"Truth be told, this does surprise me, but I'm delighted, Severus."
It seemed nearly impossible to imagine Tiger saying thank you. Dumbledore's smile deepened as he lifted the Magic Suppression Draught from his desk and handed it to Tequila.
"Off you go, Tequila."
"I must thank you as well."
"Headmaster sir... thanked Tequila... he said thank you..."
Tequila trembled with overwhelming excitement. At Dumbledore's encouraging nod, it dissolved into swirling dust and vanished.
"This isn't compassion, Severus."
Gazing at where Tequila had disappeared, Dumbledore seemed lost in countless memories, releasing a deeply contemplative sigh.
"To truly gauge a person's character, one mustn't observe how they treat their equals, but rather how they treat those beneath their station..."
"Are you complimenting yourself?"
Snape wore an expression of utter disgust before turning sharply and sweeping from the headmaster's office.
He'd genuinely had enough of Dumbledore's inspirational drivel.
"..."
"How awkward." Dilys Derwent's kindly smile carried a hint of mischief.
"Wouldn't you agree, Dumbledore?"
"I know you weren't praising yourself." Armando Dippet offered cheerful consolation.
"Severus's misunderstanding runs far too deep. You two should have an honest conversation."
"Dumbledore, your life wisdom holds no value for Slytherin!"
Phineas Nigellus Black snorted with disdain. "Best keep your platitudes to yourself."
Listening to the complaints from former headmasters' portraits lining the walls, Dumbledore sank back into his chair with a throbbing headache.
Indeed, when it came to Slytherin students, he truly had no solutions...
"Cheers, Tequila."
"Thank you! Tequila heard thank you again!"
Tequila's eyes grew impossibly wide, its drooping ears gradually perking upright.
Unable to contain its inner euphoria, it began shrieking with wild abandon.
"Tequila is the happiest house-elf in existence!"
"Headmaster sir is wonderful, Mr. Shelby is wonderful too! Tequila loves serving them!"
"No, no, no..."
"This is what Tequila should do."
"Tequila is a bad elf! Bad elf!"
After draining the remaining Magic Suppression Draught, the restlessness and searing heat consuming Tiger's body seemed utterly quelled, replaced by profound exhaustion.
His frame gradually relaxed, as though shedding every burden, slowly surrendering to sleep.
The sound of Tequila battering its head against the wall grew increasingly distant, as if echoing from another realm entirely. Tiger remained indifferent to it all, enveloped only in tranquility and peace...
The violent wall-banging abruptly ceased.
Hearing heavy, rhythmic breathing, Tequila casually wiped blood from its temple and gestured toward the pool.
"Tequila will care for sir perfectly."
Its trembling, shrill voice carried unshakeable determination and gravity.
Through the swirling mist, Tiger's body rose slowly from the pool water. Following Tequila's delicate finger movements, the cascading water transformed into ethereal steam, dissipating throughout the washroom.
The dry, comfortable sensation made Tiger murmur contentedly in his dreams. He drifted toward the miraculously restored bed, settling down with feather-light grace.
"Farewell, sir..."
The sharp voice overflowed with reluctance.
Tequila bowed deeply, ear tips brushing the floor, before dissolving into wisps of sand that scattered throughout the chamber...
Upon waking, the sun had already begun its western descent.
Under Venom's ravenous urgings, Tiger rolled from bed and stretched with extraordinary satisfaction, his previously coiled frame crackling like breaking kindling.
Without question, this had been the finest sleep of his life.
Entering the washroom, the towering figure that suddenly materialized in the mirror made Tiger jump.
Tiger leaned closer, finally discovering his body had undergone dramatic transformation.
Beyond his height—now rivaling fifth-year students—his broad, powerful shoulders possessed a beast-like intimidation factor. His solid chest and arms bulged with corded muscle, radiating menace.
"I bloody love this."
Tiger stroked his jaw appreciatively.
[I love it too—like my own son.]Venom laughed with wanton mockery.
"Fuck off! Bitch!"
Tiger cracked his neck, his expression rebelliously vicious as he flipped off the mirror.
But Venom wasn't wrong—his current physique did resemble a scaled-down symbiote.
Not merely the cold brutality in his eyes, but at this moment he resembled a tiger poised to strike, or more accurately, a bull snorting with rage.
In any case, he bore scant resemblance to humanity.
Muscles rippled beneath his skin; every movement seemed to carry devastating potential.
Simply standing motionless already radiated an indescribable aura of menace...
"You're bloody gorgeous, bastard."
A savage, predatory grin materialized in the reflection.
After washing up, Tiger rummaged for clothing. Merely holding garments against himself revealed that his previous clothes would look as ridiculous as bandages.
"Ah, bollocks..."
Tiger casually shredded his wizard robes. Surveying the clothes scattered across his bed, he couldn't help feeling troubled.
[Just go out like this!]
[I'm outside, you're inside—nobody will see. Bastard, are you planning to starve your daddy?]
"Shut it, moron!"
[You're the one who—]
Tiger and Venom launched into their familiar verbal sparring.
For him, even with Venom enveloping his body, going without proper clothes felt tantamount to streaking.
With a soft pop, Tequila materialized within the room, approaching Tiger with reverent eyes.
It tremblingly held up a stack of weathered garments, the hanging wizard robe edges frayed with loose threads.
"Sir, Tequila thought upon waking..."
"You would surely need these."
(¤n¤)
"Sour pickle bitch!"
Tiger arched an eyebrow, breaking into a fierce grin. "Tequila, you're infinitely more considerate than that bastard Venom."
Though this smile radiated pure brutality—devoid of warmth or kindness—Tequila seemed to receive tremendous encouragement, proudly puffing out its chest.
Tiger showed no disdain whatsoever.
He accepted the clothes and donned them immediately. Though the shirt proved somewhat snug and the chest buttons wouldn't fasten, it beat nakedness.
He casually tossed the tie onto his bed, then extended his palm to ruffle Tequila's head.
"Brilliant work, Tequila. You'd make an excellent butler. Fancy coming with me?"
"The Shelbys would absolutely adore your name."
His seemingly menacing tone overflowed with genuine approval.
Tequila couldn't help shrinking back slightly.
Then its bulbous eyes widened with disbelief, as though electrified, blazing with frightening intensity.
"Mr. Shelby... touched Tequila's head... he... invited Tequila..."
Suddenly, as if remembering something crucial, its sparkling eyes rapidly dimmed.
"Forgive Tequila... Mr. Shelby... Tequila belongs to Hogwarts..."
"Cannot follow you... Tequila is a bad elf... bad elf..."
Tequila suddenly began violently battering its head.
Undeniable sobs gradually escalated into uncontrollable wailing, its briefly perked ears drooping powerlessly once more.
"Easy, easy! Tequila! Stop! Motherfucker! I'm ordering you to stop!"
Tiger seized Tequila's neck and hoisted it up, cursing with irritation:
"What the bloody hell is wrong with you?"
Tequila's seemingly homely features looked even more pitiful after crying, though pitifully endearing.
On this particular point, Tiger and Venom found themselves in complete agreement.
"Sorry... Mr. Shelby... Tequila cannot follow you... Tequila is very bad..."
Confronted with Tiger's fierce, intimidating appearance, Tequila showed no fear. Instead, it radiated profound guilt.
Its sharp voice emerged choked and fragmented.
"But... if you're willing... while at Hogwarts... Tequila remains at your complete disposal..."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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