Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Hello, Newt Scamander
London, Gatwick Airport, Southwest.
Although not as famous as Heathrow Airport, Gatwick is also an international airport with comprehensive facilities, offering a wide range of shopping and dining options for travelers, including various shops, restaurants, and bars.
In the waiting area, Ino sat empty-handed on a standard bench, quietly awaiting his flight to the United States.
Two days ago, he received a reply from Dumbledore, along with a phoenix tail feather.
The letter informed him that Newt was not, as in the original story, living in seclusion in Dorset, but rather residing in a small town in Massachusetts, only three hundred miles from Ilvermorny.
Appearing at the airport was a careful decision made after understanding the processes of the Ministry of Magic.
Not only is the British Ministry of Magic's process for traveling abroad complex, but the American process is even more cumbersome. It's said that wizards traveling from London undergo thorough inspections, almost to the point of personal checks, especially if carrying luggage, which is scanned and registered repeatedly.
Rather than being treated like a monkey on display, taking a plane seemed more convenient. If it weren't to save time, he might have flown across the Atlantic himself.
...
Time quietly passed.
After passing security and successfully boarding, Ino sat in his seat and began to rest with his eyes closed.
He was somewhat looking forward to meeting Newt, not for any other reason than to have a phoenix that could travel the world.
Apparition had too many restrictions: too far a distance wouldn't work, unfamiliar places wouldn't work, and it couldn't be used during combat.
Thus, owning a phoenix would offer countless hidden conveniences.
Ino pretended to sleep, not paying attention to anything else.
...
Massachusetts, USA.
In the town of Amherst, located in the western part of Pioneer Valley, in an ordinary small estate.
Newt smiled and greeted the red figure that suddenly appeared beside him: "Long time no see, Fawkes."
This was Dumbledore's phoenix, and many years ago, Newt had become friends with it through his own talents.
Upon hearing the greeting, Fawkes nodded anthropomorphically and then placed the letter it was holding on Newt's lap.
"It seems someone doesn't want me to have a peaceful life again!"
Though complaining, Newt still opened the envelope immediately.
At the same time.
After getting off the plane, Ino handed an address to the taxi driver in front of him.
"Sir! Please take me to this place."
"Brit?" The driver glanced at the address and then started chatting.
"Are you here for tourism? Compared to Amherst, I'd recommend Rockport, where not only is the scenery beautiful, but it also has the famous lobsters..."
It seems that taxi drivers have a knack for chatting. Ino remained as silent as possible, but during the nearly hour-long drive, the driver managed to cover topics from Washington to Lincoln.
The car stopped in front of a small estate.
Though the car had stopped, the driver continued talking: "A wasteland? You're coming here? Never mind, here's my card. Call me when you need a ride back, and we can chat about Roosevelt and how he saved the collapsing economy..."
"That's enough, sir." Ino cut off the topic, decisively paid, and got out of the car without hesitation.
To the taxi driver, it might be a wasteland, but to Ino, it was a delicate small estate, with lush trees and vibrant life inside.
After the taxi drove away, he didn't go to knock on the door immediately but chose to enter the roadside bushes.
When he came out again, he had an antique suitcase in his hand, ready to take this opportunity to inquire about raising Acromantula.
...
Outside the small estate.
Just as Ino raised his hand to knock, the door automatically opened.
In his moment of surprise, something soft touched his hand. Looking down, he saw a lion-like tail gently brushing against the back of his hand.
It was a Kneazle, nearly two feet long, with ginger fur and large ears.
At this moment, it was wagging its tail and meowing crisply, seemingly asking what the matter was.
Alright, this is very Newt. Ino chuckled and squatted down: "I'm here to visit Mr. Scamander, introduced by Dumbledore."
The soft touch came again as the Kneazle wagged its tail and walked gracefully ahead.
As if worried Ino might not understand its intentions, it turned back after a few steps to check before continuing forward, ensuring Ino was following.
After about three or four minutes, through a lush green lawn.
Ino saw the person he was visiting, the previous protagonist, nearly ninety years old, with white hair and beard, Newt Scamander.
Newt also seemed to notice Ino's arrival, leisurely stood up from his chair, and walked over, followed by two other beautiful Kneazles.
"Good morning, Mr. Scamander! Sorry for the abrupt visit. I'm a Hogwarts student, Ino Swinburne!"
While speaking, Ino took out the phoenix tail feather from his pocket.
"Come sit, no need to be formal! Dumbledore has already written to me about you." Newt responded with a smile.
Dressed in a blue robe and carrying an antique suitcase, this familiar attire made Ino nostalgic.
On the lawn.
As soon as Ino sat down, a drink resembling orange juice appeared on the chair next to him.
"I know why you're here, but Dumbledore didn't tell me what you wanted to learn. But I guess it's not about the dangerous creatures in the suitcase, as they are all very tame with me!"
It seemed that after staying in America for a long time, Newt had shed his naturally reserved demeanor and even made a small joke.
"Mr. Scamander, I'd like to learn about phoenixes!"
Ino got straight to the point. Seeing Newt listening attentively, he continued:
"From my limited understanding, phoenixes are magical creatures that do not reproduce through normal means. This makes me curious about where the first phoenix came from."
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