"Can an owl really turn into a dragon?"
"I've never seen anything like it—"
"Professor Scamander, is this what you'd call a Dracowl?"
The young wizards and witches chirped excitedly around Newt, convinced that the knowledgeable Professor Scamander would have the answer to their questions.
"It is the effect of a specific alchemical product," Scamander explained patiently, though, in typical fashion, he didn't make direct eye contact with any of them.
"Oh—"
The students let out a collective sound of realization.
"It has to be those Fairytale Biscuits," said a witch named Tina, looking at Sean with a gaze full of admiration. "I heard they're only sold in Diagon Alley back in Britain."
A few other students glanced at Sean before turning their attention back to Newt.
---
After all, Professor Scamander was currently introducing them to a Niffler...
The creature was covered in black fluff with a long snout, staring curiously back at the many students.
As for the Fairytale Biscuits, the students were obviously no strangers to this alchemical invention. It would be stranger if they didn't know about something that had been plastered across the Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, and Transfiguration Today for months on end.
Not to mention, the inventor had recently been featured on a Chocolate Frog Card—even if it was just a shot of his back.
As for Sean? He was currently tapping his finger lightly on Whitey's head.
The owl, sporting silver-white tail feathers, looked at him with a mix of grievance and annoyance. It swiveled its head a full hundred and eighty degrees, refusing to look at him any longer.
Meanwhile, the Occamy was curled up in Sean's pocket—both it and Tyra were watching the scene like an audience.
Sean was still surprised; he hadn't expected the Occamy to slip into his pocket on its own.
He silently extended a finger, and the Occamy, as if sensing his intention, wrapped itself around it. It felt cool and slick to the touch.
> [System: You have gained the affection of the magical creature Occamy (Una) at an expert level. Affinity +50]
The interface chimed in Sean's mind. He was surprised again; it seemed he had underestimated the power of Epic-level Magical Creature Affinity.
---
The Care of Magical Creatures class ended quickly.
"Mr. Wall, would you mind staying behind?" Newt asked.
Every student turned to look at Sean. The boy, bundled up in his winter robes, nodded.
"Man, if I were in England, I could buy those Fairytale Biscuits too—then maybe I'd get asked to stay behind by Professor Scamander," a tall wizard grumbled.
"You'd need an invitation first," Tina remarked, shooting him a glance.
"But the Occamy seems so friendly to wizards. It's not really like what's written in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them..." a red-haired witch asked curiously.
"Occamy eggs are worth a fortune. The shells are made of the softest, purest silver—that's why so many poachers hunt them. There have been plenty of reports of Occamies hurting people. This is the first time I've heard your perspective," Tina said, displaying the rigorous logic typical of a Horned Serpent student. She was inclined to believe this case was an exception.
The students chattered as they walked away, leaving only Sean to approach the veteran alumnus.
Just then, the Occamy in Sean's pocket darted out. As if anticipating this, Newt unlatched his suitcase just a crack.
"Occamies can grow to the size of a nine-story building, yet they retain their childhood fear of owls," Newt said softly. "Just like Alfie here—he's a Niffler, but when it mattered most, he stole the most important thing imaginable. Even the humblest creatures have their own ways."
Sean paused. He knew the deeper context.
For instance, it was a Niffler that had stolen the Blood Pact from Grindelwald right before his duel with Dumbledore. That incident had happened right after Newt had practically turned the Ministry of Magic upside down...
Headmaster Dumbledore, Newt, Harry... they had all fought battles within the Ministry.
...Apparently, being an outstanding Hogwarts graduate required causing a scene at the Ministry of Magic at least once as a final exam.
"Can it drink tea?" Sean asked.
Newt blinked, then a smile spread across his face as he finally looked Sean in the eye.
"Milk would be better," Newt said. "And remember to hide the teaspoons."
Once, this exact conversation had happened in Hogwarts castle, between the very same professor and student.
"I believe you have a great gift with magical creatures, and the animals can sense a true wizard..." Newt turned slightly, gently tucking the Niffler into his pocket. "Would you like to come inside and take a look?"
Sean nodded vigorously.
Whether there was a Wampus cat inside or not, he stood to learn a great deal. This knowledge would be a massive help in his creation of Undetectable Extension Charms and future batches of Fairytale Biscuits.
Newt laid the case flat on the ground and then descended into it, disappearing step by step.
Though he was ninety-five years old, he was still agile, vanishing from sight in moments.
After Newt had been "swallowed" by the case, Sean stepped onto the ladder, a buzz of excitement in his chest.
Passing through the narrow entrance, an incredibly vast and wide world opened up before him.
Even though he was mentally prepared, Sean was struck by the sheer scale of it.
The first thing to catch his eye was a sweeping savanna, followed by a dense rainforest and an endless stretch of woods. In the distance, he could see snow-capped mountains, caves, rocky peaks, and sandy dunes...
Higher up, floating above the other habitats, were specks of glowing light—this was where Newt raised his Billywigs (or perhaps glowing bugs), with vines weaving between small floating islands.
These environments looked as if they had been forcibly sliced from the world and transplanted here. Right next to the snowy mountains, there was a scorching savanna where a few sparse trees grew, providing a home for the Erumpents.
A Bowtruckle climbed from a nearby tree onto Sean's shoulder. As Sean looked at it with curiosity, Newt stood nearby, wearing a faint, gentle smile.
"Those who are accepted by magical creatures, those with more talent, often end up walking a path of greater responsibility," Newt said, then began walking forward.
"So... why do we, as a society and as individuals, continue to protect and hide magical creatures, even the savage and untamable ones? The answer, of course, is this: to ensure that future generations of witches and wizards enjoy the same right to admire their beautiful, strange forms and magical abilities as we do."
Sean had recited the passage verbatim from the foreword of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
"Few people remember that part. Compared to the descriptions of the magnificent beasts, it's not exactly the most exciting read," Newt said, looking at Sean with a hint of shyness at hearing his own words quoted back to him.
"I think..." Sean stroked Whitey's smooth feathers. In the Chamber of Secrets, in the Forbidden Forest, both Whitey and Tyra had been partners who fought by his side. "I think magical creatures and humans share the same wizarding world."
Newt looked at the young wizard with a dawn of realization. The boy was exactly as Dumbledore had described in his letters—perhaps even more so.
"Follow me," Newt said with a smile.