As old Newt described it, Harley's expression grew stranger and stranger.
Newt also realized that something about what he was saying seemed off, and that he was making himself look worse with every word, taking the story in an increasingly unpredictable direction.
So he simply cleared his throat twice and decisively changed the subject.
Old Newt raised the black suitcase in his hand toward Harley.
"Harley, at Albus and Sirius's invitation, I've brought the dragon."
This was the plan Harley had come up with:
Sirius would invite Newt to visit Britain and, while he was there, lend Sirius a dragon for Harley and Pheobe to use as a practice opponent.
Since Sirius and Newt weren't particularly close, Professor Dumbledore's influence would be more effective, so naturally, Professor Dumbledore had to help write the letter.
And since Sirius was the one borrowing the dragon, Professor Dumbledore wouldn't be breaking any rules or helping his own Champion cheat.
After all, the rules didn't say that parents couldn't worry about their children and offer them help, nor did they say that parents were forbidden from using a dragon to give their children practical combat training.
Newt had agreed readily. He'd brought not only a dragon, but also his legendary suitcase.
"There are two dragons in the suitcase at the moment. One is a pure wild Norwegian Ridgeback. The poor thing was injured a while ago and is recovering in my care."
Newt introduced them to Harley, his voice full of warmth.
"The other dragon is a Romanian Longhorn, a poor thing I've been raising for a long time."
"When I found it, it had been separated from its mother and was on the verge of death. It was nearly starved to death."
"I'd only planned to raise it until it was old enough,