Chapter 123 - – Fang (1/2)
The next morning Terry committed the error of commenting on Tiffany's slightly swollen face to only suddenly and rather painfully find himself covered in boils. Needless to say, the boys in Slytherin gave Tiffany an ample roundabout after that. Beyond that things remained much the same with the occasional peeking of Tiffany at her future intended in Potions. Vespucci largely ignored Tiffany's glances as either he was still unaware of their future marriage or was simply electing not to react to her periodic glances.
Either way time quickly passed as October arrived spreading a damp chill over the grounds and castle. Madam Pomfrey was kept busy by a sudden brought of colds among the staff members and students. Those feeling slightly ill were given Pepperup Potions that worked instantly though left the drinker smoking out of their ears several hours afterward.
Regulus was one such case. He'd been looking rather pale for a few days and was instantly dragged away by Bethanie to the infirmary to see Madame Pomfrey. Unable to escape from the gazes of the two fierce females Regulus was forced to take the potion. The steam pouring out of his ears for hours caused the impression of his insides about to explode.
Raindrops the size of bullets thundered on the castle windows for days on end. Under the gray sky the lake rose, the flower beds turned into muddy streams, and Hagrid's' pumpkins swelled to the size of garden sheds. The air was beginning to feel crisp as the bitter chill of October slowly crept up. And one clear evening, Rowan was dragged outside for a walk by Severus and Lily.
Grumbling Rowan said, ”I don't see why I have to go and see Hagrid.”
”Because he's nice and he's our friend,” Lily plainly stated as she kept a tight grip on Rowan's arm lest she tries to slip away, which Rowan had attempted to twice already.
”Says you,” Rowan muttered under her breath as Severus flashed his twin a triumphant smirk and tightened his hold on her other arm. ”It smells like mold out here,” Rowan complained as they passed the mossy rocks by the overflowing lake.
Refraining themselves from rolling their eyes at Rowan antics, Lily says, ”Oh look, we're almost there!” Only twenty feet from the gamekeeper's cabin, Hagrid's front door opened. ”I saw y'all from the window,” Hagrid beamed. ”Come in for a cuppa of tea and homemade treacle toffee.”
Rowan pales at the sound of that and digs her feet into the ground to no avail. Lily and Severus drag the very unwilling figure of Rowan inside of the one-roomed cabin. Beyond the threshold of the cabin is an enormous bed in a corner, and a merry fire crackling in the other.
Take a seat on a lumpy couch, Hagrid grabs the whistling kettle and begins bustling about to make them tea. From under the bed, a soft whine can be heard as a scarred pup whined. Curious the large black puppy emerged from underneath the bed with its tail wagging. ”Ah, how cute,” Lily said as she motioned for the puppy to come over.
The boarhound puppy happily trotted over and slobbered all over Lily's hand as Severus and Rowan both sniffed and leaned away in disgust. Although Rowan's eyes did linger more a few moments on the black boarhound puppy. Because if she recalled correctly, the puppy to be known as Fang wasn't found by Hagrid until 1984. And yet here it was in 1972, a whole twelve years before he should have been in existence.
”Eh, I found 'em poor pup,” Hagrid explained. ”His mum didn't want the poor thing. He's the runt of the litter.”
The puppy begins to loudly bark as Hagrid says, ”Hush, Fang! We got guests.” The puppy licks his tongue and quiets down panting.
”Fang?” Lily said in puzzlement. ”But he's so cute.”
”Aye, but he's gonna grow,” Hagrid said as he poured the tea into a chipped tea set. ”Fang 'ere's a boarhound. He's gonna grow big, ya'll see.”
Hagrid paused to move a half-plucked rooster off his scrubbed table and sat the tray. Motioning to each of them to grab a cup, Lily gives Fang one last pat on the head and reaches for a cup as Rowan and Severus stiffly each grab one as well. Taking a sip of the strong tea, Lily almost chokes.
”Hagrid, what have you been up?” Lily carefully spat her tea back into the cup as she placed the tea onto the table. Rowan and Severus had wisely waited for Lily to take the first sip and each shared a nod. They both politely pretended to take a sip and set the cup down.