Truth or Dare ✔️

20

Carrying the small basket, Sirius led Hermione to the stable where the new foal was sequestered with her mother. They spied Connie talking quietly with the farrier and trainer about another one of their horses. She looked up and found them approaching.

"Ah Sirius, Hermione! Come to see the new baby?"

Sirius smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"She's quite a bit different than we had hoped. I don't know what we're going to do with her to be honest?"

"What's wrong with her," Sirius asked with concern.

"She's not up to breed standard."

Sirius lowered his head. "Ah. I see," he said.

The head stableman eyed Sirius harshly as well as Hermione and his demeanor only changed when Connie made the introductions. He and Sirius discussed the fate of the small animal and Sirius learned that they were going to put the animal down because of the unusual markings the foal possessed.

"Why would you do that? She's healthy, yes?"

"Yes Miss."

"Perhaps the markings will fade?"

The older man closed his eyes, but it was clear that he had rolled them beneath his eyelids as he sighed. "They will not, Miss. She's useless to us."

"So much for antiquated mindsets," she said as she gazed at the tiny filly standing by her mother. She leaned over the half door and looked in to get a better look. "May I go in," she asked.

Connie smiled. "Of course you can, dear."

Hermione opened the half door to the birthing stall and tread carefully over the fresh straw. She tenderly rubbed the mare's muzzle and knelt down beside the foal. "I don't see anything wrong with her, not that I'm an expert by any means."

"It's her coloration," Connie said. "Do you see the black and brown lines?"

"Oh. I do now. Won't they fade?"

Connie shook her head. "No. Hermione, this is how we make our living. She won't sell and we can't afford to keep her her if she possesses those markings."

"Why not?"

"Because we can't breed her," Connie stated matter of factly.

"But she's otherwise healthy?"

"She seems to be sound yes," Connie said.

"I see." Hermione smiled and placed a tender kiss atop the foal's head. "I'll see what I can do," she whispered to the foal. Sirius turned his head at having barely heard her whispered and he smiled, shaking his head. She exited the stall and stood next to Sirius for a moment as she saw another mare poking her head out of a stall door.

Sirius heaved a heavy sigh. "The markings are only on her rear legs right?"

Connie nodded. "Yes."

"And she's sound?"

Connie nodded again. "Yes. I can't afford to keep a horse that can't pay for itself, Sirius, you know that" she said under her breath.

"So, I'll buy her from you. Send payments for food and training. When she's ready, send her to me in London. I'll find some place to keep her. She's going to be a stunning horse Connie, come on!"

"There is already a buyer!"

"So talk to them. Explain what has happened and try again. Try a different mare."

"But they wanted this pairing!"

"Well it didn't work out, so you try again," Sirius said.

She rolled her eyes and pointed her finger at her cousin. "You did this with the mastiff pups too as I recall!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sirius said as he kissed her cheek and then he turned and headed for Hermione and turned on his heel as he walked backward. "I honestly don't have a clue as to what you're talking about! Really!" He grinned at having seen an aging brindle bitch lazily dozing in the sun. "We'll talk numbers later," he said as he took Hermione's arm and led her away from the horses.

"There are repercussions to consider, Sirius," she warned, raising her voice. "I may end up having to give a refund!"

Sirius nodded and winked his eye as he continued with Hermione on his arm as they disappeared around the corner to continue on their walk. "Trust me," he yelled.

Connie huffed. "Well, I've come up with a name for the filly," she announced to her staff. "Hermione's Pleasure," she sighed. "Looks like she's staying put."

The old stableman groaned.

"He is the head of the house and if he wishes to personally take on the financial responsibility of this animal then as well as our losses...well then, he's allowed to do that," Connie said.

"That' s a sizable amount of money! Can he afford it Madam?"

Connie shook his head. "No idea. But it's not for you to know and truthfully, he wasn't wrong about the dogs."