Closed Simple pleasures

[Professor Edward Pirrip]

Mastering the Animagus transformation process had demanded more of Edward than he’d ever imagined, and even then he’d gone into it knowing it would take everything he had. However, after weeks of exhausting effort, near-disasters, and long hours neglecting his wife and Teddy especially over the school break, the process that had been far from pleasant was now over. He was now registered with the Ministry as an Border Collie Animagus. His energy was still recovering, but the hard work had paid off and finally he able to experience the quiet pleasures of his animal form.

He’d spent the morning teaching as his human self, and only changed into his dog form in the currently vacant Professor's common room during one of his free teaching periods. He had been feeling tired and tempted by a patch of sunlight spilling across the cushions of one sofa. He’d leapt up, circled three times, and curled in. There was something extremely comforting about napping as a dog, and he knew this would be how he took all his naps from now on. He could fold into a tight, warm ball, tail tucked in, and limbs pulled close including his cursed leg which pained him just a little less in this form. His thick, soft coat kept him at the perfect temperature and he was able to flop his head onto a warm cushion. He could nap anywhere like this, even on the floor, but the warmth and extra comfort made it bliss in this moment.

 

[Professor Conan Edogawa]

The first semester was always the busiest for Conan and the transition back into staying at the school was always the most difficult. This was his third year of teaching but it still didn't make him feel any less weird about leaving Taylor and the twins at home. Although, he had to admit that this was a bit familiar considering more than half the kids were actually with him than his wife. Six of them now to be exact. Not that he saw the kids much at school though. They all had quite the uncanny ability to hide and ignore him when they didn't want to see him. He supposed he couldn't blame them - having a parent in the boarding school must be weird. He was just coming from a lesson with his Seventh Years when he decided to backtrack towards the Professors' Common Room.

Conan didn't really spend much time here. His classroom and office were near enough the Great Hall and Grounds that he didn't feel the need to stay in the Common Room much. And it felt weird to be in one that was not the Hufflepuff one, even after so many years. Besides, he tried to be in his office as much as he could just in case one of his kids eventually dropped by - not that it happened much. Today was a particularly tiring day with the Seventh Years though, mostly because now that he'd started updating his lesson plans, he was now teaching Seventh Years how to blend into the muggle world better. Which meant field trips and making sure none of them breaks the Statute of Secrecy. And with kids - not just his own - sometimes hanging about his office, he figured he deserved just an hour of quiet and perhaps tea in the Common Room. What Conan did not quite expect was the adorable dog napping at a patch of sunlight in the room. "Now what's a cutie like you doing all alone in here?" That really should have been his first clue. But nope, he just walked towards the dog to plop right beside it cross-legged.​

 

[Professor Edward Pirrip]

Edward was mostly comfortable, though the sofa fabric had left his belly feeling a little itchy and without hands, it wasn't something he could easily rectify in that moment. He wondered if he could reach the itch with his good back leg when Conan came into the staff room and spoke to him. Edward's tail gave an involuntary little wag at being called a cutie and then he saw the perfect opportunity for assistance. He lifted his head and flopped against Conan’s side when he sat down. He rolled onto his back, paws in the air with his belly shamelessly exposed. Surely Conan, being the helpful sort would take the hint here. Edward stayed still for a moment then snapped his paw in the air near Conan’s hand, trying to tell him he wanted a belly rub from the man.