Under the protection of the Warming Charm, the group trudged steadily through the thick, crunching snow. Their breaths came out in soft white clouds as the biting cold pressed in from all sides. Ahead of them, Hagrid's hut stood like a welcoming beacon, its dim yellow light glowing warmly against the surrounding darkness.
The journey had been quiet, save for the muffled sound of boots against snow, until they were only about a dozen meters from the wooden hut.
Suddenly, Michael, who was walking beside Ryze, let out a startled cry.
"Oh, Merlin's pants… something grabbed my trouser leg!"
He lurched forward abruptly, his balance completely thrown off. Had it not been for Ryze's quick reflexes—his hand shooting out to catch him—Michael would have plunged face-first into the snow.
"What's wrong?" Anthony reacted instantly, drawing his wand and raising it defensively in front of his chest. His expression turned tense as his eyes scanned the empty surroundings with caution.
This was one of the benefits of practicing dueling magic. His reactions were far quicker than those of an average young wizard.
"I don't know," Michael said, rubbing his ankle nervously. He bent down and grabbed at his trouser leg, inspecting it closely. "But I swear there was something there!"
Before anyone could fully process what had happened, another voice rang out—this time sharper and more panicked.
"Where's my Scabbers? My Scabbers is gone!"
Ron fumbled frantically through his pockets, his movements growing more erratic with each passing second. His eyes darted from one person to another, as though suspecting someone might have taken the rat.
Ryze raised an eyebrow slightly.
He didn't need to rely on Divination to figure out what was happening. The answer was already in front of him—literally.
Fresh footprints had appeared in the snow, forming one after another out of thin air. They stopped abruptly a short distance away, as if whoever—or whatever—had made them had suddenly vanished.
"Don't be nervous," Ryze said calmly, raising a hand in a reassuring gesture. "One of our little friends is just playing a prank."
As he spoke, he lifted his wand and pointed it toward the spot where the footprints ended.
"Revelio."
The spell took effect almost immediately.
At first, there was nothing. Then, gradually, the air shimmered. A faint outline appeared, as though something invisible was slowly being painted into existence. Within moments, a creature revealed itself—a primate-like being wrapped in long, silvery hair, with large, intelligent eyes.
It was the same Demiguise Ryze and Hagrid had rescued just a few days ago.
Thanks to careful treatment with potions and Hagrid's attentive care, the creature had recovered quickly. In just a short span of time, it had regained enough strength to move about freely—and apparently, to play tricks as well.
At the moment, it crouched in front of Ryze, looking both curious and slightly amused. In its hands, it held a small, trembling rat.
Scabbers.
"It's a Demiguise!" Hermione whispered, her voice filled with delight and fascination. Her eyes sparkled as she observed the creature. "I read about them in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. They're gentle by nature, and they can turn invisible. They also have a limited ability to foresee the future, which helps them avoid danger. They're incredibly rare magical creatures."
Her excitement was quickly followed by confusion.
"But how did it get here?" she added. "Did it sneak out of Hagrid's hut?"
Ryze reached out and gently patted the Demiguise on the head. The creature responded immediately, handing over Scabbers with an almost proud expression, as if presenting a prize.
It then looked around at the other young wizards, its large eyes full of curiosity.
Taking the rat, Ryze held it carefully before passing it back to Ron.
"Sorry about that," he said. "It was probably just playing around. I hope you don't mind."
Ron quickly checked Scabbers for injuries. Finding none, he let out a relieved sigh and stuffed the rat back into his pocket.
"It's fine, really," Ron said, though his attention was clearly elsewhere. His eyes lingered on the Demiguise's long, silky fur.
"But… is that really a Demiguise?" he added. "I heard George say their hair can sell for hundreds of Galleons per pound…"
He paused, realizing how that might sound, and quickly corrected himself.
"I mean—not that I'd do anything like that! Aren't they protected by the Ministry of Magic?"
"They are," Ryze replied calmly. "But this one is only staying here temporarily. Once it's fully recovered, Hagrid will release it back into the Forbidden Forest."
As he spoke, Ryze gave the group a meaningful look and added with a slight smile, "And if we happen to see any other 'restricted' little creatures—like the three-headed dog on the fourth floor—I'd appreciate it if you kept that to yourselves."
At his words, several of the first-year students exchanged curious glances. Hermione's eyes lit up with interest, clearly intrigued by what he had implied.
Only Ron seemed too distracted to notice.
"You went into the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid?" he asked, his voice tinged with unease. "Is it dangerous? Fred told me there are man-eating spiders in there. That sounds absolutely terrifying."
Knowing Ron's fear of spiders, Ryze decided to tease him a little.
"You mean Acromantulas," he said casually. "There is indeed a colony deep in the forest. Hagrid raised one himself when he was a student here. I didn't see them last time, but who knows? Maybe he'll bring one out tonight so we can all have a closer look."
Ron's face turned pale almost instantly.
"W-what?" he stammered, grabbing Harry's arm tightly. "You're joking, right? He wouldn't actually make us meet spiders that big… would he?"
At that moment, the door of the hut creaked open.
"I thought about bringing Aragog out," came Hagrid's booming voice, "but he's too old these days. His legs aren't what they used to be, and he's nearly blind."
His massive figure filled the doorway as he stepped into view, looking slightly regretful.
"And his children aren't too keen on being stared at by a bunch of students either," he added. "But if you're interested, I can take you to see his nest sometime."
"No! No, thank you!" Ron said immediately, waving his hands in panic. "I think I'll pass. We can just learn about them in class!"
Hagrid sighed, clearly disappointed.
Then his attention shifted to the Demiguise standing beside Ryze. His expression softened into a pleased smile.
"See? I told you this little one is friendly," he said. "It's been getting better over the past few days. Can't stay cooped up anymore, so it keeps sneaking out to play in the snow. Sounds like it gave you all quite a scare."
He stepped aside and gestured toward the hut.
"Come on in, all of you. No point standing out here in the cold."
The group quickly moved inside, grateful for the sudden warmth. The interior of the hut was cozy, with a glowing hearth casting flickering red light across the room.
Sitting on a wooden stool near the fire was a thin, elderly wizard. Beside him rested a large suitcase. He was tapping lightly at his prosthetic limbs with his wand, as though making adjustments.
When he noticed the students entering, he looked up and smiled.
This was Silvanus Kettleburn—a legendary professor who had taught for over fifty years and had been placed on probation more times than most could count.
"Ah, there you are," Hagrid said cheerfully. "Professor Kettleburn's been waiting. I asked him to bring along some of his best examples. Thought it might spark your interest in Care of Magical Creatures."
The old wizard's eyes gleamed with enthusiasm as he looked at the young group.
It was clear that whatever was about to happen next would be far from ordinary.
And judging by the size of the suitcase beside him, it was likely to be unforgettable.
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