Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them!

That night, after bonding with the Swooping Evil under the covers for a while, Sean fell asleep clutching its cocoon in his hand.

He dreamed that he was an evil dark lord, always accompanied by a savage Swooping Evil with crimson eyes.

With the slightest shift of his gaze, the Swooping Evil would pounce onto the faces of those who opposed him, then feast on bloody desserts amid their rapidly fading screams.

"Average flavor."

"Too little."

The Swooping Evil would even send Sean feedback on its meal.

When Sean woke groggily, it was still pitch-black outside. He discovered that the cocoon he had been holding was gone.

Breaking out in a cold sweat, Sean lost all trace of sleepiness. Fortunately, he could still sense the Swooping Evil's emotional state.

Sean looked up and saw the Swooping Evil spread its blue-green spiny wings against the ceiling. It was staring intently at Sean's sleeping roommate, red light flickering in its eyes as drool dripped from its teeth in a thin thread.

"Average flavor."

"Too little."

It was evaluating how tasty Sean's roommate might be.

Sean's eye twitched, and he immediately called the Swooping Evil back.

"Come back!"

The Swooping Evil gave the sleeping Young Wizard a reluctant look before swiftly flying back. It wrapped itself tightly in midair, transformed into a cocoon, and landed in Sean's hand.

Its slender antennae emerged from its head and wrapped around Sean's finger pitifully.

"Hey, little guy, I told you—you can't set your sights on other people's brains!" Sean's expression turned stern. His Swooping Evil was already a mutated individual; he certainly wasn't about to raise some terrifying little monster.

"I was only smelling the flavor." The Swooping Evil sensed Sean's mood and tightened its cocoon slightly, sounding aggrieved.

The thoughts the Swooping Evil sent him would not lie, and Sean's expression softened.

Then it really had only wanted to smell him.

Still, flying out in the middle of the night was unsafe and likely to scare people half to death. Sean gave it a thorough warning, and the Swooping Evil promised it would never do it again.

However, perhaps because it had only just been born, or perhaps because it was unusual, the Swooping Evil—which had eaten just last night—said it was hungry again.

Sean took it to the Hogwarts Kitchens, a paradise for foodies hidden in the stone corridor near the Hufflepuff Common Room.

All one had to do was find a painting of a silver bowl filled with fruit and tickle the pear. The pear would giggle, then turn into a huge green door handle. Pull it open, and one could enter the kitchens.

The House-elves would fulfill almost any food-related request a wizard might have.

Seen off with respectful enthusiasm by the House-elves, Sean walked out carrying the Swooping Evil's breakfast.

The cocoon in his hand trembled impatiently twice. It looked absolutely starving.

"Don't rush. I'll find somewhere to let you out. If anyone sees you outside, we'll have a big problem."

The Swooping Evil was exceptionally obedient around Sean. It quietly settled down, and after a long while, it sent him a thought.

"I want to watch that girl while eating breakfast. Is that okay?"

Sean's mouth twitched. He sighed. "You need to look at her to eat?"

"Yes. Smelling the flavor makes the food taste better." The Swooping Evil became excited.

"No!"

After the Swooping Evil finished breakfast, Sean headed straight for Professor Scamander's office. The two of them had arranged to meet today.

When he arrived outside the office, Sean knocked on the door. It took quite a while before it opened.

Newt was wearing a suit vest, and his white shirt beneath it was covered with quite a few blades of grass. His hair was somewhat disheveled, and beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Wallep."

"Not at all, sir. You're too polite," Sean replied with a smile.

Newt led him inside, then locked the office door behind them.

As soon as he entered, a familiar little figure clung to Sean's trouser leg. It was the Bowtruckle from the other day.

Sean smiled and lifted it into his hand, letting the little fellow use his fingers as a swing.

Newt took out his wand and waved it at the locked doorknob. A layer of light swept across the brass lock.

"Just a small security measure," Newt explained to Sean. Then he pointed at the Bowtruckle. "I forgot to introduce him last time. His name is Pickett. He's a clingy little fellow."

Pickett stuck his tongue out at Newt, then quickly climbed onto Sean's shoulder.

"Oh, honestly." Newt spread his hands helplessly.

The Swooping Evil in Sean's inner pocket suddenly sent him a message.

"I like this person very much because he smells good. Not just his brain."

Professor Scamander would probably appreciate your assessment...

Sean chuckled inwardly, then asked curiously, "Sir, what is this for?"

Newt strode up to him and set the suitcase he had placed nearby on the ground.

"Come on, I think you'll like this." He opened the suitcase and climbed straight inside.

Sean leaned over to look. A long ladder stretched downward inside the suitcase, and Newt had already reached the ground below and was waving at him.

Sean smiled despite himself and immediately followed Newt.

The moment he jumped down the ladder, his eyes widened.

Centered around a sprawling two-story workshop with passages leading in every direction were all kinds of terrain—desert, snowfields, woods, and more—where magical creatures wandered about at ease.

"Wow..." Sean breathed unconsciously. This was far more breathtaking than it had been in the movies.

Newt picked up two iron buckets and handed one to Sean.

"Come on. I have a feeling they'll like you." Newt led him outside.

Just as Newt had expected, although it was Sean's first time here, the magical creatures only hesitated briefly upon seeing him before accepting food from him.

More than that, some of the less dangerous magical creatures had already climbed onto Sean, just like Pickett.

By the time they left the wooded area, Sean had five Bowtruckles and two Tree-Monkey Frogs clinging to him. A silent Fwooper stood on his left shoulder, while a row of tiny Diricawls perched along his right.

There was even a Porlock hugging his leg.

Even though he had expected it, Newt still exclaimed in amazement, "Mr. Wallop, the speed at which you make friends with magical creatures is truly enviable. You were born to be a Magical Creature Master."

Sean smiled and spread his arms, letting the little creatures play along them. Though it was a little strenuous, his smile was especially radiant.

"I really do seem to be popular with them. Also, Professor, if you don't mind, you can call me Sean."

"Of course, Sean."

As they spoke, a roar came from the distance.

Newt shook his head helplessly. "Those two never stop... Sean, come on. I need to go break up a fight."