Half an hour later, Malfoy stood before the storage cupboard again, now holding a small jewelry pouch.
Harry paused briefly at the brooch she took out.
It had a silver base, delicate patterns, and a ruby set in the center, gleaming beautifully in the sunlight.
"Will this do?" The girl lifted her chin.
Harry nodded. "Yes."
Satisfied, Malfoy held the brooch above the wooden box.
Harry had already taken out the box with the gap in it and placed it beside the cupboard, lining it with an old cloth.
"Put it in, then step back."
The girl did as he said.
They had barely retreated a few steps when rustling came from the cupboard.
A little black head soon poked out. The Niffler spotted the brooch and ran straight over to the wooden box without even pausing.
It hooked its front paws over the edge and climbed inside. It grabbed the brooch and stuffed it into its pouch, as practiced as if it had done this countless times before.
Malfoy's eyes lit up, and she reached for the lid beside her.
But the Niffler was faster. Her hand had barely reached the box when it sprang along the rim.
The girl instinctively raised a hand to block it. Her sleeve slid back, revealing the gleam of her ring.
The Niffler's little eyes instantly shone even brighter.
"Wait-"
A paw shot out and grabbed. Malfoy felt something slip off her finger.
The next instant, the dark shape had squeezed through the gap in the box and raced back underneath the cupboard.
The ring was gone. The corridor suddenly fell silent, too.
The girl looked at the empty box, then at her hand.
Two pieces, a brooch and a ring, and neither was left.
Malfoy slowly turned her head. Not a trace of a smile remained on the girl's pretty, delicate face.
In its place was a rare chill. Her gray-green eyes narrowed slightly, fixed on the black shape beneath the cupboard.
"Potter. Help me slaughter that damned thieving rat."
Her voice was remarkably calm.
"In return, I can give you a very generous sum of Galleons."
Harry froze for a moment.
Good grief. A moment ago, this was just recovering lost property, and now it had escalated straight to hiring a hitman to kill a rat?!
Apparently, the little fellow really had infuriated the young Miss Malfoy.
"Wait, Malfoy." Harry hurriedly stopped her slowly rising wand. "First, it isn't a rat. Second, we need to get your things back first."
Harry brought the wooden box over again.
"This time, patch the gap."
Malfoy immediately took the old cloth. She recited a spell, and the fabric stuck firmly over the damaged part of the box.
Without stopping, she pushed another cloth toward the hole behind the cupboard.
With a wave of her wand, that escape route was blocked as well.
The girl checked everything before turning back. "What else do we need?"
Harry glanced at the wooden box.
"Bait it can't carry off."
Malfoy took a Galleon from her money pouch.
Harry accepted it, set it beside the wooden box, and raised his wand. "Wingardium Leviosa."
The coin wobbled gently, then slowly rose.
Watching the coin suspended in midair, the girl finally understood what he meant.
This time, she wouldn't have to hold it herself, and the Niffler wouldn't get a chance to touch her ring.
Though she no longer had a ring now.
Damn it!
Harry moved the coin closer to the cupboard, then drew it outward a little.
Before long, that furry head poked out again, its little eyes fixed on the golden gleam in midair.
It ran two steps forward.
It reached out a paw.
But couldn't reach.
A little farther forward.
The coin rose a little higher.
The Niffler stood up, reaching with both paws.
Still couldn't reach.
Malfoy crouched beside the wooden box, her lips pressed tight, making not a sound.
Harry kept his wrist steady, too.
The coin slowly moved toward the wooden box.
The Niffler followed.
The coin dipped a little.
The Niffler climbed onto the rim.
Farther inside.
The little black creature finally lost patience and launched itself forward.
The instant it landed in the box, Malfoy slammed the lid shut.
Snap!
The familiar incantation swiftly spilled from the girl's lips.
The lid stuck fast. A flurry of scrambling immediately sounded inside.
The girl pressed both hands against the box, her eyes shining brightly. "Got it!"
Harry brought the coin back into his hand and looked at her. "That was a fine catch this time."
Malfoy lifted her chin.
"Of course."
A few more defiant scratches came from inside the box. The girl looked down, and the corners of her mouth finally rose.
Still trying to run?
Let's see you try that again!
"How do we get the things out now?" Malfoy asked her next question as she looked at the wooden box.
Harry thought for a moment. "Find Hagrid."
"Hagrid?"
"He knows about these things. We also need to find somewhere for it. We can't let it keep taking things in the castle."
The girl glanced down at the box but made no objection.
Carrying the wooden box, the two headed down the stairs and out of the castle.
A gentle breeze blew over the afternoon grass.
When they reached Hagrid's Hut, Harry had only just raised his hand when the door opened.
"Harry?" Hagrid looked at him, then at the girl beside him, before his gaze settled on the wooden box. "What have you got there?"
"A Niffler."
Hagrid's eyes widened at once. "Where did you find it?!"
A few minutes later, the wooden box sat on Hagrid's table.
Harry finally learned where the Niffler had come from, too.
Hagrid was looking after it for a friend for a few days. But the day before yesterday, its case hadn't been properly fastened, and it had escaped on its own.
Hagrid had spent quite a while searching, never imagining that the little creature had sneaked into the castle.
"They just like shiny things." Hagrid scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Sorry for the trouble. What did you lose?"
Malfoy answered very clearly.
"A little silver snake brooch and a ring. And lots of other people's shiny things."
"It took that much?" Hagrid looked at her, then at the box. "What a greedy little thief."
Malfoy released the Sticking Charm. Hagrid immediately took the Niffler out, supporting it securely in his two large hands, and gently tickled its belly.
The little black creature's short legs immediately began flailing.
Clink.
A button dropped onto the table.
Next came several coins, a silver teaspoon, and a hair clip set with a shiny stone.
With a clinking and clattering, more and more things fell out.
Malfoy had been sitting very properly, but she had already leaned forward a little without realizing it.
The ring came out, too. Then a familiar glimmer of green suddenly fell among the little objects.
The girl immediately held out her hand, and the little silver snake landed in her palm.
Malfoy lowered her head and examined it very carefully.
The green gemstone was still there, and so were the two letters on the back.
Her fingers slowly closed around it, and her shoulders, tense all this time, finally relaxed.
"Is that the one?" Harry asked.
The girl nodded. "Yes." Her voice was much softer than before.
She gently wiped the dust off the brooch with her clean sleeve, then pinned it back onto her collar.
Fastened it.
Hagrid smiled as he watched her.
"Glad you got it back."
Malfoy raised her head. "Thank you."
Hagrid was taken aback for a moment, then smiled even more happily.
"It's nothing. It only got out because I didn't keep a proper eye on it."
As he spoke, he adjusted his hold on the Niffler. The little fellow was actually still staring at the coins on the table.
Hagrid hurriedly pushed the things aside. "No, these have to go back!"
Harry couldn't help laughing. Malfoy also glanced at the coins, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly.
It seemed she had already forgotten her earlier declaration about killing the thieving rat.
By the time they left the hut, the girl had put away the other two pieces of jewelry. After a few steps, she couldn't help touching her collar again.
Harry noticed but said nothing.
The two walked slowly across the grass toward the castle.
Malfoy glanced at him. "Potter."
"Hmm?"
The girl pinched her cuff between her fingers.
She had managed to thank Hagrid quite smoothly just now, so why was it suddenly so hard to get the words out with this fellow?
"Today..."
Harry turned his head, his gaze falling on the brooch she had pinned back on.
"Miss Malfoy, do you need me to keep what happened today a secret?"
The girl immediately raised her head. "Of course!"
Especially the part where she brought out bait, only to lose her ring as well!
Harry nodded with feigned seriousness.
"Understood."
"But..." He suddenly wore the smile of an unscrupulous merchant. "Keeping secrets costs extra."
"You!" Malfoy's eyes instantly widened.
Harry added with a smile, "Don't worry, Miss Malfoy. You can settle it along with my new robe when the time comes."
At that, he deliberately paused, his smile growing even brighter.
"After all, I trust that Miss Malfoy's reward will certainly befit the distinguished standing of the illustrious Malfoy family, won't it?"
"You!!!"
Malfoy's eyes widened in fury.
That bastard! He was actually using the family's reputation to threaten her?!
And she really couldn't argue back. After all, how could the Malfoy family possibly offer a paltry reward?
That insatiably greedy idiot Potter!
She angrily hurried several steps ahead, then slowed a little when she realized Harry hadn't caught up.
Her fingers inadvertently brushed the little snake brooch on her collar again.
The girl paused slightly.
She lowered her head, looking at the silver brooch she had lost and recovered, her fingertips gently tracing its delicate patterns.
The anger that had risen at Harry's words quietly melted away in that moment.
This was her most precious gift, and she had come so close to never getting it back.
Yet that annoying boy had actually found it for her.
Malfoy could not help turning back to steal a glance at the black-haired boy behind him.
The girl's gray-green eyes softened a little, a rare sight.
Thank you, Harry Potter.
She said it softly in her heart.
But she certainly wasn't going to say that to his face!
The girl pursed her lips and lifted her chin again.
Hmph.
He did this young lady such a huge favor. I certainly can't just leave it at that.
The Malfoy family isn't in the habit of owing anyone favors.
I'll have to give him something in return.
After a while, the girl finally had an idea.
Looks like I'll have to write a letter home tonight.
Before you continue