The Healer | Part 3: The Survivors

Spud the Cat

A/N: Mature content ahead! This story is rated Mature for a reason, this chapter is one of those reasons!

Edith

The weeks wore on rather quickly now. It was so close to the end of the theoretical portion of the Healing programme that all of the teachers were assigning even more homework and revision to make sure we passed our final exams. I only saw George once per week and only for a couple of hours at a time. I knew he was frustrated, and I was too. I kept telling myself that it was almost over. It would all be worth it when this was all over.

I was working on an essay on the effects of Healing Spells versus Stamina Charms one night in mid October when my Instant Owl Notebook started shaking on the back corner of my desk. I opened it at once, desperate for some reprieve from all the studying.

Can you come over? Now?

I picked up my quill again and wrote back immediately. He seemed like he was a little panicked.

What's up?

It wasn't long before my two words were replaced with two of his.

It's Spud.

I laughed out loud. That stupid cat, he was almost obsessed with him. Before I could answer, more of his words appeared on the paper.

I'm really worried about him.

I sobered up quickly. I knew he loved Spud. He would be devastated if anything were to happen to him. I couldn't let him go through anything like that again.

Alright, I'm on my way.

I put my quill back down in the jar of ink. Hopefully this wouldn't take too long. And hopefully the Healing magic I had been learning would work the same on cats.

I stood and pulled on my jacket. It was dark out now and the nights were cold.

I descended the steps quickly and quietly and then emerged into the fresh night air. I looked around to make sure no one was nearby and then Disapparated.

There was light coming out from the downstairs windows when I arrived at Falcon's Rest making the stone cottage look quite cosy in the dark night. I opened the gate and knocked on the door.

'You don't need to knock, Edith,' George said exasperatedly when he opened it. 'We've been through this.

'Sorry,' I said and stepped inside. 'What's up with Spud?'

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at how ridiculous my words sounded.

He had done a decent job at furnishing the place. The kitchen now contained a fridge and a cooker with a stovetop. The cupboards contained at least a few plates and bowls and the drawers had some cutlery and cooking utensils.

The sitting room contained a rather comfortable sofa, a reclining armchair and a small coffee table. He also had purchased a rug that sat in front of the fireplace that I had a sneaking suspicion was solely for Spud's benefit. I hadn't seen the inside of the master bedroom since we had done our initial tour, so I had no idea what he had done in there.

'Come on, I'll show you,' he grabbed my hand before I could take my jacket off and pulled me upstairs. He led me into one of the spare bedrooms. There was no furniture here, but the closet was ajar. 'He's been hiding in there since I got home,' he pointed to the door.

I knelt down in front of the open closet. I found Spud immediately, curled up in a bundle of towels. To my surprise, he looked even larger than he usually did.

'George, what have you been feeding this cat?' I exclaimed and looked back up at him.

'Nothing unusual,' he threw his hands up in defense. 'Chicken, salmon, tuna, double cream...'