New chapter is live.
Settle in, take your time, and let’s see what waits in the dark 🖤
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There were enough seats in the compartment, but the little table between them was quickly swallowed by Steve’s things.
Books, notes, small jars, a few feather fans whose origins Callan did not want to guess, and that broken Sneakoscope were all piled together in a way that made Lily keep shifting Balian farther from the mess.
Steve did not seem to notice.
Once he realized Callan was genuinely interested in magical creatures, he lit up.
“My dad is actually very careful about what he publishes,” Steve said, tapping the cover of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
“If he only suspects something, he usually leaves it out until he can prove it. Otherwise people start treating guesses as fact, and then the Ministry makes rules based on them. That is how accidents happen.”
“Then you must know quite a few things the book doesn’t say,” Callan said.
Steve immediately looked proud.
“A few.”
Snape’s mouth tightened.
He clearly disliked Steve’s easy confidence, but Lily looked curious enough that he stayed quiet.
“Chimaeras are dangerous enough that the Ministry rates them XXXXX,” Steve said.
“But Kneazles are stranger.”
He lowered his voice.
“My family keeps three. Once, I heard them discussing how to improve their treatment. The very next day, Mum bought them better climbing frames and expensive cushions – softer than the sofa in my room, even softer than my pillow.”
“Climbing frames?” Snape asked.
“The cushions,” Steve said indignantly.
“I do not even have cushions that good.”
Lily hugged Balian closer.
“That does not prove a conspiracy.”
Balian’s ears twitched.
Callan noticed.
So did Steve.
“See?” Steve pointed at her with immediate excitement.
“That is what I mean. Kneazles understand far more than most people admit. They can identify suspicious people, they are very independent, and they almost always know exactly how to make wizards do what they want.”
Lily frowned.
“Balian is not manipulating anyone.”
Balian blinked at Steve with an expression that was far too calm for an ordinary kitten.
Steve leaned back slowly.
“That is exactly what a manipulated wizard would say.”
“Steve.”
“No, listen. It makes sense.” Steve grew more animated the longer he spoke.
“Kneazles have spent generations training wizards to feed them, protect them, praise them, and treat them as family. They do it with cuteness. It is a perfect long-term strategy.”
Snape stared at him as if he had finally found someone more socially hopeless than Callan.
Callan, however, looked at Balian with sudden seriousness.
“A secret magical-creature conspiracy.”
“Exactly,” Steve said, delighted.
“Callan,” Lily warned.
Callan ignored her and reached out, gently lifting Balian from Lily’s arms.
The half-Kneazle froze, then fixed him with a sharp orange stare.
“Hm.” Callan held her under the front legs and inspected her gravely.
“Suspicious.”
“Put her down!”
Lily snatched Balian back.
The little cat immediately buried herself against Lily’s robes, though her tail lashed with silent fury.
“You scared her,” Lily said angrily.
“That is also part of the strategy,” Steve said.
“Make the wizard feel guilty.”
“There is no strategy.”
“Then why do you feel guilty?”
Lily looked as if she might throw a Chocolate Frog at him.
Callan sat back, thoroughly entertained.
“Is this why you did not bring a pet to Hogwarts?”
“Yes.” Steve nodded with complete sincerity.
“If I brought a Kneazle, I might not be myself by Christmas.”
“You could have brought something else,” Callan said.
“My father would not allow it.”
For a moment, everyone looked at the trunk full of magical items Steve had already shown them.
Steve coughed.
“He draws the line at living creatures.”
“A wise man,” Snape muttered.
Callan looked at Balian again.
“So can you understand her?”
Steve’s expression grew solemn.
He leaned toward the half-Kneazle, listened for a moment, and then said, “She says if Lily cannot protect her, Snape should. Otherwise she will reveal Snape’s secret.”
Snape’s face changed at once.
“Give her to me.”
He reached for Balian with a panic that made Lily stare.
Callan laughed and tossed the half-Kneazle into Snape’s arms before Lily could stop him.
Balian landed lightly, then looked up at Snape with eyes that seemed far too knowing.
“Good thing I did not buy a pet,” Callan said.
Lily’s face flushed.
“Steve Scamander, you are not allowed near Balian again.”
“They’ve moved on to divide-and-conquer tactics,” Steve whispered.
Lily ignored him and lowered her voice to Balian.
“Do not talk to strangers. Especially not Steve Scamander. And do not tell anyone what I told you.”
Snape looked down at the cat in his arms.
For one brief, serious moment, he considered whether Balian had become a threat that needed to be removed.
Balian looked back.
Snape silently gave up.
Across from them, Steve had already gone back to fiddling with the Sneakoscope.
“If this really broke on the first day, my allowance is finished.”
Callan glanced at the dark-blue Occamy-skin ribbon on his wrist again, then at the broken glass top in Steve’s hands.
Steve’s talent for finding trouble was already obvious.
And for some reason, Callan had the distinct feeling Hogwarts was about to become much more entertaining.
Just then, the compartment door opened again, and the trolley witch’s smiling face appeared outside.
“Anything from the trolley, dears?”
Snape immediately lowered his head.
Callan stood up without hesitation.
“Some of everything,” he said.
“My treat.”
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Want to keep going?
I hope this chapter gave you another reason to stay with the story.
There’s still plenty ahead, and things are only starting to unfold.