Loud, excited chatter was heard in little bubbles on the road leading all the way to hogsmeade. The weather was still clear and bright for the first Saturday hogsmeade trip of the year. Anastasia was walking along the road with her friend Greta, chattering excitedly about an Antipodean Opaleye dragon. Ana had heard rumors that someone had brought one to Hogsmeade 6 months ago but couldn’t keep it anymore.
The two girls reached the village and stepped into the popular pub, The Three Broomsticks. As soon as they opened a door warm air rushed out into their faces and the jovial atmosphere seemed to draw them inside. They sat at a small table in the corner of the pub near the window and ordered two frozen butterbeers.
“I wonder who we would have to ask to find out where he is?” Ana asked the other girl who was gazing out the window. She was convinced that she could smuggle him back to hogwarts and keep him in the Forbidden Forest.
“I don’t know if we should even try. I don’t want you to get false hope that you could do this. Besides, even if you could there is no way you wouldn’t get expelled for it!” her friend, Greta argued.
Before Anastasia had the chance to respond a waitress walked over with their butterbeers and smiled at them. The two girls each grabbed a cup as the waitress walked back to the bar to serve someone else. The instant cold on their tongues was a nice contrast to the warm air in the pub. For a moment the only sound coming from either of them is the slurping sound as they suck up the frozen treat. Putting down the cup, just as her fingers starting to tingle with the cold, Anastasia pushed back her long brown hair and reaches into her bookbag.
Greta signs already knowing what book was going to come out. She watches as Ana pulls out a book that had definite signs of being read often and flipped it open.
“Look, they seem pretty easy to take care of and it says they are one of the easiest to train. Technically they are valley dwelling but I’m sure it would do fine in a forest.” Anastasia gushed pushed the book to face Greta, “Besides if that doesn’t sell you then look at how pretty they are!” She quickly finishes her sentence and takes another gulp of her butterbeer. Greta looks over the page and shakes her head.
“Don’t you know know what happened to Newt though? You know, the very one who wrote this book?” She looks over the book and hands it back with a concerned look on her face, “I guess I know that I can’t stop you so I may as well Help.” she finished not letting Anastasia respond in between knowing that they had had the talk about Newt Scamander before.
Anastasia’s face lit up with joy and she shoved the book back into her bag, “Oh thank you thank you thank you!” she squealed with delight. She waved over the waitress and took out her bag of coins.
“Have you heard about someone who has a Antipodean Opaleye that they need someone to take off their hands?” She asks the waitress casually giving her the coins.
“See that man at the bar? The one sitting a little left of the middle? I overheard him talking about some kind of animal that he is worried about what to do with earlier.” The waitress says with a wink before flipping her ponytail and walking off.
Both girls immediately turn to look at the bar. Right where the waitress described is a man, probably late 20s, with a mop of yellow hair and old worn down robes. He had both of his hands in fingerless gloves wrapped around a frozen, alcoholic, butterbeer. They looked at him a moment longer before turning back to face each other.
“Okay. Here is the plan.” Anastasia starts.