When Kyle and Newt climbed out of the suitcase and returned to the room, they were greeted by the sight of a transformed Dobby.
Gone was the oversized pillowcase he used to wear. Instead, Dobby sported a freshly modified outfit, courtesy of Tina, who had repurposed one of Newt's old jackets for him. He looked far more professional, exuding the air of a proper assistant. However, there was still a hint of unease about him, as if he hadn't fully adjusted to wearing real clothes, now that he was a free House-elf.
But Tina was quick to reassure him, holding up a sleeve and demonstrating its fit. Newt's jacket had been so large that Tina had managed to make several different pieces from it, turning it into a kind of "employee benefit." Although the outfit wasn't quite perfect yet, Dobby looked infinitely more polished.
Kyle stepped forward and noticed two long silver pins peeking from Dobby's cuffs and collar. He carefully pulled them out, placing them in a box on the table alongside scissors, measuring tape, spools of thread, and other tailoring supplies.
"Oh, I was just looking for those…" Tina said with a smile, surprised.
"Why not just use magic?" Kyle asked curiously. "Wouldn't that be a lot easier?"
"I used to rely on magic for everything when I was younger," Tina said with a chuckle. "But now, I find it more satisfying to do things by hand. It's like baking bread and cookies—it feels different than doing it with magic. And, besides, it's a nice way to pass the time."
Kyle nodded, understanding. He wondered if this preference for crafts was something older wizards all shared. After all, Dumbledore had similar habits. He hadn't used any magic when knitting socks and scarves either, preferring to make them by hand, purely for the pleasure of it.
...
Kyle didn't stay at Newt's house for long—only two days before he was ready to return. He really had to.
Ever since Newt had discovered Kyle's "special gift" last year, he hadn't let Kyle rest. Although Kyle hadn't had to assist with any magical creature births this year, Newt had sent all the restless and troubled animals his way. In those two days, Kyle had become Newt's unofficial assistant, calming and comforting a dozen Magical Creatures.
Among his "patients" were a Graphorn, sulking after a recent fight; an Erumpent, depressed from a failed courtship; and a Demiguise, who'd had the unfortunate luck of being stepped on by the same Erumpent and had spent half the day trying to free itself from the dirt.
And just yesterday afternoon, Kyle had spent four hours chatting with an Occamy that had recently laid eggs. The encounter was supposed to last only an hour, but the Occamy had suddenly become talkative, keeping him engaged until Newt finally came to call him for dinner.
So, early the next morning, after breakfast, Kyle made an excuse about needing to work on his Transfiguration Today essay and prepared to leave. As for the role of magical creature "therapist," he figured it was best left to Newt, who could surely handle it himself.
But just as Kyle was about to depart, Newt stopped him. "There's something I think you might be interested in."
"Oh?" Kyle asked, eyeing him warily. "It's not another Demiguise in distress, is it?"
"That was just an accident," Newt chuckled. "Usually, Demiguises are very alert. No, this is something else. Three months ago, I received a letter from the Romanian Dragon Reserve. They've invited me to attend a special event in August."
"If you're interested, I can take you along."
"Isn't that a bit dangerous?" Tina asked, looking up from her scissors with a frown. "Kyle's only in third year."
"He'll be in fourth year soon," Newt said with a smile. "And once he turns fourteen, he'll meet the minimum age requirement set by the reserve."
Kyle's curiosity was piqued. "An event? And there's an age requirement?"
Newt didn't leave him hanging. "My friend Joey wrote to say that the Ukrainian Ironbelly—the most powerful dragon at the reserve—is getting old. As its strength fades, the other dragons are becoming more aggressive, especially the Hungarian Horntails, who've been seen crossing into other territories…"
With Newt's explanation, Kyle quickly understood. Essentially, the "boss" of the Romanian Dragon Reserve was about to "retire," and the dragons would soon be vying for dominance.
Dragons were naturally territorial and quick to fight, and in a place like the reserve—crowded with dozens of dragons—they regularly battled to claim the best territories with ample food and comfort. The reserve staff couldn't, and wouldn't, interfere in this natural hierarchy. They simply let the dragons sort it out themselves.
Newt explained that such events were rare; since the reserve's founding, it had only happened once before, when the Ukrainian Ironbelly claimed the highest cliff face, which it had defended ever since. Now, it seemed, the time had come for another "election."
Kyle's eyes lit up with excitement. This was truly a rare event, and he knew it might be a long time before he'd have another chance to see it.
"I'm in!" Kyle replied eagerly. "But will the reserve actually allow me to go?"
"You can come as my assistant," Newt said, smiling. "Though that means Dobby might have to sit this one out."
At the mention of staying behind, Dobby, who was tidying the table, let out a huge sigh of relief, his ears flopping as he gaped with relief. Not going? That sounded perfect.
He remembered overhearing conversations at the Malfoy house about the Dragon Reserve. The family had always grumbled about the reserve, complaining that it hurt their financial interests. He knew the reserve was a place teeming with dragons, and the thought of going there made his legs wobble. If he went, he'd likely just get in Mr. Scamander's way and prove himself an incompetent assistant. Thankfully, that nightmare was off the table.
Dobby cast a grateful look at Kyle, who he now saw as an even greater hero than Harry Potter. If only he could work for Kyle's family… He'd gladly mop their floors a dozen times a day!
"But…" Tina hesitated, still concerned.
"It'll be fine," Newt reassured her. "Most likely, we'll be treating injured dragons. As long as we stay clear of the reserve's center, we won't be in any danger. And I'll make sure to write to Chris and Diana for permission before I take Kyle there."