Much love to everyone who took the time to review!
Another really short chapter...I apparently didn't do that good a job when I mapped them all out XD but hopefully the epic cuteness of this chapter will make up for the epic shortness :D
A short little note: This fic, once they're at school, actually spans about two weeks, possibly three...despite how long this fic is.
Chapter Eight
"Harry, could you please stay after class," Professor Lupin asked all business. Harry sighed and did as he was told. He gathered his things and slowly approached the professor's desk.
"I spoke to the headmaster about your dog," Professor Lupin told Harry, and held up a hand to stop Harry from commenting. "He said that he'd spent several hours with you in Diagon Alley over the summer?"
Harry nodded.
Professor Lupin rubbed his eyes, "The headmaster seemed to find Wolfsbane to be a delightful dog, and I often find it easy to put faith in whatever Headmaster Dumbledore believes…but I really do believe that you should perhaps allow your dog to be examined by another professor, perhaps Hagrid or your head of house. I can't help but feel that there's more to Wolfsbane that meets the eye."
Harry was simply gobsmacked; he couldn't believe that the man's hatred of dogs ran so deep. Not only that but wouldn't a vet or something has to check out a dog? Well…Hagrid was close enough to a vet, Harry supposed, and he too had a large black dog…
But McGonagall? What could she possibly know about real animals besides how to turn them into a prune? Though surely, McGonagall had other magical talents besides transfigurations…
Harry still didn't think this request made much sense, nor was it very fair. What other students had to get their pets examined to make sure they were safe?
Hermione had just up and bought Crookshanks without even asking what type of cat it was or why it was so big and ugly! Why wasn't Professor Lupin getting onto her too?
Harry tried to figure out what to say and tried not to let his anger get the better of him. He did like Professor Lupin, and Harry didn't want to get on his bad side.
"I'll keep that in mind, sir," Harry finally said and Professor Lupin didn't look like that was the response he'd wanted to hear, in fact, his shoulders slumped down-almost as if he'd been tense or nervous. He also suddenly looked almost as tired as he had on the train.
Wolfsbane clearly made the man uncomfortable and Harry couldn't even begin to figure out why.
"I hope you will," the man sighed finally-probably taking as long to answer as Harry had, then he checked his wristwatch and asked, "Are you going to need an excuse for your next class?"
"Boy, does he have it out for you," Ron said, eyes wide in shock, "what does he think? That it's You-Know-Who pretending to be a dog, or what?"
Wolfsbane sneezed, and caused a few of Harry's cards to explode in his hand and Wolfsbane licked at his slightly burnt nose several times and Harry and Ron laughed at him.
"That's what you get for cheating, Bane," Ron chided the dog as he ruffled his head, turning one of the dog's floppy ears inside out. Ron then frowned at his hand and rubbed it on his robe, and said to Harry, "Needs a bath, mate."
Wolfsbane whined, not seeming too keen on the idea.
"You're going to have to get over it," Harry told him. "It's going to happen."
Ron and Harry started a new game of exploding snap and despite Wolfsbane's slightly burnt nose he still helped Harry play his cards.
"Wonder if he's good at chess too," Ron asked Harry with a wide grin.
Bane wagged his tail and doggy-smiled at both of them.
"Can't be worse than me," Harry replied and Wolfsbane sneezed several times.
"Either that's the dog version of laughing or he's coming down with a cold," Hermione said from behind a pile of books as she approached them.
"What's all that for?"
"She's taking every elective, remember," Harry told Ron, with a roll his eyes, and Hermione wouldn't even glare at him for it because she couldn't even see them.
Hermione dropped the books and said, "Not every elective."
"Right," Harry agreed, "she dropped divination, you remember."
Ron snickered and asked, "How could I forget!"
"Hermione's first time acting out in class," Harry explained to Wolfsbane, "she told off Trelawney and stormed out. It was brill!"
Wolfsbane, as always, looked like it was the best story he'd ever heard, and Harry hugged the dog and patted his side. Bane, in turn, tried his best to lick Harry's nose and glasses.
"I swear, you're going to catch some sort of odd disease from that dog if you keep letting him lick your face!" Hermione admonished, but her heart really wasn't in it and she was smiling.
Wolfsbane left Harry to go over to Hermione and he jumped up onto the couch next to her and gave her his best pitiful-looking stare, if she didn't give in soon Bane would probably start whining. Hermione tried to hide her grin, but gave in and began ruffling the fur around his head and neck.
"Why did Professor Lupin hold you after class this time?" Hermione asked, suddenly remembering what had happened earlier in the day.
"Wolfsbane, again," Ron sighed before Harry could.
Hermione shook her head and rolled her eyes, "Honestly, I'm sure he could find a more questionable pet if he wanted to."
"Now here's a pet I have questions about," Ron said, announcing Crookshanks arrival. "Why is he so big?"
Hermione quickly fished out one of her many books and flipped it open to a page she'd bookmarked and held it out to Ron.
"How to care for your half-kneazle?" Ron read dubiously. Then he turned to squint at Crookshanks, "You think?"
"That's the only explanation I can think of," Hermione replied with a smile, as Crookshanks jumped into her lap and then stood, bracing himself on Hermione's shoulder, to rub his face against hers.
"Honestly, Hermione," Harry rebuked her, "you're going to catch something if you keep letting that cat nuzzle your face."
"Harry Potter!" She exclaimed, again trying to hide her grin and look fierce, "You stop that right now!"
After another game of exploding snap, Harry decided it was time for him to give Wolfsbane a bath and somehow Hermione, Ron, Seamus, Dean, and Neville had gotten wrangled into helping.
Last time, Wolfsbane had remained still and simply allowed Harry to bathe him, but this time Bane ran around wildly and shook himself every time he even got a little wet. Hermione, after nearly slipping and possibly twisting her ankle, retreated up onto the counter and was providing suggestions whenever she wasn't laughing hysterically.
Harry and Ron had bumped heads while trying to catch Wolfsbane, and so Dean and Seamus had to try and wrestle him into staying still, while Neville did his best to pour water onto only Wolfsbane...and failed thoroughly soaking Dean and Seamus
It took the combined efforts of all the third year boys to shampoo the dog and then they'd all gotten covered with soap as well. Then in a combined effort all the boys dumped water, simultaneously, on top of Wolfsbane and declared him clean.
Then Wolfsbane shook himself and got water all over everyone, including Hermione.
Ron, fortunately, had picked up from years living with his mother how to do a combination cleaning and drying spell and used it on everyone in the room, one by one.
Then the crowd studied their handiwork.
"A huge improvement," Ron declared.
"Outstandings for everyone," Hermione agreed.
Wolfsbane barked twice and wagged his tail energetically.
Ron and Harry then helped Hermione to the hospital wing.