The distance from Northern Ireland to Southern England was significant; Alan and over a dozen Ministry of Magic personnel flew through the night, finally arriving at the Scamander residence in the early hours of the morning. Tina, who had Apparated back earlier, was already there to greet them. Fortunately, the constitutions of wizards are robust, nourished by magic, so the fatigue was manageable for most.
Only Shalltear, sensing the approaching dawn, turned back into a bat and burrowed into Alan's arms. According to her, while vampires dislike sunlight, they don't simply turn to ash upon exposure; it depends on their individual strength and the intensity of the rays. When members of her kind encounter strong sunlight, their exposed skin experiences stinging and burning sensations, followed by redness and rashes. In severe cases, the skin can peel, which is quite agonizing. The exposed areas become as sensitive as a fresh burn.
However, if it is cloudy or during the transition of dawn or dusk, traveling isn't a major problem. They simply feel uncomfortable, with itchy, stinging skin, and require time to recuperate afterward. While some powerful vampires can move freely under the midday sun, Shalltear was not among them. As soon as the first light appeared, she instinctively sought cover; no one enjoys the feeling of being scorched.
On the way, Alan spoke with Bianca about Shalltear's situation. Bianca was quite accommodating. She knew of Alan's strength, and having a reputable wizard act as a guarantor for a "vegetarian" vampire was perfectly acceptable. Moreover, Alan was now a key supplier to the Ministry. After this incident, their cooperation would only deepen, so doing him a favor benefited the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.
Alan had visited the Scamander residence once before, but the action had been confined to the front of the house and the surrounding battleground. At the time, Newt's home seemed like a place similar to the Burrow—strange, but relatively normal in its layout. He never expected the world that existed inside.
Newt led the group around to the back of the house, where a set of double doors resembling a ranch stable stood. Once they stepped inside, Alan witnessed a true indoor zoo. The space stretched for at least several kilometers in circumference, and remarkably, a simulated sky served as the ceiling. Alan could vaguely discern that this was a celestial phenomenon maintained by large-scale weather-controlling charms, appearing at least dozens of meters high.
Dozens of large compartments, acting as natural enclosures, were partitioned throughout the space. As Alan passed them, he saw that each was set up with a different natural environment and climate. He saw Re'em sound asleep in lush green pastures and Mooncalves huddling in groups under simulated starlight within a jungle setting. There was even a large lake where colorful fish surfaced for air through the clear water.
Alan and the Ministry personnel were like tourists visiting a grand monument, looking around with wide eyes. It was incredible that so many diverse magical creatures could live harmoniously under one roof. Alan was particularly struck by the layout. He knew that expanding a space this large using the Extension Charm was impossible to achieve through spellcasting alone.
Normally, a simple Extension Charm creates temporary spatial storage. To create a permanent and massive space like this, two factors are essential: high-quality materials and immense magic. Alan's own spatial ring was made from goblin-wrought steel, the best material for such purposes, and it held about a hundred cubic meters while constantly drawing magic from him to remain stable. To maintain a space this vast, Alan judged that the magic arrays must have been constructed using one of the top three rarest rune-bearing materials.
This was a monumental undertaking. Alan doubted that even if he used all his remaining goblin steel, he could replicate a fraction of this. Furthermore, the weather-controlling charms used on the walls and ceiling were a specialty of Cairo, Egypt, and weren't even available for purchase in Britain. Newt, in Alan's eyes, now had an additional label alongside legendary wizard and magizoologist: incredibly wealthy.
Newt, unaware of Alan's internal calculations, led the group to a specific compartment and deactivated the concealing charm. "This is a mountainous jungle environment. Please, place the two Nundu in here. Be sure to cast Bubble-Head Charms on yourselves when releasing them; we don't want anyone harmed by their toxic breath."
"Just put them in like this? Aren't you afraid they'll escape?" an Auror asked.
"Haha, don't worry. A Confusion Spell is woven into the perimeter. They are magically compelled to turn back when they reach the edge. I've dealt with missing creatures before, so I'm well-prepared," Newt grinned, recalling an old memory.
The Ministry staff relaxed and released the two Nundu. They were in relatively good condition compared to the others, having sustained almost no physical injuries. They would recover quickly with food and rest.
Newt then led everyone to settle the remaining creatures, providing guidance on how to soothe them. For the Cerberus, he explained that simple music could lull it into a peaceful sleep. He meticulously explained to Alan and the staff how to examine these high-risk creatures and treat their wounds. He even demonstrated how to administer medicine, clean injuries, and avoid being attacked by agitated animals while applying healing potions. He was like a devoted professor of Care of Magical Creatures, and Alan studied his methods diligently. Under Newt's arrangement, the group was divided into small teams to begin the long process of nursing the animals back to health.