A/n: Art by @lil-grem-draws 🖤 a sort-of sequel to Sanctuary. Gregory the puffskein.
The icy grass beneath your feet crunched as you strode towards the long-abandoned camp—usually you wouldn't trouble yourself poking around empty poacher dwellings but something had caught your eye. Most valuable possessions had been cleared out, but their departure had clearly been hasty, with food and supplies strewn about and a single cage stood near a tent. You initially thought it empty, but you picked up your pace as a small brown lump came into view at the bottom of the cage, praying that it was a crumpled bag or sack of potatoes.
Your heart raced as you took in the tiny form, running the final distance and dropping to your knees. The lump was a tiny little puffskein, no more than a baby, and thankfully still alive as it shivered on the wooden floor. Your hand shook as you pulled out your wand and broke open the lock, scooping up the furry ball to inspect it. Apart from being cold, it seemed drowsy but very happy to see you—the lids of its big eyes drooping as it flicked out its long tongue to lick your face.
"It's okay, I've got you now," you whispered, bundling the puffskein in your arms and heading back to the castle as quickly as you could.
You used the nearest floo to take you directly to the Room of Requirement, the first place you could think of that was warm and had a healthy stock of beast care supplies and potions for the poorly creature. You'd deduced it was a boy, and was malnourished and running a fever, it's brown and white splodged fur rustling with the shuddering of its body.
You'd only walked a few paces before realising you weren't alone in the room—the door to the central vivarium was wide open. Grabbing a Wiggenweld potion from your store, you wound your way around the potting tables and walked through the arched doorway of the vivarium, scanning the meadow for the occupant. You found Ominis sitting in his usual spot amongst the wildflowers with Puck on his lap and a lazy smile on his face.
"You're back early."
"I am, and I need some help," you said.
Your serious tone wiped the smile from his face as he gently nudged Puck from his legs and found his way to your side.
"I have another puffskein, he's very sick. Can you hold him whilst I give him some potion?"
"Of course…perhaps we should find Professor Howin?" Ominis suggested.
"I'll go to her after lessons. But he'll be safe here, I think he just needs rest."
He nodded as you dropped the bundle into his waiting arms, bringing them closer together as he felt the weight of the puffskein.
"He's tiny," Ominis said, a small flicker of a smile crossing his lips.
"Only a baby. He'd been left behind. The camp was abandoned," you said, shaking your head.
Ominis frowned and you smiled up at his indignation. He'd grown very fond of your beasts, though he liked to pretend that his interest was academic. You poured the potion onto your finger and used it to gently push into the puffskein's mouth, dispensing the liquid onto his tongue. After a few drops, he seemed to stop shaking as the Wiggenweld took effect and he settled into Ominis' arms to sleep.
"I think you're stuck with him now, Ominis," you said with a grin.
"Hm. Well he can stay with me until I leave," he replied, gently settling back into the grass and placing the puffskein into the space on his lap that Puck had previously occupied.
Puck rolled over to see the new puffskein, and a few of your other beasts seemed to be interested as well, particularly the mooncalf herd who surveyed the new arrival inquisitively with their huge saucer-like eyes.
"Do you want to name him?" you asked, watching Ominis gently stroke the ball of fur.
"Me? I wouldn't know what to call him."
"Whatever you like. I always struggle naming them."
"Perhaps we should wait until he's better and can guage his personality—then we can name him appropriately."
You snorted gently and smiled, placing a soft kiss on Ominis' cheek, running a hand down the back of his neck and the other settling to cup the thus far unnamed creature on his legs.
-
You consulted with Professor Howin as soon as you could that day, inviting her to see your new friend. Luckily she agreed that the puffskein likely just needed rest and good nutrition—something you were happy to provide. You spent the night in the Room of Requirement watching over the little creature before leaving for your morning lessons reluctantly, though soothed by the fact that Ominis had offered to watch over him during his free period.
It was hard to concentrate fully on your potion brewing when your mind kept wandering back to your vivarium and its new occupant, especially the thought of him curled up in Ominis' lap. Ominis had become enamoured with your puffskeins—particularly Puck, the exuberant little creature who enjoyed nothing more than cuddling and licking whoever happened to be holding him. You'd never seen Ominis quite so relaxed as when he was in your vivarium, and you'd spent many days and sometimes nights laying in the grass with him.
After nearly burning your concoction due to distraction, you managed to scrape together a passable potion and poured it into a bottle to hand in to Professor Sharp before fleeing the classroom. You decided to head back to the Room of Requirement to check in with Ominis and walk with him to lunch. As you walked past your bubbling potions station and skimmed the dittany leaves with your fingers, you noted curiously that the viviarium door was shut.
Pushing it open, you squinted into the sunshine, searching the landscape before concluding that Ominis had left, presumably for the great hall. The fact didn't worry you, but your pulse raced as you searched the meadow for your new puffskein, combing through the tall grass carefully so as to not step on him. You even cast charms in an attempt to reveal him and enlisted the help of your other beasts, but eventually you concluded he was gone.
"Where is he?" you asked Puck, who simply rolled onto his back awaiting scratches.
You searched every inch of your vivarium and asked a worried Deek if he'd seen your puffskein, but turned up no results. Admitting defeat, you retired to the common room in the hopes of finding Ominis, but only finding Sebastian sitting on a sofa, absorbed in a book.
"Sebastian, have you seen Ominis?"
"Hm? Oh, no. He wasn't at lunch, probably gone for a nap," he said with an amused huff.
You sighed and walked quickly to the stairs, skipping over several steps in your haste towards the boys' dormitories. You gave the door in front of you a quiet knock but there was no reply, so you twisted the handle and peeked inside, glancing towards Ominis' bed. Sebastian had been right, and Ominis lay curled up on top of his bed sheets. It had always amused you how he was able to fall asleep in the strangest places at any given time—fully clothed in his own bed in the middle of the day was entirely normal by comparison. You were so distracted by his peaceful appearance that you entirely missed the tiny ball of fluff next to his left hand.
"There you are," you whispered, tiptoeing towards the bed.
The puffskein watched your approach with interest and you sat yourself on the edge of the mattress, holding out your hand. He blinked curiously and slowly shot out his long tongue, flicking it over your palm, and you grinned and suppressed a giggle at the ticklish feeling. You watched as he turned his attention back to Ominis, retracting his tongue and waving it in the air, before plunging it into the sleeping boy's nostril.
"Ah!" Ominis cried, jolting awake at the intrusion.
You burst into laughter as the puffskein continued to lap at his face and Ominis did his best to recoil, slightly dazed and dishevelled.
“I was worried about you,” you said, scooping the little ball into your arms. “And you, don’t take him without telling me.”
“Well, Gregory had settled to sleep in my pocket by the time I left and I didn’t want to disturb him,” Ominis said with a yawn.
“Gregory? You’ve chosen Gregory?”
Ominis frowned and shook his head at your response, as if it was a perfectly acceptable name for a baby puffskein.
“He’s a refined gentleman,” he replied with a smirk.
“I see,” you laughed. “Well, he’s certainly very attached to you.”
Gregory was burrowing back into Ominis’ robe pocket, happily chirruping whilst looking up at you with his orb-like eyes. He appeared to be full of energy, after being hydrated, fed and a quick nap he looked like a brand new puffskein. His mottled brown and white fur had been brushed, and you glanced at the soft bristled brush laying on Ominis’ nightstand with a smile.
“Shall we go to Hogsmeade and get him some treats?” you asked.
Ominis nodded and carefully stood up, making sure not to jostle the comfortable puffskein too much. Apparently Gregory would be joining you on the excursion, as Ominis made no attempt to dislodge him from his pocket—in fact, he seemed perfectly content where he was, lapsing back into sleep as you started walking towards the village, relaxed by the gentle swaying of Ominis’ robes.
You grasped Ominis’ arm as you walked into the chill, wrapped in your scarves and heavy cloaks, making a beeline straight for Brood & Peck. The shop itself was just as chilly, with the low sun piercing through the opening at the back of the room. A friendly Diricawl brushed past you as you made your way to the counter, where Ellie Peck was busy scribbling notes on a piece of parchment.
“Hello, what are you after today?” she said, lifting her head.
“Do you have any puffskein treats, please?” Ominis asked.
“Yep, what flavour?”
“Ah, I’m not sure,” he said, idly patting the little lump in his pocket.
“Come this way,” Ellie said, and you guided Ominis to the corner of the room where a shelf full of hessian sacks were stacked, packed with small pellets. “We’ve all kinds here. Marmalade, peanut butter, chocolate drops, liquorice…”
Her listing was interrupted by a scuffle and quiet chirrup as Gregory poked his head out of Ominis’ robes to survey the treats, clearly picking up on their scent.
“Oh!” Ellie gasped in surprise, as Gregory’s tongue extended, delving into the bag of treats to his left.
“I er…think we’ll be buying that whole bag, then,” you said apologetically, watching the puffskein scoop the pellets into his mouth.
“Yes, I think you’d better. Likes the peanut butter ones, then,” she agreed.
Ominis chuckled and patted Gregory’s head as he munched on his treats as you wrapped up the sack and shrunk it down to fit in your pocket. The whole thing cost you dearly, but after contaminating the whole stock, you weren’t in much of a position to refuse—and Gregory’s mischievous face was hard to deny, too. You thanked Ellie and left, lacing your fingers through Ominis’ as he led you back out into the cold street.
“Are you planning on bringing Gregory back to my vivarium?” you asked, squeezing his hand.
“That entirely depends on what Gregory would like. I rather think he enjoys my company for now.”
“Puck will be jealous,” you smirked.
“Are you?” he asked teasingly, pulling his cloak tighter around himself to shield his robes from the biting wind.
“A little. Am I going to have to share our bed with him?”
“Ah, well there might lie an exception—I’d rather have you all to myself in bed,” he replied, with a kiss on your cheek and pat on his pocket.
