several other places, curious horses were poking their heads out from the doors of their stalls, watching everyone moving about. And there was certainly no shortage of activity.
Apart from those looking after their group, a swarm of staff were bustling about the stables. All around, the stablehands were going about their duties: one was pushing a wheelbarrow laden with fresh bedding, another was feeding the mounts, yet another was clearing manure from the stalls, and another was changing the water in the troughs. What’s more, it took Draco a moment to notice that above the aisles, at floor level, there was a wooden walkway from which one could observe the gathered creatures.
‘Yours is on the other side,’ the man said, pointing to the last aisle. ‘We had to keep him separate, because the wargs don’t take kindly to bess.’ The dragon merely nodded and quickened his pace, not wanting to fall behind his guide.
Fenrir reacted strongly at the sight of his rider. The beast nearly rammed through the door of his stall, and it was only thanks to the dragon’s quick reaction that an accident was avoided. Fen looked as though he’d been well looked after. He’d been unsaddled, cleaned and groomed. However, it was immediately obvious that he missed Draco and was overjoyed that he wouldn’t have to sit alone in the small room any longer.
‘Will you be all right?’
‘I’ve done this a few times before.’ He tried to put on a confident expression, though he didn’t mention that at Ed’heer there had always been someone watching over his every move and correcting his mistakes.
‘Well then, go on.’ The stableman pointed to a neat row of saddles lined up against the wall.
Draco set to work straight away. The start was simple: throw the saddlecloth over the beast's back, place the saddle on top, taking care not to position it too close to the two pairs of shoulder blades. Then the tricky bit began. Positioning the girths and fastening straps correctly took a bit of time and required concentration, though it wasn’t impossible,
