For weeks now, I have not been able to get Newt Scamander and his fabulous suitcase out of my mind. It's high time I wrote my first Fantastic Beasts fanfic! Starring Niffler. :)
. . .
He never was able to choose a favorite creature, but so many came close.
His Niffler? Newt smiled to himself. Nosing, naughty nuisance, but loveable all the same. A small, miserly, innocent-looking scavenger of all things shiny- Newt's residence was dull and void of anything that caught the light after his Niffler had wandered in hot pursuit of a few Galleons left on the wooden desk.
Not just money, either. Newt had no idea where the diamonds had come from, but the Niffler's nest was cluttered with them, filling the wizard with strong suspicions. The Niffler denied the accusations fervently, insisting the jewels were his with a squeal of indignation and a protective precaution, scooping his shinies closer to him. Newt hadn't the heart to take them away. Nifflers would be Nifflers, after all.
Until the bank incident, Newt's Niffler hadn't had much opportunity to go treasure hunting. Newt had always tried to keep a watchful eye on his mischievous creature, but there had been many short unplanned adventures nevertheless. Fortunately, most were not in too public of places. Always he had managed to apprehend his Niffler before things got out of hand, returning the few stolen valuables to their bewildered or angry owners with a quick and quiet apology and a hasty exit.
However, America presented too tempting an environment for a money-loving beast. The Niffler had a special knack for squirming through tight spaces, but not even Newt had figured that the tiny escape artist could slip out of the suitcase.
There wasn't time for planning. Only Newt realized just how much damage a Niffler could do, though he had tried time and time again to dissuade his stubborn creature from stealing.
When a Niffler's nose was on a gold rush, nothing stopped him. Speedy, efficient, and clever, these beasts were masters of thievery. Newt sighed. He hated punishing his creatures, though by Merlin's beard, if any deserved a stern correction, it was the Niffler.
The cries of injustice declared by the criminal when he was finally arrested and deprived of his stolen goods caused a grin to grow on Newt's face in spite of himself. Perhaps the loss of such hard-earned gold was reward enough for his disobedient creature.
A new Occamy chick, safely in the case and shut tight. Newt's mind was brimming, but there was no time yet for much thought. He shoved the Niffler into his coat to keep him still, and the little beast struggled.
Newt glanced around him at the Petrified Muggle, the non-Petrified Muggle, the opened vault, and the mess of gold.
No time to fix this properly. He didn't dare linger.
As he Apparated, the only thought running through his head was the bizarre but scarily true fact: "New York, beware the Niffler."
. . .
Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!