“Great idea. Let’s traipse around somewhere the locals say is dangerous in the dark looking for a creature known for being elusive and is currently on high alert,” Sirius growled.
“He could hurt somepony.” Big Mac insisted.
“He’d have to head back to civilization for that,” Dan said. “Sirius is right; we’ll be more useful back at the farm. This is wasted effort.”
“He’s just being a lazy mutt,” Severus said.
“Give me just one reason not to hex you,” Sirius snarled.
“I’ve spent more than enough time suffering under your hexes,” Severus declared, brandishing his wand.
“Bring it!” Sirius brandished his own.
“Enough!” Dan barked.
The two men glared at the dentist.
“He started it” Sirius said.
“This is no time for a wand-measuring contest.” Dan gritted his teeth. “Both of you, give them to me before something is cast that we’ll all regret.”
“I don’t think . . .” Severus started.
“No, you don’t!” Dan snapped. “Wands! Now!”
After confiscating the two deadly weapons from their man-children, Dan pointed toward the ground. “All right, land there.”
“Are you going to make them stand in the corner?” Remus asked. “Because we are in the middle of a forest, and we’re notably lacking in corners.”
“I wasn’t joking about taking them out behind the barn and letting them go bare knuckles on each other,” Dan said.
“We’re lacking a barn as well,” Charlie stated.
Big Mac stared at the humans but said nothing. He had already depleted his monthly word allowance.