The last chapter, I'm afraid, but this series is far from over.
"I can't believe it," Severus muttered under his breath.
"What exactly can't you believe?" Remus asked, standing next to the man. "That we're in a suitcase that expands into an entire world or that Newt Scamander is the wizard that broke Sam out of prison all the years ago?"
"All of it," Severus said, shaking his head as he watched the children running around and interacting with all kinds of creatures big and small. Harry, Draco, Ron, and Hermione were exploring the area with Ivan in Hermione's arms, playing with the nifflers and feeding the adorable mooncalves dancing in the moonlight. It was bizarre to think that one minute he had been standing at Hogwart's entrance stepping into a suitcase and now he was standing on a rocky cave floor watching everyone outside the cave in the expansive, green fields, playing with creatures big and small.
"I must say," Remus continued, smiling at Harry as a niffler jumped on Harry's back and stole one of the buttons off his robe. The kids laughed as they chased after the naughty creature. "This is really fascinating. You could have a thousand care of magical creatures' lessons down here. If only Newt didn't hate paperwork so much, he'd be an incredible professor."
"I never liked that class."
Remus smirked. "You had quite a way with animals if I remember correctly."
"Indeed," Severus said, flicking his wand casually at the runespoor that was slowly sneaking up behind him with an open mouth. The water charm sprayed the left head, and the other two heads paused to watch it as it gagged and hissed angrily, spitting out some water. Remus shook his head as he and Severus stepped away from the cave setting, following the children deeper into the suitcase as Newt led the way to his more mountainous landscape.
Meanwhile, Sam and Newt caught up with each other as they led the way through the suitcase.
"Congratulations on the new tail. How old are you now?" Newt asked.
: Thank you. Three-hundred and nine.
Sam lifted his three tails behind him proudly, walking with more of a prance at Newt's heel. He was always glad to be recognized for his tail achievements—when someone recognized it. There were few who had known him with two tails, however, so the little praise he did receive was treasured.
"You're getting pretty ancient, Samuru," Newt said.
Sam paused mid-step, tilting his head up at the man. He huffed, and walked normal once more, ruffling his fur with a quick shake.
: Speak for yourself. Your fur has gone white! Years have not been kind to you since we last met—what was it, sixty years ago?
"Sixty-two actually." Newt smirked down at Sam. "I still remember that jailbreak like it was yesterday though; the way you jumped out that three-story window into the pond—death-defying, it was. But a kitsune sentenced to life in prison for something he was forced to do just aggravates me so, even now. I take it you got home safely to your sister?"
: I did. We could never thank you enough for helping me get out of that prison. Natsumi has three kits of her own now. Two sons and a little vixen. I hear she and her mate are trying for a fourth. They would like to name the young after you, with your permission, of course.
"I would be honored. After this trip, I plan to retire and pass down the suitcase to my grandson when he is of age. Rolf is very excited to pursue a career in magizoology."
: Retirement? I suppose a human can only chase after magical creatures for so long. Perhaps I will meet your grandson one day.
"He would love to meet you."
As they came across the mountain landscape, everyone gasped in awe as they looked around the new scenery. The sky was dark, as it resembled the sky outside the suitcase, and the moonlight shined down on a small makeshift nest tucked against the bottom of a mountain, lodged between stones. Newt used his wand to touch it up a bit, adding a layer of feathers and straw from a bag on his back.
"There we are," Newt smiled, turning to face the four children. Sam sat at Newt's heel with a smile and tilt of his head. "I haven't had a griffin in quite a few years. He will have to get accustomed to sleeping in a nest for when I deliver him to the pair in Greece. They recently hatched two of their own, and griffins are very loving and accepting of orphaned young. I was able to collect some feathers from their nest before coming to Hogwarts."
"They'll take him in then?" Hermione asked, hugging Ivan to her chest. "They'll raise him as their own?"
"Most definitely," Newt assured Hermione. "The mother will nurse him and help graduate him to meat before she and her mate begin teaching Ivan how to fly and hunt for himself. He'll stay with the family for at least a year before he's ready to live independently. All will work out well, and I will send you all an update on Ivan's progress soon. You four have done a terrific job caring for him thus far."
"Thank you, sir," Hermione said, the boys chorusing her.
"Please, it's just Newt." Newt kneeled and held out a hand toward Ivan to sniff. "What do you say, little fella? Ready to meet your new parents?"
Ivan sniffed the offered hand, his feathers ruffling, before he nipped Newt's finger.
"Ow," Newt said, shaking the sting away. "Cheeky little blighter."
"I wonder where he could have learned such behavior," Severus said, smirking down at his son, who smirked back at him, crossing his arms defensively.
Newt reached out again, slower this time. Ivan watched suspiciously as the hand reached for him, then scratched under his chin. Ivan purred happily before allowing Newt to take him from Hermione's arms. Newt settled Ivan in the nest, patting the griffin's rump until Ivan sat down.
Ivan looked up at the humans watching him, then sniffed the nest. It smelled like other griffins and he walked around in the nest, learning the scents of two adult griffins and two babies like him. He plopped down in the nest and rolled around, leaving his own scent before curling up and closing his eyes, wrapping his tail around himself.
"He will do just fine," Newt said. "He'll be with his new family by tomorrow evening."
"We're going to miss him," Harry said, petting the griffin's head.
"I already do," Hermione said, leaning down to place a kiss. "But I'm glad he's going somewhere he'll be loved and safe."
Ron and Draco said their goodbyes as well, then newt began to lead them away.
Ivan's ears perked up, and he lifted his head and screeched, jumping out of the nest and running after the children. Newt smiled as he watched the kids squat down and pet the griffin, encouraging the baby to stay in the nest and that he would not be forgotten.
"It looks like he really bonded with you children," Newt said, picking up the baby and allowing everyone to say their final goodbyes.
"We're going to miss you, Ivan," Harry said. He patted the baby's beak.
"But you're going to a new family now," Draco added.
"With new siblings to play with!" Ron smiled.
"Where you'll be loved and cared for," Hermione added, taking the griffin and carrying him back to the nest. "And grow into a big strong griffin."
Harry followed, pushing down on the griffin's rump to make him sit as he had seen Newt do.
"Maybe one day," he said, "we'll meet again."
Ivan croo'ed up at the children as they waved goodbye.
"We'll never forget you," Harry said.
"Stay," Hermione said, holding her hand up.
Ivan screeched once more as Newt led them away, but the baby stayed in the nest, curling back up in the feathers and straw.
Everyone left the suitcase, returning to the main entrance of Hogwarts, and they said their goodbyes to Newt. Remus thanked Newt for coming so quickly on such short notice and for taking care of the griffin. Sam accepted a head ruffle from the man, wagging his three tails at his old friend. The children stared in amazement as the man picked up the suitcase like it didn't have a bunch of fantastic beasts inside and carried it away from Hogwarts. Severus and Remus ushered the children through the castle to their respective dorms since it was past their curfew, Severus taking Draco, and Remus leading the other three to Gryffindor Tower.
"You actually lived in that suitcase, Sam?" Harry asked with a yawn as he walked.
: Only temporarily, Sam answered, while Newt smuggled me back to Japan from my imprisonment in China. I stayed in his forest landscape with the Kamaitachi brothers.
"Who?" Harry asked. He frowned down at the fox.
: Three very naughty weasels, Sam answered with a flick of his ears.
Harry ran down to his father's quarters as fast as he could. It had been one whole month since the incident with Lockhart and the tooth. Classes had resumed as normal, except for the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which was cancelled until further notice while an investigation went on. That was okay with Harry, however. What was more important at that very moment was the parchment in his hand.
Harry threw open his father's door, only to draw to a halt at the sight of company, heat rising to his cheeks.
Everyone turned to look at Harry.
Severus and Remus sat on the couch across from Albus and Minerva, who sat in armchairs. Sirius stood off to the side, his arms crossed. Sam was lying in his large dog bed, and he lifted his head to smirk at Harry. Sirius smirked down at his godson.
"Way to make an entrance, tiger cub," the man smiled.
"I hope," Severus said, raising an eyebrow at his son, "that you have a good reason for running all the way down here and barging through the door."
"I . . ." Harry took a step back. "It can wait, I guess."
"No need to leave," Severus waved his son in. "We're just finishing up."
Harry felt the blush leave his cheeks as he awkwardly stepped over to his father, sitting down on the couch next to him.
"And," Albus smiled with a twinkle in his eyes, "I believe we have found our new Defense teacher."
Harry smiled widely as he looked at Sirius. "You?"
"Sadly, I've been outvoted." Sirius pouted. "I guess I'm not 'teacher material.'"
Harry looked around his father at Remus, who nodded his head, but he didn't smile or look happy about it.
"Although," Remus said, holding up his hands defensively. "I tried to argue against it."
"Why?" Harry asked, his smile growing. "You'd be a great teacher! You tutored me growing up and you make the best lessons! We'd all have so much fun with you."
"You know my condition, Harry," Remus said. "It would be risky."
"And as I've said," Severus spoke, "you've been taking your wolfbane potion for years without incident and I think with careful planning, this could work out splendidly long term. I see no reason for you to refuse this offer. You like teaching."
"I do, I just don't know if my staying in a school full of children is really a good idea. I mean tutoring Harry for a few hours each day was one thing, but full classrooms? Every day?"
"Obviously, you'd need to take a day or two off every month."
"Please, Uncle Remus?" Harry said. "No one else would be better than you."
"Now," Sirius said, smiling at his friend, "how could you resist such praise?"
Remus rolled his eyes at everyone's insistence before nodding at the headmaster.
"I guess I've been outvoted as well," Remus said. "I accept your offer."
"Yes!" Harry gave the air a fist pump.
Everyone laughed as they stood, and Remus shook hands with Albus and Minerva. Harry hugged his uncles, earning a playful cuff on the side of his head from Remus and a hard noogie from Sirius. As everyone was discussing when Defense would start back up, the door flew open and Draco froze in the entryway, his cheeks burning up as Harry's had earlier.
"Err," Draco began, causally hiding the parchment he had by clasping his hands behind his back. "My apologies, Headmaster, professors, for my intrusion. I'll wait outside."
"Get in here," Severus said, waving the boy inside with a smirk. "You're not the first, don't worry."
Draco nodded and walked over to Harry, whispering to his cousin: "What is going on?"
"We have a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor," Harry answered.
"Who? Don't tell me it's Sirius Black!"
"Hey," Sirius said, putting his hands on his hips as he looked at the two boys. "I heard that. I'd be a great professor. We'd have so much fun, wouldn't we, Harry?"
"Of course, we would!" Harry smiled until Sirius huffed and walked back to the other adults. Harry whispered to Draco, "Don't worry, we're safe. It's Uncle Remus."
Draco sighed in relief, then frowned. "Doesn't he have . . . you know, lycanthropy?"
"He has it under control with Dad's help. It'll be fine, you'll see. He's a great teacher."
"And less spontaneous."
Harry and Draco laughed, catching the adults' attention once more. They hushed up, muttering apologies and fidgeted with the parchments in their hands. Severus noted the parchments.
"What do you boys have?" he asked.
"Our update from Newt!" Harry and Draco both said excitedly, unrolling the parchments to reveal moving and talking images, one on each parchment that began playing at the same time.
Everyone moved closer to look at the parchment with curious expressions and smiles.
"Oh, this I must see." Minerva smiled, adjusting her glasses to see.
"How's that little trouble monster doing?" Sirius said.
"Newt was always one true to his word," Albus said, stepping closer. "He sent an update quite quickly."
Sam slithered off his dog bed and crawled in between the two boys, rising on his hind legs to see Draco's image clearly, glancing at Harry's then back at Draco's.
The image began with Newt speaking.
"Hello, kids," Newt said with an awkward smile as he tried keeping the camera steady on his face. "I dropped Ivan off at this very spot twenty-eight days ago."
The background behind Newt showed a green mountain valley with white tips. Wherever Newt was, it was far from any human settlements and Newt seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, although the compass on Newt's robe revealed that he was far from lost.
"The parents took to Ivan immediately and flew him up to their nest. Take a look at him now."
The camera swiveled and took a few seconds to focus before it zoomed in on a large dark feathered griffin perched on the peak of a mountain, watching Newt with suspicious eyes. The camera lowered to a cliff ledge where a magnificent nest was built. Inside were three baby griffins wrestling with each other. Two griffins had a mix of light and dark feathers while one in the middle was tawny colored. Ivan. He had doubled in size once more, about as big as a medium sized dog now, his wings more developed, but not ready to fly yet.
"Here comes Mama," Newt's voice said.
And a large light-colored griffin flew into view, landing on the edge of the nest, stretching out her wings for balance. The babies squawked and pushed each other in order to get to their mother, opening their mouths wide.
The mother tilted her head, eyeing each child with a critical eye before puking up a chunk of deer meat into the nest, allowing her babies to fight over it. She cawed up to the male griffin above her, and he flew off to hunt, taking a break from babysitting.
The mother looked over at Newt but did not seem bothered by his presence as she looked back at her babies, waiting for them to finish eating.
"There's one thing about griffins that I love—they never forget. Ivan!" Newt yelled the name and it echoed.
The tawny baby lifted his head up and tilted it. He ignored the rest of the food as he ran to the edge of the nest and put his front paws up to look over. He cooed loudly at Newt, tilting his head as he looked around, as if hoping to see other familiar faces.
Draco and Harry smiled as all the adults awed at the baby. Sam settled for a smile.
The mama griffin slowly crawled into the nest, pushing two of the babies under her as she settled down. She stretched her neck and nuzzled Ivan, who returned the action. The mother gently nudged Ivan until he too relented away from the edge and crawled under his mother.
The camera swiveled and Newt was back on it.
"There you have it," he said. "I think Ivan is going to be just fine. Thanks again for all your hard work, kids. You saved his life. He will never forget that."
The image blackened before it started to replay itself. Harry and Draco rolled the parchments back up.
"You four did a wonderful job taking care of that griffin," Albus said, using a handkerchief to dab at his eyes.
"And protecting him from that Lockhart," Sirius added.
"We miss him," Harry said, "especially Hermione. Maybe we could visit him one day. What do you think, Dad?"
"You want to go on a trip to Greece to go hiking up cold, steep mountains just to see a baby griffin from afar whose parents may very well eat us? Hmm . . . I'll think about it."
"Sure, he will." Draco snickered.
Harry sighed. It was worth a shot to ask.
"Isn't there a game tomorrow?" Albus suddenly asked, stroking his beard. "The first Quidditch match of the year. About time, too. Perhaps you boys need to practice?"
"You're right!" Harry said. "Race you to the pitch Draco!"
"I'm going to wipe the field with your blood tomorrow," Draco said as he chased after Harry.
"Play safely, boys!" Severus called after them.
"You wish," Sirius said, smirking at Severus's glare.
The year flew by quickly, and was thankfully, uneventful. The students all enjoyed Remus Lupin as the DADA professor. The students also enjoyed hearing the story about the four Gryffindors and one Slytherin who rescued a griffin, challenged Lockhart, and were banished to a lost island for three days. Ron enjoyed sharing the story while Hermione and Draco ignored everyone. Neville stammered his way through it when he was ambushed by fellow Gryffindors to tell it, and Harry had grown tired of sharing his side of things, telling anyone who asked to find someone who already knew it.
Ginny also shared in the fame, though everyone respectfully gave her space when she refused to share what had happened after she was kidnapped.
The tooth Sam wore had settled down completely by Christmas break, and the fox was wearing it full time again. Of course, Harry was never allowed to touch it again. Harry didn't want to either. He could never handle such tempting power anyway.
They had not heard from Newt again until after they had taken their finals, when Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Draco received a moving picture of Ivan taking his first flight from the nest, now a half-grown griffin.
His siblings were already in the air waiting when his mother gave Ivan a push. Ivan flapped as fast as he could until his father flew at his side with steady flaps. Ivan copied him and soon he was gaining altitude and flying with his family. The picture replayed over and over.
On the back of each picture was Newt's handwriting: Ivan will stay at the nest for the summer, learning how to hunt while he finishes growing before leaving and facing his first winter on his own. He says "hello."
Everyone smiled and shared the picture with their friends at the breakfast table.
After finals, they were picking classes for the next year, and Harry had just finished filling in his schedule with McGonagall and was walking down to the Great Hall for dinner when he ran into Hermione, Ron, and Draco. He smirked at what he was hearing.
"Why would you take muggle studies?" Draco asked. "You're a muggleborn."
"I know," Hermione countered, "but wouldn't it be so fascinating to learn it from the wizarding world's perspective?"
"No, it wouldn't. If you wanted a perspective, I could give you one."
"Yeah, but that only your perspective and it's pretty biased."
"How many do you want?" Draco saw Harry. "Harry, give an opinion. Ron? I'll hook you up with Blaise if I must."
"Why don't you take the class with me and see for yourself? Maybe you'll learn something about muggles you didn't know."
"I am not taking muggle studies. I get enough muggle when I visit my godfather's house."
"How about you, Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Sorry, my schedule's full."
"Harry, are you taking muggle studies?"
"Nope," Harry said. "My dad said it would just give me a reason to goof off and still get a good grade. So that's out."
"What about Divination?" Ron asked. "I signed up for that—it should be real easy from what I hear."
"Nope again," Harry said. "My dad said there is no need for me to take that class. I'm obviously not a seer and I'm better off spending my education on something worth knowing."
"Oh, please tell me you took Arithmancy!" Hermione asked excitedly. "We might be in the same class. Draco's taking it, too. We could all study together. We could make a study group!"
"You are way too excited about this," Draco commented.
"No," Harry answered, "I didn't sign up for that either. My dad suggested it, but I don't think I could handle that class. I went with Study of Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures. That's it."
Hermione's mouth dropped before she frowned.
"Are you serious? That's it? You can take another one, you know. It's not too late to add Arithmancy. Then we'll have another class together! It's like . . . learning math, it'll be fun."
"Math is fun?" Harry's eyebrows shot up into his fringe. "Hermione, are you sure you're not an alien."
Hermione made a face at Harry before dropping the subject.
Draco walked next to Harry.
"I wish my dad would have settled for just Ancient Runes. But no, a Malfoy will have the best education Hogwarts has to offer, nothing less will be tolerated."
"Good Uncle Luc impression," Harry smirked. "You sound just like him."
"And you're starting to sound like your dad sometimes. Your voice is dropping a whole octave!"
"Thanks for reminding me," Harry winced, remembering his voice cracking during a charms lesson when he raised his hand to answer a question. Humiliating. And his father's only support had been: "Welcome to growing up."
"So, we're all pretty much going into different classes next year," Ron said. "Won't that be strange."
"I've been in different classes than you all year," Draco reminded.
"Yeah, but at least the Gryffindors were always together. School is splitting us up."
"We still can get together for studying and free time in the library," Hermione said.
"Why does our free time have to be in the library?" Draco asked.
"Where else would we be able to do extra research?"
"I have to say it—you are addicted to learning."
"I'm not ashamed of that!" Hermione said, her hands on her hips.
The boys laughed as they entered the Great Hall, ready for dinner. Albus announced the winner of the House Cup: Ravenclaw. Everyone clapped excitedly, especially the Ravenclaw table, who burst out into cheering as well, the loudest the group had ever been all year.
"It's nice to see a different house win the House Cup each year," Harry remarked as he watched the Ravenclaws.
"What are you talking about, mate?" Ron asked with a frown. "We've only been here for two years. Of course, a different house will win, though we were so close." Ron sighed longingly.
Harry smiled as he turned around and faced his table. When food appeared and Dumbledore announced everyone to dig in, the great shift happened, as it did at every meal now except for the Welcoming Feast. Students from all houses stood and ran over to a different table, talking amiably with friends. It was no surprise to anyone when Draco slid in next to Harry, filling up the vacated plate in front of him with food.
Harry did the same, thinking about what a normal and wonderful year it had been—save for the beginning. Otherwise, this is what he wished every year could be like for himself. Him as a regular student, with no big quests or prophesies to fulfill. Just another one of the students.
A big puff of smoke exploded at the end of the Gryffindor table, startling several students who shrieked, ran, or stared doe-eyed. The smoke cleared, revealing two red-headed babies in onesies, one holding a bottle and the other a rattle.
"Are those . . . my brothers?" Ron squinted at the babies at the end of the table, standing up to move closer. Harry, Draco, and Hermione followed Ron.
It was indeed Fred and George sitting on the bench at the end of the table. They looked at each other with wide eyes and dropped jaws before bursting into laughter. Despite being babies, they still sounded like their older selves. As word spread through the hall about what had occurred, everyone else began laughing. Some of the girls awed at Fred and George and some of the boys mockingly made baby noises or sang rock-a-bye baby.
"What happened to them?" Neville asked from where he sat.
"I think I know," Harry smiled, looking over at the professors' table in time to see his father high five Sam, the fox's three tails wagging. "I knew it. This was revenge on the twins for turning Sam into a kid again. Dad must have helped."
At the table, Minerva slapped Severus's shoulder and appeared to be scolding the man with a stern finger wagging in his face. Severus held up his hands defensively and motioned to the smirking fox as he no doubt came up with an excuse as to why he was innocent. Harry laughed at the display as Sam stalked his way over to the group.
"Look at us!" Fred smiled, "we're adorable!"
Fred lifted his bottle that had originally been his wand and drank the milk inside. He pulled the nipple free and cried, "Waah! Waah!" Then he laughed at himself. George laughed as well.
"Ah goo," George said, batting his eyes up at Angelina Johnson, who had been sitting next to Fred and was now staring down at the two babies in shock and amusement. She rolled her eyes at George and snorted, returning to her meal.
George thought himself hilarious and fell over laughing, rolling off the bench. Ron was quick to catch him and sit him up, however.
"Woah! I've lost my sense of balance," George said.
"I always thought one of us was dropped on the head," Fred laughed. "I just figured it was Percy."
Everyone in hearing distance laughed while Percy sent a glare his brothers' way.
Sam made his way over to Harry, who glanced down at the fox. Harry frowned and tapped Sam's shoulder.
"I thought you couldn't use deaging potions on humans cause the only one available deaged them to babies and could have bad side effects?"
: You're forgetting that your father is a gifted potions master, Sam smiled, catching the twins' attention as well. Sam walked over to the twins, his ears perks and his lips curled in a sly smile. He was able to alter some of the ingredients and enhance the magical aspect of the potion, resulting in a fast-acting body-deaging potion. It retains the person's mind, knowledge, and voice while simply deaging their body to a younger form. I slipped the potion in their drinks and planted the smoke bombs that Severus charmed with simple transfiguration jinxes to change the clothes and wands into baby attire and necessities. It should all wear off in another five minutes or so.
"Ingenious!" Fred smiled, waving his bottle around.
"Absolutely brilliant," George agreed. He raised his rattle and smacked it down on Sam's head. "Bad fox!"
Sam yelped and backed away, shaking his head. He snarled at the babies.
: Don't make me nip you, Sam threatened.
Harry shook his head at the annoyed fox and laughing babies. Everyone was chuckling and smiling at the twins' antics and Harry and his friends sat back down at their seats to finish eating. After five minutes, the twins changed back, baby clothes and all. They took that particular prank as well as Sam had the last two times.
They joked with Sam a while more while Harry talked with his friends about plans for over the summer, get togethers, homework, and study schedules (per Hermione). It was good to be a normal student and a normal kid.
As normal as he could get.
Please Read this note: Thank you to everyone who has followed this series up to this point. This has been such a fun adventure that I am glad to say will be continued in a part three.
For those who enjoyed Little Sam, you will find part two is now up and it is the incident referenced above. That concludes Monster from the Chamber. I will let you know when part three of this series is up. I have started it, but it is not quite ready to be published. It will be up soon, however. Here is what awaits you:
Second Chances Reality: Prisoner of Azkaban: The dark wizard who played a role in Lily Snape's death is eligible for parole, and Severus and Harry struggle with a past neither are prepared to face as they deal with parole hearings, a new school year, and conflicted emotions that threaten to tear every relationship apart.
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