⚡️ Chapter 61 ⚡️

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Hagrid, who had told them during their last lesson that they had finished studying with the unicorns, was waiting outside his cabin with a fresh supply of open crates at his feet. Vega tilted her head in curiosity, slightly concerned that they were going to come face-to-face with more blood-thirsty creatures. But as they grew closer to the boxes, Vega perked up –

They were Nifflers!
I had no idea we were going to study Nifflers!

From here, the Nifflers were a group of flurry black creatures with long snouts and their front paws –which were curiously flat, like spades – and they were blinking up at the class, looking politely puzzled at the attention they were being given. Vega was elated and couldn't help but grin back.

"Does anyone know what they are?" Hagrid asked, and he was looking expectantly at Vega for the answer, which she provided him quickly.

"Nifflers!" Vega answered. "They live in burrows quite as deep as twenty feet underground. And they love bright, sparkly things – they keep such stuff in their exceptionally big belly pouches,"

"Tha's right, very good, Vega!" Hagrid replied, giving her an appreciative smile. "10 points to Gryffindor... these're Nifflers, they like sparkly stuff... there yeh go, look,"

One of the Nifflers had suddenly leapt up and attempted to bite Pansy Parkinson's watch off her wrist. She shrieked and jumped backward. Vega just cooed over the Nifflers, not shocked by this.

"Useful little treasure detectors," Hagrid said just as happily. "Thought we'd have some fun with 'em today. See over there?" He pointed at the large patch of freshly turned earth Vega and Harry had watched him digging from the Owlery window.

"I knew he was up to something interesting," Vega muttered to Harry.

"I've buried some gold coins," Hagrid informed. "I've got a prize fer whoever picks the Niffler that digs up most. Jus' take off all yervaluables, an' choose a Niffler, an' get ready ter set 'em loose,"

Slowly, everyone took a Niffler each and went off toward the freshly-turned earth. Vega wasn't quite interested searching for the gold coins and instead knelt down next to the crate, chuckling as she played with the two Nifflers left behind – one that was for her and one that was for Hermione.

"You're all so playful," Vega said, chuckling. "I haven't seen so many Nifflers in one place in such a long time... do you want to go and search for some gold coins?"

"Hang on," Hagrid said suddenly, noticing that two Nifflers were climbing out of the crate and into Vega's arm. "There's a spareNiffler here... who's missin'? Where's Hermione?"

"She had to go to the Hospital Wing," Vega replied casually and in a low voice. "I'll explain it to you later," She had noticed Pansy Parkinson trying to listen into their conversation.

It was easily the most fun they had ever had in Care of Magical Creatures. The Nifflers dived in and out of the patch of earth as though it was water, each scurrying back to the student who had released it and spitting gold into their hands. Ron's was particularly efficient; it had soon filled his lap with coins. The Nifflers left with Vega seemed younger and just clung onto her rather than doing so.

"I don't think they're very interested in searching right now," Vega said to Harry, amused as one of the Nifflers perched onto her head, arranging her curls around. "They're so adorable – I love them,"

"Can you buy these as pets, Hagrid?" Ron asked excitedly as his Niffler dived back into the soil, splattering his robes – for the first time, he seemed as interested in Magical Creatures as Vega.

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