The Adventures of Laney Scamander: Lost In Time

Chapter 8-Nargles and Nifflers

The Scamanders and Jaxson and Addison reached the grass hill where their Portkey sat. Rolf checked his watch. "It appears we came just in time, the Portkey leaves in 60 seconds!" he said. "Now everyone, grab on." "Here we go again." Addison said with a nervous look on her face. Everyone grabbed onto the Portkey, and before they knew it, they were launched back from where they had left off earlier in the day.

"Yeah, safe to say that Portkeys definitely aren't my thing." said Addison, covering her mouth as to not throw up. "They're definitely not the best way to travel, but it's a bit quicker than broomstick." said Luna.

After a trencurious journey, they made their way back home. "Everyone can go off and have individual time now, but only if you'd like." Luna said. Laney and Addison decided to go outside. The twins and Jaxson followed. "So, want to go hunt for Nargles?" Lysander asked. "Sure! But, how exactly do you catch a Nargle?" Addison asked, full of curiosity.

"Well, you don't actually hunt for one. You're not supposed to keep animals in cages. I suppose it'd just be, we go off and look for some, and try not to scare them away." said Lorcan. "Laney, don't forget your camera this time so you can prove to Slughorn that Nargles are real!" Laney nodded. "Yes, right! I totally forgot about the camera." she said, rushing inside. A few seconds later, she exited with a yellow vintage camera. "Why do you need to prove to Slughorn that Nargles are real exactly?" Addison asked.

"Because he thinks I'm a nut. In second year my Potions homework went missing, most likely from the Nargles. I tried to explain that it was their fault, but he wouldn't listen, and gave me detention." said Laney, recalling the memory.

"Miss Scamander, where is your paper on Mistletoe Berries?" Professor Slughorn asked. "I'm telling you sir, the Nargles have taken it!" said Laney. The class erupted with laughter. Slughorn looked at Laney, smiling. "Now Laney, you know there is no such creature of the kind!" "Yes there is, we just haven't discovered it yet!" Laney said, persisting that the idea of Nargles was real. Slughorn gave her a stern look. "You can't blame everything on these mythical creatures. Now, unfortunately, I am going to have to give you a detention for causing commotion and not turning in your assignment on time." "But professor, I'm sure Nargles are real, and I'm sure they stole my work too, I just know it! Plus, my mum-"

"Your mum is crazy! She doesn't know what she's talking about!" said a Gryffindor student. "Yes she does! She's the smartest woman I know!" Laney said in defense. "Everyone, let's all just settle down now." said Slughorn. "Please professor, I haven't done anything wrong!" Laney said, trying to save herself from detention. "I promise that I did the paper, but the Nargles-" "That's quite enough Scamander!" Slughorn said sternly. The whole class then went silent, including Laney, who lowered her head in embarrassment. "Now, let's move on with the lesson, shall we?"

"Right, well let's go then!" said Lysander. Everyone agreed, and the five of them set off into the forest. "So, we're going to have to find some mistletoe. There's usually some on a few of these trees here." said Lorcan. "Mistletoe? In the middle of summer?" Jaxson asked. "Mistletoe blooms in the spring and holds off in the summer. Nargles sort of help pollinate it in a way, though it doesn't mean they aren't nasty little creatures. They stole mum's shoes one time!" Lysander said.

"Right, well they should be around here somewhere. Keep quiet though, best not to scare them away. I'm afraid we're going to have to make a few charms after this as to not infest the house." Lorcan said frowning. The five of them crept closer and closer to the tree containing the mistletoe, and soon enough they were close enough to see tiny little creatures dancing around the mistletoe. Laney quickly got out her camera and took a few pictures of the creatures.

"Wow!" said Addison in a hushed voice. The five of them watched the Nargles, ever so amazed. Lorcan pulled out a pocket notebook and began to take notes. He took a step closer for a better look, but SNAP! A branch broke. The Nargles stopped dancing and looked over at the five. They seemed to be very disturbed, and before they knew it, they were flying over at them. "Run!" shouted Jaxson.

The three began running uphill, afraid of what would happen if they stopped. "We're definitely going to need a charm now!" said the twins in usion. "What do you think will happen if we stop?" Addison asked. "I don't know, and I don't want to stick around to find out!" Jaxson said. As they continued to run up to the house, Laney looked down at her pictures. "Take that Slughorn, I told you I'm not crazy!"

Eventually, the five got up to the house and slammed the door shut. Rolf looked up from his book, looking at them with a curious expression. "Nargles." Lysander said, trying to catch his breath. Rolf nodded. "So, you spotted some?" he asked. "We did, and they're so cool!" Jaxson said. "That's the spirit mate." said Lysander nudging Jaxson. "I'll whip us up some charms then." Lorcan said, making his way to a cabinet full of things needed to make such things. "Where's mum? She'd be better at this than me."

"She's in the back garden. You guys should go see her, I think you'll like what's out there." Rolf said smiling. "But the Nargles!" exclaimed Lysander. "The Nargles won't get you, I'll hold them off." said Rolf. After a bit of convincing, the five of them finally made their way out to the back garden and was greeted by Luna. "Oh good, I'd hope you'd come out here! Come on, I've got something to show you all." Luna said, gesturing for them to follow her.

They all followed Luna into another part of the forest. The air felt humid and the ground was soft. "Right over here!" said Luna. She kneeled down and pulled out a few shiny objects from her pockets. Soon, a swarm of Nifflers rushed over. Luna picked one of them up, and reached into its pocket where shiny items are typically stored. Addison quickly looked away. "Are you sure we're supposed to watch you do this? My parents might not like me seeing this."

Luna laughed. "It's okay, you can look now. Behold, a baby Niffler! Just came into this world an hour or two ago." Luna was holding what appeared to be a hairless platypus. "That's so cute!" exclaimed Laney. Lysander nodded. "In all my years of living, I've never actually seen a hairless Niffler." Jaxson said. "Well, it doesn't have any hair right now since it's just been born, but in a few weeks it will grow a nice, shiny coat." Luna said. "Wow, amazing!" Addison said, amazed by the tiny creature. "Yes, but I must put it back now, don't want it to get too cold."

Luna slipped the newborn Niffler into it's mother's pouch and sat the mother down and gave it a necklace. The mother Niffler took the necklace gratefully and hurried off. "Well, that was fun!" Luna said, standing up and brushing herself off. "I'm going to go off and work on getting the food prepared. I think we'll have pudding for dessert tonight!" Luna exclaimed. She hurried off towards the house, with Lorcan following after her. "Mum, can you please help me with making charms! We saw actual Nargles today, and they followed up after us!"

"Well, I better go up there with him. Come on Jaxson, I'll teach you how to repel Nargles!" said Lysander. Jaxson nodded, and the two of them hurried up after Luna and Lorcan, leaving Addison and Laney. "So, do you also want to go learn how to repel Nargles?" Laney asked, not sure what else to do. "Yeah, okay! Sounds fun!" exclaimed Addison. Laney smiled, then the two of them made their way back up to the house.

"Okay everyone, grab a cork and screw, then place the screw into the cork." said Luna. Everyone did so, and moved on. "Now, pick up your wands and say 'Repellere Nargles'." Jaxson paused. "But, we aren't allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts." "Now the rule is you're not allowed to use magic outside of Hogwarts in front of muggles." Luna said. Jaxson nodded, and hesitantly picked up his wand and performed the spell. "Right, after you've done that, feel free to pick out any color of string and wrap it around your screw. Then, put the necklace on, and you're free from Nargles!" said Luna joyfully. Lorcan picked out a dark blue yarn, Lysander picked out a light blue yarn, Jaxson picked out a green yarn, Addison picked out a pink yarn, and Laney picked out a purple yarn.

"Are you going to make one mum?" Laney asked. Luna shook her head. "No, I don't think I will today, my charm collection is already starting to pile up." she said. Laney nodded, and put on her charm. Luna smiled and rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a camera. "Everyone, pile in now, you all look so wonderful with your charms! I must take a picture!" Everyone scooted in and smiled, then CLICK! Their picture was taken. Luna took the picture and waited for it to develop. She then took a look at it."Wonderful!" she said smiling. "Now you all are repelled from Nargles for good!"