After the detention ended, Charlie bid farewell to everyone and returned to the Hufflepuff common room with Judy.
Warm lamplight spilled over the yellow decorations, and a few senior students were still discussing Spell homework in the corner.
Charlie walked straight to his dormitory.
Pushing open the door, Ernie and Justin were already asleep.
Charlie quietly went to the bathroom, gave Judy a bath, then dried him and placed him on the bed.
The little guy curiously surveyed his new surroundings, his black bean-like eyes darting around.
He saw the brass lamp on Charlie's bedside table, and his eyes instantly became fervent.
"Don't even think about it," Charlie pressed Judy's head down.
"Let's set some ground rules first."
Judy tilted his little head, displaying an innocent expression.
Charlie sat on the edge of the bed, his tone serious:
"First, no stealing. Second, no dismantling things. Third, you can only pick up things that have fallen on the ground and are unwanted."
Judy blinked his eyes, playing dumb.
Charlie's face instantly darkened, and his voice became chilling:
"If I catch you stealing..."
"Then everything you stole will be confiscated, and you'll be locked in a dark room. There won't be anything shiny."
Upon hearing this, Judy's little body shivered.
He imagined a pitch-black little room with no shiny treasures at all, and immediately hung his head and nodded dejectedly.
"That's a good boy."
"Go play with Storm," Charlie pointed to Storm on the windowsill.
Judy jumped off the bed and hopped towards the windowsill.
Storm was standing there preening his feathers, and looked up when he heard the movement.
A Giant Owl, a tiny Niffler.
Judy looked at Storm's massive size, swallowed, and thought, "Play what? Play with me?"
Storm looked down at him, letting out a low "hoot," which was a greeting.
Then he continued preening his feathers, showing no interest in this new roommate.
Charlie finished his ablutions and quickly fell asleep in bed.
Night deepened.
Judy secretly peeked at Charlie in bed, and after confirming he was sound asleep, quietly jumped down from the windowsill.
Storm, with wide eyes, watched Judy tiptoe towards the door.
However, he didn't stop him, but instead flew out the window.
The female Owls in the Owlery were still waiting for him tonight; he had no energy to bother with this Flat-Mouthed Rat.
Judy tiptoed out and scurried around the corridor.
The Hufflepuff dormitory area was large, and Judy arrived in front of another dormitory room.
Judy squeezed through the door crack and entered the room.
Moonlight streamed through the window, and something sparkling on the floor immediately caught his attention.
A silver fork had fallen on the ground, with cake crumbs still clinging to its tip. It looked like a Young Wizard who had been having a late-night snack had accidentally dropped it.
Judy's eyes instantly lit up.
This was on the ground!
He let out two soft squeaks, so quiet that one couldn't hear them without listening carefully.
Does anyone want it? If not, I'll take it.
Only even snores responded to him in the room.
Judy waited a few more seconds, and after confirming no one responded, he quickly pounced and stuffed the silver fork into his large stomach pouch.
He hadn't broken any rules! This thing was indeed on the ground and unwanted!
Having succeeded, Judy happily continued searching the room. There was a glittering crystal ball under the bed, and a mirror in the corner... These were all on the ground.
Judy busied himself for most of the night, his little pouch bulging, and then contentedly snuck back to Charlie's dormitory.
Early the next morning.
"Where's my fork?"
"Who saw my crystal ball?"
"Damn it, who stole my underwear!"
Noisy sounds came from the common room, waking Charlie.
He groggily opened his eyes. Judy was sleeping soundly beside him, and Storm was slumped on the windowsill, looking utterly spiritless.
Ernie and Justin were also woken up, and the three of them put on their robes and walked out of the dormitory.
The common room was in chaos, with a dozen students gathered, arguing loudly.
"My silver spoon is gone too."
"And my hairpin."
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