Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Bailey, her pups, and mate, and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various reader's amusement everywhere across the globe.
A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic 3 Chapter 16
Nobody in Gryffindor Tower was none-the-wiser than what Bailey had planned when many of them were gathered inside the Common Room doing their assignments and just hanging out before bed. They weren't ever suspicious when they saw Dreamer had decided to join her mother curled up in front of the fireplace. Not very surprising since Dreamer is one of the more docile and well-behaved of the brood.
There's no indication at all of the recent developments to upend their lives.
If any of them were paying attention, then they'd see how alert mother and daughter are tonight as if they're waiting for something.
That would be a signal from a certain feline.
The room is buzzing with excitement. Harry had seen it when he'd returned from practice but held back from asking about it. After a trip to the bathroom, he couldn't contain his curiosity on the subject anymore.
"What's happened? Why's everyone so excited," asked Harry.
"First Hogsmeade weekend," said Ron, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old bulletin board. "End of October. Halloween."
"Isn't it excellent," said Fred, rubbing his hands gleefully. "I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets."
Bailey wrinkled her nose in distaste upon hearing that. The last one of those accidentally blew up in her face that dreadful odor stayed attached to her fur for days. It took ages to get them out. Some of them may find them funny, but Bailey views them as a nuisance. Bailey swears that next time she sees some she's hiding them when no one else is looking.
Harry falls backward into a chair beside Ron, a gloomy expression overtaking his face as he's reminded that he can't go. Sensing this from him Bailey nudges his foot, pressing her cold nose against his left. Harry reaches a hand down to fondle her soft ears.
Noticing his change in mood, Hermione said "Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time. They're bound to catch Black soon. He's been sighted once already."
"Ron," admonished Hermione. "Harry's supposed to stay in school-."
"He can't be the only third-year left behind," scoffed Ron. "Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry-."
Nodding his head in agreement, Harry said "Yeah, I think I will. Thanks, Ron."
Hermione purses her lips, and mutters incredulously under her breath.
Before Hermione could voice her displeasure Crookshanks appears, and he's brought a gift.
A large spider is dangling from his mouth.
"Does he have to eat that in front of us," said Ron, scowling.
"Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?"
But Crookshanks has no intention of eating the spider. Oh no, he has other plans.
Especially since the spider isn't even dead.
The spider is still very much alive.
Quicker than anyone can react Crookshanks jumps onto a small table next to Ron and drops the squirming arachnid in Ron's lap.
The reaction is immediate and hilarious at the same time.
Ron releases a high-pitched scream, bolting from the chair to get it off him. In the process, Ron accidentally overturns his school bag and out-tumbles his books and Scabbers.
Jackpot.
Abandoning the spider, Crookshanks pounces after Scabbers. Bailey and Dreamer immediately jump into action, following Crookshank's lead in trying to catch the rat.
"Oy," roared Ron, spotting Crookshanks pursuing a petrified Scabbers.
"Ron, don't hurt him," squealed Hermione, aware the whole common room was watching.
"Catch that cat," yelled Ron.
Ron spoke only of Crookshanks and left Dreamer and Bailey out of it. He fully believes that Bailey and Dreamer are working together to try and stop Crookshanks from catching the rat. Where Bailey and Dreamer are working in coalition with him.
George made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed because Dreamer knocked into his legs. Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and toward a chest of drawers for safety, but Bailey was there to intercept.
Just when Scabbers is about to sleep underneath it Bailey pounces, placing a paw over Scabbers to keep him in place and then picking him up by the tail.
Jumping to conclusions about what Bailey was doing, Harry said "Good girl, Bailey. Bring him-."
Bailey has no intention of handing Scabbers over to any of them. With Scabbers dangling from her mouth, squeaking in terror, Bailey heads for the portrait hole with Dreamer to take him outside.
"Bailey! Dreamer! No," exclaimed Harry, rushing over with Ron.
Harry ends up blocking the portrait hole while Ron claims Scabbers from Bailey's mouth.
Kneeling, holding Bailey's head so that he's looking directly into her face, Harry said "Bailey, bad girl! You, too, Dreamer! Why did you do that?"
Dreamer feigns innocence by wagging her tail and returning to the fireplace. Bailey grumbles, a mounting frustration rising inside her over this.
Fred called "She must've got a little confused. Remember, Bailey's never liked Scabbers anyway. And Dreamer's probably picking up on that. I wouldn't be surprised if the rest of the pups act the same way."
Furiously rounding on Hermione, holding Scabbers before her, Ron shouted "Look at him! He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"
"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong," defended Hermione, her voice shaking. "All cats chase rats, Ron. And why are you angry at me? Bailey and Dreamer chased him, too."
"They wouldn't have done that if Crookshanks hadn't gone after him in the first place! There's something funny about that animal! He's always watching me and eyeing Scabbers!"
"Oh, what rubbish," said Hermione, impatiently. "Crookshanks can smell him, Ron. How else do you think-?"
"That cat's got it in for Scabbers and now Bailey's attitude has gotten even worse toward him," ignoring the people around him, who were starting to giggle. "And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!"
Ron marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys' dormitories.
Drat! Foiled in the attempt! They almost had him!
Ron's going to be even more paranoid from now on and keep Scabbers even closer to him.
Regardless, the stakes are too high to mess this up.
Sooner or later Scabbers is going to slip up and when he does, they'll get him.
There's no escape for Scabbers from any of them.
Authors Note:
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.