Nighttime strolls are a Hogwarts tradition, a fatal attraction for every student.
Astoria and her sister Daphne walked out of the girls' dormitory together, and her pounding heart gradually began to calm down.
For eleven years, she had been the Greengrass Family's good girl and had never done anything out of line.
But yesterday, the foul-mouthed Draco got kicked by her, and tonight he's going to openly go out at night.
Daphne led her little hand out of the dungeon.
"Remember, there are countless school rules, but the first one is to avoid being caught."
Astoria's big eyes Winky. "Sister, where are we going now?"
"Meet in the kitchen."
Why?
"Because we want to take a walk after we've eaten."
It is well-reasoned and convincing.
Upon reaching the entrance, I scratched the pear in the painting, just as Hermione was supposedly busy with her studies, was coming down the stairs.
Not long after the three of them went inside, they heard the sounds of the twins and Cedric playing around outside.
Astoria blinked her innocent, large eyes forcefully.
Even a top student who excels in both character and academics isn't afraid when going out at night, so she felt she shouldn't be filled with anxiety anymore.
"Sorry I'm late." Rolf carried in the Little White kitten, which was looking around curiously.
"The little guy was being stubborn earlier and insisted on coming with me."
Almost a year has passed, and Little White hasn't grown much.
It's still the same, just much rounder.
Hermione stared at the Little White he was holding in his hands with a strange expression.
Logically speaking, with Gu Gu taking it around to eat and drink for free, and Vincent occasionally feeding it snacks, it should at least have grown a bit bigger by now.
"Woo-woo—" Little White cried out, drooping its little head.
Rolf thought it was hungry, so he took it into the enlarged kitchen to get some food.
Cedric, blushing from the teasing, followed along.
Fred and George were too curious and insisted on asking him what his relationship with Cho was.
"Our handsome young man is getting a little mischievous~"
"No way! I already said we're just ordinary friends."
"We don't believe it!"
The three of them made a ruckus inside for a few minutes before Vincent, who had finished showering and changed into his pajamas, arrived.
Behind him followed Gu Gu, flapping its little wings vigorously, and Laifu could never jump very far no matter how hard it tried.
As soon as I sat down, Little White came bounding out of the kitchen.
Vincent seemed a little surprised, picked it up and gently stroked it.
Just like Gu Gu likes to stick to Qiu, Little White, who never grows up, also likes to stick to him.
Hermione's lips twitched slightly.
This is definitely not an ordinary fox!
Just like the Magical Menagerie in Diagon Alley, the owners of the shop in Japan's Magic Town probably misjudged it as well.
Although the specific breed is unknown, it is at least certain that it is Half-blood.
Thinking of her own Half-blood Kneazle, Crookshanks, she suddenly looked at Vincent with a suspicious expression.
The Scotland Deerhound, nicknamed "Little Black," was rescued from Hogsmeade. Its black coat may be a result of a genetic mutation from its Fantastic Beasts lineage.
If that's the case...
"Hermione?" Daphne waved her hand lightly in front of her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." Hermione looked away.
She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Daphne, don't you think Little White is strange?"
"No." Daphne smiled as she looked at the Little White rolling around in Vincent's palm, occasionally glancing over with a dazed expression.
"Look how energetic it is, it doesn't look sick at all."
Hermione nodded stiffly. "Yes—yes."
Perhaps it's because the variety is quite special?
Teacup dogs don't grow up, so she's probably overthinking it.
Wrong!
Most animals only have a juvenile period of up to six months; they can't stay tiny for almost a year.
The more I thought about it, the more confused I became, as if Luna's words about the Nargles had messed things up.
She shook her little head vigorously, trying to shake off these annoying little things.
That's not right either!
The Nargles is a figment of imagination; it doesn't exist in the real world.
Hermione's unusual behavior worries Daphne and Astoria.
"It's probably because of the immense pressure of studying."
Seeing the forced smile on her face, Little White seemed to roll around even more energetically.
Vincent gently scratched its round little belly. "That's enough, you little guy, you're not afraid of us knowing now."
Nine-Tailed Fox are rare in Japan, and even rarer when they travel across the ocean to Britain.
As a clever and Fantastic Beasts, protecting oneself is always the top priority.
But after almost a year of getting along, Little White's behavior seemed more like that of a mischievous child.
"Waaah—"
"This will not be repeated."
Very suddenly, Hermione straightened up and looked at Vincent.
He smiled and nodded slightly.
Daphne and Astoria both tilted their little heads.
There's something fishy about these two!
First he spaced out, then he stammered, then he unusually shook his head, and now he seems very confident.
Hermione blushed awkwardly as they stared at her.
"What—what happened to you?"
The two sisters exchanged a glance. "It's nothing."
Astoria was fine, but Daphne's suggestive glances at Vincent were quite strange.
Hermione shook her head violently, "I don't... I'm not..."
The sound grew fainter and fainter until it was completely inaudible.
She suddenly stood up and pulled the two sisters to sit down at another long table.
Girls always have endless secrets to tell.
Vincent wasn't interested in that and continued to lecture the naughty Little White.
"Do you want to be like Gu Gu, the most noble little fox at Hogwarts, with an endless supply of herbs and Potions?"
"Woo-woo—" Little White nodded repeatedly, its adorable big eyes full of longing.
"Then you have to listen to me..."
The little Gu Gu on the long table flapped its wings and flew towards the kitchen with a disdainful look in its eyes.
It can already smell the fragrance.
The dishes weren't lavish, but they were acceptable.
After stealing a bite from each of them, Gu Gu flew back with its head held high.
The four pairs of large eyes in the kitchen stared at each other in silence.
The School Board Member can't go hungry; let's hurry up and make a few more dishes.
By the time the sumptuous late-night snack was served, the three little witches, who had finished their whispered conversation, had already returned to their seats.
Vincent has finished educating Little White and is now urging Gu Gu to exercise.
Cedric and Rolf were inexplicably moved.
Even Fred and George felt much better.
Fried pork cutlet, stewed beef, spaghetti bolognese, grilled meat skewers...
Astoria stared wide-eyed.
These dishes look even better than yesterday's opening banquet, and the taste is definitely not much worse.
"Tsk tsk—" Fred clicked his tongue and reached out to pick up a garlic chicken leg that was fried to a golden brown.
"Wow!" It's so tender and juicy, it's comparable to the crispy duck from the year before last.
"Cedric, the woman who marries you will be very happy!"
Cedric puffed out his chest with a proud look on his face.
The food cooked by the twins and Rolf was only edible, nowhere near the skill level of a hotel executive chef.
Let's see who dares to joke about him again!
The twins kept showering him with compliments, making him feel a little embarrassed.