The Badger and the Snakes || A Poppy Sweeting Love Story

Chapter 9

Alfie made his way through the dimly lit corridors toward the Detention Chambers, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. The day was beautiful and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret that he was stuck inside instead of enjoying it outside with his friends. At least he would be with Poppy, he thought.

He opened the door to the Detention Chambers and found Poppy sitting at a desk and Caretaker Moon standing at the front.

"Ah! Mr. Scamander! There you are. Just the student I wanted to see," greeted the Caretaker.

"Good morning Mr. Moon. Will you be the one facilitating detention today?"

"Yes, and I was quite unhappy about it at first when I was notified by the Headmaster that we were having students in detention so early in the year and I just happened to be the one on call this weekend. But when I heard it was you and Ms. Sweeting, I figured you two were just the ones I needed for the task."

"And what task would that be Mr. Moon?" Alfie questioned.

"I've been hearing rumors that a Demiguise was spotted in the Forbidden Forest. Dreadful things!" The Caretaker shuddered at the thought.

"A Demiguise? Aren't those native to the lands of the Far East? What could they be doing all the way out here?" Poppy inquired suspiciously.

"I haven't any idea. I confronted Pemberton about it, thinking this was some cruel trick but he accused me of being paranoid and crazy. He hadn't the faintest idea of what I was talking about."

"So you need our help to seek out this Demiguise? And what do you plan on doing with it once we've found it?" Alfie asked. Alfie couldn't help but wonder if Mr. Moon had put much thought into this task. However, he was relieved that it wouldn't be the typical detention where they sat in silence and wrote lines all day.

"I'd, uh, get rid of it, of course." Mr. Moon seemed nervous and unsure as he spoke. It was clear that he hadn't thought things through properly. His fear of the beast was too palpable for him to come up with a coherent plan.

"Get rid of it, how?" Poppy asked, her eyebrow raised and clearly concerned for the creature's wellbeing.

Mr. Moon's tone was casual, "I don't know the details quite yet. An Incendio perhaps or... or maybe even a Diffindo should end it."

Poppy rose from her seat and slammed her hands on the desk in a swift motion. "Absolutely not!" she objected sharply.

Mr. Moon flinched at her sudden change in character.

"What she means to say is that when we find this Demiguise, we will make sure it'll never cross paths with you ever again," Alfie intervened, hoping to defuse the situation.

"However you dispose of it is none of my concern I suppose. As long as it's gone for good," the Caretaker said as he waved his hand dismissively.

Alfie nodded while Poppy sighed a breath of relief that the crazy man wasn't hell-bent on killing the poor creature.

"Right then, let's get going. Time is of the essence. We must find it before it stumbles its way to the castle," Mr. Moon said with urgency.

Alfie and Poppy grinned mischievously, because unbeknownst to Mr.Moon, they would be taking it back to the castle, safe and sound in one of Alfie's vivariums.

The Caretaker left the chamber and the two students followed closely behind.

"Mr. Moon, why are you afraid of Demiguises? They're lovely and harmless creatures!" Poppy asked.

"Lovely and harmless? Ha! That's a funny joke Ms. Sweeting. I beg to differ. Awful and horrible creatures are more like it."

As the Caretaker hastened his steps, it became clear that there would be no more small talk with him. Poppy also began to quicken her pace to match his, but Alfie gently pulled at her robe's cuff, signaling her to slow down.