Newt had never been one to follow rules. Though he lived among Muggles and was technically retired, no one should expect him to truly give up his life's passion and work.
The basement of the Scamander house had been transformed into a vast space.
The space was divided into distinct biomes. On what appeared to be a barren grassland, Tina and Vaughn peeked out from the concealed entrance of a tunnel beneath the dry yellow grass.
Using the cover of the vegetation, each held a telescope.
Tina whispered, "Do you see them?"
"I do... One seems really excited. The other one doesn't look interested at all."
Vaughn replied.
Through the lens, they focused on two massive creatures in the distance.
Even from far away, their size was staggering—at least a ton each—with thick, wrinkled skin that glistened slightly in the light.
They looked much like rhinoceroses, sporting a single large horn on their heads.
But as one of the more excitable ones bounced and huffed in place, its horn began to glow with a vivid, fiery red light.
At the base of the horn, where it met the skull, the glow was most intense—liquid and molten-looking, as though magma surged beneath its surface.
"They're called Poisonhorns. That glow means their horns are filling with explosive fluid. The excited one is a female. She's picked up the scent of the male's musk."
Tina explained in a low voice. "Newt rescued them last year. Some dark wizards had captured them in Africa and smuggled them to Britain. They've been away from their herd too long, so they can't go back. Newt hopes they'll pair up and start a new family here, then eventually be released."
As she spoke, the two of them watched the female Poisonhorn approach the male, only to be shoved aside roughly.
Vaughn raised an eyebrow. "Seems like the male's not interested."
"Exactly. In their species, mating rights are won through intense competition. Without rivals to fight and no explosions to settle dominance, the males just... aren't in the mood." Tina sighed.
"With a mating system like that, it's a wonder they haven't gone extinct," Vaughn muttered.
Tina could only sigh again. She led Vaughn onward into the sprawling underground reserve.
Over the next two hours, they traveled through swamps, mountains, snowfields, and forests.
They encountered a rich variety of magical beasts: freshwater sea-horses shaped like kelpies, venom sac leopards dashing through forest undergrowth, and even a colony of Billywig insects from Australia—all rescued smuggled creatures. The Billywig was especially notable: once it stung a person, it induced levitation. Literal floating.
This made it a popular item among mischievous wizards and pranksters. Despite being classified as XXX-level creatures and restricted by the Ministry of Magic, demand remained high. Only candy manufacturers with a license were allowed to import them, as their stingers were used in making Fizzing Whizzbees.
Naturally, a thriving smuggling market had emerged.
Tina even let Vaughn ride a Pneumatic Bird. This odd, magical creature resembled a fat, flightless dodo on land.
But once airborne, it transformed, swelling like a balloon, then soaring like a hot-air balloon. It propelled itself by expelling air in bursts and could even reshape its form mid-air.
Its tail was retractable, and the "ride" essentially meant being curled into its tail like luggage.
And this was only a small part of Newt's collection. Due to the high demand for potion-making and alchemy, many dangerous magical creatures had been rescued by Newt from illegal traffickers and later relocated to magical sanctuaries across the world.
Vaughn was thoroughly intrigued.
He had only ever seen potion ingredients derived from such creatures. This was the first time he encountered them alive.
"You and Rolf would probably get along well," Tina said with a smile. "He's my grandson. Loves magical creatures, just like you."
Vaughn frowned slightly, trying to place the name. He seemed to remember that Luna Lovegood's future husband was Newt Scamander's grandson.
Could it be this Rolf?
Eventually, they returned to the basement's entrance, where Dumbledore and Newt had also just arrived. The two men were busy casting Extension Charms to expand the underground habitat. It was a complex bit of magic requiring strong spellwork, and Dumbledore had drawn his wand.
The Elder Wand—its surface dark and polished, with raised nodules along its length—didn't look like anything different at a glance.
The Elder Wand...
Vaughn felt the immense magical power radiating from Dumbledore like an abyss. A slight ripple stirred in his heart.
But his attention shifted quickly when, with the expanded space complete, Newt opened his old suitcase and released the unicorns.
At the same time, a system panel popped up before Vaughn:
[Side Quest 2: Save the Forbidden Forest Unicorns (Completed)]
[Claim your reward?]
"Claim!" Vaughn answered silently. Since the reward was listed as a "language pack", there shouldn't be any odd side effects.
And as expected—
For a brief moment, his mind blanked, and his ears and throat tingled. Then, nothing unusual. Except... he knew he'd changed.
Not only had the system displayed a message: [Acquired: Unicorn Language]—he also began hearing other voices besides Tina, Newt, and Dumbledore.
"Yo— (Where are we?)"
"Yo— (Didn't you hear Fawkes? It's a temporary refuge.)"
"Yo yo! (Look at that ugly human cub staring at us!)"
"Yo yo! (Ugh, filthy, lecherous, despicable...)"
"..."
Vaughn stared blankly ahead as the snow-white, ethereal, fairytale-like unicorns insulted him in unison.
He reminded himself that unicorns naturally disliked males—they only trusted women. But even so, a dark part of him thought: Maybe let the Noseless Man drain more of their blood.
Then he heard the whitest unicorn scoff: "Let's leave. Dumbledore's too ugly. I don't want to stay here."
"Agreed!" the others chorused.
Vaughn exhaled deeply and felt a little better.
By the time everything was settled, night had fully fallen. Tina made them a late supper—authentic American-style food.
Though hard to describe, it was still better than British "cuisine."
Dumbledore, of course, didn't get any. But he didn't mind, and simply pulled out some candy from his pocket and nibbled on that instead.
It was close to midnight when they said goodbye to the Scamanders.
Once outside the cottage, Fawkes performed one last Apparition, taking Vaughn and Dumbledore back to Hogwarts. After so many trips in a single night, the phoenix looked exhausted—several feathers fell off mid-flight.
Vaughn nonchalantly picked one up and tucked it into his pocket. Dumbledore smiled at him. As they parted ways at the castle gates, the headmaster suddenly asked: "Vaughn, what do you think of Newt?"
"As you said, Albus—he's a good man."
Dumbledore nodded. "He likes you. He's hoping you'll visit him more often. Would you be willing?"
Vaughn thought of Newt's awkward, bashful demeanor and compared it with his own.
He turned to Dumbledore with a suspicious look. What exactly is this old man planning?