An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
Post by Orla Fallwater on Jun 27, 2023 8:35:38 GMT 10
Orla would have preferred to go straight to the Lake and begin her note-taking, but she knew her excited energy would not help her observe a mysterious lake-dweller in a productive way.
So, she had rummaged in her over-stuffed pockets and came up with a plan - to spend time bothering the niffler's in return for a slightly scratched gem.
The sand pit glittered in the autumn sun as Orla made her way onto it, settling cross-legged after a few steps. She held out the gem in her palm, letting it glitter in the light, and tried to calm her buzzing mind.
A russet coloured Niffler, its fur flecked with streaks of golden hair, watched Orla from just over the crest of a sand mound. It wasn't big enough to call it a dune but perhaps it was one to the creature.
The gem sparkled in her hand and the Niffler approached, cautious but clearly very excited about the idea of getting a gem.
It waited to see what Orla would do next but was quite obviously sat where the girl could spot it.
Post by Orla Fallwater on Jun 28, 2023 9:31:31 GMT 10
Orla doubted she would ever get over the wonder and delight of seeing a Niffler, and she quietly thanked Hogwarts for the opportunity to interact with them up close.
This one waddled over a ripple in the sand - it seemed like a difficult journey - and then sat to regard her cautiously with a beady, bright eye.
Orla was surprised by her immediate reaction, which was to rock onto her hip and then onto her belly, the gem held out in front, head propped up with her free hand. It gave a hilarious upward view of the Niffler's profile, but Orla pressed her lips together and did not laugh.
A moment passed and Orla gave the gem a little turn with her fingers, letting the facets glimmer in what she hoped was an attractive manner.
"Ooh," she cooed gently. "Doesn't that look pretty?"
The Niffler took two steps forward and one back, a dance of indecisiveness as it tried to make up its mind.
Yes, of course it would love the Shiny Gem! More than anything!
But the girl was still holding it and part of the Niffler warned against going too close.
The result was a Niffler who started and stopped along its way towards Orla but hung back far enough to stay out of reach. It wriggled its whole body with desire and want, eying the gem more than the girl.
Post by Orla Fallwater on Jun 28, 2023 9:43:01 GMT 10
Orla tried not to breathe in sand as the Niffler went through a range of wiggly emotions, but it was clear that it was feeling nervous around her.
As much as she would have adored to see those little hands take the gem from her hand, Orla was a second year now - she was more than capable of making the less selfish choice.
It took a little though, and the Niffler was wriggling itself silly by the time Orla placed the gem in the sand between them.
"Here you go," she said, using her fingertips to nudge the gem beyond her reach.
As soon as the Shiny Gem hit the sand, the Niffler seemed possessed by an extra wiggly ghost! It got the zoomies and ran circles around the gem before picking it up. The Niffler flopped onto its back as the Gem danced between all four paws and then disappeared out of sight.
It looked back at Orla and then dove into the sand, burrowing straight into the warmth.
A few moments ticked by and then an explosion of sand to the left let Orla know her Niffler was back! It held something that glinted in the sunlight and hurried back to the girl -- as if sensing that the afternoon wasn't going to hang around much longer.
A bronze key was placed where the gem had once been and the Niffler backed up, its rear-end wriggling side to side as it moved out of reach.
It hung around to watch Orla for a few seconds more and then went back over the 'dune' it had first appeared from.
Post by Orla Fallwater on Jun 28, 2023 10:00:23 GMT 10
Orla lay her cheek in the sand, savouring the warmth as the Niffler worked hard digging downwards. She could hear it scritching away and she could almost snooze here...
The sand erupted next to her and she squeaked in surprise, sitting up in time to catch the glint of metal in the Niffler's paws. She was patient as it placed the treasured key between them, but she almost gave in to her urge to squeal as the Niffler backed away - the snaking trail it carved in the sand with its wiggling bum made her stuff her hand in her mouth and pull her knees to her chest, desperate not to scare it.
As the Niffler crested a mound of sand, Orla picked up the key and squeezed it tight.
"Thank you so much, wee fella!" She called, perhaps a little too loud, before she stood up in a waterfall of sand and hurried off, her stomach growling.