"You're a curious creature," she observed. Luna Lovegood was at a Snidget Sanctuary in Bulgaria, a wizarding reservation for the Golden Snidget. It was charmed, so there was no need to worry about Muggles wandering in.

Now a woman of twenty, Luna Lovegood had become a Magizoologist, travelling the world and examining rare specimens. Not many people were allowed into the Sanctuary, but being a wizarding naturalist, she had privileges.

Bending down, she put her notebook under her arm and stuck her wand behind her ear. She held out a gentle hand to the tiny bird. It darted out of the way, unbelievably nimble, and flew into the trees. Rising, she gazed up at it, holding her bright yellow hat so it did not slip from her head.

"They're fast," a British voice said.

Luna cast her eyes down. A gentleman of her age was standing a few feet from her. He was tall, with reddish-brown hair to go with tan skin. Not bad-looking. Clutching a dark brown Muggle-made briefcase, he was also watching the Snidget zip from branch to branch. She concluded that he must also be some kind of creature expert.

"Yes, like Wrackspurts," she said airily.

The man looked at her startled, and to her amusement also turned a fascinating shade of pink. He stared at her for a few seconds, taking in her peculiar appearance: colorful bead necklace, orange sundress, and mushroom earrings. Then he realized with a shock that he hadn't responded yet. He stuttered, "O-oh! I'm sorry miss—I was talking to myself...but, er—Wrackspurts, did you say?"

Luna nodded with a small smile, "They're invisible. They float into your ears and make you go dizzy in the head."

He was still staring at her earrings in awe, "Er, where did you hear that?"

She laughed lightly and said dreamily, "If you are wondering whether they're real or not, the answer is really up to you." She looked vacantly back at the trees.

Shrugging, the man brought her to earth, "Anything could be real. I mean, that's what I think. Because you never know—right?"

Delighted, Luna was beginning to warm up to this riveting new person, "Not many people say that, you know." She drifted forward so that she was right in front of him, "I don't think I know who you are. So hello, I'm Luna Lovegood, Magizoologist." She held out a pale hand.

He made a nervous noise and raised his hand a little too fast, which knocked into hers awkwardly before managing to shake it. He muttered a quick apology. "Rolf Scamander," he burst out, "a-also a Magizoologist."

"Scamander," she remarked, nearly lost in thought. She knew that he had looked vaguely familiar. "You must know that you are the grandson of the famous Newton Artemis Fido Scamander? The author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?"

"Uh, yes," he bobbed his head uncertainly. "Yes I am?"

Luna reminisced in another memory, "My father once wrote an article about him. He said that Newt was actually a shy turtle Transfigured into a human being."

Rolf blinked slowly and cocked his head, "A...turtle? What newspaper does your father write for?"

"It's a magazine, actually. He's the editor." She reached into her lavender purse and brought out the newest edition of The Quibbler.

Scamander gasped, "I love reading that!" Then he blushed, very embarrassed about his outburst, and found it hard to meet her eyes. "I just—the parts about—reading about all those cool creatures...even if there's no proof that they exist. Some call it lunacy, but I think—I think it's brilliance."

"I understand perfectly!" Luna said, tremendously pleased. "I want to travel the world and prove the existence of the various creatures mentioned. Like the Crumpled Horned Snorkak." She was about to go on, but a small chirping drew her attention away.

A Golden Snidget was hovering not two feet from them. It flew from side to side, left to right on its fully rotational wings, gold feathers glinting in the afternoon sun.

"I came here," Rolf said, "to study them. Not much information exists, you see, since they're so hard to catch. I wish—I wish to add to the 53rd edition of Fantastic Beasts."

"That's wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I'm here to do the same. Research them, I mean."

Immediately Rolf Scamander brightened. He was excited that he had to chance to do something he was good at. "D'you want me to get that one for you?"

She arched her pale brows, "How?"

He just smiled, looking at ease now that he knew what to do. He pulled his wand from his pocket, along with a handkerchief. Rolf aimed his wand carefully at the Snidget, "Accio Snidget."

The bird flew over and landed softly on the cloth. He rubbed its head soothingly with a fond finger, and it settled down. Rolf beamed rather proudly at Luna.

"You're better with creatures than humans," she said matter-of-factly, grey eyes sparkling. Before he could reply, she went on, "We have that in common."

He continued to stroke the Snidget's small head. "Can you believe that these cute creatures were used in Quidditch?"

The former Ravenclaw's voice grew steely, "It's horrible. It's fortunate that they were replaced with the Snitch."

Rolf peeked up at her. Never had he heard anyone but his grandparents speak for fantastic beasts so passionatly. "I agree wholeheartedly."

Luna peered at the Snidget, making sure not to get too close and frighten it. The curve of its beak told her it was a girl. "May I hold her?"

"Oh, yes—of course," he stammered, endearingly returning to his nervous manner from before.

Carefully, she took the Snidget from him. Oddly, she felt a tad flustered when his hand brushed hers. She was usually unflappable. The little bird cheeped and gazed at her with red eyes.

"You know," Rolf said suddenly, studying her green shoes with a curious expression. He was clasping his hands together, not sure what to do with them. "I'd never met anyone quite like you before."

Pleasantly surprised, Luna looked up at his blue eyes, "Really? I've also never met anyone quite like you before!"

He started, pausing for a moment. "Huh—sorry, what?" Because he hadn't known he'd spoken aloud.

She laughed serenely while he grew more confused. "I think it's the Poppytolls. They make you speak out loud without you realizing it." When he didn't respond immediately, she noticed, "Your face is turning an interesting color, did you know?"

Rolf blushed a harder crimson, suddenly looking younger. He opened his mouth to speak, but instead held her eyes in his gaze for a long while. "I do like your earrings, Luna," he added, trying to change the subject. "Um, they're nice. Very unick—unique."

Luna reached up to touch one, "Rolf, thank you." The conversation had taken a turn, and she found that she could not stop smiling.

Two more Golden Snidgets flew by, chirping loudly. The bird Luna was holding wiggled out of her grip and zipped after them, a bright yellow blur.

A queer feeling was manifesting itself in her stomach as she looked down once again at the brown-haired Rolf. "I think I like you, Rolf Scamander," she said dreamily, always one to be bluntly honest about her thoughts.

Rolf nervously patted down his hair, "Re-really? Well—I think I—" he did an unexpected hiccup.

And Luna laughed, harder than she'd ever had since the Second Wizarding War. She giggled, chortled, and tee-heed, doing every kind of laugh that had ever existed.

When it stopped, she pulled herself together and took Rolf's hand. His face was flaming, but she just chuckled. "You are very funny."

He made a bashful and relieved smile, "And you are very different." His eyes suddenly widened in panic, "Not bad different, but well—a good different. Yes, good." He did a frantic sort of peek at her.

She patted his hand, "Don't trouble yourself, I know what you mean." She again noticed what he was grasping in his other hand. "What's in your case?" she questioned.

Rolf fumbled with his briefcase, as if just becoming conscious that he was holding it. Strangely, he discreetly took a look around before replying, not without a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, "Would you like to find out?"