Alex shook his head earnestly, "Actually, I was impressed by the magical equipment you have here. I'd love to study items like your enchanted water bottle or your weather blankets."
"Oh, this?" Newt smiled, holding up the water bottle. "This travel bottle was actually given to me by Dumbledore, so I can't give it away. But you're more than welcome to study it with me anytime. Just make sure you don't break it, or I'll be in trouble!"
Alex happily agreed, grateful for Newt's generosity. "Thank you, Mr. Scamander! That sounds perfect, and I can also check in on the Thunderbird regularly."
Newt smiled warmly, then paused thoughtfully. "By the way, Alex, have you considered trying a deeper magical connection with that Thunderbird? Your bond is very strong already; perhaps you could establish a Blood Bond."
"A Blood Bond?" Alex asked curiously.
Newt paused thoughtfully, giving Alex an encouraging smile. "Yes, forming a stronger bond with this Thunderbird could be a possibility for you. Establishing a blood bond with such a majestic magical creature isn't easy, though. There are certain conditions that need to be met."
"What kind of conditions?" Alex asked eagerly, intrigued by the idea of having a magical companion like Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes.
"Well," Newt began slowly, carefully choosing his words, "a blood bond between a wizard and a magical creature isn't something you can force. It's mutual, meaning both the wizard and the creature have to willingly accept it. Usually, it happens when there's already a strong connection, much like what you and this Thunderbird seem to have now, but there's more to it than just being friendly with each other."
"Oh? So you're saying if I build a strong enough bond with the Thunderbird, it might eventually allow me to form a blood contract with it?" Alex asked, eyes widening in excitement as he finally understood Newt's meaning.
Newt smiled warmly, nodding gently. "Exactly. However, there's something you must know. Signing a blood-bond isn't something you can do simply by wanting it. It requires mutual trust and respect from both sides, as well as the magical strength to support it. It's a bond of equals, not masters and pets."
"So, do you think I'm ready for something like this?" Alex asked thoughtfully. The idea of having a powerful creature companion like Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, thrilled him.
Newt tilted his head slightly, considering Alex for a moment before answering honestly. "You're undoubtedly strong, Alex. But I can't guarantee you're at that level yet, though if you aren't, you can't be far off. More importantly, the creature itself must also be powerful enough. A blood-bond is usually only possible with creatures of great magical power, like phoenixes or mature Thunderbirds."
Alex suddenly understood why such bonds were exceedingly rare. Thinking about it more deeply, he couldn't recall ever meeting another wizard besides Dumbledore who had a similar connection.
After all, not every creature possessed such innate magical strength, let alone the wisdom and willingness to bond with humans. He briefly imagined himself trying to bond with the Tebo warthogs he regularly cared for back at Hogwarts and couldn't suppress a small, amused smile. Those friendly pigs were hardly powerful enough to form such a legendary bond.
"So, if I really wanted to form a blood-bond with a Thunderbird, I'd have to find its leader?" Alex asked thoughtfully.
"In theory, yes," Newt answered seriously. "But before you can even approach that possibility, you need to develop a strong emotional and magical connection with this particular Thunderbird first. If you can achieve that, it might help you find the other one."
Alex instantly realized what Newt meant. "You're talking about the juvenile Thunderbird, aren't you? The one smuggled by the Silver wand months ago?"
"Precisely," Newt confirmed. "Remember the feathers Director Barnabas showed me half a year ago? Those belonged to a young Thunderbird, almost certainly related by blood to the one we rescued. That means if you can deepen your connection with this adult Thunderbird, there's a chance you'll be able to sense the younger one's location as well."
Alex considered this carefully, though another concern arose. "But it's been so long. The juvenile Thunderbird might've already been moved, or even sold off to another continent. It could be anywhere by now."
"That's a reasonable worry, but I don't think it's likely," Newt reassured him gently. "You see, the Silver wand isn't purely a group of smugglers motivated by money. They have other, deeper purposes, especially with powerful and rare magical creatures. It's almost certain that the Thunderbird is still with them, considering its rarity and magical value."
Alex recalled that during his previous encounter with the Silver wand agent known as Thunderbird, the man had indeed hinted at some deeper intentions. This realization reinforced what Newt had just said.
Seeing Alex lost in thought, Newt continued quietly, "Actually, there's more to this matter, but I can't share the details yet. These are things I've learned through the Order of Merlin."
Alex looked at him curiously. "Order of Merlin? Do you mean the awards given for great services to the wizarding world?"
Newt nodded, then shook his head slightly. "Well, yes and no. You're thinking about the Order of Merlin awards, given as recognition for various contributions. Those medals are symbols of honor, but the Order of Merlin itself is something more, a group dedicated to maintaining harmony between wizards, magical creatures, and even Muggles. Most members have received Merlin awards, but not everyone who receives the award is automatically part of our group."
Alex was genuinely intrigued. He'd always thought the Order of Merlin was simply an honorary title. "So, the Order actually exists as an organization?"
"Exactly," Newt replied patiently. "It's a group formed long ago, with the goal of maintaining peace and balance between the magical and Muggle worlds. ."
Alex raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised to learn this. "If it's such an important group, why haven't I heard of it before?"
Newt smiled wryly. "We don't deliberately keep it a secret, but we rarely advertise it publicly either. Many high-ranking wizards know about us, but we prefer to act quietly rather than attract unnecessary attention. We're just people who hope to maintain harmony."
Listening carefully, Alex still felt puzzled. Why was Newt suddenly telling him all this now?
"I haven't actually asked your opinion yet," Newt admitted with an apologetic smile, "but the Order has already included you as a potential member. When you receive your first Order of Merlin medal, you'll probably receive an official invitation."
Alex nearly choked on his butterbeer. 'When did I ever say I wanted to join your secret society?' he thought, his stomach tightening nervously. Had he accidentally presented himself as too righteous?
All this time, he'd been carefully maintaining a respectful, reliable image, but now, it seemed he'd played the role of a hero so well that even the Order of Merlin had bought into it. Maybe he should have intentionally shown a few more flaws.
'Maybe if they'd seen some of my less noble moments,' Alex mused bitterly, 'they wouldn't be so eager to recruit me.'
But a second later, he reconsidered. If they really knew everything he'd done in secret, they'd probably drag him straight to Azkaban rather than inviting him into their club.