Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

Rove Scamander stepped into the house, his short dark brown hair neatly combed. He looked strikingly similar to his grandfather, Newt Scamander, in his youth. His large ears and expressive eyes were almost identical to Newt's, though his darker skin tone hinted at countless days spent outdoors. He was now taller than David, much to the latter's dismay, and his lean but sturdy build suggested an active lifestyle.

Rove was currently attending Thunderbird House at Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States, the same house Tina Scamander had been sorted into during her school years. David, standing nearby, couldn't help but wonder what kind of miraculous feed Rove had consumed to grow so much taller since their last meeting.

"Rove!" David called out, tiptoeing slightly in an attempt to look taller. As Rove turned, David grinned. "Long time no see, brother!"

Rove's eyes twinkled mischievously as he reached out and pressed David's toes back to the ground with a hearty laugh. "Why don't you call me 'big brother' while you're at it?" he teased.

"Alright, fine," David quipped, chuckling. "Big brother, can you let me go now?"

The two burst into laughter, exchanging playful jabs as they reunited. Rove greeted Newt and Tina warmly, hugging them both before turning to John. "John," he said sincerely, "thank you for taking care of my grandparents."

John smiled, his expression soft. "It's my pleasure. Without them, I'd still be wandering aimlessly. They've given me a home."

The group gathered around the dining table for lunch, chatting and catching up. After the meal, Rove and David decided to explore the forest.

"Don't wander too far, you two!" Tina called after them, her voice filled with maternal concern.

"We won't, Grandma!" David replied, waving as they stepped beyond the garden fence and into the woods.

The edge of the forest felt alive with memories. Rove pointed to a tall tree not far ahead. "Do you remember that tree?" he asked with a grin. "This is where the elves strung you up when you were little. You cried so loudly we could hear you from the house!"

David flushed slightly but couldn't help laughing. "Yeah, well, I seem to recall you once getting stuck up there too. Except you couldn't even beat a house-elf in a duel."

Rove raised an eyebrow, pretending to be offended. "Do you ever forget anything?" he retorted. "With all that brainpower, maybe you should focus on something useful."

David smirked. "Useful, like memorizing embarrassing stories about you?"

The two fell into an easy rhythm, exchanging banter as they wandered deeper into the forest. At one point, David turned to Rove and asked, "When you cast the Levitation Charm, do you still accidentally say 's' instead of 'f'?"

"What? No!" Rove exclaimed, his voice rising indignantly. "Why would you even ask that? I'm an excellent student at Ilvermorny, thank you very much."

David shrugged, a sly smile playing on his lips. "Sure, excellent at making up stories, maybe."

Rove responded by playfully wrestling David to the ground. "Take it back!" he demanded, laughing.

"Alright, alright!" David cried out, gasping between fits of laughter. "You're the best, Rove. The absolute best!"

By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, the boys lay under a towering tree, gazing at the sky. The lights from the house twinkled in the distance, a warm beacon against the encroaching night.

"Rove," David began, his tone more serious, "have you noticed anything strange about the house lately? Like, why it's protected by the Fidelius Charm?"

Rove's expression turned thoughtful. "Mom mentioned it briefly before I came back. She said it might have to do with the R Organization."

David frowned. "The R Organization? What are they planning now?"

Rove nodded solemnly. "They've been more active lately. My parents have been working non-stop because of them. I haven't seen them in months."

David's mind raced. "We encountered them in Athens. There was a fight..."

"Grandpa wrote to us about that," Rove said. "But after that, my parents stopped sharing details. They think we're too young to handle it."

David sighed, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "If they're using the Fidelius Charm, it must be serious."

The two exchanged a look, a silent agreement passing between them. They didn't need to say it out loud to understand each other's thoughts. Their years of shared mischief had forged a bond of unspoken understanding.

That night, after the house had fallen silent, David crept out of his room. The dimly lit hallway stretched before him, the only illumination coming from two faintly glowing lights. Moments later, the door to Rove's room creaked open, and his cousin's head popped out.

Their eyes met, and they grinned. Whatever adventure awaited, they would face it together.