Newt opened the suitcase on his desk, speaking as he did. "Ever since that time in the Forbidden Forest, I've been thinking you'd find a suitcase like mine really useful. It's not completely finished yet, but it just needs some final touches. I'm sure you've got the skills to handle the rest."
Lucien's suspicions were confirmed—Newt was really giving him a suitcase like his own. Still, he hesitated. "Thank you so much for your kindness. I was actually going to ask if you could help expand the space in my gourd, but isn't this gift a bit too much…?"
Before he could finish, Newt raised a hand to stop him, his tone gentle but firm. "Lucien, you said it yourself—it's a gift. I seem to recall your birthday's coming up soon, so think of this suitcase as an early birthday present. No more talk of refusing. This is perfect for you. Now, come on, let's take a look inside."
Newt waved Lucien over with a grin.
Seeing Newt's enthusiasm, Lucien didn't protest further. He accepted the gesture, already thinking of ways to return the kindness.
The two stepped into the suitcase.
Lucien was instantly floored by what he saw.
A vast, endless grassland stretched out before him. A warm breeze, carrying the scent of dry grass and earth, washed over his face. Soft sunlight glowed overhead, bright but not blinding. A few gnarled trees offered shade, and nearby, a clear pond sparkled next to a dry, hay-strewn cave.
"This is the entrance," Newt said casually.
The entrance? Lucien thought, stunned. It's already this huge?
Newt led the way toward a seemingly ordinary rock wall. He traced a complex pattern in the air with his fingertip, and the wall rippled like water, revealing a spiraling wooden staircase leading downward.
"Come on," Newt said. "Let's check out the other… 'floors.'"
Lucien followed him down the stairs into a completely different environment—a hot, arid desert. The heat hit him immediately, with rolling sand dunes in the distance. A few lizard-like creatures, their scales glinting like gemstones, glanced at them warily before burrowing into the sand.
"Each layer is its own separate space," Newt explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "The environment, the climate—you can tweak them all. The heat down here won't affect the grassland above. You could grow magical plants that need specific conditions or… run some less stable experiments that need to be contained."
They crossed the desert, and Newt opened another "door" at the far end. This time, it led to a chilly cave, its stone walls dripping with dew—a perfect home for nocturnal or cold-loving creatures.
No wonder the Scamander family was legendary. This intricately crafted, massively expanded, and perfectly isolated Undetectable Extension Charm container was one of a kind.
"My suitcase has been with me through a lot," Newt said, his gaze soft but deep as he looked at Lucien. "It's helped me save and protect countless lives. This one's safe, private, and big enough to hold all your wildest ideas."
He handed Lucien a small booklet. "This has all the details on how to maintain and expand the suitcase. If you have any questions, just write to me."
"Oh, and I made some upgrades," Newt added. "The suitcase can shrink or grow, and you can change its appearance. Makes it easier to carry around at school."
Lucien took the booklet, his gratitude genuine. "Thank you so much, Newt. I'll make good use of this gift."
Newt clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't mention it. Now, let's head out for dinner."
As they stepped out of the suitcase's world, Newt looked up to see Tina standing there, arms crossed, a smile on her face that didn't quite reach her salamander-like eyes.
"Well, well," Tina said. "In a hurry to drag the kid off somewhere, Newt? Come on, let's eat—and you can explain what you meant by 'a little accident.'"
---
At the dinner table, Tina's voice was sharp. "So, Newt, this 'little accident' of yours—do you mean the part where, if Lucien hadn't stepped in, a Killing Curse would've hit you? Or maybe when you got separated by a magical barrier, leaving a child to face a gang of ruthless poachers alone?"
Her hands trembled as she gripped her knife and fork, her words laced with fear and barely contained anger.
Newt, avoiding his wife's gaze, stammered, "Lucien handled it so calmly. He's… he's sharp, and his magic was incredible…"
"I don't need you praising Lucien's skills right now," Tina snapped. "And by the way, that trip you were planning with Rolf to track down those winged horses? It's on hold."
She shot Newt a look that promised a longer conversation later.
Their grandson, Rolf Scamander, had no idea his eagerly awaited adventure was about to be postponed due to his grandfather's misstep.
Tina turned to Lucien, her expression softening with concern and guilt. "I'm so sorry, Lucien. We wanted to show you a good time, but Newt clearly didn't look out for you properly."
Lucien sat up straight, his gaze earnest. "Please, Grandma Tina, don't apologize. That was a fight we faced together. Newt's taught me so much—he's my mentor and my friend. No wizard would stand by and let a friend face danger alone."
Tina sighed, her expression softening further. "You're too good, kid."
Lucien grinned. "My Defense Against the Dark Arts professor always said that when facing a dangerous enemy, staying calm and sharp is key. I just put that into practice."
Quirrell had indeed said that, and Tom Riddle had demonstrated it firsthand.
Tina nodded, her eyes warm as she looked at Lucien. "Newt told me you're a kid who loves to learn. How about this? After dinner, we can talk about Defense Against the Dark Arts, maybe some combat tricks. I used to be an Auror in the States—might have a few things you'd find interesting."
Lucien's eyes lit up. "That'd be amazing! It's an honor."
This kind woman had been a top-tier Auror in her youth, chasing down Grindelwald's followers and locking up countless Saints in America. Unlike Newt, who fought alongside magical creatures, Tina was a straight-up combat expert. An elite Auror from that chaotic era? She definitely had real skills.
Lucien wasn't about to pass up a chance to learn more.
After dinner, Tina taught him a slew of practical spells and techniques. She was amazed by his talent—Lucien picked up charms with a single explanation, mastered them after a few tries, and his reactions during sparring practice kept surprising her.
"Lucien, I'm telling you, you're a natural-born Auror!" Tina exclaimed.
Newt's head whipped around. "Uh, Tina, Lucien's more into—"
Tina glanced at him. "Something wrong with that?"
Newt fell silent.
With a new Scamander-style suitcase, a batch of spells and tricks from Tina, and a front-row seat to Newt's family dynamics, Lucien left the Scamanders' home feeling more than satisfied.
As he prepared to summon his broom, a burst of crimson flames flared beside him. Fawkes swooped out, delivering a letter to Lucien.
---