Sneaky

Sneaky was the name given to a male Niffler by Ron Weasley during his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Niffler was one of two used by Lee Jordan to cause chaos in the office of High Inquisitor Dolores Umbridge. Sneaky's primary significance lies in his role as a tool of rebellion for Dumbledore's Army against Umbridge's oppressive regime.

In the spring of 1996, during a period of intense rebellion against Dolores Umbridge's authority, Lee Jordan levitated two Nifflers through her office window using a Levitation Charm. The creatures proceeded to wreak havoc, tearing the room apart in their search for shiny objects. Harry Potter witnessed Umbridge attempting to deal with the chaos, getting bitten by one of the Nifflers in the process. Later, Ron Weasley managed to catch one of the Nifflers. He tucked the creature inside his school robes and affectionately named him “Sneaky”. Ron was delighted with Sneaky, who had managed to steal a Fanged Frisbee from Umbridge's office, and expressed a desire to keep him. However, Hermione Granger insisted that keeping Sneaky was cruel and irresponsible, as Nifflers are highly destructive. She convinced Ron to turn the creature over to Rubeus Hagrid for proper care. Ron reluctantly agreed, and Sneaky was subsequently taken to live with Hagrid.

As a Niffler, Sneaky is described as being black and fluffy with a long snout. Like all members of his species, he would have possessed a pouch on his stomach with an Undetectable Extension Charm, allowing him to store a vast quantity of stolen treasures. Sneaky's personality is typical of a Niffler: he is single-minded and relentless in his pursuit of anything glittering or shiny. This drive makes him incredibly destructive, as he will burrow through and destroy any obstacle to get to a valuable object. He was described as looking “gleeful” while wrecking Umbridge's office. Despite this, he showed a gentle side when caught by Ron, snuggling contentedly inside his robes.

• Treasure-Hunting Instinct: Sneaky possessed the innate and powerful ability common to all Nifflers to locate and acquire shiny objects and treasures.
• Burrowing: He was a capable burrower, a skill Nifflers use when hunting for treasure underground.
• Magical Pouch: Sneaky had a magical pouch on his belly that could hold a large number of stolen items, far exceeding its external dimensions.

While Sneaky did not have official possessions, he temporarily acquired a number of items from Dolores Umbridge's office. The only item explicitly mentioned that he stole was a confiscated Fanged Frisbee.

• Ron Weasley: Ron was Sneaky's temporary owner and the one who named him. He was very fond of the Niffler and wanted to keep him as a pet before Hermione Granger intervened.
• Lee Jordan: The student who unleashed Sneaky and another Niffler into Dolores Umbridge's office as an act of rebellion.
• Dolores Umbridge: The victim of Sneaky's destructive rampage. Her office was torn apart by him and the other Niffler.
• Hermione Granger: She acted as the voice of reason, pointing out the danger and cruelty of keeping a Niffler in the Gryffindor Tower and insisted Ron give him to Rubeus Hagrid.
• Rubeus Hagrid: The Care of Magical Creatures professor who became Sneaky's caretaker after Ron gave him up.

The name “Sneaky” was given by Ron Weasley and is a direct reference to the creature's nature and the context in which he was found. The Niffler was used in a “sneaky” prank against Dolores Umbridge, and the species itself is known for its sneaky ability to pilfer valuables.

While Sneaky is a minor character appearing only in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the Niffler species gained immense popularity following the release of the *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* film series. The film's protagonist, Newt Scamander, has a mischievous and central Niffler companion named Teddy, who shares many of the same destructive yet endearing traits as Sneaky. (film)