Adam stared at the girl before him, a rare flicker of confusion and bewilderment in his eyes. Even now, he couldn't figure out how Shirley had found this place.
This wasn't London. They were in Dorset, near the English Channel, a southwestern corner of England home to nearly 700,000 people. Wizards lived among them, hidden by Confundus Charms. Newt, wary of his magical creatures escaping, had chosen an even more remote spot, surrounded by Muggle-Repelling Charms and the Fidelius Charm. Even the owls delivering The Daily Prophet often circled nearby, perplexed.
Yet somehow, Shirley was here, with her maid Lilith in tow, strolling through the rose fields as if she'd always known the way.
It didn't take long for Tina, who was tending the garden, to spot the pair lingering near the cottage. After seeing Adam, Shirley promptly bought a nearby house and had it remodeled to resemble the red-roofed cottage. The wizarding family who lived there before packed up and left within hours, their joyful expressions hinting at an offer too good to refuse.
A sea breeze slipped through the window, brushing Adam's damp hair and carrying the scent of the rose fields—and a faint trace of Shirley's familiar fragrance. It was a smell he hadn't realized he'd missed, like a memory from their summers at the orphanage, hazy and dreamlike, as if captured in an overexposed, faded photograph tucked away in a dusty corner. The only clear details were the warm sunlight and the glimpse of Shirley's slender legs beneath her white skirt.
The silence was broken by the soft clink of Tina setting down a baking tray. Shirley looked up, startled, her eyes lighting up with surprise—and then panic—as she saw Adam nearby. She clumsily tried to hide the cake in front of her, only to stumble off the small stool she was standing on.
Flailing to keep her balance, she blushed as Adam stepped forward to steady her hands. "Don't look," she muttered, her cheeks reddening.
"Sorry, dear, but I think young Adam spotted it a few minutes ago," Tina said, her face glowing with a fond, maternal smile, as if she'd just sipped a refreshing glass of raspberry juice.
Tina, a former Auror, had sharp senses and had noticed Adam the moment he entered the kitchen. But she hadn't wanted to spoil the sweet moment unfolding before her.
Shirley's face grew even redder at Tina's words, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt. "I… I wanted it to be a surprise," she said softly. "Because it's your birthday…"
"My… birthday?" Adam blinked, caught off guard. He'd been so busy—days spent with Newt studying magical creatures in the suitcase, nights poring over alchemy and charms—that he'd completely lost track of time. His latest achievement? Accidentally dismantling Tina's prized automated garden-trimming device.
Thankfully, since Shirley had moved nearby and started keeping Tina company, Tina hadn't checked on her garden in a while. Adam was still scrambling to fix the alchemical contraption, and his birthday hadn't even crossed his mind.
"What? You forgot your own birthday again?" Shirley's expression shifted like a sudden summer storm, her eyes narrowing at him.
"Forget? No way…" Adam swallowed hard, forcing a nervous grin.
He remembered how, back at the orphanage, no one knew his real birthday—not even him. Shirley, kind as ever, had shared hers with him. From then on, everyone at the orphanage celebrated their birthdays on the same day. But after Shirley left, Adam stopped celebrating altogether.
"So, where's my gift?" Shirley asked, holding out an empty hand and raising a perfectly arched brow. "You did prepare something, right?"
"Uh, well…" Adam's eyes darted around, avoiding her gaze. Then, in a flash of inspiration, he scooped up Amy, who'd just emerged from the suitcase. "Actually, Amy's been looking for a new owner who'll feed her dried fish. If you don't mind, she's my birthday gift to you!"
Amy, bewildered, let out a soft meow as she was held aloft.
"Really?" Shirley's lips curved into a half-smile, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"Okay, fine, I forgot," Adam admitted, deflating under her gaze.
Shirley's expression softened back to normal. She gently set Amy down, who meowed in confusion, and stepped closer to Adam. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It's okay. Honestly, you…"
Her words trailed off, her lips trembling as a wave of shyness overcame her. Like a startled deer, she bolted out of the cottage, leaving behind a breeze that carried the faint warmth of her feelings.
Summer Night, Dorset
Two hours earlier, Adam and Shirley had celebrated a truly unique birthday. Surrounded by magical creatures and the warm blessings of Newt and Tina, they blew out the candles together, marking another step closer to their journey to Hogwarts.
"I've heard plenty about Mr. Scamander being a legendary magizoologist, but I never imagined that suitcase held so many creatures," Shirley said, gazing at the starry sky, still enchanted by the memory of the Mooncalves' dance. "Those little guys are adorable—those fluffy short legs pulling off such a perfect performance. They're just a bit shy…"
Adam opened his mouth but hesitated. He wanted to tell Shirley that, yes, Mooncalves were cute, like miniature alpacas with big, watery eyes. When they danced under the moonlight, they left behind silvery specks that glowed across the ground, creating a breathtaking scene, as if the earth itself mirrored the moon above.
But those silvery specks? They were Mooncalf dung. Valuable, mind you—prized as fertilizer that sped up plant growth and enriched soil, always in high demand. He and Newt spent time each day collecting it to scatter in the herb garden.
"This rose field's pretty amazing too," Adam said, steering the conversation elsewhere. "Maybe because I've seen the Mooncalf dance so many times. Oh, and here—this is the latest edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It's got a ton of updates, some of which I helped my teacher revise."
He handed her the book, and Shirley accepted it with a pleased smile.
They sat side by side on a hillside, knees drawn up, gazing at the sea of roses—white, pale pink, deep peach, and yellow—swaying in the breeze like waves. The rustling of petals and leaves mingled under the dreamy moonlight, painting the scene in vibrant, ethereal hues.
"I have a gift for you too," Shirley said softly. She unclasped the necklace she always wore and slipped a silver ring from its chain, placing it gently in Adam's palm. Her eyes shimmered with joy and a hint of sadness.
Adam fell silent, his fingers brushing the ring's warm surface. "This is the only thing your mother left you," he said quietly. "Are you sure you want to give it to me?"
"Yeah," Shirley replied, her voice soft but certain. "I've always had this strange feeling… like if I give it to you, I'll see her again someday. And then I can ask her…"
Her words faltered, her expression clouding with sorrow and uncertainty.
Adam tightened his grip on the ring, ready to comfort the trembling girl curled beside him, her quiet sobs breaking the silence. But then, a faint vibration pulsed in his palm.
The ring's silver surface glowed softly, faint patterns weaving across it. Two runes flickered in the light, resonating with a hum of magic. A woman's voice, gentle yet tinged with grief, whispered in his ear, as if from both far away and impossibly close.
The world blurred, a fragmented weightlessness creeping in—the sensation of standing at the edge of life and death. Adam quickly dispelled the magic clinging to him, tucking the ring away. He looked at Shirley, his expression unreadable.
"I'm starting to believe you really are a little witch," he said.
Shirley looked up, tears streaking her face, her voice trembling. "Are you scared of me?"
"No," Adam replied firmly. "Not at all."