disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, just Arabella. Hope you all like it!

Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody

Arabella could not sleep for the rest of the night. She couldn't get her mind off her dream and what it meant. She tossed and turned the whole night, trying to figure out what it all meant. In the end, she didn't know, she couldn't figure it out. Maybe it was just a regular nightmare or something. She listened to the storm intensifying outside until breakfast. She got dressed slowly and walked down to the Great Hall with Hermione.

The ceiling of the Great Hall was still gloomy, reflecting the scenery outside. Arabella and Hermione joined Harry and Ron, as they passed them their new course schedules.

"Today's not bad… outside all morning," said Ron. "Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and Care of Magical Creatures… dame it, we're still with the Slytherins…."

"Double Divination this afternoon," groaned Harry.

"You should have given it up like me, shouldn't you?" said Hermione, buttering some toast. "Then you'd be doing something sensible like Arithmancy."

"You're eating again, I notice," said Ron.

"I've decided there are better ways of making a stand about elf rights," said Hermione proudly.

"Yeah… and you were hungry," said Ron, grinning.

There was a sudden rustling noise about there and a hundred owls came soaring through the open windows carrying the morning mail. Arabella looked up quickly, but she knew there was nothing for her. She looked back at her friends. She wondered if she should say something to them about her dream or something. It felt as though she was stuck, waiting between two worlds, trying to figure out if she should say something or keep quiet.

She contemplated this all the way to the greenhouse. Today Professor Sprout was showing them the most ugliest plants Arabella has ever seen. Each were squirming with large swellings that seemed to be full of liquid. It took Arabella a while to see their resemblance to slugs.

"Bubotubers," Sprout told them quickly. "They need squeezing. You will collect the pus –"

"The what?" said Seamus, revolted.

"Pus, Finnigan, pus," said Sprout, "and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles. Wear your dragon-hide gloves, it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted, bubotuber pus."

Arabella frowned down at her own bubotuber. They were disgusting, but popping them was satisfying. Like popping a good pimple, but larger. They caught the pus in the bottles Sprout showed them and by the end of class, they had collected several galleons. Sprout seemed very happy with this, as this will help many students with their acne.

The school bell rang and the class separated with the Gryffindors heading down towards Hagrid's small cabin. Hagrid was already standing outside his hut with Fang. There were several open wooden crates on the ground at his feet. As they came closer, there was an odd rattling noise and then a small minor explosion.

"Mornin'!" said Hagrid. "Be'er wait fer the Slytherins, they won' want ter miss this – Blast-Ended Skrewts!"

"Come again?" said Ron.

Hagrid pointed to the crates as Lavender jumped up and squealed, "Eurgh!"

In Arabella's opinion, that seemed to sum it up perfectly. The Blast-Ended Skrewts looked like deformed, shell-less lobsters, pale and slimy looking with legs sticking out in odd places and no head. There seemed to be about a hundred of them, crawling over one another and bumping into the sides of the boxes.

"On'y jus' hatched," said Hagrid proudly, "so yeh'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves! Thought we'd make a bit of a project of it!"

"And why would we want to raise them?" drawled a cold voice.

Arabella groaned. The Slytherins had finally arrived with their ring leader, Malfoy, in the front.

"I mean, what do they do?" asked Malfoy. "What is the point of them?"

Hagrid opened his mouth, thinking very hard. There was a pause before he said, roughly, "Tha' next lesson, Malfoy. Yer jus' feedin' 'em today. Now, yeh'll wan' ter try 'em on a few diff'rent things – I've never had 'em before, not sure what they'll go fer – I got ant eggs an' frog livers an' a bit o' grass snake –just try 'em out with a bit of each."

"First pus and now this," muttered Seamus.

If it wasn't for the deep love and affection Arabella had for Hagrid, she would have turned around and marched straight back to the castle. But she, along with Harry, Ron and Hermione, picked up handfuls of frog liver and lowered them into the crates. It seemed pointless. The things didn't even have mouths.

Within ten minutes, one of them bite Dean and its end exploded, giving him a burn.

"Eurgh!" said Lavender. "Eurgh, Hagrid, what's that pointy thing on it?"

"Ah, some of 'em have got stings," said Hagrid enthusiastically. "I reckon they're the males… The females've got sorta sucker things on their bellies… I think they might be ter suck blood."

"Well, I can certainly see why we're trying to keep them alive," said Malfoy sarcastically. "Who wouldn't want pets that can burn, sting and bite all at once?"

"Just because they're not very pretty, it doesn't mean they're not useful," snapped Hermione. "Dragon blood's amazingly magical, but you wouldn't want a dragon for a pet, would you?"

Arabella smiled at Hagrid, who did the same from behind his beard. She knew that he would have wanted a pet dragon, and did have one for some time. Hagrid loved monstrous creatures and gave them lovely names. The deadlier the creature, the more diviner the name.

"Well, at least the skrewts are small," said Ron.

They were make their way back up to the castle for lunch.

"They are now," said Hermione, sighing. "But once Hagrid's found out what they eat, I expect they'll be six feet long."

"Well, that won't matter if they turn out to cure seasickness or something, will it?" said Ron, grinning slyly at her.

"You know perfectly well I only said that to shut Malfoy up," said Hermione. "As a matter of fact I think he's right. The best thing to do would be to stamp on the lot of them before they start attacking us all."

"Comforting," said Arabella.

They sat down at the Gryffindor table and helped themselves to some lamb chops and potatoes. Hermione began to eat so fast that they all stared at her.

"What are you doing?" asked Arabella. "You're going to make yourself puke if you keep going at it like this."

"IS this the new stand on elf right?" said Ron.

"No," said Hermione with as much dignity as possible. "I just want to get to the library."

"What?" Ron said in disbelief. "Hermione – it's the first day back! We haven't even got homework yet!"

Hermione shrugged and continued to stuff her face with more food. Then she leapt to her feet, sprinting out of the room with a "See you at dinner!"

When the bell rang for their afternoon classes, Arabella, Harry and Ron set off for North Tower, where they climbed a silver stepladder that led to Professor Trelawney. A familiar and sickening perfume smell greeted them at the top of the ladder. The curtains were closed and there was a roaring fire. Dim red lights were all over the room, as well as scarves and shawls. Arabella, Harry and Ron made their way through the room to their regular small table at the other end near the window.

"Good day," said Trelawney lightly behind Harry, making him jump. She was peering down at him with a tragic expression. "You are preoccupied, my dear. My inner eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas… most difficult… I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass… and perhaps sooner than you think…"

She then turned towards Arabella, leaning in closely, and taking her hand. Trelawney eyed Arabella's palm, gently stroking it. "It seems that eight is your destiny, dear… but with good fortune comes great suffering… battle on, my dear…"

Her voice dropped down to a whisper as Arabella stared back coldly at Trelawney. She then swept past them and seated herself in the large chair before the fire, facing the class.

"My dears, it is time for us to consider the stars," she said. "The movements of the planets and the mysteries portents they reveal only to those who understand the steps of the celestial dance. Human destiny may be deciphered by the planetary rays, which intermingle…"

Arabella tried her hardest to listen, but she was soon drifting off. Hermione was right. Trelawney was a complete fraud. She doesn't know anything. It was all complete guessing with a little bit of luck to get by. But this didn't stop Arabella from thinking about eight and what it meant. Maybe eight was the number of people that were going to die… but how would that bring her great fortune? With good fortune comes great suffering… Horseshit, that's all it was… But –

"Harry!" hissed Ron.

"What?"

Both Harry and Arabella were brought out of their trance. They looked around the classroom and saw that everyone was looking at Harry.

"I was saying, my dear, that you were clearly born under the baleful influence of Saturn," said Trelawney. She sounded almost resentful at the fact that he wasn't paying attention to her.

"Born under – what, sorry?" said Harry.

"Saturn, dead, the planet Saturn!" Trelawney sounded even more irritated. "I was saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the moment of your birth… Your dark hair… your mean stature… tragic losses so young in life… I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?"

"No," said Harry. "I was born in July."

Arabella and Ron quickly turned their laughs into coughs.

Half an hour later, they all were given a complicated circular chart and was attempting to fill in the position of the planets at their moments of birth. It was dull work, requiring much consultation of timetables and calculation of angles.

"I've got Neptune, Venus and Jupiter," said Arabella. She scrunched her eyebrows. "Clearly something's going on between the three of them."

"I have two Neptunes here," said Harry, frowning. "That can't be right, can it?"

"Aaaah," whispered Ron, "when two Neptunes appear in the sky, it is a sure sign that a midget in glasses is being born, Harry…"

Seamus and Dean sniggered loudly, but they were drowned out by Lavender's loud squeal.

"Oh Professor, look! I think I've got an unexpected planet! Oooh, which one's that, Professor?"

"It is Uranus, my dear."

"Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" asked Ron.

Arabella began to laugh, clutching her side and holding onto Harry for support. It felt as though her insides were going to explode. Trelawney narrowed her eyes at Arabella and Ron, and thus gave them so much homework at the end of the class.

"A detailed analysis of the way the planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to your personal chart," she snapped. "I want it ready to hand in next Monday, and no excuses!"

"Miserable old bat," Ron said bitterly as they descended the stairs towards the Great Hall. "That'll take all weekend, that will…"

"Lots of homework?" asked Hermione brightly. She was catching up with them. "Professor Vector didn't give us any at all!"

"Well, bully for Professor Vector," snipped Ron.

The Entrance Hall was packed tight with people lining up for dinner. They had just joined the end of the line with a loud voice rang behind them.

"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!"

Arabella sighed and turned. She knew this day was going to turn out for the worst. Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were standing behind them, each looking pleased about something.

"What?" Ron said shortly.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" said Malfoy, waving a copy of the Daily Prophet. Everyone in the Entrance Hall turned towards him. "Listen to this!

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."

Malfoy looked up with a shine in his eyes. "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?"

Please to see that everyone was listening eagerly to him, Malfoy straightened the paper and read on:

Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ('policemen') over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of 'Mad-Eye' Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene.

"And there's a picture, Weasley!" said Malfoy. "A picture of your parents outside their house – if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"

Ron was shaking with fury. Everyone was staring at him. Harry and Hermione grabbed the back of his robes to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy.

"Piss off, Malfoy," snapped Arabella. "Let's go, Ron."

"Oh yeah, Black?" sneered Malfoy. "You were staying with them this summer, weren't you? So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?"

"Get bent, you pathetic prat," snarled Arabella. "Would you like me to talk about your mother? Don't like that, do you? How about that face she gets whenever she's around you, like there's something disgusting and slimy under her nose."

Malfoy went pink at her words. "Don't you dare insult my mother, Black, especially since you don't have one."

Arabella flared her nose. "Keep talking about Mrs. Weasley and I'll really give you something to be embarrassed about, Malfoy."

She turned away.

BANG!

Several people screamed and Arabella felt something graze the left side of her face. It was white and hot. Harry quickly grabbed her and they both reached for their wands. But before they could do anything, there was a second loud BANG, and a roar echoed through the Entrance Hall.

"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!"

Arabella spun around, her hand gripping Harry's arm. Mad-Eye was limping down the marble staircase, his wand out and pointing right at a white ferret that was standing exactly where Malfoy had been standing. There was a terrified silence. Nobody dared to even breathe at that moment. Mad-Eye turned towards Arabella. His normal eye was on her while the artificial one was looking at the back of his head.

"Did he get you?" growled Mad-Eye.

"No," said Arabella, shrugging. "He missed."

"LEAVE IT!" shouted Mad-Eye.

"Leave – what?" asked Harry, bewildered, looking around.

"Not you – him!" Mad-Eye jerked his thumb towards Crabbe, who had just frozen. It looked as though he was going to pick up the ferret. Mad-Eye started limping towards Crabbe, Goyle and the ferret, which gave a terrified squeak and took off towards the dungeons. "I don't think so!" Mad-Eye roared.

The ferret flew ten feet into the air and fell with a smack to the floor. It then bounced upward once more.

"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned," growled Mad-Eye. "Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do…"

The ferret flew through the air, bouncing higher and higher, squealing in pain.

"Never – do – that – again –"

"Professor Moody!"

Professor McGonagall was storming down the marble staircase with her arms full of books.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," said Mad-Eye calmly. The ferret bounced higher.

"What – what are you doing?" said McGonagall.

"Teaching."

"Teach – Alastor, is that a student?" shrieked McGonagall, the books dropping out of her arms.

"Yep."

"No!" McGonagall ran down the stairs and pulled out her wand. A moment later and a loud snapping noise, Malfoy had reappeared lying on the floor. His hair was a mess and his was sprawled out with his head whipping around him. He got to his feet, wincing.

"Alastor, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" McGonagall said sharply. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"

"He might've mentioned it, yeah," said Mad-Eye, scratching his chin. "But I thought a good sharp shock –"

"We give detentions, Alastor! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"

"I'll do that, then."

Moody made his way over towards Malfoy was immense dislike. Malfoy was staring at Mad-Eye with pained eyes and humiliation. He was muttering words under his breath and Arabella was sure Lucius Malfoy was somehow mentioned.

"Oh yeah?" said Mad-Eye quietly. The sound of his wooden leg echoed through the hall. "Well, I know your father of old, boy… You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son… you tell him that from me… Now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"

"Yes," Malfoy said resentfully.

"Another old friend. I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape… Come on, you…"

He seized Malfoy's upper arm and marched him off toward the dungeons. He paused for a second, looking Arabella and Harry up and down. It took her a second to realize that they were both still gripping onto each other's arms. Arabella let go of him quickly, as though she was somehow burnt by his touch. Mad-Eye narrowed his eyes at them before marching on. Arabella felt her cheeks burn. He was surely going to tell Remus about this.

McGonagall stared after Mad-Eye and Malfoy anxiously for a few minutes. She then waved her wand and her books flew back into her arms. She left the hall and everyone was buzzing with excitement. They couldn't stop talking about what just transpired. Soon enough, they all finally entered the Great Hall for dinner.

"Don't talk to me," said Ron quietly.

"Why not?" said Hermione in surprise.

"Because I want to fix that in my memory forever," said Ron, his eyes closed and a smile on his face. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret…"

Arabella, Harry and Hermione laughed.

"He could have really hurt Malfoy, though," said Hermione. "It was good, really, that Professor McGonagall stopped it –"

"Hermione!" said Ron furiously, his eyes snapping open again, "you're ruining the best moment of my life!"

Hermione made an impatient noise and began to eat at top speed again.

"Don't tell me you're going back to the library this evening?" said Harry, watching her.

"Got to," said Hermione thickly. "Loads to do."

Arabella was confused. "Didn't you say that you didn't get any –"

"It's not schoolwork," Hermione said.

Within five minutes, she had cleared her plate and departed. No sooner had she gone than her seat was taken by Fred.

"Moody! How cool is he?"

Arabella smiled at him. She made a note to tell Mad-Eye this.

"Beyond cool," said George, sitting opposite of Fred.

"Supercool," said Lee, sliding down beside George. "We had him this afternoon."

"What was it like?" asked Harry eagerly.

Fred, George, and Lee exchanged meaningful looks.

"Never had a lesson like it," said Fred.

"He knows, man," said Lee.

"Know what?" asked Ron, leaning forward.

"Knows what it's like to be out there doing it," said George impressively.

"Fighting," said Arabella, taking a deep breath. "Fighting the Dark Arts?"

"Yeah," said Fred, almost longingly.

"He's seen it all," said George.

"'Mazing," said Lee.

Ron dove into his bag for his schedule. Once he found what he was looking for, he was thoroughly disappointed. "We haven't got him till Thursday!"

Thank you so much for reading! Tell me what you guys think!