Newt Scamander was leaving.
Before he left, his only real worry was the young wizard—whose talent in charms wasn't particularly strong.
Studying spatial magic alone wasn't very safe, so at dusk he sent a letter to Hogwarts.
Judging from the boy's performance yesterday, he had only just learned weather magic, and hadn't had time to properly set up the expanded space created by the Undetectable Extension Charm.
That, too, was a time-consuming step—something that belonged to the alchemical side of things.
Even for Newt, refining an alchemical creation covering more than three hundred square meters would take at least two weeks.
Moonlight spilled across Ilvermorny's quiet forest.
As he walked, Sean checked his panel:
[Advanced · Wizard's Book: Apprentice (10/300)]
Sure enough, once perfected, the Wizard's Book counted as an advanced alchemical creation. Without Scamander's guidance, Sean figured he would have struggled for a long time just to feel his way through the spatial charms.
Fortunately, he'd managed to finish it before the old Hufflepuff alumnus left. His last task was to "pocket" a Wampus cat.
He just didn't know whether Headmistress Herrera would allow it—
But either way, Sean decided to find the Wampus cat first.
After all, over these past few days, its fondness had quietly reached "fairly close."
In the soft hush of falling snow, only the young wizard's wand lit the Ilvermorny forest.
Soon, in the deep ink-darkness, Sean found those yellow eyes.
The big cat—shaped like a mountain lion—bounded over in a few leaps and arrived at Sean's feet.
Sean tapped the Wizard's Book quickly and used a Summoning Charm to bring out fresh meat and fruit.
He offered the meat, gently stroked the big cat, scratched under its chin, pressed behind its ears, and smoothed the fur along its back—
Before he knew it, the Wampus cat rolled over, belly exposed.
[You gained the fondness of a magical creature: Wampus cat (Unnamed). Fondness +50 (Expert standard)]
"Do you want to go in and take a look?" Sean said quickly. "There's plenty to eat inside. It's warm."
He unfolded the interior space of the Wizard's Book as he spoke.
The Wampus cat purred—Sean understood it as "yes."
"Then… follow me, alright?"
And with that, Sean started walking forward, completely ignoring the fact that he could understand the Wampus cat's meaning at all.
In the wizarding world, only certain magical bloodlines—Parseltongue, the Dumbledore family's affinity, and the like—could communicate directly with animals.
Other than that, there was Animagus magic: a wizard could understand the speech of the same kind of animal as their Animagus form—but usually only after transforming.
As for Sean… he seemed to be a special case.
When he belatedly realized this, the soul relic at his chest was glowing faintly. Sean guessed it might be the effect of soul transfiguration.
And not far away—
beneath a beech tree whose canopy was heavy with snow—
two tall wizards stood quietly under the moonlight.
"In 1832, a Cincinnati wizard named Abel Treetopps claimed he'd secured a patent for taming Wampus cats to guard wizarding homes," Headmistress Herrera said calmly. "But for a creature as intelligent as a Wampus cat, that's completely impossible.
Later, I had MACUSA raid Treetopps's home. Sure enough, we found him casting an Engorgement Charm on a Kneazle. That's how we exposed him as a fraud."
She looked toward the snowfield where the Wampus cat and the boy stood, seeming in good spirits. "My dear, the animals of Ilvermorny Forest are free—you and I both know that. But the only person I've ever seen take a Wampus cat away is you."
"His extended book isn't perfected yet," Newt said shyly, in a remark that didn't seem related at all.
"So you believe dear Mr. Hermes is gifted with magical creatures as well?" Headmistress Herrera blinked.
Newt stroked the Kneazle in his arms, only smiling—saying nothing.
Under the moonlight, where their gazes met—
a book suddenly expanded into a towering wooden doorway. Through it, you could faintly see a cabin, and beyond its windows a wide plain of fields and forest.
"You're saying Mr. Green's extended book still isn't perfected? My dear—this is the first time I've ever seen you lie," Herrera said, sounding almost delighted.
Beside her, Scamander looked momentarily stunned.
He clearly remembered: the boy had only learned weather charms yesterday—yesterday, the inside of his Wizard's Book had still been empty.
"You don't look well," Herrera observed, amused.
"One night…" Newt gave a helpless smile.
Sometimes, he thought, some wizards simply couldn't be measured by ordinary standards.
"Dear Mr. Hermes—how long did it take him?" Herrera demanded eagerly.
Newt smiled shyly.
Her question reminded him of another headmaster across the Atlantic.
"Well, it was only a joke—" Herrera raised an eyebrow. Seeing her old friend smiling, she laughed as well.
Neither of them lowered their voices—but in the distance, the young wizard didn't hear a thing.
He approached the doorway, and the Wampus cat slipped inside with two quick leaps, beating him to it.
Inside Sean's little cabin were a few photographs, a warm, comfortable bed, and a wardrobe.
There were also many manuscripts and books.
Beside the cabin was a food storehouse surrounded by a stream.
Sean flicked his wand. The door opened, and the Wampus cat found itself surrounded by all kinds of fresh meat.
It let out a huge purr, and its fondness rose by another fifty points.
As it hugged its meal and started eating, Sean began thinking about how to make it a proper nest. More importantly, the Wizard's Book itself would need tending and care—he couldn't stay inside it forever.
"Miss Wampus," Sean asked, seizing the moment. "Do you have a name?"
"Purr—" the Wampus cat rumbled indistinctly.
"Sorry, Miss Wampus." Sean corrected himself. "How is Ilver…?"
The cabin was warm, quiet, and peaceful.
But elsewhere, in Ilvermorny Forest—
Newt and Headmistress Herrera's smiles slowly faded.