prologue!

Elska watched quietly as she sat next to Newt. Leta was experimenting once again. Thinking of it, she had never been able to not do something, she always needed to try things out–perhaps, she was just curious. Elska had no idea how or when Newt and Leta had crossed the line from strangers to friends. They were polar opposite.

"Leta," Elska started nervously, taking a step closer but Leta stopped raising her hand in the air. "You are going too far."

"It's okay, Elskie," she reassured.

Elska shook her head, glancing at Newt who was watching Leta in awe. Elska put her hand delicately on his shoulder, "Newt, we shall go," she muttered but he refused, shaking his head. "Newt," she then pressed a bit more firmly.

"Go see Theseus, Elskie," he whispered softly. "I will see you in the common room later, yeah?"

Elska huffed, turning on her heels as she walked out of the room without looking back. Parts of her loathed that Leta had made her way into Newt's life because he had fallen for her so rapidly, and she feared that Leta would bring Newt down with her.

"Ah, Elska!" Theseus exclaimed, spotting her at the end of the hallway. Seeing him lifted a weight off Elska's shoulders and she smiled. When she reached him, Theseus grabbed her hand and held it tightly. "Where were you?"

"With Leta and Newt," she replied softly as he kissed her forehead.

Theseus had never been afraid to show himself with Elska despite her being a year younger. He marched proudly through the halls with her at his arm and he kissed her in front of everyone in the common room and the great hall. He never minded.

"Right," he nodded. "I was wondering if you were coming home or staying at Hogwarts this break?"

Elska's lips twitched upwards and her heart skipped a beat as he pronounced the word home. It was surprisingly warm and she longed for it–to have a home. After her parents passed away, all that was left was her family home and Newt. Being too young to live inside it for now, Newt had begged his mum to take her in and weirdly, Erin Scamander had accepted right away.

"Depends on your mum."

Theseus and Elska were a lot more similar than what people liked to think. Others thought she was much more like Newt because of her love for creatures and strange things but in reality, she was more like Theseus. He liked wizard's chest, kneazles except for Newt's one who despised him, helping his mum and little brother with creatures back at home and banana cake. He made everyone believe that he loathed cherry candies but in reality, he loved them and Elska would give him some each week.

"You know that mum won't care," Theseus pressed, muttering the password and as usual, he let her walk in first with his hand on her lower back.

"And where would I sleep? I can't share a bed with Newt, I'm not really of age anymore," Elska said with a laugh that warmed Theseus.

Theseus sunk down on the couch, taking her hand so he could drag her next to him. A giggle escaped Elska's mouth as she sat down, ignoring his lips pressing kisses on her cheek, "Well," he started with a smirk. "You can always bunk in with me, eh?"

Elska rolled her eyes, patting his chest amicably, "As if Erin is going to let me sleep in the same bed as you, T. I will stay here, it's alright. I've been alone before, I can manage just fine," she reassured.

"Oh, come on!" Theseus exclaimed with a frown as she shushed him, noticing he was bringing attention to them. "We are both of age, Elskie. Besides, we've shared the same bed multiple times, haven't we?"

With a groan, Elska sighed, "Owl Erin and we will see."

Theseus agreed, smiling cheekily at her, "Alright, I will owl her later then. Does that mean I can take you to bed now?" He teased, whispering in her ear. Elska laughed loudly, hiding her mouth with her hand so she could suppress the sound. As she rose to her feet, Theseus trailed behind her rapidly. "Oh, I am taking that as a yes."

"No!" Elska squealed but her chuckle betrayed her, and Theseus smiled widely.

Elska always thought it was rather nice how she found Theseus. At first, it had been quite a shock to realise that she actually liked him and for a while, she kept telling herself that he would never feel the same toward her. But one day, it just spilled out–if she recalled, it was during a Hufflepuff party in the common room. Some students had slipped firewhisky and Theseus had a bit of it, perhaps too much. When they got together, it was like discovering a whole new person. He was not Newt's brother anymore, he was hers and he was loving and clingy. Merlin, she loved it.

Elska pushed the door of her bedroom, which she didn't share with anyone because her old roommate had graduated from Hogwarts last year. Theseus closed the door behind him and took off his robe, revealing a white t-shirt underneath it. Theseus walked to her, wrapped his arms around her middle and pressed a kiss near her lips and Elska smiled immediately.

"T, I'm worried for Newt," Elska confessed, pushing herself out of his grasp and turning her body so she could face him. "I love Leta but she is too reckless and dangerous for him."

"A true Slytherin, is she not?" He said as she rolled her eyes. "Elskie, Newt is mature, alright? He will know how to handle himself," he reassured, moving a lock of hair behind her ear and caressing her skin with the pad of his thumb. Such a delicate touch, she thought. "You know how he is, Elska. You can't mother him his whole life."

Elska groaned, moving her face away, "I do not mother him, Theseus! He's my best friend, I care!"

"Oh," Theseus faked to be hurt. "And I thought I was your best friend..." It was a ridiculous attempt at bringing a smile on her face but it worked.

Elska slapped his chest playfully, making him grin lazily, "It's different. You are more than that," she mumbled.

"I know, I know," Theseus replied softly, cupping her face. "I know that."

Elska stared into his eyes and realised there wasn't any overthinking when it came to Theseus, truly none. It was as if it was written in the stars. Despite her young age, Elska knew that deep down, he was the one. It was not a silly love she had developed over the years, it was real and perhaps an endless one. She could not think of her fate not being meddled with Theseus.

"I love you, T," Elska whispered, running a hand through his hair as he closed his eyes at the gesture.

Theseus hummed, "And I love you," he replied, kissing the inside of her hand that was resting on his cheek.
There. Elska felt at peace.

"And if you are worried about Newt, we can always check on him before dinner, yeah? How does that sound?" Theseus asked as she let out a small hum.

"I'd like that," Elska answered.

But, Elska would have never thought Theseus could grow to hate her. Maybe she was wrong and the unfollowing events proved her right.