The Unexpected Advance of Magizoology

Grawp's newfound wisdom was entirely thanks to a potion he used, a rather unique item he traded for with a Red Puni who worked at an alchemist's workshop run by Sophie Neuenmüller.

The potion was originally reserved for other purposes, and its sole effect is to sharpen the wit while enhancing intellect and wisdom in an all-encompassing way, similar to Baruffio's Brain Elixir.

Except this one actually works and has its own limitations.

If someone like him or Flitwick took the potion, it would be like drinking a glass of plain water. Their minds were already developed to a level beyond the potion's effective reach, whereas for it to work, one needed to have the intellectual level of...

Well, Ron would get a great improvement!

Though, given recent events, anyone who went with Harry in that group could greatly benefit from this potion.

But if he could spend it on family, why not?

Oh, he considered giving it to his father, but the man was never stupid to begin with. He simply didn't finish his studies, was kind-hearted and somewhat scatterbrained, but to hybridize so many creatures, one can't be foolish at all…

The improvement would be minimal at best, so he saved it.

Shame the Red Puni never came back to visit. It would've been nice to negotiate an annual supply for the school and its students.

It was a bit exhausting using his shadow cocoon to bring Grawp to the Scamander estate, where Newt, upon seeing the giant's behavior and way of speaking, insisted that he stay as a temporary guest.

It was a unique opportunity to study the inner workings of giant tribes and their customs!

He'd tried a few times in the past, but they weren't very receptive to cooperating with a thorough and detailed study; they tended to hold their heads in confusion at his questions before grabbing the nearest club, which was the signal for him to leave.

Having an intelligent and cultured giant was simply an opportunity he couldn't pass up.

Besides, space was not an issue for Newt; in less than fifteen minutes, with Barnaby's help, Grawp had a room styled similarly to the interior of Hagrid's hut.

The real scare came later when Tina passed by, looking for her husband, and found him sitting on the giant's knee, asking questions like a child asking Santa for gifts.

When Barnaby saw Tina arrive, he quietly slipped away to avoid being part of the scolding that would surely erupt like a furious storm.

How glad he was to have been cautious when he heard Tina's shouts from the other side of the entrance door, sparing his ears from being destroyed.

Oh, he hadn't forgotten to tell Tonks that he now had an uncle... half-uncle?

He wasn't too sure about it either, but he'd call him uncle from now on.

He also mentioned the possibility of starting a mammoth dairy farm later on, wanting to hear his wife's opinion.

"An intelligent giant?" Tonks rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Future barbecues will cost an arm and a leg..."

"Look at it this way, we'll have a first-rate supply of milk, cheese, and mammoth wool. And when the time comes to sacrifice one, we can get mammoth leather and meat if we want."

"Just make sure he learns basic hygiene," Tonks reminded him, giving him a kiss. "I don't want my dairy products full of hair."

"Aye aye!" Barnaby joked. "By the way, did you hear about Umbridge?"

"Her ousting Dumbledore by Fudge's orders? Oh, of course," Tonks stretched lazily on the sofa. "I don't think anyone will ignore it by the end of the week. I've never been so glad I graduated before she showed up there. It'd be... wait, do you think she'll fire you all or something?" she asked, standing up worriedly and frowning as she met his gaze. "That woman's vindictive to no end."

"Let's just make sure my father's room is in order and clean, just in case," Barnaby remarked. "The exams are coming up, and I don't think Umbridge will have the energy for anything else. After all, it would look terrible if after her rise to power, the exam results were disastrous."

"Yeah, her ego would be shattered, how terrible~!" Tonks' sarcasm and mockery practically filled the room. "Mmm, do you think when the pink toad is forced to leave, Dumbledore will get his position back as headmaster?"

Barnaby frowned at that question, as he hadn't considered the possibility of the old man's return. Honestly, he thought he'd simply retire from Hogwarts and spend his days chasing Death Eaters and the like.

But after thinking it over...

"That's the most likely scenario," he answered with clear reluctance in his voice. "Until Voldemort dies, he does, or Harry ends up six feet under, I think he'll cling to that position as long as he can."

And with the professors on his side, anyone who has ambitions for the role is either completely delusional, has been deceived, or is very misinformed.

"Influencing future generations at the slightest opportunity, typical of Mr. 'Many Names' Dumbledore," Tonks commented as she approached Barnaby and snuggled up to him the way she liked. "Speaking of future generations… I think we should make an effort in his name," she hinted as her finger traced circles on her husband's chest.

Barnaby said nothing, lifted Tonks in a bridal carry, and hurried to their room in a flash, while Tonks let out an exaggerated scream of surprise that subtly conveyed certain expectations.

"Why do I feel like they've forgotten I'm here?" Calcifer said while still burning.

"Just let them be," Sanshi entered and sat down on the comfy rug beside the fire demon. "You're married to that flame atronach, don't you know about newlywed passion?"

"Please, I don't want to discuss my private life with a nyokai," Calcifer said disinterestedly. "You're so motherly I feel like I'm embarrassing myself in front of my own mom."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Sanshi smiled at the fire demon's remark.

"And you?" Calcifer changed to a topic he found more interesting. "Ever thought of falling in love?"

"I'm a nyokai, Calcifer," Sanshi replied, rolling her eyes. "You know enough about my kind to ask a question like that."

"True, I sometimes forget," Calcifer realized that, indeed, he'd asked a rather stupid question. "Should we start thinking about what they'll eat when they're done? They tend to have a ravenous appetite every time they come back down."

"Oh, I want to try the omurice recipe!" Sanshi leapt toward the pantry to get what she needed.

"I call dibs on the eggshells!" Calcifer shouted after her.