The next morning, Alexander woke earlier than usual.
The air inside the Scamander estate felt different—wild, alive, filled with magical energy that made his skin tingle with excitement.
After a quick wash and breakfast, he went into his briefcase and found Newt near the fairy grove, carefully adjusting light-orbs so the tiny creatures could rest more comfortably.
"Mr. Scamander," Alexander called.
Newt turned with a warm smile.
"Ah, Alex. Settling in well?"
"Yes, sir. I actually wanted to ask you something."
Newt tilted his head curiously.
"What is it?"
Alexander got straight to the point.
"Can I borrow your Wampus Cat? I want to practice Occlumency."
Newt blinked.
"Occlumency… with a Wampus Cat?"
He looked impressed—but cautious.
"Well… you'll have to ask your father first."
A few minutes later, the three stood together.
Mr. Chen listened quietly as Alexander explained his plan.
The answer came instantly.
"No."
Alexander sighed.
"Too dangerous," Mr. Chen added firmly. "Wampus Cats are natural Legilimency predators. One mistake and your mind could be torn apart."
Alexander crossed his arms.
"But we're staying a few days, right?"
Mr. Chen nodded.
"Yes."
"Then I'll practice while we're here. Mr. Scamander can work on my briefcase at the same time."
Mr. Chen exchanged a glance with his wife.
After a pause, he sighed.
"…Fine. But only under supervision."
Alexander grinned.
"Cool."
Later that morning, Mr. and Mrs. Chen prepared to leave temporarily for business.
"We'll be back in a few days to pick you up," Mrs. Chen said, adjusting his collar.
Alexander waved as they departed.
Mrs. Scamander personally led him to the Wampus Cat enclosure.
The creature was enormous—muscular, spectral-furred, with glowing eyes that seemed to see straight through flesh and bone into thought itself.
Yet—
It was purring as Mrs. Scamander pet it affectionately.
"There, there," she cooed. "Be nice. He wants to practice Occlumency."
The Wampus Cat looked at Alexander.
Then nodded once.
Mrs. Scamander stepped back.
"Begin whenever you're ready."
At first—
Alexander got destroyed.
Every attempt to shield his mind was shredded instantly.
The Wampus Cat moved like lightning—physically and mentally.
Claws swiped.
Illusions pierced.
Mental intrusions flooded him with foreign instincts, hunting urges, predatory rage.
Alexander staggered back repeatedly, bruised and mentally rattled.
But he kept standing.
Again.
And again.
And again.
As hours passed, something changed.
Alexander's defenses stopped being chaotic.
His mind started organizing itself.
Walls formed.
False rooms.
Mirrors.
Labyrinths.
The Wampus Cat noticed.
When it was about to attack, it hesitated.
Its attacks became stronger and stronger.
More forceful.
More aggressive.
Mrs. Scamander intervened as she noticed Alexander's injuries getting serious.
"That's enough."
She hurried over, healing Alexander's injuries as best she could.
She fed him a couple of potions and said.
"You'll continue tomorrow."
Alexander, battered but excited, nodded.
The next few days followed the same pattern.
Fight.
Break.
Heal.
Repeat.
Except—
Each day, the Wampus Cat grew more agitated.
Its attacks stopped feeling like training.
They felt… personal.
Hostile.
Until finally—
On the fourth day—
It snapped.
The Wampus Cat snarled, backed away, and spoke in magical beast tongue to Mrs. Scamander.
Her eyes widened.
"You're quitting?"
The creature growled again, pacing angrily.
Mrs. Scamander stroked its fur soothingly.
"There, there… I'll prepare your favorite meal later."
The Wampus Cat huffed, shot Alexander one last glare—
And stormed off.
Alexander blinked.
"…What just happened?"
Mrs. Scamander led him away to heal his injuries.
Meanwhile, Newt returned, carrying notes and tools, looking pleased.
"I've finished reinforcing your briefcase—"
He paused.
"…Why did training stop?"
Mrs. Scamander gave him a complicated look.
"At first, it was fine. But each day the Wampus grew more aggressive."
She hesitated.
"Today, she said if they continued… she would eat him alive. She called him an 'evil boy.'"
Newt froze.
Slowly, both magizoologists turned toward Alexander.
"…What," Newt asked carefully, "were you thinking during training?"
Alexander scratched his cheek.
"Well… at first I focused on dodging."
They nodded.
"Then I cleared my mind, and I thought it'd be interesting if I fed it false information."
Newt narrowed his eyes.
"…What kind of false information?"
Alexander grinned.
"I kept thinking Wampus Cats must taste good."
Silence.
"I imagined grilling them."
Silence deepened.
"I tried showing it images of me cooking Wampus Cat steaks."
Alexander laughed.
"I didn't think it would work."
Newt and his wife stared at him in stunned disbelief.
"…Well," Newt finally muttered, "that explains everything."
Mrs. Scamander sighed.
"Still… learning Occlumency this quickly is unheard of."
That night, Alexander's parents returned.
While the adults spoke, Alexander slipped into his briefcase.
Inside, he went straight to the fairy grove.
"Tinkerbell!"
The fairy leader flew over happily.
Alexander introduced Silver and Copper.
At first, the fairies hid behind glowing flowers, afraid of the house elves.
But gradually curiosity won.
Soon they were flying together, laughing, playing light games.
Alexander smiled.
"I'll find you more friends later."
Outside the briefcase, the adults were deep in discussion.
They spoke about the Occlumency training.
About the Wampus Cat quitting.
About Alexander's mental defenses.
Shock filled the room.
They collectively agreed—
No one else should know.
Newt adjusted his vest thoughtfully.
"That boy is a genius. You should consider advancing his studies further. He'll become an extraordinarily powerful wizard."
Mr. and Mrs. Chen nodded.
They even showed the Scamanders Alexander's photo albums—
Photos and enchanted photos of his adventures.
Laughter.
Astonishment.
A bit of fear.
They spent the night talking.
The next morning, farewells were said.
The Chen family departed by car, leaving the Scamander estate behind—
While inside his briefcase, Alexander's fairy colony danced under enchanted light,