The Muggle and the Wizard || Newt Scamander ||

Overture

When Elsie Nightingale was younger she encountered something extraordinary, nothing of the mundane dull life that surrounded her. This instance opened her up to a whole new world, a path that lead her somewhat into the colourful hidden Wizarding world. It had only been a shame that the events that preceded them were less than fortunate.

Shallow staggered breaths left a hot burning feeling in the young girls chest, her feet slammed against the forest ground snapping twigs and crushing leaves. She was in a frantic panic, turning her head every so often to see the distance closing in between her and the three chasing her. She tried her very best to dodge the trees and miss the tree roots, her speed depleted after some time which closed the gap between her and the others chasing her more quickly.

It was nearing dark, the sun was setting and the young girl knew she wouldn't be able to make it home before dark. Of course that's when they lock the doors, once the sun has set. She was willing to outrun them long enough they would have to turn back. After the sun had hidden behind the trees and no longer provided light, the three chasing her had turned back, giving the young girl time to slump against the tree and catch her breath.

Young Elsie wasn't particularly liked at the Orphanage, at the age of eight she was sent there after the death of her parents. She had only been there for several months, but for some reason the other children didn't like her. Perhaps it was her fiery red hair, or the story of how her parents died, whatever it was, the others didn't like her. Her parents were killed in a series of bright colours, Elsie had no idea how to explain it. Just that the event left her parents lifeless, and herself orphaned.

She sat against the tree huddling her knees, winters in England were cold and merciless, yet it was too late to venture to the home, the Madam wouldn't be pleased with her disappearance. Yet she remained outside, her hot breath seen in the cold winter air. A twig snapped, making her abruptly stand up, she was certain the other children were gone by now, they would be stupid enough to venture this fair into the wooded area, one of the children used to say werewolves lived in the woods. But the madam shut down that idea.

Another twig snapped behind her which startled her. Her heart raced as her eyes tried to see through the pitch black darkness around her. One of her hands steadied herself by a tree, ready to duck and hide if she needed too. The twigs snapped closer to her, however as the sounds neared the less human it sounded.

Perhaps it had been cattle lost from a nearby farm.

Or a wild stallion.

Elsie darted through the woods to get away from whatever it was, she knew she could see with the moonlight by the lake, she set her course for the lake. The moonlight lit up the clearing for her, however whatever was behind her was following her. Not menacingly, or stalking, whatever it was, it was curious. If it had been a predator, then it would've attacked by now, Elsie knew that.

She stopped just shy of the lake, the moonlight illuminated brightly, it reflected off the lake water providing enough light for Elsie to see. Whatever it was it trailed out from the shadows of the forest and walked into the moonlight. At first glance, Elsie thought it was a horse, however given that the creature look leathery, its skin tightly stuck to the bone and wings extruded from the body. She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't dreaming, surely a creature like this wasn't real. The creatures milky white eyes looked at Elsie with curiousness, while the creature itself was carnivorous it had no intention to attack the small girl unless provoked.

At the time Elsie had no idea she encountered a Thestral, she wouldn't have even known what a Thestral was. However despite the mystery behind the creature and its sinister looks Elsie hadn't cowered. She stayed still and let the Thestral come to her, slowly but surely it did. For a muggle, young Elsie was particularly well at seeing and excepting such oddity. Perhaps it had been because she was so young, and her imagination had always been exceptionally large.

She outstretched her hand let the Thestral sniff, "M-my name is Elsie." She spoke nervously, letting her hand brush against the Thestral's leathry skin. She was sure she wouldn't be able to dream this up, it nudged against her cheek playfully. She laughed and continued to pet it, she had made her first friend at the Orphanage.

Unfortunately for Elsie, no one seemed to believe the young girl of the creature that lived out in the woods, she insisted The Madam that there was, even took her out to the forest. The creature would be waiting for Elsie yet no one sure the creature, everyone she took to see her magical friend they claim to not see it. The Madam eventually sought psychiatric help for the girl who insisted something was there when it wasn't, however when they found nothing wrong with her they had let her go back to the Orphanage.

Despite the issues the creature had caused it didn't stop the young girl from visiting it every day, she would draw pictures, incredibly interested in it, and went as far as to give the Thestral a name. Berdette. She was convinced ever since that first encounter that there was a hidden underworld of magnificent creatures waiting to be discovered. Suddenly a she grew older the thought of Werewolves, mermaids, fairies weren't so impossible..

When she was old enough to leave the Orphanage, she would set course to prove to the world that creatures within the fairytales they read truly existed. However, plans change, on her journey to discover she never thought she would actually cross paths with a Wizard.

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Hey everyone! this is my first Newt Story! I had this concept for a while, which actually sprung from newt say to Tina about america's backwards laws on relations with magical and non magical people, which got me thinking what if Newt - on his travels - encounters a Muggle who essentially has seen some of the magical world and instead of wiping her memory he asks her to join him. So yeah! here it is! I hope you enjoy this introduction!