The wizards on the wooden balcony also craned their necks to look outside, and the rustle of whispered conversations filled the Great Hall.
Hearing that undisguisedly contemptuous "Gnome" from outside, they understood that the one clashing with the receivers from the magical kingdom was most likely the school's guardian, a Pukwudgie. Though Pukwudgies were close kin to creatures like goblins and gnomes, even foreign wizards, once grown, should not have been unable to tell the difference. Calling a Pukwudgie a gnome outright was basically the same as pointing at a No-Maj-born wizard and calling him a Mudblood.
It was common knowledge that Pukwudgies disliked wizards, and they often had minor squabbles with the wizards at the school, but plenty of people still felt insulted—especially the wizards of Pukwudgie House, who no longer bothered to hide the anger in their hearts.
An Auror from the United Magical Kingdom hurried in together with an Ilvermorny professor.
The Auror was the first to give Albert and Penelope a brief report. "Sir, Mr. Skorzeny got into an argument outside with an old Pukwudgie."
The young professor, his face flushed, defended them. "This is a misunderstanding. That Auror wanted to clean Iso's sculpture, but William was there..."
The good atmosphere that had only just begun vanished in an instant. Penelope's face darkened, and Albert also put away his smile and led the others outside. The wizards on the wooden balcony immediately surged out after them.
"What's going on?" Penelope's gaze swept over the entrance, where the fat man holding his staff, the Doctor with her arms folded, and a very old Pukwudgie gripping a bow and arrow were facing off.
This Pukwudgie was short, covered in long spines, hunched over, his gray skin wrinkled and shriveled. The joints of his gaunt, sharp claws jutted out