To Teach An Obscurial - A Crewt Fic

Chapter Three

Newt waited patiently for Credence to process the information that he had just delivered.

He had absolutely no clue what his reaction would be, after all he was raised to hate 'witches' and his only real experiences with magic had been negative.

"I'm not a wizard."

This was the first thing that Credence had said, an it was spoken so softly that he almost missed it.

"What do you mean?" He asked curiously, Credence sounded so certain, and so defeated.

"Graves told me what I am. A squib."

"A squib?" Newt repeated numbly, "Credence, that man had no idea what he was talking about. Believe me, you're a wizard alright. I don't know what else he told you, would you like me to start from the beginning?"

Uncertainty flickered across Credence's face but he nodded mutely so Newt continued.

"The man who lied to you was not Percival Graves, he was Gellert Grindelwald - a very powerful, very dark wizard. He wanted the power of an Obscurus, the power that you possess. An Obscurus is a dark, parasitic force that is created when a child with magic represses their ability for some reason. You are an Obscurial - the host. Children will repress their abilities for various reasons, usually negative ones. For you it was probably a mixture of being raised by someone who thought magic was evil and needed to be destroyed, and the physical and emotional abuse that you suffered."

He paused, realising too late that it was probably a sensitive subject and hoping he hadn't upset Credence by bringing it up.

Credence flinched slightly at the mention but seemed to be listening intently, so after a few minutes he continued.

"Anyway the Obscurus is your magic, manifested into something very, very difficult to control. Grindelwald thought he could use you, use your power to help him and his cause. He probably assumed that it wasn't you because you're too old, the oldest documented case before you was ten. You just don't get older Obscurials."

He paused for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts and remember where he was going with this.

"What happens to them?"

Again the question was so quiet that Newt almost missed it, and he didn't completely understand.

"What do you mean?"

"The Obscurials. When they get older."

Newt felt his heart skip a beat. How could he break this gently? He was really hoping to avoid it.

"They don't," he looked down and closed his eyes. "The Obscurus eventually consumes its host, and then they both die."

There was silence as Credence processed this and Newt twisted his hands together anxiously.

"But you're stronger then any Obscurial known. Credence, I'm going to help you. I swear, if there is a way, I will find it."

Something flicked across Credences face and he searched Newts face silently for a moment.

"Why? Why would you help me?"

The question, asked so innocently and as if Credence truly couldn't understand why someone would help him, tore at Newt.

"Credence, I like helping people. I know you've been hurt and afraid all your life. I want to show you something else. The Aurors think that you're dead, but if they saw you they would try to kill you again. I won't force you to do anything but please, stay here. At least for a while. This is a safe place, nothing will hurt you here. I'll tell you whatever you want to know. Will you stay?"

Credence glanced around the room briefly before his eyes settled on Newt again. "Where are we?"

"This is my home, I build it inside my suitcase. The suitcase itself is in a room I've rented."

He answered without hesitation and Credence glanced around again, his eyes wide.

"Can you teach me? Magic?"

Newt nodded slowly. "I've never taught anyone before, but I will try."

Credence thought about it for a moment, his eyes darting nervously around the room.

At last he nodded slowly, muttering an "Okay."

Newt beamed and stood up, moving over to the wooden counter and continuing to make the healing paste that he had been working on while Credence was unconscious.

"Thank you, Credence."

It didn't take him long to finish and he walked back over to where Credence was.

"I know what your mother did to you, can I see? This should speed the healing process and stop any pain."

He knelt in front of Credence, noticing his shaking with a sinking heart. Getting Credence to trust him and feel safe here was going to be harder then he originally thought.

"I'm not going to hurt you Credence," he soothed, using the tone that he usually reserved for frightened or injured beasts.

Credence slowly pulled his sleeve up and Newt had to bite his lip in horror. There were half-healed slashes covering his arm and the marks obviously didn't stop where his sleeve was now sitting.

He couldn't understand how anyone could do something like this to another living being. What did that woman gain from hurting Credence like this? Apart from him fearing her?

Newt shook himself slightly and took the cream, rubbing it over the marks as gently as he could.

It must have hurt a bit, especially the more recent ones, but Credence didn't make a sound.

He finished the arm and paused, looking at Credence. He avoided his gaze so Newt touched his cheek gently and turned his head.

Their eyes locked and Credence's were filled with so much pain and sadness that Newt could almost feel it.

"How far up do they go? Where else are they?"

Credence's lip trembled and he looked away again. "They're everywhere," he muttered at last and Newt stood, unable to bear it any longer.

"Credence," he whispered and wrapped his arms around his shaking frame, being very careful not to hurt him.

Credence didn't react at first, but after a few seconds he relaxed and leaned into the embrace, resting his head against Newt's shoulder.

"It might not feel like it now, but it will get better. I'll take care of you."