I trot through Diagon Alley on four paws, not wanting to be in human form because it is nearly Valentine's Day and I don't want to be suffocated by all the couples disgustingly in love with each other. I am on my own for this Valentine's Day, and it doesn't bother me too much... as long as I still get a good dinner.
Until I see a black-furred back just ahead of me weaving through the crowds of people. My doggy mind automatically assumes that it is a beagle just like me and I am in love at first sight! I mean if they managed to get into Diagon Alley and are walking around free, they must be an Animagus right? I am not alone in my fondness of beagles which is automatically appealing to me. Maybe I can manage to get a date for Valentine's Day after all!
I wind my way through the legs of the many couples, trying to catch up to the lovely fur-covered being so I can meet them properly, but they are better at weaving through everyone then I am and they quickly add more distance between them.
I despair at the thought of never catching up to my love until I spot the tip of a tail going into an alleyway that I know ends in a dead-end. I have to catch them now right? I mean they have nowhere to go from there, do they?
I move into a slight run, not caring who I step on trying to get there quicker and when I finally get there I make a sharp left into the alley...
And come face to face with a skunk...
I freeze in absolute confusion. What happened to my love! This was not what I was hoping to find! How could my eyesight betray me so! This wasn't love! This was a nightmare!
I remain frozen unable to comprehend what went wrong and still can't will my body to move as I watch in horror as the skunk turns around and lifts its tail...
Does anyone want to give a beagle a bath?