#18 - Niffler Surprise

After planting her lants, Alice decided to go out in sunny weather. It felt like only yesterday when snow covered the land, but now it is warm and refreshing. She didn't have anything particular to do right now. So, freely roaming around was not out of the question.

She needed to talk to Lucas, the betting boy, but she couldn't find him anywhere today. Maybe a task for later, she decided and kept roaming.

Soon, she reached a familiar pitch where she had found a cute niffler the last time and maybe could find one again. On the entry, she noticed another familiar figure first. "Hi, MJ." She greeted. Seriously, what were the odds of meaning again and again? "Did Nifflers get you something?" She asked.

Alice bent down near the pit and looked around for any of the nifflers. She took out the shiny gem from her pocket and held her while keeping her hand on the ground level where a niffler could easily grab it.

The sky glowed in cobalt blue and white hues by the time Kaspian set foot on the grounds. It was a big contrast to the off-white and hints of pink the chilly January weather had given him when the trees and grass had settled in cold, snow-covered stillness. Now, the ground was solid green under the soles of his uniform shoes, warm and free of frozen obstruction. The temperature brightened his senses and grounded him, making him feel more content and comfortable.

Kaspian breathed in deeply, filling his lungs and throat with the crisp air, imagining that he could feel it filtering into his bloodstream and working its way through his system. He wanted to feel alive and relaxed as he traveled to the Beast Reserve, his house robes whipping in the breeze.

A faint path of clouds drew him away from his fortress of a castle, over the rolling hills of the grounds, toward a protected place where the vast reserve rested before the line of trees marking the edge of the forest. The reserve was incredibly expansive, separated into two parts for staff and students, a shelter to endangered beasts and creatures that couldn't survive on their own.

His path came to an end at the bottom of a hill that lead to the sandpit, and he stopped walking. Kaspian stood in place, his attention turning toward the distant tree line, watching movements in the trees and wondering if it were beast or breeze, trick of light or product of mind that he saw shifting beneath them. Brows knit, he stared, his fingers tapping in rapid succession against the knuckle of his thumbs. As a prefect, he was naturally alert and aware of his surroundings.

"Everything okay down here?" His gaze found a first year at the bank of the pit, and he continued on his path to meet the Gryffindor girl. "Offering a gem, are you? Any success? Sometimes these nifflers can be fickle things, but it's best to keep trying if you fail."

He reached into his pocket and crouched down beside her, offering a gem of his own to any niffler that would take it. He suspected at least one would approach them, if not more with two shiny gems up for grabs. Slowly, he turned his head to look at the younger student again, a smile tugging at his mouth, briefly, as his badge caught sunlight. "I'm Kaspian, by the way."

"Wow, got a score of 100% till now." She claimed when MJ told her that she got a key every time. "I have been here just one before now and got a key. So, mine also 100% till now." She added. "Maybe, It would be fun to learn about these little ones." She said with a smile.

"Thanks, we will meet later." She replied before turning her attention to the sand pit, hoping some little steps would soon arrive to grab the gem. Soon, her attention diverted to another voice. She turned around o fund an older student.

"No success till now, but I am waiting." She replied with a smile. The boy also crouched down beside her, offering his gem. At that time, she noticed a batch on his chest confirming him as a prefect. "I am Alice, first-year." She replied. "In which year you are?" She added. She knew prefects were from the fifth, sixth, and seventh years. So he must be from one of them.

Two cute little nifflers emerged and came to grab gems from each of them before they started digging. Hers returned with a key in his little claws and offered it to her. She took the bronze key happily. "Thank you, little one," she said and turned to notice that the other one was empty-handed.

"Are you going to try again?" She asked. Alice had noticed else to do, so she chose to stay here for a bit and see if he would have any luck next time.

The niffler was hesitant with its brown, round eyes shifting about, but inched closer to the boy when he offered another gem. Eyes unerringly on the treasure in his open palm, it cautiously reached for it. It was shining from the sunlight, an array of beautiful sparkles within the jewel offering the creature a sense of calm. How could the niffler pass up something so enticing?

It pocketed the gem quickly and gave the boy a nod of understanding, then proceeded to an untouched dune in the pit. Golden, granular particles flew up around the niffler as its body and feet sank in. Upon burrowing itself in the pit, a storm of sand began to obstruct its vision—but the niffler was determined to find a key for the boy that so graciously offered up a second gem.

After a few moments of search, the niffler emerged with a silver key and raised it for collection. It was far more coveted than its bronze counterpart, and that caused a chitter of excitement to erupt from within the niffler. It had done a good job, and was proud of its own thorough effort.

Once Kaspian had taken the key from its hands, the platypus-like creature scurried off to find its furry friend with a renewed energy, its long snout sniffing at the air for a sense of direction.