Peacekeepers

Chapter 18: Stolen Hearts

Danny Scamander- Home by Phillip Phillips

"Thanks again for watching the kids." Dan smiled as Diane held Peter on one hip, the toddler tugging at her curls and making her wince a bit, but she didn't seem to mind.

"Of course, Danny." Ominis smiled as the kids were already surrounding him as he sat down on the ground to play with their new toys. He made a sound of surprise when Cayden sat in his lap, happily showing him the wooden horse he had.

"Get going, Danny." Sebastian chuckled in amusement. "We've got this."

Dan let out a soft breath and nodded. He was excited for tonight. There was a new strange electric charge between him and Poppy since yesterday, and he wanted to see what it was about. It definitely didn't feel like a bad thing... just different. New. Intriguing.

He gave one last look to the kids, chuckling as Annie rolled her eyes at him and motioned for him to go. Alright, seemed he'd overstayed his welcome.

He made his way to where Poppy had told him to meet, making his way to the highlands on the other side of Feldcroft. By the time he got there it was getting dark, but smiled as he saw her waiting for him, playing with one of the little creatures on the ground and smiling softly. The sight made his heart swell, his breath coming in a soft exhale of emotion. He loved the look on her face when she was playing with creatures, she looked so sweet and serene.

She looked up when she heard him approach, and the smile she gave him made him smile as well. She was so beautiful, so amazing.

"Hey Pop." He said softly, his smile widening at the soft blush that colored her cheeks from his pet name for her.

"Hey Dan." She answered back, her voice a bit huskier than she intended. He looked so amazing tonight somehow, his hair was messier than normal, and he was wearing just a casual outfit, but... something seemed different somehow.

"Is that a niffler?" He asked, sitting down beside her on the ground.

"It is, aren't they cute?" She held up the creature, and laughed at Dan's bewildered look.

"It has a bill like a duck!" He said in shock, taking it from her hands as she held it out to him. He held it by its fat little body and grinned when it wriggled its little claws. "It is really cute." He chuckled.

He set it down on his lap and it immediately started rooting its bill through his shirt and pockets looking for things. He chuckled in amusement, very glad Poppy had told him not to bring anything with him. "They sure love searching for things, don't they?" He grinned as it stuck its whole head under his shirt to look for anything on him.

"They're used to search for treasure, and they dig really fast. Their burrows are usually filled with their little hoards." Poppy explained, taking the niffler out from under his shirt with a chuckle and setting it back on his lap. "Here-" she handed him a knut, and he looked the coin over before holding it out to the niffler.

The creature let out a little 'eep!' And grabbed at the coin eagerly in its claws, immediately shoving it into a pouch at its belly and slipping easily out of his grip.

"Hey!" Dan said in shock at how easily it had slipped from his hands compared to earlier, the niffler chittering happily before it dove head first into a burrow a short distance away.

"Nifflers are crafty little things. They can get into- and out of- almost anything if they want to." Poppy giggled.

Dan smiled at how she seemed to glow when she spoke of creatures, leaning forward to kiss her cheek gently. "I love listening you talk about creatures. You're always so passionate, and have such a beautiful look in your eyes."