81. Protection?

"How's it going?" Dumbledore and Newt took advantage of the heavy fog as they strolled down the street. 

"They still believe it was you who sent me to New York," Newt said helplessly.

"You said it wasn't me?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes." Newt paused and continued with a helpless tone, "Although it is indeed you."

Dumbledore glanced at him and smiled, further confirming Newt's suspicion. "You tell me how to find the Thunderbird that was traded. You know very well that I will take it home, and I can only use the method of numb claws."

Still smiling, Dumbledore neither admitted nor denied, showing no proactive behavior, refusal, or responsibility.

The man known as 'The Great Dumbledore' is truly a scumbag!

He is still a scumbag who specializes in deceiving men!

"I have always felt a kinship with the great magical birds. There is a family story: whenever a Dumbledore family member is in urgent need, the phoenix will come. It is said that my great-grandfather had one. Later, after he died, the phoenix was gone. Fly away and never come back," Dumbledore seemed to be talking about something irrelevant.

Newt was not led astray. "Professor, I don't believe this is the reason why you told me about Thunderbirds."

Dumbledore suddenly became aware of the Watcher chasing after him again.

To be honest, with Dumbledore's strength, evading the tracker was like a child's playhouse.

He grabbed Newt and disapparated, leaving the pursuer behind.

Apparition can be tracked, just like a car passing by leaves tire marks.

But obviously, the Ministry of Magic's monitors were powerless when it came to Dumbledore's Apparition.

The monitor watched the two people disappear and clenched his fists angrily before turning around to leave.

Unnoticed to the monitor, Dumbledore and Newt watched him leave from the bus just ten meters away.

"Tell me about your ban. Are they going to refuse to lift it because I sent you to New York?" Dumbledore crossed his legs and leaned back on the seat with his elbows.

"No, I have to tell you this even if you don't ask," Newt's face was solemn, not dwelling on the past.

"Oh? Does it look any different?"

"Yes, I met Grimmson at the Ministry of Magic. They hired him to find a boy named Credence..." Newt noticed Dumbledore's unchanged face and felt strange. "You...seem to have known it for a long time."

"Well...it's been quite a while."

"When did you know that?"

"About...three months ago?" Dumbledore shrugged. "I am getting older, and my memory is a bit bad."

"Aren't you going to do something?" Newt stared at him.

Dumbledore smiled and returned the favor. "Aren't you going to do something?"Newt shook his head, feeling a bit confused. "I don't know..." He relayed to Dumbledore what Theseus had told him at the Ministry of Magic.

Then he added, "I'm not exactly certain, but I don't have any reason to dispute it. So what should I do? Should I find the boy and send him to the Ministry of Magic? I don't trust them."

Newt glanced at Dumbledore and suddenly had an idea. "Hmm... I think I could send him to Hogwarts, to you."

Dumbledore was taken aback.

Dumbledore tried to calm the eager Newt. "No, Newt. I want you to find him, but not to bring him back. I've already been there. I offered to bring him back, but he refused."

"What? Have you found Credence?" Newt was stunned.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Perhaps we should call him by his real name, Aurelius Aurelius Dumbledore."

"Wait... Dumbledore?!" Newt stood up in surprise, hitting his head on the car roof and letting out a cry of pain.

"Sit down, Newt. Don't be shocked," Dumbledore said with a smile. "He is indeed my family."

"This... this is unbelievable! Professor, when did you get married? You have a child who's living in an orphanage in New York?" Newt asked, covering his head.

Why does everyone think Aurelius is their son?

Dumbledore shook his head and answered, "No, he is my brother's child. But due to some circumstances, he was lost, and we all thought he was dead. Well, let's not dwell on it. I have a brother, so what's all the fuss about?"

"Credence is your nephew?"

"That's right."

"Professor! Grimmson is notorious for murdering people. According to statistics from the Ministry of Magic in various countries, he's responsible for dozens of deaths. The Ministry of Magic assigned him the mission of preventing Grindelwald from finding Credence. The easiest way for Grimmson would be to kill him before anyone else!" Newt stared at Dumbledore. "Your nephew could be in danger at any moment."

"I'm not worried about Grimmson I'm worried about Lord..."

"Grindelwald?"

"No, I'm worried about Aurelius."

Dumbledore snapped his fingers, and a delicate black card with gold inlay appeared in his hand.

As Newt looked at the mysterious characters on the card, he asked, "What is this?"

"This is an address, a safe house in Paris, belonging to a very old acquaintance of mine. It's protected by magic." Dumbledore handed the card to Newt.

Newt took the card, perplexed. "A safe house? Why should I use the 870th safe house in Paris?"

"Ah... I hope I won't need it, but sometimes things go wrong. It's good to have somewhere to go and enjoy a cup of tea."

"No, no, I mean... why should I go to Paris?" Newt waved his hand in protest.

"Because Aurelius is in Paris. I hope you can find him."

"Bring him back?"

"No, I hope you can protect him for a while."

 "Me? Protect?" Newt asked in surprise. "Professor, are you mistaken? That's a job for Theseus. I'm a magical animal scholar, not a bodyguard."

Dumbledore looked at him, appearing sincere. "Because I believe in you."

Newt remained unconvinced. Dumbledore's belief alone wasn't enough.

"But...I can't lift the travel ban. If I leave the country, I'll end up in Azkaban," Newt explained, feeling frustrated.

Dumbledore smiled at him and said, "Do you know why I admire you?"

"Why?" Newt was taken aback. As an introverted and undervalued magical zoologist, he had never received such praise.

He always felt overshadowed by his accomplished brother, who adhered to conventional norms. Yet here was the legendary Dumbledore, claiming to admire him.