The boy was by no means small. In fact, he could be said to be a very large boy, practically the size of a full-grown man, but he was slouching dreadfully and so well hidden behind an enormous pile of books that Newt almost didn't see him.

There was something different about this boy. He wasn't clamouring to get his book signed amongst the other fans. Nor was he running wild like some of the other children, whom the poor shopkeeper were chasing all over Flourish and Blotts. No, this boy was quiet, eyes darting everywhere as he carefully observed his surroundings, and there was a spark of passionate curiosity in his eyes. Somehow, he reminded Newt of himself.

It was this that drew Newt to speak to him. He excused himself from the book-signing table, where Bunty took over answering his readers' question with speed and precision.

'Hello there,' Newt said kindly. The boy was so tall that Newt didn't have to bend over at all to be at eye level. 'What's your name?'

'R-Rubeus, sir,' the boy stammered, obviously taken aback at being address by his idol.

'Have you read my book, Rubeus?' Newt asked. He was a little unsure of himself – he wasn't all that good at talking to people. Tina would have known what to say. Or better yet, Queenie, who would have read the boy's entire life story in an instant.

But Newt needn't have worried at all. Asking about his book seemed to have broken a wall between himself and Rubeus, and the boy's young face lit up with eager excitement.

'Yeah, I 'ave, every day,' Rubeus said excitedly. 'I wanna be a Magizoologist when I grow up.'

Newt found himself glowing with the boy's excitement – it was clearly contagious. 'That's wonderful, Rubeus,' he exclaimed, but Rubeus was still talking.

'I particularly like the Manticore and the Fire Crab. I was thinking, ye see – sir – I reckon they'll be compatible to breed. Can ye imagine what would happen? I reckon ye'd get a hard-shelled creature breathing fire. Blast-ended Skrewts, I'd call 'em.'

Newt considered this notion for a moment. Rubeus had a point. It could be perceivable that they'd breed, but…

'You'd have to be extremely careful about such an experiment,' he said eventually, though this seemed to do nothing to curb the boy's excitement. Young Rubeus was now bouncing from foot to foot, still gazing at Newt with eyes full of wonder. Newt hesitated, then came to a decision. Tina would forgive him later.

'Rubeus, would you like to see some of these creatures? Maybe you could give me and Bunty a hand with them.'

Rubeus positively exploded into the widest smile that Newt had even seen. 'Yes, sir, of course, sir!' he cried. 'Ye can trust me, sir.'

Newt chuckled at the boy's reaction. 'I know I can, Rubeus. Come along, your first task can be to help us get out of this book signing.'