hisdarkmark | Thirty-Seventh Hex

[Hi Luceti. Today if you happen to be walking anywhere in the village, you might notice an overenthusiastic malamute attached to a leash. At the other end of said-leash is a rather disgruntled British wizard, more or less glaring at the dog as he's dragged along.

Stupid Arumat. Of course he had to disappear and shoulder him with the responsibility of yet another life. It was strange knowing that the man, the last original housemate, was officially gone. Not necessarily sad, though there was a hollow feeling he hadn't been able to shake off ever since he'd realized what had happened.

He didn't get much time to reflect on it though, seeing how the malamute has been working him. On their walk today, the dog's busy barking at pretty much everything, trying to pull Draco in all directions to sniff all the things.]

Gods, you're obnoxious, aren't you?

[He wraps the leash around his wrist to make it a tighter hold, using his free hand to make a grab for his journal while Edge is still pulling him along.]

I can't believe I'm asking this...

Dog training. What do any of you know of it? Time's a factor here, I'm half-tempted to toss him into the lake at this point.

[Later in the day, in fact, he will be at the lake. His lake. The South Lake. Edge the Malamute seems to have calmed down, but Draco's sitting up and a bit on edge. His wand's in front of him, and he seems to be concentrating.]

Expecto Patronum. [Nothing.] ...Expecto Patronum! [Still nothing. A frustrated sigh later and he's back to consulting Luceti as a whole. Though the journal's in his hands, he's hesitating for a moment. It'd be much easier if Hermione were still here, but she's not. That's a fact. She won't be returning anytime soon, so he'll have to make do with the resources he has.]

...second question for the lot of you. When do you reckon it's appropriate to give up on something?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The only problem is he might be a bit too big to toss into the water. [Hi Katniss. It's clear from the way he's talking that Edge is still busy pulling him around.] I've no idea what the hell Arumat was thinking when he got this beast.

[She really wouldn't know either. Pets, in general, are not something she really thinks highly of. Especially ugly, annoying cats.]

At least dogs can be useful.

What exactly can be useful about something like this?

You can train them to hunt. [Not that she ever had that opportunity. But she remembers the wild dogs in the woods of Twelve. Remembers how she would watch them effectively stalk and kill their prey.] Can't do that with cats.

Fairly certain I can't do that with this one either. The day he makes for a good hunting dog is the day I become a ginger. Any other dog though and I can see that being a valid point.

[She's not quite sure what he means by ginger, but she can guess well enough. The dog's impossible to train. A waste of time, energy, and effort.

Pointless. A little like Buttercup in that sense. But she can't get rid of that cat now. She'll never be able to get rid of him again. But she doesn't know Draco's reasonings at all.]

Why are you keeping him?

[There's a pause, but when he speaks again he sounds half-begrudged and half-contemplative.]

Just in case his rightful owner returns. I reckon Arumat would kill me if I lost his dog.

[A favor, then. Much like the reason she keeps Buttercup, isn't it?]

Good luck.

Thanks. I'll need it, I suppose. As if I don't have enough to do beyond dogsit.

At least Buttercup can take care of himself.

[For the most part. And for once, she finds another reason to actually value that stupid cat.]

Who's Buttercup? Dog of yours?

Cat. My sister's.

...please tell me she picked the name.

[She laughs at that. It's a nice change, to laugh at a memory of Prim instead of cry.]

She did. I wanted to drown him.

And let me guess, she wouldn't have it?

[No. No, Prim wouldn't let her harm Buttercup. Wouldn't let any harm come to that stupid cat. And he was ugly, even as a kitten. Why anyone would want him was beyond her.]

I'm stuck with him now, aren't I?

Thirty-Seventh Hex - [Voice/Action]

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