The four huddled around the fireplace, flames flickering across their faces.
Beads of sweat rolled down Hagrid's forehead as he wrung his rough hands.
"Where did this egg come from?" Ron crouched near the hearth, eyes glued to the black dragon egg.
"From… from a stranger," Hagrid muttered.
"He lost it to me in a game."
"Let's be real, he probably just wanted to get rid of that hot potato."
"Hagrid," Hermione's voice turned sharp, "you know this is a hot potato! Keeping a dragon is illegal!"
Hagrid waved his massive hand.
"Don't worry, no one'll find out."
Charlie raised an eyebrow. What, are we not people?
"Even if no one does, where are you planning to raise it?" Hermione pressed.
Hagrid's eyes shifted toward the window, toward the Forbidden Forest.
"In the forest, of course. It's big. Plenty of room for a dragon."
He was completely lost in his dream of being a dragon mum.
"What breed is it?" Charlie asked.
Hagrid perked right up, puffing out his chest.
"It's a Norwegian Ridgeback. Rare fire-breather."
Totally different from Charlie's Animagus form, the Eastern Fireball dragon.
Hermione pointed at the wooden walls.
"Hagrid, your house is made of wood. One dragon sneeze and it's a bonfire."
"Nah, nah, I'll teach it not to breathe fire indoors," Hagrid said casually, waving her off.
Charlie gently pulled Hermione back.
"Don't bother. He won't listen."
Hermione huffed and gave up.
Time ticked by. The flames in the hearth dimmed.
Charlie glanced at the clock on the wall.
Almost time for detention.
"Hagrid, we've gotta go."
Hagrid cast one last, longing look at the egg, the way a mother looks at her newborn, and sighed.
"Alright, alright."
He grabbed his hunting bow from the corner and slung his quiver across his back.
"Let's head into the forest."
The five of them left the cabin. The night wind was cool on their faces.
Charlie trailed behind the group, deep in thought.
Can't let Hagrid see my dragon form. He'd definitely latch onto me, and that'd be terrifying.
Moonlight spilled silver across the stone paths. The outline of the Forbidden Forest loomed, shadowy and mysterious.
Hagrid lit his lantern, casting an orange glow into the darkness.
They'd walked this patrol route for several nights now, every bend and turn was burned into memory.
Dry leaves crunched underfoot, and an owl hooted in the distance.
Charlie walked in the middle, with Harry and Ron instinctively flanking him.
Since their first detention, he had become their rock in the forest.
Suddenly, a shadow swooped down from the trees.
"Chii-chii-chii!"
A high-pitched screech tore through the night as a black blur lunged at Charlie.
He reacted swiftly, grabbing the attacker by the leg mid-air.
It was the same flat-snouted little thief from that afternoon.
The creature flailed wildly as Charlie held it upside down. Its paws flailed uselessly, and it kept trying to bonk his arm with its head.
"A Niffler?" Hagrid lifted his lantern, startled.
"Why would a Niffler attack a human?"
His beetle-black eyes squinted in confusion.
"That's not right. Nifflers are gentle, they never attack wizards."
So this gold-stealing flat-nose is called a Niffler…
"I've no idea," Charlie replied with a perfectly innocent look.
"Maybe it's just deranged."
The Niffler's beady eyes bulged. Did he just call me deranged?!
It pointed at Charlie and squeaked furiously, trying to expose his crimes.
Charlie, unfazed, began shaking his arm up and down.
The Niffler's head wobbled like jelly, nearly scrambled from the motion.
A few coins tumbled from its belly pouch, clinking as they hit the ground.
Only then did Charlie realize the Niffler had a huge pouch on its belly, that's where it stored all the stolen gold.
He crouched down and quickly scooped up the coins.
The Niffler thrashed in panic, trying to stop him.
But all it could do was watch helplessly, like a useless husband unable to stop his house from being looted.
"Chii-chii-chii!"
Its cries were desperate, little paws flailing with sorrow.
"Charlie, isn't that kind of mean?" Ron scratched his head. "That's its stuff."
Charlie handed Ron a coin.
"Here. Finders keepers."
"Thanks, godfather!" Ron solemnly accepted it, as if receiving an Olympic torch.
"Nifflers like shiny things," Hagrid chuckled.
"Those coins are probably its hoard."
"But you'd best offer it something in exchange, or it'll haunt you."
Charlie thought back to that junk-filled nest full of broken glass.
An idea formed.
He raised his wand and waved it at the ground.
"Transfigure!"
The dry leaves and pebbles shimmered, transforming into dozens of glittering marbles. In the moonlight, they refracted dazzling rainbow hues.
The Niffler's eyes went huge.
Each marble sparkled more brightly than anything it had ever seen.
"Chii-chii-chii!"
It squealed in delight, frantically pawing at the glass baubles.
Charlie released it. It dropped to the ground and stuffed the marbles into its belly pouch one by one.
When the last one was packed away, the Niffler patted its now-round belly contentedly.
Then it looked up, eyes fixed on Charlie.
Without warning, it sprang onto his shoulder, gently patting his neck with its little paw.
The past is forgiven, brother. We cool.
"Um…" Hagrid blinked. "It wants to go home with you?"
He scratched his bushy beard.
"That's odd. Nifflers don't usually move homes easily. They hoard all their treasures in a single nest."
Harry offered a theory.
"Maybe its den was destroyed by some creature, so it's looking for a new place to live?"
Charlie gave him a look.
Excuse you?
Cutting him off, Charlie declared, "If it's homeless, I'll keep it."
His gold was all intact anyway, and burning the den had been plenty satisfying.
He stroked the Niffler's furry head. This thing had a nose for treasure, perfect for a treasure-hunting officer in his royal court.
"I saved it from ruin. It's the least I could do."
[Your Majesty... you know what, never mind. +3 Tyrant Points]
Hermione frowned with concern.
"Are Nifflers even allowed as pets?"
Charlie shrugged.
"The rules say owls, toads, rats, and Puffskeins are allowed."
He paused, lips curling into a sly grin.
"Doesn't say you can't have a Niffler."
Hermione thought it over. That was true.
And Nifflers weren't dangerous, they just liked shiny things.
She didn't argue further.
Ron leaned in, examining the furry creature on Charlie's shoulder.
"So, what'll you name it?"
Charlie glanced down at the Niffler, who blinked up at him with glossy black eyes.
"Rudy."
What? "Rudy?" Ron repeated, confused.
Rudy the Niffler seemed very pleased with its new name, nuzzling into Charlie's cheek.
And so, from that night on, their patrols through the Forbidden Forest always included a flat-snouted thief perched on Charlie's shoulder.
<><>---------------------------------------
35 Advanced Chapters on p(a)treon
p(a)treon.com/Aaltairr
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed