At dinner, Wade met Newt's wife—Tina Scamander.
Even in her old age, she was still a graceful beauty, with white hair tucked behind her ears, wearing a well-fitted dark green long dress. Her movements, even just spreading butter on bread, seemed incredibly elegant.
With just a gentle glance from Mrs. Scamander, both the highly respected Newt and the somewhat mischievous Rolf would dutifully sit at the dining table, waiting for the meal to begin.
Life in the Scamander household was interesting in its own way.
Almost every morning, everyone would work together to care for the various animals in the suitcase.
Perhaps because Scamander was so renowned among magical creatures, some animals would actively seek him out for help when injured or in distress.
Wade had only been there for a few days and had already seen two Kelpies tangled in fishing nets, a sea serpent that had accidentally swallowed a plastic bag, and an invisible Demiguise that had been burned by something unknown.
Newt was also proficient in various animal healing spells; he even performed surgery and delivered babies for animals!
There were also some smaller magical creatures that considered this place their ideal paradise and were unwilling to leave even after their troubles were resolved.
They acted spoiled and demanding like children, and Newt simply couldn't resist, vaguely allowing the little creatures to stay until they wished to leave on their own.
Thus, after so many years, although Newt always insisted on releasing magical creatures back into the wild, his suitcase was never empty; instead, it became increasingly lively.
Wade felt he had completed several years of Care of Magical Creatures classes here.
During the leisure time after lunch, Newt would guide Wade on how to improve his pen-box space.
He also took Wade to the nearby Jurassic Coast, sectioning off a small piece of beach and seawater to move into the pen-box space.
Then he moved a small patch of forest from the mountains, teaching him how to piece together two different spaces.
Next was applying weather charms to the different spaces; otherwise, the environment would rapidly deteriorate. However, to prevent the two environments from affecting each other, isolation charms were also needed.
Isolation charms required a physical object as a boundary, even if it was just a row of fences, a curtain, or a stone, the spell could take effect, but a completely empty space would not work.
In just over a week, Wade's wardrobe space underwent tremendous changes—
Within an area slightly larger than a swimming pool, seawater washed over a sandy beach, with hermit crabs slowly crawling within it.
A dozen trees formed a narrow strip of forest, with mushrooms sprouting at their roots.
Then there was a fluffy green lawn, twenty to thirty square meters in size, with yellow dandelions gently swaying.
Although everything seemed miniature, the once empty space finally gained some vitality, and Newt also highly praised Wade's learning speed.
One morning, Wade was bandaging a small wound on a Bowtruckle's arm when Rolf rushed into the suitcase, excitedly holding a letter.
"Wade, a letter from school for you!"
"Thank you, Rolf."
Wade tied a knot in the bandage, wiped his hands clean, and then took the letter.
The letter stated the time and place for boarding, still September 1st from King's Cross Station, followed by the second-year booklist.
Apart from Standard Book of Spells (Grade 2), the rest of the long list consisted of Gilderoy Lockhart's works.
Undoubtedly, this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was still that flamboyant peacock.
"They're all Gilderoy Lockhart's books!" Rolf revealed an acceptance letter, smiling. "Mine too!"
Wade was surprised. "You've already received your acceptance letter... You're eleven already?"
Rolf looked small, and Wade had always thought the child was less than ten, no more.
"Of course!" Rolf proudly declared. "I turned eleven last month! Wade, let's go to Diagon Alley to buy books together."
"Alright," Wade said. "We'll go to Diagon Alley together on Wednesday."
"Wednesday?" Rolf recalled the calendar. "Is there anything special that day?"
"There's Gilderoy Lockhart's new book signing event," Wade said with a light chuckle. "I'm quite looking forward to it."
"Wow! I can't believe you're a Lockhart fan!" Rolf exclaimed exaggeratedly. "Do you really find his smile charming?"
"...What smile?" Wade asked curiously.
"Of course, it's the Witch Weekly Most Charming Smile Award; Lockhart has won it five times."
Rolf pouted. "Don't get angry when I say this... I don't find his smile charming at all. In fact, it's very... uh... very..."
"Very showy?" Wade prompted.
"Yeah, exactly!"
"I don't care if his smile is charming or not," Wade explained. "I just think there will be more people in Diagon Alley than usual that day, and maybe something interesting will happen."
"Oh, I see," Rolf nodded. "Then I'll go on Wednesday too... I also want to see for myself why he can make so many people like him."
Time flew by, and it was Wednesday in a flash.
Wade packed his luggage early in the morning, and after breakfast, he thanked and bid farewell to the Scamanders.
After buying the books, there were only a few days left of the holidays. He wanted to spend the remaining time with his parents.
Rolf was a bit reluctant—this child, like many children from wizarding families, had few friends growing up. Suddenly meeting a peer, he cherished the companionship and couldn't bear to be separated for even a moment.
But he ultimately had good manners. Aside from his unconcealed dejection, he didn't force Wade to stay and play with him. Instead, he gave Wade a set of his favorite comic books.
Wade, in turn, gave him a set of automated feeding devices he had found time to develop. Magically enhanced, it even emitted calls to attract magical creatures.
At their parting, Newt told him, "This world is vast; our understanding of it is always just the tip of the iceberg."
"Many wizards think protecting magical creatures is meaningless. They only see magical creatures as ingredients for potions and wands, or as tools for showing off."
"But I have always believed that wizards and magical creatures are one. If one day, all magical creatures disappear from the Earth, perhaps wizards will cease to exist as well, won't they?"
"Uh... these are just some of my personal, shallow thoughts. If you don't agree, that's perfectly fine..."
"But I always hope that more people will be willing to love and protect magical creatures, instead of harming them recklessly..."
"I promise, Mr. Scamander," Wade said solemnly. "What I have learned from you will never be used to harm magical creatures."
Newt's light-colored eyes looked at him earnestly, then slowly a very happy smile spread across his face.