On Monday morning, Magnus was among the first students to arrive at the Ravenclaw table, despite having had almost no sleep at all.
After every egg had hatched, Hagrid had distributed small baskets to the first-years, which they were to use for carrying their Pokémon around if needed.
However, they were encouraged to interact directly with their new hatchlings as much as possible. The baskets could only be used in classes to minimize disruptions.
Despite his early arrival, Magnus was not surprised to find a few of the senior students already having breakfast.
He mumbled some greetings as he gently took his little Zorua from his shoulders, where it had been peering at the students.
Magnus had decided this one was peculiar.
Although he hadn't seen that many of this kind , from what he had seen in Pokémon Journeys: Masters of Illusion, Zoruas were certainly not this shy.
He had spent almost the entire night trying to catch the hatchling attempting to shape-shift, but all he had done was waste his sleep watching the Zorua snoozing snugly at his side.
Could he have gotten it wrong?
Maybe it was a Pokémon that resembled a Zorua but wasn't exactly one.
He placed the hatchling on his lap and began contemplating the dishes before him.
"Is that a Zorua?"
Magnus turned toward the voice.
It was one of the girls at the Ravenclaw table.
This one was probably a sixth or seventh year, seeing as she was almost a head taller than him.
He was surprised. He had been under the impression that his Pokémon was not quite common.
Most people hadn't been able to identify it last night when they first came to the castle. They had just assumed it was a unique-looking Eevee or one of the cat-like Pokémon.
Even Hagrid hadn't bothered to know what their Pokémon were. His only concern had been with his own.
When he had asked, Hagrid had said that was traditionally done the day after hatching.
It was a vague answer, but that day was today, and he still didn't know what was supposed to happen.
"Can I see it?" the girl asked.
Magnus hesitated. He wanted to ask how she knew, but then he decided she might have overheard him arguing about it with other first-years.
He reached for the Pokémon on his lap. Its blue eyes lit up momentarily, thinking he was returning it to its favorite spot—his shoulders.
When he instead passed it to the girl, he felt fur bristle against his palm as its hairs stood on end.
Those blue eyes met his, almost disapprovingly.
"Wow… it's a cutie," the girl's friend said as they both gently petted its fur.
Magnus suddenly rubbed his eyes quickly before staring again.
What the hell?
He could swear he had seen it—he had seen a goblet, similar to the ones on the table, where the Zorua's head should have been.
It had, however, only lasted a second before disappearing.
He looked at the two girls, then at the other students nearby.
No one seemed to have seen a thing.
"Are you sure it's a…?" the friend asked the girl who had identified it.
"Certainly. It's listed in the fox-like Pokémon in Fantastic Beasts and Pokémon and Where to Find Them," the girl answered confidently.
Magnus looked up at that.
"It is?"
"Yeah," she answered, still petting the red tuft on the hatchling's head. "I think it's chapter six, under fox-like Pokémon… It's not a long entry. The book just explains every known Pokémon briefly."
"What does it say?"
He could have waited until he got back to the dorm to read it for himself, but why, when the answer was right here?
She appeared to rack her memory briefly before answering, "I don't think I can recall everything, but it does mention something about them becoming bipedal as they grow. The adults are called Zoroark."
"You mean they start walking on two legs?" the other girl asked curiously, looking at the hatchling. "What happens to the other limbs?"
"Well, maybe it uses them like hands… I don't know for sure. I'll have to check."
'So will I', Magnus thought.
Newt Scamander sounded like he was right thus far, but if that was the most interesting thing the girl recalled, then the writer must not have mentioned the fact that Zorua could cast powerful illusions that could fool even fully trained Aurors.
Then again, maybe no known Zorua had achieved that, just like the numerous beasts Magnus had encountered here.
A sudden scream from the Gryffindor table, followed by shattering plates, made all students crane their necks toward the table to see what was going on.
Hermione had fled from the table in shock, staring at where her Pokémon was seated inside a plate, glaring at her in surprise.
Magnus knew what had happened as soon as he saw what her Pokémon was.
You see, yesterday, he had barely had time to look around like the rest of the students, so he hadn't glimpsed most hatchlings other than those of his fellow Ravenclaws. Even that had happened when they were already back in their common room.
He had been quite engaged with explaining the Deino to Hagrid and then being forced to swear profusely not to mention what he had told him—or even the hatchling—to anyone.
After that, Hagrid had handed down the baskets and instructions for them to go to their head of the house if anything went wrong. Then, he had dismissed them.
By then, it was already too late, and they had just enough time for a late supper before Magnus rushed to see whether his Zorua could shape-shift yet.
Now, imagine his reaction when he saw Hermione's Pokémon.
"A Pichu?"
Magnus exclaimed in awe.
It wasn't just him.
Most students, especially the girls, looked like they had seen a male Veela—well, except the owner.
Hermione was staring at the cute yellow rodent like it was jinxed.
That was actually not far-fetched.
Judging by her stressed expression, she must have had the longest night, and not entirely a pleasant one.
Pichu hatchlings were notorious for their careless discharge of electric current, and therefore, not only did they shock themselves, but their trainers also got a fair share of it.
That must have been exactly what had made her scream and drop the plate.
To the non-muggle-born students, that may have appeared like some sort of jinx. But Hermione was not that.
Her parents were muggle dentists… or was it just her mother? Either way, she must have known what was happening.
I mean, unless she had never been shocked before.
A Gryffindor prefect was already by her side, possibly trying to inquire what had happened. From the looks of things, however, Hermione wasn't willing to reveal it.
Magnus watched her shake her head before forcing herself to sit back down.
She reached out and lifted the Pichu off the plate, settling it on her lap.
It must have taken her a lot of courage to do that, seeing as she knew well what could happen.
She must have thought that if she told the prefect what was happening, they would probably take her hatchling away.
Magnus had no doubt that was exactly what would happen.
The Headmaster—or even the Ministry—might have considered that trait quite dangerous to the students.
"I have never seen one like that," the girls who had been admiring his Pokémon said in awe.
Magnus suddenly felt a gentle tap on his shoulder and looked to see his Zorua. It must have escaped the girls without them even knowing.
He stole another look at the pichu.
Even with the threat of constant electrocution, He definitely envied Hermione.
He pushed his half-finished plate aside as he got up to leave. He had to check what that book said.
Edgar, however, chose that moment to make his announcement.
"First-years, stay behind… your morning lesson has been canceled."