Hedgehog arc: High on the Hedgehog
Title: High on the Hedgehog (6/?)
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Draco and the Slytherins
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 471
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This drabble/fic was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: An update to my Hedgehog arc. This follows from As the Worm Turns, in which Harry was sent to dig worms for Draco's hedgehog.
Summary: Draco returned to the Slytherin dorms to discover Merlin missing. What has become of his hedgie?
Draco stood there, holding Merlin's broken cage, and looked about him numbly. Where was his hedgehog? No one else in the room seemed to care that Merlin was missing. Nott was propped up in his bed, reading a textbook, Crabbe was idly scratching his balls, and Goyle was picking at his teeth.
Wait a minute...Goyle was picking at his teeth?!
"Goyle!" barked Draco. "What have you been eating?"
His hulking companion furrowed his brow as if in deep thought. "Some praline pecans my mum sent me," Goyle replied finally. "Want some?" he offered, holding out a foil covered box.
"Has anyone seen Merlin?" Draco asked instead, still looking about in hopes of finding him.
"Merlin is coming here?!" exclaimed Crabbe, one hand still covering his bits.
"Merlin is the name of Malfoy's stupid Muggle pet," Nott said in a bored tone, never once looking up from his studying.
"Have you done something to him?" demanded Draco, one hand going automatically to his wand.
"Its cage was overturned when I got here," Nott replied. "Perhaps Filch's cat got to it."
Draco felt ill. What if Mrs Norris was even now dining high on the hedgehog? Frantically, he began searching for Merlin. He bent down to peer under all of the beds and sifted through the books and papers strewn about. He picked up Zabini's school robe, where the other boy had left it draped across his trunk, and gently shook it out.
Draco then pawed through the other articles of clothing lying about: shirts and ties, trousers, pants, socks..."Ouch!" he yelped as he pricked his thumb on one bulging sock. Picking the item up gingerly, he peeked inside, only to see beady eyes and a pointed snout. Draco nearly sagged with relief. "Merlin!" he cried, carefully rolling the sock down to reveal his wayward hedgehog. Apparently, Merlin had decided a sock would make a wonderful nest and had crawled inside.
Draco managed to extricate the hedgie from the sock with no further bloodshed, and Merlin clambered up his chest to nose beneath his collar and snuffle against his neck. Draco laughed and squirmed before he was finally able to pry the hedgehog away from himself. He held Merlin up at eye level and cooed, "You naughty boy! You gave me a fright, you did."
A disgusted snort sounded from Nott's direction, and Goyle called out, "Let's see if it will eat pecans!" Ignoring the others, Draco settled onto his own bed, allowing Merlin to burrow beneath his chin, where the creature promptly fell asleep. It occurred to Draco that the goofy grin on his face probably violated some Slytherin code, but he didn't care. Instead, he began making plans to follow Granger's advice and buy a pouch for Merlin to sleep in.
TBC
Next: Making Friends...Over the Hedgehog
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Draco and the Slytherins
Rating: PG
Warning(s): None
Word count: 471
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This drabble/fic was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: An update to my Hedgehog arc. This follows from As the Worm Turns, in which Harry was sent to dig worms for Draco's hedgehog.
Summary: Draco returned to the Slytherin dorms to discover Merlin missing. What has become of his hedgie?
Draco stood there, holding Merlin's broken cage, and looked about him numbly. Where was his hedgehog? No one else in the room seemed to care that Merlin was missing. Nott was propped up in his bed, reading a textbook, Crabbe was idly scratching his balls, and Goyle was picking at his teeth.
Wait a minute...Goyle was picking at his teeth?!
"Goyle!" barked Draco. "What have you been eating?"
His hulking companion furrowed his brow as if in deep thought. "Some praline pecans my mum sent me," Goyle replied finally. "Want some?" he offered, holding out a foil covered box.
"Has anyone seen Merlin?" Draco asked instead, still looking about in hopes of finding him.
"Merlin is coming here?!" exclaimed Crabbe, one hand still covering his bits.
"Merlin is the name of Malfoy's stupid Muggle pet," Nott said in a bored tone, never once looking up from his studying.
"Have you done something to him?" demanded Draco, one hand going automatically to his wand.
"Its cage was overturned when I got here," Nott replied. "Perhaps Filch's cat got to it."
Draco felt ill. What if Mrs Norris was even now dining high on the hedgehog? Frantically, he began searching for Merlin. He bent down to peer under all of the beds and sifted through the books and papers strewn about. He picked up Zabini's school robe, where the other boy had left it draped across his trunk, and gently shook it out.
Draco then pawed through the other articles of clothing lying about: shirts and ties, trousers, pants, socks..."Ouch!" he yelped as he pricked his thumb on one bulging sock. Picking the item up gingerly, he peeked inside, only to see beady eyes and a pointed snout. Draco nearly sagged with relief. "Merlin!" he cried, carefully rolling the sock down to reveal his wayward hedgehog. Apparently, Merlin had decided a sock would make a wonderful nest and had crawled inside.
Draco managed to extricate the hedgie from the sock with no further bloodshed, and Merlin clambered up his chest to nose beneath his collar and snuffle against his neck. Draco laughed and squirmed before he was finally able to pry the hedgehog away from himself. He held Merlin up at eye level and cooed, "You naughty boy! You gave me a fright, you did."
A disgusted snort sounded from Nott's direction, and Goyle called out, "Let's see if it will eat pecans!" Ignoring the others, Draco settled onto his own bed, allowing Merlin to burrow beneath his chin, where the creature promptly fell asleep. It occurred to Draco that the goofy grin on his face probably violated some Slytherin code, but he didn't care. Instead, he began making plans to follow Granger's advice and buy a pouch for Merlin to sleep in.
TBC
Next: Making Friends...Over the Hedgehog