top of its head.
The kelpie makes an odd chirping noise, although it’s clearly pleased, before ducking back under the water.
Newt turns back to his guests. “Dinner then?”