Augustus watched the giant rhinoceros-like animal appear and circle the stage. Good job, Bernie! he thought, giving the creature an approving smile. Get the crowd all pumped up for the big act! He kept his eyes glued to the creature as the music started and it stepped onto the tightrope, just as it uad done so many times before. So far, so good...
Then the erumpent stopped. Why? What was going on? The ringmaster's eyes widened slightly, but he wasn't too concerned just yet. Setbacks were part of performing. Still, his hand hovered over the top of his staff, ready to draw his wand in case the creature fell. He couldn't even begin to imagine the bad publicity if an erumpent crushed or blew up half the audience!
Come on! You can do it, Bernie! Auguatus thought, his eyes locked on the animal as if willing it to move. After several tense moments, the erumpent made it the rest of the way across, and Augustus applauded wildly. The bellow at the end was a nice touch!
"Bravo, bravo! It just goes ro show if at fiest you don't succeed, try again," he said, taking the stage again. "Let's have a nice round of applause for Bernard, the balancing erumpent!"
Augustus waited a minute or two for the clapping to stop before continuing, "For our next act, we have a rarity long thought to be extinct by muggles. Give it up for our fine feathered friend, the disappearing diricawl!"
He gave a dramatic wave of his wand, the cue for the bird to appear and bowed, standing aside.
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