Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.
Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. There's also discussion of canon typical alcohol and/or substance use. Feel free to back out if need be.
Author's Note: I'm just vibing here. I'm actually supposed to have been writing an HP fic.
Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Hogwarts (Term 15); MC4A (Year 4)
Individual Challenges: Magical MC (x2); Other School MC (x2); New Fandom Smell; Fresh Fandom High; In a Flash; Bucket Listing
House: Slytherin
Assignment No.: Term 15 – Assignment 03
Subject (Task No.): n/a
Other Hogwarts Challenges: 365 [45](Scarf); Fantastic Beasts [122](A Hoax); Auction [D21-A3](Panther)
Other MC4A Challenges: Ship (Peaches & Plums; Foxy Moxie; Secret Keepers)[Bingo](1A - That's My Idiot); Chim [Dextrin] (Royal Purple); Fire (Femme Fatale); Garden [Companions](Feline)
Representation(s): Quintin Coldwater/Eliot Waugh/Alice Quinn/Margo Hanson
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: n/a
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: n/a
Word Count: 677 words
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The Panther Hoax
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"I am probably going to regret this," Quin stated, feeling more than a little bit like he was still buzzed from whatever Eliot had mixed into the cocktails they had been drinking last night, "but why is there a panther laying on the window seat?"
"Is it the south window seat or the east one?" Margo asked distractedly. Quin didn't need to turn around and face her to know that she was applying makeup—specifically lipstick or lip gloss or something on her lips. Margo had a particular way of pronouncing things when she doing the task, and at this point, Quin was more surprised that she had joined the rest of the house even a smidgen less than perfectly put together than how she could hold a conversation that sounded almost completely normal (except for, you know, the topic being about the black panther with—holy fuck—exceptionally sharp looking fangs and claws that it just showed off with a yawn and flex).
"Um," Quin stalled as he took a moment to orient himself with how the Physical Cottage was located on that given hour. The problem with it shifting even if just a bit was always having to reassess its circumstances. "I think it's south right now?"
"Well, there's your answer," Margo answered, sounding she had finished her makeup (must have been just a touch up then) and was now coming closer. "The south window would have the most sun right now. Eliot has always had excellent taste in lounging spots. It makes sense that he would pick another winner even in animal form."
"Wait, hold up," Quin asked, twisting to stare at Margo in his shock. She was wearing a wrap-around dress in a beautiful shade of royal purple that, of course, looked absolutely gorgeous on her. A matching scarf kept her curls from falling into her face. It took a moment to unglue his tongue from the top of his mouth, struck a little dumb by how pretty and poise she was as always. "Are you saying that the panther is Eliot?"
"Well, this one is either Eliot or it's Alice," she said as if it wasn't vitally important to note that their partners had been turned into animals. She did the little resting bitch face she did instead of frowning in thought. "I am pretty sure I saw Penny in Kady's room before I came downstairs, so it probably isn't either of them."
"Margo," Quin said, trying very hard not to sound like he was as frustrated as he was with the situation, "how did this even happen?"
"You know how Penny brought home some Neitherland stuff the other day?"
He nodded, already feeling anxiety pooling in his gut at the thought of trying to undo whatever had turned his boyfriend or girlfriend into the panther sprawled in the window seat that apparently had the best exposure to the sun right then.
"You remember how some of it was limes?"
Fuck.
Quin vaguely remembered doing tequila shots with Alice and Eliot as last night's party had wound down. He shook his head, hoping to clear out the cobwebs from being somewhere between drunk and hungover. It must have rattled something loose or something because he had flash of insight that made him suspicious of what Margo was saying. He squinted at her.
"Why am I not a panther then?"
"I told them that you're not as stupid as you look."
"Thank you?" he said, "I think?"
"They both actually went out to get bagels and smears." Margo winked at him as she headed towards the front door. "I'm actually going to meet up with them and see if I can't steal Alice away for a spa day."
"That's nice," Quin agreed. It suddenly hit him like a train that he was about to be left alone with the panther that apparently wasn't any of his partners in animal form. As fast as he dared within hearing range of the large feline hunter, he chased after her. "Don't leave me to be eaten!"