A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

December brought with it howling winds and blizzards that seemed to blanket the Hogwarts castle, making it resemble a small creature braving the snowy expanse.

Like a little Niffler, for instance.

Two students stood in the courtyard of Hogwarts, engrossed in conversation. "Come closer," Eleanor said, pulling out a pendant box from her thin coat pocket, examining it carefully. "I remember there's a range adjustment button around the edge..."

The boy beside her hesitated for a moment, then scooted a bit closer. Cadwell watched as Eleanor focused on turning the knobs of the pendant box.

"What's that?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"It's a temperature-controlled pendant, a gift from my mum," Eleanor explained, studying the pendant box intently. "There! Done!"

"What... Wow," Cadwell exclaimed, feeling a warm sensation seep through his icy clothes, initially discomforting as it made him suddenly aware of how cold his outerwear was. But soon, he relaxed into the warmth, squinting contentedly.

It was almost like being back in summer.

"No wonder you didn't wear a thick woolen cloak; you've got this... this temperature thing!" Cadwell said, his face flushed from the heat, quickly loosening the thick scarf around his neck.

"It's a temperature-controlled pendant," Eleanor repeated, showing him the pendant box. "It has two knobs—one controls the range, the other controls the temperature. It's a new product from 'Future World' company, and Mum immediately owl-posted it to me."

"Future World?" Cadwell caught onto another unfamiliar term.

"Oh, they're quite famous lately! Their magical lamp exhibits, collaborations with the Quirky Sisters, branches in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade... they even have a list of upcoming products, more than a dozen items. I'm eyeing that emerald crown," Eleanor said excitedly.

"You sure know a lot, unlike me who's clueless about everything," Cadwell remarked.

"Because my mum's a witch, a Hogwarts graduate—just like me. She taught me a few kitchen secrets..." Eleanor squinted, her hair a shade of moonlit white, her face round.

"So, don't worry, ask me anything you don't understand," she reassured, patting her chest.

They sat on a bench in the courtyard, observing the leisurely passersby over the weekend, gesturing and commenting on each person who walked by.

"Look, that person's from Slytherin; you can tell by the scarf's color."

"Those two girls are holding magical puppets, probably for Ancient Runes class. I bet they're looking for a quiet spot to play."

"Haha, look at that guy, doesn't his clothes resemble little wizard Mike? Especially the way he scratches his head, so silly..." Eleanor giggled.

Cadwell listened attentively, then pointed to a person in the distance. "It's Professor Moody!"

They fell silent, watching Moody limp closer and then move away. They held their breath until he turned a corner, the crunching of snow finally fading away.

"He's truly scary, isn't he?" Eleanor said softly.

"Yeah, you're right," Cadwell agreed. "You wouldn't believe how terrifying he was when he yelled at me during the selection of champions. His raggedy nose was less than three inches from mine, saved by a young professor..."

"Let's not talk about it." Eleanor immediately remembered the scene where Moody scolded her during class for dyeing puff's fur.

Under the effect of the temperature-controlled pendant, the biting cold transformed into a refreshing spring breeze, cool enough to comfort Cadwell. It felt like sitting by a fireplace as the snow around them gradually melted.

"What's that?" Cadwell suddenly pointed at something in the snow-covered courtyard.

"I don't know," Eleanor said, pulling out her wand cautiously, both of them watching the snow-covered ground. However, being first-year students, they hadn't learned many useful spells yet.

"It must be some creature!" Cadwell exclaimed, lifting their legs onto the edge of the chair, watching cautiously as something dragged a long trail through the snow, halting not far from them.

Just as Cadwell started to imagine a mouth full of sharp teeth emerging suddenly, the snow formed a small lump. "It's coming out!" Eleanor tensed, gripping Cadwell's arm tightly.

"Don't worry, it doesn't look that big... I should be able to handle... huh?"

As he was about to encourage Eleanor, a pink beak poked out, followed by a furry head.

"Chirp!"

Valen the Niffler raised its head, surveying the surroundings under a layer of snow, paused at Eleanor and Cadwell, glanced in the direction of the courtyard exit, then dived back into the snow.

"What's that... it doesn't look too scary," Cadwell said, his face reddening, perhaps from Eleanor being too close or the pendant's warmth.

"A Niffler," Eleanor said. "I've heard the prefects talk about a professor who keeps a Niffler... oh no."

"What's wrong?"

"We missed an opportunity! The prefects say this Niffler has many treasures; nobody knows what it has in its pockets, but if it takes a liking to something, it'll trade treasures with you!" 𝖋𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔴𝖊𝔟𝔫𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑.𝔠𝔬𝔪

"What could a Niffler have, pretty rocks?" Cadwell asked, unable to think of anything else.

"More than that! I've heard of a set of twins giving it a box of Exploding Snap, exchanged for a quill that draws in the air and brings the drawing to life... and a student gave it a glowing grass, got a bottle of blue bubble juice in return."

"Bubble juice?"

"Bubbles that can trap people!" Eleanor explained.

Cadwell imagined Eleanor trapped in a blue bubble and found himself strangely excited about it. But the Niffler had already left, and they could only watch the traces it left in the snow.

...

Valen, the Niffler, was enjoying its rare holiday. It had a deal with the big wizard that for every hundred words it learned, it could come out for a stroll, unsupervised.

Venturing out of the courtyard, moving a distance away, it peeked out again, detecting a dozen familiar scents, selecting one swiftly. Occasionally lifting its head, it overheard some conversations—

"I'll tell only you, you're my sister after all... Professor Trelawney prophesied something bad will happen!"

"Oh, really," a disinterested voice replied, "who's going to die this time?"

"Padma Patil!" The first speaker didn't sound too pleased. "You should learn to respect the professor."

"Sorry, Ravenclaws only respect those truly knowledgeable."

Valen peeked out from the snow, witnessing a pair of identical sisters, looking agitated. It hesitated and started to backtrack.

"Look, it's the Niffler! Don't go, I want to trade something with you!" One of the witches ran excitedly towards it, startling Valen, who quickly dove back into the snow and dashed away.

This time, it was more cautious. Whenever it heard voices, it deliberately slowed down. Soon, it caught a familiar scent, no, three.

"Are people from Uagadou living in snow houses?"

"Fred, you're insulting my African friends; they have their own residence... not the best environment, but certainly better than Durmstrang, poor Ghost Ship swaying in the storm..." a voice spoke rapidly, sounding less angry.

"You've really made friends with them?" Fred asked in surprise.

"Look at my braids, brother, tonight we're all bronze hawks!" Lee Jordan chanted.

"Oh, Lee, Ravenclaw students won't be happy..." George chuckled.

Valen, like a black shadow, swiftly passed by, heading towards the main building of the castle, finding its target.

"That's an absolutely dreadful idea," Ron said.

"I disagree," Hermione said calmly.

"Don't you find it absurd? We've been squatting outside the Ilvermorny camp for two hours just to talk to those goblins... they pointed arrows at me, I almost had a heart attack."

Harry remained silent. He had planned to sleep in on the weekend, but Hermione insisted on interviewing the goblins, comparing their life at Eifernelle to that of the house-elves at Hogwarts.

However, the goblins were impolite, and they were shooed away. As for his thoughts... he felt entirely wooden and just wanted to go back for a hot bath, not speak at all.

At that moment, a black shadow darted out in front of him. He instinctively drew his wand but halted when he recognized the shadow. "Valen?" he exclaimed in surprise.

Valen climbed onto his shoulder, overlooking Ron and Hermione's argument.

"Chirp chirp (Keep going)!"

>

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