Muggled

6. The Merpeople

Silvanus needed to check on the creatures in the Forbidden Forest, so he only gave Newt brief instructions and left him on his own.

The problem with the merpeople is that even though they can breathe above water, yet their language – Mermish – can be understood only underneath it. Newt had several encounters with the merpeople and he could tell that, similar to centaurs, their attitude towards wizards was rather unstable.

When Newt arrived to the Black Lake, he took off his coat and hid the case underneath it by the nearby tree. Approaching the water, he played a sweet melody on a pan flute, which he carried. The music ought to catch the attention of selkies – merpeople species that inhabited the Black Lake. Water was a bit too cold for swimming. Mr. Scamander jumped into the lake anyway. Bubble-Head spell allowed him to breathe underwater. He dived deeper and deeper. Just deep enough to spot a mermaid-like silhouettes emerging from the bottom.

Even though the selkies possessed the half-fish body, their appearance wasn't as alluring as that of mermaids, which were often romanticized by muggles. Selkie's skin was grey, eyes yellow and sharp. Their hair, instead of being smooth and shiny, was lush and of a dark green colour. Besides carrying tridents, Selkies also domesticated lobalugs - small creatures which were capable of squirting venom when in danger - and used them as alternative weapons against intruders.

"What do you want?" one of the selkies hissed at him pointing the weapon.

"To help you." Newt replied.

"The one before you promised the same..." creature said in disgust.

"The one before me?"

"A wizard..."

Newt drew back. If some wizard broke selkies' trust, there is only a small chance that his words will change their mind.

"Kettleburn?" Scamander asked, imitating a man wearing an eye-patch.

"Silvanus has always been a friend..." selkie shook her head. "...the other one."

Newt was sure that apart from Kettleburn, there was nobody else at Hogwarts who would be in contact with selkies. The relationship between wizards and merpeople has been already shattered. They were not even represented in the Fountain of Magical Brethren at the Ministry of Magic. And now, an unknown wizard came to the Black Lake and took lobalugs away. The situation was fishy.

***

Dippet took out recent Daily Prophet and put it on his desk. Dumbledore stared at the front-page, which said that there was another Grindelwald attack in France. The incidents were becoming more and more violent.

Newt informed them about the unknown wizard who might be wondering around Hogwarts. Dippet sighed and folded the newspaper.

"It can't be him." Dumbledore said full of confidence.

"You don't know that, Albus." Headmaster replied. "We must be cautious."

"What do you suggest, then?" Dumbledore put his hands into pockets of his pants.

"Classes will be held strictly in the classrooms within the castle. No weekend trips to Hogsmeade." Headmaster emphasized. "At least until the creatures issue is resolved."

"More restrictions? The students are stressed out enough already!" Albus opposed.

"I rather call them precautions." Dippet said in a calm voice.

In case you're wondering what melody did Newt play, I put the video in the beginning :)

P.S.: I decided to write shorter chapters, so it's easier for you to follow the story. Enjoy :)