Chapter 42: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Newt was never one for following the rules. Although he lived in Muggle society and was retired, you couldn’t expect him to completely abandon his lifelong cause and hobbies.
The Scamander family’s basement had been converted into a vast space.
The space was divided into different areas. On a patch of seemingly desolate grassland, Tina and Vaughn poked their heads out from a secret door beneath the ground.
Under the cover of dry, yellowing grass, they each held up a telescope.
Tina quietly asked, “Did you see it?”
“I did… one of them seems very excited, but the other doesn’t seem too interested,” Vaughn replied.
Vaughn answered.
Through the telescopic view, they focused on two colossal figures in the distance.
Even from afar, it was clear they weighed at least a ton, with smooth, thick, wrinkled skin.
They had horns and, at first glance, resembled rhinos.
But when one of the bouncing creatures panted with excitement, its horn began to glow a fiery red.
The junction between the horn and the head was the brightest, shimmering as if filled with magma-like material.
“They’re called Graphorns. Their horns contain explosive fluid. The excited one is a female; she smelled the musk on the male,” Tina whispered.
Tina said quietly, “Newt rescued them last year. Some dark wizards were specifically catching them in Africa and smuggling them to Britain. Because they were away from home for too long, it was difficult for them to return to their herds. Newt hopes to help these two form a pair, start a new family, and then release them…”
As she spoke, they saw through the telescopes that as soon as the bouncing Graphorn approached its companion, it was nudged away.
Vaughn looked at Tina, “The male doesn’t seem interested in the female.”
“Yes, the right to reproduce among animals is determined by competition between groups to decide a winner,” Tina sighed. “There are only these two here, without fierce battles or rivals to kill, the male can’t get excited.”
Vaughn shrugged, “It’s a wonder they haven’t gone extinct with such breeding habits.”
“Sigh…” Tina was also troubled.
She continued to lead Vaughn on an adventure through the vast basement.
Over two hours, they visited swamps, high mountains, snowy plains, and forests.
They saw all sorts of magical creatures, including water horses living in freshwater lakes, Chameleon that liked to run in forests, and Billywigs from Australia—
These were all smuggled goods Newt had rescued. Especially the Billywigs, which, after stinging someone, would cause them to float, literally float.
This led many adult wizards and young wizards to treat them as prank toys, and they were actually classified as XXX magical creatures, with their sale and circulation restricted by the Ministry of Magic, only allowing some candy manufacturers to import them（. Their stingers are the raw material for Fizzing Whizbees）.
Thus, a black market naturally formed.
Tina also took Vaughn for a ride on an Aerobird, a peculiar magical creature that on the ground resembles a clumsy dodo bird, plump with short wings.
But when taking off, it rapidly changes form, inflating itself into a large balloon, floating into the air like a hot air balloon, then expelling gas and transforming into another giant form for flying.
Its tail is retractable, and to ride it, one is actually coiled by its tail.
These were only a part of what Newt had contained. In fact, due to the demand for Potions and Alchemy, many highly dangerous magical creatures had been saved by Newt from smugglers.
However, they had long been sent by Newt to the protection zones of various ministries of magic in different countries.
The wide variety of magical creatures made Vaughn very interested.
He had only encountered Materials from them before; this was his first time seeing live creatures.
“You and Rolf might become friends,” Tina said to Vaughn.
Tina told Vaughn, “He is my grandson and also loves magical creatures.”
Vaughn recalled that he had no impression of this name, but he vaguely remembered that Luna the ‘Loony’s’ future husband seemed to be Newt’s grandson.
Could it be this person named Rolf?
After a tour, upon returning to the basement entrance, Dumbledore and Newt had also returned. The two were casting an Undetectable Extension Charm to expand the basement’s space, which required powerful casting ability. Dumbledore took out his Wand.
The Elderwood Wand, remarkably similar to Vaughn’s, was gnarled and smooth, with a pure black color, seemingly unremarkable.
“The Elder Wand…”
Vaughn felt the vast, abyss-like fluctuations of Magic Power emanating from Dumbledore, causing ripples in his inner lake.
But he didn’t look further, because as the space expansion was completed, Newt opened his old Trunk and released the Unicorns inside. A System Panel also popped up before his eyes:
【Side Quest ②: Save the Unicorns in the Forbidden Forest（ completed）】
【Claim Reward?】
“Claim!”
Vaughn thought, as the reward was a so-called “language pack,” nothing unusual should occur.
And indeed, as he had guessed.
After claiming the reward, Vaughn felt a momentary daze in his brain, a slight itch in his throat and ears, and then no other unusual sensations.
But he knew he was different.
It wasn’t just the System prompt:
【Obtained “Unicorn Language”】
He also heard the voices of “people” other than himself, Tina, Newt, and Dumbledore.
“Yo—（ Where are we?）”
“Yo—（ Didn’t you hear Fawkes? A place to temporarily contain us）”
“Yo yo!（ Look at that ugly human cub, he’s peeping at us）”
“Yo yo!（ Humph, dirty, lewd, despicable）”
“…”
Vaughn listened expressionlessly as the snow-white, pure Unicorns disparaged him in various ways.
Although he knew they naturally disliked men and only preferred young girls.
He still felt he should have waited longer and let Socket Man absorb more of their blood!
Until he heard the whitest Unicorn say, “Let’s leave quickly. Dumbledore is too ugly; I don’t want to stay near him.”
“Yes, yes!” the other Unicorns chimed in.
Vaughn let out a breath, and suddenly felt much better.
Everything was done, and it was late at night. Tina made a Late-night Snack, authentic American style.
Although it was also indescribable, it was at least better than British “cuisine.”
The Late-night Snack still didn’t include Dumbledore. Old Dumbledore didn’t mind, smiling and eating Candy from his Bag.
Around 12 o’clock, they finally bid farewell to the Scamander Family.
Emerging from the villa hut, Fawkes again Apparated the two back to Hogwarts—after multiple Apparitions tonight, it seemed exhausted, having even lost some feathers.
Vaughn openly picked up a feather and put it in his pocket. Dumbledore watched him with a smile, and as Vaughn took his leave, he suddenly said, “Vaughn, what do you think of Newt?”
“As you said, Albus, he’s a good person.”
Dumbledore nodded, “He likes you very much and wants you to visit his home more often in the future. Are you willing?”
Vaughn recalled Newt’s shy and reserved demeanor, then thought about his own personality.
He looked at Dumbledore suspiciously.
What was the old man up to now?
