Mugen's escapade
Mugen watched his human, concerned about what the man could be planning. He had heard and seen the repercussions of his nightmares and didn't want to know why they had occurred. But what worried him the most were the mumblings of Forests, Fae, and Inhuman. Was his master inhuman? And what did that mean? Most importantly, what did that have to do with Faerie bargains? Mugen's tail swished anxiously as Kanda slept on. He'd only just become happy and content with the Potion man. He refused to watch it be taken away again. So he snuck away to conspire with another Kneazle. Pattering slowly out of the room, Mugen made his way up from the dungeons towards the red tower where his ginger companion could maybe give him some ideas.
"Morning Mugen" Kanda tiredly called out from his bed.
Silence.
Well that was unusual. Usually the Kneazle made some sort of noise, whether out loud or psychic. Kanda looked around and spotted the empty cat bed and ajar door. He squinted but then sighed. Mugen was a free spirit, and he'd never said that he couldn't leave. He just hoped he came back.
Deciding to look for him if it got to lunch time, Kanda moved into the lounge where Severus was already up and making two cups of coffee.
"I thought you might need one of these after last night"
"Hnn. Thanks" Kanda took the offered mug and slumped on the sofa, Snape joining him with his own.
"Have you seen Mugen? He wasn't in his bed and my room door was open"
Snape paused mid-sip.
"Oh he went out? That'll be why the office door was open this morning"
Kanda pondered this information. He'd gone out-out then.
"Did you want me to ask people to look for him?" Snape asked quietly, knowing how much Kanda liked the cat - and vice versa.
"Thanks but not yet. Ask the teachers to keep an eye out, but I'm not worried. I'll check back at lunch and if he's not back by then, I'll start looking"
"Alright. Speaking of teachers, Sybill wanted to talk to you - probably about Lenalee"
Kanda side-eyed and was relieved at Severus's relaxed face. Nothing serious then.
"Did she say a time?"
"You have second period free - I said you could go up then"
Kanda rolled his eyes
"You could have asked me first"
Snape laughed at that
"I would have done but you were completely zonked out when she popped over to ask and after last night I didn't want to wake you"
That got Kanda's attention.
"Wait, she came down here? At what time?" He took a quick glance at the clock on the wall and was relieved to see it was still early.
"The crack of dawn." Snape grumbled into his coffee.
"What the hell was she doing up at that time?"
"Merlin knows"
Kanda snorted at his expression and stood from the sofa.
"We should probably get ready then if we want to make breakfast"
He then headed to his room to grab his robes.
When he reached the apprentice table in the Great Hall, Kanda spotted Hermione approaching with a familiar face and moved to greet them.
"Mugen! Where did you go?"
The grey Kneazle jumped from the girl's arms onto Kanda's shoulder effortlessly. Hermione smiled,
"I found him curled up in my cat bed with Crookshanks. I thought I'd bring him back down"
"Thank you Granger"
"No worries. I'm glad he's made friends"
She waved and headed back to the Gryffindor table while Kanda petted Mugen's head who purred under the attention.
"You making friends there, Mugen?" Alma smiled at the cat as the two sat at the table.
"Seems to be. Just let me know next time instead of giving me a heart attack in the morning"
Mugen butted his head and licked his cheek.
"Apology accepted. Here, food"
Everyone at the table smiled at the interaction and Lenalee turned to Kanda.
"Did Snape tell you about the meeting with Sybill?"
Kanda snorted at the disgruntled noise coming from the teacher's table.
"He did yeah. Do you know what it's about?"
Lenalee shook her head,
"She was quite adamant though. I hope it's nothing serious"
Kanda patted her head,
"I'm sure she would say if it was"
Then he looked down the table and noticed an absence.
"Did moyashi not want breakfast?"
Lenalee, Timothy, and Alma grimaced.
"It's tonight Kanda"
"I know? It's not like he'll actually turn tonight though"
A hand settled on his shoulder and Kanda looked up at Remus who wore a pained smile.
"I told him that it would be better to not eat much today -it'll still affect him"
Kanda grimaced and nodded.
"You'll take care of him?" Kanda looked up at the man who would either grant his brother a great gift or a terrible burden.
Lupin looked determinedly down at the younger man and nodded,
"I will. To the best of my ability"
And with that Lupin was gone.
The table gave a collective sigh.
"I hope it goes okay"
"I'm sure it will be Lena. They both researched everything. It'll be fine"
"And if not, we'll be there"
Kanda side-eyed the boy.
"Hope you don't mean literally. If the potion doesn't work, you'll be a nice snack"
Timothy waggled his eyebrows.
"I picked up some interesting information from Mr Black"
"Oh? Like what?"
The others tensed. Timothy continued, unaware of the darkening mood.
"You'll see, you'll see"
"I'd better not see you doing something illegal or dangerous Mr Hearst"
That clued him in and he sweated a little.
"Not at all. Maybe a little underage but nothing else"
Kanda sighed.
"Just be careful. Lupin wouldn't forgive himself"
Timothy nodded, all cockiness gone.
"I will"