Hogwarts: I Am Such a Model

In the wizarding world, mice are the cheapest of the designated pets at Hogwarts, so they naturally attract a wide range of young witches and wizards. However, most people opted for more charming varieties, like hamsters with their soft, beautiful fur and friendly temperaments, or black mice, known for their longer lifespan, and the white mice, which gave off a clean, pristine look.

But Kyle had never encountered anyone like this girl before—someone who favored a plain, common field mouse. What made it more puzzling was that she didn't appear to be short of money. After spending eleven years in the magical world, Kyle had learned to pick up on subtle details. The girl's clothes, while not flashy, were made from exceptionally fine fabrics, with intricate workmanship. The subtle but recognizable pattern on her cuff marked them as being from a extraordinary wizard wear shop, where even the simplest item started at twenty Galleons. It was far more expensive than Madame Malkin's, where most students shopped for their robes.

Clearly, this girl had no need for a "cheap" pet, yet here she was, devoted to her little field mouse. No wonder she's come to find me, Kyle thought, amused by the contrast.

The rat tonics from Diagon Alley were little more than glorified sugar water—essentially wizarding energy drinks for pets. They might give a small boost, but they weren't reliable for treating any real health problems. Considering her likely wealth, Kyle could only conclude that she had a genuine affection for her pet mouse. Her taste in pets is a bit unusual, he mused, though he kept his expression neutral.

After all, Kyle had seen much stranger things. The wizarding world was home to wizards who loved creatures far more terrifying than mice. For instance, some wizards favored enormous eight-eyed spiders—Acromantulas—that could grow to a horrifying size. Kyle had seen one of those creatures in Newt's trunk once, and it had nearly traumatized him. The thing was a walking nightmare, and it took Kyle a year to get over the shock enough to venture back into Newt's magical menagerie.

In comparison, it seemed perfectly reasonable for a young witch to be fond of a simple field mouse. As eccentric as her choice was, it paled next to the scarier creatures some wizards adored.

...

Kyle quickly retrieved a thumb-sized bottle from his suitcase and handed it over. "This one's on the house. If it works, come back for more, but I'll have to charge you then. It might be a bit pricey—one Sickle—but trust me, it's worth it."

"Thank you." Kanna took the bottle, but instead of leaving, she lingered, staring at the bottle in her hand and then back at Kyle, her face full of conflict.

Kyle raised an eyebrow, thinking she might be dissatisfied with the amount. "What's the matter? Do you think it's not enough?" he asked, explaining, "I'm not being stingy—it's just that we need to test it first. You only need two or three drops at a time, so this small bottle should last you about a month."

"No, that's not it," Kanna quickly replied, shaking her head. She hesitated for a moment, then, under Kyle and Cedric's curious gazes, whispered, "It's just... I wanted the red kind."

"The red kind?" Kyle repeated, puzzled.

At that moment, Cedric, who had been silently observing, realized what Kanna meant. The rat tonic in her hand was a cloudy orange-yellow, a little like mashed orange pudding, while the one Kyle had given Percy earlier had been a clear, brilliant red. It was the same tonic, but the difference in appearance was obvious—anyone could tell that the red one looked far superior.

Cedric's expression shifted as he glanced at Kyle, his suspicions confirmed. Typical Kyle, he thought, cutting corners like that. He'll definitely end up in Azkaban one day.

Meanwhile, Kanna seemed to come to a decision. She nervously reached into her small handbag and pulled out an ornate pouch. With a soft clink, a pile of gold Galleons tumbled onto the table—33 in total, along with a few Sickles.

Cedric's eyes widened in disbelief. He barely had ten Galleons to last him the entire term, and this girl casually dumped out three times that amount! His stomach churned with envy, though he tried to suppress it. After all, Cedric wasn't the type to obsess over money.

But Kanna's next move made it impossible for him to stay calm.

"Is that all I have?" Kanna murmured, looking disappointed as she bit her lip. "It's okay, I can always get more from Gringotts. As long as it helps keep Pocky alive a little longer, no amount of Galleons is too much."

No amount of Galleons is too much?! Cedric's jaw nearly dropped. Hearing such words from a first-year student felt surreal. Was this normal for someone from Slytherin? He was genuinely stunned by how casually she mentioned such a massive sum.

On the other hand, Kyle had no time to think about Cedric's reaction. His head was spinning as he looked at Kanna, who clearly believed in his supposed "miracle tonic." The real problem lay in her misunderstanding. Everyone knows rat tonic is supposed to be orange-yellow, he thought in frustration.

The bottle he had given Percy was different for a reason—it had been "spiked" with something special. A regular mouse would have probably keeled over if it drank from that bottle. But how could he explain that to Kanna without revealing the truth? She seemed to have taken Percy's words to heart, convinced that Kyle had some magical life-extending potion for rats.

Kyle was stuck. Unless he came clean about everything, there was no way he could explain why he didn't have the "red tonic" she was after.

"Well... Kanna, here's the thing," Kyle began, thinking quickly. "That special rat tonic—the red one—is actually too strong to be given directly. You need to strengthen the rat's constitution with regular tonic first before moving on to something like that."

Procrastinate, just procrastinate, Kyle thought. It was the only strategy he could think of for now. If he outright said he didn't have the red tonic or couldn't make it, there was a risk that Kanna might go looking for Newt Scamander herself. And with Newt being difficult to track down, but Dumbledore conveniently stationed at Hogwarts, things could spiral out of control. Everyone in the wizarding world knew how close Dumbledore and Newt were.

Given that Kanna was wearing high-end wizarding robes from Gladrags Wizardwear, there was no doubt she wasn't Muggle-born. If she went to Dumbledore with her request, she'd probably be able to meet Newt. That would open a can of worms Kyle wasn't prepared to deal with.

I really should have closed the door when Percy came, Kyle sighed inwardly.

Luckily, this wasn't an unsolvable problem. Kyle just needed to stall for time until the next Hogwarts holiday, when he could head to Dorset and visit Newt.

He recalled that Newt had once brewed a tonic for Murtlaps, magical creatures quite similar to field mice. Many of the mice sold in wizarding pet stores even carried traces of Murtlap blood, much like how cats and Kneazles shared a similar lineage. With a bit of dilution, the tonic could likely extend the lifespan of an ordinary mouse by a few years—enough to satisfy Kanna.

"I'll make sure to feed Pocky the tonic on time," Kanna replied, her expression full of trust and determination.

Kyle smiled reassuringly, trying to ease any lingering doubts. "Don't worry, everything will be fine." He reached into his bag and handed her a chocolate frog. "Here, have some chocolate—it'll make you feel better."

Kanna glanced at the chocolate frog, then quickly looked away, her hands clutching the hem of her robe nervously. She looked like a child receiving a gift at a holiday, clearly tempted but too shy to accept it.

"It's okay, take it," Kyle encouraged her with a laugh. "Consider it a little gift for meeting you. I hope we end up as classmates."

"Thank you..." Kanna whispered, blushing as she took the chocolate frog, though instead of eating it, she carefully tucked it away.