Don't Get it Wet
Hermione looked at the odd creature that sat in a cardboard box on the kitchen table. The little furry creature cooed as Neville tilted his head. Hermione nervously picked up the furry brown creature with white spots, his ears were pointy, but bare of fur. “Another creature Luna brought home from the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry?”
“Yeah, I’m not sure why someone would abandon it, it’s a bit friendly and adorable, not sure why she would end up with it.” Neville spoke as he scratched the little guy behind the ear.
“She leave any instructions? I’m used to her bringing work home, but she’s usually here to say how to care for the creatures if it’s something different.” Hermione looked at Neville.
Neville thought for a moment. “Umm, the only thing she said is not to let it get wet or feed it after midnight.”
Hermione blinked as she tilted her head. “That’s very vague, but I think we still have some kibble from when she brought home that jackalope.”
“I’m sure that will work until she gets home, she wasn’t specific on a diet, but I’m sure a few pieces should be fine until she gets home.” He spoke as he headed for the pantry where they kept a few pet items. “Here it is.” He opened the jar and took a few pieces out.
Hermione took a piece of the kibble and the little creature took it with its bare hands and nibbled lightly. “There we go.” She spoke letting out a giggle. “Maybe we should keep him in our room until Luna gets home.”
“You mean in it’s box?” Neville asked, a little unsure. “You don’t think Crookshanks would mess with him do you?”
Hermione tilted her head to the side. “I mean he’s not too terribly small, but she should be home before we go to bed. This is just to watch him for a few hours.” Hermione spoke as the little creature burped and looked up at Neville with his large brown eyes. “It’s like a little person.”
Neville looked at Hermione a little unsure, but nodded. “Yeah. It’ll be easy to keep an eye on him until she gets home. She’s probably trying to figure out where to take him.”
“Did she say what it was called?” Hermione asked, the little furry creature curled up in her arms and let out a yawn. His eyes closed and he was fast asleep.
Neville scratched behind the creature's left ear. “She said it was called a mogwai. I don’t remember learning anything about it in school when Hagrid taught us, but I highly doubt it’s even on the XXXX Classification by the Ministry of Magic.”
“I mean we don’t know for sure, looks can be deceiving,” Hermione spoke a bit cautiously even though he was already fast asleep in her arms. “Grab his box and will put him to bed in our room for now.”
Neville nodded as he took the box from the kitchen table, and he followed Hermione upstairs and past the large Christmas tree near the fireplace. “You think it will only be for a few hours? It’s a few days before Christmas, and the place she might be able to take it to might not be open or limited on staff. What if we get stuck with this adorable guy?”
Hermione carefully opened their bedroom door. “Yes.” Neville stepped in and placed the box next to the desk on the other side of the room. Hermione carefully laid the mogwai in the box and covered him in the blue baby blanket that was in the box. “There we go. Just like putting a baby to bed.”
Neville blinked. “Really?”
“No, not really.” Hermione laughed a little bit. “It’s just a figure of speech.” She gave his cheek a peck. “I’m going to take a shower, do you think you can watch him?”
“Of course. I got to go over a few cases, they think that might be an underground movement for dragon eggs again. Something about some rogue wizards wanting to start an uprising.” Neville spoke.
“When are you going to apply for the Herbology position? Professor Sprout is thinking about retiring from what Headmistress McGonagall has said. I think you would be much happier in that position.” Hermione spoke sadly. “I know you want to prove yourself, but I know you're not happy there.”
“It’s good money though.” He took a seat at the desk.
“You are so much better with plants though, we would be ok if you decided to apply for the position.” Hermione let out a sigh. “We all have stepping stones, it’s not like I will work in the Misuse for Muggle Artifacts office forever, I plan to keep going up. I’m going to make big changes when I get there.” She smiled.
“I still don’t know. What if I’m not good at it, being a professor.” He was a little unsure. Crookshanks jumped up on the desk and sat on his folders. “Hey get down,” Neville spoke as he moved his hand to get him off the desk without having to pick him up. Crookshanks glared at Neville as he stood and moved to the edge of the desk and started to tap the glass that was left there from last night. The cat swatted slightly at the glass.
Hermione and Neville froze. “Crookshanks no,” Hermione whispered out as she took a couple of steps toward the desk. Crookshanks placed his right paw on the glass and tapped it again. Hermione stopped.
Neville moved to grab Crookshanks only to have Crookshanks jump towards Neville who ended up smacking the glass off the desk. Crookshank jumped down and ran off. Screaming could be heard from the box. Hermione and Neville went to the box quickly and saw the little creature crying and shaking with his back up. Hermione went to pick up the creature only to have Neville stop her.
Little furry balls bounced from within the mogwai's back. “What’s happening to him?” Hermione spoke as another ball of fur shot from the small creature’s back.
“It got wet, Luna said he couldn’t get wet.” Neville started to gather up the little balls that were starting to get bigger. He placed four furry balls on the bed. As Hermione reached down and picked up the mogwai that stopped screaming and shaking. Hermione watched as the little balls turned into smaller versions of the creature she held in her arms. “…. Did it just have babies?” Neville spoke looking at the little mogwais on the bed.
“….. I think so?” Hermione looked at the creatures unsure of what had happened. “If he did this isn’t good. How are we going to explain this to Luna?”
“Tell her your cat is an arse.” Neville spoke as he looked back at Hermione.
Hermione only glared. “Technically your clumsy arse knocked the glass over onto the mogwai. If you hadn’t have jumped at Crookshanks the water wouldn’t have been knocked over.”
The little mogwais cooed as a couple tried to stand while the other two sat looking up at the two. “I mean, maybe we can just say it had babies naturally?” Neville went to reach down to pick one up. One watched him and let out a low growl only to have him step back.
“I think Luna would know how he reproduces, I love her for being aloof, but she’s not dumb when it comes to these creatures she takes care of.” Hermione’s voice was soft as she watched Neville nervously trying to pick up one of the babies. “I think we are going to need a bigger box.”