Chapter 165. Fickle Pro
Stepping into the Hungarian Horntail's area, the mist curling ahead dispersed.
The undulating mountain range emerged clearly before Duncan.
It was hard to tell whether Duncan had shrunk or the peaks before him had grown.
From outside the canvas, the peak had looked like a little mound; but once inside, it soared straight into the clouds.
Duncan cocked an ear to the faint dragon's roar coming from the distance, took out his broomstick, and swung astride to fly upwards.
After flying some distance above the forest canopy that rustled in the breeze, a dazzling swathe of gold appeared ahead.
Pro, who had been curled at the bottom of Duncan's pocket, suddenly scrambled out, eyes burning as it stared into the distance, and swallowed hard.
Duncan flew to the glittering spot and hovered midair, looked down, and said to Pro, "Well? Jealous?"
Below them stood a not-so-tall peak, its summit bearing a huge sphere woven of vines, like an eggshell.
At the base of the shell, near the ground, yawned a great gap—a deep passage leading into the sphere's interior.
That eye-catching, gorgeous golden glow streamed from within, as though endless treasure were buried deep in the cave.
"Duncan, I've followed you the longest—you shouldn't play favourites.
I think you ought to prepare a nest like this for me too!"
Pro said this with its eyes fixed on the scene ahead, its breathing growing heavier, warm air snorting from its little nose in steady puffs.
"Sorry, that's all Mr Flamel's doing; with my current level of magic I couldn't manage it," Duncan said with a shrug.
"But… I've a good idea that could let you have a nest just like this—only I don't know if you dare try it!"
"What? Out with it!"
Pro straightened, leaning forward and staring at Duncan, unable to wait.
Duncan replied with a broad grin, "Kick that dopey-looking dragon out and you can occupy this cave, can't you?"
"Up to no good, Duncan!"
Pro rolled its eyes.
Sending a Niffler to boot a dragon—what sort of fool did he take it for?
"Since you don't dare, I can't help it.
Or you could move in and be its neighbour," Duncan said, stepping into the cave.
Most of the sunlight was screened by the vines above, casting down shafts like swords, stabbing criss-cross.
Now and then a chilly draught blew from the depths, whistling through the cave as if some dreadful demon were crooning.
Pro shivered at once, edged sideways, pressed close to Duncan's neck, and wrapped itself tight in his collar.
"Don't be afraid.
With me here, Hog won't eat you," Duncan said with a smile, soothing Pro's nerves.
Some time ago, Duncan had offered that Hungarian Horntail a few names; after much picking and choosing, it had finally, after much agonising, settled on this one.
"I know."
Pro glanced about, wary, and lowered its voice as if whispering.
"But there's a scary monster lurking in the dark.
A Niffler can't be easy in its mind; it doesn't feel very safe."
"It's fine.
Hog's actually quite friendly; you'll know once you're familiar with it," Duncan said with a smile.
By now they had walked to a deeper part of the cave.
Sunlight poured through gaps in the vines overhead and lit the floor of a circular hall.
Refracted by the heaps of jewels and gold on the ground, brilliant colours spattered the side-walls in mottled patches.
Pro froze, staring wide-eyed at the gorgeous sight before it, drool sliding from the corner of its mouth and slowly trickling down.
When it was about to drip onto Duncan's shoulder, Pro came to, slurped sharply, and drew the silvery thread back into its mouth.
Just as it opened its mouth to speak, lantern-sized orbs of light flared in a shadowy patch not far off, blinking and fixing on it.
A blast of hot air thick with a fishy stench gusted after, and a rumbling echoed in Duncan and Pro's ears.
"Duncan's right.
I may look dark and fierce, but I truly am friendly and easy to get on with.
You can come find me to play, any time."
With thunderous footfalls, a monstrous, grim creature strode out of the dark into the sunlit area.
It halted before Duncan, lowered its locomotive-like head, fixed Pro with a stare, and bared what it fancied was a kindly smile.
Pro, seeing the glinting fangs in Hog's mouth, each many times its own size, let out a cry of "Mum, save me!" and bolted headlong for Duncan's pocket.
Hog blinked, straightened, scratched the scales on its chest with a foreclaw—clitter-clatter—and tapped its tail lightly on the ground now and then.
Puzzled, it said, "Duncan, is my smile that frightening?
I practised in front of the mirror—it looks very amiable!"
As it spoke, Hog, as if to prove it, put on the very same smile again, the upward curve of its mouth exactly the same.
It was clear it had put in real practice—otherwise it couldn't manage it so precisely each time.
Pity it suffered a disadvantage in looks.
Unwilling to dampen Hog further, Duncan stroked his chin and, feigning scrutiny, said, "Mm-hm, I think it's quite good too.
It'd be even better if you could cover those two fangs a bit."
"Like this?"
Hog lowered the angle of its open mouth a fraction, its lips covering the two terrifying fangs at the corners.
"Exactly.
Looks friendlier," Duncan nodded with satisfaction, patting his pocket.
"Pro, what do you think?"
Under Hog's expectant gaze, Pro forced a smile worse than a sob and bobbed its head like a pecking chick, not daring to say otherwise.
"Thank you, my friend."
Hog brightened, drumming its belly with both foreclaws, the corners of its mouth rising of their own accord.
But moments later it realised, hastily reined its smile in, and covered its two fangs again.
Duncan couldn't help a silent laugh at its cautious manner, and asked, "How's life here lately?
Settling in?
How's your health?"
"Excellent environment, tasty things, very comfortable to live in; and after drinking the potion you gave me, the headaches are gone," Hog said, wagging its tail happily.
Then its eyes rolled a bit.
"It's just I've slightly too few friends, and sometimes it's a bit boring.
But don't worry, I can adapt… though if you could come see me often to play, that would be even better…"
"No problem," Duncan said with a smile.
"If you're bored, you can also pop round to other places—just be careful not to hurt them."
A glint of impulse and excitement flashed in Hog's eyes, but it quickly lifted its head, proud: "As a dragon, I will never lightly leave my territory!"
"Oh?
Is that so?
Then you'll just have to wait.
I'll come see you when I've time," said Duncan.
After that, Duncan accompanied Hog for a few circuits outside the cave.
Returning, they chatted a while more, and he took his leave.
"Wait, my friend," said Hog.
It glanced left and right for a moment, then, wincing, pinched up a piece of gold with two sharp claws.
Gently, it placed it in Duncan's arms and grinned.
"Friend, thank you for your help today.
This is my gift to you."
"Th-thanks," Duncan said, straining to hold it.
These treasures had been transfigured by Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel; they were all fake, of no value.
But at the sight, Pro perked up at once.
It overcame its fear, dashed onto Duncan's shoulder, and cried out fervently,
"My dearest Hog, we are friends too, aren't we?
Might there be a share of your gift for me?
If there is, I shall keep you ever in my thoughts."
"Of course there is, friend."
Hog nodded after a hesitation, found an extremely small piece of gold on the ground, and, unwilling though it was, handed it to Pro.
"Thank you, thank you.
Now I hereby declare that you are my best friend!"
Pro said this delightedly, its face practically twisted by its grin.
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