Disclaimer: I don't own the world of Harry Potter...I just write about it :)
Still writing foreseen, but I needed a bit of a break. This one hit me in the middle of English. I'm starting to think I should start concentrating in lessons or I'm going to fail my G.C.S.Es...
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Care of Magical Creatures... Not one of Harry's favourite lessons, he had to admit. Mostly he had picked the class because it filled up a gap in his timetable. Apparently most of the Sixth years had done it. It wasn't really surprising considering what the alternative was; Divination.
Harry had actually shuddered at the Breakfast table as he thought about another year of Trelawney and her fume filled classroom. Hermione had predictably asked if he was alright but all Harry had needed to do was show her his choices for fourth period. She had looked sympathetically at him but as she already had a full timetable; it wasn't a problem for her.
Ron was in the same boat as Harry though. He had moaned for three days straight about how unfair it was. A lecture from McGonagall and Hermione quickly stopped this behaviour though. After all, if Hagrid had overheard him his feelings would definitely be hurt.
It was Thursday morning and Harry and Ron could put it off no longer. Their first Care of Magical Creatures class was starting in about 10 minutes and they were still sitting at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. A shove from Hermione quickly solved this. Harry and Ron dragged their feet towards Hagrid's hut, rubbing their sore behinds as they went.
As Hagrid's hut came into sight, a strong feeling of trepidation came over Harry. Hagrid's classes weren't the most...effective he had to admit. The Buckbeak incident with Malfoy (not that it wasn't the prat's fault), the Blast Ended Skrewts (enough said) and the Flubberworms (not that they actually did anything) were perfect examples of Hagrid's class gone wrong. Harry supposed they had had some good lessons like...erm... He scratched his head for a few seconds.
Oh yes! The lesson about Thestrals was really good! They had creeped the hell outta Harry and given him some lovely nightmares, but overall it was one of Hagrid's better lessons. He could only hope he'd come out of this one with all of his limbs attached, especially his hands. He'd need them for the match against Slytherin coming up soon. He refused to lose to Malfoy because he was missing his hands. Thinking back, Harry realised that thought was incredibly stupid.
Anyway, he and Ron were nearing the paddock built close to Hagrid's hut. They had kept creatures in their last year as well. Harry was beginning to feel a little worried. After all, any creature that was big enough to not fit underneath the bars of the fence could easily eat them. Harry again rolled his eyes at his irrational thoughts. Hagrid wouldn't give them something that would eat them...would he?
"What do you think the oaf will give us this time?" a voice behind Harry and Ron scoffed.
"Shut up Malfoy!" Harry immediately retaliated before even seeing who the speaker was. Ron began humming the X Files tune to his left. Harry vaguely wondered how Ron knew about that Muggle programme. Hermione must have told him.
"I don't believe I was talking to you Potter" Malfoy sneered, "But because of the oaf comment, I can see how you could get confused" He smirked at Harry, backed up by Crabbe and Goyle who stood next to him like guard dogs.
Harry didn't like Hagrid's lessons, but he sure as hell wasn't going to let Malfoy slag him off. It wasn't as if Hagrid was slow, he just didn't get how man eating beast could potentially be dangerous to his underage students. Must be the whole near invincible thing. Unfortunately, non-part giant people like Harry didn't have this convenience. If they got bit by a poisonous snake or slashed by a Hippogriff, they probably would die ...and painfully.
Still Malfoy had no right saying things like that about Hagrid. He was his professor after all. Harry opened his mouth to give Malfoy what for, when Hagrid's voice boomed from the far end of the paddock.
"C'mon now, get a move on!" he called, striding across the paddock. "Got a real treat for yeh today! Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right follow me!" He winked at Harry and Ron, who in turn, grinned weakly back at him. The class reluctantly climbed over the fence and into the grassy paddock. Hagrid was beckoning them over to the side covered by trees and they joined him eventually. Harry couldn't help thinking that the last time Hagrid had a 'great lesson' planned for them, Malfoy had ended up in the Hospital Wing. Heavens knew what he was doing in the class again. Harry would have bet a thousand galleons that Malfoy would drop Care of Magical Creatures as soon as he could.
"Right class, well now this is a special lesson" Hagrid began cheerfully, "I've managed to get yeh some Nymphs to 'ave a look at!" Hagrid looked expectantly at the class as if waiting for them to cheer ecstatically.
The class stared back at him nonplussed. Harry was wondering if they were supposed to know what Nymphs were. Sure Harry had a vague notion that they were some tree people, but he had no idea what they actually did or even looked like.
Hagrid coughed, "Oh err... I suppose I'd better tell yeh what Nymphs are then" He looked hopefully around the paddock, "Unless one o' yeh is able to tell me?" He peered around obviously waiting for Hermione to put up her hand. When he didn't see her he looked slightly crestfallen. He cleared his throat again however, and began to speak again. He stopped suddenly and nodded at someone.
"Nymphs are most commonly found near trees. They inhabit the insides and usually favour Oak or Maple trees. They are rumoured to have charming powers but no wizard has yet to record of this happening. Apparently it is thought they only use them for revenge purposes. They are known to be sensitive to love and other strong emotions and can detect them just by looking at people."
All that could be heard for a few minutes was the sound of birds chirping as everyone looked stunned at Neville Longbottom. Even Crabbe and Goyle were standing with their mouths open silent. Actually, now that Harry thought about it, that's what they looked like normally.
"Well done Neville!" Hagrid boomed, obviously pleased someone could answer his question, "10 points to Gryffindor." Neville blushed to his ears and muttered something about liking plants. Harry grinned encouragingly at Neville who, overcome with embarrassment, looked down at his feet.
"Now you all know about Nymphs," Hagrid said smiling, "You can meet some o' them." With Hagrid's last words the trees behind the paddock suddenly began rustling and the entire group backed away frightened. Chimes of laughter rang out among the leaves and Harry couldn't help wondering if they were laughing at them. Seeing that Hagrid was staying where he was, Harry stopped his traitorous feet and planted them firmly where they were. For Hagrid's sake he would at least act like he was having a good time.
The trees rustled again but this time a beautiful woman drifted out. Her features were slightly blurry and she was dressed in clothes that appeared to be made out of petals. Harry wondered if she was cold. The ethereal woman seemingly floated over to Hagrid and curtsied politely. Hagrid attempted a clumsy bow back. A movement to Harry's left made him whip his head in that direction. Malfoy was standing to his left and sneering at Potter. He was obviously trying to proof that anything Harry could do, he could do better. Harry rolled his eyes and turned to watch the Nymphs again. As if following the first Nymph, others slowly blended out of the trees and gathered in a small group on Hagrid's right.
Behind Harry, the rest of the Care of Magical Creatures class was slowly moving forward, their curiosity winning them over. The class looked curiously at the Nymphs who in turn gazed back at them calmly. The first Nymph began to speak.
"Mister Hagrid," she began in an odd voice almost like a breath of wind, but not, "Do your students want to talk to us now...or would they prefer to stare some more." She trailed off teasingly at the end and the class flushed.
"Ah yes o'course," Hagrid said quickly, "If you all want to pair up, then you can pick a Nymph to talk to." Harry immediately began to move over to Ron, when the first Nymph glided up to him.
"I should like to talk to you, Mister Potter." She said smiling, "You and that boy over there." She lifted a hand slowly and pointed to...
Malfoy.
Oh crap. Would he offend her if he refused now?! Harry looked worriedly at Hagrid, who looked apologetically back at Harry. Apparently he was stuck with Malfoy in a pair. He nodded reluctantly in agreement to the Nymph, who was gazing at him with a knowing look in her eyes. Both of them made their way over to Malfoy.
"Mister Malfoy," she said when she came into earshot of him, "May I converse with you and this boy over here?" Malfoy turned at her voice and looked to where she was pointing. Upon seeing Harry, a look of disgust came over his face but he quickly wiped it clean when the Nymph turned to look at him again.
"Certainly," he said politely, "erm...madam?" Harry sniggered at this but quickly disguised it into a hacking cough. Malfoy wasn't fooled and gave Harry an icy glare. The Nymph apparently didn't notice this however, and led them over to a patch of grass. She sat elegantly still appearing to float, and Harry and Malfoy followed suit, keeping as far away from each other as possible.
"So..." she began, "What are you two to each other?" Harry was flummoxed at this question. What kind of a conversation starter was that? He glanced at Malfoy who was equally stumped. The Nymph was looking expectantly at them as if wondering why it was such a hard question to answer. Harry hurried to find one, not wanting to make the Nymph angry. Those charming powers sounded a little dangerous if you asked him.
"We're not anything to each other," he stated clearly, "we've never liked each other and that's that." The Nymph looked a little confused at this. Her delicate brow creased as she looked between Malfoy and Harry and then back again.
"Are you certain?" She asked again, "this one here seems to look at you an awful lot." The Nymph nodded her head towards Malfoy. Pink spots appeared on his cheeks and he leapt to his feet.
"What are you on about?!" He sneered, "Of course we're sure! Maybe you should get you Nymph vision checked or something!" It was like a switch flipped and the Nymph shot to her feet instantly. Her hair became darker and flowed out behind her eerily. Her face darkened as she glared at Malfoy. He took a few steps back and Harry climbed to his feet slowly, not wanting to attract the attention of the livid Nymph. He needn't have worried however, all her attention was focused on Malfoy as she slowly outstretched her hands.
The class around them watched warily as the Nymph closed her eyes and held out her palms towards Malfoy, encompassing both him and Harry. Hagrid seemed quite oblivious as per usual and was chatting pleasantly to a Nymph near the trees. The class held their breath as the Nymph froze for a moment before relaxing and sitting down on the ground as if nothing had happened. The class turned away disappointed and went back to talking to their Nymphs.
Nobody saw Harry and Malfoy stare at each other before setting off at a run towards the castle.
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Monsieur Potter et Monsieur Malfoy will have hot sex, but only if you review! You know you want to! ;)