The Care of Magical Creatures Professor

Chapter 7

    "... You fancy me?" She seemed a bit stunned, although her reaction was much more muted than Newt had expected, "... That's a British-ism I've never heard."

    Newt hadn't even noticed he had been nearly clawing into his leg and anxiously grinding his jaw, "Yes it's... quite a common expression over here..."

    "I think it's better than I like you," she chuckled, although it seemed a little awkward, "You're... You're serious?"

    "Yes, I am," his face was turning increasingly red and he felt tears burning in his eyes, "I completely understand if you don't feel the same way. I shouldn't have said anything, dear Merlin, I'm-"

    "No, it's alright," he was cut off more so by her touching his hand than her speaking (although her voice was like heaven to him), "I'm glad you told me."

    That was... definitely neither of the responses he was expecting.

    The hopeless romantic side of him desperately wanted her to hold his hand, stare into his eyes and whisper sweet nothings with her beautifully accented voice. He wanted her to hug him tightly in her strong arms, even though he hated hugs. He could make an exception for Tina Goldstein. He wanted to feel her lips on his. He wanted to hold her hands and never let go of them.

    The realist, albeit more self deprecating, side of him thought that she'd smack him across his face. He thought she'd shout at him, tell him that his feelings were completely inappropriate, walk away and never talk to him again. He thought she'd call him all kinds of names. He thought she'd go back to America without a second thought.

    Neither part of him expected I'm glad you told me.

    And still... He had hope as to what that meant.

    "... You are?"

    "I'm glad you got that off your chest," She smiled, gently rubbing her thumb across his knuckles, "Seems like that'd been gnawing at you for a while."

    "It... Has been, yes," he looked down, blinking away stray, anxious tears, "Since '26..."

    "... Two years," she seemed somehow more stunned, "I... I had some suspicions, but-"

    Newt's head shot up, his face going hotter, "S...Suspicions?!"
    She blushed a tiny bit, "Sort of... The looks before you went back home... You tucking my hair behind my ear? The eye contact... I thought I was making something out of nothing, but it really meant something to me."

    His jaw hung slack for a moment before he closed it, swallowing thickly, "I... I have no words, Tina..."

    "I'm not sure I have any either..." She stayed quiet before taking a deep breath, "I care about you, absolutely... I'm not sure if that's how I feel, but I'm willing to give... us... a try..."

    Newt looked up at her, "Really?! You're... You're serious?!"

    "Yeah, why not?" She queried, a soft smile on her lips... Her beautiful... perfect lips...

    "... I'm not that great... I'm too lanky, and awkward, and I'm not good with people and-"

    Her finger was pressed to his lips, "I'm giving you a chance, Mr. Scamander. Don't give me reasons not to like you."

    "... Can you please remove your hand from my mouth? I don't know what germs you have..." He was joking, although his tone wasn't making that obvious. She moved her hand, looking slightly hurt, and Newt immediately rushed to correct his missed sarcasm, "I-I was joking!... Mostly..."

    "I get it," she shrugged, chuckling, "I haven't been in England long enough to have the smell of tea in my hands yet."

    "Are you ever going to stop making fun of me for being british?"

    "Once it stops being funny."

    Newt sighed and looked down, feeling a little embarrassed, but... content. He had his Tina, what else could he ask for?