"Aren't you new here? I haven't seen you around before," the Hufflepuff student asked with a friendly smile.

I smiled and said, "Yes, I just got here. My name is Charles Nielsen, and I'm a first-year student."

"I'm Hannah Abbott, second-year." The Hufflepuff introduced herself. "If you need any help navigating the castle or anything, just let me know. Hufflepuffs are known for being particularly friendly and helpful, you know." She said with a giggle.

I flashed a smile, knowing that my words needed to be chosen carefully. "I have been feeling a little under the weather, and frankly, I feel a little homesick," I said with a melancholic and disarming tone. "Because of that, I haven't been able to pay close attention to everything that has been going on recently. So, I was hoping you could tell me a little bit more about what has been going on here at Hogwarts."

Hannah's face softened with sympathy. "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Hogwarts can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers. Well, you might have heard that there have been some strange occurrences happening around here. Some students have been disappearing, and no one knows where they're going."

I furrowed my eyebrows in concern. Concern for myself that is. "Disappearing? That's terrible. Has anyone found out what's causing it?"

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Hannah shook her head. "No, not yet. The teachers have been investigating, but they haven't found anything. Some people think it might have to do with the Forbidden Forest, but no one's sure."

I nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, thank you for filling me in. I'll have to be careful while I'm here."

Hannah smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, Charles. Just stick with us Hufflepuffs, and we'll make sure you stay safe."

"Thank you, Hannah. I really appreciate that," I replied, keeping my tone friendly and grateful. I needed to gather as much information as I could without raising suspicion.

"By the way, do you know where I can find some books about enchanted trinkets? I've always been interested in them," I said, trying to steer the conversation toward my main objective.

Hannah's smile grew wider, almost laughing, as she knew that the amount of questions a first-year had was never-ending. "Sure! The Hogwarts library has a great selection. You'll find everything you need there. The section for books on enchanted trinkets would likely be in the Charms section. However, it's always best to ask the librarian for assistance in finding a specific book."

"Thanks, Hannah. You've been really helpful," I said with genuine gratitude.

"No problem at all, Charles. Let me know if you need anything else," she said, still smiling.

I nodded and watched as she walked away. My mind was already racing with new possibilities and plans. I needed to find those books on enchanted trinkets and do some research on my own. But I also needed to be careful. The last thing I wanted was to draw attention to myself or raise suspicion among the teachers, or worse, Dumbledore.