READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 4: The Fire Crabs and the Three Headed Dog
The sun was setting over the sea, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. David stood on the beach, gazing at the horizon, his face clouded with sadness. His thoughts wandered to the day's events when a familiar voice broke his reverie.
"David, what are you doing here?"
Startled, David turned around to see his grandfather, Newt Scamander. Newt stood not far away, his tattered clothes and triumphant smile telling a tale of adventure and success. He carried a mysterious box, his expression beaming with satisfaction.
"Grandpa, what happened to you?" David asked, eyeing Newt's ragged state.
"Ah, I'll explain later. Just make sure you know what to tell your grandmother, alright?" Newt said, patting the box with a mischievous grin.
David nodded, already sensing the chaos Newt's escapade had caused.
As they returned to the cottage, Newt restored his clothes with a flick of his wand, hiding any evidence of his misadventure. "Tina, we're back!" he announced as they entered the house.
Tina Scamander, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen. She looked them over carefully, ensuring they were unscathed. "Did you catch the fire crab?" she asked, her tone serious.
Newt froze, his excitement momentarily dimmed as he realized he hadn't thought of an answer. But David stepped forward, pulling out the shimmering fire crab adorned with jewel-like markings.
"Caught it, Grandma. Isn't it beautiful?" he said smoothly.
Tina's face softened as she admired the creature. She patted David on the shoulder, praising him, and shot Newt a knowing glare. After dinner, Tina went for a walk with Newt, while David retreated to his room to study magical creatures from Newt's notes.
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Later that night, unable to sleep, David crept downstairs. He sneaked into the magical workshop and was greeted by an astonishing sight: a massive three-headed dog with gleaming black fur lay before him. Its body bore scars of old and fresh battles.
Newt knelt beside the creature, tending to its wounds with careful hands. A flute rested by his side.
"Grandpa, is this what you caught today?" David asked, startling Newt.
"You scared me, boy!" Newt grumbled, then smirked proudly. "Of course, I did!"
David raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "Grandpa, you're so cruel. Look at its injuries!"
"Ahem, Dumbledore did that!" Newt quickly deflected blame, fumbling to explain.
"Really?" David's skepticism was evident, but Newt pushed a medicine kit into his hands, insisting he take over. "It's a good learning opportunity!"
Grumbling, David began treating the wounds, wondering aloud why Professor Dumbledore had needed the three-headed dog. Newt admitted he didn't know, adding sheepishly, "I didn't ask."
"Grandpa, one day, someone might trick you into even worse trouble," David sighed, shaking his head.
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The following days were filled with healing and taming the three-headed dog. David grew attached to the creature, even as its three heads often bickered over food. He couldn't understand why the heads fought when all shared the same stomach.
Meanwhile, Newt worked tirelessly to train the dog. By the end of two weeks, the once-ferocious beast had become docile, at least toward David and Newt.
One afternoon, the peaceful routine was interrupted by a knock at the door. Tina's face darkened as she opened it to reveal Professor Dumbledore, standing there with his signature half-moon glasses and kind smile.
"Tina…" he began, but Tina cut him off with a cold glare.
"Don't even think about taking Newt on another one of your dangerous missions," she snapped, slamming the door shut.
Newt quickly interjected, assuring Tina that Dumbledore was only there to retrieve the three-headed dog. With a reluctant sigh, Tina allowed Dumbledore inside, though her eyes remained watchful.
Dumbledore placed a gift on the table for Tina, then followed Newt to the magical workshop to collect the creature. As the door closed behind them, David couldn't help but feel relieved. For now, his grandfather would be safe at home—at least until Dumbledore's next visit.
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In the weeks that followed, David continued to bond with the three-headed dog and learned more about magical creatures from Newt's notes. He marveled at his grandfather's bravery but vowed never to be as easily persuaded by others' schemes.
Newt, on the other hand, was already eyeing his next adventure. And somewhere in the house, Tina waited, ready to scold him if he even thought about leaving again.