Strings Attached

Chapter 2

"Hey I don't bore!" Paul defended himself, clearly offended by Celeste's statement.

"Oh for sure. Newt, how about a walk through the black lake? I wanted to ask about some matters." Celeste asked, ignoring the looks thrown at her way by her friends.

"Ofcourse, why not. So umm..see you guys later?" Newt said, confused by his own statement.

"Oh you definitely will, even if you want to do otherwise. Now let's go, before they go on another rant." Celeste suggested as she nodded towards the portrait hole.

Newt waved towards the group before walking out of the gryffindor common room with Celeste by his side.

Celeste's quidditch robe swished behind her, as she walked and talked with Newt, who was interested in her view point about nifflers.

They were walking idly on the bank if Black lake, which was silent and no ripples in the lake. It was quite peaceful.

"So what you wanted to talk about? It must be important if your gryffindor friends were not involved." Newt asked as they sat on the grassy land.

"It actually is. I am scared of its outcome, but I won't be a gryffindor if I didn't take the risk and would beat myself if I didn't ask." Celeste said as she kept her stretched her legs and leaned her weight on her arms.

"What is it? You know how anxious I get if you just play around with your words." Newt said as he gave her a side glance.

"Don't get me wrong Newt, or don't let my words bother our friendship." Celeste began, and it got a reaction as Newt was now completely looking at Celeste.

"The years we had with each other, exchanging knowledge on creatures and curses and hexes. I don't know how, but I have started to feel something, which doesn't happen in friendship. Like something blossoming from friendship." Celeste continued as she avoided to directly look at Newt.

"What are you trying to say?" Newt asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"Of course you wouldn't know what I am trying to say. I like you Newton Artemis Fido Scamander. As in more than a friend that we are." Celeste said now looking directly into steely blue eyes.

The pupils of Newt's eyes dilated at the statement and his mouth formed an 'o'. "You-I...You mean as in romantically?" Newt suttered the question making Celeste smile a bit.

"No, hypothetically. Of course Romantically Newt. You don't have to reciprocate if you don't feel the same. I just wanted to tell you, rather than have guilt in future that I didn't told you about my feelings." Celeste said as she sighed and again looked at the vast lake.

There was a moment of silence and Celeste almost regretted it, and was ready march into common room and give her quidditch mates an earful.

"I-I fe...feel the same. I am not a brave one, and I was quite ashamed to feel the way I felt about you. We are best friends, and I thought it's like a forbidden thing. I think I am lucky that you actually brought it up." Newt spoke up after a long pause and a small smile flickered on his lips.

"You do? As in really or are my ears ringing?" Celeste stuttered as her pupils of yellowish green eyes became wide with shock.

"You certainly heard correct. We actually know who will be pants in this relationship, if you want to proceed with the courting. I would never be able to approach you." Newt said, blushing as he averted his gaze towards the lake.

"Oh my Merlin, you don't know how much I want dance around with that." Celeste admitted with a large grin and her face still facing Newt.

"I am still astonished that you really like me. I am the most introverted personality in this entire school. Your friends are only friends I have, except Leta ofcourse. My brother took a double take when I mentioned about the group of friends I have." Newt said, amusement lacing his voice.

"You may be an introvert Newt, but you are the most pure human being I have ever met. And my friends are your friends because they see you for who you really are. Not the rumours that are about your circulating in Hogwarts." Celeste offered before a comfortable silence settled between them.

"As we have a last trip to hogsmeade day after tomorrow, want to go out with me?" Celeste asked, grin not leaving her face, breaking the comfortable silent.

"Like you have to ask." Newt said, a wide grin now in his face as he looked at Celeste.

After a while they both strolled at the bank of the black lake, now with alter motive. Talking about their likes and dislikes and Newt asking her to spend the summer with him at Scamander manor in South Westminster.

At the end of the day, they approached the castle, fingers interlaced with each other's and blush settled on their cheeks with a content smile.

As soon as Celeste stepped in the common room after parting ways with Newt, she was greeted with questions.

"Potter you didn't tell them about anything, did you?" Celeste asked loudly over the questions thrown at her.

"Guilty as charged." Charlus said grinning with mischievous glint in his eyes making Celeste roll her eyes.

"If I wasn't in gleeful mood, I would have whacked on your head. You are worse than Viona." Celeste exclaimed before addressing the questions.

"Just tell us, did your precious Scamander said yes? Please say yes!" A voice amongst crowd was loud and clear.

"Well you already know the answer. But if anyone from this house teased him about this, I will have your head. Am I understood?" Celeste said sternly, but a grin on her face was visible.

"Wouldn't dream of it!" Someone exclaimed making Celeste roll her eyes. She walked towards the stairs of her dorm, when a hand draped over her shoulder.

"Well well well, what do I hear? Scamander and you are going on a date?" Helena spoke up, grinning like a child.

"Yes, something wrong with that?" Celeste asked giving her a grin in return.

"Nope, but I am sure I called it in our second year. I am a perfect match maker." Helena said grinning equally wide.

"Uh huh." Celeste said as Helena walked up ahead of Celeste with a mischievous smile on her face.

"Celeste and Newt, sitting under a tree!" Helena started singing, prepared to run upstairs.

"Dont you dare to finish the statement Helena!" Celeste warned her as she took a step up.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!!!" Helena exclaimed before rushing up as Celeste started to climb the stairs faster in order to catch her best friend.