Hearing Ripley snarling at something wasn't anything new for the two Blood Mages, but hearing it (Elizabeth hadn't been able to figure out what gender Ripley had despite having it as a pet for three years (she was actually starting to believe that Ripley's species simply didn't have genders in the more conventional sense)) snarling at something in the early morning wasn't something that the carapace-covered creature usually did and when it did snarl, it was usually at either a sign of trouble or Ripley simply not liking it (usually Patches in the latter case). The facts that not only did the two Blood Mages and Ripley know pretty much everyone in the village of Lordran, who usually didn't venture near the haunted mansion (which had previously belonged to the cruel man, who's name had apparently been Lothric, according to the ghosts haunting the place) and that the village of Lordran was basically in the middle of nowhere, meant that Ripley was snarling at a stranger, which prompted the Hunter and her apprentice to leave their respective rooms, fully armed, and meet the stranger before things escalated from Ripley simply snarling at them.
As the two Blood Mages opened the main door of the mansion they were greeted by the sight of a very short man, who was looking at the carapace-covered creature snarling at him with a look of caution. And the man really was shot, especially in comparison to Maria who, being from Yharnam (the country), was very tall. Elizabeth on the other hand was still rather short in comparison to most kids her age, even if she had more muscle mass than most due to the Hunter-training regimen she had been going through for the past five years. While the Hunter and her apprentice were suspicious of the very short man's presence at what they had come to consider their doorstep, the fact that he hadn't done anything to make Ripley angry, and as a result cause the carapace-covered creature to try and maul (and later eat) him, prompted Elizabeth to call her pet to her side with a low pitched whistle.
"Ripley! Come here! It's rude to snarl at people you've just met!" Exclaimed Elizabeth, causing her pet to run up to her and tackle her, making herself land on her butt as Ripley proceeded to lick her face, with the mouth that was on the carapace-covered creature's face and not the tail to be specific. "It's on the second or more time that you can immediately start snarling at them. Prime example: Patches. Now stop that! It tickles!"
"That's one strange creature." Muttered the short man as he watched the obvious (if very unusual) pet lick its owner's face with affection.
"I know. She's had that thing for three years and she's still not sure what gender it has… if it even has one in the conventional sense." Replied Maria while looking at her apprentice with a fond look on her face, before turning her attention towards the short man and changing her expression to one of seriousness. "Now… who the blazes are you?"
"My name is Filius Flitwick. I'm a professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I'm here to deliver an Elizabeth Potter's acceptance letter. Normally it's done by someone else but due to circumstances, it's me." Replied the short man, now known as Professor Flitwick.
"The school's name is hogwash?" Asked Elizabeth, who seemed to be not only holding back Ripley but also laughter. While Maria didn't outright laugh, her lips definitely twitched in amusement.
"It's Hogwarts, not hogwash." Replied Flitwick with a roll of his eyes. Apparently it wasn't the first time he's heard someone say that.
"Warty pigs aside, what has this to do with my apprentice?" Questioned Maria, who was subtly preparing to draw the Rakuyo if necessary. Namely by pulling a couple of strings that released the buttons that kept the blades on the Rakuyo in their scabbards, which were attached to the Hunter's left leg and wrist underneath Maria's coat, additions to her gear that she made over the years. The whole idea of being able to carry their weapons on their person while still learning their hands free and not drawing too much attention was actually Elizabeth's, who kept her Reiterpallasch strapped to her right thigh in its gun-form with a pair of hoops attached to a pair of belts. The hammer of the gun was thankfully not pulled back, which severely lessened the risk of the gun accidentally going off.
"Apprentice? Just who did you say you were again?"
"I didn't. But, you can refer to me as Maria of Cainhurst. A Hunter from Yharnam."
"A Hunter?"
"We're currently under the impression that the title of Hunter originated from the title of Huntsman and Huntress. And by we, I mean myself and my apprentice, Elizabeth here."
"Now those are titles that I haven't heard for some time. Unfortunately, the reason behind that is because of the fact that the Huntsman and Huntress professions aren't jobs most people have the drive to pursue in the current times." Replied Flitwick in a tone of nostalgia and slight disappointment.
"Well that's disappointing. Anyway, you said something about an acceptance letter for my apprentice."
"That's something I'd like to know as well." Stated Elizabeth as Ripley (finally) got off her, giving the short man a questioning look.
"Well, you were registered at Hogwarts very early in your life by your parents."
"The Potters or my birth parents?"
"What?"
"I'm adopted."
"Blood Adopted to be more specific, though since she's a Blood Mage and therefore somewhat resistant to Blood Magic not used by herself, the changes caused by the Blood Adoption Ritual weren't as complete as they normally would have been… supposedly at least, not that I've experienced one myself." Stated Maria with a somewhat thoughtful look on her face before shrugging. "No matter. Now, back to the topic at hand. Namely my apprentice and this hogwash-place."