Archive of Our Own ^beta

In reality, watching Newt fully grown as he fumbled with his bow tie was quite a novelty considering how his arrival had been all those years ago with far too much stress and a lot more of a surprise than his eight year old brain had even begun to comprehend.

~*~

Theseus hadn’t spoken it aloud, he knew the effect of the mere remembrance of the past, but Theseus had been fully expecting his mother’s pregnancy to go as all the others. There were five times that he remembered and they all went more or less the same. His mother and father would sit him down and tell him about the new life that was growing then the months would pass and his mother would be in pain, sometimes far before her time, and a small thing that sometimes cried and sometimes didn’t would be covered in a blanket in the corner and he wouldn’t be allowed near his mother for weeks.

The last baby had survived seven days, Helene she had been called. Helene Scamander. She had been larger than the other babies and he’d gotten to hold her, play with her fist and watch her eyes light up. He still didn’t know exactly what happened, just that his father had come into his room one dreary morning and said that Helene was with God and his other siblings. 

So when he had been told again, fear evident on both his parent's faces, that his mother was pregnant again. He nodded and then went to his room slightly saddened by the fact he’d never have a baby brother or sister to hug. Theseus liked his life, his father taught him how to fly and his mother read him stories and taught him how to read and write, but his parent's want for another baby was incredibly obvious and well- Theseus didn’t think it would be the worse thing in the world.

Yet he didn’t hold high hopes even when his mother went month by month stronger than usual or even when the pregnancy surpassed her intended day. By the time two and a half weeks had passed since the expected date his mother had become incredibly Ill and feverish, he had only been able to see her once and her skin was pale and waxy as she gripped his hand weakly, a flurry of Healers around her. 

His memory grew a little fuzzy then, vague memories of being hauled from the room by his father and sitting on the stairs, until he was being beckoned back in by his father who despite looking exhausted looked rather strangely hopeful. He remembered padding in and his mother looking just as tired as she had when he last saw her but her cheeks flushed as she gently rocked a bundle that had finally stopped screaming, he had heard it through the wall.

“Theseus my darling-“ His mother had said as he clambered onto the bed to get a better look. Unlike the other babies, they didn’t look small and sickly but rather strangely fully formed. Down to tiny fingernails on waving fists. “This is your Baby Brother Newton”

“Newton?”

Theseus asked, tilting his head, they had named all the babies. Even the ones born asleep but the names had felt rather hollow, spoken with reverence even as they still breathed, but Newton was said warmly with power behind it.

“We’ll call him Newt”

His father added from his seat beside the bed as he arranged the crib that now held the small cream blanket his mother had knitted, now embroidered with an N. 

“Like the animal?”

His nose screwed up slightly at the name before Newton sneezed and he laughed slightly.

“Yes dear, like the animal, Newton Artemis Fido Scamander”

The babies were never given middle names.

“Artemis?”

“Goddess of the hunt and Fido is loyalty. He’ll be a brave one, I can tell” 

His father supplied then his mother lifted the baby slightly in her lap as she asked

“Would you like to hold him Theseus?”

“I get to hold him?”

“You’re a bit bigger now darling…”

She murmured and he could see she was remembering the last times they were in this position. However, he still crossed his legs and then waited as his father picked Newt up and placed him in his lap.

“Hello Newt”

He murmured, watching as the baby went for his finger and letting the tiny digits wrap around it “I’m Theseus, and I’m your brother”

Newt just gurgled something in response,not even a full noise yet, but Theseus still pulled him closer. Marvelling slightly at the sudden life. 

~*~

Following that he probably should have realised that despite his reluctance to grow close to yet another child he assumed would be gone before he could walk, Theseus was drawn to the heavy wooden crib. For the first few months of his brother's life, Newt stayed at their mother's side, she refused to let the baby out of her sight for more than a few minutes for a swift bath and even so, that was after him and his father swore to not leave him,

Even so, he would still hang awkwardly on the bed, watching his brother sleep or reach clumsily for the mobile spinning above the bed. However as the months went by he became stronger, his cheeks and arms became thick with their mother's milk and the baby who just laid there began to sit up, look around and occasionally reach for people.

Now Theseus hadn’t been around a lot of babies and he found himself considering his brother as he leaned on the top of the cot watching Newt chew on his toy bear's ear. At four months old he could now roll over onto his front as well as kick his legs, babble (something he only did on occasion) and his new favourite game mouthing his feet. Something he was now doing in favour of the bear's ear. He’d been moved into the nursery, which had stood empty since he’d moved into a big bed, a few days ago and while their mother had struggled his parents had gone to some Ministry Event and Grandma Prewitt was watching them. Making something that smelt suspiciously like soup and dumplings and his stomach grumbled at the thought. Slowly he offered his hand to the baby and instantly that went into his mouth too. However, for some reason, he smiled

“You’re growing on me you know”

Newt didn’t look phased, just chewing on his finger a little harder.

“I-I thought it’d be like the others… I’d just get used to your name and you’d be- gone again.”

He kicked slightly and Theseus giggled moving his hand to tickle the sole of his feet causing Newt to giggle too.

“But you’re still here-“

“Theseus darling?”

A voice came from the door and he turned to see their grandmother standing wrapped in her house coat. Unlike Grandmother and Grandfather Scamander, who Theseus knew from lingering in the doorway of the last family gathering definitely did not approve of their father in about every way imaginable, who would tell him off for playing in the garden or anything potentially ‘unbecoming of a young gentleman’ Grandma Prewitt was a small gentle lady covered in smile wrinkles that creased her eyes, her grey hair pulled into a head scarf the same red her hair used to be. She always smelt of the herbs that covered her kitchen and while their parents were modern and practical she always said that “Worrying means you suffer twice” and lived in a cottage by the sea. He lifted his head up

“Granny, do you think Newt is going to grow up?”

She looked at him sadly, his childish tone contrasting the words as he moved to hold his brother's hand again.

“I believe he’s a fighter…” She settled on eventually “What more can we ask for?”

She leaned down to stroke Newt's tuft of ginger hair, the exact shade as their mothers. “And when he is all grown up he’ll have you to look after him still”

He nodded, watching as his hand went back into Newt's mouth.

~*~

“Theseus will you get your brother ready?”

His mother shouted up the stairs and Theseus resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he stomped down into the garden to see Newt with his head in a hedge. No longer a baby now he was two and a half and growing a personality. A Personality he found was rather different to his own. Whereas the most he spent outside was playing with the village children or climbing the occasional tree Newt seemed to want to spend every free moment in the garden and would usually protest until Theseus had to give in and pick him up which usually resulted in more protest.

“Newt? We’ve got to get dressed, it's Uncle Wesley’s wedding!”

As usual, there was no response, he had a few words that he could use but he still didn’t really use sentences. The only response was that he removed his head from the hedge and Theseus saw that the bath their mother had given them was in vain given the fact Newt had half the hedgerow in his ginger curls.

“Newt…”

“Thee-sus”

He chirped in response, showing him a ladybird he had in his fist.

“That’s lovely but-“ He grabbed his brother's hand not currently holding an insect and started to drag him towards the door into the house “We’ve got to go”

“No.”

Newt pouted and he ceased his dragging momentarily to crouch down and sigh 

“They’ll be our cousins to play with…” Newt just grumbled then he added “And Granny”

“G’anny?”

“Yes but if you don’t let me dress you we won’t get there in time”

He went down to grab his brother and Newt backed away saying “No!”

“Ok, ok but you’ve got to come with me then.”

Newt froze, seemingly weighing up his options before following him, holding onto his small suit jacket instead of his hand.

He managed to get him to sit on the sink so he could scrub the mud off of his cheeks and comb the twigs out of his hair before somehow he managed to change his brother's clothes with a lot of squirming and three changes of shirt then he was dragging his brother to stand in the hallway while they waited for their mother to stop flapping with wedding gifts. Their father was first to arrive, running a hair through his dark curls with a pipe hanging lopsided out of his mouth and a waistcoat consisting of purple swirls. His bow tie was crooked and his glasses were on the end of his nose as he crouched down so he was his height.

“You alright son?”

“Newt was being Newt again.”

He grumbled, pointing at his brother who was now rubbing his pocket and looking absentmindedly at the bannister. 

“Ah…”

His father mumbled, stowing his pipe away before going to crouch in front of Newt. Much like Newt, his father wasn’t much of an eye contact person yet gently he grabbed Newt's fidgeting hands and looked straight at him.

“Newton I know it’s tricky… and I know it’s hard to do some things. I found them tricky too-“ He stooped down even further as Newt's eyes went to the floor. “But the more you pretend to be normal the easier it gets, I promise” 

Newt nodded slowly, his bottom lip between his teeth as he let their father pick him up. Keeping himself tense enough to form a line with his body.

Theseus wished he could say it was the last time his father gave Newt that talking to. Or the last time he found himself staring at his little brother who was staring at anywhere but him.

~*~

Theseus shuffled in his uncomfortable bow tie, shifting his weight from one foot to another as he looked at arguably his favourite sight in the whole world.

A dark blue door with a kneazle door knocker and a Muggle-style post box despite the fact they were a mile away from the nearest village on a Dorset cliff. The whole area smelt of the sea and the blossom of the flowers growing out of every square inch of planter like an explosion. 

“Newton stop tugging”

He heard his grandfather suddenly berate to see Newt trying to tug his own bow tie off and only succeeding in tightening the knot. Newt replied with a pained noise and his grandfather continued 

“Use your words!”

He watched Newt's lip wobble as his hazel eyes went wide before he murmured 

“Off!” And added as a second “ please ”

“This is how young gentlemen dress!”

Their grandmother reprimanded, pulling Newt's hand away from his knot. 

“No self-respecting Lady ever even considers a man of dower dress”

The still-only six-year-old Newt frowned at the ground but thankfully left the tugging of his bow tie to instead work on his much more familiar woollen trouser pocket and Theseus withheld his eye roll.  He understood forcing him to wear awful leather shoes he usually only wore when they held family dances and bow ties that sat a little too tight to his neck but Newt was rather a step too far. They’d only just got him to go out without a coat again now the weather was changing for the better.  Contemplating the impending drama of trying to undo the knot without having a very frustrated brother his grandmother spoke up again.

“Where is the old bat?”

Again recoiling at her phrasing he straightened his lips into a grimace

“Probably off talking to the Kneaz- Leticia.”

“Horatia, Titus how are you?”

He watched in amusement as his Gran pulled his other grandparents into a greeting hug which both returned stoically. 

“Our only son is in St Mungos so we have been better”

His grandfather stated and his Gran nodded solemnly 

“Aye, how is he?”

Everyone seemed to freeze at that as they simultaneously looked at him and Newt. He knew his father was Ill, even Newt knew that, but no one would tell him why or what with and he couldn’t get anyone to tell him otherwise. 

“Managing.”

His grandmother settled on and at that, his Gran clapped her hands together with a grin.

“At least I get to see my boys!”

She then opened her arms and instantly he melted into her embrace before letting go and ducking down to Newt's eye level.

“How are you, my little Kneazle?”

“‘M good Nanny”

Newt replied to his feet and he watched as their Gran ran a hand through his hair before picking up the case standing between them.

“I’ll look after them, you go to your son”

“Thank you, Leticia. It’s greatly appreciated”

Their grandmother stated before turning to them both “Goodbye, boys.”

Before she and their grandfather disappeared from the spot.

There was a beat then their Gran looked them both up and down 

“What in Merlin's name have they dressed you up as?”

“Gentlemen”

Newt mumbled and Theseus explained

“Apparently this is how you get a lady's attention”

“You don’t get any Lady’s being something you’re not, now come on in and for the love of Merlin get comfortable. The King isn’t visiting”

She pushed open the door further and they walked into a house so entirely Gran that it instantly made him smile.

Whereas Scamander House in London was large with spiral staircases and Houseelves and several living rooms, Seathorpe cottage had only three rooms downstairs stemming off a stone floor hallway. The living room sat towards the back of the house beside the kitchen which both looked out over the sea and as they walked into the room filled with sofas and cushions the two Kneazles came trotting over. Both walked past him to wrap themselves around Newt's legs causing him to laugh and sit on the floor as their Gran loosened the knots around their neck with a flick of her wand.

“Thank you, Nanna”

Newt called, a toothy grin now on his face as he played with the Kneazles.

“You’re welcome My Darling” She chirped in return before gesturing for him to sit as a tea set ladened with biscuits came floating into the room. 

There was a moment of silence as she poured them both a cup of tea into her bone china teacups then she handed him one and looked at him.

“And how are you, Little love?”

“I-I… I don’t know” Theseus replied “No one will tell me anything. I get not telling Newt but I’m fourteen! I’m practically an adult!”

“Oh darling, I know it's difficult”

“Do you know what’s wrong?”

He watched as she paused, placing her cup back on its saucer and looking over at Newt who, following the Kneazles going back to sleep, was now looking out at the sea. Shooting him a look that he knew meant later she suddenly clapped her hands together and stated

“Shall we go down to the water's edge? See if we can find some crabs, hmm?”

“I like crabs!”

Newt stated, pretty much at a shout compared to his normal volume causing them both to chuckle.

“Come on, I’ve got a picnic packed. Would you mind grabbing it dear?” She called walking to the door and as he fell in step with her, large basket in hand, she whispered “And we can have a proper chat”

It wasn’t a long walk down the steps embedded in the cliff to the strip of sand outside of the house and with their Gran being one of the few people Newt would actually hold hands with they were rolling up their trousers up and wading in the sea in barely anytime at all. After a short time kicking around in the foam, while Newt went poking around the rock pools to the left he walked to where their Gran was sat on a blanket looking out to sea. He sat wordlessly beside her then one last check of where Newt was she began.

“They aren’t entirely sure what’s wrong with your father Theseus. He’s with some of the best of St Mungos and they’re figuring it out”

“How bad is he?”

His voice trembled slightly, eyes swimming and his Gran took a deep breath

“Not brilliant little one”

“Oh…”

He murmured but she continued, clutching his leg slightly

“The moment they know more they’ve promised to tell me, one of my old apprentices is leading, and the moment I know I'll tell you. Don’t worry love, remember worrying means-“

“NANNA! I FOUND A CRAB!”

Newt suddenly shouted, causing both of them to jump and turn to where he was running across the sand with a crab clutched between his hands. 

“Well done Kneazle!”

Their Gran called with a grin as if a switch had been flicked before she looked at him briefly.

He tried to smile but Newt had already seemed to have caught his frown.

“Thee?”

He asked, head tilting and arms full of crab

“Just worrying a little, Newt, a-about…” Seeing his eyes widen slightly he cleared his throat, understanding even more so why they’d been kept in the dark “School.”

He watched his brother nod with a gravity far too heavy for a six-year-old before he lisped.

“But worrying means you suffer twice?”

“Quite right darling, now” she summoned a bucket from nowhere “go fill this bucket with water for your little friend then we can have some ham sandwiches”

As Newt went running off, stumbling slightly with his awkward gait, and his Gran patted his leg.

“You’re a good brother”

He merely nodded in return.

~*~

“Theseus?”

A quiet voice came from his doorway and he looked up to see Newt's surprisingly trimmed head poking around his door. He beckoned him in and Newt slipped through the door and clicked it shut, pausing by his trunk.

His room was a mess at that precise moment, boxes, travelling trunks and his clothing strewn everywhere as he tried to pack everything away before he moved to his new flat in London just in time for beginning his Auror training. However, he wasn’t the only member of the household going into the unknown as tomorrow was September 1st and with it came Newt's first year at Hogwarts.

He now had a wand, a uniform, a monogrammed trunk and an owl and Theseus had felt a strange sense of grief as he helped his brother get his things after they left their parents for his father's appointment.

Their father's illness had thankfully been purged by the Healers of St Mungos but Cancer appeared to be a never-ending threat to their father and he still dutifully attended appointments every three months. Something that had come as an annoyance but a slight relief to everyone involved, So now the entire family was facing some sort of change and Newt was lingering in the corner, staring a hole into his woollen socks. Trying to decipher if it was normal Newt behaviour or something actually wrong he asked tentatively.

“Are you alright, Newt?”

“I-I’m-“ he paused looking for the word “nervous?”

“Any particular reason you phrased it as a question?” He chuckled good-naturedly before stopping at Newt's bordering nauseous expression.

“Everyone always says how excited they were”

“That doesn't mean they weren’t nervous Newt, Come here” He patted the space beside him and Newt sat down with a thud, tucking his newly lankier legs under him. “I was nervous before I went… Worried I’d turn up and suddenly I wouldn’t be able to do any magic at all. We know you can do magic Newt-“

Yes since the tumultuous toddler stage, every time Newt got overwhelmed there was usually a flash and a crash of magic to follow.

“I’m not worried about that,” Newt murmured before swallowing and staring at his hands, focusing on a tiny scar on his thumb from a Hippogriff chick.

“Well?”

Theseus probed and Newt heaved a deep breath 

“What if everyone finds me strange”

“Newt…”

“No, people don’t tend to like me” The matter-of-fact way he said it hurt him slightly “B-But Thee, for once I just want them to. For people to want to… To spend time with me”

“Newt, if you’re going to find a kindred spirit anywhere it’s going to be Hogwarts. Even if it takes a while, you’ll find someone” Seeing him continue to frown he slung an arm over his shoulder, not noticing Newt's sudden tense away. “And if it really is so awful, Hogwarts will provide until you come home for Christmas and we’ll go for a fly”

Finally, Newt seemed to understand 

“I mean I’m nervous too… About starting my training tomorrow”

“Really?”

“I mean, yes. It’s all new to me Newt…”

“I suppose we’re going to be nervous together then”

He murmured and Theseus smiled nudging him 

“See, maybe we are brothers?”

“Maybe…”

His brother chuckled in response.

The next day Theseus stood at Kings Cross, waving his brother off beside his mother and by some miracle his father, leaning heavily on his cane. Waving until his brother disappeared into a speck in the distance.

~*~

“Newt!”

Theseus bellowed as his brother stormed up the stairs and Theseus threw his case down and stomped into the living room. His brother had recently been expelled from Hogwarts and the atmosphere was- tense, to say the least. Today was meant to be the grand attempt to get Newt some sort of job at the Ministry. Dumbledore had managed to make it so Newt took his OWLS and therefore kept his wand but with their father becoming more Ill and their mother stressed to the brink it had fallen to him amidst the brewing war to try and wrangle his brother into a somewhat considerable job. He heard the slamming of the door and then another distant slam of a window opening.

Great he’s on the bloody roof again

Standing in the middle of the living room he let out a huff then turned to his parents. 

“Hi Mum, Dad” He kissed his mother on the cheek and smiled at his father returned it weakly “Hello darling, I’m assuming today wasn’t a success”

He looked at his mother as he collapsed into the sofa opposite, rubbing his temples tiredly. 

“Is it ever?”  Then he shook his head and said “I'll go up soon. I'll leave him to brood on the roof for a bit. How was St Mungos?”

His father chuckled, his now permanently tired features forging apart slightly.

“How it always is”

“Oh don’t listen to him! They wanted to do more tests and keep him in but he keeps saying he’s fine!”

“I am fine”

“It’s cancer Henry, it's not a cold!”

“Yes, but I’m perfectly alright”

“Yes because you look at the height of health right now”

“Helena…”

His parents exchanged a look then he asked his father directly

“Is everything truly alright?”

“They believe it may be stabilising again. Theseus, I’ll be alright”

However, he did yet another trait his father and his brother shared, ducking their heads when they were lying.

“I’m going to go try my luck with Newt.”

He mumbled then. Standing up and going upstairs.

He didn’t bother knocking on the door and instead pushed the door open and walked straight through his brother's room strewn with his school things, creature drawings and a few cages that he turned a blind eye to. He spared a glance at the case he had bought him that morning, left on the bed, then climbed over and pushed the window up before climbing out. It wasn’t the first time on the roof but every time he had to take in a breath when he came to the realisation he was two stories above and eyeline with the horizon before he took in a deep breath. He turned around and saw Newt staring at the sunset perched on the tiles, resting his head on his knees.

“Theseus if you’re about to shout at me again I’m not particularly interested”

He mumbled,keeping his eyes on the horizon and Theseus didn’t respond as he scrambled up next to him. Only slipping a few times which Newt seemed to catch

“I thought aurors were nimble”

“Oh shush”

He muttered, a flicker of a smile appearing on his brother's face. 

“Newt… I think you know what I’m going to say”

“I’m not an auror Theseus.”

“Newt I can either get you in with auror work or you’re going to be on your own in… I don’t know… House-elves”

“Well then I’ll be in house elves Theseus. I just need money until I can do something worthwhile”

His eyes flickered over to him before going back onto the horizon and Theseus resisted the urge to huff before swallowing at the memory of the inconspicuous letter resting on the dining table in his flat. The reason he’d become so desperate to get Newt a job. When he looked back at his brother he took a steadying breath only to be interrupted.

“What’s wrong Thee? Beyond  me being an inconvenience I mean. I’m not entirely incompetent with people you know”

“Newt…” He began and while his brother still didn’t look directly at him he turned his head so he could see his face was quietly resigned. “You- You know how the Muggles, the war-”

“The one that wasn’t in fact over by Christmas you mean?”

He let out a hollow chuckle at that 

“Yes, quite. They’re- They’re um- Sending Aurors out to the front line to head up divisions”

Suddenly Newts worried eyes were on him

“You’re going to war?”

“In a few weeks, yes”

“T-to fight?”

“Unfortunately” He replied with a grimace “They’re keeping some younger people in the auror department and I hoped…”

However Newt ignored him

“Do Mum and Dad know?”

“No- You’re the first I’ve told actually… Haven’t even told Persephone yet”

“I’m sure she’s going to be delighted her boyfriends going to go get killed in a field in France”

There was a surprising amount of venom in his tone as he returned his gaze onto the horizon

“Newt… I’ll come home. It will take more than some German Muggles to take me down”

“You aren’t invincible Theseus”

“No but I’m not feeble either- Newt, please look at me”

Slowly his brothers shaggy head turned around and held his gaze steady with his nose causing Theseus to have to duck to catch his gaze below his fringe.

“I’ll come home”

“I’m sorry for what I said earlier… I was just”

“Upset, I know. I still think you would make a good Auror…”

“And I still think I’m better suited for other things”

Their eyes then returned to the horizon. Watching the sun sink even later.

Three weeks later it was Newt telling him about the Dragon division, and Theseus had never felt dread like it.

~*~

The next time Theseus saw his brother was after he walked on stage to receive his medal of honour at the Ministry. The Ministry had arranged for the ‘War Heroes’ to receive their recognition. In Theseus’ eyes all he had done was his job and managed to survive, unlike many of his friends he had now had to bury. 

There were only a few on the stage, some fellow Aurors and such, but they were all stood beaming with pride as the Minister talked about sacrifice and the good of the country but Theseus ignored it all at the sight of his little brother. 

He looked amusingly none changing. His reddish hair still lopsided and tumbled over his forehead meaning his two hazel eyes were barely visible. The freckles dusting his face and despite the mustard waistcoat and blue overcoat clearly being brand new he still hunched into them as he scanned the room. He looked like an adult, which Theseus remembered suddenly that he was, and also a war veteran. Yet he wasn’t being honoured, he was simply hiding in the crowd beside their mother helping their father readjust in his prosthetic leg he still hadn’t quite gotten the hang of. 

Theseus kept looking at him throughout the speech until finally the pomp and circumstance ended and everyone was free to eat and dance. Then he walked in measured steps towards the table to be intercepted by Persephone, draping herself over him.

“Oh Thee! You’re a hero!”

Coughing uncomfortably he muttered

“I don’t believe your husband would be very keen on us being like this”

“He’s off smoking with Lineus.”

She replied, silky voice turning a little abrupt. Yet Theseus couldn’t find it in him to care, he was eighteen months into what the devil would call a poor arrangement when he received a letter explaining that Persephone had fallen for another and they were now married. 

“Still. People talk”

He stated, gently removing her from him before continuing on to his objective. 

It seemed to take forever to weave through the well wishers and celebrators before finally reaching the table containing his Gran,mother and father but suspiciously not Newt. Before he had time to ponder this his mother had trapped him in a hug and was half sobbing

“Oh I’m so proud of you. My little hero!”

Blushing at his mothers words he looked to his father who had staggered to his feet.

“It’s nice to feel so proud again. Well done son!”

He was starting to get a feeling why Newt had retreated. 

His parents hadn’t done their worse in reference to Newt's expulsion, seeing his expulsion being rather enough,but they had made their disappointment well known. Something which rubbed Newt in a rather peculiar way. He still had a feeling Newt was hiding something about why he was expelled but he’d be more likely to get Peeves to leave Hogwarts than get Newt to tell him. 

“Where’s Newt?”

His mother blinked at him “What?” Before clearing her throat and stepping away to dust off his dress robes and straighten his medal “Oh he’s gone to his desk I believe-“

“Newts working at the Ministry?”

“Houseelves.”

He held back a snort at that, remembering a certain conversation, but instead went with an

“Oh.”

“He’s trying to get into the Beasts department but they’re a little wary of him”

He hummed in response before looking around 

“I’m um I’ll be back in a moment” 

“Theseus?”

His mother questioned but his Gran took his mother by the arm

“He’ll be back soon enough, Helena.”

He smiled in thanks before walking to the lifts.

Houseelves was about as deep down into the Ministry as you could get before you hit the vaults and unspeakables offices so Theseus was flung around a nauseating number of times until he screeched to a halt in the dingy corridor. Slowly he walked into the floor which was one room with two desks. One which was empty of everything bar a name card and a quill pot and another with his brother's trademark chaos, a very familiar case on top and his brother's torso almost disappearing inside of it, only his legs visible.

“Newt?”

He watched his brother jump at the sound and there was the dull noise of his head colliding with something before he backed out of the case. Cradling his head in his hand he stated

“Theseus. I thought you were busy being worshipped- Sorry honoured”

“Why didn’t you tell me you had gotten a job at the Ministry?”

Newt sighed, flicking the case closed, and stood with his hands in his pockets looking at some point around his left hand.

“I didn’t think it was any of your business frankly”

“Merlin, Newt! Why wouldn’t I want to know?”

“Because Theseus I’m stuck being the family disappointment and don’t need you to remind me of it”

“Newt, you just need to try and blend with people, they’re more likely to-“

“Don’t even try with that Theseus! I shouldn’t have to act like some pompous prick to get accepted as a human being by your ministry!” Feeling his hackles rise he threw his hands up in the air 

“You just have to try Newt! It’s not about being someone you’re not it’s about you not being so irresponsible and for once in your life think about other people!”

“What people? No one cares about me anymore Theseus! I’m just a risk to peoples image and nothing else”

“I care about you!”

Theseus ground out and Newt laughed, a sharp empty thing.

“Do you, or am I just a risk to your perfect Auror reputation?”

The hurt trembling through his voice fuelled him with anger 

“I have worked hard for my title! I fought in a war!”

“And I didn’t?” He realised with a dull jab that Newt had started to cry angry tears. “I watched my entire division get burned beyond recognition because I couldn’t get them to listen to me! I had to kill all those dragons- Dragons who trusted me because they had also become a liability! I only survived because my mount had come to care for me and got out of the heavy fire! Everyone else is buried at the Eastern Front.”

A sob broke his brothers voice

“Oh.”

He sniffed and scrubbed his face with the back of his hand before picking his case up and barging past him. 

“Just leave me alone Theseus. Go back to being a Hero a-and-“ he swallowed “I’ll go back to being me”

He watched Newt run with his duckfooted gait into the lift and not even turning around until the lift shot away.

Leaving Theseus standing in the dingy office, the only noise being a steady drip from a point on the wall. 

~*~

The rain was,as was the standard for an English January, was pouring as he stood on his brothers doorstep waiting for him to open the blasted door. 

He wouldn’t usually be so desperate to see him, the occasional visit to their parents resulting in enough arguments that he usually had to give him a good few months to calm down again. However he had now been out of the country for a year and two weeks ago been pronounced dead in both a letter from the British liaison officer and the Evening Prophet.

And the truth was not revealed until the following evening. Well, ‘truth’, Newt was mentioned as helping to capture Grindelwald then somehow Obliviating the entirety of New York with absolutely zero context. There was some other names mentioned but the moment he was alerted that his brother was back in the country he had made his way over as fast as possible, rather a few choice words on the tip on his tongue due to the last he heard he was going to Sudan.

He went to rap on the black door knocker again,maybe shout something when the door pulled open to reveal his brother looking positively exhausted but alive and in one piece. He saw his brother cock an eyebrow at his sudden appearance but before he could get a word in, Theseus engulfed him in a hug and to his surprise he felt Newt’s chin drop into his neck with something other than hatred at the contact.

“I was so worried”

He muttered against the side of his head and Newt nodded.

“I’m okay Theseus”

“You very nearly weren’t from what I heard.”

Finally he released his grip on his brother and Newt stepped aside to let him in.

The two room flat had the stagnant feel of a place that hasn't had its windows opened for months. There were large squares of fabric lifting themselves off of the furniture and fluttering to fold elaborately into a cabinet..

“Been home long?”

He asked as he shrugged off his coat and Newt ran a tired hand over his face.

“No… I’ve only just finished tending to the creatures” He went over to his kitchen space and asked over his shoulder “Cup of- Oh wait a minute”

So we’re being civil, he must be exhausted or been absolutely traumatised by New York.

As he watched him walk over to the case on the floor Theseus asked

“So how much of that report I read was true?”

“Depends what you read.” Newt retorted as he heaved the case onto the back of the sofa

“Did you help capture Grindelwald?”

“Yes.”

“How on Earth did you get caught up in- Whose she?”

He had been watching Newt open the case when he caught sight of a woman in the top corner, a news article picture but clearly cut out with care. 

“Oh. Um” his brothers eyes flickered up to the portrait before he smiled to himself “A good friend”

Before summoning his kettle and tea set out of the case.

“Goldstein, she was the ex auror wasn't she?”

“You’ve done your homework”

Newt remarked

“I’ve had a lot of nervous energy.” Theseus replied bluntly before continuing “She lost her job for endangering a Muggle or something”

“That woman beat her children to the extent an innocent boy formed an obscurus that consumed him. I’m surprised Tina didn’t annihilate the woman,she certainly has the skills”

“Tina?”

To his surprise his brothers cheeks pinkened slightly at his questioning, pouring tea with immense focus

“Yes um her name is Porpentina but she doesn’t like her full name very much, says it makes people pull a face when they say it”

“And you met this woman- How?”

“She arrested me”

“I thought she wasn't-“

“She wasn't, hence why she took me back to her flat. Then we were both arrested and- Well between her,her sister and a lovely muggle called Jacob we ended up duelling Grindelwald”

He went quiet then, staring into the bottom of his teacup as if he was back in a divination classroom. Theseus waited a beat then stated 

“You aren’t going to tell me anymore,are you”

“Not at all.”

Newt replied,taking a dainty sip of tea causing him to sigh long sufferingly

“ Great. ”

~*~

Theseus came back to himself on the sagging sofa, blinking away the fog of memories as he brought the present back in focus. And the present was him watching his brother pace in front of the ancient mirror in their childhood living room, growing increasingly more frantic with a speed he’d only seen on some kneazles who had gotten hold of their owners opiates and gone on a rampage.

“Newt, pal, you’re making me dizzy”

An American voice piped up from the armchair arm beside him and Theseus smiled over at the Muggle he had now become firm friends with. He didn’t have the same connection that the man and his brother had, something quite remarkable to witness, but through the years he had gotten to know Jacob well.

“Yes for Merlin's sake Newt you're getting married not going up against a firing line- i mean how can you still doubt that woman’s love for you when she punched Albus in the face in your name ”

Newt smiled to himself at that

“In fairness,it wasn't the brightest idea to tell her to give up on searching for me”

“Yes and it's a bloody good job we didn’t”

A shiver went down his back at the thought of what would have happened if they hadn't found the unconscious and bleeding Newt in time. Jacob let out a chuckle at that 

“I’d forgotten all about that… She’s quite a doll’

“Yes.”

Newt murmured with a smile, running his hand through his ginger fringe just as Queenie came trotting in. 

“You guys ain’t outside yet?! Teens about to come down!- Honestly Newt stop worrying, she ain’t changed her mind about you- I’ve just spent twen’y minutes making sure a demiguise has a perfect flower crown ‘cause she wanted Dougal lookin’ perfect now get outside!”

She punctuated her statement with a light shove to Newt and he gave her an apologetic smile.

“Yes come on, I’m sure Yusufs  going absolutely mad with Mum trying to make small talk”

Theseus added, gently taking his brother by the arm and not too subtly dragging him out into the June sunshine. 

The ceremony was to take place in the garden of Scamander Manor after rather a lot of back and forth between his brother and mother. In light of the fact this would probably be the only Scamander wedding now, no one had said it to his face but he was well aware it was on everyone’s mind, their mother had been dead set on a huge celebration. Something that would be the highlight of the season and if it wasn't for Tina and the rest of them backing Newt up he felt he would probably be explaining to his mother that they’d gone and eloped in New York. 

They had all been expecting that reaction though, their father had passed nearly two years ago now (they had only just gotten back from Queenie and Jacob’s wedding in time) and where their mother had always been protective she was now insistent on making every meeting or event as large as humanly possible.

Thankfully Newt had always had a way with their Mum and Tina had instantly charmed their mother by simply being in love with the son she always worried about so the end result was between the Hippogriff paddock amongst the bushes of roses,lavender and sweet peas. Under a metal pergola with Newts resident fairies chattering excitedly amongst the vines.

There weren’t many seats set out, two rows of chairs two aside making a makeshift aisle where currently their mother,Gran,Lally,Yusuf,Bunty and Albus were all sitting and all turned in unison as the three of them hurried up to where the handfasting would take place. He had practised the spell a dozen times, it wasn't every day you were trusted with the entire force of two peoples magic and love for one another, but he did feel a slight tremble as he stood facing their family and Newt stood to his left fiddling with his cufflinks.

“You’re alright Pal. Just saying you love her and kissing her- You got plenty of practice of that”

“Yes, of course- I’m just” Newt replied and he dropped his arm  “Excited?”

“Any particular reason you phrased that as a question?”

Theseus asked and the smile on his face grew at the distant memory of the night before Newts first year and Newt mirrored his smile

“Well everyone always says how nervous they were and-“ He swallowed and shuffled his hands, Pickett poking out of Jacobs pocket with the rings (All the creatures were staying with him tonight and Theseus did not want to deal with a clingy bowtruckle after several tumblers of whiskey) “I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited in my life”

“Just wait ‘til tonight”

Jacob whispered and Theseus snorted out a laugh that caused the attendees to all turn to look at him

“You boys better be behaving”

Their mother reprimanded and Theseus replied with his trademark smile

“Of course-“ Then he caught sight of Queenie appearing from behind the flower hedge and she gave him a little wave. “Well- here we go”

He murmured before giving an elaborate wave of his wand causing the first tones of the wedding march to start from the little phonograph as Queenie appeared with her bunch of peach and blue coloured flowers.She smiled at Jacob and himself before winking at Newt and taking her place away to his right.

The music then shifted slightly to something that was not the traditional march and he caught his mothers eyebrows furrowing as he recognised the gentle piano music as being their favourite to sway to at the end of a taxing gathering. Then she rounded the corner.

As always Tina wasn’t wearing anything particularly flamboyant, the complete opposite of her sister's wedding dress, a simple white fitted dress that splayed out at her feet. Only the skirt had beads on it and it meant the floor seemed to shine as she walked towards them. Her dark hair was wavy yet unstyled apart from a few strands pinned back by a silver and pearl hair slide and instead of a bunch of flowers she was holding the hand of a very happy looking Demiguise,wearing a crown of flowers matching Queenie's bouquet.

Objectively he thought she looked quite beautiful for the woman just a week ago had been terrifying the entire International Confederation of Wizards. However a quick look over at his brother made his smile grow, as he was looking at her as if she held the secrets of life itself. A few more steps and she took Newts hands in greeting as his brother gave a breathless “Hello”

“Hi”

Tina giggled in return and Theseus cleared his throat

“Today we are gathered to celebrate the love of these two people and to bind their magic together for eternity.” Newt and Tina were officially in a world of their own so he continued “As we all know Newt and Tina's love is a rather special thing to witness, one of patience,loyalty and pure goodness that is rare in times like these and we’ve all benefited from it, one way or another” They looked over at him in unison “It’s a love that’s grown and flourished and now today we confirm that love for life. Now I believe you both wanted to say a few words? Newt?”

His brother swallowed harshly and seemed to go for his pocket before thinking better of it and retaking Tina's hands

“Tina- I-“ He struggled around the words and Tina whispered

“It’s okay, we got all the time in the world”

He breathed a deep breath and stated

“I never expected my trip to New York to be so- eventful in more ways than one i suppose” Queenie and Jacob also chuckled at that “I went to release a Thunderbird and well- I ended up acquiring one instead. I could never- I could never-“ he swallowed again “I could never have imagined how much my life would change and Tina, starting my life with you fills me with more excitement than i could ever begin to describe- I-I love you, so much”

His brother was crying at that point,tears streaming and Tina didn’t seem to be faring much better as she began.

“Newt,I-I had given up on romance. I’d given up on a lot of things before I met you. Now- I’m standing here knowing that you’ve given me hope,you’ve given me your heart a-and” She sniffed “You’ve given me a future,our future, and I may not know what it holds but i know i'll be okay if I’m with you”

He felt a strange well of feelings at that moment as he watched them and he cleared his throat as tears threatened to clog it before withdrawing his wand.

“Now… Left arms out in front of you please” The couple in front of him smiled at one another then raised their arms,lacing their fingers together. He waved his wand over their interlocked hands and murmured “Cordis”. Steadily a beam of golden light wrapped around their hands and Theseus stated 

“When I ask you these questions please respond together making your promises known to these witnesses, Newt and Tina will you honour and respect each other,support and assist through sorrow and pain and grow together with unerring support?”

“We will.”

They echoed in unison and Theseus gave a flick of his wand causing the golden beam to go coiling around the both of them turning more copper as their magic mixed with the light. It increased in ferocity,spinning faster and faster until finally the light shot up in the air,scattering golden light which began to fall like fresh snow. Jacob handed over the rings and steadily they slid them onto each other's fingers.

“On this day I declare Porpentina Esther and Newton Artemis wed in the eyes of the law and most importantly in the eyes of this family. May their life be full of joy and light.”

He then turned to his brother with a crooked grin

“You may now kiss the bride.”

Newt smiled shakily at Tina,seemingly unsure about such passion with an audience when Tina launched herself at him. Landing square on his lips and they rocked backwards slightly as Newt caught them both,tucking some of Tina's hair behind her ear.

The gold was still raining down and Theseus joined in with the applause, the excitement going from loud to bordering riotous as their mother started herding guests towards lemonade and finger sandwiches. Newt and Tina lead the way,seemingly a little dumbstruck as between them walked Dougal with his flower crown still in place.

He watched everyone walk towards the table,standing beneath the flowers  feeling oddly bereft,when his Gran came shuffling over. It was a long time since she had stood in the doorway as he had looked down at his baby brother in the finally used crib yet she still had the same look in her eyes.

“You were right” He murmured,lifting an arm to wipe the falling tears “He is a survivor, a fighter. He did grow up”

“Hmm, I know...” His Gran began,patting his arm “I knew i was right back then as well”

“How-“

“Because I knew he would have you my Darling. And even though he’s now got his Tina, he’ll still need his brother. You mark my words”

She gave him one last squeeze then went over to Jacob who was trying to get Pickett  out of the punch bowl,they’d been sharing recipes the past few days, and Theseus shifted his gaze to where Newt and Tina were sat. He was expecting them to be in their own little world so he was surprised to see Newt looking at him head cocked before he then gestured pointedly to the seat opposite causing Theseus let out a small smile.

His grandmother was of course right. There were plenty of times Theseus was needed throughout Newt's life. And Theseus was there for every one.