Out of nowhere, Sean found himself with a Pukwudgie butler.
Though the creature usually held its head high, after Professor Tyra burst into the cabin and enthusiastically helped Sean finalize the contract, its head hung low.
Sean couldn't shake the feeling that this resembled... the domestication process of a house-elf.
"Pukwudgies follow great wizards, witnessing glory and fearing no death," William said, his expression grim and cold.
Beside him, however, the Pukwudgie named Will wore a look of fanatical devotion.
"Well, that's a first—a wizard taking a Pukwudgie with him," Headmistress Herrera remarked. She set down a mayflower, left that parting comment, and departed.
Now, it was just Sean staring at the Pukwudgie named Will.
True, he needed a steward, but... this was all happening very fast.
"You will become a wizard as great as Lady Isolt Sayre. Will offers you his loyalty," the Pukwudgie declared, dropping to one knee.
"Pukwudgies are a proud race," Professor Tyra explained, her face glowing with pride and relief. "They enjoy playing tricks on humans. But for the Pukwudgies gathered here at Ilvermorny, things are different."
"Lady Sayre established the Ilvermorny forest as hunting grounds for the Pukwudgies to thank William for saving her life. They have lived and thrived here for generations. They are grateful to Lady Sayre and admire William deeply."
"They want to become legends, just like William. So, generation after generation, Pukwudgies search for what they call a 'great wizard'—and I must say, they have an eye for talent that wizards can't even imagine."
Tyra had once tried to recruit a Pukwudgie herself. They were feistier than house-elves and, in a way, even more stubborn. Or perhaps, they possessed a loyalty that rivaled even that of house-elves.
Obviously, she had failed back then. But seeing her student succeed now made her eyebrows lift in delight.
"Did you find the Wampus cat? And how is the Book of the Wizard coming along?"
Professor Tyra had been busy lately. Now that a week had passed since Christmas, she slipped back into the role of the benevolent mentor concerned with her junior's studies.
Sean helped Will to his feet first. Their contract wasn't one of total servitude; it was more like an investment.
The Pukwudgie would serve Sean and follow his orders, but only for a term of thirty years. After that, the Pukwudgie could decide whether to stay or go.
Considering Pukwudgies lived for centuries—William, for instance, was at least four hundred years old—thirty years was a drop in the bucket for them.
"The Book of the Wizard has been fleshed out a bit," Sean answered earnestly.
"Show me," Tyra said, raising an eyebrow.
When the three-hundred-square-meter introductory plains area unfolded before her, she could smell the scent of grass and earth. Her expression went blank.
"A bit...?" she muttered, letting out a helpless laugh. "And the Wampus cat? Did you fi—"
Before she could finish, Ilva pounced right in front of Sean.
"Well then..." Tyra's smile was genuine and warm. "My dear student, it seems our mission at Ilvermorny is complete."
Sean stroked Ilva's head, giving a small smile and a nod.
Stepping out of the wooden cabin, Sean saw that the stone hut of Ilvermorny had vanished once again. It had only existed for a Headmistress unwilling to leave; now that she was gone, so was the hut.
Walking along the snowy path, Sean noticed William polishing the statue of Isolt Sayre one last time.
Beside Sean, Will watched his elder silently.
"Master William says that to forge a bond is to accept the risk of shedding tears," Will blurted out suddenly.
Professor Tyra looked at him with interest.
"I am Master William's favorite junior. I remember every word he says," Will added, seemingly very proud.
Professor Tyra found his random outbursts quite amusing.
"I think I will shed tears for you too, Mr. Green," Will said seriously.
This made Professor Tyra laugh uncontrollably. Sean just nodded gently to show he understood.
"Why did you choose young Green?" Tyra asked curiously.
"Master William chose him," Will replied.
"Oh, alright. Then why you specifically?" she pressed.
"Master William chose me," Will said.
"Right then..."
Amidst this banter, the two wizards and the Pukwudgie entered Ilvermorny Castle.
Newt was leaving to return to Dorset, England. Sean and Professor Tyra had completed their mission. This meant they could all travel together.
As for why Newt wasn't staying in America? Well, as he wrote in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them:
> After MACUSA heard that my case contained a large number of unregistered magical creatures, Tina, Jacob, and I were arrested. Unfortunately, MACUSA later found an Obscurus in my case as well. Consequently, Percival Graves sentenced Tina and me to death...
After the Hufflepuff alumnus caused such a stir in New York, the Magical Congress of the United States of America (MACUSA) held a strange stance toward him: welcoming, yet ready to deport him at a moment's notice.
Sean figured he could finish the snowy region of his book before they left. If he ran into trouble, he could still ask Mr. Scamander for help.
Sean's schedule was tight again—perfecting such a large space took immense time and energy.
Luckily, he now had a Pukwudgie butler. At least Sean wouldn't have to run out to the snowy fields himself to capture spatial fragments—Pukwudgies could Apparate.
As Sean looked out the window to select a location, Ilvermorny Castle was still shrouded in mist. Wizards were murmuring dejectedly about the Honorary Professor's imminent departure.
Over the past few days, they had seen more magical creatures than they would in a lifetime.
Occamies that grew and shrank at will; Thunderbirds that summoned storms and made hair stand on end; Demiguises that invisibly approached wizards undetected...
The variety of magical beasts had left the young wizards dazzled.
And now, this Honorary Professor was leaving. He sat at the High Table in the dining hall, smiling shyly at every student who came to say goodbye.
Beside his hand lay a gilded invitation.
In the wizarding world, there was basically only one shop that operated by invitation only.
"Tell Tina to write me a sincere letter, and maybe I'll find time to visit her," Headmistress Herrera said to Newt, pretending to be casual.
"I'll pass that along," Newt said, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smile.
"So you're finally going to the Fairytale Workshop?" Herrera asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"I want to buy a few," Newt said, his eyes full of anticipation.
"A few...?" Herrera looked at him oddly. "You do know they have a strict purchase limit of two, right?"
Newt's smile slowly faded.