After stepping into Hagrid's hut, Fang immediately rushed forward with his usual enthusiasm, tail wagging wildly as he bounded toward Ryze. However, upon noticing the Demiguise clinging to Ryze's shoulders, Fang hesitated mid-step. With surprising awareness for a dog often described as cowardly, he diverted course and instead trotted over to Harry and the others, greeting them with eager affection.
Harry laughed softly and reached down to rub Fang's head, calming the oversized boarhound. Hagrid, meanwhile, casually tossed a few chunks of raw meat toward Fang before ushering him back outside.
"He's a bit of a coward, that one," Hagrid said with a chuckle. "What you're about to see would probably scare him senseless."
With that, Hagrid turned to introductions.
"This here is Professor Kettleburn, an old friend of mine. Known him for nearly fifty years now," Hagrid said proudly. "If you choose Care of Magical Creatures in your third year, he'll be your teacher."
Professor Kettleburn, who had been adjusting one of his prosthetic limbs, gave a warm smile as he finished securing it in place. With some effort, he straightened up and greeted the group. His movements were slightly stiff, but his demeanor was lively and welcoming.
"Pleasure to meet all of you," he said, glancing around at the gathered young wizards. He shook his head with a fond smile toward Hagrid. "Though, given my current condition, I suspect I've only got a year or two left before I retire. By the time you reach your third year, Hogwarts will likely have found someone else to take over."
Once both his prosthetic legs were firmly attached, he stretched slightly, testing his balance before shifting his gaze from Ryze to Harry, Hermione, and the rest of the students. Although the number of visitors tonight exceeded his expectations, his social finesse was clearly far better than Hagrid's.
"Hagrid told me that this year's intake includes quite a number of exceptional young witches and wizards," Kettleburn continued. "He also mentioned your shared interest in magical creatures. Unfortunately, due to your current year, you haven't yet had the opportunity to properly study them."
He tapped the trunk beside him with a light, deliberate motion.
"So, at Hagrid's rather enthusiastic insistence, I thought I might give you all a small preview—an early glimpse into the fascinating world of magical creatures before I officially retire."
His hand rested affectionately on the trunk.
"Inside this case are some old companions of mine—creatures I've cared for over many years. I hope they'll satisfy at least a bit of your curiosity."
Terry, who had been quietly observing the trunk, suddenly leaned forward, his eyes bright with realization.
"Professor… is this trunk enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm?"
Harry blinked in confusion, clearly unfamiliar with the term. He glanced around, hoping someone might explain.
Ron leaned closer and whispered, "It's a spell that makes the inside of something much bigger than it looks on the outside. My family uses it in a few places at home. Not exactly legal, though," he added, lowering his voice slightly.
Professor Kettleburn chuckled and nodded.
"Quite right. Ever since I had the privilege of seeing Newt Scamander's trunk—the one large enough to house an entire magical reserve—I couldn't resist attempting something similar myself," he admitted. "Of course, my skill doesn't quite match Mr. Scamander's. The space inside mine is only about the size of a sports field."
He paused, then added with a wry smile, "Even so, obtaining approval from the Ministry of Magic required no small amount of effort."
"Still," he continued thoughtfully, "there are advantages to having a smaller space. At the very least, I haven't been banned from entering dozens of magical governments like Mr. Scamander once was."
There was a curious hint of regret in his tone, as if part of him wouldn't have minded that level of notoriety.
Ryze couldn't help but notice it. In his mind, he suspected that if Kettleburn had truly possessed a trunk as vast as Newt's, he might have gladly accepted the inconvenience of being banned in exchange for the ability to house more creatures.
For the students, however, even the idea of fitting something as large as a sports field inside a simple trunk was astonishing. Their attention remained fixed on it, minds racing with possibilities. Some even wondered whether they might one day create something similar themselves.
Sensing their growing excitement, Professor Kettleburn clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention back to him.
"Alright, everyone," he said briskly. "Before we proceed, make sure all your protective gear is properly secured. Unless you'd like to end up like me, it's best to exercise caution."
He lightly tapped one of his prosthetic limbs as he spoke, making his point clear without needing further explanation.
The students quickly complied. Dragon-hide gloves were pulled on, protective goggles adjusted, and sturdy boots secured. Within moments, they were fully outfitted, ready for whatever awaited them.
Satisfied, Professor Kettleburn bent down and opened the trunk.
At first, there was only a faint tremor from within. Then, to everyone's amazement, a set of stairs revealed itself, descending into the trunk's interior.
Without hesitation, Kettleburn stepped forward and began his descent. One by one, the students followed, curiosity overriding any lingering hesitation.
Even Hagrid, whose enormous frame seemed far too large for the trunk, managed to slip inside with surprising ease. This alone deepened the students' fascination with the highly regulated magic at work.
"Merlin's beard…" Ron breathed as he reached the bottom. "Are we really inside a trunk?"
Beneath their feet stretched a field of soft, springy grass. Above them, a vast sky shimmered with countless stars, as if they had stepped into an entirely separate world.
Though Kettleburn had described the space as being roughly the size of a sports field, it felt far larger to those standing within it. The air itself seemed expansive, carrying a sense of openness that defied simple measurement.
Yet no one voiced their doubts. The wonder of the place spoke for itself.
"Let's begin with the gentler creatures," Professor Kettleburn announced.
He reached into his pocket and distributed small portions of food among the students. Then, placing two fingers to his lips, he gave a sharp whistle.
Moments later, movement stirred in the grass.
Several creatures emerged cautiously—long-necked beings with wide, expressive eyes and flat, webbed feet. Their movements were slow and deliberate, almost shy. Behind them rolled a small, round creature covered in soft, creamy-yellow fur. Not far behind waddled a plump, fluffy-feathered grey bird.
Rather than being frightened by the unfamiliar visitors, the creatures approached eagerly, drawn by the promise of food.
Hermione's eyes lit up with recognition.
"Mooncalves, Puffskeins, and… a Dodo? No, wait—it's a Diricawl," she corrected herself quickly. "These are all classified as XX-level magical creatures."
Professor Kettleburn smiled approvingly.
"It seems you've studied Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them quite thoroughly," he said. "If this were an official lesson, I'd award five points to your house."
Encouraged, the students began feeding the creatures. The Mooncalves nuzzled gently for food, their large eyes blinking slowly under the starlight. The Puffskeins bounced lightly across the grass, emitting soft, contented sounds. The Diricawl, though somewhat aloof, accepted food with dignified interest.
As they interacted with the creatures, Professor Kettleburn provided detailed explanations—far more nuanced than anything found in textbooks. He spoke of their habits, their temperaments, and the subtle differences in behavior that only years of experience could reveal.
Even Ryze, who had already studied extensively and heard many of Hagrid's stories, found himself learning new details. There was a depth to Kettleburn's knowledge that transformed simple facts into vivid understanding.
After carefully observing and interacting with each creature, Ryze mentally noted his progress. Including his previous encounters with Fluffy and the Demiguise, he had now reached five out of ten in his current task.
At this rate, completing the remaining five by the end of the night seemed entirely achievable.
Once everyone had their fill of the gentler creatures, Professor Kettleburn clapped his hands again, signaling a transition.
"Now then," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "Having met these harmless little darlings, we'll be moving into the restricted section."
A subtle tension entered the air.
"Tonight, I've brought along three XXX-classified creatures and three XXXX-classified ones," he continued. "And, if you're fortunate—or perhaps unfortunate—enough, you'll also get to see two XXXXX-classified specimens."
He smiled, though there was a glint of seriousness behind it.
"That should be more than enough to leave a lasting impression."
The students exchanged glances—some excited, others apprehensive—but none willing to back out.
The real lesson was about to begin.
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