Dorset, a lush forest.
In this secluded area, only a beautiful cabin nestled in the center of the forest, home to the Magic Realm's famous Magizoologist, Newt Scamander.
In the morning, a loud bang shattered the forest's peace.
On a tree not far away, a Fwooper poked its head out, and several bizarre-looking beetles crawled out from a few tree holes, lining up to move into another tree hole.
Dobby nervously surveyed everything around him. Upon arrival, he inexplicably felt a hint of danger, a shiver down his spine that instinctively made him want to flee, run far away.
Fortunately, that feeling quickly vanished, as if it never appeared at all.
Kael led him along a cobblestone path, knocked on the door, and walked into the cabin.
Newt and Tina had already received the news in advance and were waiting in the room.
"Dear, is this the House-elf you mentioned in the letter?" Tina asked, looking at the two of them.
"Hello, esteemed Madam, I am Dobby, a free House-elf," Dobby bowed and said.
"Hello, Dobby, it's nice to meet you." Tina smiled.
This sentence made Dobby so excited that he bowed in a rush, his long nose almost touching the floor.
Tina didn't refuse Kai bringing a House-elf along.
Just like she wrote in the letter, it's true that Newt was indeed getting older, and an extra helper wouldn't hurt.
However, Newt himself didn't think the same.
He believed he was entirely capable of taking care of those Fantastic Beasts and didn't need any help.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any say in this household; Tina never asked for his opinion from beginning to end.
Until now, he was sulking on the side... although that wasn't much use, either.
The atmosphere during the first meeting was quite harmonious. Tina stood up and approached Dobby,
"I agree to hire you. The job is to take care of some troublesome Fantastic Beasts."
"No problem, Dobby used to take care of Crups and peacocks."
Crup?
Peacock?
Tina raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kai, "Did you tell it nothing beforehand?"
"I said it," Kael shrugged, "but it was too excited to listen."
"Never mind..."
Tina waved her hand, and Newt naturally opened the case and placed it on the ground.
"Follow me, I'll show you first." She said to Dobby, "This job might be different from what you imagined; decide whether you want to stay after you see it."
Tina stepped into the case.
At first, Dobby didn't care, even thinking he was being underestimated.
Taking care of Fantastic Beasts, that's too easy; he has a lot of experience, and besides, how much could such a big box hold? At most, just kittens and puppies.
The Crup from his former master's house always bit him, but he could still successfully complete feeding, bathing, grooming, and a series of tasks.
Dobby didn't believe any creature could be fiercer than that Crup.
These people are so nice, they even showed him respect, so their beasts must be very gentle...
"Oh!"
Lost in thought, Dobby followed Tina into the case.
In less than a second, he was scared out of his wits, then landed heavily on the ground, thrashing his short legs in a frenzy, tumbling and scrambling into a corner.
It was that terrifying feeling from the door earlier... only now it was even stronger!
Seeing countless Fantastic Beasts around, Dobby felt a blackout and almost fainted.
Especially that creature on the cliff not far away, a cat with six legs... no, it was much bigger than a cat.
Whatever it was, being stared at by those azure eyes made Dobby feel like a turkey about to be put into an oven, unable to hide any secrets.
Now, he wasn't quite so eager to become the best House-elf anymore.
"Just as you see."
Tina said, "Your job is to serve as Newt's assistant, taking care of these Fantastic Beasts, and this is only a small portion.
How about it, do you agree?"
Dobby's ears twitched, he just heard something...
Not a servant, but a wizard's assistant?
Dobby climbed up from the floor, his legs no longer trembling.
"Esteemed Madam, Dobby is willing to become an assistant."
"You need to think it through." Tina gave it a look.
"This is just a small part; further away, there are Fire Dragons, Nundu, and Kelpies..."
Upon hearing Fire Dragon, Dobby shivered instinctively but still managed to stand firm.
"Dobby can do it; Dobby is not afraid of Fire Dragons!"
Tina smiled.
In fact, with Newt around, there wouldn't be any danger here; mostly, it's just doing some chores.
Back then, even Jacob, someone who knew nothing about magic, could come and go freely, let alone a House-elf.
However, that required it to overcome its fear; it wouldn't do to faint as soon as it saw a Fire Dragon.
"Next is the salary."
Dobby's eyes lit up.
"How about twenty Galleons per week..." Tina pondered for a moment and offered a figure.
Dobby sat back on the ground, shocked, as if the number twenty Galleons was scarier than Fire Dragons to him.
"No, no, it's too much." Dobby kept shaking his head and insisted on only wanting one Sickle per week.
Now it was Tina's turn to frown.
As Scamander's assistant, one Sickle per week?
If other wizards found out, they'd think Scamander couldn't afford to pay his assistant!
"One Sickle is absolutely unacceptable, at least ten Galleons!"
Dobby, who had just stood up, collapsed to the ground again, and just as he was about to say something, he noticed Tina was already frowning.
And so the matter was settled, Dobby not uttering another word.
Kael silently gave a thumbs up from the side.
No wonder she once caught the "Magic Realm Natural Disaster" and trapped it for over seventy years; with just one look, Tina made the poor House-elf have to shut up and accept the weekly ten Galleon salary.
But why did it sound so strange as if Sickles were the largest currency in the Magic Realm?
Next were some other minor issues.
For instance, Tina only allowed Dobby to work inside the case and not leave under any circumstances.
Especially the kitchen with those cookie and bread-making machines, she firmly did not allow Dobby to approach, not a single step.
Dobby agreed... of course, he couldn't refuse.
Throughout the whole process, Newt just stood by without a word, simply gazing at Kael woefully.
"Cough cough... I'm doing this for your own good too."
Kael, uncomfortable under his gaze, said, "Nicolas Flamel has a House-elf butler named Tata, and Professor Dumbledore has over a hundred House-elves to make him tea.
You're friends with them, after all, you should at least fit in."
...