Humble & Wild

The Summer at the Scamander Cottage is like any other, Terra looked after her creatures, and restored their health once she returned from Hogwarts, Lulu was glued to her the minute she got home. As it turned out the reason why her creatures fell ill was because they felt lonely, similar to how an elephant would not eat when they are away from their family, after a few short days her creatures made a full recovery.

Terra did write to her friends, and got a response right away, but had not heard from Harry. She, Ron, and Hermione have been writing since the start of summer, and still no answer, no sight of the Snowy Owl Hedwig delivering a letter. She begin to think that Harry’s Uncle have been stopping him from getting the letters, one day when Archimedes returned from delivery a letter to Harry, checking to see if he had been attacked and show any injures, but nothing, it is a puzzle.

She writes to Hermione and Ron half way through the Summer break, and another go for Harry.    

===============

Dear Harry,

              Hope your summer is going alright? Have you been getting our letters? Has Ron invited you over to his house? I been asked but something came up with magical creatures under Dad’s care and he needed Rolf and I to help.

      Hope to hear from you soon, if not see you in Diagon Alley or the Hogwarts Express.

From Terra.

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Dear Hermione,

            How’s your Summer going? It’s been crazy here, Dad is getting ready to go to the US for a job in Arizona, helping out at the Thunderbirds Sanctuary with Grandfather, and Grandma will be spending time with Auntie Queenie & Uncle Jacob in New York. Still loads for him to sort out.

    And no, I've heard nothing from Harry too, I hope he’s okay, if you or Ron hear anything let me know.

       From Terra.

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Dear Ron,

             No, I've heard nothing from Harry too, I hope his okay, those Muggles where rude, and I've seen Cornish Pixies that behave better then Harry’s Uncle.

       Let me know if you hear anything.

From Terra.

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Not only two days later after sending the letters, Hedwig popped in with a letter from Harry, it explained that his Uncle locked up Hedwig in her cage the minute he got home, and he is now with the Weasley’s after Ron and his Twin Brothers Fred and George rescued him. She knew she didn’t like how that walrus face man treated his own nephew, even after she remembered how he would hardly talk about his Muggle relatives. But she put that thought aside at least he was back in the Wizardry world again.

At the start of the first week of August not long before her birthday Terra woke early one morning, after getting dress into three-quarter jeans, yellow shirt underneath a hoodie, putting her Wand in her pocket, brushed teeth and putting her brushed hair into her ponytail and Lulu on her shoulder, she made her way done stairs, the moment she entered the living-room having to catch something small with one hand from above, she caught a baby Niffler, the off spring from Oliver’s care. Terra looked up, seeing three more hanging from the ceiling light, the sun was shining on it, questioning how they got up there in the first place.

She draws her wand and points at the Nifflers.

“Wingardium Leviosa,” she said.

One by one each Niffler gently came down into Terra’s arm, once they nestled in her arm, she heads to the basement.

“Dad!” she called out, going down the narrow stairs.

The basement was as big as the Cottage, plenty of areas suited for each type of Creature, she spotted her father tending to the Mooncalves, putting eyedrops in the eyes.

“Dad the baby Nifflers got out again,” Terra said walking towards their den, filled with anything shiny.

“Oh, they must have snuck out when I was cleaning their beds,” Oliver said putting the bottle on his work desk. “Where were they this time?”

“On the living room ceiling light,” she said as she puts the babies in their den, giving each one a scratch on the back of their heads, calming them down long enough to close the cage door.

“Well now that the babes are back in, and with everyone fed, now let’s get our breakfast,” Oliver said, removing his gloves, and turning off his desk lamp, with a wave of his wand.

The two head upstairs, Oliver closed the basement door behind, and father and daughter head to the kitchen, the radio playing tunes, the kitchen window wide open for any incoming owl post, once they washed their and dried their hands, Oliver waved his wand again once he was near the stove, a fry pan appeared along with a couple of eggs and bacon, the sizzling sound filled the room. Terra opened the cupboard and got three plates, mugs, and sets of knife and forks, then headed to the fridge, the fridge was not running on electricity like the Muggles, a simple charm kept food and drink nicely chilled. She got out a jug of fresh goat milk, then got the butter plate, along with a leaf of kale for Lulu, the Bowtruckle’s diet is mostly insects, but they do have the occasional vegetables, kale was Lulu’s favourite.  

Setting the table, a big sourdough loaf came out of the oven and floated to the centre of the kitchen table, once the eggs and bacon where done, Oliver called out to his son telling him that breakfast is ready, then putting two of each on to the three plates, while Terra cut small bits of kale for Lu and placing it on a sauce dish with a thimble filled with water. Oliver placed the now empty frying pan near the sink, where it started to wash itself, Rolf entered the room, his bedhead hair messed up, still in his PJ’s.

“Morning,” He greeted tiredly.

“Morning Son,” said Oliver, cutting the loaf into slices.

“Morning Rolf,” said Terra pouring three mugs of tea from the pot.

“Knarl’s kept you up Rolf?” Oliver asked as he places the slices of bread on his children’s plates.

“Yeh, they kept me up till four in the morning,” Rolf say after letting out a yawn. “But they should be out of the habit before the start of term.”

Rolf got his OWL’s results not long after arriving home for Summer, he was happy with his results, getting O’s in Charms, Potions, DADA, Herbology and of course Care of Magical Creatures. Oliver throwed a small party with the family for his son.

“Well, they are babies,” Terra said, after having a gulp of her tea. “At least they sleep during the day.”

“Yeah, I’ll take a nap after dinner.”

A Barn Owl landed on Terra’s shoulder, it was Archimedes, and he had a letter in his mouth, Terra took the letter from her owl and gave him a bit of her bacon, before he flew out the kitchen window.

“Who’s the letter from Little Bow” Oliver asked.

“It’s from Harry, he and the Weasleys have their Hogwarts letters and wondering to meet up in Diagon Alley on Wednesday.”

Then two more owl’s landed on the kitchen windowsill, Oliver got up and paid them there Knuts and the where off, two letters where tied together, the written in emerald green addressed to his children and one address to himself.

“And speaking of Hogwarts here’s your letters kids,” he said handing them to his son and daughter. “And going on Wednesday sounds like a plan.

When they opened the letter, they looked at the supple list, and they were confused. Most of the books where authored by Gilderoy Lockhart, which made both of them groan in annoyance.

“Do we really have to get his books,” said Rolf.

“If it’s on the list then you have to get it,” said Oliver, after he read his letter. “I remember him from my school days, he was as big-headed git back then as he is now, if any of what he written is true, I’ll eat my head.”

The three laughed, Rolf looked back on his letter and there was something else in it, a small pin badge shield and on it read ‘Head boy’.

“Well done Rolf,” Terra congratulated.

“Atta boy son,” Oliver said, ruffling his son’s hair.

“Uh oh!”

“What?” Terra asked.

“When Percy finds out, he will not be too pleased about it,” said Rolf.

Terra could imagine the look on the Gryffindor boy when he finds out about this, know how he prides himself as a Prefect and been trying to be Head Boy for some time.

Wednesday arrived, the Scamanders used the Floo Powder ending up in the Leaky Cauldron Pub like last year, the Scamander children’s cloaks have the Hufflepuff crest, the street was packed, Oliver had to go to Gringotts to get more money, seeing how the books are more pricey then last year, Rolf had a little bit on him, so he and Terra started to shop ahead and said to meet up outside the Bank. They went to get ink, parchment and quills, Rolf used most of his last year, when they got out it got more crowded, properly the most crowded they have ever seen.

Trying to get through to the meeting point, Terra noticed two old shady looking Wizards and one of them was hiding something, but she heard something shuffling and chuffing, a noise she knows all too well, she didn’t know what came over her, but she followed them, and before she could change her mind and stay close to Rolf and wait for her dad, but too little too late. She was in an area that she has never been before, the streets was dirty, bit less crowded but enough to still dodge people passing by some looked at her darkly, she stuck out like a sore thumb, realizing that her bright colours under her cloak, not to mention the Hufflepuff Crest stands out like a moth to flame. She moved to narrow ally, and turns her clock inside out, and keeping her hand over her wand, but with luck, the alley that she went down is where she found the two wizards from Diagon Alley, where a third approach the two, staying in the shadows Terra listened in on them.

“You got it,” the third man hoarsely spat.

“Yeh, it wouldn’t stay still,” the second replied and pulled something from its cloak, that made Terra hide her gasp with hands.

(AN: Warning! Mention of Animal cruelty) 

It was a Niffler, brown and white furred, pink paws and muzzle, it had a collar around it’s chest attached to a short rusty chain, as the Niffler tried to get out of it, she could see that the collar was hurting it rubbing into its fur, the Wizard beating it with its wand, she looked away, but hearing the Niffler shrieks in pain, she had to stop her tears from falling.

“Well, the thing will dig up the Goblin treasure’s,” said the wizard holding the Niffler.

“Yeah this will do the job,” the second man grinned.

Terra had to think fast, then she noticed that a barrel of jet-black powder, not sure what it was but it was the best choice she got, she draws her wand and whispered.

“Bombarda.”

The barrel exploded, the powder covered the three wizards, making them cough badly as a huge black cloud blocked their sight, Terra took the chance, she rushed forward to the wizard holding the creature, coughing so much he had his guard down, and Terra grabbed the Niffler, and ran back the way she came. Her heart pounding in her chest when the wizards called out, she kept running till she found an even more narrow alley with very little light, she looked down on the Niffler in her arms, the poor thing looked up at her with worried eyes. She placed the Niffler on a wooden crate, and carefully removed the collar, the Niffler’s chest was red raw and bleeding slightly, she was going to use a wand to put a bandage around it but after what happen not too long ago, she stopped herself. Instead, she removes her cloak, unzipped her hoodie, and wrapped around the Niffler carefully, it did made a noise saying it was frightened, but calmed down in the dark, once she put her cloak on the right way she picked up the poor creature.

“You’ll be okay now,” she whispered, holding the wrapped-up creature hidden around her hoodie.

She did save a creature but now she had no idea how to get back to her Father and Brother. She carefully leaves the alley but bumped into someone, so hard that she and the person fell to the ground.

“Terra?”

She looked up, it was her friend the boy who lived.

“Harry?!” she said as he helps her up. “What are you doing here?”

“Uh, I-”

Before Terra could even explain herself, an old witch appeared behind Harry scaring the two.

“Not lost are you my dears?”

“We’re fine thank you,” said Harry, backing up, grabbing Terra’s arm bring her back too.

“Harry! Terr’!”

“Hagrid,” Harry and Terra said together.

Hagrid seized the two by the scruff of the necks and pulled them away from the witch, taking them along the twisted alleyway out into the bright sunlight, seeing the familiar snow-white marble building Gringotts, they were back in Diagon Alley.

“Yer a mess you two!” said Hagrid gruffly, brushing the soot off Harry, Terra quickly moved the other side of Hagrid so she would not get knocked into a barrel of dragon dung outside an apothecary’s unlike what Harry almost did. “Skulkin’ around Knockturn Alley, I dunno dodgy place, Harry don’ want no one ter see yeh down there”

“I realised that,” said Harry, ducking as Hagrid made to brush him off again. “I told you, I was lost, hang on why where you doing down there, anyway?”

“I was lookin’ fer a Flesh-Eaten’ Slug Repellent,” growled Hagrid. “They’re ruinin’ the school cabbages.”

“What about you Terra?” Harry asked.

“Uh well,”

“Terra Maria Leta Scamander!”

Up ahead, Oliver and Rolf hurried towards them, and Oliver was not happy.

“Oh no,” Terra mumble.

“Where in the world where you?” Oliver demanded.

“D-Dad I was.”

At that moment the Niffler she saved poke its head out of her hoodie, Harry, Hagrid, Rolf, and Oliver looked down at it.

“Does that answer your question?” she said shyly, hiding the Niffler under her hoodie again.

“Poor little thin,” Hagrid said, he must have noticed the Niffler’s injuries. “Wat’ happen?”

Before she could respond another voiced called out.

“Harry! Terra! Over here!”

It was Hermione, and before long the Weasley family appeared, just managing to getting out of trouble her father after explaining why she went to Knockturn Alley while the other went into the bank. Oliver looked over the injured Niffler, then says to keep the injured Niffler safe and hidden seeing how calm it is in his daughter’s arms. After the Weasleys, the Grangers and Harry got their money from Gringotts they all began their shopping, while going from shop to shop, Terra started to talk to Ginny, the Weasley’s youngest and only daughter, Terra soon noticed that Mrs Weasley was buying Ginny’s stuff second-hand, so she gives Ginny her copy of her Grandfather’s book, she always has the original copy back home, Mrs Weasley thanked Terra, they agreed to go to Flourish and Blotts last hoping the crowded street would die down, but it looks like the book shop is even more busy then the street is, why was the shop full of people, Terra found out when she saw the sign and groaned in disgust.

GILDEROY LOCKHART

Will be signing copies of his autobiography

MAGICAL ME

Today 12.30 – 4.30pm

She knew for one thing she was not going to waste time or ink on that so called wizard, no sir, just get the books, get out of the packed shop, and go home, but nope, Lockhart spotted Harry in the crowd after the man from the Daily Profet came to the front of the crowd, Lockhart grabbed Harry to bring him to stand beside him, nearly knocking Terra over but kept herself up right while still holding the Niffler in hiding. Lockhart then talked how well his new book ‘Magical Me’ was doing, Terra and Rolf where only paying half attention, in one ear and out the other, but when Lockhart broke the news of being the new Defence Against the Dark Art Teacher at Hogwarts brought them back into the room.

“He’s joking right?” Terra asked Rolf.

“I don’t think he is,” Rolf replied.

The crowd clapped, while Terra, Rolf, Oliver, and most of the Weasley boys did not, after Lockhart shoved his books into Harry’s arms and moved him to one side, shuffling his way back to his friends, Harry put the books into Ginny’s cauldron saying he’ll buy his own, Terra smiled at the kind gesture, Oliver says to his kids to go wait outside with the Weasley kids as the crowd move more close together that made Terra uncomfortable, so they head out as quickly as they can.

“Bet you loved that didn’t you Potter?” Malfoy showed up blocking there path. “Famous Harry Potter, can’t even go into a bookshop without making the front page.”

Terra glared at Malfoy; he is still the same little brat as last year.

“Leave him alone,” Ginny said stepping out into view.

“Look Potter, you got yourself a girlfriend.”

Then a cane with a sliver serpent’s head is placed onto Draco’s shoulder, Terra looked at the man standing behind the boy, tall with long Blonde hair, same colour as Draco’s.

“Now, now, Draco play nicely,” the man said moving the boy to one side, he looks at Harry. “Mr Potter, Lucius Malfoy,” he offers his hand out, “We meet at last.”

Harry excepts the hand shake from the older wizard, but the moment he did Malfoy pulled Harry closer.

“Forgive me,” he said as he uses the head of his cane to move the hair from Harry’s forehead to see the lightning scar. “Your scar is legend, as of course is the wizard who gave it to you.”

Terra’s insides turned cold; how dare he say such a thing in front of Harry.

“Voldemort killed my parents,” Harry replied, he retch himself from Lucius’s grip. “He was nothing more than a murderer.”

“Hmm, you must be very brave to mention his name, or very foolish.”

“Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself,” said Hermione.

“And you must be Miss Granger, yes Draco’s told me all about you and your parents, Muggles aren’t they?”

“So, what,” Terra spoke out, the others were surprised that she talked back at someone, she was surprised herself, Lucius looks at her, that at Rolf who put a hand on his little sister’s shoulder, stepping closer to her.

“And you are the Scamander’s children,” said Lucius. “Oh yes, you both have your mother’s eyes, and that’s seems that is all you inherit from her.”

Terra avoided his glare, her cheeks grew warm in embarrassment, he just had to mention her mother in front of her friends and his son, Rolf stared angerly at the man but said nothing.

“Let me see, red hair, vacant expressions, tatty second-hand book,” he said, looking at Ron and his siblings, then grabbing hold of one of Ginny’s books from her cauldron. “You must be the Weasleys.”

“Really Lucius, must you talk down to everyone,” Oliver said coming up from behind his children.

“Ah Oliver, long time no see, it would seems your career is not doing well, having to go to America what good will that do.”

“Clearly our lines of work are different, doesn’t mean we should help other countries,” Oliver replied holding his ground. “Each wizardry family has its way of helping out in the world.”

“Shame your ‘way of helping’, did not aid your wife,” Lucius retorted.

Oliver looked like he was holding back the urge to punch Malfoy Senior in the throat, but Terra knew that he would be in the wrong for striking first, even if this man just insulted his late wife, but he didn’t want to make a scene in front of the kids. However, that did not stop the fury in his eyes.

“Children its mad in here, let’s get outside,” Arthur said stepping into the group.

“Well, well, well, Weasley senior.”

“Lucius.”

“Busy time at the Ministry, Arthur, all those extra raids? I do hope they’re paying you overtime, but judging by the state of this, I’d say not. What’s the use in being a disgrace to the name of Wizard if they don’t even pay you well for it?”

“We have a very different idea about what disgraces the name of wizard, Malfoy.”

“Clearly, associating with muggles, and I thought your family could not sink no lower.”

The next thing they knew, Arthur dived at Lucius and a fight broke out, Oliver moved his kids and the other youngsters away, Hagrid appeared and split the two apart, Terra was glad to be out of the crowded area and away with the Malfoys, now she know where Draco gets his attitude from, thankful none of her friends asked what Lucius was talking about her mother, she thought it was because that Oliver became very quiet but Molly had a little chat with him that helped him, after saying their goodbyes, Hermione hugged Terra before following her parents, the Scamanders, Weasleys and Harry headed to the Leaky Cauldron to use the Floo Powder to get back home.    

Once back at the cottage, Terra started treating the Niffler, when Oliver came over to check on it, the Niffler started the shiver in fright and she crawled into Terra’s arms, the father and daughter knew that she preferred women over men. Terra wouldn’t have to guess after seeing how it’s last owner treated it, the thought of it made her sick. After examining the poor creature and dressing it’s injuries, Terra placed the Niffler in a little area with enough space to move around, two bowls for food and water and a cozy bed for it in her bedroom, she did not want to overwhelm her with the other creatures under Terra’s care.

After making sure the Niffler was cozied up in it’s bed, she left her room giving it space, and made her way down stairs to the living room with Lulu back on her shoulder.

“How is she?” Oliver asked from the settee.

“She is settled, poor thing looked so stressed but she’s asleep now,” Terra replied, sitting next to her dad. “Dad.”

“Yes.”

“I'm sorry for wondering off.”

“Well, your safe now, but for Helga’s Sake don’t do that again please.”

“I won’t.”

“But you did good today, you saved the poor thing from a horrible life, you’re a Scamander through and through Little Bow,” he said wrapping an arm around her bringing her into a hug.

Terra wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly, but a thought came back from today in the book shop.

“Dad are you okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, back at Flourish and Blotts.”

“Oh, don’t listen to what Lucius said, he does not know how much work goes into our jobs, he should have kept his nose out of it, he always does that, strutting around like he is some peacock.”

For the rest of the day, Terra focused on looking after her creatures before going to caring the female Niffler now named Susie, not long after having tea, bangers n mash, vegetables with Yorkshire puddings, drizzled with gravy. After the three Scamander’s where full, they sat down in the living room, Terra was drawing in her sketch book, Rolf was reading a book and Oliver was going over the paper work, an end to mostly tiring day, and just a few more weeks until the Scamander kids go back to Hogwarts.