Author's Note:
Written for assignment # 11 at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments).
Subject: Unsolved Mysteries, Mystery or Myth
Task 1: The Loch Ness Monster – Write a fic set in Scotland.
Word Count: 2122
Useful terminology:
Swot – noun, British slang. A student who studies assiduously, especially to the exclusion of other activities or interests; grind. Hard study or hard work; a concentrated effort.
Trainer – footwear; running shoes/sneakers.
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Charlie Weasley had fantasised about becoming a dragonologist as soon as he was old enough to know what that was. He had borrowed every book on dragons and he could get his hands on from the Hogwarts library, and had firmly cemented himself at Professor Kettleburn's side during care of magical creatures' lessons. It was the only subject he could be considered more of a swot at than his younger brother Percy. Upon receiving his final Hogwarts letter, Charlie's heart had swelled when he discovered that as a Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test (N.E.W.T) student there would be a care of magical creatures' field trip that year.
Sixth- and seventh-year students would this year be allowed to test their skills outside of Hogwarts for the first time. With special permission and observation by a team from the Ministry of Magic (M.O.M) of course. They would be aiding a joint task force from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and the International Confederation of Wizards in the annual kelpie relocation program at Loch Ness, Scotland. Kelpies were shape shifting water demons native to the waters of the United Kingdom. Though their usual preferred form was of a horse with bullrushes for a mane. They lured the unweary onto their backs, then dive to the bottoms of rivers and lakes in order to drown and devour their rider. The M.O.M classified kelpies under the second most dangerous classification: XXXX (Dangerous, skilled wizards may handle with specialist knowledge).
Charlie could hardly believe his luck. He had wanted to take part in an internship with the program the previous summer, hoping a letter of recommendation would help him towards his chosen career of Dragonologist, but his mother had expressly forbidden it. At least until he had his N.E. under his belt or was of age. Mrs Weasley could hardly object to a N.E.W.T level field trip, as much as she had wished she could.
The world's largest known kelpie, or at the very least descendants of the original beast, was located in Loch Ness, favouring the form of a large sea serpent. It had affectionately been named "Nessie" by local muggles. Initially it had been feared that a giant serpent had indeed been smuggled into the Loch illegally from international waters. It wasn't until observers from the International Confederation saw the beast shape shift into an otter when a team of muggle investigators approached that they had been able to identify it for what it actually was; an extremely large kelpie. Unfortunately, this particular beast seemed to have a thirst for publicity and still had managed to evade capture despite a task force present at the Loch on a permanent basis, much to the dismay of both the International Confederation of Wizards and the Ministry of Magic alike. The Office of Misinformation had needed to work closely with several muggle Prime Ministers by this point to explain alternate causes for sightings of the infamous beast. Insisting that all photographic evidence of was forgery and fake. The only other nation to receive more fines than Scotland due to muggle sightings of magical creatures thanks to Nessie was Tibet. Nessie and their descendants caused such a fuss that a yearly relocation of the Lochs kelpie population was necessary to keep them in check.
Charlie's spirits about the trip couldn't be dampened, even by the torrential rain that fell as he and his classmates made their way to the scheduled meeting point in Hogsmeade. While others shuffled forward miserably under umbrella charms, dragging their wellington boots through the mud, Charlie practically skipped with his head held high.
"Alright everyone! Places! Places! Those of you without apparation licences you're taking the portkey with Hagrid. The rest of you to the apparition point please." Professor Kettleburn yelled to the handful of students still taking the 6th and 7th year course.
Somewhat sheepishly Charlie took up his place besides Hagrid who was guarding the old trainer that would transport them. Charlie had unfortunately failed his first attempt at an apparation licence and would be unable to try again until the next holiday break. He still felt awful guilt for landing on that poor woman after he had accidentally re-appeared five miles south of where he had intended. Grasping the trainer under Hagrid's instruction, Charlie felt the familiar pull at his navel as they travelled to their destination.
Wet sand squelched beneath feet as they appeared on the shores of Loch Ness. Giddy with excitement Charlie scanned the water's surface for Nessie, but saw no sign of the magnificent beast. Instead, he was greeted by the sight of a fleet of several small fishing vessels and a collection of enchanted netted corrals. The students huddled in front of Professor Kettleburn and the task force representatives on the dock.
"Alright folks let's see if you've been paying attention over the course of your education. Why is it so important that Nessie be kept secret from the muggle world?" Kettleburn asked.
"Because to reveal magical beasts of any kind would be a breach of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy 1692, Sir." A sandy-blond Ravenclaw boy pipped up through chattering teeth.
"Correct! Ten points to Ravenclaw. Now who can tell me which clause of the International Statute of Secrecy details each wizarding governing body's responsibilities for the concealment of creatures?" Kettleburn continued.
"Clause 73, added in 1750" Charlie blurted out.
"Correct again! Thank you, Mr Weasley. That'll be 10 points for Gryffindor. Now I highly doubt we will be seeing dear ol' Nessie today folks. We will be helping to handle a large group of much smaller kelpies. I shouldn't need to remind you how potentially dangerous the task we are about to undertake is. So, you will each be paired with a member of the task force. I'll allow my friend Mr Wellows to explain how this is going to work." Kettleburn gestured to a rather stern looking man with considerably more remaining limbs than himself.
Wellows was a tall balding man with broad shoulders. Perhaps in another lifetime he could have played professional quidditch as a beater. With arms folded across his chest he gruffly placed students into pairs with their assigned partner and each ministry representative took their place beside a student.
"And Weasley that leaves you with me. I promised your father you'd make it back in once piece today" Wellows glowered at him and Charlie felt suddenly hot under his shirt collar. Wellows continued addressing the rest of the students. "I can assume that each of you is at least competent at charms, otherwise you wouldn't have been brought on this trip. Kelpies are only dangerous while not bridled, with a bridle over their head they are rendered docile and unthreatening. In your pairs you'll go out on these boats and you will take it in turns using placement charms to bridle and then ride the kelpies into these corals. We'll then take it from there and relocate them to a less muggle dense area. Any questions? No? Good let's get started."
The older of each pair transfigured their student's trousers into a pair of long green waders that attached to their wellington boots. Several students looked relieved that they wouldn't be expected to get wet in the icy lake. However, their nervous energy remained as each made their way to their designated boat. A warm tingling sensation flooded Charlie's body as his own trousers transformed, making him realise just how cold he had been previously.
"It may be hard work but you may as well be comfortable doing it." Wellows gruffed, charming his own clothes. "I hear you have plans to become a dragonologist after Hogwarts."
"Yes Sir." Charlie replied surprised, clambering into the boat.
"Kettleburn speaks very highly of you. Judging by the fact you're the only one who didn't flinch at the mention of riding the kelpies, you'll do alright kid."
The boats proceeded in succession towards a sheltered cove. Charlie could just start to make out ripples in the shallows, netting charms enclosing a large herd of Kelpies within the cove. Wellows explained the task force had rounded this group up before dawn this morning. The students' job was to help sort the herd into their appropriate age and sex groups for transport; adult females, mothers with young, juveniles and adult males.
"You and me are gonna be focusing on the one's with young. They're the hardest to handle. But once you've got the mother the youngster should follow. You're looking for the ones with the dark bullrushes for manes" Wellows instructed Charlie.
Charlie took his place at the bow of the boat, bridle in one hand and wand in the other. He scanned the group looking for his first target. He saw a female pacing back and forth close to the southern end of the net, her young pressed against her side. Carefully Charlie used a hovering charm to slip the bridle over the mother's head. She twisted and turned, diving down and popping back up again making it harder for Charlie to use his placement charm.
"Easy does it Weasley, take your time. You don't wanna cause a stampede or crush in here." Wellows encouraged.
Charlie made another effort as the mother bared her teeth at him and managed to slip the bridle over her head properly. Success! Now came the slightly trickier part. Gingerly Charlie pulled the kelpie closer to the boat so he could climb onto her back. She was resistant but not hostile, just as Wellows had promised. He pulled the kelpie along gently, until her side was parallel to the port hand side of the vessel, before swinging his leg over her back and settling himself on top of her. Waves sloshed against his legs and he could feel the beasts unsteady breathing beneath him. The kelpies body felt slick and rubbery like seaweed, not the sandpaper like texture he had imagined it would be. The baby kelpie bumped itself against its mother's side not wanting to be separated from her.
"Good job boy. Now I'll release the net and you ride her out. You want to put her into the far right-hand corral." Wellows marked both the Kelpie and the youngster with a flick of his wand. A painted symbol appearing on each of their necks so they could be identified as a pair.
As instructed, Charlie rode the beast out of the netted enclosure with Wellows in the boat closely behind him. Charlie stuck as close to the shore as possible, he wanted to give this kelpie as little chance to drag him into deeper water as possible. Other students had managed to corral a few of the other easier kelpies already. Wading into the assigned corral Charlie nudged the youngster on the rear with his foot, encouraging it to move in ahead of its mother. Once safely enclosed Charlie slipped one leg over the mother's back so he was riding it side saddle, reaching out for Wellows to help him back into the boat without having to submerge himself. His heart was pounding rapidly in his chest. Wellows grabbed Charlie by the elbow and pulled him roughly back up onto the bow as Charlie released his grip on the Kelpie's bridle.
"Well done. That went more smoothly than I thought for a first timer. You're a natural kid. Just stay calm and they shouldn't give you any trouble."
Within a few hours the class had successfully sorted and corralled the kelpies into their appropriate pens. Though several warming and drying charms had been necessary throughout. Especially after a few were thrown off by the more reluctant individuals. At days end, a grand total of over one hundred kelpies were marked and ready for transport. Charlie couldn't think of a time he'd looked forward to falling into his four-poster bed in the dorm more than now. His body ached all over and he was sure given the chance he'd sleep for a week. Standing on the beach where they had started, looking slightly more dishevelled than when they had begun, each student was handed a mug of steaming hot chocolate by a cheerful Professor Kettleburn. The warmth of the mug against cold fingers was well received. Wellows patted Charlie on the back heartily as he grabbed his own mug. Charlie nodded his head in acknowledgement of his mentor's praise and turned back to facing out over the loch. The weather was clearer now and sunlight danced on the water. Perhaps it was the fatigue setting in, but Charlie felt almost certain he had caught a glimpse of something long and green undulating over the surface in the distance. Nessie? He blinked. The beast was gone.