Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

David crossed the cobblestone path and approached the grand entrance of the house. The contrast between the exterior and interior was striking. From the outside, the house had a quaint, almost fresh charm, but inside, it was a testament to opulence.

Sculptures that seemed to belong in a museum stood in the corners, and elaborate oil paintings adorned the walls. A massive, luxurious sofa, large enough to resemble a small boat, surrounded a wooden table carved intricately from tree roots. The railings on the staircase gleamed in gold, casting a soft glow in the sunlight filtering through the windows.

Everything in the house screamed of wealth and extravagance.

David took it all in silently, suppressing the urge to test if the golden railing would chime under his touch. Instead, he ascended the staircase and knocked on the second door.

"Please come in!" A crisp voice responded from inside. It belonged to a young man—most likely a wizard.

David pressed the golden door handle and stepped inside. A well-dressed wizard with neatly curled black hair sat behind a long desk, leaning back comfortably in a plush chair. As David took a seat, the man introduced himself.

"Hello, I'm Pavel Charles. What can I do for you?"

Without a word, David pulled a letter from his bag and handed it over.

Pavel opened it, scanning its contents before offering a polite smile. "Welcome, Mr. Terry. You are safe here, so would you care to remove your hat?"

David hesitated but eventually pulled off his hat, placing it on his lap. He met Pavel's gaze with a cold, piercing look.

Pavel's smile faltered, his eyes widening slightly. It was clear that David's practice over the past few days had paid off.

Quickly recovering, Pavel turned his attention to a thick photo album on the desk. With a flick of his wand, the pages turned to a specific section.

"Mr. Terry, before we proceed, do you recall the gesture you left in the photograph?" Pavel inquired, his wand still poised in his hand.

David's stomach tightened. There had been no mention of this in the information Queenie provided. Keeping his expression unreadable, he responded calmly, "Give me a moment. I have a lot of things in my head." He tapped his temple as if sorting through memories.

"Of course. Take your time," Pavel said, but his grip on the wand remained firm.

David closed his eyes as if deep in thought. In reality, he was communicating with the small, tree-dwelling creature that had snuck into the room earlier. The creature had crawled atop Pavel's bookshelf, providing David with a clear view of the photograph. When he reopened his eyes, he swiftly pulled out his wand.

Pavel tensed but did not react.

"Diffindo," David muttered. A sheet of paper on Pavel's desk split cleanly into four precise sections.

Pavel exhaled, visibly impressed. "Very good. A precise Severing Charm, and an excellent memory. We value partners like you." He relaxed, setting his wand aside. "I apologize for the test, but recently, someone infiltrated our ranks using Polyjuice Potion. We had to take precautions since our members are forbidden from using Legilimency."

David remained silent, watching as Pavel crossed the room to a wooden cabinet.

"What magical creature do you prefer?" Pavel asked, rummaging through a drawer.

"Anything is fine," David replied curtly.

"Hmm..." Pavel considered for a moment before pulling out a white mask. "How about the Hungarian Horntail? Your temperament matches theirs. To be honest, when you removed your hat earlier, you frightened me."

David examined the mask. It was similar to the ones he had seen before.

"Perfect," he said simply.

"Good, then we are officially partners. Here, take this." Pavel handed him a sealed envelope. "Open it at exactly 8 AM on August 12."

David accepted the envelope and nodded.

"But if you open it before then," Pavel warned, his friendly demeanor slipping, "we are no longer partners."

David tucked the envelope away without a word. "Can I leave now?"

"Of course," Pavel responded with a smirk. "Oh, and Mr. Terry... you are a terrifying man."

David ignored the remark, placed his hat back on, and exited the room.

As he closed the door behind him, he crouched down, pretending to tie his shoelaces while his tree-dwelling companion observed Pavel inside. The wizard hastily scribbled a note: Follow him and observe.

So much for trust, David thought.

Straightening up, he descended the stairs, lightly tapping the golden railing—solid craftsmanship. Exiting the house, he nodded at the old woman by the gate before stepping onto the street.

After walking a hundred meters, a familiar sensation washed over him—a faint wave of malice. The unicorn's innate ability warned him of danger.

Casually glancing over his shoulder, he spotted three wizards trailing him. Their faces were unfamiliar, indicating they weren't just the usual guards stationed around the house.

There are more of them than I thought.

Adjusting his hat, David quickened his pace toward the inn, blending seamlessly into the crowd.