On a small country road, Dumbledore and Eda walked side by side, chatting as they made their way to their destination. Dumbledore knew that Eda could Apparate, but since the distance was quite far, he hadn't asked her to do it alone.
The town they were in was picturesque, worthy of being described as a "scenic landscape." Eda asked, "Professor, where are we?"
"Dorset," Dumbledore replied. "My old friend lives here. He was once my student, and the textbook you'll be using next term was written by him."
"Newt Scamander?" Eda asked uncertainly. Mr. Scamander was the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which had been assigned as the textbook for the Care of Magical Creatures class next term.
"Yes," Dumbledore confirmed with a nod. "Newt once separated an Obscurus from its host. I believe he can offer us invaluable insight." Then, with a smile, he added, "Ah, we're here."
Before Eda stood a modest farm, complete with various livestock and poultry.
At first glance, it looked nothing like a wizard's home. Unlike the Burrow, which bore the unmistakable signs of magical construction, this house appeared entirely ordinary — just like something a Muggle might build.
Dumbledore led Eda through the farm without any obstacles. Every gate and door they passed opened on its own, welcoming them without hesitation.
But once they stepped inside the farmhouse, Eda quickly realized that the interior was far from what it seemed on the outside. It was far more intricate and magical than it appeared.
The living room was filled with items related to magical creatures, mostly books and photographs. Just as Eda was admiring the magical atmosphere of the room, three Kneazles suddenly darted out, giving her a fright.
Kneazles were highly intelligent creatures that occasionally attacked humans. However, once they grew fond of a wizard, they became exceptional companions. They also had a knack for detecting people of questionable character. But to own a Kneazle, one had to obtain a special license.
"Don't be afraid. Hoppy, Milly, and Mole are always very friendly," an elderly man with graying hair emerged from the basement, smiling kindly. "I was wondering when you two would arrive."
"We had a delightful meal on the way, which delayed us a little," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "This is Eda, whom I mentioned to you before."
"Hello, sir. I'm Esmeralda Twist," Eda stepped forward and shook Newt Scamander's hand. "I've read your book, and I'll be studying it in class this coming term."
Newt's handshake was brief and gentle, not because he disliked Eda, but simply because he wasn't comfortable with physical contact. "A very lovely young lady," Newt remarked, his expression softening. "Almost as lovely as Tina in her younger days."
"Haha. You wouldn't have said something like that when you were young," came a voice from the staircase.
Standing on the stairs was an older woman whose elegant features still hinted at the beauty of her youth. Eda could easily guess that this must be Tina, the very woman Newt had just mentioned.
It was also quite clear from Tina's remark that Newt Scamander held a rather modest standing in his own household.
"I did say it! I distinctly remember saying, 'Your eyes are like those of a salamander...'" Newt protested, shifting uncomfortably.
"Like a salamander" — perhaps only Newt Scamander would come up with such a compliment.
Ignoring Newt, Tina invited the three of them to sit down. She then brought out some tea and pastries, placing them on the table, but she didn't seem inclined to join their conversation. Instead, she took the three Kneazles upstairs with her.
"Newt, I already mentioned Eda's situation in my letter," Dumbledore said, setting down his teacup. "That's why I need your help."
"Could you tell me about what happened back then? Just whatever you remember," Newt asked Eda gently.
Eda tried to recall the memories she had long buried. That memory was filled with pain and despair. The surge of energy within her had caused unbearable agony, as though something inside her was trying to break free. The pain had consumed her, leaving nothing but violent, destructive energy in its wake — an insatiable desire for carnage.
"…I only remember that the energy felt like it was tearing me apart, trying to burst out of my body. Then I lost consciousness. I have no memory of what happened after that," Eda recounted, her voice calm but tinged with the weight of the past. She had come here to solve the problem, so there was no reason to hide the truth.
"Your suspicions aren't unfounded, Dumbledore. From what she described, it does indeed sound like an Obscurial — immense power, uncontrollable in moments of emotional turmoil. These characteristics are typical of an Obscurus," Newt said thoughtfully.
"But she doesn't seem like an Obscurial now. She's just a remarkably talented young witch," he added, his gaze warm. He sensed no threatening presence from Eda, nor did she evoke the oppressive aura that he had once felt from the Obscurial he encountered in the past.
There were probably only three people in the world who understood Obscurials and Obscurus energy the most — Albus Dumbledore, Gellert Grindelwald, and Newt Scamander. With two of them suspecting that Eda might be an Obscurial, it was impossible for her not to feel uneasy.
The power of an Obscurus was immense, enough to tempt anyone, enough to terrify the old Ministry of Magic into killing Obscurials on sight. But if that power couldn't be controlled, Eda would rather not have it at all.
She longed for strength because strength meant freedom. But if she became a slave to her own power, what freedom would she have left?
"Neither I nor the examinations at St. Mungo's found any trace of Obscurus energy in Eda," Dumbledore continued. "She is, by all means, a perfectly normal witch. That's why I suspect that she may have once had such power, but after that outburst, it somehow dissipated without explanation."
"Has there ever been a case like this before?" Eda asked.
Dumbledore and Newt both shook their heads.
An Obscurus and its host were bound together — one could not survive without the other. Only when the Obscurial died would the Obscurus gradually weaken and disappear.
Newt had once managed to separate an Obscurus from a young girl, but even then, she had ultimately perished, and her Obscurus faded away with her.
"I've read about Obscurus cases. Obscurials tend to experience extreme emotional states and can act out in terrifying ways, right?" Eda asked again. Obscurials and their Obscurus energy were notoriously volatile. While Eda knew there was a degree of instability within her own temperament, it was nowhere near the level of an uncontrollable explosive.
She had a feeling she might have already found her answer.
As the three of them spoke, a Bowtruckle peeked out from Newt's coat pocket. Newt gently calmed the little creature before turning to Eda and saying, "Generally speaking, that's true. Since an Obscurus is born from extreme emotional repression, Obscurials often resolve their problems in the most destructive ways."
"But you are not an extreme person, Eda," Dumbledore added. "While you can be reckless and impulsive at times, lacking caution, these are not signs of extremity. Haha~ You're someone who, even if sometimes slow to realize it, is capable of reflection and learning. You are not a being consumed by thoughts of destruction. Apart from the hardships of your childhood, you exhibit almost none of the typical traits of an Obscurial."
Eda's exceptional talent and strength were undeniable, but those weren't the reasons Dumbledore held her in such high regard.
What he valued most was her willingness to think, her unwavering sense of morality, and the kindness that remained in her heart.
"It seems we might not be able to find a definite answer," Newt said softly. "Or perhaps Dumbledore's theory is the closest we'll get to the truth. But don't worry too much. Although rare, an Obscurus can be controlled."
Dumbledore and Newt exchanged a glance, both thinking of the same person.
That individual had mastered the terrifying power of an Obscurus. The devastation he could cause with a single spell was something others could never match, even in a lifetime.
"Your magical control gives me great confidence," Dumbledore said, his tone warm and encouraging. "Even if there is still an Obscurus within you, I believe you can learn to master it. Hmm.. It seems that once the school year begins, you'll need some special instruction."
Unlike Dumbledore and Newt, who remained uncertain about their speculations, Eda had already found her answer.
The original Eda must have been an Obscurial. Under the weight of extreme emotional repression, her body provided the perfect environment for an Obscurus to form and thrive.
This dark force had coexisted with her unnoticed, until the year she turned ten. Unable to bear the overwhelming power of the Obscurus, the original Eda died. And with the death of its host, the Obscurus perished as well, losing the soil it needed to survive.
This likely explained why Eda now possessed magical power far beyond the ordinary. Her seamless transmigration had allowed her to inherit a part of the Obscurus's residual strength — a lingering legacy.
Dumbledore and Newt had likely considered the same possibility. However, they could not be as certain as Eda, because neither of them knew her greatest secret.
Visiting Newt Scamander had indeed eased the lingering fear in Eda's heart.
She was still herself. She was not some kind of monster.
Eda could continue to follow her plan, growing step by step, until she became a towering tree that no storm could shake.
After that, the three of them no longer spoke about the Obscurus. Newt enthusiastically shared his recent research on Fire Slugs, having just returned from Brazil.
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