"Credence!" Mrs. Scamander wiped her floury hands on her apron before wrapping him in a rather large hug. Credence could smell her honey-dew scent, which was not nearly as sweet as Caoimhe's scent, but made him feel at home nonetheless.

Age had taken its toll on her red hair, which now had flecks of gray in it, but her spirit was still as young as Credence remembered when she first took him into her home. If things were up to Credence, he would have preferred Mrs. Scamander as a mother over Mary Lou. Though she was the biological mother of Theseus, Newt, and Caoimhe, her mother instincts extended even further. He had watched her fuss over Tina and Queenie as if they were her own daughters and Credence had felt her motherly love over him as well. She was like the mother of all children who felt they had none, which he admired about her.

"Has Caoimhe been feeding you well?" She gave Credence a soft poke in the ribs before shaking her head, tutting. "Still hardly any meat on your bones. Sit down now." Credence obeyed, pulling up a seat at the table. Mrs. Scamander yanked out her wand. "Butterbeer always helps, especially the Scamander family recipe... I do have some leftover cookies..." She muttered to herself, waving her wand. A large glass that was filled with shimmering butterbeer placed itself in front of him, followed by a plate of gingersnaps. "Help yourself. I made it to be eaten," she chuckled. "Really, Mrs. Scamander, thank you, but Caoimhe's been doing the best she can to feed me well," Credence said gratefully. 

"Ah, yes! How is she, by the way? I mean, studying to become a Hogwarts professor... that's quite a bit of work! Which subject does she feel like teaching?" The worried tone returned to her voice as she spoke. "They would like her to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, but she said she would love to teach Care of Magical Creatures," Credence replied, smiling at the memory. "Of course. Care of Magical Creatures. Caoimhe always had a knack for that.

"I remember one winter when Caoimhe was ten. Her two older brothers weren't there, they were off somewhere, but one night I brought home a handsome chestnut hippogriff named Flicker. He was wild and vicious, and attacked the other hippogriffs so much I had to lock him in the stables. Caoimhe couldn't bear the thought of Flicker spending the night alone, so she slept in his stall with him. When I came down the next morning, Caoimhe was sleeping on Flicker. Ever since then, Flicker and Caoimhe have been best friends." Mrs. Scamander laughed, and Credence chuckled at the thought of a tiny Caoimhe sleeping on a rather large hippogriff.

"I'm glad you married, Caoimhe, Credence. I truly am. I just-" Mrs. Scamander never got to finish. There was a loud scream. Credence ran outside. Caoimhe was clutching her neck as a plant with fangs backed away. She fell unconscious and Credence ran up. He pried her fingers from her throat, and gasped. The bite was already turning a few shades of purple.