Chapter 3
Newt hadn’t been sure what it would be like attending a 14 year olds birthday party, but it hadn’t been this. He’d expected a bunch of children playing games or the like, and the adults present to mingle awkwardly on the sidelines, gossiping and prodding.
This party was nothing like that.
The moment everyone arrived they were put into teams, and a treasure hunt was announced. There were prizes for the winner, and the entire thing was organized by Jarvis, the being in the walls, a man named Phil Coulson who was very pleasant, and a redheaded woman named Pepper Potts. Everyone else was to play. He found himself rather taken with the idea. A test of skills, and likely one that would include questions aimed at both children and adults. Something to bring everyone together, and force them to work as a team or fail. It was quite brilliant really.
The teams had been created before anyone had arrived so there was no chance of choosing yourself, another excellent idea.
Upon arrival, they were told to check the board and take a team number as followed:
Team 1: Harry, Ginny, Severus, James, Newt
Team 2: Fred, George, Sirius, Clint, Sam
Team 3: Draco, Luna, Natasha, Narcissa, Remus
Team 4: Hermione, Percy, Bruce, Arthur, Steve
Team 5: Ron, Neville, Tony, Minerva, Molly, Thor
Newt blinked. Then he blinked again. Thor? But no - it couldn’t possibly be -
A crack of thunder all but shook the house and had everyone present looking around in alarm, and they all watched as the clouds in the sky began to form together, a storm brewing in mere seconds.
It only had a look at Harry who was beaming and already darting outside to realize that this was nothing to find alarming, but it seemed he was not the only one who’d been ill at ease. At a quick glance, he could see most everyone except for Harry’s immediate family had looked nervous. Them and Minerva, who it seemed had some experience with this after all.
A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, touching down with another thunderous boom, and then there, where it had hit, stood a figure.
Harry ran right up to them, and even as a sprouting teenager was lifted right off his feet into a hug, the red cape the figure wore snapping around them.
When he was set down, the two approached, and Newt found himself grinning when the massive man reached out a hand and a large silver hammer flew into his grasp.
“Incredible.” he murmured, and nearly jumped out of his skin when a voice at his elbow responded.
“Did you know that the universe itself seems to shift when he lands?” An airy voice asked, and Newt looked over to see a girl with white blonde hair and a dreamy smile. “It’s almost as if there are two worlds that layer over each other for a moment.” The girl turned that smile up at him, and Newt returned the expression.
“I didn’t, no. Though it doesn’t surprise me. If he truly is the Thor of legend, the bridge that he takes does in fact connect two different worlds briefly.”
The girl nodded, as if that made perfect sense to her.
“They call it the rainbow bridge, but I didn’t see a rainbow.”
“What did you see?”
“I saw a room with many doors, but only this one open.” The words nearly had a shudder running down his spine, but he knew it was from his own discomfort with the other planes of existence, not the girl herself.
“Well, let’s hope they stay closed.”
The girl looked up at him again, and now she looked solemn.
“They can’t stay closed forever.”
He put a hand on her shoulder, offering gentle comfort.
“But they will for now. You’re Luna, aren’t you?” He asked, and the girl smiled once more, nodding.
“Yes, I am. It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr. Scamander.”
“Please, call me Newt.”
She offered a final nod before turning and skipping back to the others, and he wondered what it was about him that had drawn the young seer to him in that moment.
Then he decided now wasn’t the time. It was a party after all.
Lily chose that moment to wind herself between his legs and he bent to scoop her up, cradling her to his chest. She purred, rubbing back.
He knew he was expected to mingle until the last of the guests arrived, and it was the most nerve wracking part.
“You and me, now girl.”
Lily purred in response, and he he gave a nod, moving back towards the house in order to actually meet everyone else.
Even for Newt, it was clear there were some tensions in the room. The most notable was definitely between Sirius Black and Severus Snape, though it seemed the animagus also avoided Narcissa Malfoy as well. He spent most of his time with the fellow with the metal arm, who’d introduced himself as James, and there was tension there as well, but of a completely different sort.
Given that Sirius was a recent convict though, it didn’t surprise Newt in the slightest that there were some issues socializing, also he was fairly sure that Mrs. Malfoy had originally been a black, and therefore related to Sirius.
He hid a smile in Lily’s fur. He didn’t miss pureblood politics in the slightest.
Newt skirted the room, saw Remus and Bruce murmuring together in a corner, and was glad they’d connected. He knew it was difficult for werewolves to find safe homes, and furthermore, people who could understand the struggle they had for control.
Newt avoided going into side rooms, sticking to the edges of this one instead. There’d already been one unfortunate incident where he’d caught sight of Clint and his paramour necking. Even just thinking about it brought a flush to his cheeks.
“You’re not looking for somewhere to hide, are you?” Natasha asked, appearing as if out of thin air beside him. Newt immediately shook his head. He could tell by the sparkle in her eyes that she was teasing.
“No, no. Of course not. Just observing.”
Natasha cocked her head, and Newt found himself wondering if she were a witch, if her animagus would be something feline.
“Noticed anything interesting?”
He wondered, for a moment, if the question was pointed; if there was something he should’ve noticed and hadn’t; but then he realized that she was just genuinely curious. He fought the urge to flush once more.
“I’m rather surprised you managed to get all of these people in the same room together.” Was what he decided on. Natasha actually laughed.
“It took a bit of work, but they were all willing to do it for him.” She drew his gaze to Harry, who was laughing loudly at something the twins had said, and Newt smiled fondly.
“That’s something I find very easy to believe.”
“What have you noticed?” Natasha repeated after a moment, and he looked back at her, at how her brow was furrowed slightly, a worry in her eyes as she looked over the gathered people. He found himself sharing his observations, if only to ease that worry.
He wondered what it said about this family that he felt no discomfort in doing so.
“Sirius Black is uncomfortable around most of the people here.” He noted, and she nodded, agreeing. He continued. “Was it Steve Rogers? He avoids the one Sirius likes. James. He can’t look at him without both smiling and grimacing at the same time. Looks uncomfortable honestly.” That earned him a soft huff of laughter. “The children all get along remarkably well, considering. This seems to put Mrs. Malfoy on edge, but she’s obviously very polite. She clearly wants to speak to Sirius, though I doubt she’ll do it today. She’s actually managed to ease the tension Arthur was clearly feeling. They were chatting quite amiably earlier. A fascinating woman.”
“I agree. Have you spoken to Thor yet?” Natasha asked, and both their gazes swung towards the man in question, who was flirting shamelessly with Minerva, who was blushing quite sweetly from the attention.
“It didn’t feel proper to interrupt.” He admitted. “She’s a very kind woman. She deserves the attention.”
“I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to speak with you later.” Natasha told him, conspiratorial smile in place. “He’s actually a sucker for magical theory of all kinds. He’s also especially interested in what sort of creatures exist here. He’s constantly put out by the lack of fantastical beasts. You’ll have the honour of disillusioning him that we’ve only got ‘boring animals’.”
Newt actually scoffed, scratching at Lily’s ears.
“There’s no such thing as a boring animal.” He chided, though he knew she’d been quoting Thor. “There are always new things for us to learn about them. Less complicated in some ways, certainly, but never boring.” He flushed then, but Natasha just placed a gentle hand on his arm.
“You’re absolutely right. Now, it looks like the last people are arriving.” She nodded at the flaring fireplace. “That should be Neville and Hermione, they’re coming together. Once they’re settled we’ll be beginning. You should find your team.” With that she was off, and Newt had no choice but to do as she’d bid.
Lily chose that moment to finally abandon him, wiggling free of his grasp and offering a pointed look before sauntering off. Newt huffed out a breath.
“Alright, alright, I’m going.”