Nagini lay coiled in the cage, the figures of three people reflected in her yellow, slit-pupiled eyes.
Her tongue flicked out occasionally with a hiss, as though mocking the merciless passage of time.
"A... research project?"
Newt repeated Douglas's last words.
His usually evasive eyes were now fixed on Douglas, like a drowning man clutching a piece of driftwood.
"Douglas, are you serious? About... deconstructing the blood curse?"
"I never joke about things like this, especially serious academic matters."
Douglas set down his teacup.
He stood and straightened the hem of his trench coat, his face bearing the air of an educator.
"Actually, I've been researching it for a long time, but there's only so much I can do alone."
As Douglas spoke, he took a small leather suitcase from his pocket.
"Mrs. Tina, would you mind if I used this table? I may need the space on that rug, too."
Still immersed in sorrow, Tina paused at his words, then wiped the corners of her eyes and waved her wand.
"Scourgify. Move aside."
The tea things on the coffee table flew back to the kitchen on their own, and several armchairs obediently retreated, clearing a large space.
"Thank you."
Douglas walked into the middle of the cleared space, turned the suitcase upside down, and undid its clasps.
Crash-!
This time, what poured out was neither terrifying Fantastic Beasts nor fragrant ingredients.
It was books.
Books and parchment scrolls cascaded out like a landslide and a tsunami, instantly covering the entire rug.
They kept pouring out, finally forming a mountain of books that reached Douglas's knees.
Startled by this sudden "landslide of knowledge," Newt took a step back, nearly treading on Mo Le's tail behind him.
"What... what are these?"
Newt bent down and picked up a heavy tome that