Veratia and Pabbie's First Clash (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader KLLEALL)

Gellert, with his Eyes of Prophecy, knew, of course, that this Unicorn Lady was the Hufflepuff girl he had seen.

His smile gradually turned wicked. As long as he could sabotage the relationship between his sister and Scarhead... well, the kind of relationship that shouldn't exist, he'd be willing to do anything, even scoop poop for the Niffler every day, let alone work for Scamander!

However, Pabbie noticed this increasingly wicked smile. Pabbie glanced at him, then at Veratia, his expression clearly saying, "How could you have such a brother?"

"I imagine Miss Sweeting must also love Magical Creatures, wouldn't you say?" Gellert tried to make his smile less like that of the Big Bad Wolf deceiving Little Red Riding Hood. He glanced at Newt and said to Pabbie with a smile, "I've heard that Mr. Scamander's mother, your sister, was quite fond of Hippogriff?"

Pabbie nodded and said, "Yes, I also really like Hippogriff."

But Pabbie never told anyone why he liked Hippogriff.

Because she and Harry truly became good friends after they rescued a Hippogriff.

But... Hippogriff?

Gellert smiled wickedly to himself.

I think you like Scarhead Spectacled Beast, right?

He looked at Harry again, his expression relaxed.

Before anyone knew it, Harry had acquired another nickname besides "Scarhead".

However, when it comes to choosing nicknames, Harry has rarely lost to anyone in his life.

Just then, Gellert noticed Mr. LeMay playing on the computer.

It should be said that after entering the room, Mr. LeMay was completely unaware of his arrival, as he was engrossed in playing on the computer.

"What is he doing?" Gellert asked curiously.

Newt explained to him, "Mr. LeMay seems to have found a way to improve the computer, making it a more suitable tool for wizards."

"Muggle stuff?" Gellert leaned closer with interest, the Eyes of Prophecy darting around in its socket.

He sat intently beside him, observing Mr. LeMay's actions, and seemed quite interested in the Muggle's technological products as well.

"So, what are you planning to do now?" Tina whispered to Newt. "Are you really going to accept Grindelwald and have him as your teaching assistant?"

"I trust Dumbledore's judgment," Newt said quietly. "Since he thinks Grindelwald is harmless, I have no reason to refuse—besides, if I don't agree, he'll always find a way to get me to accept."

Tina thought about it carefully and realized that it made perfect sense.

Wasn't Newt forced into this role by Dumbledore back then?

"Then you should keep an eye on him, lest his ideas poison the Hogwarts teenagers," Tina whispered a reminder. "As far as I know, the students are at that age where they're just beginning to understand the world, but not fully, thinking they've grasped the truth and forever filled with enthusiasm. What if—I mean, what if—he takes the opportunity to instill some ideas in them?"

"Probably not, Tina," Newt replied. "The current Hogwarts students aren't interested in that kind of thing; they're more concerned with what fun things they can do in their spare time."

"I don't think so, Newt," Tina said seriously. "So, as a former Auror, it is my duty to go to Hogwarts with you and keep a close eye on this cunning Grindelwald."

Newt turned around, beaming, and said, "It's so great, Tina, it's wonderful that you're here to help me—"

Tina smiled knowingly.

"Young Master Potter," Dico's voice rang out, carrying a pile of gifts in his arms, "Here are your letters and your Christmas present."

"Really?" Harry walked over and sat down next to Veratia on the sofa.

Dico placed all the gifts he was carrying in front of Harry, and Pabbie curiously came over as well.

"What gifts are there?" Pabbie's eyes lit up as she looked at the presents. "Is there anything delicious? Is there anything delicious?"

"Why are you only thinking about food?" Harry said helplessly as he reached out and opened a gift from Hermione.

There was also a note attached, Harry picked up and opened.

"It's Hermione's; there's a note she wrote here."

The note read, "Merry Christmas, Harry. Remember to give my regards to Veratia and me. Enclosed are Christmas present for both of you."

"This child..." Veratia seemed very happy, "Which portion is mine?"

"Looks like this is it." Harry pulled out a huge stack of magazines and newspapers. "Oh, look, these are some newspapers and magazines from 1922 to 1939. It's amazing she was able to find so many."

Veratia picked up a newspaper, glanced at it briefly, and said happily, "She really understands my needs. I like her."

"After all, she's very talented in her studies. Even Professor Snape affectionately calls her ' Miss Know-it-all '," Harry said with a chuckle.

Gellert's voice rang out at just the right moment.

"You really can't tell the difference between sarcasm and praise, can you, Potter?"

"Shut up, Niffler-Gellert (a slight alteration of Gellert's name)," Harry said, rolling his eyes.

"Niffler-Gellert?" Newt whispered, a "wow" look on his face. "My goodness, that nickname is really..."

While others may not know about the feud between Gellert and Niffler, Newt Scamander knows it all.

It should be said that Newt orchestrated the Niffler's theft of the Blood Pact.

After the incident was over, Newt even made a sharp comment about Gellert, saying that he "did not understand that the creatures he considered lowly actually had their own ways."

Tina said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "That title certainly suits him. Just think, what kind of creature could possibly rob his own sister's entire fortune?"

Harry and Veratia on the sofa were still unwrapping their gifts. Hagrid's gifts were products from Magical Creatures, such as the fur of Mooncalf, the Unicorn Hair, and even an ounce of Acromantula venom.

"I don't recall seeing any Acromantula in the Forbidden Forest," Veratia suddenly said. "In my memory, the spiders in the Forbidden Forest are only the native species."

"Oh, this must be Hagrid's dog."

Harry laughed and explained to Veratia the complicated history of Hagrid, the Acromantula, and Tom's feud, but Veratia didn't seem surprised.

Keeping dangerous animals at school is something she's done before, right here in the Room of Requirement.

A significant portion of the money in her vault came from these Magical Creatures.

"This ounce of venom shouldn't be from just one Acromantula." Veratia's eyes lit up. "I think we should go to the Forbidden Forest and search for it properly after School Opening. Acromantula aren't native to the area, so if there are more Acromantula, it means Hagrid must have gotten hold of other Acromantula."

"Given his personality, he must have found a mate for that Acromantula —you should know that spiders lay a huge number of eggs, and even if this started ten years ago, the number of spiders in the Forbidden Forest would be incalculable."

"But..." Harry hesitated, "Those spiders are Hagrid's friends, shouldn't we talk to him about it?"

"So many Acromantula are bound to disrupt the ecosystem of the Forbidden Forest." Veratia poked Harry's forehead with her index finger. "Are you stupid? This is a perfectly valid reason. We absolutely cannot stand by and watch the ecological balance of the Forbidden Forest be destroyed, don't you think, Professor Scamander?"

The last sentence was spoken by her when she looked up at Newt.

"You're right, Miss Grindelwald!" Newt agreed wholeheartedly. "If your analysis is correct, and there are indeed so many Acromantula in the Forbidden Forest, then we must control their population to a certain level... but..."

He suddenly changed the subject.

"I think we should prioritize not harming these spiders," Newt's compassion for Magical Creatures kicked in. "I think it would be best to find them a suitable place to live. What do you think, Miss Grindelwald?"

"Of course I agree!" Veratia looked at Newt approvingly. She had wanted to bring this up herself, but Newt had already come up with a reason for her.

Newt's idea was to find suitable habitats for these Acromantula whose numbers had been reduced, while Veratia's idea... was to keep these spiders in captivity and sustainably exploit them.

After all, the venom of the Acromantula is a hot commodity.

"Huh?" Harry suddenly remembered, "I remember Alfonso telling me that it especially liked to eat Acromantula, right?"

"Alfonso? Who's Alfonso?" Pabbie asked, shaking his head, his mouth unconsciously nuzzling against Harry's leg.

Veratia reached out and slapped Pabbie on the mouth.

Pabbie didn't say anything, but just looked at Harry with a wronged expression.

"Hey, why did you hit her?" Harry reached out and rubbed Pabbie's cheek, explaining to everyone, "Alfonso is that Basilisk kept by Slytherin. He told me he prefers eating Acromantula to beef."

Hearing Harry's words, Newt moved closer.

He was no longer the socially awkward person he used to be; instead, he looked at Harry with great interest, even glancing left and right, trying to find Harry's wallet.

"Yes, yes, you have a Basilisk! I remember you mentioning that—"

"The Basilisk's eyes can be deadly, Professor Scamander," Harry tried to remind Newt of this fact.

"Just call me Newt, Harry." Newt awkwardly tried to close the distance with Harry. "I suppose as the Basilisk's master, you should be able to order him not to harm others?"

Harry suddenly felt awkward.

"Actually, I lied to him. I said I was Ominis Gaunt, and that I was much stronger than that Half-blood Riddle in terms of bloodline... That's why the Basilisk obeyed me instead of that Tom Riddle."

"It's not really a lie, Harry," Pabbie said, shaking her head. "It's just a white lie, to keep an innocent Basilisk from being fooled by that cunning Riddle."

Ever since Pabbie was nearly bitten by Voldemort, he has harbored a grudge against the "cunning Riddle".

Moreover, she herself liked Magical Creatures, so she hated Voldemort even more.

"But that is indeed a problem, Harry," Veratia said softly. "The Basilisk's gaze is extremely dangerous. We can't let a Basilisk roam freely in the Forbidden Forest, even if you really are Ominis Gaunt.

Everyone present fell silent.

"Perhaps we should come up with a better way," Newt said reluctantly. "It would be a real shame to miss such a good opportunity to get close to the Basilisk and study it."

"What good idea do you have?" Theseus suddenly asked. "Are you suggesting we rely on your Magical Creatures trunk again?"

"No, perhaps we could ask Mr. LeMay," Newt said. "He should have some good ideas about the Basilisk's eyes."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Mr. LeMay's light, airy voice drifted over.

"Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it."

"Let's take it slow," Harry said helplessly.

They continued unwrapping their gifts. Harry opened the Wizard Chess set Ron had given him, which contained a note saying that he had gone to participate in the National Wizard Chess Tournament.

"The prize money is one hundred Galleon," the note said.

"Ron, a descendant of Gareth," Harry introduced to Veratia, "Well... he's also the one who and Hermione couldn't stand each other."

Veratia nodded in realization; that explained it to her.

"I remember Ron was really good at Wizard Chess. He beat me several games in a row on the grass by the Black Lake."

Pabbie rested her head on Harry's shoulder—perhaps because she was in her Unicorn form, or perhaps because she was surrounded by HarryPabbie Party, and she was incredibly bold.

"But you're just an amateur chess player, Pabbie." Harry put down the note. "Ron is competing in the national tournament, facing chess players from all over Britain. While I think he's quite good, he might not be up to par against the professionals."

This time, Veratia did not stop Pabbie's actions.

She simply leaned against Harry's arm without making a sound, resting her head on Harry other shoulder, and took a satisfied breath.

Harry turned to look at Veratia's now pale blonde hair and asked curiously, "You've lost your magic again?"

"Mmm~" Veratia replied with a nasal tone.

Perenelle, who was sitting not far away drinking tea, gave a meaningful smile and raised his teacup towards Veratia.

"Let me see."

Harry flipped down again. "Oh, this gift is for Miss Farley, the Slytherin Prefect."

Upon hearing the name "Miss Farley," Veratia instantly became alert.

She asked casually, "Miss Farley? Could you tell me about her?"

Miss Farley was writing her thesis at home, suddenly sneezed.

She reached up and rubbed her nose, feeling somewhat uneasy.

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(The first half of the extra chapter for Alliance Leader KLLEALL)