Wow. Peyton had almost forgot what it was like to look at creatures through the eyes of a child. "Miss Duvessa, creatures don't have the same concept of family as we humans do. They don't exactly find mates, and as a matter of fact, it's highly likely that your rat and the baby you keep will even realize they are related," she tried to explain. She didn't really want to bust the child's bubble, but part of her job as a professor was to teach the facts.

"Which brings me to the answer to your question," she added.

"Yes, the school will allow you to keep one baby," she said. "What do you plan to do with the others?" She would suggest selling the others to a pet store, but that was just her. Maybe the child had a parent who'd come collect the others to be sold in Diagon Alley...