Newt led the group out of King's Cross Station and onto a quieter street, where two old, dark green cars were parked. Strangely, no Muggles seemed to notice them. Those who got too close would suddenly veer off in another direction, as if unknowingly avoiding the vehicles.
"Grandfather?" David asked Newt, eyeing the cars curiously.
"I handed in some Galleons to borrow them from the Ministry of Magic. Otherwise, we'd have to take the Knight Bus, and trust me, that ride is far from comfortable without these little beauties," Newt murmured with a twinkle in his eye.
"Cool!" Fred and George grinned, inspecting the cars. "We had one at home too, but it met a tragic fate thanks to our dear brother's... unconventional way of getting to school. If we had known, we would've taken it for another ride before it disappeared. What a shame!"
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, both recalling their less-than-pleasant experience crashing into the Whomping Willow. Their lips pressed into thin lines as they remained silent.
"Is this safe?" Hermione questioned, her brows knitting together. Memories of Ron's wild flight to school resurfaced in her mind.
"Absolutely!" Newt assured her. "I picked the safest two from the Ministry's garage."
Still skeptical, Hermione remained cautious. But before she could argue further, Newt cheerfully opened the car door. "Who wants to ride with me?"
David was about to claim the front seat when Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him to the back. Meanwhile, Harry, Ron, Fred, and George opted for John's car, eager for an adventure.
"Buckle up—oh, wait, there are no seat belts. Oh well! Off we go!" Newt called out before slamming the accelerator.
The car jolted forward with such force that Hermione nearly fell onto David. He quickly steadied her, chuckling, "My grandfather never actually learned how to drive."
Hermione's expression changed instantly. "What?!"
"But don't worry," David added quickly, "this is a magical vehicle. No matter how he drives, we'll be fine."
"Absolutely safe!" Newt chimed in. "And I've driven a few times before—so not a total novice!"
As soon as he said that, he pressed the pedal again, and the car sped towards a line of vehicles ahead. Hermione let out a yelp, clutching David's arm tightly, preparing for an inevitable crash. But instead of colliding, the car suddenly lifted off the ground, soared above the traffic, and smoothly landed ahead of the train.
"Perfect maneuvering! Now, a slight turn!" Newt announced gleefully.
The car swerved sharply, executing a dramatic tail flick onto another road. Hermione, thrown sideways, landed squarely in David's arms. Realizing that resisting Newt's erratic driving was futile, she stayed put, gripping David's sleeve for stability.
Meanwhile, John's car followed at a much smoother pace. Clearly, he had an actual driver's license.
When they finally reached their destination, Fred and George sighed in regret. "We should've ridden with Newt! That looked like the best part of Christmas!"
Inside the house, introductions were made, and Tina brought out pastries, inviting everyone to relax by the fireplace. Hermione, barely settling onto the couch, was immediately captivated by two cats lounging on a nearby blanket.
"Those are Millie and Moeller," David explained. "There's another one, Hobby, but he's probably out exploring. You can pet them, but be warned—they can be moody."
Hermione's face lit up as she carefully reached out and stroked Millie. To her delight, the cat purred contentedly and licked her hand.
Turning to David with a smug smile, Hermione raised her chin triumphantly as if to say, They like me better than you.
David huffed internally. Those two never let me pet them like that!
Just then, Fred and George, unable to contain their excitement, asked, "David, are all your magical creatures kept in that forest?"
"Some are there, but those are wild."
Checking the time, David figured it was still early for dinner. "Grandpa, can I take Fred and the others to the magical sanctuary?"
Newt pretended to ponder before finally agreeing. "Alright, but be careful. You can introduce them to the Graphorns. They're in a good mood right now, and it's nighttime there. You might even get to ride them."
Fred and George's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Without hesitation, they followed David to the study, while Hermione, still engrossed in the cats, shook her head when asked if she wanted to join.
"Alright, we'll be back soon!" David assured her before leading the boys through a hidden doorway.
"Wait… do we need to study something before meeting them?" Ron hesitated, staring at the books lining the shelves.
"Nope, just follow my lead."
David opened a heavy iron door, revealing a hidden passage. As they descended the stairs, their mouths slowly dropped open in awe. The space was unlike anything they had ever seen. Even Harry, who had been to the most wondrous places, was utterly mesmerized.
"This is where my grandfather works," David explained. "The food and medical supplies for the creatures are stored here."
Guiding them through a shimmering archway, the surroundings suddenly transformed—the stone floor turned into an endless desert under a starry sky.
"How did you do that?" Ron whispered, stunned.
David smirked. "Magic, of course. If you want a proper explanation, you'll have to ask my grandfather."
Just then, the ground trembled slightly. In the distance, massive forms began to appear.
"The Graphorns are coming!" David grinned.
The creatures galloped towards him, their tentacle-like mouths brushing against him affectionately. Encouraged, Fred reached out and gently patted the thick, armor-like skin of one.
"This is amazing!" he exclaimed.
Ron, although hesitant at first, soon joined in. "It feels like… an ancient tree!"
Harry, after much coaxing, finally worked up the courage to touch one as well.
"Want to ride them?" David asked with a grin.
"Can we?!" Fred and George chorused eagerly.
"Just ask for their permission first," David instructed.
With some effort, all of them managed to climb onto the Graphorns' backs. What followed was a wild, exhilarating ride.
After several laps, Ron and Harry were utterly exhausted. "David… can we take a break?" Ron gasped, breathless.
"Alright, let's head back."
Returning to the house, Ron and Harry collapsed onto the sofa like lifeless dolls.
Hermione, still playing with Millie, raised an eyebrow. "What happened to them?"
"I took them riding on the Graphorns," David replied, picking up Moeller and settling next to Hermione.
Hermione observed Harry's limp state and smirked. Skipping that trip was definitely the best decision I made today.
Suddenly, a loud pop echoed through the room. Before the Christmas tree stood two elegantly dressed figures. One of them, a stunning blonde woman, scanned the room before locking eyes on David.
"Did you miss your aunt, my dear little David?" Queenie beamed, spreading her arms wide with delight.