It was easy for children to be misled, especially idealists. That was what drove Dumbledore to work so hard - to try and hold children back from the path he had stumbled down at the cost of so much. They had said, once, that he was exceptional.
But being exceptional was neither good nor bad. It just was. And when he had fallen for the other boy, things had gone downhill fast. He had allowed himself to listen, to dream of a better world, and it was his sister who had paid the price. To try and earn her forgiveness, he threw himself into teaching children, guiding them from harm.
Most of the time, it worked. He had been at the school for a few years now, and there had been few problems - dark wizards were rare, and children came to the school full of hope and excitement. He had not yet met anyone who was so far down the wrong path that they couldn't be turned around.
Not even the boy who was currently staying in his office, sleeping on the sofa as he worked on practising his charms during the day. Newton Scamander had been different from most children, ever since he had started at the school. He spent his time with creatures, was on first name terms with the centaurs, played with the thestrals, and didn't talk to the other students. He was close to the house elves - they would often appear in his classes with snacks for him - and had rescued an underweight niffler from the outraged caretaker, keeping it close to him and making sure every stolen trinket went home to its owner. A bowtruckle from the Forbidden Forest had chosen to make Newton his home tree.
Newton was odd. But he wasn't bad. When the others had said Newton was responsible for the attack, Dumbledore had argued on his behalf - it was more likely the Lestrange girl. But she said nothing, and Newton would not explain what had happened. Misplaced loyalty, of that Dumbledore had no doubt. But such loyalty would put an end to the boy's potential. Dumbledore had only got permission for Newton to remain for another couple of weeks, until his brother could come and collect him. Newton was allowed to walk the grounds if accompanied, but was not permitted to go anywhere alone in case further fighting broke out.
He knocked on his office door, expecting to see Newton sprawled out on the sofa, his gangly limbs hanging off the edges as they always did. When there was no response, he pushed the door open, and was startled to see that Newton wasn't in the room.
His first thought was that the boy had run away, until he saw the battered suitcase resting open on the floor by the sofa. Newton would never leave it - it held his clothes and his most precious belongings. Dumbledore made his way over to the case, frowning at the way it had been left open - and a ladder slunk away into its depth.
Casting a small charm for light, he clambered down the wooden ladder. First, he came to a room full of books, and then beyond that there was an open space. There were trees, and what looked like a mountain, a desert and a land of ice - different sections of the vast room, as large as the school's Great Hall.
Newton was lying in a field that was decorated as though it were night, the sky studded with stars. The light from those showed the freckles that were across his face. The bowtruckle was cuddled up in his untidy hair, and the niffler was resting on his chest.
Cautiously, Dumbledore approached him. "Newton?" The boy looked up, and then blushed, blinking sleep from his eyes as he stretched. "Professor. Sorry, I got... a little tired." "Extension Charms?" "And then habitats... I just thought, if the niffler had somewhere safe to stay, it might be less of a problem, and same for any other animal that needed help." "You do know this charm is illegal?" "Yes Professor." Newton answered, not looking particularly ashamed or contrite. "But if I'm being expelled, they may take my wand away. And I wanted to ensure that there would be somewhere that the creatures would be safe. I thought I’d better do it before they stopped me.”
"I see." Dumbledore nodded, knowing Newton was being honest, and seeing the logic to his work. "This is... an impressive amount of work. I would like to use it as proof to enable you to gain a NEWT in charms. And I will be able to arrange for you to keep the case. And your wand - if you are willing to continue studying with your brother, correspond with me - I am certain that we can ensure you keep that. It would be a shame to see such potential go to waste. But Newton… if I’m doing this for you, I need you to be careful. Try and stay out of trouble.” "Thank you Professor. I will try." Newton answered, still lying on the grass. "Would you mind if I sleep here tonight? The niffler has only just gone to sleep. He’s not been sleeping well. "
"As you wish." Dumbledore smiled. "Good work Scamander. You have talent." "Thank you." Newton lay back on the grass and closed his eyes, leaving Dumbledore to show himself out.
Fill: Newt's Habitat (2/6)
But being exceptional was neither good nor bad. It just was. And when he had fallen for the other boy, things had gone downhill fast. He had allowed himself to listen, to dream of a better world, and it was his sister who had paid the price. To try and earn her forgiveness, he threw himself into teaching children, guiding them from harm.
Most of the time, it worked. He had been at the school for a few years now, and there had been few problems - dark wizards were rare, and children came to the school full of hope and excitement. He had not yet met anyone who was so far down the wrong path that they couldn't be turned around.
Not even the boy who was currently staying in his office, sleeping on the sofa as he worked on practising his charms during the day. Newton Scamander had been different from most children, ever since he had started at the school. He spent his time with creatures, was on first name terms with the centaurs, played with the thestrals, and didn't talk to the other students. He was close to the house elves - they would often appear in his classes with snacks for him - and had rescued an underweight niffler from the outraged caretaker, keeping it close to him and making sure every stolen trinket went home to its owner. A bowtruckle from the Forbidden Forest had chosen to make Newton his home tree.
Newton was odd. But he wasn't bad. When the others had said Newton was responsible for the attack, Dumbledore had argued on his behalf - it was more likely the Lestrange girl. But she said nothing, and Newton would not explain what had happened. Misplaced loyalty, of that Dumbledore had no doubt. But such loyalty would put an end to the boy's potential. Dumbledore had only got permission for Newton to remain for another couple of weeks, until his brother could come and collect him. Newton was allowed to walk the grounds if accompanied, but was not permitted to go anywhere alone in case further fighting broke out.
He knocked on his office door, expecting to see Newton sprawled out on the sofa, his gangly limbs hanging off the edges as they always did. When there was no response, he pushed the door open, and was startled to see that Newton wasn't in the room.
His first thought was that the boy had run away, until he saw the battered suitcase resting open on the floor by the sofa. Newton would never leave it - it held his clothes and his most precious belongings. Dumbledore made his way over to the case, frowning at the way it had been left open - and a ladder slunk away into its depth.
Casting a small charm for light, he clambered down the wooden ladder. First, he came to a room full of books, and then beyond that there was an open space. There were trees, and what looked like a mountain, a desert and a land of ice - different sections of the vast room, as large as the school's Great Hall.
Newton was lying in a field that was decorated as though it were night, the sky studded with stars. The light from those showed the freckles that were across his face. The bowtruckle was cuddled up in his untidy hair, and the niffler was resting on his chest.
Cautiously, Dumbledore approached him.
"Newton?"
The boy looked up, and then blushed, blinking sleep from his eyes as he stretched.
"Professor. Sorry, I got... a little tired."
"Extension Charms?"
"And then habitats... I just thought, if the niffler had somewhere safe to stay, it might be less of a problem, and same for any other animal that needed help."
"You do know this charm is illegal?"
"Yes Professor." Newton answered, not looking particularly ashamed or contrite. "But if I'm being expelled, they may take my wand away. And I wanted to ensure that there would be somewhere that the creatures would be safe. I thought I’d better do it before they stopped me.”
"I see." Dumbledore nodded, knowing Newton was being honest, and seeing the logic to his work. "This is... an impressive amount of work. I would like to use it as proof to enable you to gain a NEWT in charms. And I will be able to arrange for you to keep the case. And your wand - if you are willing to continue studying with your brother, correspond with me - I am certain that we can ensure you keep that. It would be a shame to see such potential go to waste. But Newton… if I’m doing this for you, I need you to be careful. Try and stay out of trouble.”
"Thank you Professor. I will try." Newton answered, still lying on the grass. "Would you mind if I sleep here tonight? The niffler has only just gone to sleep. He’s not been sleeping well. "
"As you wish." Dumbledore smiled. "Good work Scamander. You have talent."
"Thank you." Newton lay back on the grass and closed his eyes, leaving Dumbledore to show himself out.