Maka came out of the Pig's Head Bar and was still thinking about whether she should go to the Burrow or the Lovegood house. But obviously, he no longer has to worry about this, because his owl Mafa sent him a note.
It was a note signed by Minerva McGonagall, and the content on it was simple—Mr. Newt Scamander had just arrived at Hogwarts and wanted to meet with him immediately.
Judging from the time when Maka sent the letter, it seemed that Mr. Scamander did not come directly to Hogwarts after receiving the letter.
"Okay!" He nodded slightly, "I hope the wording of my letter was indeed tactful enough..."
Maka didn't know much about the famous magical biologist Newt Scamander. He only knew that this old gentleman was a complete workaholic and loved magical animals very, very much.
It's just that in the magic world, many people seem to feel that this accomplished old scholar is not so likable.
Because he has been a bit of a loner since he was young. He doesn't like to interact with people but loves to take care of his magical animals. As I get older, although I am better than before, I still seem to be not very good at socializing.
Putting aside his academic ability, he is probably just a lonely little old man, right
Maka was thinking as she stepped on the magic book and flew far away in the direction of Hogwarts Castle. It was not far from the school, and soon he entered the school from the main entrance.
Most of the people who remained in Hogwarts on Christmas Eve were professors, and they all seemed to be enjoying the afterglow of the Christmas Eve dinner in the auditorium. As for the few students who did not go home, most of them went to Hogsmeade for a walk after the meal.
When Maka pushed open the brightly lit auditorium door, everyone inside looked over to him.
He could see a strange old wizard in casual clothes sitting next to Professor McGonagall. There were not many people at tonight's dinner, and eating at a long table would only make people feel empty, so we set up a large round table for dinner.
"Are you Mr. Scamander?" Maka hurriedly stepped forward and said apologetically, "I hope you can forgive me for not being able to go to your home to inform you in person..."
The old gentleman sitting next to Professor McGonagall was a little thin and didn't look very tall. The white hair on his head was slightly curled and seemed a little messy. But those eyes have not become cloudy with age, they are still full of the persistence of young people.
Although he is nearly a hundred years old, looking at his energetic appearance, how can he feel like he is senile
Not far from him, an old lady was sitting there. She looked a little depressed, and a middle-aged man was comforting her softly.
"Are you McClain?" Seeing Maka apologizing as soon as he arrived, Scamandelli stood up, patted his arm and said, "That's not your fault. The current situation in the British wizarding world is beyond me. It’s clear, I understand.”
"Thank you," Maka said regretfully, "It's just that I didn't have time to save your relatives."
When Scamander heard this, he shook his head gently.
"Before coming to Hogwarts, I had already been to the United States. To be honest, the situation was more serious than I thought. The MACUSA sent Aurors to clean up the manor and found many suspicious people..." He said, then frowned and said, "I can tell who those people are..."
"It's the Obscurus." Maka didn't hide anything about this, because he remembered that Scamander knew a lot about the Obscurus.
"Yes! The Obscurials..." Scamander repeated the word, "and the mark on their chests, it's really surprising... Did Grindelwald appear again? Just after Dumbledore's death. how long?"
"Grindelwald? In the United States?" Professor McGonagall said in surprise.
"It's unclear where the first-generation Dark Lord is now, but the attacks in the United States do have a share of his 'credit'." Maka nodded and said, "However, it shouldn't be his. Main action.”
"McLean, do you know?" Professor McGonagall asked hurriedly.
"Well," Maka nodded again, "I have met him a few times, but each time it was not direct face-to-face contact - he was very careful. And... it seemed that he had some other purpose... "
"This is really bad news." Mr. Scamander frowned, looking thoughtful.
"Father, stop talking about that! You should consider Aunt Queenie's mood!" At this moment, the middle-aged man who was accompanying the old lady suddenly raised his head and shouted.
"Oh, I'm sorry -" Mr. Scamander suddenly understood and looked at the old lady with a slightly sad look, "Queenie, you..."
"It's okay, I'm okay." The wrinkles on the old lady's face tightened, "Oh... my poor little Zoe..."
When the old lady spoke, Maka remembered something.
"Ma'am?" He said hesitantly, "Oh no, I mean, old lady... did we meet once in Jackson Trade Plaza?"
"You are..." The old lady thought for a while, and it seemed that her memory was not so clear. After a while, she nodded slightly, "Oh, the child that night?"
In fact, it was at night when Maka met her, so the old man could clearly see his appearance.
"I'm really sorry, old lady..." Maka bowed slightly towards her and said, "As for Zoe, I once used a replay spell on the wand that took her life, and because of this, I had a conflict with Zoe's will. After a conversation. Although it was just Zoe simulated by a curse, she was indeed very brave and did not flinch when facing her own death... "
"... I wanted to convey some last words to her, but she didn't say anything about herself. At the last moment, she chose to try to reveal some truth to me instead of lingering over her own death. "
Maka paused and repeated again: "She is a brave witch."
"Oh... little Zoe..." The old lady closed her eyes as she listened, as if she had seen that scene in her mind, with tears leaking out of the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
"She... what truth did she tell you?" Scamander said sadly, "I think we must also know, because they are the child's last words, aren't they?"
But Maka shook her head with regret.
"She couldn't tell everything," Maka sighed. "At the moment when the truth was about to blurt out, Grindelwald's will took over the body of the dark wizard and dispelled the magical image of the replay spell. Immediately afterwards, he blew up the dark wizard's body and his wand to pieces."
"… It's just horrific."
McGonagall and the other professors present were a little frightened, after all, that was Grindelwald. The series of horrific acts that spread across the European magic world were deeply imprinted in the hearts of the old wizards.
Just as modern wizards are afraid of Voldemort, which of the old wizards of their generation did not grow up hearing about Grindelwald's evil reputation
"No wonder, it turns out like this..." Scamander said seriously, "I know some people from MACUSA. I went there to claim little Zoe before... Sigh... At that time, I heard someone discussing the things in that manor. The situation is that there is a stone room in the basement that is soaked red with blood and flesh... "
"Yes!" Maka nodded, "I received a warning from Hogwarts at that time. Otherwise, I might still be able to stay there and interact with the American Aurors."
Of course he had to say that, even though he would not have stayed in the manor under any circumstances. Negotiating with Aurors in that situation would definitely take a lot of time, and he would not waste his energy on something that meant nothing to him.
"Your judgment is correct. In this situation, nothing can happen to Hogwarts." Old Mr. Scamander said, looking around the auditorium again, and said with some nostalgia, "This school is important to the entire UK." The magic world... and even the entire European magic world are of great significance. Especially after the teacher leaves, the safety here may even be linked to the safety of the magic world."
He was also a former student at Hogwarts, and like Maka, he was a Hufflepuff. When he was studying at school, Dumbledore was only the transfiguration professor at Hogwarts.
Coincidentally, he and Maka also have one thing in common, that is, neither of them successfully graduated from Hogwarts. But for them, the old and the young, Hogwarts is still their most unforgettable alma mater.
There are many, many more students at Hogwarts like Maka and Mr. Scamander. It can be said that the wizards trained by this school are truly from all over Europe.
If one day this school collapses for some reason, it would be unimaginable for the people and things involved.
"My child, you have done too much for Hogwarts," Scamander turned around, stretched out his hand to press Maka's shoulder and said, "I'm not just here for little Zoe. Since little Zoe If Yi can work hard for the future of the wizarding world, I, Newt Scamander, will naturally not be left behind."
"Father, you are already this old—" the middle-aged man, Mr. Scamander's son, dissuaded him.
"Then you coming?" Scamander looked at him and asked.
"I-"
"You can't." Old Mr. Scamander interrupted without hesitation, "You still have a wife and my underage grandson. What you have to do is take care of them—but I can."
He paused, took out his magic wand from his arms, looked at it and said with emotion: "Professor Dumbledore helped me keep this wand. If it weren't for Professor Dumbledore, I wouldn't be able to leave Hogwart when I left Hogwart." Now, I can’t keep the wand. Without it, where would I be now? And where would you be?”
Due to the tense situation at that time, continental Europe still implemented a wand license issuance system. But having said that, the British Ministry of Magic is not as strong in enforcing this measure as the MACUSA.
Of course, without a license in hand, it is certain that things will not change.
"... After Mr. McLean describes the situation, you can go and rest! Tomorrow you will take your Aunt Queenie home, and then find a way to contact your cousin and his wife." Mr. Scamander The husband said solemnly, "I will stay here and not go anywhere."