Happy Birthday, Newt Scamander

Three Birthdays

1909

Birthdays were not particularly something that Newt looked forward to, if he was honest; he didn't dread them, exactly, but they seemed pointless to get excited for – it wasn't as if his family were celebrating or spoiling him on the day, not that he minded really. His parents never forgot his birthday, of course, they always gave him a card and presents as expected, but that was where the celebrations ended; his father always worked, not about to take a day off for a son's birthday of all things, and his mother was usually busy with her hippogriffs – Theseus seemed rather indifferent to him, so he didn't expect his brother to be interested in celebrating with him at all.

The first birthday that seemed to really count was his twelfth – his first at Hogwarts.

He wasn't popular at Hogwarts by any means; in fact, he was often the target for the bullies, and he had found himself too shy to talk to anyone or make any friends. The only person who seemed to treat him as anything other than dirt was a Slytherin girl called Leta who he had to partner with in Herbology, and that was only because the members of her own house seemed to despise her just as much as she despised them. Truthfully, Newt didn't mind only having one friend – he preferred to be alone, anyway, since it allowed him more time to study the various creatures he had found on the Hogwarts grounds. To his disappointment, the school library hadn't had any books on magical creatures other than out-of-date bestiaries that were more focused on how to kill beasts than look after them.

Newt had woken that morning and gone down to breakfast to wait for the owl post; sure enough, his family's owl arrived just after eight with a card and small present. The card was signed from both of his parents, but he knew well enough by now that it was really from his mother with his father's name tacked on; the present was nothing too special, just a woollen jumper to keep him warm and some new books. Theseus left the Gryffindor table long enough to give him his card before leaving – Newt knew his brother didn't particularly want to be seen with him, fearing it would impact his own popularity. He tried not to take it too personally and thanked his brother for the card quietly.

His first lesson that morning was Double Herbology, and he tried not to feel too morose at the thought of spending his birthday in classes; back home, he would have at least been able to help his mother with the hippogriffs – far more interesting than plotting the least dangerous plants Hogwarts had on the curriculum. Leta was already at their desk when he arrived and unpacked his things, giving him the smallest of smiles in greeting.

"It's your birthday," She said – not a question, but a statement.

"Yes," He said, surprised that she knew this.

She tilted her head; her hair was styled with two tight braids, and one fell over her shoulder as she looked at him. "You should have told me – I only found out because I heard your brother complaining in the Charms corridor about not knowing what to get you." She reached for her bag, shifting through it and huffing. "If you'd said sooner, I could have gotten you a present."

"Oh, that's really not necessary," Newt assured her hurriedly, trying not to go red. "There's nothing I would have wanted, and it's just like any other day really – don't worry about it-"

Leta cut him off by thrusting a small envelope at him, raising her eyebrows. "It's your birthday, don't be stupid. Anyway, I managed to order you a card in time, so that's yours; next year, I'll get you a real present."

He had been speechless by this, taking her card and staring at it; he'd never had a friend give him a card before, only family – the fact that she had gone to the trouble of ordering a card for him was unbelievable. He put her card on the table next to his head, shifting it so that it was in front of the ones from his parents and brother, and fell asleep that evening with a smile on his face as he looked at it.