we ain't ever getting older;

[scinlac]

Say what you will about McGonnagall, but her vet practice always has opens slots after hours, for local shelters to bring by all their cases. Today? Nothing bad, really, nothing ghastly or sad or devastating, just Bella and a basketful of kittens in need of their first round of vaccinations.

Arguably, she doesn't strike anyone as the volunteering type, least of all with animals, absolutely, certainly not with kittens – but everyone needs something to destress with, even someone as eager on studying autopsies and grisly murders as she is. Surprisingly, she is good with the cats, even with the frequent biters, and most of all, she likes it.

Cats, she's long decided, are so much better than people.

When she is called into the room, however, it's not older, strict-looking Minerva McGonnagall who greets her, though. "You're new."

Ah yes, the social skills. Unconquerable in the of a handsome man just about her own age. It takes her a moment (and some kitten mewling) to remember why she is here.

Comments

[malificence]

He is new at the clinic, that much is true, and he doesn't look old enough to be a fully fledged veterinarian - which is also true. But he's certainly accomplished enough to vaccinate a basket of tiny, tiny kittens, even when they're being chauffeured by a girl who looks like a vaguely gothic sex dream.

Not that he's thinking that. His attention is clearly on the kittens.

"Yes," he says, raising his eyebrow like it's a lifeline to the island of I'm Cool. "Dr. McGonnagall had a personal cat emergency."

[scinlac]

"Do send her my well-wishes for Mittens, then." She doesn't doubt Lucius' abilities, at least – McGonnagall wouldn't let anyone run her show who isn't a most-accomplished student.

Gently, she places the basket on one end of the examination table, and opens it just wide enough to fetch kitten number one, fluffy and colourful, out from inside. "I hand-raised them."

So she doesn't tell him to be extra careful, because she is too cool for that, but she does have to show that she cares deeply, deeply about each individual cat.

[malificence]

It's unmistakably a warning, but it's not really a necessary one. There are two broad types of veternarians, in Lucius' experience, and he's the type who keeps bringing home rescue kittens for his precious Juno to take care of temporarily. He's very gentle as he picks up the first, intensely fluffy calico princess.

He's definitely a professional not making a gentle cooing sound; he would never. "What's her name?"

[scinlac]

"This one is Nimue." She almost blushes, but really, she doesn't have much cat-related shame left at this point. They have taken over her flat, and she hasn't made a single attempt to conquer it back. "There is also Merlin," she points at a grey-ish ball of fluff, "Morgana," an apt name for an all black soot-cloud, "Arthur and Lancelot." They look much alike in fluffy white.

Nimue seems to enjoy the vet visit so far, and she is already doing her best to cozy up to Lucius.

Bella can very, very much relate. "She takes a shine to people rather quickly."