The Legacy of the Magizoologist

Jamie found an empty compartment on the Hogwarts Express and settled in, his excitement mingled with a hint of nervousness. The small terrarium he had brought rested safely on the seat beside him, the magical plant inside gently glowing with a faint green hue.

As the train began to pick up speed, the door to the compartment slid open. A girl with bushy brown hair and an air of determination stepped in, followed closely by a shy-looking boy clutching a toad.

"Hello," the girl said brightly. "Do you mind if we sit here? Most of the other compartments are full."

Jamie shook his head, offering a welcoming smile. "Not at all."

The pair entered, the girl placing her bag neatly under the seat while the boy sat down carefully, his toad perched on his lap.

"I'm Hermione Granger," the girl said, extending a hand. "And this is Neville Longbottom."

Jamie shook her hand, then Neville's. "I'm Jamie Carter. Nice to meet you."

Hermione's eyes lit up as she noticed the terrarium beside Jamie. "Oh, is that a magical plant? It looks fascinating!"

Jamie nodded. "It's a Glowthorn. I've been taking care of it for a while now. It thrives in low light and helps with minor burns if you use its sap."

Hermione leaned closer, examining the plant with obvious interest. "That's amazing! You must know a lot about magical plants."

Neville, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "I like plants too. My gran has a huge greenhouse. What's it called again?" He looked at the terrarium with wide eyes.

"A Glowthorn," Jamie repeated, smiling. "Do you have a favorite plant, Neville?"

Neville brightened. "I really like Mimbulus mimbletonia. It's a bit tricky to take care of, but it's fascinating."

Jamie's grin widened. "I've always wanted to see one of those! Maybe you can show me sometime."

As the train sped through the countryside, the three quickly fell into easy conversation. Hermione told them how excited she was about starting Hogwarts, rattling off facts she had read in Hogwarts: A History.

"You're going to love the library," Hermione said, her enthusiasm infectious. "I hear it's the largest collection of magical books in Britain!"

Jamie chuckled. "I might spend half my time in the library, then. I've been helping Newt—Mr. Scamander—with his books and research. He's got some fascinating ones about magical creatures and plants."

"Wait," Hermione interrupted, her eyes widening. "You mean Newt Scamander? The Newt Scamander, who wrote Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?"

Jamie nodded, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, I've been living with him for a while. He's helped me a lot."

Hermione looked utterly starstruck. "That's incredible! He's one of the greatest magizoologists of all time!"

Neville, meanwhile, seemed more impressed by Jamie's knowledge of plants. "Do you think you'll take Herbology as one of your electives when the time comes?"

"Absolutely," Jamie replied. "And Potions, too. I've been experimenting with combining the two, like making healing potions with fresh ingredients."

Neville's admiration was clear. "That sounds brilliant."