Harry Potter's : Fantastic Beasts Guide

David's gaze flickered, his mind flipping through the fresh memories he had just extracted. He studied the man before him, his expression calm, almost amused.

"Oh? You say you were forced?" David asked, tilting his head slightly.

The wizard, bound and trembling, nodded quickly. But then, as if realizing something too late, his eyes widened in horror.

"Wait… despite the Mind-Control enchantments?" David mused aloud, pointing his wand at the man.

"Smart," he added approvingly, his wand tip beginning to glow ominously.

"No, no, wait—!"

"Be a good man in your next life," David interrupted coldly. Before the wizard could plead further, the magic took effect. The ground beneath him softened as though liquefying, and his body began to sink.

Panic flashed in the man's eyes, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly. Tears glistened at the corners of his eyes as he struggled to move, but he was powerless. His fate was sealed.

David shook his head. "Crocodile tears," he muttered before increasing the magical energy. The man sank faster.

Moments later, the ground solidified once more, erasing any trace of what had transpired.

Anna, who had remained silent throughout, finally spoke, her expression a mix of unease and restraint. "David?"

She hadn't intervened, trusting David's judgment, but now she needed an explanation. Killing a captive was one thing—burying him alive was another.

David turned to Jason instead. "He personally captured several of the children we found in those rooms. He volunteered for that job."

Jason's eyes darkened as he glared at the ground where the man had disappeared. "Bastard deserved worse."

He leaned closer to Anna and murmured something about the horrors they had witnessed inside the Arc de Triomphe. As he spoke, the reluctance on her face faded, replaced by pure disgust. She stomped her foot in anger. "Damn it."

Jason took a deep breath and turned to David. "Where to next?"

David rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "From what I saw in his memory, in three days, the werewolves will be gathering in the dense forest outside the city. Their leaders will be distributing rewards based on their performance."

Jason's eyes gleamed with interest. "Then let's go check it out."

David gave him a wary look. "That's a pack of werewolves. If they catch us, we won't be getting out in one piece."

Jason considered this for a moment. "What if we just observe from a distance? What if Mr. Scamander also got wind of it and shows up?"

David nodded slowly. "That's a good point. If we can capture one or two for interrogation, even better."

Still, a sense of unease gnawed at him. Normally, the werewolves received their rewards via messenger owls. This large-scale gathering was unusual. Was it simply a show of force, or was something more sinister at play?

David couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye.

The next morning, the trio discreetly returned to the Arc de Triomphe.

The bustling tourists were gone. The entire monument was cordoned off with official-looking municipal maintenance signs. Plainclothes wizards patrolled the area, their sharp eyes scanning for any intruders.

"Looks like Mr. Scamander won't be showing up," Jason whispered.

David nodded in agreement. If Newt had planned to come, he wouldn't get far—France had labeled him a wanted criminal. The moment he stepped foot here, he'd be surrounded and subdued.

"We should go before we draw attention." Without lingering, they turned and disappeared into the crowded streets of Paris.

Over the next two days, unable to find Newt or any new leads, they resigned themselves to waiting. David let Jason and Anna take charge of the itinerary, indulging in the city's renowned cuisine. But even as he enjoyed the food, his mind kept drifting back to the forest meeting. Something felt off.

Two days later, before dawn, the three of them set out for the designated meeting place—a dense, sprawling forest outside the city. They concealed themselves within the high branches of an ancient oak, their bodies hidden by a well-cast Disillusionment Charm.

Jason shifted uncomfortably on his perch. "David, you sure this is the right place?" he whispered.

David tapped the branch lightly. "Yeah."

Jason squinted at the landscape below. The sun had begun its descent, painting the sky in hues of red and gold, yet the clearing remained eerily empty. "You think they changed locations? It's almost time, and we haven't seen a single soul."

David frowned. He had been wondering the same thing. Was this a trap? Or was the meeting still set to happen, just at a later hour?

"I'll go check it out," he offered.

"Absolutely not," Jason protested. "We were told to keep an eye on you. If something happens to you, what are we supposed to tell Mr. Scamander?"

David rolled his eyes. "You two would only slow me down."

Seeing Jason's stubborn glare, he sighed. "Fine. But be extra cautious."

Jason grinned. "Don't worry. I've got plenty of combat experience."

The words had barely left his mouth when he slid down the trunk—and promptly stepped on a hidden branch. With a loud crack, he stumbled forward, landing on the ground with a resounding thud. Leaves fluttered into the air, and the birds in the trees above screeched in alarm, taking flight in a flurry of wings.

David stiffened, wand at the ready. Jason scrambled up, pressing his back against a tree, his muscles tense.

For a long moment, there was only silence.

Then, the forest stirred.

A rustling sound echoed through the trees.

Then another.

David's eyes narrowed. The stillness had been broken.

A flicker of movement.

Then—

Whoosh!

Curses shot through the air. Bright streaks of light illuminated the growing darkness.

"Ambush!" David hissed, his wand flashing as he sent Jason and Anna flying sideways, out of harm's way.

The enemy had been waiting for them.

Five or six spells rushed toward David, glowing with dangerous intensity.

David barely had time to react.