HP: Fantastic Beasts And The Right Way To Use Them

A head emerged from the green flames—a very smooth, bald head. The man's weary expression suggested that his work, whatever it was, was taxing enough to have long since robbed him of his hair.

He stepped out of the fireplace, hands first, then legs, a short, middle-aged wizard carrying a large bag. Clad in rumpled pajamas, he couldn't stifle a deep yawn.

"You really did stay up all night?" Evans asked, eyeing him with suspicion. From what he knew of the man, all-nighters weren't his style. Besides, his health was already fragile. Was he trying to tempt fate?

"No," the wizard replied, his voice thick with fatigue. "It just took a bit longer to coax my youngest daughter to sleep."

Without another word, Evans placed a hand on the man's shoulder. A flicker of silver light, and they were gone, reappearing in the misty alley where he had left his companions.

The little Lethifold had already returned from delivering the potion. It floated hesitantly near Nana, clearly wanting to get closer but intimidated by the Niffler's bared teeth and aggressive posture. It could only circle at a distance, its hem drooping with indecision.

"Is that… a Lethifold?" the middle-aged wizard asked, his drowsy eyes snapping wide open as he stared at the little cape.

Startled by his intense gaze, the creature gave up on Nana and floated cautiously behind a nearby wall, peeking out with just the brim of its hood.

"Yes, a Lethifold," Evans replied casually. "Don't worry," he called to the creature, "he's not a bad guy."

The little cape remained unconvinced, poking only half its hood out from behind the wall. You yourself are a bad guy! You caught me and won't let me go! How could anyone you bring be a good person?

The silent tirade continued in its mind. Is this the Evil Wizard who's going to stew me? Wuwuwu…

A vein pulsed in Evans's temple as he listened to the stream of thoughts. With another flicker of silver, he was behind the creature, grabbing its hood and pulling it back into the open.

"This is the Master Warder I invited," he explained patiently. "He will set up a protective ward in this town to prevent monsters from the Forbidden Forest from entering. Once he's finished, you can come with me."

The Lethifold's frantic struggling ceased. After a long moment, it let out a weak, silent hum. 'Can I not go with you?'

"No," Evans said firmly. "You must come with me."

This little creature was becoming increasingly lawless. If its character wasn't corrected, it would inevitably devolve into a true dark creature. He couldn't allow it to stay in a human settlement any longer, be it wizard or Muggle. Keeping it by his side was the only way to be sure.

Defeated, the Lethifold drooped its hood and floated aggrievedly behind Evans.

"This is a Lethifold cub?" the ward-master asked, scrutinizing the small creature. His tone held a note of genuine surprise. He had noticed its size; an adult Lethifold would be much larger.

"Mm-hm," Evans nodded. "This little one is probably only five years old. I don't know how long Lethifolds live, but he's definitely still a child."

"You're so lucky to find such a rare cub," the wizard sighed wistfully before turning to the matter at hand. "What kind of ward do you want to build? And where?"

"Try to cover this town, I suppose," Evans said, gesturing towards the scattered houses in the distance. "As for the effect, it only needs to repel dark creatures from the Forbidden Forest. There aren't many strong monsters in the nearby woods; the most dangerous are probably Diricawls. You can even reduce the ward's intensity a bit to extend its duration."

"No problem." The middle-aged wizard nodded and walked towards the treeline. About ten minutes later, he stopped at the border between the town and the forest. "Here is good. Any further in, and the Forbidden Forest's own magic will erode the ward."

He knelt, opened his large bag, and pulled out a series of strange tools that looked utterly foreign to Evans. After clearing a patch of ground, he began to draw intricate patterns on the earth. As he worked, faint wisps of light began to glow along the lines he traced.

"I heard you're a professor at Hogwarts now?" the wizard asked, his hands never pausing in their work.

"Yes, Care of Magical Creatures."

"Congratulations! You finally became that professor."

The conversation flowed easily. After a while, the wizard paused his drawing and said in a teasing tone, "Sosia has asked us many times where you went. Are you really not going back to see her?"

Evans stiffened, the name hitting him like a physical blow. After a long moment, he spoke softly. "Is she not angry with me anymore?"

"I don't know. She never shows it, you know? Always cheerful, always happy. But not seeing her won't solve the problem."

Another long silence. Evans gently shook his head. "…Let's wait a bit longer. I haven't thought it through yet."

"As you wish." The wizard said no more, focusing on the complex patterns on the ground. Ten minutes later, he drew the final stroke and stood up, smiling. "The ward will emit an aura that dark creatures intensely dislike. It should last for about five years. If you still need it then, you can refine some of your own magic and infuse it yourself. That should extend its use for another five years."

He dusted off his hands. "Thank you for your patronage. That will be fifty Galleons."

"Are we really going to talk about money?"

"Business is business, my friend," the wizard said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Besides, you wouldn't want the British Ministry of Magic to know that you secretly established a Floo Network, would you?"

"Hmph. If you report me, you won't escape responsibility either," Evans snorted, pulling a money pouch from his pocket and tossing it to the man.

The wizard caught it with a shrug. "I'm not the mastermind. Besides, I'm a French Master Warder. After I escape back to my country, your Ministry won't pursue me for such a small matter."

"Tch." Evans pursed his lips and crossed his arms. "Do you want me to send you back?"

"No need. Unlike some people, my Apparition is still very good. And that fireplace isn't far; this distance won't cause any splinching at all." He gave a final, knowing smile. "When you've thought it through, come over. Don't hide anymore." With a twirl of his wand, he vanished with a sharp pop.

Evans stood silently for a long time, watching the spot where his friend had disappeared. It wasn't until a wisp of eerie green light returned to his wand that he shook his head, his gaze turning to the horizon.

"It's time to go back," he muttered to himself. The purpose of his trip was achieved. Besides, it was the day of Harry's first Quidditch match. He probably wouldn't make it back in time, but he could at least help him celebrate a victory, or offer some comfort in defeat.

He scooped up Nana and Alice, then stroked the little cape's head. The creature seemed dejected, likely sad to leave the only home it had ever known.

"I can't leave you here alone," Evans said softly. "You should be able to feel it, that craving you have for humans. If I leave you here, you might eventually lose your true nature and become a creature that preys on people. Your grandmother would be very sad then, wouldn't she?"

The little cape's hood drooped. It had indeed felt the craving the wizard spoke of; that was why it enjoyed tormenting the Muggles. But to become a true monster? The thought made it shudder.

Evans's next words sealed its decision.

"If you really turn into a dark creature like that, wizards will definitely come to hunt you down. And at that time," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "you really will be stewed."

"Ugh!"

The little cape instantly lifted its hood and pressed itself against Evans's leg, clinging to him as if for dear life.

Don't be stewed into soup!

(End of Chapter)

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