In the dining room, Newt and Tina devoured food ravenously for half an hour before finally heeding Wayne's advice to stop.
If they kept eating like this, he was genuinely worried these two would ruin their stomachs.
Sakura and Tomoyo sat obediently to the side, watching the two... middle-aged individuals in their thirties with curious gazes.
Were these the legendary Scamander couple?
Neither of them knew much about Tina's heroic exploits in capturing the first Dark Lord, but Newt's reputation was thunderously familiar.
After all, even Mahoutokoro's Magical Creatures course used Newt's textbooks.
Only... didn't history books say Newt was nearly a hundred years old? Why did he look so young?
And the way they were eating bore no resemblance to distinguished scholars—more like refugees who'd fled from Africa.
"We just returned from Africa. We'd planned to go straight home, but after seeing the news in the Daily Prophet, we decided to visit you first," Newt said somewhat wistfully after finishing the last chicken leg.
The two girls exchanged glances.
Had they guessed that accurately?
"I haven't seen you or Grandma Tina all summer. Have you been there the whole time?" Wayne asked curiously.
"Hmph." Tina glared at Newt. "If you ask me, you shouldn't have—"
She abruptly stopped mid-sentence, remembering there were two 'outsiders' present.
Wayne smiled gently. "It's fine if Sakura and Tomoyo know. You can speak freely."
Only then did Tina nod. "You shouldn't have let Newt regain his youth. Not only did his body rejuvenate, but his heart's grown wild too!"
The usually reticent Newt could only lower his head meekly under Tina's scolding, accepting her reproach without protest.
Tina slowly recounted their recent adventures.
In mid-June, Newt had learned through correspondence with an old friend that a Chimaera had been spotted near several villages in Gabon, Africa, causing multiple injuries and deaths.
This exceptionally violent beast, originating from Greece, possessed a lion's head, a goat's body, and a dragon's tail. Classified as XXXXX-level dangerous, it wasn't something any single wizard could handle.
Newt already had one in his case—a female. Upon hearing about this Chimaera, he became intrigued and wanted to investigate.
If it were male, he could invite it into his case to live happily ever after with his Chimaera.
So Newt cheerfully set off with Tina. In Gabon, they did encounter the Chimaera as hoped.
The good news: it was indeed male.
The bad news: it wasn't alone.
Or more accurately, it wasn't just one Chimaera—but an entire pack of eight!
Four males and four females. When Newt saw so many Chimaeras, he was stunned. In all his years, he'd never encountered this many outside Greece's protected reserves at once.
If it were one or two, Newt and Tina could handle them with their extensive experience. If it were three or four... they might still manage with the help of the large creatures he carried with him.
But this was eight.
Unless he released the Nundu and poisoned them all, there was simply no way to cope.
Yet Newt's goal was containment and protection, not extermination, so such a method was naturally out of the question.
The two fled the Chimaera territory in disarray. Tina had initially wanted to return and call for more wizards to assist, but Newt's old habits resurfaced—he feared that the more people who knew, the more likely it would attract poachers.
After all, Chimaeras and their eggs were Class A prohibited items, and the profits involved were enough to drive greedy poachers to madness.
So... he decided to outsmart them!
Unable to dissuade Newt, Tina had no choice but to accompany him, stubbornly spending two months there.
During those two months, they lived rough, with Newt constantly trying to befriend the Chimaeras, encountering danger more than a few times.
Fortunately, thanks to his Magical Creature Affinity and genuine sincerity, he eventually befriended all eight Chimaeras.
In that godforsaken place, the locals survived on insects and other unidentifiable foods—hardly something the two could adapt to. They subsisted mainly on fruits grown in the suitcase and simply cooked meat, which was why they had looked like refugees earlier.
After hearing this, Wayne couldn't help but look at Tina sympathetically.
"Grandma Tina, you really suffered following your husband around."
The grandmother and grandson exchanged a glance and sighed in unison, so perfectly in sync that Sakura and Tomoyo couldn't help but laugh.
Only Newt was left awkwardly apologising. "Tina, I'm sorry. Next time, I'll go alone for things like this."
"Don't bother," Tina rolled her eyes. "If I let you go alone, I'd probably end up bailing you out of some foreign prison."
Even Wayne laughed at that. Suddenly, he reached out to Newt.
"Hand it over."
"What?" Newt stared at him blankly.
The boy said matter-of-factly, "Two for me. Eight Chimaeras—just give me one male and one female."
Newt was so amused by his 'directness' that he nearly laughed. "Who told you I brought them back?"
"Eight Chimaeras would bankrupt me just feeding them!"
"Wait..." Wayne gave him a disbelieving look. "You went through all that trouble and didn't even bring them back? Then where are they?"
"I found them a more secluded forest. That way, they won't harm humans, and poachers won't find them." Newt drained his teacup in one gulp. Wayne shook his head helplessly, realising he wasn't getting anything out of this.
"Now that we've talked about us, it's your turn," Tina said, her smile vanishing as she fixed the boy with a stern gaze. For a moment, Wayne was reminded of Professor McGonagall and instinctively straightened his posture, forcing a smile.
"Grandma Tina, what's there to say? Everything's fine."
"Fine?" Tina raised her voice. "Taking on hundreds of wizards alone and killing dozens—that's your idea of 'fine'?"
"You didn't see how despicable they were. I had no choice," Wayne said defensively.
Tomoyo and Sakura were seeing a rather subdued Wayne for the first time. Even when the British Minister for Magic had visited a few days prior, he'd maintained a cheerful demeanour.
Tina's expression softened slightly. "I'm not saying there was anything wrong with killing those people. After reading the papers, I understood exactly what sort of scum they were. I'm talking about your safety."
"Even with your strength, you can't fight against overwhelming numbers. When Grindelwald was in America, even he was defeated by the combined efforts of MACUSA."
"I understand what you mean," Wayne said obediently. "I'll be more careful in future and won't act so impulsively."
He naturally wouldn't talk back when elders scolded him out of concern. Even though he was now stronger than Grindelwald had been in his prime, he wouldn't say so to contradict Tina.
Moreover, Grindelwald had told him that his previous capture had been entirely intentional – partly to draw attention openly and reduce the Ministry of Magic's focus on his followers across various countries, and partly as a test.
He'd wanted to see whether Dumbledore would come to rescue him.
The result... had clearly disappointed him.
It was this experience, along with his lingering resentment, that had made him decide to wreak havoc in Paris after escaping.
And then even his marriage certificate had been stolen.
Wayne could still recall how Grindelwald had gritted his teeth while recounting this episode. He'd even deliberately let Jerry out for a stroll, nearly causing a fight between them.
These thoughts flashed through his mind briefly before he resumed his most practised obedient expression. Tina looked at Wayne with satisfaction, thinking this boy was much more sensible than Newt.
Then she shot her husband a glare.
We'll settle this later!
Feeling Tina's displeasure, Newt looked utterly bewildered.
Weren't we talking about Wayne? Why am I being blamed again?
The Scamanders didn't stay long, chatting with Wayne for a while and exchanging a few words with Sakura and Tomoyo before leaving.
Before departing, Tina meaningfully advised the young man to pace himself – she didn't want to see him torn apart by several girls later.
Wayne naturally assured her he knew his limits and wouldn't act recklessly.
With his starlight-forged physique, his body had long surpassed this world's definition of human limits. There was no way he could be torn apart.
Besides... five pieces wouldn't be enough to distribute among the girls anyway.
After Newt and Tina Apparated away, Wayne let out a long sigh of relief.
Sakura looked puzzled. "What's wrong?"
Given Wayne's attitude towards the Scamanders earlier, he didn't seem like someone who'd be relieved to see them go.
The young man shook his head ruefully. "The Zouwu at home was originally swindled from Newt. Since he didn't mention it this time, it seems that chapter's finally closed."
Hearing this explanation, the two girls exchanged glances.
You really do take advantage of every opportunity...
...
The next day marked Sakura and Tomoyo's departure.
Hermione, Cho, Astoria and Penelope came to see them off, much to their gratitude.
Cho held Sakura's hand as they whispered together. Among all the girls, Sakura and Cho had the most in common – both Quidditch enthusiasts and Seekers, they'd become fast friends.
Meanwhile, Astoria and Penelope had taken most to Tomoyo, frequently visiting during this period to see her latest clothing designs...As for Hermione, she got along well with both of them, though they had fewer topics to discuss.
At ten o'clock sharp, the motorcade departed from the doorstep, leisurely making its way towards the airport.
For their return journey, Wayne had offered his private jet to ensure the two could rest more comfortably during the trip. After all, the annual maintenance fees and crew salaries were already a considerable expense—no point letting that money go to waste.
Upon arriving at the airport, Tomoyo suddenly suggested, "Shall we take a group photo?"
The idea was quickly met with approval. Tomoyo handed a Muggle camera to one of the bodyguards, and the girls positioned themselves on either side of Wayne.
To his left stood Tomoyo, Sakura and Hermione, while to his right were Cho, Astoria and Penelope.
From this angle, it almost looked like wings sprouting from both sides.
The bodyguard tasked with taking the photo couldn't help but muse to himself. His employer was rarely seen around—probably too busy charming pretty girls at school all day...
Finally, before boarding the plane, Wayne gave the two a video address book. "You can use this to contact us after you return. Much quicker and more convenient than letters. You know how to use it, right?"
Sakura nodded. She'd seen Wayne video-calling Fleur before—the process was straightforward.
Cho also reminded Sakura to 'call' her, and it would be even better if she could take her to watch a Mahoutokoro Quidditch match.
According to Sakura, Mahoutokoro's Quidditch culture was far more intense than Hogwarts'. They held over a dozen matches annually, and the players even trained specifically in stormy weather, showing remarkable dedication.
This piqued Cho's curiosity.
"No problem," Sakura said, her eyes curving into crescents before she and Tomoyo bowed slightly in farewell. "Wayne, everyone, we'll see you again in two months."
The farewell wasn't overly sentimental. Sakura and Tomoyo would return to Britain with Mahoutokoro's delegation in two months, spending nearly a year at Hogwarts.
Once the plane took off, Penelope hurried back to the Ministry of Magic to resume work.
"What are your plans for the afternoon?" Wayne asked.
"I'll stay with you," Astoria said, clinging to Wayne's arm like an affectionate child.
Cho secretly tapped Astoria's little head, while Hermione pinched her soft cheeks.
The two had come to realise that Astoria was the trickiest one to handle—because the wealthy little girl was simply too obedient. Wayne practically treated her like a daughter.
"Then let's head to Diagon Alley," Wayne said, stroking Astoria's head. "I still have a few textbooks to buy."
Hermione nodded. "I'll stop by Flourish and Blotts to see if there are any interesting books."
Cho tilted her head in thought. "I'll buy a bottle of lubricant then. They've just released a Firebolt-specific version."
An hour later, the four arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.
The moment Wayne stepped in, the lively pub fell silent. Many patrons even instinctively rose to their feet.
"Mr Lawrence," several wizards exclaimed after a brief pause, eagerly crowding around.
They had all witnessed the World Cup final and experienced the ensuing riot, indirectly benefiting from Wayne's assistance. Thus, they felt his heroic deeds even more profoundly.
Now, a man's reputation is like the shadow of a tree. Previously, Wayne's influence had been strong only in academic circles and the upper echelons of the Ministry of Magic. But with the spread of this recent incident, the surname Lawrence gradually became as extraordinary as Dumbledore's.
Under the gazes of reverence and awe from the crowd, the group entered Diagon Alley, where old Tom warmly offered them glasses of lemon tea to relieve the scorching summer heat.
"This feels so strange," Hermione couldn't help but remark as they stepped into the bustling alley. "The moment you appear, everyone becomes so tense."
"It's reverence for power," Wayne said dismissively. "Having a sense of reverence is a good thing. Besides, the incident's heat hasn't faded yet—such reactions are perfectly normal."
"Will it be like this at school too?" Cho asked with concern.
"Don't worry," Wayne waved his hand casually. "At first, there might be some awkwardness, but given time, everyone will realise I'm still the same person and things will go back to normal."
"I think so too," Astoria nodded earnestly. "Wayne has done so many remarkable things—everyone at school must be used to it by now."
Cho's lips twitched.
That... actually made sense.
"Let's go," Wayne said, finishing his lemon tea and tossing the paper cup into a bin. "First stop, Flourish and Blotts. Hermione, you remember the textbooks we need this year, right? I didn't bring the list."
"Of course," the little witch lifted her chin proudly and strode ahead.