No one knew better than Kyle what it was like to face an adult Wampus Cat without a wand or any other form of magic. He had been in Dorset for a week now, and apart from eating and sleeping, he spent nearly every moment getting thoroughly pummeled by Natali.
The Wampus Cat’s piercing blue eyes could see directly into Kyle’s thoughts. No matter how he tried to hide, her paw would appear right in front of him—softly if he managed to block her Legilimency, or with enough force to send him flying if he failed. If she saw only blurs in his mind, he’d get a gentle tap, but if his mind was an open book, she’d mercilessly knock him into the lake.
The first few days, Kyle took more dives than he cared to count, his clothes perpetually soaked. But gradually, as he focused and improved, the incidents lessened, and after a week, when Natali’s paw struck him, it was light enough that he only stumbled before regaining his footing.
“Very good, Kyle,” Tina called encouragingly from the sidelines. She held a small Niffler in her arms, her tone firm. “Keep your mind free of those wandering thoughts. Don’t think about what’s coming next; just stay in the moment!”
Unlike Chris and Newt, who mostly left him to his own devices, Tina visited regularly. When she sensed Kyle’s focus wavering or his anxiety rising, she’d offer him gentle reminders. Hearing her now, Kyle turned and gave her a thumbs-up.
Natali, watching him from across the clearing, tilted her head, surprised. It seemed she hadn’t “seen” his reaction; otherwise, she’d have given him a sharp tap for letting his guard down.
Tina raised an eyebrow, noticing this subtle change. Later, when she returned to the house, she found Newt working over a bubbling cauldron.
“I think you can go ahead and write to Chris,” she said with a slight smile.
“So soon?” Newt looked up, clearly surprised. “It’s only been a week. Has he already managed to resist Natali’s Legilimency?”
“More or less,” Tina replied, setting the little Niffler down. “Natali’s no longer as relaxed as she was at the start—she’s moving faster now, and I’d say she’s mostly reacting by instinct rather than using Legilimency. Neither Kyle nor Natali has noticed it yet, but I believe he’s made enough progress.”
Wampus Cats were, after all, magical creatures with highly refined instincts. Even if Natali was no longer using Legilimency directly, her body was conditioned to behave as if she were, following vague impressions rather than specific thoughts.
“Dumbledore was right. Kyle’s a remarkably talented boy,” Newt remarked, standing and dusting off his robes. “I thought he’d need at least a couple of weeks. I’ll write to Chris and ask him to come pick Kyle up.”
Tina thought for a moment, then said, “Wait… are Chris and Diana planning anything over the next few days?”
Newt paused, considering. “I don’t think so. Chris mentioned he’d take Kyle shopping in Diagon Alley for his school supplies before term starts.”
“Well then, there’s no rush,” Tina said, smiling slightly. “Let’s let him stay a few extra days. It’s been ages since I’ve seen him.”
Newt scratched his head, puzzled. “Didn’t you just tell me to write the letter?”
Tina only shot him a knowing look.
Newt chuckled, relenting. “Alright, whatever you say.” He returned to his cauldron, adding a pinch of white powder to the mix. The liquid shifted to a light yellow, and wisps of pink smoke wafted out, filling the air with a sweet scent.
The little Niffler, who had been surreptitiously stuffing a silver spoon into his pocket, froze, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air. His eyes fixed on the cauldron, and he licked his lips, looking utterly captivated.
The Niffler glanced around, then waddled over to a nearby shelf, angling himself for a leap toward the cauldron. With a small hop, he launched himself forward.
But before he could reach the pot, Newt caught him mid-air. “Not so fast! Patience, now,” Newt scolded gently, giving the Niffler a soft pat. “And no hiding that spoon. Hand it over.”
The Niffler tried to cover his pockets with his front paws, attempting a quick getaway on his remaining three legs.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Newt said, holding the Niffler by his hind legs and giving his belly a gentle scratch. With a defeated jingling sound, several objects tumbled from the Niffler’s pocket: the silver spoon, three Knuts, a button, and a small whistle.
Newt blinked, chuckling in amusement at the pile of trinkets. He wasn’t quite sure when or where the little creature had managed to squirrel all those things away.
At dinner, Kyle dragged himself out of the box, visibly exhausted.
Tina handed him a towel. “How are you feeling?” she asked gently.
“Not so great,” Kyle admitted, wiping his face. “Honestly, I don’t feel any improvement from yesterday.”
“That’s perfectly normal,” Tina replied with a warm smile. “Occlumency can’t be rushed. You’ve been at it non-stop for a week; it’s a good idea to take a break.”
Kyle nodded in agreement. After days of relentless training, a change of pace sounded refreshing.
“How about baking cookies with me tomorrow?” Tina suggested. “We’ll start with that in the morning and practice Occlumency in the afternoon.”
“Sure,” Kyle agreed readily. Although he’d rather explore the other magical creatures in Newt’s sanctuary, baking cookies was a welcome distraction—as long as it didn’t involve Natali’s watchful eyes.
At that moment, Newt wandered over. “Do you think we could make them grapefruit-flavored?” he asked.
“Of course,” Tina replied, a bit taken aback. She hadn’t expected Newt to remember her grapefruit-flavored cookies from when they first moved to Dorset.
“Thanks,” Newt said as he washed his hands and sat down at the table, reaching for a slice of bread. “I remember Anairë loved grapefruit.”
Silence fell over the room. Tina’s smile vanished instantly.
“Oh, right…” she said in an uncharacteristically flat tone, setting down her spoon. “I just remembered—we’re out of grapefruit. Butter cookies it is.”
Newt blinked, confused. “But didn’t you just say—”
Tina snapped the spoon in her hand, her expression severe. “Let me be clear,” she said sharply. “We don’t have any grapefruit.”