Returning home through the fireplace, as soon as Kate opened her eyes, she saw two figures sitting in the living room.
Dumbledore stepped aside, revealing an old man behind him with white sideburns but exceptionally spirited eyes.
Although the face was unfamiliar, as soon as she saw the person’s age, Kate had already guessed the old man’s true identity.
Originally, she had been guessing between Horace and Newt.
She hadn’t expected Dumbledore could actually invite this Magizoologist who was over ninety years old.
Newt Scamander, the protagonist of the Harry Potter prequel, fantastic beasts and where to find them.
He was once a student at Hogwarts, sorted into Hufflepuff, and is a world-renowned Magizoologist.
Given Newt’s personality, Albus Dumbledore’s influence alone wouldn’t have been enough to get him involved.
Her own identity must have been a contributing factor.
Maintaining her usual persona, she shrank back behind Rand upon seeing a stranger in the house.
“Don’t worry, Miss. This gentleman is your new tutor,” Rand bent down and gently coaxed.
[Blank ~ | Novel / Group _.’] | /6.9~~8-9-2 -5.
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Only then did Kate peek her little head out, her round eyes curiously examining the old man behind Dumbledore.
The smile that had just been on her face vanished, replaced by the awkwardness of meeting a stranger for the first time: “Hello, Professor.”
Dumbledore and the old man exchanged a smile.
“Newt, doesn’t this Child remind you of yourself when you first started at Hogwarts?” Dumbledore teased with a smile.
Decades of friendship had long since transformed their relationship from simple teacher and student to that of true confidants and dear friends.
Newt Scamander gave him a helpless look, picked up the case beside him, and slowly walked over to Kate, bending down slightly.
“Hello there, little Shafiq.”
Upon hearing how he addressed her, Kate, who was obediently hiding behind Rand, felt even more certain about her earlier speculations.
The Shafiq Family was one of the twenty-eight prominent pure-blood families in the wizarding world.
It wasn’t strange at all that other elders with the Shafiq surname had crossed paths with Newt, who had once been a towering figure in the magical community.
Kate’s eyes brightened slightly.
She slowly stepped out from behind Rand and tentatively reached out her small hand to take his.
“Professor, you can call me Kate.”
The image of a kind, friendly, yet inexpressive and introverted little girl was instantly established.
Yet, the fact that she couldn’t attend school like other children due to the immense magical power within her would surely evoke pity in the hearts of the several elderly men present, whose average age was over eighty.
Newt chuckled softly, “Actually, I haven’t been at Hogwarts for a long time. My name is Newt Scamander. You can also call me ‘teacher’.”
It was still the initial stage of teacher and student getting to know each other.
Kate maintained her well-behaved demeanor and nodded, her gaze falling on the case in his hand.
Having lived until the third *Fantastic Beasts* movie was about to be released in her previous life, she naturally knew this suitcase wasn’t as simple as it looked.
Outwardly, it seemed like just a case, but inside, an unimaginably powerful Undetectable Extension Charm had been applied.
It could not only contain the vast Rands needed for many magical creatures to live but also housed changing climates and geographical features like plains and snowy mountains.
Based on this single, masterful Undetectable Extension Charm alone, Newt deserved to be called a master.
Seeing her attention captured by the case, Newt gave Dumbledore a triumphant look and continued coaxing the Child.
“This is a very magical case. Inside are many magical creatures you’ve probably seen in books before. Once we get to my home, I’ll take you inside to see them, alright?”
His tone was so gentle that even Kate started to wonder if her ancestors had taken an Avada Kedavra for him.
Without a life-saving bond, would a Magizoologist be this sweet-tempered and patient with a Child?
Come to think of it, even her own butler could have late-night tea with Dumbledore.
Just what kind of family was the Shafiq Family…
Kate suddenly had the illusion of sitting on a gold mine without even realizing it.
Since entering the wizarding world was a foregone conclusion, having such a master as a teacher was an opportunity many could only dream of.
How could she possibly refuse?
“Alright, Teacher Newt,” she nodded gently.
[System Notification: Main Quest 2 completed.]
[Congratulations, Host, on becoming the disciple of the magical master Newt Scamander.]
[Now activating rewards…]
[Reward 1: Acquire half of Newt Scamander’s proficiency in the Undetectable Extension Charm.]
[Reward 2: Acquire half of Newt Scamander’s affinity with magical creatures.]
[Reward 3: Acquire forty years of Newt Scamander’s accumulated magical power (Not recommended to select).] Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Well, another ‘not recommended’ option.
But this time, Kate had learned her lesson.
Fifty years of Dumbledore’s magical power was already enough for her to handle.
Adding another forty years from Newt would likely cause her small body to burst from the sheer magical pressure.
However, the current situation wasn’t conducive to calmly deciding on a reward.
It was better to think about it tonight.
Maintaining her smile as she closed the system window, Kate looked at Newt curiously: “Teacher Newt, are we going to your home next?”
“Unless something unexpected happens, you’ll be staying at my place for the next few months.”
Newt winked at her, straightened up, and whispered a few words to Rand.
She couldn’t hear what they said clearly, but Kate saw very clearly that the Old Butler’s expression froze for a moment.
However, after just a few seconds, he nodded with a grave expression and added a final instruction: “I entrust the young lady’s well-being to you.”
“I will take good care of her. If for no other reason than for her grandfather’s sake,” Newt replied with equal solemnity.
Hmm… just two sentences, but packed with information.
It seemed the Old Butler wouldn’t be accompanying her to Newt’s home, and Newt himself seemed to have some history with her grandfather.
As for the exact nature of that connection, Kate didn’t know, and Newt probably wouldn’t tell her at this stage.
“Grandpa,” she tugged at the Old Butler’s sleeve with a dependent gesture.
Rand looked down to see Kate’s eyes welling up with tears: “Grandpa, aren’t you coming with me to the teacher’s house?”
His old, withered heart softened at the sight of the Child’s barely held-back tears.
He crouched down and hugged Kate, gently stroking her smooth silver hair: “The young lady will have to go to school alone one day too. You need to start getting used to it now.”
“Mm, I understand,” Kate wiped her reddened nose and replied obediently.
In all these years, this was the first time she would be separated from the Old Butler for so long.
Rand smiled with relief, gently pushing the small body in his arms away.
“Miss, I will be waiting for you at Shafiq Manor.”
“Get ready, we’re leaving,” Newt reached down, wiped the tears from Kate’s face, and reminded her softly.
As soon as the words were spoken, the two vanished into thin air.