DECEMBER 15 MONDAY

Bubbles grew fast. Very, very fast. He was now the size of a large dog. He just couldn't be kept in the dorm. Remus had moved him around, tried different locations, but he just couldn't go on like this. Bubbles needed a new home. A home in the snowy mountains of wherever, ideally the True North.

But Bubbles also needed a better temporary home until the holidays, a home outside of Hogwarts but within map radar.

James was out playing quidditch, Sirius was rehearsing the show and Peter had extra tutoring in basic magic. So Remus could let Bubbles sniff around while he laid out the map and looked at the various nearby caves.

Donk, donk, donk. Someone was coming up the stairs!
"Flip! Hide!"

His bed lost contact with the floor when Bubbles dived under it.

James came in to drop off some quidditch stuff and check if Sirius was in, and then he was out again.

Bubbles was allowed to come out again. He opened the cooling box and began to eat the icicles.

Donk, donk, donk.

Bubbles dropped the cooling box and dived back under the bed.

"I just want to have a quick look," said James and got down on the floor, crawling over the map. "When did we last play map twister? Ok he's there."

Then he was out again.

Remus got off the floor and went to stand at the door with the map, where he could listen for footsteps while scraping Bubbles off the map.

"Ok Bubbles. I think the coast might be- Ow!"
The door went up right in his face. James seemed to find Remus just standing at the door weird.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

"What's this?"

James took the map and looked at the half-finished scraping work.

"You're trying to erase stuff!"
"Noimnot."

"Uncool! You know it doesn't actually make the person go away. I tried that on Ebola Crool. Who are you trying to erase?" He pressed the huge map against his glasses. "Who is...Bub?"

Remus didn't want to lie. But he just didn't believe that Sirius could resist sticking Bubbles among Mr Hagrid's towels if he knew. He also didn't trust that James wouldn't blab to Sirius first chance he got.

"Just my... worm."

"If you say so!"

James returned the map. But instead of leaving, he lingered.

"Where was Bluebell on the way to the ski resort?"

"He was on the luggage rack."
"Oh yeah."

Then he was gone again. Hopefully he wouldn't come back for a while now. Bubbles could come out again. Remus got down on the floor to finish the erasing work.

Dondonkdonkdonkdonk.

"I didn't even get what I came back for!" said James and went to fetch his smart-glass.

Bubbles dived under Remus's bed, but too late. James couldn't miss the blur. He had such blurry vision. He never missed a blur.

He got down on all fours and looked under the bed.

"You said the hunters got it!"

"They got the big one. That's a baby. His name is Bubbles."

That explained all the True North travelling brochures.

"Well," said James. "I can see you're busy. Catch you later."

"Hey wait a sec."

"What?"

"I hate to ask this, but... like... Do you think... Could you, I mean... It's only for a little while! If it's not.. Maybe would it be too much to ask for you to-"

"Go out with you?"

"No-"

"Ok I won't tell Padfoot!" said James with grumpy reluctance.

"Thanks."

"But I won't like it! And this won't end well! My horoscope says I'm going to screw hard!"
"Okay then."

"No. Wait. Screw up hard."

"It's only for a couple of days."

James was gone again. Remus had to act fast. He didn't have many days until the night. And after the night, there was just no knowing what condition he'd be in. Not for certain anyway.