Newt Scamander had never been one to follow the rules. Even though he now lived quietly among Muggles, technically retired, it was foolish to think he had truly let go of a lifetime spent studying and caring for magical creatures.

The basement of the Scamander home had been transformed into something extraordinary.

It wasn't just a basement anymore, it was a vast sanctuary, a maze of interconnected biomes. One section resembled a dry, scrub-covered savannah. Hidden in a patch of brittle yellow grass, Tina and Vaughan emerged from a concealed trapdoor.

Both crouched low, lifting binoculars in near unison.

"Do you see them?" Tina whispered.

"Yeah," Vaughan murmured. "One of them looks pretty excited. The other… not so much."

Through the binoculars, two colossal figures came into focus. Even from a distance, it was obvious they each weighed over a ton. Their thick, wrinkled skin had a glossy sheen, and each bore a single large horn on its forehead, vaguely rhinoceros-like in shape.

But when the more energetic of the two began bouncing up and down, panting eagerly, its horn started to glow a vivid red. The base of the horn shimmered like molten lava, pulsing with fiery light.

"They're Graphorns," Tina explained in a low voice. "The horn is filled with an explosive compound. That lively one is female. She's caught the scent of the male's musk."

Newt had rescued them last year. A group of dark wizards had been capturing Graphorns in Africa and smuggling them into Britain. These two had been taken from their native habitat for so long that they couldn't safely return to their herd. Newt was hoping to pair them up, start a new family, and eventually reintroduce their offspring into the wild.

Just as she said this, the female Graphorn trotted eagerly toward the male, only to be shoved aside by his backside.

Vaughan lowered his binoculars with a faint smirk. "Male doesn't seem too thrilled."

Tina sighed. "Mating rights in the wild are usually won through fierce competition. The male has to defeat rivals to earn the right. Without that... spark, he's not interested."

Vaughan shrugged. "With mating instincts like that, it's a miracle they're not extinct."

"Don't jinx it," Tina muttered, rubbing her temple.

She led him on through the sanctuary. Over the next two hours, they ventured across enchanted swamps, snowfields, mountains, and forests, each habitat seamlessly connected to the next.

They saw water-dwelling kelpies, sleek spotted panthers with venom sacs beneath their fur, and even a swarm of shimmering Billywigs from Australia.

Those last ones were especially problematic.

Billywigs looked harmless, but their stings made people literally float off the ground. Adult and young wizards alike found them perfect for pranks, which had created a booming black market. Officially, the Ministry classified them as XXX-level dangerous creatures. Only a few candy manufacturers were licensed to import them, as their stingers were an ingredient in Fizzing Whizzbees.

Naturally, smugglers found their own ways to profit.

They even rode a Snidget-bird hybrid known as a Puffskreecher. On the ground, it resembled a fat, awkward dodo with stumpy wings. But the moment it prepared for flight, it puffed up like a massive balloon, lifting into the air like a living hot-air balloon. Then it expelled air in powerful jets, transforming into a completely different shape mid-air and soaring off.

Its tail worked like a seatbelt, curling around the passenger.

That was only a glimpse of what Newt had rescued. Many of the more dangerous magical beasts, those used for potion-making and alchemy, had already been sent to protected areas run by magical governments worldwide.

Vaughan was utterly fascinated.

Before this, he had only ever handled ingredients harvested from magical creatures. Seeing the living animals up close was a completely different experience.

"You and Rolf might actually get along," Tina remarked.

"Who?"

"My grandson. He's just as obsessed with magical beasts as Newt."

Vaughan squinted, trying to recall the name. Then it clicked. Wasn't Luna Lovegood's husband supposed to be Newt's grandson?

So… this Rolf guy?

Eventually, they returned to the main basement chamber. Newt and Dumbledore had arrived while they were gone, and the two were hard at work, casting Undetectable Extension Charms to expand the space even further.

Dumbledore drew his wand.

It was old, carved from smooth, dark wood with pronounced knuckles. At a glance, it didn't look special at all.

But Vaughan felt the shift immediately. A tide of ancient magic flooded the room, so deep it seemed to pull at the edges of his soul.

"The Elder Wand..." he thought.

But he didn't stare too long. As the expanded space settled into place, Newt opened an old leather suitcase and gently released several unicorns.

A glowing panel appeared before Vaughan's eyes.

[Side Quest II: Rescue the Forbidden Forest Unicorns - Completed]

[Claim Reward?]

"Claim," he thought.

Since the reward was listed as a "Language Pack," he wasn't too worried about side effects.

He was right.

There was a brief buzzing in his ears, his throat itched, then nothing.

But he knew something had changed.

[Acquired: Unicorn Language]

He didn't just feel different. He could suddenly understand what the unicorns were saying.

"Yoooh-(Where are we now?)"

"Yoooh-(Didn't you hear Fawkes? It's just a temporary shelter.)"

"Yooohoo! (Look at that hideous human child, he's spying on us!)"

"Yooohoo! (Ugh, filthy, vile, disgusting!)"

Vaughan's face remained expressionless, but inside, he winced.

He knew unicorns preferred women, especially pure-hearted girls. But this still felt personal.

He found himself wishing he'd let the blood-sucking outlet-vampire drain just a little more from them.

Then one of the purest, snowiest unicorns piped up.

"Let's go. Dumbledore is far too ugly. I can't stand being near him."

"Agreed!" came a chorus of voices.

Vaughan exhaled slowly.

Suddenly, the insults didn't sting as much.

Later that night, after everything had been sorted, Tina made a simple supper. Classic American comfort food.

It was, frankly, a mess, but still miles ahead of whatever counted as cuisine in Britain.

As usual, Dumbledore wasn't part of the meal. He didn't mind. Cheerfully humming, he popped a sherbet lemon into his mouth instead.

By midnight, it was time to say goodbye.

They stepped outside the cottage. Fawkes appeared in a burst of flame to take Vaughan and Dumbledore back to Hogwarts.

Multiple long-distance Apparitions had clearly worn the phoenix out. Several of his feathers had fallen off.

Vaughan scooped one up and slipped it into his pocket.

Dumbledore gave him a knowing smile but said nothing, until they were just about to part ways.

"Vaughan," he asked casually, "what do you think of Newt?"

Vaughan raised an eyebrow. "Like you said, Albus. He's a good man."

Dumbledore nodded slowly. "He likes you. He hopes you'll visit more often."

Vaughan thought back to Newt's shy, gentle demeanor. Then he considered his own rather… direct personality.

He squinted suspiciously at Dumbledore.

What was this old schemer planning now?