Since many esteemed readers disliked the Pterosaur as an Animagus, I've heeded the advice and changed it to a Chinese Fireball Dragon (system-produced, capable of transforming into magical creatures).
Thank you all for reading this far!
The four of them gathered around the fireplace, the firelight dancing on each of their faces.
Hagrid's sweat rolled down his forehead as he rubbed his rough, large hands.
"Where did this egg come from?" Ron squatted by the fireplace, his eyes fixed on the giant black egg.
"A… a stranger," Hagrid stammered.
"He lost it to me."
"To be honest, he probably wanted to get rid of this hot potato a long time ago."
"Hagrid!" Hermione's voice was sharp.
"You know this is a hot potato; illegally raising a Dragon is against the law!"
Hagrid waved his huge hand.
"Don't worry, no one will find out."
Charlie was a little confused, thinking, *What, are we not people?*
"Even if it isn't discovered, where do you plan to keep it?" Hermione pressed.
Hagrid's gaze wandered, looking out at the Forbidden Forest.
"In the Forbidden Forest, of course. The Forbidden Forest is huge; keeping a Dragon there is no problem at all."
Hagrid was completely immersed in his dream of being a Dragon mother.
"What breed is it?" Charlie asked.
Hagrid instantly perked up, puffing out his chest.
"This is a Norwegian Ridgeback."
"A very rare breed of Dragon."
This was different from Charlie's Animagus form; Charlie was a Chinese Fireball Dragon.
Hermione pointed to the wooden walls around them.
"Hagrid, this is a wooden Hut. A Dragon could burn it down in one breath."
"No, no, it won't. I'll teach it not to breathe fire in the Hut." Hagrid waved his hand dismissively.
Charlie pulled back Hermione, who was about to continue lecturing.
"Don't waste your breath, Hagrid won't listen."
Hermione deflated.
Time passed, and the firelight in the fireplace gradually dimmed.
Charlie glanced at the clock on the wall.
It was almost time for curfew.
"Hagrid, it's time to go."
Hagrid looked at the Dragon egg reluctantly, his gaze like a mother looking at a baby in swaddling clothes.
"Alright, alright."
He picked up his hunting bow from the corner and slung the quiver over his shoulder.
"We're going to the Forbidden Forest."
The five of them left the Hut, and the night wind brushed against their cheeks.
Charlie walked at the back of the group, thoughts swirling in his mind.
He absolutely could not let Hagrid see him transform into a Dragon.
It would be too terrifying to be targeted by Hagrid.
Moonlight cast a silvery glow on the stone path, and the outline of the Forbidden Forest appeared mysterious in the night.
Hagrid lit his oil lamp, and an orange glow flickered in the darkness.
They had walked this patrol route for several days, knowing every turn intimately.
Dry leaves rustled underfoot, and the hoot of a night Owl came from a distance.
Charlie walked in the middle of the group, with Harry and Ron still habitually close to him.
Since the first detention, he had become the group's steady anchor in the Forbidden Forest.
Just then, a dark shadow swooped down from a tree, extending a leg and kicking towards Charlie.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
A sharp cry pierced the night sky, and the dark shadow darted straight for Charlie.
Charlie, quick-witted, grabbed the attacker's hind leg.
Upon closer inspection, it was the Flat-Mouthed Rat from the afternoon.
The little fellow hung upside down, its four claws flailing in the air, still stubbornly bumping its head against Charlie's arm.
"A Niffler?" Hagrid raised his oil lamp in surprise.
"Why would a Niffler attack someone?"
He frowned, his beetle-like eyes full of confusion.
"This is very unusual. Nifflers are gentle creatures and never actively attack Wizards."
So this Flat-Mouthed Rat that stole my gold is called a Niffler.
"I don't know either," Charlie feigned an innocent expression.
"Maybe it's having a fit."
The Niffler heard this, its small eyes widening, unable to believe its little ears.
It pointed at Charlie, letting out angry "squeaks," attempting to accuse Charlie of his crimes.
Seeing this, Charlie quickly shook his arm up and down.
The Niffler's head bobbed along, its brains almost scrambled.
"Clink."
Several gold coins were shaken from the Niffler's body, making a crisp sound as they hit the ground.
Only then did Charlie notice a large pouch on the Niffler's belly, and these gold coins had fallen out of it.
He squatted down and quickly picked up the gold coins.
Seeing this, the Niffler struggled desperately to stop him.
But, dizzy and disoriented, it was like a helpless husband, only able to watch Charlie do as he pleased.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
The Niffler let out a cry of despair, its little paws flailing weakly.
"Charlie, isn't that a bit much?" Ron scratched his head.
"Those are its things."
Charlie handed one of the picked-up gold coins to Ron.
"Here, to the victors go the spoils."
"Thank you, Godfather!" Ron solemnly took the gold coin, his expression as serious as if he were passing a sacred flame.
"Nifflers like to collect shiny things," Hagrid chuckled.
"These gold coins must be what it collected."
"But you'd best give it something in exchange, or it will definitely pester you."
Charlie recalled the pile of glass shards in that nest and had an idea.
He raised his wand and lightly waved it at the ground.
"Transfigure."
The dry leaves and small stones on the ground instantly transformed into sparkling glass beads, reflecting colorful light under the moonlight.
The Niffler's small eyes instantly widened.
Each of those glass beads shimmered with an alluring luster, much prettier than the broken glass shards it had collected.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
The Niffler let out an excited cry, its four little paws frantically digging.
Charlie released it, and it jumped to the ground, stuffing all the glass beads into the small pouch on its belly.
After stuffing in the last glass bead, the Niffler contentedly patted its round belly.
Then it looked up, its small eyes fixed on Charlie.
The next second, the Niffler pushed off its hind legs and leaped onto Charlie's shoulder.
It lightly patted Charlie's neck with its small paw, its expression clearly saying: *Brother, let's call our feud even.*
"This..." Hagrid's eyes widened in surprise.
"It seems the Niffler wants to go back with you."
He scratched his messy black beard.
"It's so strange. Nifflers usually don't move easily; they hoard all their belongings in their nests."
Harry ventured a guess:
"Maybe its home was destroyed by some monster? So it had to find a new home?"
Charlie: *Are you being polite?*
Charlie interrupted him.
"Since it's homeless, I'll keep this Niffler."
Anyway, he hadn't lost any of his gold, and he had also burned its old nest to vent his anger.
He reached out and gently stroked the Niffler's head. It seemed very good at treasure hunting, so it could be his official treasure hunter.
"Saving it from distress, that's what I should do."
As for how the distress came about, let's not worry about that for now.
[Your Majesty... never mind, I won't say it. tyrant points +3]
Charlie:?
Hermione frowned, a little worried.
"Will the school rules allow keeping a Niffler?"
Charlie shrugged.
"School rules allow keeping Owls, toads, rats, Puffskeins, and other harmless pets."
He paused, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"It doesn't say you can't keep a Niffler."
Hermione thought about it; indeed, it was true.
The school regulations did not explicitly forbid Nifflers.
And in terms of danger, Nifflers only liked to collect shiny things and wouldn't harm people.
So she said nothing more.
Ron leaned over, curiously examining the Niffler on Charlie's shoulder.
"Then it needs a name, right?"
Charlie looked down at the Niffler, its black beady eyes blinking at him.
"Let's call him Judy."
"Judy?" Ron repeated the name.
"It sounds like a girl's name."
Judy seemed very pleased with its new name, rubbing against Charlie's shoulder.
And so, a Flat-Mouthed Rat standing on Charlie's shoulder joined them on their patrol of the Forbidden Forest.
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