Chapter 91: Fang the Transfigured Wizard
Claire wished Hagrid well and went to the Alchemy Room where Madam Strout was concentrating intensely on a Wiggenweld Potion she was brewing.
"Excuse me, Madam Strout?" Claire said.
Startled, Strout said, "Oh, Miss Krystal. Didn't see you come in."
"I wanted to talk to you about a plan I had for making my patient feel better."
"Sadly, I can't talk right now because I have to finish these potions."
"What if I helped you?"
Strout smiled. "Your initiative is admirable, Miss Krystal."
After helping Strout brew her Wiggenweld Potion and several others in identical cauldrons, Claire said, "My patient, Hagrid, has a dog named Fang he's worried about. I was wondering if I could bring Fang to the hospital so that he feels more comfortable."
"Your heart's in the right place, but my answer is no."
"But Hagrid threatened to leave the hospital to check on Fang, even though I told him to rest."
"We have to maintain our standard of cleanliness for the sake of all the patients here at St. Mungo's, so I can't afford to make exceptions."
Claire was disheartened.
Smiling, Strout said, "Professor Dumbledore told me you're a clever student, though. I'm sure you'll figure something out."
While Strout proceeded to take the cauldrons full of Wiggenweld Potion over to a different station where they were placed into vials, Jae approached Claire.
"Do you think Madam Strout was being unfair?" Jae said.
"No, she's just following the rules," Claire responded.
Jae pondered and then smirked. "Hypothetically, what if we brought Fang here without alerting anyone to his presence?"
"That…could work, if we had someone who knew St. Mungo's well apart from Madam Strout. I know! Let's ask Talbott, since his mother used to be a Healer here."
In the Hospital Ward, Claire and Penny found Talbott talking to his patient. They explained Hagrid's situation to him, and he pondered for a moment.
"Maybe one way to sneak Fang in here is to claim he was a wizard who tried to use Human Transfiguration on himself and failed," Talbott suggested.
"I suppose that's plausible," Claire said. "After I achieved my Animagus form, I saw Merula try the same thing. She ended up turning into a Flobberworm, and then a Puffskein."
"And it's such a common problem among wizards that none of the staff at St. Mungo's would think twice about the issue," Talbott added.
"Ooh, Fang would look so cute if you dressed him in wizard robes!" Penny suggested.
"Yeah, that's not a bad idea actually," Claire realized. "It would help sell the idea of Fang being a Transfigured wizard."
"But you should consider the possibility that someone is going to ask why a student is admitting a Transfigured wizard here," warned Talbott.
"Hmm," Claire paused and then said, "I'll tell them that I saw Fang wandering around the halls of Hogwarts."
"That's not a bad lie, because it actually isn't one," Penny said.
"I think that would pass," Talbott said.
"Reminds me of the time you played the Spring Nymph in Professor Flitwick's play Equinox Enchanted," Penny said, though Claire looked confused. "Because you played the part so well."
"I only spoke two lines in that play, but I appreciate the compliment," replied Claire.
Using Apparate, which Claire got a license for over the summer, she was able to make it back to Hogwarts in one piece and found Corey. Together, they went to Hagrid's Hut and found the young dog Fang sitting by the fire.
"Good news, Fang," Claire said. "You'll get to see Hagrid."
Fang wagged his tail excitedly.
"We're just waiting for one more person," Claire added. "I sent an owl message right after bumping into you, Corey. Any new developments with Merula?"
"She hasn't gone to the Whomping Willow since she caught us there," Corey said. "I think that threatening note from 'R' scared her."
"If only I could get inside her head," Claire said, wondering if she should use her Legilimens power on Merula.
"Did somebody mention a head? And does it need a hat?"
Claire and Corey looked to the entrance of the hut and Andre was standing there.
"Wow! I didn't think Claire would invite you," Corey remarked.
"Of course I invited him," Claire said. "After all, he's going to be the one to dress up Fang."
"I'm sorry, what?" Andre looked confused.
"Hagrid's at St. Mungo's, which I'm at for a career field trip, and he's feeling homesick. So I'm trying to make him feel better by bringing Fang there," Claire explained.
"And since animals aren't allowed at St. Mungo's, Claire thought it would be a good idea to dress Fang up as a wizard that tried to use a Human Transfiguration on himself and failed," Corey added.
"So I thought you could dress Fang up, Andre, seeing how you are the best Style Wizard here at Hogwarts," Claire said.
"I may be a Style Wizard, but I dress witches and wizards. Not dogs," Andre stated. "Though I'm always up for a challenge."
Using some fabrics he brought with him, Andre proceeded to measure Fang and then sew together an outfit with a sewing machine he brought with him in his robe pockets which had the Extension Charm placed on them. Once Andre was done, he placed the outfit on Fang. It was a small blue blazer over a white dress shirt with a matching blue tie and wizard hat.
"Oh my gosh!" Corey smiled. "He's adorable! I love this plan, if only to see Fang dressed up."
"Maybe I should try styling more creatures," Andre remarked.
"Hopefully it'll fool the Healers at St. Mungo's into thinking Fang is a Transfigured wizard," Claire said.
Worried that Fang might not handle being Apparated, Claire decided to use the Floo Network instead. She used her black cloak to cover his eyes as to not frighten him, and then used the fireplace in Dumbledore's office. Arriving in one of the empty fireplaces in St. Mungo's, she made her way to the lobby with Fang walking beside her. Fortunately, Jae was there.
"Is that Fang?" Jae remarked, looking down at the dressed pup. "He looks fantastic!"
"Andre did the outfit," Claire said. "Now would you help me get Fang past the receptionist? I thought I could use some backup."
"Hey, any excuse to cause mischief is good enough for me," Andre said. "Besides, this is all for Hagrid's sake."
To be continued…
