The Slytherin common room was quieter than usual that Thursday evening.
Soft green light filtered through the tall windows that looked out into the depths of the Black Lake. The water beyond the glass shimmered faintly as large shadows of passing fish glided silently through the dark.
Most of the students had returned from dinner and settled into their usual clusters—some studying, others gossiping quietly, and a few older students practicing wand movements near the back tables.
Mira sat comfortably on one of the deep leather couches near the fireplace, writing something in her journal, her sanctuary suitcase resting on the floor beside her chair. Draco Malfoy lounged nearby with his arms draped lazily over the armrests of another chair, while Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott sat across from them at a low table. Daphne Greengrass leaned against the arm of Mira’s couch, reading a small book but clearly listening to the conversation around her.
For once, the group had no homework pressing down on them.
Which meant boredom.
And boredom often led to curiosity.
Especially when the source of that curiosity had just popped out of Mira’s suitcase.
A small, furry creature suddenly clambered onto the couch cushion beside Mira with an energetic chirp.
Its glossy black fur caught the firelight as it bounced excitedly onto Mira’s shoulder.
Several Slytherin first-years froze mid-conversation.
Then someone whispered:
“Is that a Niffler?”
All eyes turned.
Pip stood proudly on Mira’s shoulder, his little paws clasped around something shiny he had apparently discovered in the folds of Mira’s sleeve.
Draco leaned closer.
“Pip,” he said dryly, “that’s Mira’s button.”
Pip paused.
Then he placed the button back carefully.
The nearby Slytherins stared.
Then Theodore Nott leaned forward slowly.
“…Did the Niffler just return something shiny?”
Blaise raised an eyebrow.
“That’s not normal.”
Across the room, two older Slytherins leaned over their chairs to get a better look.
“Oi,” one of them called. “Where did you get a Niffler?”
Mira smiled slightly as Pip climbed down her arm and curled comfortably in her lap, “He’s mine.”
That statement caused an immediate ripple of surprise.
“You own a Niffler?”
“Is that even allowed?”
“Does it steal everyone’s jewelry?”
Draco smirked faintly, “Actually, he doesn’t.”
That got their attention even more.
Nifflers were famous—infamous—for stealing shiny objects. Coins, jewelry, buttons, brooches, rings… anything that glittered usually vanished within seconds of a Niffler entering the room.
But Pip sat calmly in Mira’s lap, happily nibbling on a small berry she handed him.
Not stealing.
Not rummaging.
Just… relaxing.
Theo pointed at him, “That’s the calmest Niffler I’ve ever seen.”
Blaise nodded, “I’ve seen one tear apart an entire shop looking for gold.”
Daphne finally closed her book, “So why isn’t yours stealing everything in sight?”
Pip perked up slightly at the attention, then climbed back onto Mira’s shoulder and chirped.
Mira stroked his fur gently, “Because Pip doesn’t steal.”
The surrounding students stared at her like she had just said something impossible.
One of the older Slytherins laughed, “That’s like saying a dragon doesn’t breathe fire.”
Draco leaned back with a smug grin, “Pip doesn’t.”
Now they were intrigued.
A small group of Slytherin first-years began drifting closer.
“Alright,” Theo said. “Now I’m curious.”
Blaise nodded, “How did that happen?”
Mira hesitated for a moment.
Pip sensed the change in her mood and climbed up to sit gently on her shoulder, his small paws resting lightly against her collar.
Mira gave him a small reassuring smile, “Well…", She paused, “I met Pip when I was six years old.”
The room grew quiet.
“When I was little,” Mira began softly, “I visited my family's magical creature rehabilitation sanctuary.”
Daphne leaned forward, “Like a rescue center?”
Mira nodded, “Yes. Injured or mistreated magical creatures were brought there to recover.”
Draco raised an eyebrow, “That explains a lot.”
Mira smiled faintly, “One day, a group of Ministry officials arrived with several confiscated Nifflers.”
Theo frowned, “Confiscated from who?”
Mira’s expression darkened slightly, “Dark artifact hunters.”
The entire group went silent.
Mira continued slowly, “They were using the Nifflers to find magical objects hidden by dark wizards.”
Draco’s eyes narrowed slightly, “That’s… not unusual.”
“No,” Mira said quietly. “But the way they were doing it was.” She gently ran her fingers through Pip’s fur, “They forced the Nifflers to search dangerous ruins and cursed locations.”
Theo’s expression shifted, “Wait…”
“They were punished if they didn’t find anything,” Mira finished softly.
The room fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Even the older students listening nearby had stopped talking.
Daphne’s voice came quietly, “What kind of punishment?”
Mira hesitated.
Then she answered, “They withheld food.”
Blaise frowned immediately, “That’s cruel.”
“They shouted at them,” Mira said. “Locked them in small cages.”
Draco’s expression had gone cold, “And if the Nifflers didn’t bring back something valuable…”
She didn’t finish the sentence.
She didn’t need to.
Everyone understood.
Pip shifted slightly on Mira’s shoulder and pressed closer to her neck.
Mira gently stroked him, “The sanctuary took them in after they were rescued.”
Theo glanced at Pip, “Was he one of them?”
Mira nodded, “Yes.” She paused, “When Pip first arrived,” She said softly, “he was terrified of everyone.”
Daphne frowned, “Even the caretakers?”
“Especially them.” Mira’s voice carried quiet sadness, “He had been punished by people who wore similar robes.”
Blaise muttered quietly, “That makes sense.”
Mira continued, “He hardly ate.”
Theo looked surprised, “Nifflers are usually obsessed with food.”
Mira nodded, “Yes. But Pip wouldn’t touch most of what they gave him.”
Draco tilted his head, “Trauma response.”
Mira nodded, “He also wouldn’t interact with the other Nifflers.”
Daphne blinked, “Not even his own kind?”
“No.” Mira looked down at Pip fondly, “He stayed curled in the corner of his enclosure.”
“How long did that last?” Theo asked quietly
“A few weeks.” Mira replied.
Blaise frowned, “That’s awful.”
Mira nodded, “None of the caretakers could get close to him.”
Draco crossed his arms, “So how did he end up bonding with you?”
Mira smiled slightly, “That’s the strange part. I used to visit the sanctuary with my parents,” She explained.
Theo nodded, “Just to help out?”
“Sometimes. Mostly to see the animals.” Mira chuckled softly, “I loved magical creatures even then.”
Draco muttered dryly, “Obviously.”
Mira ignored him and continued, “One afternoon, I wandered into the Niffler enclosure.”
Pip perked up slightly as if he recognized the story.
“The other Nifflers were running around digging through little piles of coins the caretakers had left for enrichment.” Mira said.
Blaise grinned, “Typical Niffler behavior.”
“But Pip wasn’t playing.” Mira paused, “He was sitting in the corner of the enclosure, watching everything.”
Theo frowned, “That’s not normal.”
“No,” Mira agreed softly, “I remember feeling sad when I saw him.”
“What did you do?” Daphne asked quietly,
Mira smiled, “I sat down on the ground.”
Draco blinked, “You just… sat there?”
Mira nodded, “I didn’t try to touch him.”
Theo leaned forward, “Smart.”
“I just talked.” Mira stated.
The room grew quiet again.
“About what?” Blaise asked.
Mira shrugged slightly, “Whatever came to mind.” She chuckled faintly, “I told him about my day.”
Draco stared at her, “You had a conversation with a traumatized Niffler.”
“Yes.” Mira responded.
Theo snorted quietly, “Of course you did.”
Mira continued, “At first Pip didn’t move.” She smiled at the memory, “But after a while…”
Pip shifted excitedly.
“…he walked over.”
Several students leaned forward.
“You’re kidding,” Blaise said.
“No.” Mira reached up and gently scratched Pip’s head, “He came right up to me and climbed into my lap.”
Draco stared at the Niffler, “That fast?”
“Yes.” Mira smiled softly.
Theo shook his head, “That’s insane.”
Mira laughed softly, “The caretakers were shocked.”
Daphne smiled faintly, “I would be too.”
Mira continued, “They said Pip hadn’t let anyone come near him since he arrived.”
Draco studied the creature thoughtfully, “So he just… decided you were safe.”
Mira nodded, “It felt like he knew.”
Pip chirped proudly.
“What happened after that?” Theo asked.
“The caretakers slowly started letting Pip spend time with me.” Mira smiled, “He began eating again.”
Blaise nodded approvingly, “That’s good.”
“He also started exploring more.” Mira stated.
Draco glanced at Pip, “And stealing shiny objects, I assume.”
Mira laughed, “Actually… no.”
Everyone blinked.
Theo frowned, “Wait, what?”
Mira shook her head, “Pip stopped taking shiny things.”
Daphne blinked in surprise, “That’s impossible.”
“Apparently not.” Mira commented.
Draco raised an eyebrow, “What does he do instead?”
Mira smiled, “He finds lost things.”
The group stared at her.
“Lost things?” Blaise repeated.
Mira nodded, “Yes.” She pointed gently at Pip, “He seems to enjoy returning things people dropped.”
Theo burst out laughing, “You’re telling me you have the only Niffler in history who acts like a lost-and-found department?”
Draco smirked, “Honestly? That sounds exactly like something Mira would end up with.”
Pip puffed his chest proudly. Just then, Pip suddenly hopped down from Mira’s shoulder.
He scampered across the couch.
Then across the table.
Then under Theo’s chair.
Theo frowned, “Where’s he going?”
A moment later, Pip popped back up.
He held something small and silver in his paws.
Theo blinked, “…Is that my cufflink?”
Pip trotted over proudly and handed it to him.
The entire room burst into laughter.
Theo stared at the cufflink, “I thought I lost this three days ago.”
Draco smirked, “Case in point.”
Blaise shook his head in disbelief, “A Niffler that returns things.”
Daphne smiled warmly, “That’s actually adorable.”
Pip climbed back onto Mira’s shoulder and chirped happily.
Mira scratched his chin, “See?”
Draco leaned back in his chair, watching the tiny creature thoughtfully.
“You know,” he said slowly, “this might be the most unusual familiar in Hogwarts.”
Theo nodded, “Definitely.”
Blaise grinned, “And probably the most useful.”
Pip squeaked proudly again.
And from that day forward, the Slytherin common room unofficially gained a new role.
Whenever something went missing—
A quill.
A coin.
A ring.
Or even a misplaced homework scroll—
There was only one place students checked first.
Mira.
And Pip.
The little treasure-seeker of Slytherin House.
ns216.73.216.68da2
and then Add to home screen.