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Author: Zia Montrose Story: Precipice Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 3 Words: 25,223
The cabin stood still. No footsteps boomed across the floorboards to answer Remus’s knock as anticipated. Only a surreptitious robin bustling in the thatch of the roof provided animation. Sirius turned an eye on James. “Guess we shouldn’t’ve expected Hagrid to be home on a perfectly nice Saturday.” “So what do we do now?” Bonnie cut in. James glanced at the chick fussing in Florence’s arms, all flapping wings and pokey feet. “Dunno.” Meanwhile, Sirius bent his body to peer around the edge of the cabin. “Think we should have a look around?” “Can’t hurt,” agreed Lily. “Even if we can’t find Hagrid, maybe there’s something we could use for a cage,” suggested Remus as the fledgling he was holding tried to grapple its way up his cotton shirt and around his neck; Lily reached up to help extract it and James noticed wistfully how comfortable she seemed around his friend. He wished he could say the same for the way she acted around him. “D’you think there’s any place in the Owlery that could be set up for them?” asked Florence. James shifted his lips. “T’s’a good idea. Only thing is, someone’d have to check on them regularly.” “And we’re leaving in three days,” Sirius concluded. And what then? Remus concurred with a nod. “Right. So it’d be better if we could set them up here at Hagrid’s. I’m sure he’d be willing to watch them.” Sirius turned to James with a twinkle in his eye and a budding grin. “Why don’t we just keep them in our dormitory until it’s time to go?” Peter’s mouth fell open a little. Perfect. “And then take them home for summer?” James pictured releasing a nearly full-grown messenger from his arm by summer’s end. “I could take one home with me,” interjected Bonnie. “My parents wouldn’t mind.” James turned toward her. “That’d be ace, McDermott—and we’ll take the other two—unless Hagrid or anyone else wants one. I’ll find some way to convince my parents…” “Because we always find a way to convince your parents,” Sirius hooted mirthfully. “Oh Merlin…” Lily rolled her eyes. Remus, for his part, sported a knowing smile. “Evans, you sure you don’t want one?” James prodded. “It’d be the perfect way to show your sister who’s boss,” chimed Sirius. Florence tittered. “It’s not a matter of wanting one,” replied Lily. “It’s a matter of whether I can handle living under the same roof as Petunia if I have one.” James, who didn’t have any siblings, had been over the moon about Sirius’s coming to live with him. This, and his general interest in all things Lily Evans, made him deeply curious about Lily’s relationship with her sister. And he’d rarely been denied access to anything magical at home. Questions formed. “Hey, look, there’s Hagrid!” Bonnie pointed off toward the stables, where a gigantic man wearing a denim boilersuit could be seen grinning broadly and approaching with multi-yard steps. The group spun to look. Hagrid waved a broomtail-sized hand. They all waved back. “Well, at least now Hagrid can tell us how to care for them,” Remus remarked. James agreed. “Until they’ve fledged, at least, and can find food on their own.” From what he knew of them, falcons weren’t entirely different from owls, save their being diurnal rather than nocturnal. But then again, he’d never cared for a juvenile owl before… Just then Hagrid tromped into range behind them. “Lookin’ fer me? To what der I owe—?” His eyes fell to the chick in Florence’s arms and then the one in Remus’s and his brows plunged. Remus dove into explanation. “Hagrid, we rescued these chicks from the cliff. It’s a long story, but the—ah—adult bird that was with them died,” he relayed, managing not to glance at Peter, “and… we’re pretty sure they’ve been orphaned.” “Oh—” Hagrid’s whole face fell. “Can you help us figure out what to do with them?” Lily piped in. “We brought the dead bird down, too,” said James, giving the crate under his arm a little lift. “We were hoping you’d know of a place we could bury it.” Hagrid’s beetle black eyes lost some of their glitter as they fell upon it. “How’d it die?” “It tried to attack a student,” James answered carefully, but his mouth felt dry just saying the words. “Someone, er, Stunned it. In defense.” He avoided looking at Lily and Peter as he spoke. “Cryin’ shame,” murmured Hagrid. “I’ve bin watchin’ them two. Fine pair. Flyin’ high and loft all spring.” He glanced up at the eastern sky. “The other’un died las’ week—protectin’ the territory. “Protecting the territory? From what?” asked Florence. “Eagle,” said Hagrid. “Very territorial birds, yeh see, them eagles. Think these two moved into its ol’ nest.” “Oh,” said Lily ruefully. Hagrid reached out a sausage-like finger to stroke the chick in Remus’s arms. It gave a feeble cheep and burrowed its head. “Foller me. Think we can figger out sometin’ ter do with ‘em…” “We were hoping to take them home in a few days,” interjected James. “D’you think we’d be able to care for them ourselves?” Even if they had to pore through the pages of research books, they’d do it… At this, Hagrid seemed to brighten. “O’ course. I always liked takin’ things home meself when I was yer age.” Then he paused to swallow a strange lump in his throat and look askance. “D’yeh need a place ter keep ‘em until then?” Sirius and James exchanged consulting looks. “Maybe,” Bonnie hedged. “Well, foller me.” The Gryffindors gave Hagrid room to pass before trailing him around the side of his cabin. He stopped and glanced around at a worn but sunny patch of earth and waved a hand at the ground. “Ought ter be able ter build sum cages or summat on this side.” An old chopping stump lay on the ground about ten feet out from the cabin with an axe and a maul lying up against it and shavings scattered about. “Stays nice ‘n warm o’er here.” James glanced back at the Quidditch pitch, his own version of Polaris when orienting himself on the Hogwarts grounds. He could always picture the spot where the afternoon sun fell below the trees, and from there he could imagine its daily arc over the castle. “Eventually they’ll need room to fly,” he said, thinking aloud. His eyes breached the overhang of the roof, picturing a cage constructed against it. “But not if they’re only going to be here for a few days.” Then they can fly in Godric’s Hollow… Bonnie flashed him a bemused smile. “You would think of that, Potter.” “Will they learn to fly without parents?” asked Florence quizzically. “It’s their instinct.” Hagrid nodded. “Might take ‘em a little longer, but they will. Suppose they could always foller James, here—if they needed a bit of a lesson.” Hagrid smiled approvingly. “He’s probably s’good a flyer as their parents were.” Lily let out a groan, but her smile belied it. James barely noticed; the idea of him and Sirius flying over the countryside with raptors unfolded into such a glorious mental picture that his stomach did a barrel roll. Sirius clapped his hands together. “Should we get started then?” “Yes,” croaked Remus, up the front of whose shirt the chick was grappling once again. “I can put ‘em inside fer now,” offered Hagrid, picking up an empty well bucket near his feet and holding it out. “Good idea, thanks.” Remus deposited the chick in the bottom of it. Bonnie and Florence added the better-behaved siblings. The downy trio began jumping for the lip like kernels of popping corn until Hagrid spanned a hand over it. Meanwhile, James set the crate atop the woodpile to be dealt with later, taking care to wedge it in the logs. “What are we going to use to build a cage?” asked Peter, eyeing the side of the hut. “We can Transfigure something,” answered James. “We’ll need some sort of wire—” mused Bonnie. “— and poles to keep it up off the ground,” added Remus. “Might have somethin’ in me hut you could use fer the wire,” said Hagrid. “And the poles—?” asked Florence. “Hagrid, are there any small trees we can cut down?” Sirius’s eyes flitted toward the Forbidden Forest, with which he was far too familiar to admit to a member of the staff. James nearly laughed at the convincingness of his look. “Yeah, like saplings,” clarified Remus. “There’s summat over there,” said Hagrid. “See that small stand of poplars?” Right. They knew the very one. How many nights had they capered past—? “Maybe someun’d like ter follow me inside,” suggested Hagrid. “See if they can find somethin’ fer the wire.” “Like an old burlap bag,” suggested James. Likeness always made for easy Transfiguring. “Or a blanket,” added Florence. “We’ll go,” asserted Lily, glancing at her friends. “I’ve got blankets in me hut, only—” Hagrid paused, wearing a reluctant look “—I knitted ‘em meself, I’d hate to part with em’.” “We can always Transfigure them back once we’re done. Easy enough,” assured James. “Sorted,” said Sirius, taking a step toward the forest, then pausing to wait for his friends. James, Peter, and Remus took cue and fell into step alongside him. Together, they skirted the front of Hagrid’s cabin and began heading across the clearing toward a patch of vetch at the forest’s edge. As he strode along, Sirius glanced at Remus’s collar line. “Moony, just so you know, your neck looks like someone locked you in a broom cupboard with Mary Rancourt.” Remus contorted himself to have a look. “I’d consider wearing a turtleneck for the train ride home,” James concurred with mock sincerity. Remus completed his assessment unalarmed. “Fortunately, Pomfrey could actually heal these.” The same could not be said for his usual cursed scars from full moons. “You must have been holding Loki,” said Sirius. Two more footfalls punctuated their walk before James asked at large, “Did you know Lily knows Healing Charms?” “She does?” “Yeah, she, um… used one on my hand.” He found himself trailing off at the end, as though he’d divulged something private to his mates, something he might have wanted to keep to himself. He said nothing of summer sunbeams and Lily’s gentle touch. Sirius raised his brows as though impressed. Then his face budded into a grin. “You mean she had you at wand point and she didn’t hex you?” Peter sniggered. “What’d you do to your hand?” asked Remus, who hadn’t been present during the cliff rescue. “One of the chicks pecked it.” “Let’s see it.” Sirius waved a finger at James’s hand as they came to a stop in front of the small grove. “S’gone,” said James, holding it out in exhibit. Sirius leaned over to examine it. “That’s rather impressive,” pronounced Sirius, straightening up. “I agree,” added Moony, who had also crowded in. Peter’s eyes floated reverently toward James’s. “Well, no one ever said Evans wasn’t good at magic,” said Sirius. “And if they did, they were wrong,” added Remus. “Agreed.” “Well, shall we?” Sirius’s eyes floated to the grove. They all spread out to select a tree; James and Sirius stayed in each other’s vicinity, while Remus and Peter wandered farther off. Little blue woodland flowers had begun to sprout through the grass at the base of the trees. They put James in mind of Lily again. “So what’d you two talk about while I was down on the cliff?” James asked as they milled around the saplings. Most were straight, a few crooked; one or two sported ungainly burls. “I asked her if she likes blokes with antlers for hair,” Sirius replied. “Very funny, git.” “You know, the usual stuff—summer holidays, what we’d been up to all morning, your chances of falling into the lake… Oh, and she asked me how I liked living at your house,” he added more softly. “What’d you tell her?” “I told her your parents were winged cherubs compared to mine,” snorted Sirius. “And she said—?” “She wondered how winged cherubs ever produced a child like you.” Oi! “I guess that’s the last time I leave you alone with—” A footfall interrupted their conversation. “Get a move on, you two,” said Remus, smirking at what he’d just overheard and already carrying a sapling in his hand. Peter materialized behind him. “Oh, right.” James eyed up a few more trees then severed one off at the base. The foursome was tromping out through the patch of vetch, saplings in hand or at wand point, with James and Remus out in front, when something nudged James in the back of the head. Over his shoulder, he glimpsed a grey pole trailing him and Peter’s wand aimed up at it. “Merlin, Pete, either float it straight or carry it.” Peter reddened. “Pete, get a grip, mate. I was just taking the mickey.” A second after James faced forward again, something began thumping him repeatedly in the back of his trousers. James spun in time to spy Sirius grinning knavishly. “Don’t make me clobber you, Padfoot.” “Ha, like you could.” “Right. We could settle this with a pole fight.” “So much for the International Ban on Duelling,” Sirius laughed, but his eyes were flinty with excitement. Peter and Remus stepped aside as they squared up on the grass. In tandem, they flicked their wands and the two saplings zoomed forward to meet each other. “TOCK.” The trees struck… “TOCK.” They struck again on opposite ends… Quickly, a rhythmic “TOCK—TOCK—TOCK” broke out in the meadow. The two poplars crossed and struck, crossed and struck, zooming forwards, backwards, and readvancing… They’d quickly mastered the rhythm and began picking up speed. A smirk played on both their faces… Until Hagrid’s screen door slammed shut and James made the mistake of glancing over at the cabin: The girls were filing down the stairs… That’s when Sirius’s tree came zooming for his chest— he ducked hard and dodged it like a rogue Bludger. It narrowly breezed past his hair. Sirius laughed. “Maybe you should have been in Slytherin.” James knew only he could get away with such a jab. “Maybe you should keep your eyes on your opponent,” Sirius retorted, prodding his tree toward James’s feet: James jumped over it—and scampered backward. Then he gave his wand a determined flick: His tree zoomed forward, kicking Sirius’s back by several solid feet— “Whoa!” Sirius arched backwards and scampered out of range, but James flicked his wand again, and Sirius was forced to duck as the tree zoomed overhead. James chuckled. Then he prodded the tree into a whirl, which prevented Sirius from straightening back up, making it hard for him to see… hard for him to aim… hard for him to stand up from his crouch… Sirius was trying to back out from underneath its spin when the sound of ‘OI!’ punctuated the air. Lily’s voice. James let up. “Looks like we’re being summoned,” said Sirius with a doggy grin as he straightened up. James caught the undertone. “Good thing for you.” “I wasn’t done yet.” “You’d have slipped on the grass any second with that jig I had you dancing.” “Prongs…” Sirius shook his head admonishingly. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” Remus and Peter fell into step ahead of them as they finished walking to the stairs where the girls were waiting, laden with blankets. “Slight detour?” Lily raised one brow. Merlin, did she practice that look? “We were just waiting for you lot to come out,” bluffed Sirius. “Why do I get the feeling you’ve been kissing the Blarney Stone again, Black?” “Well, until I find something better to kiss—“ “Let’s get started on the cage,” Remus interceded humorously. “Good idea,” echoed Florence drolly, falling into step with him, and leading the group around the corner. Remus stopped at the spot they’d earlier discussed constructing the cage. “Right about here?” “Looks good to me.” Remus pointed his wand at the ground. Bits of earth whirled up like a rooster tail, landing in a small circular heap around the newly-bored holes. After he was done, the boys set their saplings in place at the bottom of each well and flicked the dirt back in around them, giving each a good packing by foot. “Blanket?” The girls stretched the afghan into place around the poles. “Flop the second one over the top and the bottom,” Sirius directed casually, as the industrious Twister game continued. Finally, they all stepped back to admire the shanty they’d constructed. The lurid blankets sagged on the poles. “Who’s Transfiguring?” asked Remus. “James?” queried Bonnie. “Sure, if no one else wants to.” James stepped forward, his chucks pressing a pattern into the newly tamped soil. Absently running a hand through his hair, he pictured in his mind the sort of cage he wanted, complete with a front door, hinges, and finer mesh on the bottom. Then he gave his wand a flick: Like a hedgehog into a teapot, the crochet work turned to wire mesh; the afghan quivered before fluxing to a rigid gunmetal grey. “Nice.” “Should we bring the chicks out?” Sirius asked. “I’ll go get them,” offered Bonnie. “I’ll help,” chimed Florence. “I’ll come too,” added Peter. James avoided glancing at Sirius to question Peter’s motivations. “Where’s Hagrid?” James wondered aloud. “Wasn’t he watching the chicks?” “He made a trip back to the paddock to tell Kettleburn he’d finish doing whatever he was doing later,” explained Lily. “He put a dishtowel over the bucket… Should the rest of us find some straw or something for the cage?” “Good idea, Evans.” Sirius turned on his heel, glanced around the yard contemplatively, and began vacuuming up woodchips and bits of straw with his wand. Moony, James, and Lily fanned out and followed suit. James noticed that, by coincidence, Lily worked adjacent to him: He caught a glimpse of her wielding her spirally wand before asking, “Your sister’s older than you, right?” “Petunia? Yes.” He had intentions of asking more on the subject when the wind kicked up suddenly, billowing dry leaves and blowing a robust, earthy stench in their direction. “What’s that smell?” Lily asked, wrinkling her nose. James caught a waft. “Manure pile,” he answered simply. Lily cast him an inquisitive glance. James paused. “Behind the greenhouses. Sirius and I had to shovel it once.” Sirius, within earshot, snuffled a laugh. “Oh? For what angelic deed was that?” James resisted the urge to make a witty reply. “Aubrey,” he answered simply. “Oh, right… Bertram Aubrey. You mean that time you expanded his head to three times its normal size?” James’s stomach gave a little twist as he looked up to check her expression. Strangely enough, she wore a faint, bemused smirk as she continued vacuuming straw. “Aubrey’s head practically is that size. You don’t know the story,” he mumbled feebly. He realized his excuses carried little weight when it was the size of his own head that Lily had misgivings about; she’d hardly take his word on someone else’s. “Yes, I do know the story; Remus told it to me once on rounds.” James’s head whipped up to regard Moony, who sheepishly flashed James a look that promised, ‘I’ll explain later.’ “You run out of things to talk about for two hours at a time,” Remus mumbled. They’d run out of things to talk about? And talked about him? “Don’t worry, he put in a good word for you,” Lily remarked casually. James had completely lost track of the task. The idea of Lily talking about him in her free time aroused hopeful suspicions. “So he told you about Aubrey strutting into Runes that day—” Sirius interjected “—spouting elaborate facts about subjects he knows nothing about?” “Remus said he was talking about Animagi—” Lily hedged recollectively. “And really, who knows anything about them? It’s not like we learned much in class… Besides, isn’t his uncle one?” Her brows knit. “Right.” Sirius nodded. It would have been hard to miss his undertone of disdain. “Aubrey thinks it’s bound to be a family trait,” said James sarcastically. Did Lily also know they’d been riled by Aubrey’s know-it-all pomp in front of the pretty Ravenclaw Remus had been trying to ask out that day—at their steadfast encouragement—and just in time for Hogsmeade weekend? “If Aubrey were an Animagus, he’d be a quail,” said Sirius. “With a very large plume,” added James. Remus looked torn between amusement and desperately wanting to censure his friends. Lily glanced between them all, shifted her lips, and appeared to let it slide. “Does this look like suitable enough vegetation, James?” asked Sirius, outwardly changing the subject once his wand had raked up a significant pile. “Ruminable,” James answered. Remus accidentally coughed. Lily glanced between them all suspiciously. James felt a pang of guilt for leaving her out of the joke—but then the screen door slammed and the trio of Bonnie, Florence, and Peter suddenly rounded the corner. “What took you so long?” asked Sirius. “They’d escaped the bucket and decided to hide under Hagrid’s bed,” Peter explained, slightly out of breath. “Mn, they’re good at hiding,” attested James with a nod. Memories of the cliff swirled back. “Well, should we introduce them to their new home?” asked Remus. James reached forward and opened the latch of the door ceremoniously and Sirius quickly floated in a few bundles of the bedding they’d collected. “It’ll be the true test of our cage—whether or not Loki stages a jailbreak.” “Do the others have names?” asked Lily. “No, but we should give them some, shouldn’t we?” Bonnie carefully transferred Loki and the second chick through the door in cupped hands. “Rapscallion?” muttered Peter, pointing through the mesh at the second, and apparently voicing a grievance from the recent search. “Do we have to give them all mischievous names?” Lily wailed. “Oi, this from the girl who named her cat Hooligan!” Bonnie accused, smiling. “Yeah, why did you name your cat that, Evans?” James wondered. Lily took a breath. “Well… when I first brought him home from Diagon Alley, he liked to bat around Petunia’s things… including—” she paused, “—her knickers.” Her friends burst into laughter. “Needless to say, my sister didn’t like that very much. I’m not even sure where he got them. He must have raided her hamper or something—Petunia’s very neat—she doesn’t just leave her dirty clothes lying around.” “You’d think your cat would like us then,” remarked Sirius, “if he’s such a troublemaker.” “Well, if you weren’t always trying to do sneaky things to him—” The words ‘Sticking Charm’ went unspoken. “We only started doing that because he acts so aloof,” said James. …Just like you sometimes, Evans… the way he wends around the common room couches with his fuzzy black tail stuck in the air, always dodging out of reach when I try to get his attention. “He’s not aloof around me,” said Bonnie. “Clearly, we lack your touch with animals,” said Sirius. “We are animals.” “You can say that again.” “Aren’t we supposed to be coming up with names?” “Well, Loki comes from myth,” James recovered. “So how about Malta? There’s a deep history of falconry there.” “Is Merlin too obvious?” asked Lily, glancing toward James. “You said earlier—” “It works,” he said encouragingly, meeting her eye. “Settled, then,” said Sirius. “Here comes Hagrid.” Remus hitched a thumb toward the stables, where Hagrid could be seen carrying a spaded shovel. He bore something in his right hand which James couldn’t make out… Within moments, Hagrid tromped into the circle, wielding a vegetable stalk with a feathery top. “Fennel,” he said. “Wards off danger.” “You sound like my dad,” Florence grimaced as the Gryffindors parted to let Hagrid through. “Well done on the cage,” Hagrid pronounced, opening the latch to slip the stalk in. “Is the spade for the funeral?” Lily asked. “It is,” Hagrid nodded sadly. “Ready ter get started?” The question met a round of sober nods. James fetched the crate from the top of the woodpile while the others fell into step behind the gamekeeper. As he caught up to the group, Lily twisted around with a quizzical look and quietly asked, “Why wouldn’t we just use that spell Remus used to bury the poles?” “Even wizards dig graves by hand,” he answered, so that few people overhead. “It’s fitting for the nature of the task—a show of respect.” “That makes sense… though I wouldn’t have guessed wizards would forego magic out of respect.” She’d fallen half a step behind her friends to converse with him. “There’s humility in manual labour… I’m supposed to have learned that from detention as much as anything else.” “But you haven’t?” Lily arched a brow right along with her voice. “Um…” He glanced sidelong at her… Should I tell her? “It’s not that I haven’t learned anything from detention, it’s just that most of the time I simply pull one of my mate’s wands out from where I’ve stashed it in my sock after my own has been taken away…” Lily’s jaw dropped. The procession halted when Hagrid arrived at a suitable spot, about fifty feet behind his cabin, sunny, and bordering on the woods. The group convened in a half circle around it. James noticed he was separated from his mates by Florence on his left, and Lily remained on his right. In one fell swing of the spade, Hagrid bored a sufficiently large hole for the crate. “So much for earning our humility,” Lily whispered conspiratorially. “Right. That takes care of that,” James whispered back. “We are gathered here today…” Hagrid began, “…to set this brave bird to rest.” Then he paused, took out his hanky and honked into it like a tortured goose. Everyone waited respectfully. James decided to smooth over the delay by stepping forward to set the weathered Zanzibar’s crate in the hole, but Lily caught his arm as he stepped out of line. “Wait, that fabric is only temporary, remember?” James glanced down at the sky blue bunting and remembered Lily’s conjuring it. He doubted they’d find anything nicer at this point—and he was rather fond of it. “I think it’ll be alright.” Stepping forward, he crouched down, set the crate in the hole, then stepped back and reclaimed his place between Lily and Florence. “Ashes to ashes and dust to dust,” said Hagrid, and after a respectful pause, he gently backfilled the hole. Another moment of silence prevailed. Only the leaves shirred in the breeze. “Should we plant something on top?” asked Bonnie finally. “That’d be a nice touch,” agreed Lily. She glanced around before settling her gaze on a patch of frazzled brown flower stalks nearby, flattened by the winter snow. “I have an idea—” She whisked over to them, plucked a few seed heads, brought them back and, after handing Bonnie half the harvest, rubbed them gently between her hands. The seeds drifted through the air and scattered atop the soil. It reminded James of something she would have done over her Potions cauldron, something which would have rendered it the best specimen in class and set Slughorn cooing… Her own brand of magic. Florence tamped the seeds into the soil with her foot. “What about a headstone?” suggested Remus. The boys traded glances. “Would this work?” asked Peter, taking a few steps towards the woods and unearthing a smooth oblong rock from a concavity in the soil. “Perfect. Now we need some sort of inscription,” said Sirius, while Peter brushed off the dirt. “Any ideas?” “How about… ‘Tis better to fly and die than to never have flown at all’?” ventured James. “It’s fitting,” pronounced Remus. “I like it,” seconded Sirius. By the time the boys had managed to inscribe it and set it in place, the girls were huddled together, hugging and rubbing their goosebumped arms. The sun had dipped below the trees during the ceremony and cool spring air had infiltrated the meadow. Lily was still wearing just a white short-sleeved blouse. “It looks like a proper grave,” pronounced Florence. “Well done,” added Hagrid, casting a glance around. “Would yeh like to come in fer sum tea?” A welcoming smile lit his tear-stained face. “Sure.” With collective agreement, they followed Hagrid toward the back door of the cabin. James fell in alongside Sirius. “I’m starving, you?” he asked in an undertone, rubbing his stomach as though it ached. “Yeah, seems like yesterday we tickled the pear.” “Should we go check on the chicks before we go in?” Peter twisted around to ask timidly. “Sounds like a good idea.” “Hagrid, we’ll meet you inside, all right?” called Lily, continuing on past the steps which Hagrid had already ascended; he paused halfway through the screen door. “I’ll put the kettle on,” he replied. They arrived to find the downy trio nested together in a little pile in the corner. “They’re so cute,” said Bonnie. “How is it they’re perfect little angels when I’m not holding them?” asked Remus. “Don’t worry, they didn’t seem to like James either,” Sirius consoled. “We forgot to ask Hagrid what they eat,” James remarked, ignoring him. “Small rodents?” Sirius suggested. James broke into a grin. Meanwhile, Peter turned ashen. “Same as owls, Pete,” James mollified, nudging his arm. “Though I reckon they’d settle for a few Flobberworms.” “Is there anything that won’t eat Flobberworms?” asked Remus rhetorically. “I wouldn’t,” said Bonnie, making a face. The screen door slammed shut and Hagrid rounded the corner wearing an apron and with a blanket draped over one arm. “Jus’ put some cakes in the oven. I brought another blanket ter drape o’er the cage so they don’t get cold on their firs’ night.” “Maybe we should use a Warming Charm too?” suggested Florence. “Have at it,” said Sirius. Florence stepped forward and set to work. “We should just come back later tonight and get them,” James murmured to Sirius, who replied with a nod as the girls helped Hagrid set the blanket in place. “It’s plenty warm in the dormitories.” “Though I doubt Hagrid will actually leave them out all night.” “True.” “And Moony’d never forgive us.” “Come on inside, all of yous,” Hagrid ushered them toward the front door and the group rallied obediently. “Are you really thinking about taking one home?” Lily asked Bonnie, walking beside her, but she also cast a glance over her shoulder at the boys as she spoke. “We were,” replied James, “and you definitely should, McDermott.” “Right, but we get Loki.” “Good call, Sirius.” “I don’t think he belongs anywhere but with the two of you,” Lily replied, sharing a look with Bonnie. The rest of the discussion took them all the way to the stairs of Hagrid’s hut and on inside…
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