Review Response:
Hm910ya - I'm not disappointed! I'm just glad you took some time out of your schedule for this story! You're an avid reviewer- which is wonderful! I know things can get really busy having a social life- that's why I don't have one! XD
-Also don't apologize for your language, I use curse words in my everyday language! We can be swear buddies!
Honey badgers don't give a shit! - /4r7wHMg5Yjg. A little link for your enjoyment. Also, J.K. Rowling took a Harry Potter sorting quiz, and she was sorted as a Hufflepuff!
I look forward to seeing if you can meet your own challenge!
Lucafred -Yeah Umbridge is a crude little... *cough* And as I said in above ^ J.K. Rowling was sorted into Hufflepuff, so there you go! Also, take note that Harry and George were banned from the sport that they love FOR LIFE! I'd be pretty depressed too, if I liked sports that is.
"Ah, real nice of yeh to help me wit' my class, Briar." Hagrid grinned down at her through a bruised face.
Briar returned his grin, "It's not a problem Hagrid- I don't want Umbridge giving you a hard time- especially with the Thestrals."
Hagrid's dustbin-sized hand clapped her on the shoulder- which caused her knees to buckle.
"That's a good lass," he grinned broadly.
Briar was deep within the Forest- too deep for comfort-.
A shrill cry echoed in the Forest- Briar recognised it as Hagrid immediately. She clicked her tongue, leading one of the Thestrals with a gentle touch of her hand.-
A shiver coursed through her- it's chilled, velvet hide moved beneath her hand and she and the Thestral moved through the Forest.
A second cry, followed by a third grew in volume as Briar grew closer to the clearing.
"Ah, ther' she is- everythin' alright Briar?"
"Yeah," Briar nodded, her eyes scanning the group of fifth years. He eyes connected with Harry's and she nodded in greeting. He nodded in acknowledgement, casting her a slight grin.
"Ah- 'ere comes the rest o' the heard."
Briar peered behind her- sure enough four more milky white eyes were peering back at her. Briar turned back to the class- a majority of the them were peering around in confusion- while three- including Harry, were staring directly at the beasts.
"Now… put yer hands up, who can see them?"
Three hands shot up, Briar eyed the three of them- wondering who they had seen kick the bucket.
"Excuse me," Malfoy said, sneering. "But what are we supposed to be looking at, exactly?"
Briar was the one to speak, "Thestrals, Mr. Malfoy- and please maintain your volume- you're upsetting him."
She trailed her finger down its reptilian-like face, quieting its snorting.
"Hogwarts has a whole herd of 'em in here." Hagrid proclaimed proudly, "Now who knows-"
Parvati Patil interrupted him. "But they're really, really unlucky- Professor Trelawney told me once that-"
"No, no, no," said Hagrid chuckling, "tha's jus' superstition, that is, they aren' unlucky, they're dead clever an' useful! Course, this lot don' get a lot o' work, it's mainly jus' pullin' the school carriages unless Dumbledore's takin' and long trip an' don' want ter Apparate."
Briar gave the class a third once over, "The only people who can see Thestrals," Briar explained, "Are people who've seen death."
"Hem, hem."
Briar gave a shiver of revulsion. Umbridge stepped past the class, bundled up in a green hat and cloak- a clipboard in her hand.
"Oh, hello!" Hagrid said, smiling upon realising her presence.
"Have you received the note I sent to your cabin this morning," Umbridge inquired, her voice loud and slow as though she thought Hagrid to be an oaf. "That I would be inspecting your lesson today?"
"Oh, yeah." Hagrid enthused, grinning through his beard, "Glad yeh found the place all righ'! Well as you can see- or, I dunno- can you? We're doing Thestrals today-"
"I'm sorry," Umbridge cupped her hand to her ear, frowning, "What did you say?"
"Er- Thestrals!" Hagrid bellowed louder, "Big- er- winged horses, yeh know?" He flapped his arms hopefully at Umbridge.
Umbridge pursed her lips, muttering quietly as she scribbled down onto her clipboard, "Has to resort to crude sign language."
Hagrid flushed, obviously embarrassed. Quickly he ploughed on with his teaching, "Yeah, so, we started off with a male an' five females. This one," he patted the one Briar was comforting, "name o' Tenebrus, he's my special favorite, firs' one born her in the Forest-"
"Are you aware," Umbridge interrupted loudly, "that the Ministry of Magic has classified Thestrals as "dangerous"? - And you're allowing Miss. York here to cater to them?"
"Ah but you seem to forget," Briar said quickly, "I'm a trained Auror- an employee of the Ministry – And I've come to assist Professor Hagrid, regardless of the miss-labeling of Thestrals –as they are not dangerous."
"Oh, but Miss. York," Umbridge's voice grew to a high pitch –which showed that Briar had gotten to her. "Surely one Auror couldn't take on an entire herd of Thestrals on her own-"
"Are you doubting the Minister's employees, Professor Umbridge?" said Briar, her jaw set in rebellion. "And of course you forget that Professor Hagrid can certainly assist if the need comes- although it's highly improbable that a Thestral would attack- and this class also has very enabled castors." Briar winked towards the students, a majority of which were staring at her in awe.
"We are stronger when we are united, Professor Umbridge," Briar spoke loudly, a serene grin erupting over her face and Umbridge began to tremble in rage. "You do well not to forget that, Professor."
Hagrid gave a sniffle, "Alrigh'- er- class dismissed. Good lesson e'erybody."
Hagrid mused her hair with his heavy hand, "That's a good lass –twenty points ter Ravenclaw for yer –assistance in class today, Briar."
"The fifth years are saying that you totally burned Umbridge today in Care of Magical Creatures." Fred popped up beside her.
Briar rose a brow, not looking up from her book, "Is that what they're saying?" George went to kiss her cheek- but Briar dodged in easily, having been expecting it upon his appearance. "Not that we'd expect anything left from my girlfriend." George teased her, attempting to tug the book from her grasp.
Briar merely slid from off her position on the windowsill, and started down the hallway, "I'm not a possession, you know."
Fred and George caught up to her- George hooking an arm around her in an attempt to keep her from running further. "I know that," George responded cheekily, "because if I owned you, I'd never let you from my grasp."
Briar stepped away- her nose still firmly planted in the book- and ducking partially behind Fred. "That's unnerving."
Fred swiped the book from her grasp, "Speaking of unnerving- Georgie wanted to introduce you to the family on the winter break –you'll be staying over of course."
Briar gave them both an unimpressed look, jumping on her toes in an attempt to snatch back her book. "I've already met your family."
"But to introduce you as my girlfriend," George teased her, catching the book as Fred tossed it to him. George held it high over her head –causing Briar to scowl and whip out her wand.
"Enough," she grumbled impatiently. "Give me my book or I'll hex you both to oblivion." George ruffled its pages, "Not until you agree to spend the winter holiday with us."
Briar grit her teeth- half-tempted to immobilize the pair of them and make off to the Ravenclaw Tower.
"That's blackmail. And I've already promised Sirius I'd spend the holiday with him" Briar foggily remembered fishing her locket out of its hiding spot and staring into it until Sirius had decided to check on her. She had immediately broke down, and told him about Umbridge, Quidditch and how Briar was about ready to drop out of Hogwarts.
After that… Sirius had almost become a fatherly-figure in place of her own.
"Of course Sirius is going to celebrate with us." Fred added casually. Briar eyed the pair of them. "I'm not sure," she decided finally, "we'll see what happens."
Briar snatched her book, leaving a disappointed Fred and George in her wake.
This chapter is fairly short- one-thousand two-hundred words- I blame my boyfriend, he's driving with his family and the drive there is fairly hours long; and he gets sick easily so he takes this medication that make him loopy. He's been calling my house non-stop and I've been dealing with his crazy ass for the past two hours.
...So that's my excuse, blaming the one guy who can put up with me. XD
Question: What would be your favorite class if you attended Hogwarts? (ie. Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Astronomy, Divination, Ancient Runes, Muggle Studies, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures- or any other class I have some how missed.
*SPOILER BELOW, DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVEN'T COMPLETED THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX*
(You have been warned)
Also, I would like to ask my readers the inevitable- should I allow Sirius to die? He's my favorite character- but at the same I feel obligated to follow J.K. Rowling's story line- and I'll have no use for Sirius in any future stories. What do you think I should do?
I do not own Harry Potter
-AL
