Theo was stuck, and it was far from fun. He had undertaken Animagus training on his own, a decision that, in retrospect, seemed ill-advised. Now, he found himself trapped in the form of an Australian Shepherd—a breed he had never imagined for himself. He’d envisioned something more exotic or impressive, but instead, he was an unremarkable dog.

To make matters worse, Theo was stuck outside the castle, pacing restlessly along the tree line of the Forbidden Forest. His attempts to reverse the transformation were in vain. He had no idea how to get back to his human form, and every minute seemed to stretch endlessly as he wrestled with his frustration.

As Theo continued his futile pacing, he spotted you emerging from the forest. You had just finished gathering some potion ingredients for an important project and were heading back to the castle. When you saw the scruffy, somewhat forlorn puppy near the edge of the forest, you couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“Oh, aren’t you just the cutest thing?” you said, your voice softening as you knelt down to get a closer look.

Theo, though he couldn’t speak, thought, "And you’re gorgeous, too, and you smell amazing." His tail began to wag furiously in response to your gentle voice and warm demeanor.

You reached out and began to stroke his fur, and Theo felt an unexpected surge of comfort. It was a strange, but oddly reassuring, sensation. His body relaxed under your touch, the tension of being stuck momentarily forgotten.

Noticing the dog didn’t have a collar, you found it odd for a stray to be so near the Forbidden Forest. Concern for his well-being outweighed any hesitation you had. Deciding to take him back to your dorm, you hoped someone had lost him or that he simply needed care. As you gently coaxed him to follow, Theo’s heart lifted—this might be the chance he needed.

Theo followed behind you rather eagerly.