Chapter 76: Newt Scamander

It seemed there had been some disagreement over the allocation of the fire dragons, forcing Garrick Ollivander to change his original plan and stay in the reserve for a full three days, with Silven naturally tagging along.

Still, with Charlie as such a dutiful guide, Silven's few days were hardly boring — he got to visit quite a few interesting places.

There was just one thing: he kept feeling that something was off about Charlie.

A dragon-keeper with this much free time? Enough to spend three days showing him around the area?

And every time Silven tried to shoo him off, telling him he didn't need to mind him, Charlie would inexplicably get all tense.

It was as though he really didn't want Silven wandering around on his own.

Charlie's explanation was that he was worried Silven might run into danger, but that kind of story could only fool Neville.

Setting aside the reserve's own defenses, Dumbledore was here too right now — Silven had heard every word clearly when Alistair said this to Garrick earlier.

On top of that there were over a dozen veteran wizards including Newt Scamander; with a lineup like this, even if Voldemort came back to life on the spot, he'd have to wait for this side to wrap up before daring to come out and pick up his old trade.

Silven even felt that the fire dragons' roars coming from the reserve over the past two days had noticeably quieted down.

Silven had reason to suspect Charlie was lying, but couldn't pin down why — surely Charlie wasn't worried he had designs on the fire dragons?

But that didn't make sense either.

His grandfather had decades of good cooperation with the fire dragon reserve, an excellent reputation, and he himself was just a Hogwarts second-year student… no, before term started he couldn't even be called a second-year yet, still a first-year, standing there not even as tall as a fire dragon's leg.

No matter how suspicious Charlie was, he couldn't possibly be on guard against him, right?

Unable to figure it out, Silven simply stopped trying — his purpose for this trip wasn't the fire dragons anyway, so if Charlie wanted to tag along, let him.

Moreover, after learning Silven was also a Gryffindor, Charlie noticeably had a lot more to say, and besides introducing the reserve, he shared quite a bit about Hogwarts.

For instance, a few hidden secret passage entrances, Filch's nightly patrol patterns, the location of the Hogwarts kitchens… everything he said seemed to assume Silven was bound to break school rules.

Stereotypes through and through.

Still, since he'd gone and said it all, not wanting to waste it, Silven could only quietly memorize plenty of useful information.

And so it went until noon on the third day, when Silven finally saw his grandfather again.

Standing with Garrick were two other people of similar age.

The one with the silver-white beard was obviously Dumbledore; the other looked a little socially anxious, standing somewhat awkwardly half a step behind Dumbledore, his tall, thin frame slightly stooped, as if trying to hide himself inside a rather oversized brownish-yellow robe.

Even from a great distance, Silven could hear Dumbledore sigh.

"One thing after another — we haven't even found the new professor yet, and those pesky rats are back. Newt, is your information reliable?"

"Mm, it's a friend of Tina's from before. She said a few people disappeared from South America, but she didn't say whether they came to Britain." The man in the brownish-yellow robe said.

"It shouldn't be wrong." Dumbledore said, "What happened half a month ago seemed to give them hope. Those souls still mired in darkness have never stopped searching for a way to bring him back, eager to reclaim their former status and glory."

"Wait, Albus." Garrick frowned. "Those fanatic Death Eaters — weren't they all locked up in Azkaban?"

"There are too few Aurors, there are always some who slip through the net." Dumbledore's slender fingers tapped lightly on the back of his hand. "Besides, the team Tom used to lobby the giants mysteriously vanished after his downfall, and the Death Eaters he sent to find Salazar's wand weren't in Britain at the time either…"

"That bone wand made by Salazar Slytherin himself?" Garrick grew interested. "Isn't it at Ilvermorny?"

"Which is why they've never found it…" Dumbledore shook his head, didn't continue, and turned his gaze to the side. "Long time no see, Mr. Ollivander. Has the holiday been pleasant?"

"Very much so." Silven, who had just walked over, said.

"What a delightful answer." Dumbledore said with a smile. "Please allow me to introduce Mr. Newt Scamander, author of the required reading for new students, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

This was Newt Scamander?

Silven looked at him with curiosity.

Newt instinctively turned his head away, and only after a good while gave Silven a slightly stiff nod.

He really is socially anxious!

Dumbledore acted as if he hadn't noticed Newt's awkwardness, looked up, and winked at Garrick.

Garrick understood instantly.

"By the way, half of the unicorn tail hairs I use to make wands are supplied by Newt… speaking of which, I really should thank you properly."

Newt pressed his lips tightly together, nearly shrinking entirely into his clothes, but upon hearing Garrick's words, he had no choice but to brace himself and say, "N-no, no need… it's just from daily grooming… tail hairs that fell off…"

"Probably only you could put it that way." Garrick clicked his tongue, feeling he'd been one-upped by Newt without even trying.

He'd spent half a year this year searching the forests of the Scandinavian Peninsula, barely managing to find twelve unicorn tail hairs of sufficient length… and yet that number, in Newt's mouth, was just from a single routine grooming.

"Oh, that's not necessarily true — those trusted by unicorns aren't limited to Newt alone." Dumbledore said, glancing at Silven. "Am I right?"

"That's true." Silven shrugged. "When I make ordinary wands normally, the unicorn tail hairs I use are provided by Hagrid."

Why does that sound so weird — why would he say "ordinary wands"?

Silven scratched his hair.

Fortunately, no one else seemed to notice anything off about that remark; by now Dumbledore was already preparing to leave.

Newt looked like he'd let out a huge sigh of relief, finally emerging a little from his clothes.

"Garrick, if anything unusual happens in Diagon Alley, remember to write to me." Dumbledore added.

"I'll keep an eye out — if they really dare to come to Diagon Alley." Garrick said,

Dumbledore nodded, and vanished like thin mist scattered by the wind, taking Newt with him.

"We should head back too." Garrick said, pulling out a twig and handing one end to Silven. "Portkey from Alistair, departure time is five o'clock — three minutes left."

Just as he'd suspected, a Portkey — Silven gripped the other end of the twig.

"Wait, Silven, Mr. Ollivander."

Charlie ran over from not far away and shoved two boxes into Silven's hands.

"The gifts I promised you." he said. "Could you do me a favor and pass the other one along to Ron? The owl post here is too expensive."

"Only for Ron?" Silven asked.

"Consider it compensation — because of me, he didn't get to use his new wand." Charlie said.

"What about your other three brothers at Hogwarts? Oh right, this year there's another sister too."

"Two minutes ago I just spent my last Knut." Charlie spread his hands. "For the others, I'll bring them something next time I'm home."

"Fine, I'll try to give it to Ron alone, without letting them know."

"Phew, that's exactly what I wanted to say."

The Portkey began to tremble slightly. Silven quickly shoved the box into his pocket, and at the same time did not forget to tell Charlie, "Actually, Ron already has a new wand, and it's my work."

……

(End of chapter)