Chapter 388: Newt's Life Experience
Chapter 388: Newt’s Life Experience
Just as Felix was about to introduce everyone, a black shadow darted out of the tent, climbed up Newt’s leg, and perched on his shoulder, one hand on its hip and the other pointing at Felix.
“Chirp! Chirp!” Niffler Valen chirped excitedly.
Even Harry and the others could tell that the Niffler was tattling.
“Oh, Valen,” Newt said soothingly, “It’s good to learn more, you should really read the chapter I wrote about Nifflers. And if you could read, I could write you a letter every year...”
Niffler Valen looked at Newt in disbelief.
Newt met its gaze, “Are you still taking your tonic? I brought a dose...”
“Chirp!”
Niffler let out a mournful cry, leapt from Newt’s shoulder into Felix’s arms, and hid its head, causing everyone to chuckle.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Mr. Newt Scamander, the most renowned expert in the protection of magical creatures in the world,” Felix said, holding Niffler and smiling. “Mr. Scamander arrived this morning, and Headmaster Dumbledore successfully persuaded him to leave a precious memory for Hogwarts to keep... If anyone writes the history of this school in the future, today will certainly be a noteworthy entry.”
Newt looked at Felix with a slightly uncomfortable expression, mirroring the one on his memory’s face.
The admiration for knowledge shone in Hermione’s eyes as she eagerly said, “Mr. Newt Scamander, we wrote to you—Hermione, Harry, and Ron,” she pointed to the two beside her, “about Hagrid’s Buckbeak! It’s still in the Forbidden Forest, living with its family!”
Newt glanced at Hermione, then at the slightly shorter Harry and Ron, and the others standing nearby—Cedric, Collins, and Roger Davies—all staring at him intently. He realized he had become the center of attention.
He softly said, “Hermione Granger? Oh... I just did what I thought was right... and I’m glad I did.”
They gathered around a simple wooden table in the camp, the grain of the wood clearly visible on its surface. Newt’s memory said quietly, “Sorry, I must take my leave,” and then vanished.
Newt blinked, looking wistfully at the spot where his memory had disappeared. When he turned back, he found everyone looking at him with a mix of surprise. He cleared his throat, “Well, let’s get started... Dumbledore told me I just needed to leave a memory and leave the rest to him... but I insisted on meeting you all before I left. I thought it was important.”
“My travels have taken me across five continents. I have visited the dens of beasts, the burrows of underground creatures, and the nests of birds. I have observed the peculiar habits of magical creatures in over a hundred countries, experiencing their abilities firsthand, earning their trust, and occasionally using a traveling flask to drive them away.”
“A traveling flask...?” Roger Davies chuckled, smoothing his hair, “Did you encounter a group of migrating goblins?”
The others also found it amusing.
However, Newt answered Davies seriously, “No, a group of Bundimuns.”
“What’s that?” Harry asked.
“Hmm—”
Felix wiggled his fingers, and a strange creature appeared on the ground, about a foot tall, covered in fur, but with a smooth, gray, oversized head.
“Just like that,” Newt said cheerfully. “See, their heads are disproportionately large compared to their bodies. They lie flat on the ground—yes, thank you—so if you’re not careful, you might mistake them for a bright, round stone. Many traveling wizards have rested against them, using them as pillows, only to wake up feeling more exhausted, drowsy... or in a state of hysterical despair.”
“These creatures like to chase shadows. If you encounter one in the wild, you can make some noise to scare it off, or use a Stunning Spell, or simply kick it away...”
Among the six, only Cedric had chosen the sixth-year course on protecting magical creatures, influenced by his father—Mr. Amos Diggory, who worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry of Magic. He had seen pictures of Bundimuns in class, but hearing Newt’s description still felt fresh. They noticed that this somewhat reticent old man became eloquent when talking about magical creatures, often sharing many interesting details.
Harry asked about the Thunderbird.
“It’s a large, flying magical creature that can sense danger and create storms during flight,” Newt reminisced. “About seventy years ago, to be precise, in 1926, I rescued a Thunderbird from a vendor in Egypt. I named it Frank, and some events occurred... I can’t say more, I signed a confidentiality agreement... but I met my wife during this incident...”
A smile played on his lips.
“The Thunderbird is somewhat like an enlarged eagle, with brilliant feathers that vary in color but generally have two long tail plumes—they are distant relatives of the Phoenix. Frank’s feathers were gold and white, shining like flowing clouds in the sunlight.”
Harry followed up, “But I heard, uh, that Thunderbird feathers can be used for wands. What are the characteristics of such wands? And what about the Horned Serpent?”
Barty had told him that his wand core was a Thunderbird feather, and Viktor Krum’s wand core was a piece of the Horned Serpent’s horn.
Newt thought for a moment and said, "Thunderbirds are highly sensitive to supernatural dangers. It's said that wands made from Thunderbird feathers are not only incredibly powerful but can also cast spells first in duels..." Harry and the others exchanged significant glances, and Newt continued, "But I think this description is a bit exaggerated. My wife Tina's wand is made from a Thunderbird feather, and I'm quite familiar with it. She often complains to me that her wand is difficult to control."
"As for the Horned Serpent, I don't know much about its wand", Newt said honestly. "But I do know that if there's a strong bond between the wand and its owner, the wand can give warnings in dangerous situations, which is similar to the Horned Serpent's natural behavior..."
Felix interjected, "I happen to know a bit about wand materials. One thing you should understand is that while wands choose the wizard, over time, the wizard also influences the wand. Even wands made from the same materials and cores can perform vastly differently depending on the wizard. So, you should focus more on the person."
The group nodded in agreement.
For the next hour, they chatted and enjoyed a leisurely evening, as if they were really in Professor Hup's company, visiting the Romanian Fire Dragon Reserve and coincidentally meeting a wise elder.
"…My first encounter with a Fire Dragon was during a secret Ministry of Magic project in 1914. I had just turned of age and was a low-level employee at the Ministry… But the others in the department couldn't handle the Ukrainian Ironbelly dragons, so they turned to me. They had to abandon the project because the Ministry's investigators found that the dragons only responded to me…"
Harry and the others stared at Newt in amazement as he explained, "I have a natural ability to communicate with different creatures and form bonds with them. I'm quite skilled at dealing with them… Later, in 1918, the publisher of Obscurus Books, Augustus Worme, commissioned me to write an authoritative handbook on magical creatures. I eagerly accepted the offer, but I also felt my own limitations. So, I used my holidays to travel the world and gather material, and in 1925, I embarked on a year-long journey to document the habitats of various magical creatures…"
The young wizards, including Felix, listened in silence. It was fascinating to hear a distinguished, even great wizard, recount his early experiences and feel the profound thoughts that couldn't be captured in writing.
"That was a wonderful time, carefree and always looking forward to the next day. I traversed the dark African forests to observe the precious moment of a Nundu snake hatching from its egg; I crossed the bright Egyptian deserts to trace the local legends of sphinxes; I wandered to the remote Irish green lakes to clothe the Kelpie in bulrushes; and I traversed the winding European mountains to witness the comical attempts of a Mountain Troll to tame a Horned Beak…"
"By 1927, I had completed the first edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which quickly became a bestseller."
"It's even a Hogwarts textbook!" Roger Davies said.
"My mom used it as a storybook to put me to sleep… but she didn't realize it had the opposite effect", Cedric said, and the group chuckled.
...
"Kids", Newt said, preparing to end the conversation.
"I initially wanted to help more people understand the characteristics of magical creatures that share our world, and to improve my own life. People back then had biases against these animals, and for centuries, there were debates about what constitutes an animal and what constitutes a human… It was during my travels that I began to deeply think about the relationship between animals and humans. If there's one thing I urgently want to tell you from my experiences, it's that only communication and understanding can eliminate barriers."
Newt stood up and adjusted his blue coat.
"Mr. Scamander, are you really not staying for a couple more days?" Felix asked, trying to persuade him.
"I'm a bit worried about Tina… She's at home, taking care of the magical creatures in the basement, which isn't an easy task", Newt said. "I've left all my knowledge about magical creatures behind. It will take my place and tell you everything about Fire Dragons."
"I wish you all the best in your challenge", he said, putting on his hat and addressing the six brave souls.
Harry and the others responded in a disorganized manner. Then Hermione asked, "Mr. Scamander, what was your feeling when you first learned you would face a Fire Dragon? Were you afraid?"
"Afraid?"
"Concerned, perhaps, or too excited to sleep", Hermione clarified.
"My perspective might not suit you, but to me, worry is just another form of suffering. And whether it was me back then or you now, we are both facing Fire Dragons in a relatively safe environment, so we can be a bit more at ease… I hope this helps, Hermione Granger", Newt replied earnestly.
As he prepared to leave, he saw his memory hidden in the mist, surrounded by magical creatures.
The memories were vivid, and his eyes moistened. He took a deep breath and left the seventh classroom with the group.
(End of Chapter)
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