Hogwarts: What wicked thoughts could a little wizard possibly have?

Chapter 42 Where to Find Fantastic Beasts

Newt has never been a conventional person. Although he lives in Muggle society and is retired, don't expect him to really give up his lifelong career and hobbies.

The Scamander family's basement was transformed into a huge space.

The space was divided into different areas. On a seemingly desolate grassland, Tina led Vaughn out through a secret door in a tunnel beneath the grassland.

Using the dry, yellowish grass as cover, the two men each held up a pair of binoculars.

Tina whispered, "Did you see it?"

"I saw it... one of them seemed very excited, but the other didn't seem very interested in interacting with it."

"Vaughn replied."

Within the frame of the telescope, two enormous objects were pointed at the distance.

Even from a distance, you can tell they weigh at least a ton, with smooth, thick skin covered in wrinkles.

It has a single horn and at first glance looks like a rhinoceros.

But only when one of the hopping creatures is panting excitedly can you see its horn begin to glow a fiery red.

The brightest part is where the horn meets the head, swaying gently as if filled with magma-like substance.

"They're called venomous horned beasts. Their horns contain explosive fluid. The one that's already excited is a female; she smelled the musk on the male."

Tina whispered, "Newt rescued them last year. Some dark wizards go to Africa to capture them and smuggle them to Britain. Because they've been away from home for so long, it's difficult for them to return to their pack. Newt hopes to help the two of them pair up and form a new family, and then release them back into the wild..."

As they spoke, the two saw through the binoculars that the hopping venomous horned beast, which had just approached its companion, was pushed away by its rear end.

Vaughn looked at Tina: "The males don't seem interested in the females."

"Yes, the reproductive rights of animals depend on competition among groups to determine the winner," Tina sighed. "There are only the two of them here; without fierce battles and blown-up opponents, the male can't get excited."

Vaughn shrugged: "With this reproductive habit, they're still alive."

"Sigh..." Tina was also having a headache.

She continued her adventures with Vaughn in the vast basement.

In just over two hours, they went to swamps, mountains, snowfields, and forests.

We saw all sorts of amazing animals: a horse-shaped sea monster living in a freshwater lake, a poison sac leopard that loves to run in the forest, and a Billywig worm from Australia—

These are all smuggled goods that Newt rescued, especially the Billy Wiggles, which, when they sting someone, make them float—physically.

This has led many adult wizards and young wizards to use it as a prank toy, even though it is actually a Class XXX magical creature, restricted from sale and circulation by the Ministry of Magic, and only allowed to be imported by some candy manufacturers (its stinger is made from the raw material of sizzling honey).

Thus, a smuggling market naturally formed.

Tina also took Vaughn on a ride on a winged bird, a strange and magical creature that, when on the ground, resembled a clumsy dodo, with its fat body and short wings.

But when it takes off, it quickly changes shape, inflating itself into a large balloon, floating into the air like a hot air balloon, then expelling the gas and transforming into another huge shape to fly.

Its tail can extend and retract, so what is meant by "riding" is actually being wrapped around its tail.

These are just some of the creatures Newt has taken in. In fact, due to his needs for potions and alchemy, Newt has rescued many other highly dangerous magical creatures from smugglers.

However, they had long been sent by Newt to the protection areas of the Ministry of Magic of various countries.

The wide variety of amazing animals fascinated Vaughn.

He had only ever handled materials taken from them before; this was the first time he had ever seen a living creature.

"You and Rolf might become friends."

Tina told Vaughn, "He's my grandson, and he also loves magical creatures."

Vaughn tried to recall, but he didn't recognize the name. However, he vaguely remembered that Luna's future husband was Newt's grandson.

Could it be this guy named Rolf?

After walking around, when they returned to the entrance of the basement, Dumbledore and Newt were also back. The two were casting the Unseen Stretch Charm to expand the space of the basement, which required powerful spellcasting skills. Dumbledore took out his wand.

Elderberry, which is very similar to Vaughn's wand, has protruding, smooth joints and a pure black color, and doesn't seem to have anything special about it.

"The Elder Wand..."

As Vaughn sensed the immense, abyss-like magical energy emanating from Dumbledore, his heart stirred with a subtle ripple.

But he didn't look at it for long, because as the space expanded, Newt opened the old leather trunk, released the unicorn inside, and a system panel popped up in front of him:

Side Quest 2: Rescue the Forbidden Forest Unicorn (Completed)

Do you want to claim the reward?

"receive!"

Vaughn thought to himself, since the reward is a so-called "language pack," there shouldn't be anything unusual.

And indeed, it was just as he had guessed.

After receiving the reward, Vaughn felt a momentary daze, a slight itch in his throat and ears, and then nothing else.

But he knew he was different now.

It's not just the system pop-up notifications:

[Obtain "Unicorn Language"]

He also heard the voices of other “people” besides himself, Tina, Newt, and Dumbledore.

"Yo—(Where are we?)"

"Hey—(Didn't you hear what Fox said? A place to temporarily shelter us)"

"Yo yo! (Look at that ugly human cub, he's spying on us!)"

"Yo yo! (Hmph, filthy, vulgar, despicable)"

"..."

Vaughn listened expressionlessly as those snow-white, holy unicorns, like creatures from fairy tales, belittled him in various ways.

Although we know that they are naturally averse to men and only like young girls.

But he still felt that he should wait a little longer and let the Socket Man suck more of their blood!

Until he heard the whitest unicorn say, "Let's go, Dumbledore is too ugly, I don't want to stay with him."

"Yes, yes!" the other unicorns echoed.

Vaughn let out a breath and immediately felt much better.

After finishing everything, it was already late at night. Tina made a late-night snack, authentic American style.

Although it's not exactly great, it's at least better than British "food".

Dumbledore still didn't get any supper, but he didn't seem to mind, and just smiled as he took out some candy from his pocket and ate it.

Around noon, they said goodbye to the Scamander family.

As they walked out of the villa, it was Fox who once again Apparated the two of them back to Hogwarts—the repeated Apparitions tonight seemed to have exhausted him, and he had even lost some of his fur.

Vaughn openly picked up a cigarette and put it in his pocket. Dumbledore watched him with a smile, and only when Vaughn was saying goodbye did he suddenly ask, "Vaughn, what do you think of Newt?"

"Just like you said, Albus, a good man."

Dumbledore nodded. "He likes you very much and wants you to visit his house more often. Would you like that?"

Vaughn recalled Newt's shy and timid demeanor, and then thought about his own personality.

He looked at Dumbledore with suspicion.

What's that old guy up to now?