The Same Action, Different Results

Newt looked at Kyle but didn't say anything.

He doesn't mind having another assistant; he's just a little reluctant to admit he's getting old.

She's just an assistant; it's not like I haven't been one before. There's nothing to be averse to.

And thinking about it carefully, House-elf are actually easier to get along with. At least they are simple-minded, serious and meticulous when working, and almost never make mistakes.

Newt had already accepted this fact while Tina and Dobby were discussing their wages.

He was looking at Kyle for another reason.

"Dumbledore sent you your trunk a week ago," Newt said with a complicated expression. "To be honest, I kind of regret giving it to you."

Kyle's first year at school was wonderful. Although a dark wizard Oren emerged, it was merely an internal school issue, and life returned to normal the very day the matter was resolved.

But everything changed the following year after he gave the box to Kyle.

Before that year was even over, he saw Troll, Three-headed Dog, and Norwegian Ridgeback in Kyle's box... He even helped take care of the Troll and dragons for a while.

That was also the first time Newt directly experienced just how diverse the species in the Hogwarts Forbidden Forest were... They even had Three-headed Dog, a creature rarely seen even in Greece, a creature he himself had only seen twice.

Newt initially thought this was the limit.

After all, both the Norwegian Ridgeback and Three-headed Dog are Level 5X Fantastic Beasts, and it's impossible to find a more dangerous species in the Forbidden Forest.

To Newt's utter surprise, there was a Chamber of Secrets inside Hogwarts Castle.

Kyle not only found the place, but also brought back the Basilisk that had existed there for over a thousand years.

Newt was stunned after seeing the letter Dumbledore had written to him and the enormous, dark green monster in the box.

A thousand-year-old Basilisk... it's just outrageous to even think about.

Seeing Newt's strange look, Kyle scratched his head sheepishly. "It was just a coincidence. Mr. Salazar Slytherin insisted on giving it to me, and I couldn't refuse."

"Slytherin gave this to you?" Newt blinked in confusion; this wasn't in the letter Dumbledore had given him.

"But I heard that the Chamber of Secrets was reserved for the Heir of Slytherin."

"Maybe I am..." Kyle thought for a moment and said, "After all, my mother graduated from Slytherin."

"..."

Newt stared at Kyle without saying a word, as if he were meeting him for the first time.

Good grief, so you're really trying to force a connection, huh?

Feeling the conversation was going nowhere, Newt shook his head and, while Tina and Dobby were away from the box, led Kyle to a small hill.

"Dumbledore asked me to help the Basilisk find a new home."

Newt waved his wand, and the plants at the foot of the hill moved to the sides, revealing a huge cave.

The Basilisk was lying quietly inside, motionless.

"I know, he doesn't want the Basilisk to reappear in the castle in any form." Kyle stepped forward and touched the Basilisk's scales. "It will probably be staying with you for a while before I graduate."

"Even after you graduate is fine."

Newt chuckled and said, "I've never encountered a live Basilisk before, this is a good opportunity. Are you sure it won't wake up?"

"No." Kyle shook his head. "If no one summons it with Parseltongue, it can keep sleeping like this."

Newt took out his wand and gently tapped the Basilisk on its body.

A ball of orange light flickered twice and quickly dissipated.

"That's amazing," Newt said with interest. "Such a massive body, yet it expends less energy than the Bowtruckle after falling asleep... Is it the Basilisk's own ability? Or is it because of Salazar Slytherin?"

"It must be because of Slytherin," Kyle said uncertainly. "He's the one who taught me how to put the Basilisk to sleep."

My thoughts are exactly the opposite of yours...

Newt carefully examined the Basilisk's scales.

"Thirty years ago, when I was inside the pyramids, I accidentally discovered a dead Basilisk. I remember that it had eight fine lines on its scales."

"And the one you brought has ten."

Newt stood up and began pacing in place, muttering to himself, "These lines might represent their age, with one more appearing every hundred years... If that's the case, then that Basilisk must have been eight hundred years old."

It didn't receive any help from Salazar Slytherin, yet it still lived so long."

After circling around a few times, Newt took out a bottle of unknown potion and poured it on the Basilisk.

The grayish liquid was sticky and quickly began to solidify, turning into a thin, snake-skin-like substance.

Newt peeled it off, and Kyle noticed that the fine lines of the Basilisk's scales were clearly imprinted on it.

Afterward, the two left the cave, and the surrounding plants gathered again, covering the cave entrance.

"I originally planned to release the new version of ' Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ' next year, but now it seems that this timeframe can be brought forward considerably."

Oh, right, here you go.

After hesitating for a moment, Newt took out a box and handed it over.

That was a gift from Dumbledore, Kyle's box. Newt had kept it here after he moved the Basilisk out of it, and now it was time to return it to him.

Although this box had already brought him two surprises... or rather, frights, he figured it wouldn't be like that again.

Surely Hogwarts won't end up with another Gryffindor Chamber of Chamber of Secrets.

After all, there are only a few kinds of Fantastic Beasts that can live for hundreds or thousands of years, and none of them look like lions... Of course, there are no eagles or badgers either.

Moreover, after experiencing the Basilisk, Newt's ability to accept things has improved significantly. Even if Kyle brings back another 5X Fantastic Beasts... like Quintaped or Acromantula or something, he wouldn't be too surprised.

Even if it's Obscurus... well, let's forget about it.

"I've already fed Norbert for you."

"And I dare say, Dumbledore definitely didn't open it or look at it."

Kyle nodded; that was for sure.

Dumbledore preoccupied with other matters now; he has no time to worry about the chest.

In the past month, he has only appeared at the End-of-Year Feast a week ago; otherwise, he has hardly been at school.

Newt's expression was somewhat complicated as he watched Kyle receive the box.

Back then, he and his friends were fired for keeping Jarvey in the castle.

Now look at Kyle, raising Troll, Dragon, Basilisk... any one of those would be far more dangerous than Jarvey, right?

As a result, he was not only not expelled, but also became the first student to receive Hogwarts ' Special Award for Services to the School three consecutive years.

The contrast is too great.