Hogwarts: I Am Such a Model

Kyle frowned slightly. To be honest, he wasn't exactly thrilled about someone else teaching him a branch of magic as personal as Occlumency, especially if it involved exploring his mind and memories. He wouldn't want even Dumbledore involved in something that sensitive. In fact, most wizards felt the same way about Occlumency, and Kyle was sure Chris understood that.

But Chris's expression suggested he had great faith in this teacher. Kyle hesitated, not wanting to refuse outright. He decided he'd go see for himself first; if he didn't feel comfortable, he could always think of an excuse to bow out.

After some discussion, Chris had initially suggested they wait until Kyle's birthday celebration, but Kyle felt otherwise. Birthdays came every year, and he was far more curious about the identity of this Occlumency teacher. He wanted to confirm if this arrangement would work for him as soon as possible.

Since Kyle was so eager, Chris agreed without hesitation. They headed to an open area outside the house, where Chris extended his arm.

"We'll Disapparate there. Just grab my arm."

Taking a deep breath, Kyle clutched his father's outstretched arm.

"Let's go!"

With a loud crack, they both vanished, reappearing moments later in front of a charming wooden cabin with a red roof. The cozy little house, impeccably neat and surrounded by a low fence, looked warm and inviting. Outside stood an elderly couple, smiling in greeting.

"Grandpa Newt? Grandma Tina?" Kyle's eyes widened in surprise.

He hadn't expected Chris's teacher to be Newt and Tina Scamander. But if it was them, he could hardly ask for better.

"Kyle, aren't you here to learn Occlumency?" Tina Scamander said with a laugh, pinching his cheek gently. "What are you waiting for? Come on inside."

Tina led him into the cozy house, showering him with biscuits and freshly baked buns. Though he'd just finished breakfast, he couldn't resist and managed to eat quite a bit more.

Finally, feeling thoroughly full, Kyle rubbed his stomach and asked, "Grandma Tina, are you the one who'll be teaching me?"

Of everyone here, Tina had the most advanced Occlumency skills. Her younger sister Queenie was a natural Legilimens, and if Tina hadn't developed strong Occlumency, she'd have had no way to keep any secrets.

But Tina only smiled and shook her head. "I'll help you with the foundational theory, but after that, it's out of my hands."

"Not you?" Kyle looked confused, glancing over at Newt for clarification.

"Not me either, kid," Newt said with a smile, placing an open crate on the ground. "Come with me. I'll show you who."

Kyle's stomach tightened with apprehension as he eyed the crate. But Newt had already stepped inside, so Kyle followed.

The crate was astonishingly large on the inside, resembling a vast ecosystem of trees, rivers, and lakes—a forest in its own right. They walked until they reached a clearing by a lake, where an elegant creature awaited them.

Gracefully approaching was a Wampus Cat, its sleek form moving with the silent confidence of a predator. Its piercing blue eyes fixed on Newt and Kyle, and it lowered its head slightly in acknowledgment.

"This is Natali," Newt said, gently scratching the Wampus Cat under her chin. "Remember, Kyle, every Wampus Cat is a natural Legilimens."

"Of course… I remember," Kyle replied, though his enthusiasm was quickly turning into unease.

Chris walked over, clapping Kyle on the shoulder with a grin. "So, what do you think? Pretty impressive teacher I found for you, right?"

"So… my teacher really is the Wampus Cat, Natali?" Kyle asked, eyebrows raised.

"Exactly," Chris said. "If you want to master Occlumency quickly, you'll need to feel enough pressure to trigger intense emotions. We discussed it and agreed that Natali is best suited for the job—and she's already agreed."

Chris continued, "Once you've learned the basics, we'll send you here. Natali will try to break into your mind, and your job will be to keep her out and avoid getting hurt. If you can last five minutes, it'll mean your Occlumency is strong enough."

"Wait… five minutes?" Kyle looked incredulous. "This is a Wampus Cat. Even if I manage some level of Occlumency, I'd still stand no chance against her."

The Wampus Cat was a six-legged magical creature renowned for its speed. To be blunt, if Natali wanted to best him, she wouldn't even need Legilimency—it was practically overkill.

"Don't worry," Newt said, his voice calm. "Natali's smart. She knows what to do."

"But…" Kyle began, but he was cut off as Natali stepped forward, rubbing her face against his cheek with a gentle purr.

"Meow…"

"Of course I trust you," Kyle said, scratching her under the chin. "I just think this method might be a bit… intense."

"On the contrary," Chris said, his tone serious. "If we were to teach you, we'd need to use Legilimency to challenge you as well, just like Natali. But unlike us, Natali can practice with you anytime. And she won't spill any secrets from your head."

Kyle paused, realizing Chris had a point. Being subjected to Legilimency was unnerving, but if it was Natali, it somehow felt a bit more bearable.

"Okay, I agree," Kyle said, nodding.

Natali purred approvingly, then lifted her front paw and gave him a swift, surprisingly firm kick right on the backside.

"Whoosh!"

Without a moment to react, Kyle was launched into the air, spinning as he went, before splashing down into the lake nearby.

Chris and Newt, momentarily taken aback, quickly exchanged a knowing look.

"Looks like she's already set on starting his training," Newt chuckled. "I'll be heading over to check on Anairë. She recently had a litter of Nifflers and could use some help recovering."

"And I'll go with you," Chris replied, shaking his head in amusement. "I'm off today anyway."

Newt nodded, and they began walking toward another section of the sanctuary. But after a few steps, Chris turned back and shouted, "Remember, no Charms allowed!"

A single hand rose from the lake, waving in reluctant acknowledgment.