Preserved Egg

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Preserved Egg (皮蛋)
Species/Race	Black cat with a Spirit Cat bloodline 1
Gender	Male 24
Affiliation	Matthew Black
Occupation/Role	Matthew's familiar and companion 20
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Level 1 Wizard Apprentice	28	Matthew taught Preserved Egg to circulate the Aemon Basic Meditation Method. This triggered a Magic Outburst and substantially increased his magic power, improving the scale and endurance of his clones. He cannot advance further without learning Ancient Runes and constructing Runic Models. 28

Background / History

Preserved Egg accompanied Matthew at his home near Ottery St Catchpole. While rummaging through the sundries room, he found and carried out the scarred metal disc with a red crystal that triggered Matthew's first journey to another world. When Matthew returned, Preserved Egg had remained exactly where he was; Matthew's examination of his memories indicated that time had stopped for him during the crossing. 1 4

He travelled with Matthew to Hogwarts and quickly became known among several students after returning Neville Longbottom's missing toad, Trevor, unharmed. 7 8

Appearance

Preserved Egg is a sleek black cat with striking blue eyes. 1 8

• Black fur that does not shed. 21
• Bright blue eyes noted by Hermione Granger. 1 8
• Can divide parts of his tail into small black fluff balls that grow into full clones. 24

Personality

Preserved Egg is curious and mischievous, particularly around small animals and birds. He tried to pounce on Percy's owl Hermes and later brought Trevor to Matthew with the toad held in his mouth, though he deliberately did not injure it. 1 8

He is affectionate toward Matthew, frequently rubbing against him, leaping into his arms, and purring when scratched under the chin. He also enjoys being spoiled and resents being treated as a search animal rather than being allowed to relax like other familiars. 20 21

Despite this pampered behavior, Preserved Egg cooperates immediately when Matthew calls on him in danger. He has formed a social circle with Hogwarts' other cats, including Mrs. Norris. 20 24 25

Abilities & Skills

Spirit Cat Bloodline

Preserved Egg inherited the intelligence and splitting ability of a Spirit Cat.

• His intelligence is stated to be comparable to that of a human child. 1
• He can understand Matthew's instructions and relay reconnaissance information when Matthew uses the Speak with Cats spell. 24 25
• His magical physiology prevents shedding. 21

Clone Splitting

Preserved Egg can create autonomous copies of himself by dividing his tail.

• A detached tail can split into ten segments, each becoming a black fluff ball that expands into a clone; his main body then regenerates a new tail. 24
• The main body receives and shares the clones' memories, allowing him to scout areas beyond Matthew's line of sight. 24
• Clones multiply again when attacked, provided their magic power is not exhausted. 25 28
• His clones disappear once their stored magic is depleted. 28
• After beginning meditation, his enhanced magic allowed the clones to split far more extensively than before. 28

Familiar Assistance

Preserved Egg has repeatedly helped locate missing familiars and animals around Hogwarts.

• He returned Trevor to Neville aboard the Hogwarts Express without harming him. 8
• Matthew states that Preserved Egg's connections with Hogwarts' cats help him search for lost animals. 20
• He later led Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville through the castle in another search for Trevor. 20

Relationships

• Matthew Black — Master and primary companion. Preserved Egg accompanies Matthew between home and Hogwarts, responds to their agreed Call Companion signal, and fights alongside him. 1 21 24 25
• Hermes — Percy's owl; Preserved Egg attempted to pounce on him during Hermes's visit to Matthew's home. 1
• Trevor — Neville Longbottom's toad; Preserved Egg found him on two separate occasions and returned him unharmed. 8 20
• Hermione Granger — Hermione admires Preserved Egg's eyes and fur, pets him on the Hogwarts Express, and briefly carries one of his clones. 8 28
• Mrs. Norris — A cat acquaintance at Hogwarts; Preserved Egg had been on a “date” with her before Matthew asked him to search for Trevor. 20

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Metal Disc Discovery — Preserved Egg's curiosity leads him to uncover the mysterious metal disc in Matthew's sundries room, setting Matthew's otherworld journey in motion. 1
• Hogwarts Express — He retrieves Neville's missing toad, establishing his usefulness to Matthew's fellow students. 8
• Chamber of Secrets Trial — Preserved Egg accompanies Matthew to 1943, scouts the Chamber of Secrets through his clones, and helps Matthew navigate while avoiding the Basilisk's gaze. 23 24
• Battle with the Basilisk — His clones track the Basilisk's movements, endure repeated attacks by splitting further, and swarm its eyes to create an opening for Matthew. More than a hundred clones participate by the battle's later stages. 25
• Three-Headed Dog Encounter — After his meditation-enhanced growth, Preserved Egg overwhelms the dog with multiplying clones, allowing Matthew and the others to leave safely. 28

Trivia

• Under Matthew's Speak with Cats spell, Preserved Egg's voice sounds like that of a prepubescent boy. 24
• Matthew once calls him “Maodan” after he becomes covered in ash while exploring the sundries room. 1
• Hermione wanted to keep one of Preserved Egg's clones as a dormitory pet, but it vanished after its magic ran out. 28