Inside his cosy lair, nestled atop a throne made from coins, a few pairs of Sebastian's socks and one suspiciously pilfered tie, the teal-furred menace slowly blinked awake as William's voice filtered in through the closet doors.
One paw curled lazily around his golden rubber duckie, the other pressed into a particularly delightful emerald brooch. Nosy smacked his beak, yawned a tiny, squeaky yawn, and stretched one leg out.
Then he heard it again. That mumsy voice.
"Nosy~ I got you some tasty milk with honey and cream! Nosy~ Come out!"
The Niffler's nose twitched.
Nosy sat bolt upright, which sent the tower of coins beneath him jiggling. His eyes darted toward the door, his beak sticky from last night's biscuit raid, and gave a little sniff. The promise of something sweet trickled into his brain like syrup on warm toast.
Ah yes. There it was. The smell of indulgence.
With an elegant leap, he flung one of the wardrobe doors open, a puff of glitter dust bursting out behind him like confetti. There he stood - the Teal King himself, in all his glory! Head held high, belly pouch slightly puffed, his tail giving a confident wiggle.
But just as he took his first step out, he halted.
Glancing back over his shoulder, Nosy turned back with a huff, grabbed his golden duckie, and set it down at the threshold with a solemn pat on the head. Only once the duck was positioned, watching over his treasures, did the teal-furred troublemaker spin on his heel, squinting suspiciously toward the source of that oh-so-sweet offer. If this was some kind of trap to get him a bathโฆ there better be a biscuit too..
The bowl of milk, though, was magnificent. It steamed slightly. It sparkled faintly. It smelt like heaven.
Nosy did not hesitate and dove in.
Once the bowl was empty - licked clean, flipped twice, and double-checked for any missed drops - the fluffy menace flopped back onto his bum with a satisfied grunt. A teeny, dignified burp escaped his milk-glazed beak.
Then he paused. Something felt different...
Nosy blinked slowly. A specific glint started to sparkle in the Niffler's eyes. His fur ruffled slightly as a breeze that didn't exist passed through the room. And then, barely audible, in a whisper the Niffler leaned forward and murmured:
Instead, a cheeky little smirk slowly spread across his furry little face - a smug, knowing curve of mischief and menace. It was a look the Slytherin knew far too well. The same look Nosy had when he decided to snatch Sebastian's magic stick. Or when he vanished for three hours and returned wearing someone else's Prefect badge and smelling faintly of smoke.
He didn't say another word, just stared at Will with the look of a creature who had plans. Very specific plans.
Without breaking eye contact, the little menace turned and began to waddle out of the room at a leisurely pace.
Right before slipping through the door, Nosy paused, lifted one tiny paw to his beak and gestured a soft, ominous:
