Chapter 25- Eu De Swamp
"Merlin's beard, What is that terrible smell?" an eighteenth century lady waved a fan she had in her hand furiously.
"It's enough to peel our paint." a gentleman said in a snooty tone as he went to the aid of a damsel who ended up crying out with fear at the very thought. "Oh no!Help!"
"Don't come any closer to the ladies you pair of wastrels!" roared a knight that was waving a very long lance while trying his best to follow them as he rode his steed through each painting.
Feeling exhausted and looking forward to the steamiest hot showers they could stand Harry and Ron felt the stares of the paintings along with even more muttered comments as they walked even faster up the stairway and down the corridor toward the painting of the that covered the entrance to their tower. Both boys agreed that it was fortunate that at least Filch the caretaker wasn't in sight nor his mangy cat Mrs. Norris.
"You two are out awfully late don't you think?" the portrait of the Fat Lady asked with slight irritation in her voice at being wakened up."Password?"
"Fortuna Major." answered Ron in a very tense voice as both he and Harry glowered at the knight who had stopped nearby and threatened to skewer them on his lance if they so much as caused the fat lady any grief. He spoke out in a very arrogant manner "Get yourselves cleaned up!Your bodies have an odor unfitting for young gentlemen!"
Turning his head slightly toward Harry so that the Paintings couldn't hear him Ron whispered,"Just how do they know we stink?They are only paintings for merlin's sake."
"Dunno, " Harry shrugged, he was just too tired to say much. All he wanted was to get cleaned up, fall into his bed and sleep.
Holding a scented handkerchief to her nose the Fat Lady opened up to allow them access even as she said firmly. "Shower first before bed boys."
The boys didn't reply as they scrambled in and headed to the common room where Hermione was sitting near the fire while finishing up some homework that was due to be turned in three days from now. She looked up and grinned. "About time! I have been waiting for you pair to arrive for several hours now."then her nose wrinkled as a very offensive odor caressed it. She gasped and instinctively held her nose as she tried to keep from breathing in the fumes. "Zorry bud I think you bove need a baff!"
"Why? Don't you like our new scent Eu de swamp? It's only for the very discriminating you know. Comes only with specialized detentions courtesy of the Bat of the Dungeon. " Ron responded before turning away and heading on his way up to the boys washroom and entered it with Harry following a little more slowly.
Before heading into the washroom , Harry paused a moment and turned to look back at Hermione and said quickly "Oh , forgot to mention.. Snuffles came after us and needs another bath again!" He then raced up the stairway to the safety provided by the boys bathroom before Hermione could respond.
Hermione herself was exhausted from her own detention served under their Head of House's stern gaze, But at least she got back to the tower within a reasonable time. Harry's abrupt announcement caught her by surprise and once she realized what he meant her jaw clenched for a moment. In frustration she furiously swept her homework up, stuffed it back into her bag and then yelled at the now empty stairway. "Snuffles better hope that he can run faster scared than us girls can-angry!"
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Severus Snape would have had a similar problem as the boys did but for his fearsome reputation. Luckily the Castles House Elves weren't fazed by much as they had a distinct power beyond that of wizards-even Dumbldore. They just calmly shielded themselves and the kitchens from the powerful stink that was a habitual hazard in the Potions Masters line of work.
Severus had no problems passing the portraits going down the corridor to his own dungeon quarters due to the fact that the inhabitants of the pictures where terrified of saying anything to the obviously tired, touchy and filthy wizard striding past them. There was this story that was told among them of Professor Snapes heartless cruel and insensitive reputation of whiping out his wand and aiming an incendio at them if any of them spoke out of turn and incur his wrath. That in itself would be too great a risk for any of the moving paintings.
Of course like in the Muggle Urban Legends such a thing had never happened but the idea that it could was so strongly imprinted in their minds that when the terrible swampy odour reached them as he passed all any of them did was gasp and grab handkerchiefs to cover their mouths and noses while moving about in their own painted frames and interacting with each other.
Once he reached his quarters Severus opened the wards over hidden door with the password and stumbled inside with relief. Once he entered the washroom he stripped down and threw the stinking clothes into the hamper where they automatically vanished to be cleaned later on by the Elves. He turned on the shower head and adjusted the cascading stream of hot water to a comfortable temperature...for him. The scalding steam that rose and swirled about his shivering body felt great as he stepped into the shower and let it do its job.
After taking the very hot cleansing shower and getting ready for bed with thumb and pointer finger over the bridge of his nose-lowered to press gently against his closed eyes Severus mentally went over the events of the day and especially the detention. Hopefully It would deter Potter and his cohorts from responding to being taunted by drawing wands and to think about their actions before getting into even more trouble. A minor sneer twisted his mouth slightly. Somehow he doubted that. What with Weasley's hot hotheadedness and Potters stubborn fondness of trouble 'aka' Snuffles, he was quite sure that it wouldn't be long before he would have their help in gathering more ingredients or with any luck preparing said ingredients.
A random thought crossed his mind as he started to drift off to sleep. 'Would Black be forgiving of all he had been put through as Snuffles once he was exonerated by the ministry?' He rolled over onto his side and snuggled under the bedclothes even as he smirked...'Probably not everything.'
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It was much later when the sun finally peaked up over the horizon and its bright cheerful rays warmed the ground when Hagrid rose up from his well deserved rest, reaching out with one massive hand and patted the furry heads of both dogs who were curled up nearby.
Hagrid had left his windows and door wide open to allow fresh air to circulate about his hut. His great heart didn't allow him to say anything that would hurt Snuffles feelings about his terrible smell. The gentle half-giant had tied a very long unbreakable rope to a large metal ring attached to the outside of the hut and the other end to Snuffles collar so that he wouldn't wander too far away and get into even more trouble before Hagrid woke up. Fang was another another as he was just plain too lazy to even think of moving out of his nice warm bed in the corner.
"Tis a fine morning my boys." he boomed out a greeting to both dogs in his pleasant but loud voice. He pulled open a cupboard door and reached in to get two very large frying pans and set them on the stove to warm up. Taking some freshly churned butter he greased one. Humming a tune slightly off key -he then looked for the box filled with eggs out of his larder with some slices of ham and bacon that the House Elves had sent down for him. "Hmmmm, those elves sure know what we like to eat eh?" he said as he cracked the two dozen eggs into one well greased and hot pan and set the large slices of ham and thick rashers of bacon into the other one.
While breakfast was being prepared, Fang decided he had to go outside to do his doggie business so He got up and shook the sleep away and padded his way out the open doorway.
Not far behind the over-sized boar hound, Snuffles wandered as far as the long rope would allow him to. he sniffed the air and sorted out the tantalizing aromas that poured out of the hut from the horrible scents that still clung to his now bedraggled fur. His downcast mood from having to be tied up and banished from the castle evaporated and he took in a deep breath as he smelled his favourite breakfast foods... which Snape and Harry had limited him on. Saying something about his heart not needing an overload of something they called chore-est-or-all.
Keh,keh,keh," Snuffles coughed as he not only drew in the delicious aromas of breakfast cooking he also got a very strong whiff of the aromas still lingering on his fur. He laid down with his his head flat on the ground and took both front paws and folded them over his muzzle and watering eyes—trying to rub away the sensation.
"Yer' okay Snuffles? I ope yer not comin' down with a cold." Hagrid asked worriedly as he looked out the door at Snuffles. "I don' think it would be wise ta give yer a bath if your are."
Snuffles eyes widened. He could get out of having a bath! Wonderful- or was it? Pretend to be sick and get out of having a bath. Assure Hagrid he was okay and have one... But if he didn't have one he couldn't get back into the castle with his pack, Harry Ron, Hermione— Dumbledore-and even Snape! Hurry up brain, there's decisions to make on the quick. What to do what to do... Snuffles had only moments to ponder and make up his mind when Hagrid came outside knelt on the ground beside Snuffles and placed his large hand on the large dogs forehead efficiently covering his eyes and half his muzzle.
"Yer don' feel like yer got a temperature Snuffy." Snuffles blinked as he heard what Hagrid call him. Just what he needed another nickname!
Hagrid then moved his hand and made Snuffles sit up. He then looked deep into the brown eyes and said. " Your eyes are clear, no Temperature," Hagrid leaned back on his haunches thinking as he also looked around. Noticing that the very large water dish was nearly dry he smiled. " just drinking your water too fast eh? Lets see what yer feel like after a bite o Breakfast ."
Hagrid stood up then and went back into the hut to check on and serve the breakfast. Snuffles watched him and then rose up and shook his body free of what dirt he could and followed him inside.
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