Lockhart spent a delightful time at the Scamander Farm Manor.
He knew that Newt's son had so enthusiastically invited him to stay because he was worried that the spell might have some lingering effects or after-effects on his father, and hoped Lockhart would be on hand to offer timely assistance.
It was only natural, and Lockhart understood.
Newt, by contrast, was exceptionally welcoming. Upon learning in conversation that Lockhart intended to teach Care of Magical Creatures at Hogwarts next semester, he took him around to meet the various animals nurtured on the farm.
Newt's legs had recovered a lot in the past few days. Leaning on a cane, he led Lockhart to a group of Granian horses, explaining how to befriend these magical creatures by sharing sweets.
But Lockhart already knew how to do it.
Because when he helped Newt back up his professional memories, he had secretly made a copy for himself.
The spellcasting itself was far from as easy as Newt and his son imagined. While it seemed to be over in a flash, that was partly due to Lockhart's deepening understanding of the memory field, and also due to Newt's exceptional cooperation in opening up his soul.
Few people were willing to so calmly drop all their defenses. It was no simple feat. The old man before him possessed an unimaginable breadth of spirit and a life philosophy closer to nature itself.
Lockhart wasn't smug about so easily acquiring someone else's memories; instead, he felt an even greater admiration for a man like Newt.
"Granian features are very distinct. Besides being entirely grey, their wings always have a uniquely light feel. They are the fastest flying of all the winged horses."
"Common Hippogriff breeds now each have their distinct characteristics. The Abraxan has the most opulent appearance and the strongest physique; it's the strongest of the winged horses." Newt blinked mischievously as he explained. "Hagrid once rode an Abraxan at another one of my creature sanctuaries. You can imagine how strong it is."
Lockhart gave an impressed "Wow," recalling Hagrid's sturdy and imposing physique, and exclaimed, "I can picture it perfectly!"
Newt continued, "The Aethonan, with its chestnut mane, is the most common winged horse in Britain and Ireland. They're known for being easy to care for and are a Ministry-approved mode of transportation. A very small number of Aethonans can breathe fire."
"And Thestrals. You must have seen them at Hogwarts. Only wizards who have witnessed death can see them. Their skeletal appearance often leads wizards to consider them the mounts of death, bringing ill omens. But in truth, their temperament is very stable, and they possess extraordinary directional abilities, making them the only magical creatures with better pathfinding abilities than owls."
Then, he smiled oddly. "Dumbledore loves to travel on a Thestral. He has no idea how much he scares people that way."
Thestrals, Granians, Abraxans, Aethonans – these were the four most common winged horse breeds in the wizarding world, standing out from countless other breeds with their unique superior bloodlines and widely beloved by wizards.
As they chatted, Newt began teaching Lockhart how to stroke a Granian's back, which would give them a unique sense of pleasure. Then, by observing their eyes and tail, he showed him how to understand what they wanted to express.
Just as he was speaking, Newt's son arrived with a large bucket of chocolate rainbow candies, pouring them into the feeding trough. The surrounding Granians all rushed over. The Granian that Lockhart had been stroking comfortably hesitated, looking at Lockhart for a moment, then at the trough.
"Go on, eat," Newt said with a chuckle, patting the horse's back and urging it to go eat.
The horse then galloped over light-footedly, rather domineeringly trying to drive away the other Granians, only to be admonished by Newt's son. A lively scene unfolded in the distance.
"My son teaches at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; he graduated from that school," Newt said with a chuckle, subtly observing Lockhart's expression. "The reason he didn't choose Hogwarts was because he hoped to distance himself from this place, which leans more towards ancient wizarding traditions, and stay away from political activities like bloodline debates, so that his life could be purer."
Lockhart watched the little old man, who couldn't hide his emotions at all, with amusement. "He should indeed distance himself. Politics is the most boring thing. I prefer magic too."
"In fact, rather than exploring the future life of Muggles and wizards from a political angle, I lean more towards a magical perspective."
Newt's eyes lit up. "Are you also exploring such topics?"
Newt himself, of course, disliked politics and didn't want to discuss Muggles and wizards. He was purer in his approach, but his son seemed more interested in such content, though strictly from a magical standpoint.
His son, young Scamander, walked over, smiling happily as he watched the Hippogriffs squabbling over the sugar beans. Hearing their discussion, he joined in. "When I teach Care of Magical Creatures at school, I focus more on exploring magical creature species that could potentially foster the future lives of Muggles and wizards. Hippogriffs are one of the main subjects I teach."
"They are easier for Muggles to accept, making it simpler for everyone to appreciate the beauty of magical creatures, and encouraging more people to engage with, accept, and grow fond of them."
The three chatted animatedly. Newt's 'Humans and Natural Beings,' young Scamander's 'Exploring the Future Life of Wizards and Muggles,' and Lockhart's 'Fairy Tale Life Theory' seemed to find common ground on some level. They shared their explorations in their respective fields, learning much from each other.
Gradually, Newt and young Scamander's subtle wariness towards Lockhart completely vanished.
Pure-hearted individuals can sense whether another soul is pure. Newt wasn't truly anti-social; rather, he preferred to communicate with pure beings, be they animals or humans.
Their conversation shifted from Newt's life with humans and magical creatures to Lockhart's depiction of the 'animalistic' nature of magical animals in wizarding life, then to young Scamander's exploration of the future lives of wizards and Muggles, which led them to a unique, large fish tank.
The fish tank resembled a vast lake, nestled between low mountains, magically simulating the ocean's tidal environment. Inside, golden, remora-like marine fish lived.
"The ocean, a place Muggles haven't truly conquered yet. The immense help magical creatures can provide here will allow Muggles and wizards to live together more harmoniously."
Even now, with the Statute of Secrecy restricting wizards and Muggles from living together, young Scamander firmly believed in a future trend of integration. Though he didn't put forward any political agendas, he quietly prepared for such a future.
He introduced the magical creatures he was currently breeding and optimizing. "The Ramora fish possess strong magical properties and can anchor sea vessels, even in the most dreadful ocean storms. It will provide the most solid foundation for humans to explore the deep ocean, allowing them to navigate the sea as if they were on land."
The passion of this father-and-son duo for their research undoubtedly pointed Lockhart in a new direction.
They, who similarly disliked political narratives, poured their energy into practical work, contributing to a beautiful distant future. Perhaps their current explorations weren't widely celebrated, but they were profound enough to have far-reaching impact.
Lockhart felt as if he saw a real path leading into the future.
He began to more earnestly seek their wisdom in this area. This wisdom resided in flashes of brilliant insight, something that mere knowledge from memories couldn't replace. It was the most beautiful radiance within humanity.
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