XXIX. Leash

"Great Merlin on a broom, you'll never guess what I learnt today!"

Theodore neither knew what Blaise had learnt today or, fascinating as he was sure it would be, cared to know in the slightest – and he had no problem with letting Blaise know that.

As usual Blaise didn't seem to care. He ignored Theodore's protests that he had a Charms essay to finish, sat down next to Theodore and stared at him until it was impossible for him to concentrate.

"Will you stop staring at me like a starved kelpie if I let you tell me whatever nonsense it is you've found out?" Theodore asked.

Blaise immediately brightened. "Pansy Parkinson's uncle has a pet Cerberus."

Theodore sighed. He had known it would be something as idiotic as this.

"And apparently he takes it out for walks and everything. I wonder how you walk a Cerberus? I mean it's hard enough to keep a normal dog on a leash, let alone a giant one with three heads, so…"

"Who exactly told you this, Zabini?"

"Pansy, who else?"

"And I may be wrong here, but isn't Parkinson well known for making up idiotic stories and seeing how many gullible prats fall for them?"

Blaise looked as though a storm had passed over his features. "She's trying to make a fool of me! I'll bloody kill her."

"I think you've already made quite enough of a fool of yourself."