Inside a thunderbird nest, Lucien was gently stroking the soft feathers on a thunderbird's chest, calming the creature's nerves.
After dealing with a group of poachers—whose capture was handed over to the Magical Congress members stationed at the reserve—Frank the thunderbird sought out Lucien and his companions again. This time, it wasn't about his mate's health but a plea for help on behalf of his fellow thunderbirds.
So, Lucien, Newt, and Stanley hit the ground running to rescue more birds.
Lucien figured he'd lend a hand wherever he could. Plus, this was a great chance to build some goodwill with the thunderbirds and maybe scope out a potential partner for the "dance of flight" task he had in mind. He'd already brewed a batch of Bone-Blood Elixir for Norbert, and the results were impressive—perfect for a tough, sturdy species like a dragon. It gave Norbert a serious boost in growth.
That made the thunderbird dance mission non-negotiable for Lucien. After consulting the system, he learned that this "dance" required him and a thunderbird to fly at full speed, keeping pace with each other, and covering a hundred kilometers without stopping.
That ruled out very young thunderbirds, who might not have the stamina for a hundred kilometers, and older or near-adult ones, who'd likely fly too fast for Lucien to keep up with, even at his best.
Choosing the right thunderbird for the task was critical.
Luckily, Lucien had his knack for animal affinity, letting him communicate directly with magical creatures. Otherwise, this would've been a real hassle. He could also enlist Frank, the thunderbird king, to help find a suitable candidate among the flock.
Pulling out a cooking station from his gourd, Lucien followed Newt's instructions to prepare food and nutrient potions that thunderbirds loved.
Meanwhile, Newt and Stanley, their work done for the moment, stood at the cave entrance, watching Lucien cook while petting a thunderbird. Both wizards had their own thoughts, but it was the more talkative Stanley who spoke first.
"Newt, I've got a ton of questions," Stanley said. "When did your side of the pond get so good at Transfiguration? Magical creature transformation? That's wild."
"I don't know much about Transfiguration myself," he continued, "but isn't that kind of thing, like, forbidden territory? I've never heard of a wizard pulling off a true magical creature transformation."
Newt shifted uncomfortably at Stanley's question. "I've been kind of a hermit lately," he admitted. "I haven't kept up with cutting-edge magical research…"
Stanley rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Nah, that doesn't add up. A breakthrough like that would've made headlines in the top journals—like your Transfiguration Today. And…" He paused, eyes narrowing. "Newt, by your rules, whoever invented that spell would probably snag a Merlin Medal, right? At least a Second Class. Word would've reached us over here."
Newt mumbled, "I don't know. Maybe Lucien figured it out on his own?"
Silence.
Both wizards went quiet.
"Uh, Newt," Stanley said after a moment, "Lucien's a talented kid, no doubt, but inventing a whole new branch of magic? Cough Anyway, how old is he? He looks pretty young."
Newt's expression turned a bit odd, as if recalling their first meeting in the Forbidden Forest. "Maybe twelve or thirteen?"
Stanley's gaze snapped from Lucien to Newt, stunned. "How old?"
"I'm not totally sure," Newt admitted. "He just finished his first year at Hogwarts. He'll be a second-year after the summer."
Stanley's eyes darted between Lucien and Newt, and after a long pause, he let out a heavy breath. "Newt, I know you're not one to lie, but… isn't that a bit much? Even if his affinity for magical creatures is a natural gift, the way he handles potions is way too skilled. And whether he invented that creature transformation or not, it's gotta be some seriously advanced Transfiguration. Does that sound like something a kid who hasn't even started second year could pull off?"
Stanley's rapid-fire questions left Newt scratching his curly hair awkwardly. Finally, he fell back on the ultimate explanation: "Dumbledore mentioned to me that Lucien's got real talent. A genius, he said."
Well, if Dumbledore said it, that settled it. His reputation carried weight across the global wizarding community.
Though still skeptical, Stanley's curiosity—or maybe something else—grew stronger. With a playful tone, he said, "Wonder if Lucien might want to stick around in the States for a bit. He seems pretty curious about Ilvermorny, doesn't he?"
Newt's guard went up, sensing something behind Stanley's words. "Lucien's a kid who loves learning," he said carefully. "It's normal for him to be curious about different magical schools."
Stanley nodded, his smile widening. "Haha, a kid who loves to learn. That's great, just great."
"Oh, and earlier," Stanley added, "I saw Lucien store a dragon in an Undetectable Extension Charm container…"
"That's mine," Newt cut in quickly.
Keeping a dragon privately was illegal, but Newt was an exception. His suitcase housed countless magical creatures as part of his mission to protect them, and the Ministry's laws didn't quite apply to him.
Lucien, though, was just a kid with none of Newt's reputation or credentials. Newt himself had been expelled from Hogwarts for a magical creature incident—taking the fall for his friend (and future sister-in-law). He hadn't forgotten that, and he wasn't about to let Lucien go down the same path.
So, Newt was happy to take the blame for this one.
At the same time, an idea that had sparked when he and Lucien saved a unicorn in the Forbidden Forest grew stronger. If Lucien had both talent and passion for magical creatures, a bigger, safer suitcase like Newt's would be a game-changer.
"Haha, Newt, relax," Stanley said, chuckling. "I'm just making conversation. What, you think I'd rat the kid out to your Ministry, get him expelled from Hogwarts, and then swoop in to recruit him for Ilvermorny?"
Newt didn't reply, but he knew Stanley well enough to recognize the joking tone. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that Stanley was half-serious about wanting to poach Lucien for Ilvermorny.
Newt made up his mind: he'd make sure Lucien didn't get lured away. If he let Hogwarts lose a student like this on a trip, Dumbledore might show up at his door for a very long chat.
Overhearing the conversation while cooking, Lucien couldn't help but grin. Stanley was quite the character. Visiting Ilvermorny sounded fun, but it was a shame magical schools didn't have exchange programs. That could be a great way to mix things up and learn from each other.
Lucien's thoughts wandered. Maybe one day he could shake up the wizarding world's education system and make that kind of exchange a reality.
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