An Early Homecoming
Dogwarts University was a prestigious institute. It had hosted many great canine minds over the centuries, looking to better themselves and the world. Everyone from Virginia Woof to Fido Dostoevsky had passed through these great halls. Though one of its current residents never believed she could match such names, that wasn't going to stop her from trying.
Said resident was currently sat in her dorm room, taking a well-earned rest following end-of-term exams. She was a poodle with well-groomed tufts of fluff and vibrant eyes. Where once a jewelled red collar gripped her neck, now a vibrant little red bow took its place.
If somebody had come up to Fluffles two years ago and told her this is where she would be, earning her degree in computer science, she'd have thought them mad. That was back when she'd been a serial killer's tool. Before she had met Wallace and Gromit…
Her attention drifted to the photos she kept on her desk. One of the three of them together, Fluffles in the middle of the pair. The other, in its own special love heart frame, of Gromit himself. The bravest, most humble and absolutely wonderful dog she'd ever met.
A wistful sigh escaped her lips.
All of this. Her place on the course, a real home and actual hope for her future. Time to develop her own interests and hobbies. Not just her newfound interest in computers, but joining a book club, gardening society and the university swimming team. Some inspired by Wallace and Gromit, others she had followed her own path on.
All because Piella Bakewell had tried to snuff out Wallace's life, like she had with 12 unfortunate others. But she was gone now and Fluffles had a new family. A better one.
Home sickness plucked at her heart. Of course, it was only a bus ride back to West Wallaby Street and they made sure to come and visit her. Having her studies to keep her busy helped, but all of it had been counting down to two days from now. Two days and she was back home for summer break. Back home with her boys!
The list of activities she wanted to do was already quite long. Catch up with Wallace on any new projects. Put her new skills to practical use. Take a trip to the beach to go swimming. Have a picnic with Gromit. Feed the ducks with Gromit. Attend the Blue Diamond exhibit with Gromit. Oh, she could hardly wait!
Excitement buzzing through her, she settled down in front of her television. All she had to do now was wait out the clock.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the subject of Up North News: that was them! Scooting a little closer to the screen, she fixed her gaze on the boarder in the background.
Gromit. Just as handsome and humble as ever. But who was this little gnome? Another of Wallace's inventions, no doubt. Norbot. How curious.
Though the camera didn't focus on her favourite dog anywhere near as much as it should, she knew Gromit well enough to see the annoyance on his face, buried in leaves whilst the gnome robot trimmed the hedge next to him. Seems like Wallace had got himself swept away in a new project again.
Seeing it unfold, Fluffles had a feeling stir within her. An odd sense of foreboding, though she wasn't completely certain why.
It was probably nothing. Gromit would keep Wallace on the straight and narrow. They didn't need her sticking her nose in, making a fuss over a hunch. Besides, she couldn't barge in on them sooner than she had told them. It would be rude of her.
Then again…
What was two more days, really, when she could be home right now? There was nothing going on at the university and while she'd prefer not to come back during a possible kerfuffle, that was very much life at 62 West Wallaby Street.
That settled it. Whipping together a suitcase and checking bus times, Fluffles strode out of her dorm. Her old mistress was cruel, petty and murderous but she had been right about one thing.
This needed a woman's touch.