The detention ended, and Charlie said goodbye to everyone before carrying Norbert back to the Hufflepuff Common Room.
Warm lamplight spilled over the yellow decorations, while several older students were still discussing their Charms homework in the corner.
Charlie went straight to his dormitory.
When he pushed open the door, Ernie and Justin were already asleep.
Charlie tiptoed to the bathroom, gave Norbert a bath, then dried him and placed him on the bed.
The little fellow curiously examined his new surroundings, his black-bean eyes darting back and forth.
When he spotted the brass lamp on Charlie's bedside table, his eyes instantly burned with desire.
"Don't even think about it." Charlie pressed down on Norbert's head.
"First, we'll establish three rules."
Norbert tilted his little head and put on an innocent expression.
Charlie sat on the edge of the bed, his tone serious:
"First, no stealing. Second, no dismantling things. Third, you may only pick up things that have fallen on the floor and that nobody wants."
Norbert blinked, pretending not to understand.
Charlie's expression instantly darkened, and his voice turned ominous:
"If I catch you stealing..."
"I'll confiscate everything you stole and lock you in a dark room. There won't be a single shiny thing in there."
Norbert's little body trembled when he heard that.
He imagined a pitch-black little room with not a single glittering treasure inside, then immediately lowered his head and nodded dejectedly.
"That's more like it."
"Go play with Storm." Charlie pointed at Storm on the windowsill.
Norbert jumped off the bed and hopped toward the windowsill.
Storm was standing there arranging his feathers. When he heard the noise, he raised his head.
A huge owl and a tiny Niffler.
Norbert looked at Storm's enormous body, swallowed, and thought, Play what? Play with me?
Storm