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That was a Thunderbird!
A rare magical creature whose tail feathers could be used as wand cores. Wands made with Thunderbird feathers were notoriously difficult to master, but they were incredibly powerful and especially suited for Transfiguration. Due to the Thunderbird's extreme sensitivity to supernatural danger, wands with its feathers were said to cast spells in advance of danger.
Of course, Ian wasn't concerned with what kind of powers Thunderbird-core wands had. He was more interested in how to craft a good, affordable wand that could lower wand prices overall.
"Next semester, when school starts, you'll see that little friend… along with your suitcase," Newt Scamander said with a smile, feeling Ian's genuine joy.
"Dumbles keeps saying you're a serial violator of school rules. I guess raising a 4X-class magical creature won't be much of a stretch for you either. Just remember, you must release it once it's grown."
"While a Thunderbird isn't as violently aggressive as a 5X-class magical creature, any 4X-class magical creature is more powerful than over 95% of wizards. You really don't want to see what a Thunderbird in heat is like…" Newt added with a bit of lingering fear in his tone.
"What a coincidence!" Ian suddenly clapped his hands.
"You were thinking the same thing as me?" Newt Scamander asked excitedly.
However, Ian's next words made the smile on Newt's face freeze instantly.
"I just happen to be more powerful than over 95% of wizards. Raising a Thunderbird won't be a problem for me," Ian said, what he felt was a very tactful response.
"…"
"…"
"…"
However,
Whether it was Newt Scamander, his wife, or even his sister-in-law, their expressions became ever so slightly… colorful upon hearing Ian's confident claim.
Newt couldn't help but feel a bit of regret. Seeing this young wizard so eager, he was afraid the boy was genuinely looking forward to sparring with the Thunderbird once it grew up.
"Really, Mr. Scamander, trust me. I'll absolutely take good care of the Thunderbird," Ian quickly patted his chest in assurance, afraid Newt might back out. He wanted to pull out a few books on magical creatures from his money pouch to prove his theoretical expertise, but when he opened it, he found only three titles inside:
Magical Creatures in the Pot
Magical Creatures in the Stomach
Magical Creature Nutritional Guide
"…"
Ian quickly shut the pouch and was grateful that he'd placed a spell on it which would allow only him to see its contents.
To be fair, he really wasn't to blame for this book series. They were just Christmas gifts he'd received. He had no idea why those Ravenclaw Students thought he'd enjoy books like those.
"My potions are amazing, Thunderbird will definitely grow up healthy." Ian quickly tried a different approach to sell himself. He truly did have deep skill in potion-making.
And sure enough, the moment the topic of raising the Thunderbird came up, he had already begun thinking about how to brew potions that wouldn't harm it but would still make it shed and regrow feathers smoothly. If that wasn't a demonstration of his potion-making skill, what was?
"I'd never doubt the potion-making talent of a Prince," Newt Scamander replied, though he now looked hesitant again, perhaps his sixth sense as a "Druid" was acting up.
Something just felt off in Newt's gut, and his eyelid twitched uncontrollably.
"Actually, a Graphorn would be fine too. I like Graphorns as well." Ian mentioned casually, though he hadn't seen any records of that fierce Eastern beast in 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'?
However, he had found information on it in other magical creature books, and in this current world, Graphorns were actually also classified as 4X-class magical creatures.
"Graphorn?" Newt Scamander's expression turned even stranger, he looked as if Ian were deliberately trying to make things difficult for him.
"You haven't seen one either?" Ian asked curiously.
"Of course I have, I've definitely seen one. I remember, I went to China decades ago and observed one up close. It was nearly classified as a 5X-level dangerous magical creature." Newt's gaze turned evasive again.
Just as Ian suspected that Newt might be hiding something, the magical creature master suddenly launched into a flood of knowledge about the Graphorn.
"Graphorns have an bewitching magic that makes people subconsciously ignore their danger, and they're far more intelligent than most magical creatures. If not for the fact that they don't usually attack humans or other beings unless they're starving, they'd definitely be in the same class as Basilisks and Dragons."
"Of course, if provoked, they will absolutely demonstrate their strength. I once saw a full-grown Siberian tiger get its skull smashed in one swipe."
"Their hide gives them immense magical resistance. In terms of strength, probably only the Chinese Fireball dragon could match them on that land."
Gotta admit, Newt Scamander really did seem to have an incredibly detailed understanding of the Graphorns. The "bewitching magic" he mentioned was something that made Ian's eyes go wide, it was the first time he'd ever heard of it.
Thinking about it carefully...
Maybe it actually made sense.
But Newt Scamander's somewhat guilty gaze left him quite confused. Just as Ian was about to ask, Tina spoke up and explained the reason for Newt Scamander's guilt.
"I knew it, you still haven't given up on those Beasts. If I hadn't gone over there to bail you out back then, you'd have been sentenced to decades in prison for smuggling endangered species!"
"Trying to kidnap an endangered magical creature that both the Muggle and wizarding worlds hold in high regard, from a protected reserve no less, honestly, even to this day I have no idea what the hell you were thinking!" Tina's tone held a hint of resentment, and she rolled her eyes while exposing Newt Scamander's dark past.
Newt Scamander's face turned bright red.
"I already told you, they have bewitching magic! I was bewitched! And besides! They're incredibly cunning! The only reason I got caught was because they secretly reported me to the Muggles and wizards!"
Newt's excuse was so ridiculous that not even the two older women in the room could believe it, let alone Ian, an eleven-year-old wizard, who thought it sounded completely absurd.
"You're saying… the Graphorns, which can't talk, can't write, and have no access to communication devices, somehow reported you?" Tina let out a cold laugh and delivered a soul-piercing question.
"That's right! Exactly! And if you gave me another chance to go back there, I'd definitely figure out how they pulled it off," Newt Scamander replied, sounding genuinely frustrated and unwilling to let the matter go.
"Well, we don't have that kind of money to bail you out again! I've already paid your bail in over sixty countries!" Tina glared at him furiously.
"It's fine, I've still got a good bit of money saved up. I'm actually quite curious myself about whether the Graphorns really have bewitching magic." Queenie chimed in with a look of gleeful mischief, clearly enjoying stirring the pot.
Maybe this is just how all younger sisters-in-law are.
(To Be Continued…)