Title: All In A Duck's Work
By: Bridget McKennitt
Pairing: Harry Potter/Severus Snape
Rating: G
Word Count: 521
Contains: No warnings in as far I know that can't be extrapolated from the header itself.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by other companies. They are used here without permission, and for entertainment purposes only. No challenge or infringement upon the copyright is intended, nor should any be inferred.
Author's Notes: Inspired by iibnf. Sequel: Duck Watch.
Snape stalked down the corridors to the dungeons with a scowl on his face. The children who were in his path pressed themselves against the walls, holding their books against them in fear. That is until they saw what followed Professor Snape. It was a duck. To be exact, a little half grown yellow duck that quacked away like it had no troubles in the world, and of course it didn't. It was a duck.
The children began to snicker as the duck raced after Snape, flapping its little wings as it ran. Snape's head swerved to the left and glared at the student who laughed the loudest. "Did you have anything to say about the duck, Mr. Frommage?"
Corey Frommage gulped and shook his head. "Er, no, sir. It's a...it's a very nice duck!"
"Hmm...five points from Hufflepuff for duck mockery. Now apologize to Mr. Quackers."
Corey turned to the duck who stared back at him with a blank ducky stare. It was waiting. "Sorry, Mr. Quackers."
Snape nodded, as if satisfied, and walked on. The duck quacked at Corey before racing off after the professor. The children turned towards each other in confusion. What was that all about?
***
The door opened and Snape entered his private rooms, followed by the duck. He went to his desk, got out a quill and parchment, and began writing furiously. Rolling it up and tying it with a ribbon, Snape knelt down and handed the scroll to the duck who obediently opened its mouth to hold
it.
"Now, Mr. Quackers. Take this to Harry right away. Got that?"
The duck flapped its wings in response and waddled away. It knew Harry, after graduating from Hogwarts, had returned to live in Hogsmeade, which was across the lake. It also knew that, as a duck, he was the perfect bird familiar to deliver mail to the Boy Who Lived.
***
As Harry exited his shower, he heard the familiar sounds of quacking and a grin found its way to his face. He tucked the towel around his waist, remembering to do so tightly as he recalled how it fell, much to the thrill and joy of his neighbors the last time he went outside. Then he went to his door and opened it, grinning even wider to the duck before him. "Hello, Mr. Quackers! Got something for me?" He bent down carefully and took the scroll from the duck's bill. "Thank you." He petted the duck gently on the back and kissed it on its little head. "Tell Severus I love him, okay?"
The duck quacked loudly and Harry chuckled to himself. Who ever heard of a duck as a familiar?
***
After delivering the scroll, Mr. Quackers made its way to the tower where the other bird familiars lived. It flapped its wings and barely got onto the lowest bar. The owls there looked at it and slowly moved away, ignoring it. But Mr. Quackers didn't care. With the way Snape corresponded to his lover, Harry, he would never be out of a job. Yup, all in a day's work for Snape's duck.
If you'd liked to leave more than kudos on this work, you can reply either in the comment box below (email field is not required, but you can leave one if you'd like a reply) or on this journal entry (Read Reviews).
All feedback is appreciated.
