The Tales of Newt Scamander - PAUSED

Chapter One: The Warmth of a Winters Eve

Alexander, or Alex to a few, made his way down from Hogwarts to the Black Lake. He trudged down the snow blocked path to the icy lake making the only visible steps in the fresh snow.

It was his fifth year in Hogwarts and with his O.W.Ls quickly approaching after the Christmas holiday the pressure was on. Unlike most of the other students in his year Alexander was severely worried about his O.W.Ls grades.

Alexander came from a family where if you were not perfect you were a disappointment, and his O.W.Ls grades would be the only redemption he has left. Without the perfect grades of Outstandings his family would shun him, even just one Exceeds Expectations meant the end.

This sounds harsh but well bred families, much like the Coldwells, have reputations to uphold. And that includes perfect children with perfect personalities, perfect appearances, perfect grades and a perfect life. It sounds unrealistic but that is the way of life.

Alexander stopped walking as soon as he got to the lake edge. The water quietly moved while the willow tree behind him emitted a scraping noise as its bare thin branches moved in the wind.

The peacefulness was calming and warm to Alexander as his mind was able to go blank. When in the Castle his mind would always be thinking about something, even when out of class the cogs would be turning non-stop. While out here he didn't need to be thinking he could just be blank. Even for a moment.

Lazily Alexander peered up from the rippling lake edge back to the school. Even from a distance he could make out figures of people walking through the corridors with one another. The windows had an orange glow about them as candles were lit in the halls.

It was late afternoon, all lessons had ended, and the sky slowly darkened. Students were permitted to stroll around the Castle grounds as they please but most didn't due to the bitter weather. This year winter seemed harsher than the previous few.

Rather than being inside in the warmth of the Castle with fellow acquaintances Alexander preferred being out in the bitter chill of the winter air, in solitude. He preferred the noises of nature to the chatter of people and the smell of freshly fallen snow to that of parchment and ink.

Overall, Alexander wasn't very social. Many that had met him had labelled him as being introverted and reserved due to his preference of isolation.

Sighing he turned back to the Lake. Clearing a small area of snow with his boots Alexander sat with his knees to his chest and his arms wrapped around his legs. Blank faced he gazed out across the Lake, in the summer he would do this for hours on end sometimes and now winter had come it was not going to change.

Snowflakes slowly fell from the sky as it darkened, covering up Alexander's footprints. Even once his footprints had been fully covered and a slight layer of snow had formed on his coat Alexander stayed staring out across the Lake.

A constant chill ran up and down his spine as he sat in the snow. His hair wore snowflakes like glitter while his clothes accepted it as another layer on him. As he breathed small quiet breaths he would watch the mist from his lips rise up into the air before disappearing.

The clock from the Clocktower chimed loudly forcing Alexander to turn his neck slightly. It was half past seven, also known as dinner, but with no appetite Alexander stayed where he was. He would often miss meals just to bask in the silence of the Common Room or halls for an hour so his lack of presence there would go unnoticed.

From his curled position he removed his arms from his legs and stretched his legs out, the heels of his boots just meeting the water's edge. He couldn't feel his legs nor his arms anymore but reluctant to leave he stayed sat in the snow.

He stayed sat for another half an hour just basking in the small noises he could hear. He could hear the soft splashing of water as its surface was broken more than likely by the Giant Squid and the rustling of bare tree branches in the wind from the forest near him.

One thing he failed to notice was the soft crunch of compressed snow coming towards him. The person, in their hand, held their wand which held an orb of glowing light at the top. The light was soft and pure.

"You know being out here in a wet coat and scarf isn't going to keep you warm?" Spoke up a concerned voice.

Alexander noticed the owner of that voice stand next to him. Their leather boots took up the snow to his right.

"Yep." He whispered out, just loud enough to be heard but in a dull voice while still looking across the Lake. He couldn't see across it any more but every so often the light from the school's windows would catch on a wave drawing Alexander's attention to it.

"Are you not cold?" Questioned the voice again, but more anxious than before.

"Very cold." Alexander whispered again.

"Why do it?" The person crouched down, their head now a similar height to Alexander's.

"Because." Alexander signed while glancing at them with a dull expression.

"Because what?" The boy asked again, eyebrow raised and wand between the two lighting up their features.

"Because rather than feeling everything, I would prefer to feel nothing and the cold does that willingly." Alexander explains while turning to the boy.

The boy does not reply but in the boy's icy eyes Alexander can see that he understands.

A moment of silence passes and Alexander returns to looking across the Lake. The light from the boy's wand illuminates the small waves of the water more than the school's lights did and also illuminated the snowflakes falling around them.

The clock on the Clocktower chimes again, this time for quarter past eight, curfew. With a sigh Alexander reluctantly moves his legs and arms.

The boy, noticing his actions, stands up and shuffles back slightly causing the snow to crunch under his feet. As Alexander goes to stand a hand is offered in front of him. Accepting the gesture Alexander puts his right hand in the boy's hand. The boy's brows knit together as he notices how cold the hand he now holds is.

With a slight tug the boy pulls Alexander up so they're both standing. The two let go of one another's hands before turning to the school. As he turns all the snow on Alexander starts to fall off. Some on his shoulders stays there but the rest tumbles from his coat and fills in the ground where he sat.

The two start to trudge up the path back to the Castle's doors. The boy's wand provides them with light to see where their feet step. With this light Alexander also watches as snowflakes fall. It seemed like something that always catches his eye.

Alexander stuffs his hands in his pockets while walking in attempt to warm them even by the slightest. When he made contact with the boy's hand -only minutes ago- he craved the warmth he held. And when they both let go he wished for nothing more than to feel him again, his warmth seemed welcoming and kind, something Alexander missed.