But today, perseverance paid off. Looking at the three-headed puppy lying in his arms, Newt knew he'd found it.
Perhaps he could find one or two more?
Looking at the obviously young Fluffy, Newt silently calculated in his heart. Dumbledore had mentioned that the three-headed dog he released in Greece was an adult, and Newt had prepared well to deal with that big fellow. For example, he had packed three phonographs that could play music in his suitcase.
Though he didn't know why this three-headed dog fell asleep to music, since Hagrid and Dumbledore both said so, he chose to believe it for now.
Perhaps it was just a trait of the three-headed dogs... Given that they were so rare, not even his latest edition of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" had documentation on these big creatures, only a brief mention.
And now, since there were pups, it likely meant there were also a male and female three-headed dog nearby.
Although his mind was racing, Newt's hands didn't stop moving. He quickly identified the source of Fluffy's discomfort. Squatting down, he gently laid the puppy across his lap. The three heads drooped slightly as his hands began to knead its sides.
Seeing Newt enter a focused state, William didn't interrupt. His understanding of Newt almost entirely came from Dumbledore's words...
Oh, and Grindelwald.
That one time when Dumbledore mentioned Newt, the old man Grindelwald was also present. His attitude was clearly less favorable than Dumbledore's, offering only a cold snort before beginning to "slander" out of thin air, which Dumbledore did not counter; instead, he shared some "funny stories" with William.
For example, a certain Dark Lord surprisingly had a blood pact stolen right off him by a Niffler.
"I did it on purpose, Dumbledore! For you..."
Grindelwald's later explanation sounded weak and futile, even if he appeared outwardly angry, it was all to no avail.
And as William was lost in thought, suddenly a soft, furry sensation brushed against his cheek. An orange and white Kitty, which had somehow wriggled out from Newt's hat behind him, leapt onto William's lap, rubbing its rear and tail against his chest while meowing.
Instinctively, William reached out to catch this big orange kitty. Newt, hearing the commotion, also instinctively looked up. Seeing the Kitty so friendly with William, the old man's eyes softened with a smile and his goodwill towards William deepened, "It's called Hobby, snuck out in my suitcase —"
He said as he scratched Hobby's chin, rewarded with a contented purring sound.
The sensitivity of a Kitty is several magnitudes higher than that of ordinary cats, and as a Master of Magical Creatures who had lived his life with animals, Newt could easily tell that William was a kind person, at least by the animals' standards — which meant this three-headed dog hadn't been abused.
After a simple diagnosis, Newt understood Fluffy's condition, his hands applying slight pressure to its sides.
There's an old saying about orange cats: "Nine out of ten are chubby, and the other one squashes the bed." This applies aptly to Kitties as well. Feeling the solid weight on his knee, William couldn't help but glance at Newt's somewhat thin frame and smiled, "Must have been tough carrying this little guy in your hat."
"Ahem—"
Just as William finished speaking, Fluffy and its two smaller siblings started coughing, spewing out a sour-smelling liquid. William instinctively cast the Iron Armor Spell for protection, even giving Newt, sprayed by Xiaoming, a quick clean-up spell.
"Thank you."
With the rejuvenated three-headed dog put down on the ground, Newt's face broke into a genuine smile.
"It's me who should be thanking you."
Watching the three-headed dog bounce away to a tree trunk to relieve itself, William couldn't help but chuckle. Returning Hobby to Newt's shoulder, he looked at the Master of Magical Creatures — not intending to continue the contact. After all, strictly speaking, they were merely strangers who met by chance.
However, it was clear Newt had a different view.
"William, may I call you that? I wanted to ask if you know where this little one's parents might be?"
Newt scratched his temple, a bit bashful in the short-term but prompted by an inner trust in William, blurted his question after a moment's hesitation.
"Parents?"
Looking at big Fluffy, who was now back and nuzzling him, William instinctively repeated.
"Woof!"
Hearing William's question, big Fluffy barked swiftly.
"It says... its dad isn't here, yes, and its dad's name is Hagrid... Hagrid?"
Well, now it was William's turn to be dumbfounded — Hagrid? The Hagrid he knew? How did capturing a three-headed dog in Greece have anything to do with Hogwarts? What's going on? Is Hogwarts the origin of all things?
"Hagrid... Fluffy?"
Newt paused, seemingly in disbelief, but he squatted down and looked into big Fluffy's eyes questioningly.
"Woof!"
This time it was the second head that answered, tongue out, clearly recognizing the familiar name.
"?"
William blinked wildly in confusion. What? You both know each other? Does this mean I used a Master Ball to forcibly capture someone else's Pokémon?
No matter, a Master Ball catch is mine.
Resolving himself, William decided to ask what that name meant, but clearly, Newt's mind was filled with more questions than his. The old man ran his hand through his white hair, staring at William as he asked, "But, Hagrid told me Fluffy was an adult three-headed dog..."
Before he could finish his sentence, William understood the man's confusion. He snapped his fingers lightly, and in the next moment, the big Fluffy squatting between them began to rapidly swell up until it fully obscured their views of each other.
Compared to the adorable mini form that was just forty or fifty centimeters high, big Fluffy had now regained its majestic presence... If it weren't still tilting its head and sticking its tongue out, William sometimes wondered if he was holding the script of Heroes of the Div-Warriors' Nangong Wenya, where everything he touched turned silly.
Never mind the three-headed dog; even the Fire Dragon Radish and Basilisk, originally fierce and menacing, had become comedic since being tamed.
Too scary, could I be a comedian too?
William lapsed into brief contemplation as Newt's voice came from the other side of big Fluffy. The old man was evidently amazed by the spectacle, summing up his excitement into one simple plea, "Withdraw your powers."
William promptly waved his magic wand, and Newt's excited expression appeared before him, "Are you the one Hagrid mentioned, William Richard?"
"If we know the same Hagrid, then yes."
William wasn't surprised by Newt suddenly recognizing him, and indeed, his assumption was correct. When Newt last visited Hogwarts, Hagrid had boasted about Argo, shrunk by William. Although Hagrid had started a spider farm, he still occasionally asked William to shrink Argo for company in bed.
And evidently, Newt had heard the name back then, though with more than a month since, it's only natural for an elderly memory to fade.
"I've finally met you!"
Newt eagerly grasped William's hand, more excited than when he saw Fluffy.
"If you'd gone to Hogwarts, it would have been easy to find me."
"Actually, I had a task from the Ministry of Magic back then."
"Oh... A task from the Ministry of Magic? They're mistreating the elderly?"
"Actually, it was voluntary."
"...Alright, so what do you want with me?"
William had a hunch. Their connections weren't extensive, and it was obvious what Newt wanted from him.
But the old man seemed intent on preserving some mystery. He furtively opened a nearby suitcase, revealing a mysterious black space identical to the one William had left at the Starry Sky Circus camp.
"Come with me."
Newt said as he agilely climbed inside, showing none of the frailty expected of someone well over a century old.