Forbidden Forest, Scotland, 3/21/1983,15:38
They had been trekking through the forest for hours now, he and Newt had stumbled onto some funny looking tracks that Newt assured him were made by a quintaped about an hour ago.
"So how do you go about capturing a quintaped?" Harry asked as he pushed a branch out of his way.
"Ideally you lure them into a trap, most spells designed to incapacitate won't work against them and they are unusually immune to magic cast on them. However spells that conjure ropes or nets work just fine to bind them," Newt explained as they moved through the brush.
"Lovely, I've read that these things are quite a handful," Harry said as they forced their way deeper into the undergrowth.
"Don't worry Harry, You won't be the bait this time," Newt consoled only half-jokingly.
"Thanks, I still don't know why Hagrid would keep one in the forest," Harry sighed ad he swivelled his head back and forth through the forest.
"He really likes creatures," Newt shrugged.
"So do I but I wouldn't have a XXXXX creature living in my guest room," Harry exclaimed.
"I am actually thinking of hiring Hagrid to tend the animals I am caring for in my basement," Newt admitted with a smirk.
"Anything extremely dangerous?" Harry asked in amusement.
"The nifflers can be a handful, I've been breeding them for years," Newt chuckled.
"Nothing XXXX or higher?" Harry asked.
"The erumpents and a few other of my creatures can be quite dangerous. The erumpents are most dangerous during the mating season but for the most part, they are quite gentle beasts," Newt said thoughtfully.
"You actually have an erumpent in your basement!?" Harry asked incredulously knowing perfectly well an erumpent's horn was like a pressure-sensitive bomb.
"Yes, I have three. I found the female in Africa in twenty-three and got a male in forty-eight, the third one is their calf," Newt said.
"Yep, you and Hagrid will get on famously, you realize one bump of their horn will blow your home sky high?" Harry chuckled.
"I'm very aware of the dangers, I actually observed two rutting males detonate each other on one of my first trips to Africa," Newt assured him.
"I think I read that account in your book," Harry said thoughtfully.
"I found the female on that same expedition, she was a calf and I believe her parents had been killed for potion ingredients. I took her with me, she wouldn't have survived without her mother. I had planned on releasing her back into the wild when she hit her maturity but the ministry banned me from international travel shortly after I published my book. Things got a bit hectic after that," Newt explained.
"I think I see something up ahead," Harry said suddenly coming to a stop.
Harry caught glimpses of reddish fur through the underbrush about thirty feet ahead of them. The animal let out a catlike screech that sent chills down Harry's spine before it took off into the forest moving similar to an insect. Harry was confused as to why a quintaped would be fleeing from them.
"I'll be damned, Hagrid actually managed to domesticate it!" Newt exclaimed in surprise.
"Is that why it didn't confront us?" Harry asked.
"I would say so, generally speaking, quintapeds have the temperament of an enraged Tasmanian devil," Newt said thoughtfully.
"Damn, how fast do they run?" Harry asked as he started picking up the tracks that the animal had just left behind.
"About human speed at a full sprint, one of them is easy to deal with, they generally attack in large groups and can devour a human in a few hours that is how they earned a XXXXX designation," Newt explained as they moved through the forest.
"Somehow that doesn't ease my concerns," Harry chuckled.
"Worry not we shouldn't have any trouble subduing the beast once we catch up to it," Newt said confidently.
They walked for a few more hours until darkness fell before Newt decided to call it a night.
"We might be at this for a while, my boy," Newt said as he led them through the forest towards the castle.
"I got that feeling myself," Harry sighed.
"Have you been studying the book I sent you?" Newt asked curiously. after they had stepped out of the forest and started crossing the grounds.
"Yes, anytime I get a chance," Harry admitted/after they had stepped through the main gates of Hogwarts.
"Good," Newt said mysteriously before turning on the spot and disappearing with a soft 'pop'.
Peverell Beach House, 3/21/1983, 18:49
Harry entered the house to hear children giggling in the sitting room, Harry took a minute to kick off his boots and slip off his outer robe revealing the jeans and tee-shirt he was wearing underneath.
After hanging his work robe and utility belt on the coat rack, He made his way into the sitting room.
Coming to a stop in the doorway and couldna help but smile, the noise he heard when entering the house was easily explained. He saw little Harry and Susan Bones playing with the stuffed dragon he had conjured weeks ago and giggling happily looking quite cute if he was being honest.
Looking to the other side of the room he saw Sirius and Amelia seated on one of the couches chatting amongst themselves while Bella seemed to be napping on the other couch.
"Padfoot, I hope you haven't been antagonizing my wife?" Harry asked by way of greeting as he stepped into the sitting room.
"No, we came by to visit for a bit, I have kept the mutt on his leash," Amelia assured him.
Gently lifting Bella's legs he took a seat on the other end and sighed.
"How did it go?" Sirius asked.
"We trailed the little bugger until nightfall, it's been avoiding us pretty well so far," Harry shrugged as his wive started stirring next to him.
"What were you looking for?" Amelia asked curiously.
"A quintaped that Hagrid had stashed in the Forbidden Forest," Harry explained.
"Good lord that man is a menace!" Amelia exclaimed irritably.
"Newt thinks he managed to tame the quintaped it's playing hide and seek from us. Wild ones would just try and eat you," Harry shrugged.
"Oh good, you didn't get eaten then," Bella mumbled sleepily.
"No, how are you feeling, Luv?" Harry asked curiously.
"Tired," Bella whined.
Little Harry and Susan wandered over to the adults and climbed onto the couch in between Sirius and Amelia.
"How are you, Harry?" Harry asked, secretly thinking that the first sign of insanity was talking to yourself.
"Good, Siri took us to the playground today and the candy store," Little Harry exclaimed.
"Siri kissed my Auntie, it was gross," Susan added looking confused.
"He will be your uncle very soon," Amelia cooed scooping Susan into her lap.
"Does that mean you get a baby like Miss Bella?" Susan asked innocently.
"Maybe someday," Amelia said looking at Sirius who had looked unsure what to say.
"Just pray you don't have twins, Bones," Bella said as she awkwardly sat up on the couch.
"If I do Sirius will be getting fixed," Amelia warned making Sirius shudder.
"Oh, I've been meaning to tell you, I'm going back to my old job next month," Sirius said in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
"What's that?" Harry asked curiously.
"I'm going to be a hit wizard again," Sirius said proudly.
"Very nice, I don't suppose you'll have much work for a while though," Harry chuckled.
"We can only hope, though the smuggling ring had the hit wizards working overtime," Amelia cut in.
"Who were the smugglers working for?" Harry asked hoping she had more information.
"An import/export company out of South America, once the goods arrived in the country they exported the illegal items back into Europe. We suspect that Lord Gamp is the owner but we don't have the authority to dig into Chupacabra Potion Supplies as their headquarters is in Brazil. The ministry in Rio doesn't seem to care, we suspect they are getting a kickback," Amelia sighed.
"But you shut them out of Britain?" Harry asked curiously.
"Yes, we seized three shipments coming in before they stopped shipping to our ports but they will find a way around us soon enough," Amelia predicted.
"At least this will look good if you ever decide to run for minister," Harry said optimistically.
"Minister Black, I like the sound of that," Bellatrix said as she got to her feet and headed towards the kitchen.
"There is no way I would ever take that job," Amelia said flatly as she ran her fingers through Susan's hair the toddler seemed to have fallen asleep cuddled in her lap.
"That's a shame, I'd vote for you," Harry grinned.
"I wouldn't, I'd never get to see her," Sirius muttered.
"Exactly and I would have to deal with the likes of Thaddeus Nott trying to bribe me to look the other way every time I turn around," Amelia snorted.
Harry had to hide a grin at that statement, when he had first decided to use Nott as the scapegoat in his plans for Augusta Longbottom he had just pulled the name from his list of known death eaters that avoided Azkaban. The more he looked into the man the more dirt he uncovered. Taking care of Nott would be a major hit to Voldy, the man was still trying to further the pureblood agenda and had filled Lucius' place after the unfortunate 'accident' that befell him last July.
He was pulled from his thoughts when Bella sat back down, "Jangles has your dinner on the table."
"Good, I'm starving," Harry said before making his way into the dining room and found a French dip sub and some homemade chips waiting for him under a stasis charm.
Harry grabbed the plate and a can of Coke and returned to the living room.
"Bless that elf," Harry exclaimed happily as he began eating with gusto.
"I figured you deserved a treat," Bella giggled as she swiped a chip from his plate.
"Thank you, I think Jangles makes this better than the Happy Hippogriff," Harry muttered in between bites.
"Who is helping you with the wedding preparation?" Bella asked Amelia as she stole another chip from Harry's plate.
"Narcissa and Andi, they are exhausting," Amelia admitted.
"Trust me we know but Cissa did a really good job putting our wedding together," Harry cut in.
"Yes, at least you don't have to worry about them trying to bring back an ancient marriage custom at your wedding," Bella scowled.
"what do you-
" Don't ask, Amy," Sirius said shooting Bella a look of exasperation.
"Where is the wedding taking place?" Harry asked.
"Same place as yours, though ours will be on the beach," Sirius said smugly.
"Those crusty purebloods will hate that," Harry snorted earning a glare from Bella.
"Cissa has been trying to talk me out of it since we told her," Sirius smirked.
"Be careful aggravating her unless you want boils on your bits again," Bella warned.
The rest of the evening passed with light conversation mostly about the upcoming wedding but when little Harry started snoring Sirius decided to call it a night.
"I think my time in the field might be coming to an end," Harry told Bella as soon as their guests had disappeared through the floo.
"Why do you say that?" Bella asked as she lay back on the couch draping her legs across his lap.
"Just a feeling I'm getting," Harry shrugged as he absentmindedly ran his hand over Bella's stomach.
"I'm glad, it gets lonely here without you," Bella muttered her eyes already closed.
"Just wait, soon we will have all the excitement we need soon enough," Harry chuckled though judging by her snores he doubted she heard him.
Forbidden Forest, Scotland, 3/24/1983, 15:37
Harry and Newt had split up today so that they could try and force the reluctant quintaped into the other's path. Their initial attempts to try and track the beast had been getting quite frustrating, they had been tracking this creature for three days now and had finally decided to change up their strategy this morning.
Harry had gotten a good look at the quintaped yesterday when it had fled from him and Newt.
The animal was definitely the strangest creature Harry had ever seen, Its body was about four feet long and covered in ginger red coloured fur. The animal's five legs ended at a balled-up human-like fist and it seemed to run on its knuckles.
The legs and its large rounded head were covered in the same ginger red fur, it moved with its large rounded body slung low to the ground with its legs bent like a spiders. It had a very wide mouth in proportion to its body that was filled with long curved lagged teeth, the quintaped's two large yellow eyes had pupils that were very catlike slits and it had two pointed catlike ears.
Currently, they were trying to herd it into a clearing about thirty yards ahead. Harry was desperately wanting this particular job to come to an end as he really had no interest in quintapeds they were nasty little buggers, right up there with acromantula in his opinion.
The legend went that quintapeds were once a clan of Scotsmen that lived on the Isle of Drear. A rival clan had snuck into their village one and transfigured the MacBoon clan into the monsters they were now. The rival clan soon learned the horrible mistake they had made and were eaten by this new magical creature when they tried to reverse the spells they had cast on them.
Several attempts had been made to reverse the Transfiguration but none had succeeded. The ministry had made the island unplottable and meant for the creatures to stay there. So getting this thing back to that island was of the utmost importance no matter how detestable Harry found them.
Harry was brought out of his musings as a large hairy fist connected with the side of his head sending him tumbling to the ground. Looking up he could see the quintaped hanging from the lower branch of a tree by three of its legs about six feet off of the ground, glaring at him menacingly.
"Alright, this has gone on long enough!" Harry exclaimed as he flicked his wand and conjured a flexible metal net over the creature ripping it out of the tree.
Feeling a bit of sympathy for the animal, Harry cast a cushioning charm with a downward flick of his wand and cinched up the net with an upward flick.
The creature went ballistic as the net tightened around it trying desperately to gnaw through the braided metal after it landed on the ground.
"Newt, I have it!" Harry bellowed into the forest before turning to the quintaped who had stopped struggling choosing instead to release blood-curdling shrieks at him showing off its filthy jagged teeth and looking absolutely enraged.
"We're taking you to your home, just try and calm down a bit," Harry said looking the creature in the eye as he got to his feet.
"Oh good show, What happened to your face?" Newt asked when he got a good look at Harry.
"MacBoon packs a hell of a punch," Harry muttered as he rubbed the side of his jaw that was starting to swell up.
"Well no need to hang about, let's get him ready to travel," Newt said looking slightly amused.
Harry helped Newt lower the thrashing quintaped into his expanded suitcase before they mounted their brooms and took flight Northward to the Isle of Drear.
Isle of Drear, Scotland, 3/24/1983, 17:38
Harry and Newt were hiding in another one of Newt's transfigured platforms on the top of a large alder tree. They had also cast scent masking charms over themselves just to be on the safe side.
The release of the captured quintaped had gone smoothly, they had landed in the tree branch and Newt had quickly set up the platform, then they had levitated the net containing the creature to the ground before Harry had vanished the net.
"Be sure to keep your broom handy, as you saw before they climb trees very well," Newt muttered as he took out a small set of omnioculars.
Harry went ahead and cast his patronus sending a message to Bella that he would be late coming home before he pulled a set of optics out of his utility belt and flicked a switch on the side to give him better visibility.
The island was very tiny, maybe three miles across and almost perfectly circular, there were no beaches as the isle was raised about fifty feet over the sea with sheer cliffs all around it, he could hear the violent North sea continue to batter relentlessly from their position in the tree.
They had circled a few times noticing mostly dense stands of conifers with a small stream running across the island. Towards the east side, Harry noticed a large pile of bones, human from the look of it.
Turning to the North he could just make out Orkney Island before turning back to scan through the thick forest. He had to adjust his omnioculars again and now saw the world in a shade of phosphorus green thanks to the starlight function of his optics.
He watched for what felt like hours every once in a while choosing a different direction hoping to spot a wild quintaped through the dense brush.
"What do they normally eat when humans are not in plentiful supply?" Harry asked after an indeterminate amount of time had passed.
"Roots, tree sap, nuts, fruit, grubs, worms, ants, eggs, frogs, turtles, birds, bats, cats, squirrels, fish, kelp, crabs, starfish, clams, and especially rabbits," Newt said as he continued to scan the forest floor.
"So pretty much anything," Harry chuckled.
"They are omnivores and will eat anything they can find usually they dig for grubs for an easy meal," Newt answered.
"I think I see a group coming this way," Harry muttered as he zoomed in to his right and saw one large adult with auburn fur and three tiny hairless quintapeds coming towards them from the east.
"Oho, it's a female! She even brought her young with her," Newt said excitedly.
"You left out their reproduction in your book," Harry chuckled.
The babies looked even uglier than the adults as they were completely hairless, their skin had the texture of a hairless cat and Harry could make out almost humanlike features on their faces.
"Would you rather read about these flesh-eating nightmares or about a thunderbird?" Newt asked with a chuckle.
"Fair point, is that why we're out here to update your book?" Harry asked curiously as he observed the mother digging into the soft earth and pulling out worms.
"I had to take you to see them, I figured we might as well update the entry on quintapeds while we're at it," Newt admitted as he took out his parchment and dicta quill.
"The mother seems to be showing the youngsters how to dig up worms," Harry muttered to the quill.
"Yes, the island has plenty of wildlife to sustain the quintapeds population but when there are no humans around they prefer to gather their food rather than hunt it," Newt explained.
"What is their growth rate?" Harry asked curiously.
"Slightly faster than a human, ten years for the bairns to reach maturity though they only live around thirty years," Newt answered
They stayed there until almost midnight observing the animals who seem to wander around the island searching for food.
Eventually, Newt started dozing off and decided to call it a night.
"I have to go out of the country tomorrow so we won't meet up again until next week, I believe you are ready to start preparing for the mastery exam in Care of Magical Creatures. I will be sending you home more study materials, next week and we will begin working on your thesis," Newt explained as they began packing up their gear.
"What happens after that?" Harry asked in surprise.
"You will take your exams and then take a couple of months to help your wife with your newborns. By then you should be able to start working with a magizoologist that specialises in serpents. Though if you achieve your mastery in creatures I will file my endorsement with the ministry. You will be a certified magizoologist when you start studying with Sanjay," Newt said with a smile.
"Wow, I kind of figured it would take much longer," Harry admitted.
"You have encountered most of the non-sentient magical creatures in Britain already during the O.W.L and N.E.W.T curriculum, I just took you through the ones not commonly covered on the O.W.L and N.E.W.T exams. There are a few others that are too rare to worry about but as of right now I am fairly confident that you have learned enough to earn your certification. The field of magizoology is vast but it is something you learn by doing," Newt explained.
"What about creatures from around the world, won't they be on the exam?" Harry asked nervously as he slipped his omnioculars into his pouch.
"No, only creatures from Britain will be on the British exam," Newt assured him.
"Well thanks, I guess," Harry said rather dumbly still trying to process everythinghe heard.
"Don't thank me, you have a gift for creatures, I think you will go far in this field," Newt said genuinely as they mounted their brooms and kicked off making a beeline for the Scottish coastline.
Harry was still a little surprised that these field trips were over, though he understood what Newt had been trying to do now.
By taking him in the field for the past three months Newt was giving him a crash course in all the different methods of observing and capturing magical creatures. There was no doubt that Harry would learn even more as he went along but now he understood what the job entailed much better and he would know what he could look forward to in the future.
'I guess this is good news,' Harry grinned as they neared Orkney Island.
Peverell Beach House, Cornwall, 3/25/1983, 00:59
Harry stepped into the house and kicked off his boots before making his way toward the dining room, he was surprised to see Bella at the table sipping a cup of cocoa.
"Your late," Bella said softly.
"We documented tbe quintapeds late into the night but I am off until Monday," Harry said as he slipped off his robes and took a seat.
"Where are you going next?" Bella asked.
"I'm not, I have to start studying for my mastery exam," Harry said as a steaming plate of spaghetti appeared in front of him courtesy of Jangles.
"Already?" Bellatrix asked in surprise.
"Yes, Newt thanks I'm ready, I think he wanted to make sure my time was freed up for when the babies get here," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Good, Andi keeps bringing Nymphadora over and driving me mad," Bellatrix pouted.
"When the babies get here I'm running everybody off," Harry grinned only half kidding.
"Excellent, my sisters can be quite annoying, especially when they're together," Bella said happily.
"Tell me about it, I still have to deal with that job for Cissa but I think I have everything worked out now," Harry said between bites of his supper.
"Really, what are you going to do about Augusta then?" Bella asked curiously.
"Put her in Azkaban," Harry said simply.
"Good, I might find a way to send her a chocolate bar," Bella said thoughtfully.
"No, you can't handle poisons right now anyway," Harry said firmly.
"Ugh, I hate being pregnant," Bella sighed dramatically.
"It's cute to watch you waddle around though," Harry chuckled.
"You just like that my tits doubled in size," Bella smirked.
"I would never be so shallow," Harry exclaimed in faux protest.
"Of course, you're not," Bella giggled in disbelief.
"Though I am certainly not complaining," Harry added eyeing her chest appreciatively.
"So what did you do today?" Harry asked smoothly changing the subject.
"I stayed here and put up with my sisters and their spawn," Bella shrugged.
"They can't be that bad," Harry said.
"They won't shut up about Sirius' wedding plans, they drove me crazy with my own wedding and now I have to listen to it all over again!" Bella exclaimed irritably.
"Alright, let's get you to bed I am exhausted," Harry said as he pushed his empty plate away and led Bella up to bed.
Having something to occupy his time was great but he hadn't had much time to spend with Bella since the new year and he was looking forward to a weekend with just the two of them.
Newt Scamander's House, Dorset, 3/31/1983, 15:37
Harry was currently in Newt's basement if you could really call it that, it was more like a massive preserve.
There were dozens of exotic creatures from all over the world in this room, Harry still couldn't help but stare at them when he had some downtime.
Harry had been meeting Newt here every morning to go over material for his mastery exam and learn a bit about some of the creatures Newt had in his collection.
Harry was amazed at the size of the erumpents who were each larger than a bull elephant, they had a large paddock that replicated an African savannah and from a distance, they looked like rhinos.
There was also a rather large collection of nifflers who according to Newt were the biggest trouble makers in his collection.
The was a Scottish stag with massive antlers that held magical properties coveted for potion brewing, as a result, this creature had been hunted almost to the point of extinction and Newt had been searching for a doe for years
There were birds of all shapes and colours and even a few snakes that Harry didn't recognise as well as moon calves and a small herd of graphorns.
Newt had already explained in detail the different sections of the Care for Magical Creatures mastery exam. It was much more complex than any exam Harry had sat so far. Not only did he have to perform a very thorough practical exam tending and handling all manner of creatures that would take a few days to complete.
He also had to read up on all creatures native to Britain and Scotland as there was a five-hour written exam that required six in-depth essays on various aspects of caring for magical creatures.
If that wasn't enough he also had to write a six-foot thesis that had to be presented before he was even eligible to sit the exam.
At the moment Newt was giving him pointers on his thesis. Harry had decided that his thesis would be written about his theory that kelpies used passive legilimency as a means to hunt.
Newt agreed that this would be his best bet as they had already experimented with it in the field and had gotten promising results in their tests.
Harry had been studying the material during every free moment as he was hoping to sit the exams before Easter.
He planned on finishing the thesis and presenting it to the board of education the following Monday, Newt would be accompanying as his mentor which should help speed things along.
"Very good, the trick to writing these things is to use ten words where one would normally do," Newt said only half-jokingly.
"Makes sense I suppose," Harry agreed as he shook his hand to try and relieve the cramp.
"I predict this thesis alone will earn you a mastery in the field," Newt said confidently.
"I hope so, I just wish I could have used a typewriter," Harry sighed before going back to writing.
For the rest of the day, Harry finished writing the thesis and Newt helped him by correcting him when he was too concise or otherwise giving him tips on how to sound as scientific as possible n his writing.
Luckily having your mentor oversee the writing of his thesis paper was a requirement as Newt had to swear an oath that the work Harry presented to the board of education was his original idea and that he personally witnessed Harry complete it.
"I think I'm done," Harry sighed tiredly
Newt took the roll of parchment and scanned through it to the end before nodding his approval.
"This is good, the final step is to present this to the board of education. Once they accept this you will contacted to sit your exams which unfortunately you will have to sit in front of all the examiners of the board of education," Newt explained as he rolled up the parchment and tied it with a ribbon.
Ministry of Magic, London, 4/11/1983, 07:30
Presenting his thesis had gone smoother than he thought, he had been contacted less than three days after and been told that his thesis was more than acceptable to qualify him to sit his mastery exams.
So here he was making hos way to his seat in the familiar testing room in Griselda Marchbank's office.
Harry took his seat at the desk, he had already gone through the necessary scans to prove he had not used mind enhancing substances or artefacts designed for cheating on his person.
"Mr Peverell you have five hours to complete your exam, you may begin... now" Griselda Marchbanks exclaimed as she flipped the massive hourglass over.
Harry looked at the panel of examiners one last time before calming his nerves dipping his quill in the inkpot and flipping over his test paper.
'Well here goes nothing,' Harry sighed as he began to scratch out the answer to his first question.