What a phcking day…He was exhausted. Those two classes and dealing with Connor had really taken it out of him. After the second class, he'd spent a couple of hours planning for the next day, and then gone to dinner as usual. Sitting between Nines and Tina had quickly become the highlight of his day. They shared stories about their classes and any interesting antics the students got up to, and it was a good time to pick each other's brains about lesson planning and how to teach certain topics. Even though they specialised in very different subjects, they could still listen and bounce ideas. They also had the advantage of having learned these subjects before, so they could consider their own experiences. After dinner, Nines had walked him back to his rooms as usual and they'd lingered in the hall a while longer. They couldn't stay long. Nines was heading off somewhere to work.
After getting to his room, it had taken barely an hour to realise he wouldn't get any sleep that night. Gavin had washed and changed, slipped beneath the covers, closed his eyes, and then…nothing. He turned on his right side and buried his face in the pillow. Nothing. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling until his eyes burned. That wasn't helping either. He flipped to the left and curled up in a ball. No luck. Flopping on his front just made his neck ache. He even tried transforming and curling up in a fuzzy brown ball, but nothing worked! He tried beneath the covers, on the covers, on the pillow, on the carpet by the hearth, and even the comfortable armchair in the living area. Since it seemed utterly hopeless, he finally admitted defeat.
He rose to his paws on the chair and stretched before jumping to the floor and returning to human form. There was no point staying in and moping about not sleeping, so he did what any sensible person would do. He went for a walk. Changing into some daywear, he headed out, bundled up in his leather jacket. It was getting colder since October had arrived. He'd probably have to head to Gladrags and invest in a proper coat this year. Scotland was freezing. Far colder than London at this time of year, and more bitter than Detroit. The cold cut to the core, chilling him right to the bone. His teeth chattered as he circled the courtyard with his hands in his pockets. It being so cold; he was reluctant to venture too far from the castle walls.
The wind howled as it whipped by the edge of the school and whistled through the courtyard's arches. It sounded colder out there than it did within the yard, but the yard was too small to give him a good workout. He looked around for somewhere he could go to either walk off some energy or keep himself occupied. That's when he looked up at the astronomy tower. It was late. Sometimes there were astronomy classes, but not that night. It was dark at the top, and when class was in session, the lamps were usually lit. The tower was also pretty sheltered for an outside space. With that in mind, he walked towards the tower. It would be quieter up there, and he could do some stargazing while waiting for sleep to catch up with him, if it ever did.
He was a little surprised to find the lower door of the tower unlocked at this hour. They usually locked it to keep out wandering students. They were only allowed up there during class or with prior permission. Did someone get permission to work on their astronomy project? It wasn't a special night. As far as he knew, there wasn't anything going on with the planets or the moon that week. It wasn't a huge problem. If someone was up there, he'd just find somewhere else to kill time. His steps echoed on the stone walls as he stepped inside and shut the heavy door behind him. The ground floor was filled with crates of old telescopes. They were spares that students could borrow if they didn't have their own, mostly left over from previous students. Most were disused and dusty, but they weren't bothering anybody, so they remained as they'd been left.
Gavin headed up the tight spiral staircase. This part of the castle was one of the oldest and lacked any sort of handrail. He kept a hand on the wall as he climbed the steep steps, sticking to the outer edge where the steps were thickest. The stairs opened on to a huge, round platform with completely open walls. There was a safety fence circling the edge, and a wooden shelter above to keep off the rain. Luckily, it wasn't needed that night. The sky was mostly clear, with stars glittering above. He couldn't see the moon, but from the silvery glow at the edge of the clouds, he assumed it was there. His breath turned white on the breeze as he looked up and then around. There was no one there. It was odd that the door had been left open when the tower was empty, but these things happened.
Gavin circled the platform slowly, taking his time in looking over the edge. It was a long way down to the grounds below; and he had quite a view on all sides. Looking towards the school, he could see the whole castle sprawled out, towers and all. Some windows were still lit, suggesting quite a few students were still awake. It was after midnight. I'm hardly one to criticise. He rarely slept before midnight, and often not at all. Beyond the outer walls was a view of the country around Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding mountains. He could also see out across the lake, all the way to the small island. The crumbling walls of the old fort were only just visible in the silvery light.
After circling a few times, he started looking for the best place to lie down. He didn't want to be anywhere too breezy. Eventually, he found a small patch of stone that was relatively sheltered and settled down. He lay on his back and hooked an arm beneath his head. The stone floor was hard and uncomfortable, but summoning a blanket seemed like too much effort. He sighed as he crossed his ankles, staring up at the glittering mosaic beyond the shelter. A yawn slipped out, though he wasn't tired enough to sleep. He blinked slowly, trailing his weary green eyes over the bundles of stars as they twinkled in the dead of night. He was pretty sure one of them was actually Mars. It was red, flickering brightly in the mosaic of silver. A ruby among diamonds.
The cold was biting, especially around his ears. The dead of night was really unpleasant at this time of year, though he knew it would get colder in the weeks to come. He wasn't looking forward to it. Summer heat wasn't exactly great either, but the chill in Scotland was ridiculous. He clenched his teeth to stop the chatter, fighting back shivers as he watched the clouds part to unveil the moon. It wasn't full, but it was getting there. The astronomy students would probably be out with their books and telescopes in a few days. They usually had homework that involved watching the changing lunar cycles.
Gavin blinked as he heard a gentle humming. He hadn't noticed anyone on the platform before, and he hadn't heard anyone arrive, but the sound was unmistakable. Nines? He raised his head curiously, but there was no one in sight. Thinking he may be around the other side of the central pillar, Gavin pushed himself up and slipped around the stone archway. Nines was there; standing on a low step with his pruning shears, leisurely snipping away at the creeping plant that had infested the shelter. Infest probably wasn't the right word, but it had certainly made itself at home. The thin vines had wrapped around each support, reaching tendrils across the roof. The vines were covered in small, white flowers that looked like a cross between honeysuckle and snowbells. As the moonlight shone, the shiny white petals unfurled to release a sweet, soothing scent.
"Hello? Little one?" Nines turned his head as he heard a scuffle, frowning quizzically as his vacant eyes scanned the shelter. He lowered his shears, though he still held the delicate vine he'd been trimming. The tendrils curled around his long fingers, almost like they were greeting him. Gavin huffed as he stepped closer, keeping his hands in his pockets for warmth.
"Who are you calling little one?" Nines smiled warmly as he recognised his voice and finally settled his gaze upon him, or around about where he thought he was standing.
"Gavin, my apologies. I thought you were someone else." Gavin shrugged as Nines returned to work, cutting back the long, creeping vines. "What brings you up here? It's rare for anyone to be here outside classes." That much was true. The tower had magnificent views, but there were warmer places to go. Gavin shrugged as he continued to watch, following Nines' long fingers as he plucked another vine free and cut it loose. He dropped the long cutting to the ground, where a small pile had already formed. The flowers almost seemed to glow as the moonlight caressed their shiny petals.
"Couldn't sleep…I was going to walk around, but it's phcking freezing!" Nines chuckled at that.
"And you thought the tower would be warmer?" It sounded dumb when you put it like that. The tower was a little sheltered, but still exposed to the open air. Looking at Nines' state of dress, Gavin was pretty sure he was insane. He was wearing simple slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Nothing else. Gavin shivered just looking at him. The weather certainly didn't seem to bother him. His fingers weren't even trembling as he plucked and snipped.
"What are you doing?" Nines hummed at the question, pausing with the cut vine in his hand.
"Oh, this? I'm harvesting some Creeping Lunar Scilla. They grow best under direct moonlight, so of course, the astronomy tower is perfect. They took over the whole roof last year, so I've been keeping them in check since then. I've tried to house cuttings in the greenhouse before, but they grow best outside in the open air. They're surprisingly hardy, considering how delicate they seem." Gavin took the proffered vine and ran his fingers along the thin stem. "You needn't worry, they're not toxic…I find them quite useful for relaxation salves…Here." Gavin steadied the small step as Nines straightened up and searched his pocket.
"What is it?" Nines pulled out a small pot. Inside was a thick white cream of some sort. It smelled nice. He couldn't say exactly what it was, only that it was sweet and floral. Nines didn't answer at first as he dabbed a little on his finger and put the pot away with one hand. Gavin was wary as he reached out and found his shoulder. Icy fingers stroked along to the zipper of his jacket and pulled it lower, exposing his throat as he stepped down from the stool, returning to his regular height. He was still taller than Gavin, forcing him to look up as he closed in.
"A simple salve…It's made of creeping lunar scilla, fae mint, and fig leaves." Nines spoke softly as he popped the top few buttons of his shirt. Gavin was too mesmerised by his silvery eyes to notice until he felt Nines' cool fingers caressing the notch of his collarbone. He smeared the cream on his skin and stroked soothing circles. His fingers were softer than he'd expected, what with all the time he spent working outside. It was likely the work of another salve. The touch paused, lingering on his chest a little longer before he drew back, leaving him with prickles on his skin and a strange sense of loss. "What do you think?" Gavin swallowed as he righted his shirt, trying to ignore the heat in his ears.
"I-it smells nice." Nines seemed pleased with the response. It wasn't a lie. It did smell nice, though the mint surprised him. He couldn't smell it at all, but he could feel the tingling freshness of it on his skin. He also felt Nines' lingering touch, which was sending swirls coiling through his stomach. "Do you make a lot? You know, salves and stuff." He'd always assumed that would be more Elijah's territory. It certainly seemed more like potion making than herbology. Nines nodded as he collapsed the step with a wave of his hand and swept the vines into a bundle with the other. It still amazed Gavin when he saw him doing wandless magic. He'd never met anyone else who could, and he made it look so effortless.
"I do. I experiment with my own remedies and help Kara whenever she needs to restock the hospital wing. The students go through a sizable amount of skin healing salve every month." He could imagine. Burns from potions, scraped knees and arms from Quidditch, and more injuries from duelling practice. Even a nasty trip in the hall could need some healing salve to speed up recovery. Fights and other accidents could leave heavy bruising, as could wayward spells. It was probably a team effort between Elijah and Nines to keep the ward stocked with all the salves and potions it needed. From what little he'd seen of her, Kara seemed pretty knowledgeable herself.
"And what are you going to do with these?" Gavin asked, nodding to the bundle of silvery flowers.
"I'm experimenting with new calming salves…ones to settle even the most frayed of nerves." That seemed a noble cause. It would probably do wonders for the seventh years. They'd get really stressed around their NEWT exams. "I have yet to get the right balance, as far as ingredients go." Gavin had never been too good at brewing, so he could relate to that. Potion making was a pain in the ass, especially if you were making your own recipe. He assumed salves would be similar. "My next task is to pick off the flowers and dry them to be ground up later." Gavin was surprised as Nines moved across to the stone archway leading to the stairs and sat with his back against the brickwork. It seemed he'd meant it literally as he pulled a glass pot from his satchel and opened the lid.
"You want some company?" Gavin's chest fluttered as Nines smiled and nodded. While Nines remained seated, Gavin lay down again. He folded his arms beneath his head and crossed his ankles as he watched Nines' fingers busily feeling along the stem and plucking the star-shaped flowers. It was nice. The whistle of the wind in the yard was distant, and the school was quiet at this hour. The loudest sound was pluck of Nines' fingers on the stem, and the rustle of petals in the jar. They didn't speak. Being together was enough. Gavin let out a small sigh as he relaxed, despite the chill air. It was a little warmer lying close to Nines, and the sweet scent of the lunar flowers soothed him. "They smell nice…" His eyes were getting heavy with the sweetness.
"The scent is strongest beneath direct moonlight, and I'm told the petals shine quite beautifully…" Gavin looked at his face and wondered if he was sad. He'd said he didn't remember what it was like to see, so he couldn't miss it, but did he yearn for it when people told him about such beautiful things? Vibrant colours, twinkling lights, sculptures and paintings, natural beauty, sunlight glittering on water, snow on mountaintops, fluttering butterfly wings. Did he secretly pine for it? He didn't even know what his brothers looked like. Worse, he doesn't know what he looks like! He couldn't imagine what it was like, though he knew it was different. You couldn't miss what you'd never known. At least, that's how he thought it would be.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Nines didn't even pause his plucking fingers as he nodded, though he did turn his head as he heard Gavin shuffle onto his side. "Do you ever want to be like everyone else? To see things normally?" Nines huffed softly as he continued separating out the flowers and dropping them in his jar. He was precise, never missing the opening or losing his place along the stem.
"No…I have moments of curiosity, of course, but I'm happy as I am…I have my own way of seeing. That's doesn't mean I don't enjoy hearing about the world from your perspective…I can form a picture in my mind, though it's likely very different to the reality." Gavin hummed softly, following Nines' fingers as yet another flower was added to the jar. The petals shone and flickered in the moonlight, almost making the whole jar glow. "How is the sky tonight? It feels like a fairly clear evening." Nines' lips raised as Gavin rolled onto his back and stared up, apparently surprised he could tell. "The air is often crisp on clear evenings, and I can sense the moonlight coming and going behind the clouds." That was explanation enough for Gavin. He settled on his back again and stared out at the glittering stars, though the light of the moon had brightened things somewhat.
"There's a lot of stars…They're like tiny little pinpricks of light. Some of them twinkle, like they're blinking on and off a hundred times a second…The sky is black, but the moon is making it seem brighter. There's a grey halo stretching out around it…Some of the stars are gathered in small clusters, like a hive…I'm pretty sure Mars is out, too. It's red, and a little bigger than the rest." He wasn't sure how he was doing on the descriptive side of things, but Nines seemed content as he continued to pluck. He even tilted his face up as if he was looking. Gavin paused as the moonlight caressed his pale cheek. He was annoyingly handsome from any angle, but moonlight suited him. It almost matched his luminous eyes. "Did you know your eyes are like those lunar flowers?" Nines blinked, apparently confused. "The moonlight really brings out the silver…They almost glow…"
"Ah, a side-effect of one of the many regeneration spells my parents tried. Believe it or not, my eyes used to be a deep shade of blue…so I'm told." Nines finished with the stems and set them aside before screwing the lid on the jar and returning it to his satchel. Gavin had thought he might return to the greenhouse afterwards, but he shuffled lower to lie beside him. "Can you see any constellations?" he asked as he settled, resting a hand beneath his head. Gavin snorted as he searched the sky.
"You're barking up the wrong tree for that! I was shit at astronomy…I think I see Orion's Belt, though…and that small one that looks like a skillet." Nines' lips quirked at that.
"You mean the Big Dipper?"
"Big Dipping Spoon is more like it!" Gavin smiled as he listened to Nines laugh. He had a nice laugh. Phck, he has a nice everything…He looked away at the thought. He really needed to get a handle on his feelings. Hogwarts was his place of work, and Nines was his colleague. "I think…I think I see the dog one, too." He wasn't sure. He barely remembered anything besides Orion because the belt was so easy to find. It was the one thing he looked for every clear night as he looked up. He moved on after that, telling Nines about the silvery halo around the rolling clouds as the moon disappeared and the shapes he could find in their fluffy edges. Nines was content to listen, vacant eyes staring up the whole time. After a while, they were content to fall silent.
Gavin's stinging eyes were getting heavier. He blinked them open almost insistently as he glanced at Nines' peaceful face. His lips quirked at the corner, almost as if he could sense it. He started to hum again, the same sound that had drawn him earlier. His voice was deep, so the rumble vibrated through Gavin's chest as he lay beside him. His eyes fluttered, lashes tickling his cheek as they closed. He could feel his breaths slowing as fatigue washed over him, unsure he could open his eyes again if he wanted to. As he lay there, he could have sworn he felt a gentle brush on his clothed chest. The smallest hum escaped as he turned his face to feel warm breath against his forehead and gentle lips on his temple.
He was pretty sure he was dreaming as those lips moved lower, caressing his jawline before arriving at his mouth with a familiar press. His brow twitched as a cool hand caressed his cheek, keeping him in place as their lips moulded insistently. He sighed out a small objection as he opened his hazy green eyes to find Nines above him. How he'd moved to straddle his hips without him noticing, he had no idea. That's one of the many reasons he knew he was dreaming. Nines hushed him softly as he drew back, stroking a thumb across his lips as he sat up. Gavin grunted as a weight came to rest on his already sensitive crotch. He rocked slowly, grinding the growing lump in his slacks.
"Phck, Nines…" Gavin felt his cheeks heat as Nines' weight dragged along his cock. Nines bit his lip and slowly leaned down, catching his weight on his forearms and grabbing a fistful of brunette hair. Gavin's lips parted with a gasp, giving Nines the opportunity he needed to close in. Soft lips caressed his own in open-mouthed kisses. Nines' tongue flicked along his lower lip before creeping inside, teasing a small mewl from his throat as their tongues danced, caressing teeth and mouths. He turned his head a little, making it easier for Nines to press closer. The hardness of the floor was forgotten as Gavin looped his arms around his neck and waist, gripping anything he could reach.
"You make such sweet sounds…" Nines panted as he drew back and caressed his cheeks. Gavin closed his eyes and shivered, recognising the familiar dance of Nines' fingers on his skin. Gentle thumbs caressed his closed eyelids and stroked over his stubbled cheeks before moving to fully caress his jaws. He traced the scar on his nose, lingering with gentle strokes as if committing it to memory. The searching touches were so soothing that his eyes were starting to feel heavy again. Nines chuckled softly, almost as if he noticed, leaning down to claim his lips once more. He hummed as Gavin's hands caressed his back, slowly working down to rest on his slim hips. "Do it again." There was something impish in his smile as he trailed teasing fingers down his chest, pulling the zipper of his jacket.
"Are you phcking crazy? We're on a rooftop in the middle of winter!" It was mainly an excuse to stop and keep his morals intact, but it wasn't a lie to point out that it was fucking freezing, either. Nines chuckled softly as he laid both hands flat on his pecs, pressing him against the cold stone floor. Gavin took in a shuddering breath as the hands on his pecs circled, caressing and exploring in much the same way he'd explored his face earlier. He tried not to squirm, knowing that any movement would grind their cocks.
"It's barely the end of October, Gavin…Winter won't start for another month." That's not the phcking point! He would have said as much if not for the merciless lips that returned to claim his own. He sank into it again, moaning helplessly as Nines' tongue caressed his. Shivers ran down his spine as teasing fingers found his nipples, tweaking them through his shirt. Green eyes blinked open lazily as he heard the rustling of leaves on stone before he drew back with a gasp, flinching as the coiling plant wrapped around his wrists. Nines smirked playfully as Gavin's hands were torn from his hips, coming to rest on the stone above his head. He pulled uselessly, heart racing as he realised he was trapped. "Don't worry. Creeping lunar scilla is harmless." Easy for you to say, phck! It was almost like he could hear his thoughts as he chuckled and returned to his lips.
"N-Nines!" Gavin gasped, pulling at his bound wrists as Nines' fingers pinched and rolled. He whined and panted as Nines' lips moved along his stubbled jaw and down his throat, nipping and teasing the skin as deft fingers popped the buttons of his shirt. He shivered for a whole new reason as the material was thrown wide and the icy breeze caressed his skin. Nines bit his lip as he drew back and caressed the newly revealed flesh, fingers moving in a familiar dance as he stroked over the toned muscles of his abs. His torso was mostly hairless, though there was a small trail of dark hair running from navel to pelvis. His stomach twitched as Nines' fingers ghosted across the surface. It was almost ticklish. Nines' lips quirked as he laid his hands flat and pressed harder, examining the plain of muscle.
The teasing fingers paused at his hips, gripping the jutting bones and feeling their way up his waist. He stroked along his ribs, caressing all the way to his diaphragm, pausing at each scar he found. Cuts and tears where his body had been tossed around. Just below his pecs on the left, and above his hip on the right, there were almost starlike burns of warped flesh. They were fairly small, and had healed as much as they ever would, but they'd forever warped the smooth surface. Nines frowned as he lingered, circling his thumb. Old scars from deadly spells. Extensive torture. Gavin tensed as he lingered, apparently unused to being touched so intimately.
"Gavin…my Gavin…" Owlish green eyes blinked at the gentle murmurs. Something tightened in his chest at the phrase. That sounded sort of nice. He swallowed the unexpected emotion in his throat as Nines leaned down to kiss him again. Nimble fingers continued their exploration, working up to caress his pecs. His thumbs pressed and circled his nipples, stroking over the hardened nubs. Gavin moaned, watching in a daze as Nines moved lower, trailing kisses along his jaw and down his throat. He squirmed as those lips finally reached his pecs, hips bucking as teasing teeth nipped a sensitive bud. Nines' eyes closed as he focused on the warm flesh below, trailing his tongue along plush muscle to the other side, where he circled and teased his other nipple.
Gavin shivered and writhed, whining as more vines crept up his legs to hold him in place. Nines was slow and methodical, throwing his shirt and jacket wide to thoroughly kiss and caress his flesh. His lips moved lower, kissing and caressing the warped burns and licking along whatever old cuts he found. He moved lower and lower, smirking as Gavin tensed. He took his time as he kissed along his waistline, teasing the button of his trousers with eager teeth. Moving lower, he kissed the hardened cock through his pants and nuzzled his inner thigh. Gavin whined a quiet objection as a hand moved to his zipper. Nines huffed softly, lips raising as he covered his shivering body and returned to his mouth instead, taking his time and pressing kiss after kiss against his willing lips. Gavin gasped into the contact as Nines' knee came to rest between his thighs.
"Nines…Phck, Nines!" Nines smirked, moving to his neck to encourage more of those needy sounds to the surface. He rocked his thigh, pressing and rubbing the solid shaft trapped in Gavin's slacks. "W-wait! If you keep going I'll-" Another moan interrupted him as Nines pressed harder, grinding and rocking against his cock. Gavin pulled his arms and legs, feeling the heat rise across his skin as he remained trapped by the coiling vines. His cock was solid, throbbing and weeping in his pants. It didn't help that Nines had moved one hand to roll and tease his nipples.
"Come, Gavin…No one will see." Nines' voice was like a low purr in his ear as he nipped his lobe, sending shivers down his spine. Phck-phck-phck! He could feel his core and thighs tensing and twitching as pleasure knotted his stomach. Nines' thigh pressed harder, barely leaving his cock as he rubbed and bucked. He hummed softly, enjoying the helpless mewls that fled Gavin's lips. Gavin's eyes and mouth shot wide, a final moan escaping as he spilled. He cringed as he felt the increasing warmth in his pants, which quickly cooled to become an unpleasant wet patch. His heart raced as he glanced up at Nines, who was biting his lip with a sinful smirk. "Shh…" He wasn't sure how he knew he was about to speak, but his mouth soon closed as Nines' finger came to rest against his lips.
Nines smiled as he leaned in, replacing his finger with gentle lips. He stroked his hair and caressed his body, soothing him back into a lazy slumber. Gavin could barely keep his eyes open as the day caught up with him. He wasn't sure when he passed out, but he knew he must have as he gradually noticed the sun warming his face. He sat up with a gasp and looked around, confused to find himself in his own bed. Did I wake up and stumble back here? He jerked the covers off as he remembered the dream from the night before. Nothing…He'd apparently changed for bed. He tugged the waist of his pyjamas, but it was hard to tell if he'd changed pants. They were all the same. It was just a dream…It had to be. There was no sign of Nines having been in his room. But how the phck did I get back? He didn't have alcohol as an excuse for the blackout this time. Did I fall asleep on the roof? Did Nines carry me back? He balked at the thought of him changing his clothes. I must have woken up in the night and changed…He hoped he'd woken up in the night and changed.
Looking out the window, he quickly realised he didn't have time to think about it. The sun was already high enough to tell him he was late for breakfast, if not the start of his first class. He stumbled through to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, hurrying back to check on his clock partway through. He had ten minutes before class started. The students were probably already waiting. His seventh years often turned up early to set up and get in a little extra review time. His one saving grace was that the door to his private rooms opened into his office, so he could pretend he'd been in there the whole time preparing.
"Alright, settle down! Is everyone here?" He didn't break his stride as he stepped out of his office and circled his way down to the classroom. Chairs scraped as students hurriedly took their seats and a murmur of agreement flurried around the room. Gavin scanned the small group to confirm everyone was there before he continued. "Good…During your OWL levels, you mastered Bombarda in its base form. Now that you're studying advanced NEWTs, it's time for you to perfect it. Bombarda Maxima is the strongest of all explosive spells. This has obviously made it invaluable in warfare, but its primary use these days is in mining and clearing debris. It'll make quick work of pretty much any physical barrier, so you can imagine how deadly it is. This isn't a spell for duelling. It's around three times more powerful than its base form, so you can imagine what it would do if it hit a human body." A murmur of agreement flurried through the room. He'd only known these students for a few weeks, but he already trusted them above all others. They were mature, and serious about their studies.
He trusted them, but he wasn't about to just throw them in and let them cast it outright. They started off with an hour of intensive bookwork. Many had completed the pre-reading as homework already, and those who hadn't were the quick-study students who easily picked things up with a single read through. He wrote up a few important facts on the board, and they discussed a few notable incidents throughout history where the spell had been used in warfare. Entire muggle armies had been decimated by spells like these, their fortresses left in ruins. Even dragons would be wounded by this spell, despite the flame resistant nature of their scales.
They left the classroom after the first hour and headed out to the training grounds. Because the spell was so destructive, their training ground that day would be the beach. Gavin summoned some rocks, huge, jagged boulders from the shoreline. They'd return them once they were finished. The students watched excitedly as he piled them high in a makeshift wall, pausing to assess the breeze as he finished. It was a chilly day, and the wind was blowing in their faces. That made it potentially dangerous to cast forward. They wouldn't want the flames returning to lick their robes. With that in mind, he led them to the other side, so the wind was at their backs.
"Alright, wand motions first! Pull it back, and whip it forward." Gavin moved his wand slowly, bending his elbow before straightening his arm in a powerful thrust, as if pushing the spell away. He ran through it a few times, watching the students practice. He did his usual walk around, correcting slouched posture, straightening wrists and elbows, and encouraging a little more control. With a final nod, he had the students gather behind him so he could demonstrate. "Bombarda Maxima!" The students gasped and yelped as the roaring ball of fire leapt from his wand and blasted the pile of rocks to smithereens. Heat seared their skin as the rocks fractured and crumbled, toppling and flying with a loud explosion. A fan of sand rose around the flying rocks, filling the air like a cloud. As the dust settled, Gavin turned and rested his hands on his hips. "Do you all understand why we can't cast this spell during a duel?" The mumbled understanding was somewhat subdued as they recovered from the sight of such powerful magic. Magic that Gavin was about to let them loose with. "Promise me right now, you will never cast this spell at another living person." He didn't expect the promise to last for a lifetime. Some of them would become aurors and find themselves in desperate situations, but at least within this final year, he was confident they'd keep their word.
He couldn't let them all loose at once, so he lined them up and gathered more rocks, returning those most destroyed to the lake. He was proud of his students. Each of them conducted themselves appropriately. They lined up, waited patiently, stayed away from the casting site, and encouraged each other. Before they cast, Gavin ran through the motions with each of them one on one, giving them the best chance of a successful cast. Since they already knew Bombarda, he wasn't worried about them managing to cast, he just wanted to make sure their spell came out strong and went in the right direction.
A few spells were slightly off centre, but overall, they did exceptionally well for a first try. They'd need to practice, of course, but conditions were strict for such powerful magic. It wasn't the type of spell they could cast just anywhere, or any time. It was too dangerous to risk them using it unsupervised, and they'd do more practice in class because of this. Even if they were careful, there was always the risk of some younger students somehow getting in the way. A controlled environment was far safer. They had enough time that all of them got to try twice, though class did run over by a few minutes for the last two students and the time it took to return to the classroom.
Gavin smiled and waved them off, sharing a few final words and giving them a few tips as they filtered out. He cleared the notes with a wave of his wand and looked around the now deserted room with a sigh. He was free for the next period, which meant he could tail another professor and see if they were up to no good. Though he seemed far too prim and proper to be involved in anything shady, Gavin settled on checking in on Connor. He'd never watched him teach before, and he'd heard him saying something about going dugbog watching that day. With that in mind, Gavin transformed and padded his way into the hall. He wasn't sure exactly where he'd be, so he hurried along to the barns first. Connor always conducted his Care of Magical Creatures classes outside or in the specially built hut by the outdoor barns.
The hut was round and slightly raised off the ground, big enough for thirty or forty students to squeeze inside and sit at long desks facing the board. It was a purely functional space, and rarely used. Connor much preferred to teach practically and only resorted to books for those creatures he couldn't teach about in person. Despite not being able to teach with many rare or endangered species, he was adept at conjuring lifelike marionettes and models as substitutes, though often not accurate in size in the case of things like dragons. Students loved being able to get close and examine them. The marionettes even moved and acted like the real thing, though their nipping teeth were far gentler.
For most lessons, they'd be outside, but on rainy days, they'd be in the huge barn, where the thestrals were sometimes brought in for grooming and injuries. If they had large guest animals, such as hippogriffs, they would also be housed in the horse-sized stalls. Outside were pens for the kneazles, moon calves, diricawls, and puffskeins. Sometimes they even had nifflers or fwoopers, depending on what Connor could get at the market. That day, only the kneazles and diricawls were out in their pens, though the weather looked so grey that they were currently huddled in their cosy hutches. The barn was also deserted that day. No animals or students. It seemed they were already out in the forest somewhere.
Gavin found a quiet spot to turn back and hurried towards Hogsmeade. Once he'd passed the edge of the school grounds, he could disapparate, so he zipped his way to the edge of the forest with a loud crack and performed a simple tracking spell. The spell lit a path of glittering footprints that headed beyond the treeline, keeping to the outer edge of the forest. Gavin was cautious as he shrank into his animagus form and padded his way through the long grass, darting from tree to tree. He was always more careful in places like this, being a potential prey animal for many large birds and other creatures in the forest. His ears twitched cautiously as he followed the tracking spell a little deeper.
The ground became damp beneath his paws; the grass getting shorter and shorter until it died out completely. He was in bog land. His tail twitched with distaste. He didn't like getting his paws dirty, especially if it meant it would then knot his fur. He growled in displeasure as his small paws sank in the mud, dirtying the belly of his coat. At the first opportunity, he scarpered up one of the thick tree trunks and into the lower branches. The higher ground made it easier to see, and the interwoven branches saved him from the dirt as he nimbly hopped from tree to tree, keeping his ears pricked for any potential predators and creeping plants. Since visiting the greenhouse, he'd developed a new distrust and grudging respect for plant life.
The silence grew heavier the further he went. His paws were silent on the rough bark, claws lightly gripping as he walked. The wind barely rustled in the trees anymore and it was getting warmer, almost humid. The stinking bogs below popped and bubbled, rumbling with barely toxic gas. Gavin wrinkled his sensitive nose as he continued searching for the group. He finally found them, crouching quietly at the edge of a large bog behind some rocks. Connor was speaking quietly, barely whispering as they hid from the large family of dugbogs swimming lazily in the filth. He could see two beached on the shore. Fat lizard-like beasts. They were an odd cross between a giant toad and a crocodile, with deadly tongues that could batter and squeeze their victims to death.
Connor was currently saying as much, cautiously peeking over the rocks to point out the largest. A Great Spined Dugbog. They were a little bigger than the Cottongrass Dugbogs, though they shared a similar habitat. Their hard spines often made the great spined breed harder to deal with, but all breeds were just as easy if you knew their weakness. Although their hides were thick and near impenetrable, their throats and underbellies were soft. That was why their bellies were so low to the ground. They didn't want to expose their weakness. They also wouldn't stray too far from the muddy waters of the bog. Why expend energy batting or choking an enemy to death when one could simply drag them beneath the murky surface and drown them?
Gavin settled on his current branch, waving his tail lazily back and forth as he watched Connor giving his lecture with barely contained excitement. It was a little odd to see him like that when he was usually so serious. He went over how to expose their underbellies. If one used Levioso to levitate their tongues, that would expose their throat, leaving them vulnerable to fire spells like Bombarda. The same would also be true if you flipped their huge bodies using the Flippendo spell. This would leave them flailing on their backs, and it would take time for them to wriggle their way back onto their small legs. Although weak to fire, one of the most popular ways of killing dugbogs was actually to use Diffindo, the severing charm. It would do for slicing their throats or abdomen wide open, or even severing the tongue, rendering them defenceless. The kindest thing to do for a dugbog without a tongue was to kill it. Their hunting and lifestyles absolutely depended on their tongues.
The group remained in their hiding place, taking turns to raise their heads and peer over the rocks at the lumbering beasts. They looked slow, but that was a little deceptive. Although they lurched and lumbered along, they could charge for short distances at quite a speed. Despite charging, they would never use their heads to run prey down. Their skulls weren't thick, and their snouts were quite sensitive. Instead, they would come to a sudden halt and whip their tongues like a battering ram to knock down their prey. Once their prey was down, they wouldn't hesitate to squash them with their bodyweight or slap them with their tongue a little more.
"Are they omnivorous?" It was a brunette Slytherin girl who'd asked. She was leaning on the stone beside Connor, peering over the edge at the two dugbogs that seemed to be sleeping on the bank. Connor shook his head as he flicked his gaze to the muddy waters, making sure they hadn't been scented.
"No, they're completely carnivorous…You can't see it right now, but they don't have any teeth. They're a lot like frogs in that regard. Their gums are very thick, but they don't chew their food. They catch it with their tongue, and swallow it whole. If it's something large, then their throats will flex and widen to make it fit, like a snake. Prey goes straight to their stomach to be digested slowly. A single adult human would last them probably…a month, maybe two. They don't expend a lot of energy, as you can see." He nodded across to the two lounging on the bank. They hadn't moved an inch since landing earlier. The smallest titter of agreement fluttered through the small group, and Connor hurriedly signalled for silence.
"Can they hear us? Or see us?" The boy who asked was from Gryffindor and was one of the largest of the group. By his build, he would have made a good beater. He had a powerful upper body with wide shoulders that barely fit the robes he was wearing. Connor nodded, but he didn't seem too worried just yet.
"They have the capacity. Their hearing isn't too good, which is why we can talk like this so close to the bog. Their eyes are also quite weak. It's unlikely the two on the bank would spot us if we stood, though they might if we climbed on the rocks. Their tongues are the most sensitive part. They're a little like snakes in that they use their tongues to scent the air, through both smell and taste. That's why I was so careful when choosing which side of the bog to come to. It's hard to feel wind direction in the forest, and the humidity makes it even worse." Gavin was impressed. Connor really knew his stuff when it came to magical creatures. Makes sense, since that's his career…The students responded well to him, too. Not one of them had stepped out of line or done something stupid to get themselves caught. He wasn't exactly surprised by that. These were seventh years, long grown out of the antics of early youth. Connor had probably given them a stern talking to before leaving the hut earlier, too.
Gavin raised his small head as he heard a crash somewhere deep within the forest. His ears twitched slowly, trying to pick out anything else. It had sounded like a falling tree. He would have assumed it to be just that if not for the distant roar that soon followed. His claws gripped the branch, prickles running down his spine. That didn't sound like any of the creatures usually found in the forest. Looking down, he found he wasn't the only one who'd noticed. The dugbogs were on the move. The two on the bank flicked their tongues, scenting the air as they scooted back into the murky waters. Unfortunately, that had them swimming directly towards where Connor and his group were still hiding. Gavin cursed under his breath, turning back and whipping out his wand as Connor hurriedly directed his students to head further up the hill, away from the bog's edge.
"Flippendo!" It was barely a whisper as it left Gavin's lips, shooting over Connor's head and striking the curious dugbog that had just circled the rocks and turned towards them. Connor drew his wand on impulse, stumbling back as he noticed the upended dugbog flailing barely two feet away. The other four in the group were quickly rounding the corner, ready to attack. Gavin let off another spell, flipping a second dugbog on the bank and giving the students cover as they hurried up the muddy slope and back onto the grassy path. Connor slowly followed, letting off Levioso and Bombarda spells to deter the hungry dugbogs. As the fire struck one of their underbellies, they seemed to think better of following, retreating into the bog to lick their wounds as Connor turned tail and ran. Gavin quickly returned to his smaller form and hopped his way along in the trees, guarding the group all the way back through the forest.
The students were riding a high from all the excitement, exclaiming how amazing it was that Connor had taken on all those dugbogs by himself. Connor questioned them over who'd let off the first Flippendo spell, but none of them owned up to it. He turned and ran his warm, hazel gaze along the treeline suspiciously. He knew for a fact he hadn't dealt with all of them by himself. Without his secret saviour, he would have been the first one injured. That first dugbog had taken all of them by surprise, distracted as they'd been by the strange sound in the forest. Gavin curled his tail, purring in amusement as Connor continued on his way with no answers.