This is Newt's autographed book!

Outside the Quidditch field.

Today's Quidditch Match is between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

The young wizards were gathering in twos and threes toward the competition venue.

"Lucien, Malfoy is studying with us, isn't he...?"

Ron rubbed his hands together, exhaled a puff of white breath, and tentatively asked Lucien beside him.

I went to Hagrid's place for dinner a while ago, mainly to eat the Chinese food made by Lucien, but I was surprised to see Malfoy there too.

Ron and his friends were quite surprised; they never expected the annoying Malfoy to appear there.

What's even more unexpected is that Malfoy actually ended up taking extra classes with them later on!

"What, did his tutoring disturb you?"

"Um, no, it's quite quiet, but it's a little... not quite what I'm used to?"

Ron scratched his head. He disliked Malfoy, especially his arrogant attitude.

However, when he was getting extra lessons from Lucien, Malfoy behaved quite well, without any arrogant or domineering words or actions.

That's how it will be for at least the next few days.

Lucien shook his head, glancing at Quidditch not far away and the distant mountains.

It's getting colder and colder here since November.

The mountains were covered with a layer of ice and snow.

The young wizards also put on gloves and scarves, wrapping themselves up tightly.

"As long as it doesn't affect your studies, that's fine. Prepare well; I've prepared an exam for you all at the end of the semester."

Ron didn't react much to Lucien's words.

Hermione's eyes lit up immediately, and she asked proactively:

"Lucien, what knowledge will be tested?"

"We'll test everything—charms, potions, Transfiguration, and the History of Magic —all the first-year subjects are covered. It'll be fairer to you all."

"Yes, there will be written questions and magic practice questions. I'll also add some bonus questions from different sections."

Lucien adjusted his Ravenclaw's starry blue scarf, pulled a book out of his pocket, and waved it in front of Ron and Hermione.

This is the reward for the student with the highest score on the final exam.

Ron saw the book title clearly.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them? Although we'll be using it as a textbook later, this..."

Understanding what Ron meant, Lucien simply tossed the book to him.

"Look at the first page."

Ron was a little confused. Aren't all books the same? This one was no different from the one he borrowed from Percy; the cover and packaging were just the standard Flourish and Blotts design.

But he still opened the cover, and Ron's gaze fell on the preface and the signature above it.

"Newt Scamander..."

Newt Scamander!

Ron exclaimed in surprise, drawing glances from the surrounding young wizards.

No one understood why this person was suddenly shouting. Isn't Newt Scamander a household name as a Magical Creatures expert? Why would he yell like that?

To get this excited over a book, is it Newt's new work?

Ron quickly covered his mouth and tightly closed the book.

After a few seconds, he carefully peeled it off again and glanced at the signature as if to confirm.

Ron suddenly remembered that there was a collector's edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, displayed in a glass case and signed by Newt himself, at Flourish and Blotts.

That thing was said to be not for sale, so why did Ron have such a strong impression of that book?

Once, when I accompanied my brothers to a bookstore, I overheard someone offering a price to buy that autographed book.

But the shop owner insisted on not selling, and the final price offered was already...

Ron just remembered that it should have been enough pocket money for him for hundreds of years, if he could live that long.

The main problem is that very few signed copies of Newt Scamander's books have been released; they only appear when a new book is published.

I've never heard of this Magical Creatures expert ever showing up for autograph sessions.

"Hermione, Hermione, look! This, this looks real!"

Ron patted Hermione's shoulder excitedly, but she brushed his hand away in disgust and said helplessly:

"Hmm, the handwriting here looks a lot like the collector's edition from Flourish and Blotts."

"Newt Scamander is a very famous and important figure, but his signature..."

"Shh!"

Upon hearing Hermione's words, Ron quickly shushed her and looked around to make sure no one was paying attention.

Ron lowered his voice and said:

"Oh dear, you're new to magic, you don't understand this."

"Very few books signed by that person have been released; very, very few."

"Newt never holds any book signings, unlike Gilderoy Lockhart, who signs hundreds of books a week. Pshaw, I don't know why so many people like him..."

Ignoring Hermione's reaction, Ron looked at Lucien with shining eyes:

"This, this should be real, right?"

Ron's voice even trembled slightly; he knew Lucien wasn't the type to play pranks.

But I still can't believe it.

That's Newt Scamander!

He is the world's greatest Magizoology, and * Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them * is one of the best-selling books in the Wizarding World!

Ron couldn't even imagine what it would be like to have this signed book...

Upon hearing Ron's question, Lucien smiled slightly.

"Hehe, do you remember our chat on Halloween Eve?"

Ron racked his brains and finally recalled some things:

"... The letter was sent to me by Newt Scamander..."

Ron's eyes widened and his mouth gaped open.

"Really, really, you're in contact with that person?"

Lucien nodded.

"I told you, but you didn't believe me."

Not only was Ron unsettled, but Hermione was also surprised.

"Lucien, how did you manage to contact him in person? I thought you bought this book."

Hermione was new to magic, and even with a lot of knowledge, she only had a general idea of the famous figures in the Wizarding World.

At first, she really didn't understand what a copy of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" signed by Newt meant.

Then, considering that Lucien seemed to have plenty of money, he assumed that Lucien had bought it with his own money.

The result was that I could correspond directly with that person!

Hermione was well aware of how outrageous it was to have connections with such a famous and important person.

In the Muggle world, this is as surprising as Lucien saying he had afternoon tea with Audrey Hepburn.

"Then, so this book is really for me?"

Ron's face flushed with excitement, completely unlike someone in the cold wind, as he asked incredulously.

Because he also remembered that last time he jokingly asked Lucien if he could get a book autographed by Newt.

I can't believe it actually came true!

Lucien glanced at Ron, and a slight smile played on his lips.

"You scored over 90 on your last monthly exam?"

That was like a bucket of cold water poured directly over Ron's head, especially in this kind of weather.

Ron murmured, his lips trembling, "..."

"Almost there, almost there, seventy-nine is almost ninety..."

"But what if the final exam score is the highest..."

Ron glanced furtively at Hermione; when it came to scoring points, who could beat her?

This is excluding Lucien himself, of course.

Understanding Ron's little scheme, Lucien chuckled and pulled another book from his pocket.

That one was for an excellence award, this one is for an improvement award.

"Besides the first place winner, there's also one student who made the most progress."

Upon hearing this, Ron immediately perked up.

Then there's still hope!

If that's the case, his only competitors are Harry, and... well, Malfoy.

The odds of winning are very high!

Now Ron has completely forgotten about the idea of studying with Malfoy.

He wants to learn, he wants to improve!

Lucien nodded almost imperceptibly. Studying diligently is the right thing to do.

"Alright, give me the book."

Let's look forward to Harry's Quidditch performance.