Ficlet challenge #139: Recruitment
Title: Recruitment
Summary: An interlude just before Norbert(a)’s egg is found by Quirrellmort, for later interactions with Rubeus Hagrid. Written for the prompt “Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback”.
Characters/Pairings: Quirinus Quirrell, Voldemort, Norbert(a)
Genre: General
Rating/Warnings: PG
Medium: Ficlet
Word Count: 350
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Sure
If yes, your Tumblr username: N/A
Breath like a heaving locomotive rumbled through my bones. I stood very, very still. You woke a sleeping mother dragon brooding over her eggs at your own peril. Especially a Norwegian Ridgeback. Are you sure this is a good idea?
Having doubts now? Tsk, you disappoint me. Unflappable confidence coated me like liquid gold, heavy and binding.
It was enough to recover my nerve. Hardly. It’s my job to have doubts and contingency plans. It’s why you keep me around.
Cultured laughter. Is it?
That, and this parasitic relationship thrust upon us by the bleeding edge of dark magic exploration. A hysterical giggle threatened to bubble out of my throat.
Ice poured through my mind and froze my vocal tract. Mind your thoughts, Quirinus. It wouldn’t do to be flash-fried, hmmm? We have an egg to procure.
Right you are, my Lord. Do you know which one?
Magical filaments like a spiderweb burst forth from my chest, glistening and sticky, landing like gossamer on first one egg and then another. They settled at last on the one buried deepest in the nest.
Oh hell, of course it was that one.
Calm yourself and listen, Quirinus.
Listen? To what?
A shell made of the filaments, delicate and shaped just so, formed itself by my right ear. Through it I heard a heartbeat like the smallest of drums, sweet and quick. And then there was a tiny voice. Hello?
I inhaled sharply, unable to think coherently for the wonder of it.
Fortunately, my Lord was quicker on the uptake. Hello, little one. We need your help.
The smallest of sparks was there, interest burning like fireflies in the night. You do?
Oh, yes. Most desperately. Will you come with us?
Is it warm? Is it interesting?
Most certainly. I can guarantee you won’t be bored.
Alright then. Don’t tell Mother.
Of course. She’ll find out soon enough, I’m sure. Quirinus, retrieve our new little friend.
I blinked hard, girded my mental loins, and prepared to enact my oh-so-clever plan of dragon egg extraction. Here’s hoping the modified Fiendfyre container worked as intended.
17 points
Summary: An interlude just before Norbert(a)’s egg is found by Quirrellmort, for later interactions with Rubeus Hagrid. Written for the prompt “Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback”.
Characters/Pairings: Quirinus Quirrell, Voldemort, Norbert(a)
Genre: General
Rating/Warnings: PG
Medium: Ficlet
Word Count: 350
Can the Order post to Tumblr?: Sure
If yes, your Tumblr username: N/A
Breath like a heaving locomotive rumbled through my bones. I stood very, very still. You woke a sleeping mother dragon brooding over her eggs at your own peril. Especially a Norwegian Ridgeback. Are you sure this is a good idea?
Having doubts now? Tsk, you disappoint me. Unflappable confidence coated me like liquid gold, heavy and binding.
It was enough to recover my nerve. Hardly. It’s my job to have doubts and contingency plans. It’s why you keep me around.
Cultured laughter. Is it?
That, and this parasitic relationship thrust upon us by the bleeding edge of dark magic exploration. A hysterical giggle threatened to bubble out of my throat.
Ice poured through my mind and froze my vocal tract. Mind your thoughts, Quirinus. It wouldn’t do to be flash-fried, hmmm? We have an egg to procure.
Right you are, my Lord. Do you know which one?
Magical filaments like a spiderweb burst forth from my chest, glistening and sticky, landing like gossamer on first one egg and then another. They settled at last on the one buried deepest in the nest.
Oh hell, of course it was that one.
Calm yourself and listen, Quirinus.
Listen? To what?
A shell made of the filaments, delicate and shaped just so, formed itself by my right ear. Through it I heard a heartbeat like the smallest of drums, sweet and quick. And then there was a tiny voice. Hello?
I inhaled sharply, unable to think coherently for the wonder of it.
Fortunately, my Lord was quicker on the uptake. Hello, little one. We need your help.
The smallest of sparks was there, interest burning like fireflies in the night. You do?
Oh, yes. Most desperately. Will you come with us?
Is it warm? Is it interesting?
Most certainly. I can guarantee you won’t be bored.
Alright then. Don’t tell Mother.
Of course. She’ll find out soon enough, I’m sure. Quirinus, retrieve our new little friend.
I blinked hard, girded my mental loins, and prepared to enact my oh-so-clever plan of dragon egg extraction. Here’s hoping the modified Fiendfyre container worked as intended.
17 points