There was movement and chatter all over the hall as the rest of the school, save for the first years, began to head out.
Magnus took advantage of the resulting chaos.
With his Zorua clinging to his shoulders like a silent ghost, he took huge strides toward the Gryffindor table.
It wasn't hard to find Hermione alone, as she had isolated herself at the furthest end of the table. It was like she was afraid that if she sat too close to others, they would betray her secret.
"Hey," Magnus leaned and whispered over her shoulder.
She hadn't seen him coming, but to her credit, she did not react too surprised. Any sudden movement and the Pichu would likely shock itself again.
She, however, threw him the most unwelcoming look, probably hoping it would deter him.
"Listen," Magnus said in the same low voice. "You know what that is?"
She looked at him reluctantly, then shook her head. "I couldn't find a single mention of it in the books," she said, almost as if the very thought was insulting to her.
"Well, your Pokémon is a Pichu."
Her eyes lit up almost at once with that defiance he had seen so many times in the films. "No, it isn't. There is no mention of such a Pokémon."
He wanted to tell her there was no way she had mastered all the Pokémon in Scamander's book. That, however, was not a bet he would like to make. This was Hermione—she may very well have done it.
"It does release electric currents, doesn't it?"
That got her.
She gave him a long, silent look, and Magnus could see she was beginning to piece things together.
"What… you thought it was some kind of jinx?" he asked, seeing the realization on her face.
Hermione was now looking at her hatchling pitifully.
"How do you know?" she asked. "Have you ever seen one? Is it… normal?"
Magnus could have brought up his imaginary uncle once more, but looking around, he could see other students were beginning to dwindle inside the hall. There was no time.
"Yes… but I will tell you later. For now, I would go get some gloves and a scarf if possible… whatever you do, don't let it touch naked flesh." He turned to leave but recalled something.
"And Hermione, the Pichu can learn to control itself… but if you tell them, they will take it away."
They locked eyes long enough for him to see she had understood him.
She, too, got up from the table. He watched her pull the sleeves of her sweater over her hands before lifting the Pichu from the table and rushing out with the last of the senior students.
Magnus called a greeting to some Gryffindors, including Ron and Harry, who had been staring at them. He was, however, certain that they hadn't heard a thing.
He hadn't seen his three third-year friends, which made him wonder whether they had spent another late night in the Room of Requirement.
He ignored the stares of the Gryffindor first years and some of the Ravenclaws who had caught sight of the little exchange.
Several minutes later, Hermione returned.
She was dressed as if it were one of the worst winters—there was a thick golden scarf across her shoulders and a pair of black gloves.
Her Pichu was inside the basket that Hagrid had provided for them.
Students were glaring at her curiously as she walked back to the same spot she had been seated before.
Magnus smiled.
He had the Eevees and the Rockruff, and there was his Zorua. He patted the hatchling that was silent as a ghost on his shoulders, and if things went smoothly, he might just acquire a fifth Pokémon for his project.
His thoughts were, however, interrupted when he observed Professor McGonagall descending from the high table, accompanied by another quite smartly dressed lady.
Magnus had not seen this lady before, but from the way the two were chatting, he could tell they weren't strangers to each other.
"Gather around, everyone," the deputy headmistress called to them just as the huge figure of Hagrid came bursting through the double doors.
Magnus noticed that Hagrid's left hand was heavily covered with rough clothing, which he assumed was being used as makeshift bandages.
His face, however, gleamed with what Magnus could only assume was joy. If one were to say that one of his large fingers had been torn off by the blind Deino, they wouldn't be that far off.
"I'm sorry, professor, I ran a bit late at the daycare," he said to McGonagall as he joined the two ladies.
"On the contrary, you are just in time."
Hagrid turned to the new lady with a radiant smile.
"I see yer back, Mrs. Winston," he said, crushing the lady's hands in what should have been the gentlest of greetings.
Magnus noticed that the new lady actually winced when Hagrid finally released her hands.
"Well, it's always a pleasure to return to Hogwarts," she said as she stretched her fingers to restore the blood flow.
McGonagall cleared her throat noisily to draw the attention of the gathered first years.
"First, let me congratulate you on getting your starter Pokémon." She paused and scanned their curious faces over her glasses.
"I assume you are all wondering why we are here, so I will let our guest take over. Please, let's give her a warm welcome."
They all clapped as instructed, though it was more tense than excited.
When the lady stepped forward, though, Magnus could immediately tell that she was the most sociable person he had yet met in this world.
Her smile, her posture, her non-invasive stares—she was quite disarming…
Maybe that was good… or maybe not.
You see, if there was one thing he knew, it was never to trust appearances. Better a guy like Snape—you always knew where he stood in your books. It was the "you-can-trust-me" types that you had to be wary of. You just never knew what they were edging you toward until you were backed up against the wall, completely exposed.
"Thank you, professor, and thank you all for your heartwarming welcome," she said, throwing them that smile that had probably found its way into Witch Weekly alongside Gilderoy Lockhart's.
"I am Olena Winston, from the Ministry of Magic, Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures and Pokémon. Specifically, I'm from the Pokémon Affairs Division."
Bingo!
Magnus knew he had every reason to be wary of her.
The same department that had executed a hippogriff with barely a trial had sent a charming Pokémon lady?
Huh. He was all ears now.
It might not be anything serious, but she wasn't getting a grain of trust from him.
And it wasn't just him. His eyes found Hermione—and incidentally, she was looking at him at that very moment.
Magnus's gaze fell to the yellow Pokémon inside her basket. He could see that her hands were shaking.
She knew.
The lady might not have said it outright, but both Magnus and Hermione—and probably several others—knew exactly why she was here.
And for that reason, Hermione had to really control herself.
If her Pichu sensed her tension, it would react even worse. And if that happened, she wouldn't have a Pokémon by the time the ministry lady was done with them.
Magnus slowly edged toward her.
read 15 chapters ahead on p@treon.com /Realmsinus.... And now I am ready for stoning (*_*)