Chapter 362

Newt Scamander is leaving.

Before he goes, his only concern is the young wizards with low aptitude for spells.

Studying space magic alone is not entirely safe, so on this dusk, he sent a letter to Hogwarts.

Based on the young wizard’s performance yesterday, he had just learned weather magic and had no time to cast the Undetectable Extension Charm to expand his space.

This is likewise a step belonging to alchemy, requiring substantial time.

Even for him, perfecting an alchemical artifact of over three hundred square meters would take at least two weeks.

…

Moonlight spilled over the quiet Iffern Forest.

Wizard Sean walked while checking his panel:

【Advanced: Book of the Wizard — Apprentice Level (10/300)】

The perfected Book of the Wizard was indeed an advanced alchemical artifact; without Mr. Scamander’s guidance, Wizard Sean guessed he would have struggled immensely to master space incantations on his own.

Fortunately, he had finished it just before Professor Hufflepuff’s senior departed — Wizard Sean’s final task was to take the cat leopard.

He just didn’t know whether Headmaster Herrera would agree…

But regardless, Wizard Sean planned to find the cat leopard first.

After all, these past few days, the closeness had quietly reached 【Somewhat Close】.

In the soft voice of night snow, only the young wizard’s wand glowed within Iffern Forest.

Soon, Wizard Sean found those yellow eyes amid the deep ink-black shadows.

The large feline, shaped like a cougar, leapt a few times and arrived at Wizard Sean’s feet.

Wizard Sean quickly tapped the Book of the Wizard and used the Summoning Charm to produce raw meat and fruit.

He offered the raw meat, gently stroked the large feline, scratched its chin, pressed its ear roots, and smoothed its back fur…

Unconsciously, the cat leopard rolled onto its back.

【You have gained the affection of the magical creature cat leopard (unnamed) to an expert standard; affection increased by 50】

“Would you like to take a look inside? There’s plenty to eat, and it’s warm.”

Wizard Sean swiftly unfolded the interior space of the Book of the Wizard and said:

The cat leopard purred; Wizard Sean knew it meant “yes.”

“Then, follow me, alright?”

Immediately, Wizard Sean walked forward, completely ignoring why he could understand the cat leopard’s voice.

In the magical world, only specific magical bloodlines — such as Parseltongue or the Dumbledore family’s blood — could communicate directly with animals;

In addition, only Animagi could. Wizards could understand the language of animals identical to their own Animagus form — though this typically occurred only after the wizard had transformed.

As for Wizard Sean, he seemed to be somewhat special.

When Wizard Sean belatedly realized this, the Soul Relic emitted a faint glow; Wizard Sean guessed it might be the effect of Soul Transformation.

And not far away,

beneath a beech tree,

two tall wizards stood beneath the snow-laden canopy.

“In 1832, the wizard Abel Triltops of Cincinnati claimed to have patented the taming of cat leopards to guard wizarding homes.

But for a magical creature as intelligent as the cat leopard, this was entirely impossible.

Later, I had the Magical Congress raid Triltops’s home — we found him casting an Engorgement Charm on a cat-lion, exposing him as a fraud.”

Headmaster Herrera spoke slowly, her gaze fixed on the cat leopard and the young wizard below; her mood seemed pleasant.

“Darling, the animals of Iffern Forest are free — you and I both know that — yet you are the only one I’ve ever seen who could take the cat leopard away.”

“His Undetectable Extension Book isn’t perfected yet.”

Shy Newt uttered a remark seemingly unrelated.

“Does that mean you think dear Mr. Hermes is equally gifted in magical creatures?”

Headmaster Herrera blinked.

Newt stroked the cat-lion in his arms and merely smiled, saying nothing.

And beneath the moonlight, where their gazes converged,

a book suddenly expanded into a massive wooden door, faintly revealing a wooden cabin within, and beyond its window, vast fields and forests.

“You mean Mr. Green’s Undetectable Extension Book isn’t perfected? Darling, this is the first time I’ve ever heard you lie.”

Headmaster Herrera sounded astonished.

Beside her, Mr. Scamander had gone momentarily stunned.

He clearly remembered: the young wizard had only learned weather magic yesterday, and his Book of the Wizard had still been empty then.

“You look unwell.”

Headmaster Herrera studied her old friend with amusement.

“Just one night…?”

Newt gave a helpless smile.

Sometimes he felt certain wizards simply couldn’t be understood by ordinary logic.

“Dear Mr. Hermes, how long did it take him?”

Headmaster Herrera asked eagerly.

“One…”

Newt replied softly.

“A week? Oh, that’s truly incredible.”

Headmaster Herrera narrowed her eyes, smiling.

“One…”

Newt showed no irritation at being interrupted — or perhaps he was simply accustomed to this way of interacting with his old friend.

“A day?!”

Headmaster Herrera exclaimed.

“One night.”

Sensing he might be interrupted again, Newt finished quickly.

“...How much of Mr. Green’s potential do you think remains?”

Headmaster Herrera gripped her wand, her gaze burning.

Now it was Newt’s turn to smile shyly.

Her words reminded him of another headmaster beyond the Atlantic.

“Alright, just a joke…”

Headmaster Herrera raised an eyebrow, saw her old friend smiling broadly, and laughed too.

Though they hadn’t deliberately lowered their voices, the young wizard far away heard nothing.

He walked toward the door, and the cat leopard leapt twice, entering ahead of him.

Inside Wizard Sean’s wooden cabin stood several photographs, a warm, comfortable bed, and a wardrobe.

There were also many manuscripts and books.

Beside the cabin lay a food storage room encircled by a stream.

Wizard Sean waved his wand; the door opened, and the cat leopard was immediately surrounded by various raw meats.

It let out a loud purr, and its affection increased by another 50 points.

As it began devouring the raw meat, Wizard Sean began thinking about how to build a nest for the cat leopard — and more importantly, his Book of the Wizard needed tending and care, since he couldn’t stay inside forever.

“Mr. Cat leopard, do you have a name?”

Wizard Sean seized the opportunity to ask.

“Purr—”

The cat leopard purred vaguely.

“Sorry, Miss Cat leopard.”

Wizard Sean said,

“How about Iffern?”

…

Here, the fireplace blazed, quiet and peaceful.

But elsewhere, in Iffern Forest,

Newt and Headmaster Herrera’s smiles slowly froze.