Twenty Thousand Leagues…
It was a warm day, and two Gryffindor sixth years took their homework outside to enjoy the fine spring weather.
They sat on a couple of rocks overlooking the lake.
The girl's attentions were solely on her assignments, but the young man gazed listlessly at lake; his eyes following the squid as it splashed around.
"Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't giant squids supposed to be deep sea creatures that live in… deep seas…?"
"Yes."
"Oceans too?"
"Of course."
"Oceans and seas are typically salt water right?"
"Yes."
"And this is a lake; a relatively shallow lake at that."
"True."
"And the lake is fresh water right?"
"Yes."
"Okay then, um… what the hell?"
"I know."
"You know?"
"Yeah um… Mid way through first year I had the same thought."
"And?"
"Well, I looked in the library."
"…And?"
"I gave up harry, there is no reasonable explanation for it. The squid, a salt-water animal known to live in the deep sea, is for some odd reason living in a fresh-water lake. Hell, it doesn't even seem to be a magical squid."
"Really?"
"Nope, just a giant squid. I heard a rumor that it was Gryffindor in his animagus form, but that just turned out to be an April fool's joke from a few centuries back and the story just sort of stuck."
"Did you ever ask a teacher?"
"Every single one. Snape was a bit rude about it, but even the headmaster didn't know the answer."
"Huh, someone should probably look into that."
"Yeah, they probably should."
"I mean, it's really weird."
"I know. I try not to think about it anymore."
"But it's just… it doesn't make sense."
"Give up Harry. Just… let it go."
"OK, but I still think it's really weird."
"As do I Harry, as do I."
"…And why is it even here?"
"Harry…"
"No seriously, didn't they battle a bunch of squids in Twenty thousand leagues under the sea? Their aggressive aren't they?"
"It pulled Dennis Creevy out of the lake when he fell in Harry; the squid is very gentle."
"The same could be said about the basilisk that was in the chamber, but no matter how 'under control' it appeared, I'd still never trust it near a small kid. I mean seriously, what was stopping that thing from attacking the purebloods too? Slytherin was stupid. Some animals should never be near children."
"I guess I can see that. It petrifying me didn't endear it to me very much either."
"Plus, the squid saving Dennis Creevy isn't exactly a check in the 'pros' column either."
"Harry!"
"What! He's really annoying; his brother too! Anyways, keeping a squid in a lake in close proximity to younglings is stupid."
"Well, what do you want them to do Harry?"
"Put the squid back in the ocean where it belongs so that the universe can right itself for one."
"Harry…"
"Short of that, perhaps a 'Don't feed the giant squid' sign would be a good idea?"
"No one feeds the giant squid Harry."
"Well, then what are those three 'puffs over there doing? OH MY GOD IT ATE ONE!"
"WHAT?!!"
"Just kidding, but seriously, you believed me, so it can't be that improbable. That, and there really are a few 'puffs over there feeding the squid."
"For the love of God…"
"It's Harry, not God. Thanks for the compliment though. Still, it is possible right?"
"I suppose..."
"Think the school will ever do anything about it?"
"Probably not."
"Exactly. Hell, I doubt they'd do anything, even if it did attack a student."
"I'm sure they would Harry."
"They didn't do anything when the chamber of secrets was opened half a century ago, even after the basilisk killed a student. Why would they do anything about the squid?"
"Good point."
"Well then, wizards are stupid."
AN: Here's a short one for ya.
Cheers.
-Lineape
