LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 35: Fluffy
(Smith's POV)
The orbs of darkness- the spell he perfected after knowing Leon used light to teach Malfoy a lesson- swallowed the light, dimming the surroundings, submersing the hallway, like a giant shadow was cast on the corridor.
Smith crouched near Leon to get a better look at him.
'Something's not right,' he thought.
He shook away the thought as he gleefully looked towards the talented, hardworking boy's face, expecting to see regret and fear.
But he was greeted with pus, bones, and wriggling raw flesh.
Leon's face looked like someone cast a melting spell on him. Half-melted eyeballs stirred and stared at Smith before a grin split the deformed face.
"AAH!" Smith screamed before darkness took over his vision.
...….
(Susan POV)
Susan flinched as the three boys beside her crumpled onto the floor.
Under her disbelieving gaze, Leon walked towards her with his rope arms dancing on unseen winds like they were preening at defeating the pests.
'They look elegant.' The thought rose in her mind, unbidden. Susan shook her head and watched the excited smile on Leon's face slowly get replaced by a serious frown.
"Susan, I don't know why you don't want me to break curfew. But I can take care of myself." He twirled her wand, indirectly indicating her defeat. And she didn't even know how he did it.
One moment he collapsed after Smith's spell hit him and when she blinked her wand was taken from her hand before the other Hufflepuffs collapsed.
Susan's mind was still reeling from the events of the night.
Today has been too much for her to handle, she transitioned from emotional wreck to battle-ready- as her aunt trained her to be - to utter shock.
She even employed Occlumency to focus on the duel, to stop Leon from committing a mistake.
But he somehow defeated three of her classmates. Classmates who took their studies seriously and practiced, maybe a little less than Leon but still.. he didn't even look like he broke a sweat.
"I know Hogwarts is dangerous. I am going to hide and assess whenever I get surprised-"
Her dad's voice overlapped with Leon's.
"I can weather through any surprises we have Dum-"
"I am trying to satisfy my curiosity I don't have any death wish."
"It's our duty, Amelia. Maybe it sounds like a death wish to you."
"As you can see, I can overpower some problems if not I can always flee."
"I may be weaker than you or any other Sorcerers, Amy." Her father's hurt voice echoed. "But I won't be a coward."
"I want you to be a coward." Her aunt screeched.
"Susan, are you listening to me?" Leon grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
"Yes."
'They are so different and similar at the same time.' Susan used the mental exercises her aunt taught her as she navigated through her resurfaced memories. 'I didn't know I associated those memories with such terror and helplessness.'
She still remembered bits and pieces of that night, but the way they resurfaced now gave her a pause. It's like someone tried to make her forget them.
Feeling Leon's grip tightening on her shoulder, she quickly decided.
"You can go! But I am coming with you."
Ignoring the dumbstruck Leo, she walked towards the common room.
'I should talk with the aunt about this.' She thought.
"Hey! At least let's toss them on their beds. Aren't they your friends?" Leon called out.
Susan turned around and gave a sheepish smile before starting to drag Ernie to his room.
......…
(Leon's POV)
"Let's go! Let's go!" Leon checked the time and started running.
"Did you really have to leave Smith on the floor?" Susan was jogging beside him, the signs of her earlier emotional breakdown completely absent.
'Was it trauma rearing its head? I wonder how I helped it resurface.'
Susan nudged him by the ribs as he stared at her, lost in thought.
"I was asking about Smith," she prompted.
"Yeah! I understand you guys know each other longer and they will support you, but Smith showed too much enthusiasm. So, I let him cool down on the floor. Maybe some joint pain will let him tone it down."
'I should do something about him.'
The Hufflepuffs quickly reached the staircase point on the ground floor where two girls and a bushy giant were waiting for them.
"I don't know, Rose. You said only one more will join us." Hagrid mumbled as the duo reached them.
"Don't worry, Mr. Hagrid. We won't come in your way. We will be as silent as Unicorns. Speaking of Unicorns doesn't Hogwarts house some, are they as noble as people say, Mr. Hagrid?" he asked climbing the stairs.
While his attempt to change the topic was blatant, it worked. Maybe because Hagird likes Unicorns, or he is kind enough to play along with the first-year or he simply just didn't care.
After all, if recklessness has another name, it's Hagrid.
"Yes! Professor Kettleburn brings some to his class now and then. And Unicorns aren't necessarily silent, you will only be able to see them when they want you to."
"Really? Why is that?" Hermoine chimed in.
"They can feel the purity of your thoughts and intent and are masters of speed. Some say they can sniff out future evil wizards. I say bogus.. but-"
Leon let the girl and giant talk, slipping back towards Rose.
"Hermoine, huh!"
"Look who's talking, I needed her to convince, Hagrid. So, she was always part of the plan, but why is Susan tagging along."
"You know your aunt will hate Leon if something happens to you." Rose stared at his friend.
"Hey! What did I do?" he protested.
"What did you do? You corrupted her sweet Susie, that's what you did."
"Rose stop! She doesn't need to know."
Rose looked surprised at her response.
"I was just joking before but you did really corrupt the niece of Magical law enforcement's head. You should let me pick your mind sometime." Rose spoke with a mischievous grin.
"No one's corrupted. Let's keep moving."
Leon quickly caught up to the giant, leaving Susan and Rose behind.
The moving staircase stopped on the third floor.
'Is it keyed to Hagrid's presence or something?'
"By the way, Mr Hagrid. How will they weather the Cer- creatures presence?"
"Don't worry about it, little wizard. I bought Fluffy's collar, it's enchanted."
"I noticed you said 'they', what makes you think you can?" Rose elbowed him.
"Oh! Not sure, but I probably can. Let's just say Family magic." Leon was eager to see if reaching the Un stage would make any difference in front of the Cerberus. He already noticed that he could make more realistic illusions, the itty gritty details had become easy to project, and he didn't feel strained when he used the spell on multiple targets.
His mind's output increased i.e., the water in the fishbowl became attuned to the fish's whims, making projecting illusions- whatever his thoughts wanted to conjure- easy.
"I don't think family magic is fair," Hermione grumbled under her breath.
"What was that, Ms Granger?" Susan probed.
"Hermione!" Rose sent her friend a look filled with warning.
"I just think it's not fair that wizard houses hoard knowledge. It should be available to everyone." The Gryffindor wasn't deterred and spoke her mind.
Silence reigned on the staircase as Hermione's words sank in.
"That!" Susan was gobsmacked.
Susan was generally reserved in front of strangers but would not hesitate to defend her friends, that's why she prompted Hermoine to elaborate, thinking the Gryffindor was saying something about Leon.
But Hermione's question challenged a fundamental fact that was widely regarded as common sense.
After all, knowledge is the prime currency in the wizarding world.
Believing poor Susan had enough mental burden for the day, Leon answered in her stead.
"Think of magical knowledge like gems, you don't show them off to any random stranger, especially if that gem can used against you and yours."
Leon didn't care much for the hoarding of knowledge, it's not like the wizarding world took away the building blocks to higher knowledge. After all, Hogwarts stands tall even today.
"That's not an accurate comparison," Hermione mumbled.
"Ok! How about this? Are you familiar with state and company secrets? Think of it as the same. Simply put, the researcher decides if he should publish his work. It applies in both the mundane and the magical worlds."
"But-"
"We arrived. That is the door, Susan." Rose interjected and changed the subject.
"It is safe, right?"
"Don't worry, Hagrid will protect us. He knows the beast." Rose patted Hagrid's hand, making Susan eye the giant.
"I will! But it won't be necessary. Fluffy is a good boy. Now where is that collar."
As Hagrid searched his numerous pockets, Leon walked near the door.
'Here I am.'
He entered the three-meter range and just like before a presence slammed into his mind. His knees buckled but he caught himself in the end.
'Awesome!'
Leon was able to weather the beast's presence. Just when he was about to shout in joy, the curious presence pressing on his mind increased twofold, bringing him to his knees.
"I am fine! I am fine!" He waved away Susan and Rose and slowly stood up.
'Yeah! I have a long way to go. If Fluffy was malicious I don't think I would be standing.'
"Good kid! You will make a strong wizard one day." Hagrid's pat nearly sent him to his knees again, but he preserved.
"You could share that spell with us." Hermoine stood a foot behind Leon, staring at him, knowing that coming near him would be a bad idea.
"Hermoine! Enough! Don't mind her, Leon." Rose gritted her teeth and glared at her friend.
"I don't mind. But what will you give me in exchange? If you have something as valuable, I don't mind sharing."
"Why? It's not like you would forget the knowledge." The fourteen-year-old looked petulant.
'Now, who is the one forgetting common sense.'
Rose had enough and started to drag her friend away.
"You guys go inside, let me talk with her."
"You know she isn't completely wrong," Susan spoke, as Hagrid entered the room, making them wait outside.
"Maybe not! But you can't give away your aunt's work, it's not yours for one thing and people trade or buy spells, giving them away for free is stupid."
"I know, I know. I didn't say she is completely right."
"Come on! Kids! You will love Fluffy." Hagrid let out a booming laugh and opened the door, just in time.
Leon eagerly walked in with Susan a step behind.
'Holy!!'
It took Leon a full second to take in the magnificent creature in front of him.
Standing nearly 7 feet tall, with jaws big enough to swallow him in two bites, the Cerberus towered over them like a mountain of muscle.
Fur as dark as the void enveloped its entire body, while eyes the color of molten lava narrowed, and its ears were stiff, alert.
The Cerberus's three heads were staring at him with a curious glint in their eyes.
Two rapid breath intakes from behind him let him know the Gryffindors too were seeing the beast in all of its glory.
'I did it! I am in front of the Cerberus.' Leon let his mind drift, trying to feel its presence as he had felt with Dumbledore and Fawkes. But he couldn't.
'Maybe it has something to do with the bright red collar on the middle head.'
"Come forward, Fluffy is a good boy, touch him." Hagrid nudged them, smiling like a proud parent showing off how cute his kid is.
The height of Hogwarts corridor makes Hagrid's height less noticeable, but he even towered over the Cerberus.
It looked like a normal Great Dane in front of him.
Leon walked forward, his hand in the air.
"Good! Let him smell you, you can pet him after."
"Leon!" Susan squeaked from behind. But strangely Leon wasn't afraid that the Cerberus was going to bite his arm off.
The credit doesn't go to him however, the Cerberus genuinely looked like a golden retriever meeting a new human.
Its eyes were curious and pure, the kind only dogs have.
As the two heads started to vigorously sniff the air, the Cerberus bent down with its middle head touching his hand.
With a woof that made him jump, the middle head started to sniff his head, leaving the other two heads to start sniffing his body.
"Okay! Enough, Fluffy." Hagrid called out, making the muscled beast whine before retreating from him.
"Now! Go on! Pet them, start with the middle head." Hagrid nudged his back, sending him into the Cerberus's embrace.
The Hufflepuff froze.
Two screams of horror echoed in the room, making the Cerberus snap its heads towards the sound.
Taking a deep breath, Leon started to scratch the middle head's chin.
With a resounding woof, the Cerberus plopped down unceremoniously and leaned into his touch.
While the Cerberus didn't look scary, it took Leon some time to freely treat it as he treats his friend's dogs. The size difference took him a little time to adapt to.
Rose was the next one to greet the Cerberus. After letting a corner head sniff her hand, she jumped towards the head hugging it.
Surprising everyone, including the Cerberus itself.
As Leon wrestled with the middle head, making sure the other head wasn't feeling left out, Susan and Hermione took turns petting the big guy.
"Is this his maximum height, Mr. Hagrid?" Leon asked running his hands through the soft fur on its neck.
'Hagrid isn't wrong, Fluffy is a good name for this good boy.'
"Fluffy is just a puppy. He just hit his growth spurt; he will grow into a massive Cerberus later. Won't you, you little bugger? Won't you?" Hagrid rubbed Fluffy's head, with a content smile.