Chapter 118: Farewell to Scamander
During dinner, Wade met Tina Scamander—the wife of Newt. Though advanced in years, she remained a strikingly elegant woman, her white hair neatly swept behind her ears, dressed in a perfectly tailored emerald-green long dress. The way she spread butter on her bread was so graceful it seemed like an art form.
Just one glance from Mrs. Scamander was enough to quiet even the most restless of her family—whether it was the esteemed Newt or the mischievous Rolf—both instantly settling into their seats, patiently waiting for the meal to begin.
The Scamander household lived a life of quiet charm, a different kind of magic altogether. Every morning, someone from the family would rise early and begin tending to the various creatures housed in Newt’s suitcase. Whether it was due to Newt’s famed reputation among magical beasts or simply his kindness, many animals—especially those injured or in distress—would seek him out on their own.
In just a few days since Wade’s arrival, he had already witnessed two Hippocampus entangled in fishing nets, a sea serpent that had accidentally swallowed a plastic bag, and an Invisibility Beast burned by some unknown flame.
Newt was a master at healing magical creatures. He could perform surgeries, deliver newborns, and even treat wounds with intricate spells. Some smaller fantastic beasts had come to regard the suitcase as their ideal sanctuary. Even after their troubles were resolved, they refused to leave—begging, clinging, and behaving like spoiled children. Newt could never say no, and so they stayed, until they themselves were ready to depart.
Thus, despite Newt’s lifelong commitment to returning magical creatures to the wild, his suitcase had never been empty. Instead, it grew fuller, more vibrant, more alive with every passing year.
Wade felt he’d already completed years’ worth of study in magical creature care simply by being here.
During afternoon breaks, Newt guided Wade in refining his Pen Box Space. He took him to the nearby Jurassic Coast, where they carefully carved out a small section of beach and seawater and brought it into the space. Then, they transplanted a fragment of woodland from the forest, teaching Wade how to seamlessly merge two distinct environments.
They also learned how to apply Weather Spells to maintain balance—otherwise, the internal climates would deteriorate rapidly. But to prevent one environment from influencing the other, a separation spell was required. The Isolation Charm needed a physical boundary—a row of fence, a curtain, a stone—anything tangible. A completely empty space wouldn’t work.
Within a little over a week, Wade’s Closet Space had undergone a dramatic transformation. Within an area slightly larger than a swimming pool, waves lapped against golden sand, and Hermit Crabs scuttled slowly through the shallows. A narrow strip of trees stood tall, their roots cradling sprouting mushrooms. Then came a patch of lush green grass, about twenty square meters, dotted with yellow Dandelions gently swaying in the breeze.
Though everything was miniature, the once-empty space now brimmed with life. Newt was deeply impressed by Wade’s learning speed.
……
That morning, Wade was carefully bandaging a tiny wound on a Tree Guardian’s arm when Rolf burst into the suitcase, holding a letter in his hand, grinning ear to ear.
“Wade! A letter from school!”
“Thank you, Rolf.” Wade tied off the bandage, wiped his hands, then took the letter.
Inside was the train schedule—again, departure from King’s Cross Station on September 1st—and a list of required books for second year. Aside from Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2, the rest were all titles by Gilderoy Lockhart.
Unsurprisingly, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for the year would be the same flamboyant peacock.
“Gilderoy Lockhart again?” Rolf pulled out his own acceptance letter, grinning. “Me too!”
Wade blinked. “You’ve already received your acceptance letter… You’re eleven now?”
Rolf looked small for his age, and Wade had always assumed he was barely ten.
“Of course!” Rolf declared proudly. “I turned eleven last month! Wade, let’s go to Diagon Alley together to buy our books!”
“Sure,” Wade said. “We’ll go on Wednesday.”
“Wednesday?” Rolf paused, checking the calendar in his mind. “Is there something special that day?”
“Gilderoy Lockhart’s new book release party,” Wade said with a quiet chuckle. “I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Whoa! I didn’t know you were a fan of Lockhart!” Rolf exclaimed, eyes wide. “Do you really think his smile is charming?”
“…What smile?” Wade asked, genuinely puzzled.
“The one from the Wizard Weekly Most Charming Smile Award—he’s won it five times!”
Rolf wrinkled his nose. “I’m telling you, don’t get mad… but I think his smile is totally fake. It’s just… well… over-the-top.”
“Over-the-top?” Wade offered.
“Yes, exactly!”
“I don’t care if his smile is charming or not,” Wade explained. “I just think Diagon Alley will be packed that day. There might be something interesting happening.”
“Oh, right,” Rolf nodded. “Then I’ll come too! I want to see for myself—how does he get so many people to like him?”
……
Time passed swiftly. Before they knew it, Wednesday arrived.
Wade had packed his trunk early, finished breakfast, and said his heartfelt thanks and goodbyes to the Scamander couple.
After buying his books, the holiday would be short. The rest of the time, he wanted to spend with his parents.
Rolf was reluctant. Like many wizarding children, he had few friends. Meeting someone his own age felt like a rare treasure, and he didn’t want to let go. But he had excellent manners. Though his disappointment was plain to see, he didn’t beg Wade to stay. Instead, he handed him a comic book series he adored.
Wade, in turn, gave him a self-designed automatic feeding device—enchanted so it could even emit a call that attracted magical creatures.
As they said their final goodbyes, Newt placed a hand on Wade’s shoulder and said, “The world is vast. Our knowledge of it is but a single horn of an iceberg.”
“There are many wizards who believe protecting magical creatures is pointless. To them, magical beasts are just ingredients for potions, or tools to show off with.”
“But I’ve always believed that wizards and magical creatures are one. If, one day, all magical beasts vanished from the Earth… perhaps wizards would vanish too.”
“…These are just my humble thoughts. If you don’t agree, if you don’t feel connected to them… that’s fine.”
“But I do hope more people will come to love, protect, and cherish magical creatures—rather than harm them without thought.”
“I promise, Mr. Scamander,” Wade said solemnly. “Everything I’ve learned from you—nothing will ever be used to harm magical creatures.”
Newt looked at him with his light-colored eyes, then slowly smiled—a smile so warm and genuine it seemed to light up the entire suitcase.
(End of Chapter)
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