hogwartsexpressed | Let's go with snow things

It had started as a light sprinkling of snow, large loose flakes falling sporadically and picking up the little light there was on the grey day. The flakes landed upon the rich blue of Newt's coat, lasting for several minutes so that the wizard might marvel over the unique and elegant snowflakes as he walked.

They were beautiful, and interesting, and he did always find snow falling to be such a beautiful thing. It seemed to dampen the sound behind him. It made the day feel softer, gentler, and in return it left Newt reflective on the way the world changed in an instant.

It was those changes that held Newt's attention as the snow began coming down harder, faster, starting to build up in drifts along the edge of the sidewalk and streets. Not only that but fog and swirling snowflakes had done a bit to make the entire world seem like a snowglobe. Swirlng snow, cold and cut off from the rest of the world.

Newt hadn't noticed yet, instead laughing as he canted his head back, letting the flakes fall against his skin and soak into his coat. The melting of snow against his hand left the handle of his case slick in his grip, but it was savored rather than hated, delighting in the changes as they came, the way nature buffered around him.

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Lily had always enjoyed watching the snow fall when she arrived at Hogwarts. It felt as magical as the very school she found herself at. It was a Hogsmeade weekend and despite that, most of the students were already back at the castle, warming up and getting out of the impending snow storm. Lily however, was taking her time going back, enjoying the walk. She was bundled up with her Gryffindor scarf wrapped securely around her neck and her coat fastened, a warming charm placed on her coat and gloves.

One of the only other people she noticed was a figure ahead of her laughing and tilting his head back as to catch the snowflakes on his tongue. It was a very odd looking sight, honestly but it made her smile.

She quickly caught up to the other man, not recognizing him just yet. "It's nice to meet someone else who enjoys the snow," she called to him, knowing it may not be heard over the wind and snow.

The one advantage to being the guy with the boy about creatures was that people tended to remember the creatures, and not the guy. So likely that was why he had risked being out in Hogsmeade on a day when students had been there and not sneaking about. It was for that reason he wasn't worried about being approached. Not for who he was.

Add that the snow softened her steps, muted the sounds around him until she spoke. A softness of voice that had Newt spinning around so fast his case knocked against his legs.

"Oh. My. Hello there," he said, the words rushing out in a steamy breath, offering a bit of a sigh smile as he tilted his head slightly forward though in greeting even if his gaze didn't quite meet hers. "It's beautiful out here. Nothing changes either, does it. Looks the same as it always did."

Which might explain him playing in the snow, doing much as he might have when he had been a student at Hogwarts.

"You've strayed out past the others. Don't tell me your friends deserted you."

"Oh no, are you okay," Lily asked, lifting her hand as though to reach out and keep him up right in case he fell. "Hello," she said with a laugh. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Now that she was standing closer, he did look a little familiar to her and she was sure she'd seen his photo somewhere! If only she could remember his name... oh, it would come to her sometime, she was sure!

"Oh, no, they didn't desert me," she said with a bright smile, though it was hidden by the Gryffindor scarf. "I told them to go on ahead of me. I like taking my time going back on evenings like this." It was quiet and with the snow coming down... it was simply magical. And, she would know, she did magic!

"Why are you out on a night like tonight?"

"Of course, of course," he said, waving a hand and dismissing it all. "I don't mind being startled. Not at all," he admitted. "I rather like it," he added with a smile.

"Oh a bit the same as yourself. I was up at the school visiting an old friend, and then came down to get a butterbeer or two and some treats before I get back to my work."

Canting his head back, enjoying the snow once more with a smile.

"What year are you, my dear? Sixth?" Even as he asked, he offered his hand. "Manners and all. I'm Newt."

And he knew the risk was there she would know, and he wasn't bothered by that."

Lily laughed because if it were anyone else? They would not have acted like that at all! Many witches and wizards were just too bothered these days by small little things. "Oh good," she said brightly and dug her hands into her coat for the moment.

"Oh? What is your work?" She was absolutely curious! She knew she recognized him but she simply couldn't think of where she had met him before... or seen him before.

She watched him with a smile before tilting her head up toward the sky, closing her eyes some as she enjoyed the snow drifting down around her.

"Yes, sixth," Lily said and held out her hand to grasp his. "Pleasure to meet you Newt. I'm Lily - Lily Evans."

Life was tinged with so much these days and they knew that it might only continue to get worse. Yet Newt would not let that end, would not let that hold him back from being the man that he is. No matter how bad things might get, he wouldn't let go of the man he is and would always be.

He smiled, considering how to answer that. "My current work is a mixture of updating my first work," he said, dipping a hand into his satchel. "As well as working on a measure to try and protect werewolves. They don't deserve what our society has done to them when most are victims to begin with," he said, even as he handed the book over to her.

A textbook she was sure to have studied, but might not have put the name together with the man before her. "The pleasure is mine, Lily."

Her eyebrows rose in curiosity and positively beamed when he handed a book over to her. Lily grasped it and brought it closer for her to see the title then gasped. Oh! That's how she knew that name! She could pinch herself, Newt wasn't that common of a name even in the wizarding world!

"You're Newt! You're the magizoologist! I've read your first book and I thought it was remarkable," she said giving him an excited grin. It was like Christmas came early!

She paused and tilted her head, considering his words about werewolves. "Victims? How so?" Lily wasn't judging him, she simply didn't know as much about the werewolf problem as much as her school peers would. The chapter they read in an earlier class only briefly touched on it, nothing in depth.

He couldn't help but to smile then, wide and goofy and ducking his head. Even now there's still a flush to his cheeks at being recognized by someone.

"I actually am, yes," he said, looking up at her, head still down but delighting in this all the same. "Thank you. I appreciate hearing that. I'm just so glad you enjoyed my work given how much of my work I've enjoyed."

It was a question he is used to answering, and he tried not to tense in answering it.

"Werewolves are victims of their nature. Most, not all but most, have no control over what they do, but they also have no desire to do it. They were often attacked without a chance to defend themselves and then spend their lives in hiding, tortured and tormented, and often hating themselves for giving into that hunger. They need to be protected, and to get help so they can try and live mostly normal lives."

"That you enjoy your work is half the battle, isn't it," she asked with a smile. "Your passion for the animals and creatures of this world shows in your work. For a brief second, I considered becoming one. All the adventures you've been on!" She really really wanted to get him to autograph her book!

She listed as he spoke before nodding. She hadn't considered that but really she should have. She would have to do more reading on the subject. It was completely unfair how they were treated if they had no choice in the matter in becoming a werewolf. "That is completely unfair that because they were attacked against their will and now have this wolf that they're being treated unjustly." She paused. "Sometimes I realize how similar the muggle world and wizarding world are." Especially when it came to people who were treated unfairly for things they couldn't control. Oh she simply couldn't tolerate that!

"You considered it," he says, smiling. "But you decided on another path then? Or still undecided? I will make a case, given half a chance."

He nods empathetically, utterly in agreeance with her. "And I'm fighting hard to protect them for exactly that reason. Until we change things, it's not as if they can step forward."

Newt is quiet a moment, glancing about before he nods at her once more. "You're not wrong in that. Not at all. It's disheartening, especially in how much they proclaim to be different, and then do much the same thing."

Let's go with snow things - Open

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