It seemed the topic of Magical Creatures and life at Hogwarts had piqued the Nundu's interest. When Kyle got to the part about Fluffy, the three-headed dog, guarding the Philosopher's Stone for Dumbledore, the Nundu even let out a snort of disdain. Although she had no idea what a Philosopher's Stone or a Three-Headed Dog was, she felt confident she could do a better job than any "three-headed mutt." If guarding a room was all that was required, she'd simply release enough poison to fill the entire castle—problem solved. Simple.
While the Nundu's attention was on Kyle, Newt circled around her and began gently massaging her swollen belly. After about ten minutes, the Nundu shivered and then stood up abruptly. Beneath her was a tiny Nundu cub, wrapped in a layer of mucus. The newborn began wriggling, and soon the mucus that encased it shook loose. The mother Nundu lowered her head, licking her cub with a cautious, if overly enthusiastic, tenderness that flattened its tiny face in the process.
"Phew... Finally done!" Kyle sighed, feeling the strain of talking for so long. His throat was burning.
He looked back at Fawkes, who seemed to be eyeing him suspiciously, as though expecting him to ask for that pint of tears he'd "ordered." Needless to say, Fawkes simply swatted the idea away with a dismissive flap of his wings.
"Stingy..." Kyle muttered as he stood up.
"Don't get too comfortable; it's not over yet," Newt said, reminding him. "There should be one more."
Only then did Kyle notice that the Nundu's belly was still distended. Nearly an hour later, after a long wait and a third successful birth, the ordeal was finally over.
Newt wiped his brow, then gave a quick wave toward a distant spot on the grassland. A larger Nundu came bounding over, carrying a plump Tebo warthog leg in its mouth for the new mother.
"All three are healthy," Newt said, smiling as he set the cubs near their mother. Then, he quietly led Kyle away.
On the way back, Kyle kept glancing back at the newborn Nundus, his expression one of pure admiration.
"No, Kyle," Newt said sternly, catching the look in Kyle's eyes. "I know what you're thinking, and the answer is absolutely not."
Kyle sighed, caught red-handed. "I know, I know..." he mumbled, scratching his head. "I was just thinking about it, that's all. I wasn't actually going to do it."
Kyle understood the danger all too well. Even if he'd wanted to, the presence of the two adult Nundus made any attempt impossible.
Despite Kyle's reassurances, Newt picked up the pace slightly, as if he had a time bomb on his hands. By the time they emerged from the suitcase, the sky was already lightening with the first hints of dawn. They'd been at it all night.
Kyle was relatively unaffected, having grown used to late nights spent studying in the library. Newt, however, though well into his nineties, looked visibly drained. Still, his eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
"As I thought, calling you was the right choice," Newt said, closing the suitcase and handing Kyle a cup of hot chocolate. "Nundus typically only give birth to one or two cubs. Having three at once is rare and can be a severe strain, even life-threatening. Thanks to you keeping her distracted, the whole process went far more smoothly than expected."
"No, no, I just talked a bit—it wasn't a big deal," Kyle insisted, waving his hands. At only thirteen, he was not keen on being forever known as "the child who assisted in Nundu births."
Newt merely chuckled, giving him a look that implied he thought otherwise.
"Now, off to bed with you. You won't need to catch the train tomorrow—I'll take you directly to Hogwarts. As for your luggage, just ask Chris to send it over later."
"No need, I've got it all with me," Kyle replied. Before coming, he'd made sure to pack everything, including the box with his diary, into his suitcase to avoid arousing Fawkes's suspicion. It had ended up saving him some trouble.
"Good," Newt nodded, turning to leave. But after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned back, picked up the suitcase, and carried it off with him.
Kyle's smile faded. Really? Does he think I'm about to leap into the suitcase in the middle of the night?
Kyle shrugged, setting down his hot chocolate on the table and heading to his room. Newt and Tina had prepared a private room just for him, making it a comfortable place to finally get some well-earned rest.
Since he didn't need to catch the train, Kyle slept in until noon the next day. When he finally made his way to the dining area, he found the table laden with a feast: mountains of caramelized potato pancakes and stacks of thick steaks.
"Are we expecting company?" Kyle asked, puzzled. There was enough food here to feed an army, not just three people.
"No one else is coming," Tina said with a smile as she brought out a box. "You love hash browns, so I made extras for you to take to school."
"The steaks are for the Nundu," Newt added. "She needs plenty of food to regain her strength."
Kyle nodded and took a seat. Tina piled a stack of steaks onto his plate, stacking them so high it looked like a small tower. He didn't mind, though—he'd only had a potato pancake since the previous night, and he was starving.
After lunch, Newt took Kyle back to the grassland to deliver food to the Nundu family. The green mist had mostly cleared, though it still retained its deadly potency. There, on the same large rock, the Nundu and her cubs waited. The three little ones seemed to remember Kyle and showed no fear of him, eagerly gathering around his feet and tugging playfully at his trousers.
The two adult Nundus lounged against the rock, lazily watching Kyle entertain the cubs as they nibbled on the steaks Newt had brought. They seemed content and at ease, even indulging Kyle's playful interactions with their offspring.
It wasn't until the afternoon, when Kyle realized the Hogwarts train would soon be arriving, that he reluctantly said his goodbyes and prepared to leave. Norbert and the Troll had quietly helped Fawkes settle into his suitcase, hidden from view.
Dumbledore had indeed gone above and beyond. The suitcase now held seemingly endless space, far greater than before. Dumbledore had even enhanced the decor: the sparse area with a few trees had transformed into a lush forest, the lake had expanded significantly, and two new hills now bordered it. Additionally, he'd adjusted the climate—near the north side of the lake, a thick blanket of snow and ice covered the ground.