Returning to her home through the fireplace, the moment Kate opened her eyes, she saw two figures sitting in the living room.
Dumbledore stepped aside, perfectly revealing an old man behind him who had graying temples but was exceptionally spirited.
Although the face was unfamiliar, upon seeing the other party's age, Kate had already guessed this old man's true identity.
Originally she was guessing between Horace and Newt, but she didn't expect Dumbledore to actually invite this ninety-plus-year-old master of magical creatures.
Newt Scamander, the protagonist of the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
He once attended Hogwarts' Hufflepuff House and is a renowned Magizoologist.
Given Newt's personality, Dumbledore's reputation alone wouldn't be enough to mobilize him; there must also be the boost from her identity.
Maintaining her usual persona, upon seeing a stranger appear in her home, she hid behind Rand.
"Miss, there is no need to worry. This gentleman is your home tutor." Rand bent down, guiding her patiently.
Only then did Kate poke her little head out, her round eyes curiously sizing up the old man behind Dumbledore.
The smile that had just been blooming on her face had restrained, leaving only the constraint of meeting a stranger for the first time:
"Hello, Mr. Professor."
Dumbledore and the old man looked at each other and smiled.
"Newt, doesn't this child look like you when you first entered school back then?" Dumbledore teased with a smile.
Decades of friendship meant the relationship between him and Newt was long past simple teacher and student, but rather true close friends.
Newt Scamander gave him a helpless look, lifted the suitcase at his hand, slowly walked toward Kate, and bent down slightly.
"Hello there, little Shafiq."
Kate, hiding obediently behind Rand, heard his address for her, and her heart grew a few degrees more certain about her previous guess.
The Shafiq family, one of the illustrious twenty-four pure-blood families in the magical world.
It was not strange at all that those elders who also bore the surname Shafiq had crossed paths with Newt, who once commanded the winds and clouds in the magical world.
Kate's eyes brightened slightly, and she slowly walked out from behind Rand, her small hand tentatively grasping the other's hand.
"Professor, you can call me Kate."
The image of a little girl who was not good at expressing herself, introverted yet friendly, was instantly established.
This kind of sensible yet timid child was the most harmless to humans and animals alike.
But because of the massive magic power within her body and the experience of being unable to enter school like other children, it could also make the few old men present, whose average age exceeded eighty, feel pity.
Newt chuckled softly, "Actually, I haven't been at Hogwarts for a long time. My name is Newt Scamander; you can also call me Teacher."
It was still the stage where teacher and student had just met and needed to get familiar. Kate maintained her obedient appearance and nodded, her gaze falling on the suitcase in his hand again.
In her past life, the third installment of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was about to be released, so she naturally knew that this suitcase was not as simple as it looked on the outside.
On the outside, it looked like just a box, but inside, an unimaginably powerful Undetectable Extension Charm was at work.
Not only could it fit the land required for many magical creatures to live, but even changing climates and geographical landscapes like plains and snow-capped mountains were within it.
Relying solely on such a miraculous Undetectable Extension Charm, Newt was enough to be called a master.
Seeing her attention attracted by the suitcase, Newt glanced at Dumbledore smugly and continued to coax the child.
"This is a very magical suitcase. There are many magical creatures inside that you have seen in books before. When you get to my house, I will take you inside to have a look, how about that?"
This tone was so gentle that even Kate began to think her ancestors had blocked an Avada Kedavra for Newt.
If not for a life-and-death friendship, could a magical creature expert coax a child with such kind words?
Speaking of which, even her butler could drink tea with Dumbledore late at night.
The Shafiq family, just what kind of family was it...
Kate suddenly had the illusion of sitting on a mountain of gold without knowing it.
Since entering the magical world was a certainty, having such a master as a teacher was an opportunity that many people couldn't beg for. How could she possibly refuse?
"Okay, Teacher Newt." She nodded gently.
[System Notification: Main Quest 2 completed.]
[Congratulations Host for becoming the disciple of magical master Newt Scamander.]
[Rewards are now being unlocked...]
[Reward 1: Acquire half of Newt Scamander's mastery of the Undetectable Extension Charm.]
[Reward 2: Acquire half of Newt Scamander's affinity for magical creatures.]
[Reward 3: Acquire Newt Scamander's forty years of magic power accumulation (Not recommended to choose).]
Alright then, another "not recommended to choose."
However, this time Kate had learned her lesson; just Dumbledore's fifty years of magic power was enough for her to struggle with.
If another forty years of Newt's magic power were added, her small body would probably be directly burst by the magic power.
But the current situation wasn't quite suitable for calming down to think about how to choose the reward, so better to wait until evening.
Maintaining her smile as she closed the System, Kate looked at Newt curiously: "Teacher Newt, are we going to your house next?"
"If nothing unexpected happens, you will be staying at my house for the next few months."
Newt blinked at her, straightened up, and whispered a few words to Rand.
She didn't hear clearly what they said, but Kate saw very truly that the old butler's expression stagnated slightly.
However, only a few seconds later, he nodded with a solemn face and added an instruction: "I entrust Miss's health to you."
"I will take good care of her, if only for the sake of her grandfather." Newt replied just as solemnly.
Hmm... two short sentences, but a lot of information.
The old butler didn't seem to be going with her to Newt's house, and Newt himself seemed to have some past with her grandfather.
As for what exactly the origin was, Kate had no way of knowing, and Newt probably wouldn't tell her at this stage either.
"Grandpa." Her small hand tugged at the old butler dependently.
Rand lowered his head and saw Kate's eyes rimmed with red: "Is Grandpa not going to Teacher's house with me?"
His old and withered heart was instantly moistened by the child's tears that were about to fall but hadn't yet.
He squatted down and hugged Kate, gently stroking that soft silver hair: "Miss will go to school alone in the future too; you must adapt well starting now."
"Mm, I know." Kate wiped her red nose and responded obediently.
In all these years, this was the first time she had to be separated from the old butler for so long.
Rand smiled with relief and gently pushed the small body in his arms outward, "Miss, I will wait for you at Shafiq Manor."
"Get ready, we are leaving." Newt lowered his hand, wiped the tears from Kate's face, and reminded her softly.
As soon as his voice fell, the two disappeared into thin air.
________________________________________
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