Anathema pays fairly close attention, practicing the Patronus a few times - she gets a faint mist, but doesn't seem to have the trick of a corporeal one yet.

Of course, eventually it's time to go back to their dorm and reassure their roommates (and teammates) they're both alright, and to prepare for the game to continue, and to go back to class eventually...

Maybe the kids with parents on the Board of Governors can raise a stink about the Dementor attack.

That does seem to be happening, and even kids without more powerful parents are writing (and getting their parents to write) a flood of extremely concerned letters to the Daily Prophet, and Howlers directed at the Minister (or variously less guarded departments within the Ministry). None of the students were permanently hurt, but everyone's shaken enough to be intensely aware of what could've happened.

Dumbledore wins an at least temporary removal of Dementors from Hogwarts grounds, until 'procedures can be reviewed.'

Anathema's been feeling really, really cooped up, what with their movement being pretty much limited to the castle, the Quidditch pitch, and the Hogwarts greenhouses. They have a break of Dementors on grounds - she wants to go explore again. Maybe visit that run down cottage they claimed first year...

They should take advantage of this while they can.

Yeah. Work on most of their studying outside for a bit, maybe.

Their cottage is still intact, if looking a bit unloved, when they head out between classes that Monday. Anathema sets her bags down and starts clearing some of the little saplings that've grown up where they don't want, enjoying the chance to exercise a bit.

"Wonder if we could build a nice den and convince some snakes to move here," she comments, off-handed. They do sometimes find snakes passing through, but there's not currently a lot of good places to really nest compared to the rest of the grounds.

"I don't see why not. Bet it'd help keep other people out too."

Giggle. "Then maybe we should get a lot of snakes."

"As long as they all get along."

Nod. "Yeah, it'd be pretty important to check for that... Especially 'cause snakes don't range very far, we'd have to make sure there was enough food, too, especially in the summers when we're not here."

"We could ask Hagrid, maybe. He's the groundskeeper and now he's teaching Care of Magical Creatures, so he must like animals."

"Yeah! I heard from Mandy that he's been breeding a new sort of magic snake, too."

They'll need some rocks to build a den.

Possibly some wood, too, and a few digging spells... And maybe some way to attract mice... And set up some nice sunning rocks, too, that's important.

She sets to examining the area right around them, cheerfully speculating on this or that location's suitability.

A dog wanders by to watch them at one point, mostly just lurking in the edge of the grove.

Hello dog.

Hang on, that's not Fang. Who's dog is that?

Could be from Hogsmeade - dogs don't usually bother squeezing through the gate, but they're in walking distance of the village... Maybe Fang has a girlfriend.

(The dog woofs a little, laying down.)

Doesn't seem to have a collar... But eh. It's being polite enough.

Yeah. Sad they don't have any treats, but, eh.

Anathema goes back to investigating the cottage for places to keep snakes - though she does throw a stick a few times for the dog after finding a particularly throwable one. The dog seems only vaguely interested in stick chasing, though, but goes along with it good-naturedly.

Alas, eventually they have to go back to class (Anathema does get some reading in first). She straightens up the last of their beginning snake preparations and waves goodbye to the dog.

Goodbye, strange dog. Perhaps they will meet again.

Maybe. (The dog follows them a short way, tail wagging, but wanders off before they get close to the castle.)

They do see the dog pretty often over the next week, mostly hanging out near their cottage. It doesn't always approach them, instead fairly often seeming to just be passing through, though Anathema discovers it'll come when called, just never into grabbing range.

Maybe they should give it a name.

"We could name it Grim."

"Like the church dog? It is as quiet as one, I guess."

"The right color, lurks around kind of spookily..."

"How about it, Grim?" She calls over to the dog.

Woof? Woof.