Chapter 42: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Newt had never been one for rules. Although he lived among Muggles now and was retired, that did not mean he had abandoned his life's work and passion. The basement of the Scamander home had been transformed into a vast area divided into distinct habitats.
In a section resembling a barren grassland, Tina led Warren through a hidden trapdoor set into the ground. Concealed by the tall, dry, yellow grass, they each raised a pair of binoculars.
Tina whispered, "Do you see them?"
Warren replied, "Yes. One of them seems very excited, but the other does not look interested."
Through his binoculars, he focused on two massive creatures in the distance. Even from far away, he could tell they weighed at least a ton. Their skin was thick and wrinkled. They had a single horn and, at first glance, looked like rhinoceroses.
As the more energetic one hopped about, snorting in excitement, its horn began to glow a fiery red. The base of the horn, where it joined the head, was the brightest, pulsing as though filled with molten lava.
"They are called Erumpents. The fluid in their horns is explosive. The excited one is the female. She has caught the scent of the male's musk," Tina whispered. "Newt rescued them last year. Dark wizards caught them in Africa and smuggled them into Britain. They have been away from their herd for so long they cannot go back. Newt hopes they will pair up and start a new family. Then we can release them."
As she spoke, they watched through the binoculars as the female approached the male. The male simply shoved her away with his rump.
Warren looked at Tina. "The male does not seem interested in the female."
"True. Mating rights in a herd are decided through competition, but here there are only the two of them. There are no fierce battles, no rivals gored to death. The male simply cannot work up the enthusiasm."
Warren shrugged. "With breeding habits like that, it is a wonder they have not gone extinct."
Tina sighed. She was at her wit's end.
She continued leading Warren through the vast underground sanctuary. Over the next two hours, they traversed marshes, mountains, snowfields, and forests, encountering all sorts of fantastic beasts.
They spotted Hippocamps inhabiting a freshwater lake, Nundus roaming a forest, and Billywigs from Australia. These were all creatures Newt had rescued from smugglers.
Billywigs, in particular, posed a significant challenge. Their sting induced levitation, making people float into the air. This made them popular as prank toys among wizards of all ages. However, the Ministry had actually classified them as XXXX, restricting their sale exclusively to licensed candy makers. Their stingers were an ingredient in Fizzing Whizbees. Naturally, a black market for them had emerged.
Tina also took Warren for a ride on a Graphorn. On the ground, it resembled a clumsy, bulky dodo with absurdly stunted wings. Yet the moment it took flight, the creature transformed rapidly. It inflated like a balloon, rising into the sky, then expelled air to assume a massive form capable of true flight. Its tail was retractable, and riding it meant being wrapped securely within it.
These were only a fraction of the creatures Newt housed. Driven by the demands of Potions and Alchemy, Newt had also rescued many highly dangerous magical beasts from poachers. However, those had long since been sent to various Ministry reserves.
Warren was fascinated by the sheer variety of magical creatures. He had only ever encountered their byproducts as ingredients. He had never seen them alive.
"You might get along with Rolf," Tina said to Warren. "He is my grandson and loves magical creatures as well."
Warren considered this for a moment. The name meant nothing to him, but somewhere in the back of his mind he had a vague recollection that Luna Lovegood was fated to marry Newt's grandson someday. Perhaps this Rolf was him.
After the tour, they headed back to the basement entrance just as Dumbledore and Newt returned. The two wizards were casting Undetectable Extension Charms to expand the basement space. It was demanding work that required considerable skill. Dumbledore drew his wand. It was made of elder wood, like Warren's own, with knotted protrusions, a polished surface, and a jet-black sheen. On the surface, it looked unremarkable.
The Elder Wand.
Sensing the immense, fathomless magical power radiating from Dumbledore, Warren felt a subtle stirring within him. He did not stare, though. As the space expanded and Newt opened his battered suitcase to release the unicorns, the system panel materialized before him.
[Side Quest 2: Save the Unicorns of the Forbidden Forest (Completed)]
[Claim Reward?]
"Claim."
Warren issued the mental command. It was only a language pack, after all. There should not have been any noticeable effects. As he expected, there were not. After claiming the reward, his mind went blank for a moment. His throat and ears prickled slightly. Then, nothing.
Yet he knew something had changed. It was not just the system prompt displaying [Acquired: Unicorn Language].
He could hear other voices now, distinct from his own, from Tina's, Newt's, and Dumbledore's.
"Neigh. Where are we?"
"Neigh. Did you not hear Fawkes? It is some temporary shelter."
"Neigh, neigh. Look at that ugly human child. He is staring at us."
"Neigh, neigh. Hmph. He is filthy. He is disgusting. He is vile."
Warren remained stoic as he listened to these pristine, seemingly ethereal creatures hurl insults at him. He knew they naturally disliked men and preferred the company of maidens. Even so, he felt he might have acted too soon. He really should have let Voldemort drain a bit more of their blood first.
Then, the unicorn of the purest white spoke. "Let us go. Dumbledore is far too ugly. I do not wish to be anywhere near him."
"Yes, yes," the others chimed in agreement.
Warren exhaled slowly. He suddenly felt much better.
By the time everything was finished, it was late. Tina prepared a late-night snack for them, an authentic American dish. It was, well, an experience. Still, it was better than British food.
Dumbledore, once again, was not offered any. He did not mind, cheerfully pulling candy from his pockets to eat instead.
Around midnight, they finally said goodbye to the Scamanders. They walked out of the cottage, and Fawkes Apparated them back to Hogwarts.
The repeated Apparitions seemed to have exhausted the phoenix. It had even shed a few feathers. Warren picked one up and slipped it into his pocket.
Dumbledore observed him with a faint smile. As Warren turned to leave, the old wizard spoke.
"Warren, what did you think of Newt?"
"He is a good man, just as you said, Albus."
Dumbledore nodded. "He is fond of you. He would like you to visit him more often. Would you be willing?"
Warren considered the shy, awkward wizard, comparing him to himself. He eyed Dumbledore suspiciously. What was the old man up to now?
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