In Third Year, students were given a wide selection of optional classes to try out and choose from.
With Remus hunting down books on Pokemagnus for Harry and Nasrin to start learning, and the continued ban on Speaking, the Third Year Gryffindors had happily signed up for Professor Trelawney's Pokemon Mystical Arts class in the hopes of learning about more of the Lost Arts.
Even Hermione had joined them, to see if she would prefer it to Ancient Languages, and they had gone up to the shortest of Hogwarts' four towers together.
"Well, that was a waste of time." Harry grumbled, hurrying back down the steps.
"Are you okay?" Nasrin worried, noticing how pale Hermione was and catching her arm when the other girl stumbled.
Pulling out a tissue, the bushy-haired girl coughed violently into it.
"Sorry, but Professor Trelawney-"
"It was like looking into the future, right?"
Hermione snapped her head towards Ron, glaring.
"I'm just saying. Bushy hair, big thick nerd glasses, yammers on about things no one understands…"
Star reached out and smacked Ron upside the head, and he relented immediately.
"I'll just be quiet now."
"Are you sure you're okay, Hermione?" Neville worried as Star patted Squeakers' back comfortingly, the Pikachu still sneezing uncontrollably.
"Yes, thank you. All that incense and smoke and perfume just gave me a raging headache."
"I know what you mean." The Longbottom agreed, rubbing at his itchy eyes for the thousandth time since entering that classroom. "I spend my summers tending to the Longbottom Venusaur, and they release huge clouds of pollen. I built up a tolerance to most flowery things, but all those allergens are nothing compared to Professor Trelawney's classroom."
"I'm surprised her Nosepass could stand it." Nasrin admitted, cradling Squeakers now as he started to settle.
"I wouldn't have minded if she'd actually taught us something." Harry complained. "I mean, I don't think she said a single word the entire time we were in there that made sense. She didn't talk about Speaking or Veelas or Pokemagnuses or anything!"
"All she talked about was opening up your inner eye and the 'mysteries of life'." Nasrin added, rolling her eyes. "What does that even mean?"
"To open your eyes? To seek out life and it's mysterious…mystery…mysteries?" Ron tried, earning deadpan stares. "Just saying…"
"And what was with her predicting my death?" Harry continued, and Nasrin scowled, Star and Squeakers grumbling unhappily.
"What kind of person looks at a thirteen-year-old and says they'll die a 'beautifully tragic death' by the end of term?"
"I think she said it was going to be tragically beautiful." Hermione corrected, rubbing at her temples. "But you have a point. I think I'll just stick with Ancient Languages."
"Not me!" Ron claimed with a grin. "She gave us all As just for sitting there. This class is going to be a cake walk!"
"Is that all you care about?" The bushy-haired Gryffindor retorted, glaring once more. "That it was an easy class? We're supposed to be here to learn and become better trainers, and prepare for our futures! How can you even begin to do that if all you're focused on is getting the easiest grade you can get?"
"I won't have a future if I don't pull any As." Ron replied simply. "You know what the likelihood of getting a job out of Hogwarts is if you don't have a single A on your record? Zilch. And I'm not like Crabbe or Goyle, who can rely upon their fathers or their buddy Draco to get them something to pay the bills. I'm going to need to fight with everything I got to make it in this region."
"But isn't that the point?" Hermione snapped back. "You need to get the best education you can get if you want to compete."
"I won't be able to compete if everyone tosses my resume away! Professor Trelawney's class is my best hope."
"He has a point." Neville admitted, throwing up his hands in surrender almost immediately. "Not a good point, but a point nonetheless."
"What about you, Harry? Nazz?"
"I'm done." The half-Gem answered as Scooby and Snow popped out of their Balls to trot alongside them.
"My life is dangerous enough. I don't need some flowery-smelling bint predicting my death on a daily basis!" Harry agreed.
"Harry!" Hermione squeaked, scandalized, though she fell quiet at a look.
"What are you five talking about?" Ginny wondered as she joined them with Luna.
"Professor Trelawney's class." Neville answered, arm looped with the blonde Second Year. "She predicted Harry was going to die."
"Everyone dies." Luna piped up. "So she's going to be right one day."
"Thanks for the pick-me-up, Luna." Harry grouched, shoulders relaxing as Robin and Hedwig appeared to perch there.
"You're welcome!"
"Was it really that bad?" Ginny directed to her brother.
"I didn't think so."
"You weren't the one being told 'you shall die when the pale moon shines brightest' by someone who smelled like a tavern that had a Bellossom explode inside." Nasrin pointed out.
"Was that what that smell was?" Neville mused. "Huh."
"Yup." Harry grunted. "Flowers, whiskey and shame. Smelled like my Aunt Marge's house."
Nasrin tilted her head back, curious, and the boy shrugged.
"Think a female Hagrid who likes to wear really strong perfume and has a bottle of cooking sherry always around, but never cooks."
"And now I have the image of Hagrid in a dress stuck in my mind." Ron whined. "Thanks, mate."
"I have the image of Neville dressed like a cowboy." Luna stated with a smile. "I don't know why, but I do!"
"How was Battle class?" Hermione asked the Second Years.
"Real fun." Ginny answered happily. "Professor Lupin is a much better teacher than Lockhart. He taught us all about type advantage and then, when we had some extra time before the end of class, he showed off his Zorua! It was cool, Moony can shape-shift into scary things!"
"Yeah, he did the same for us." Ron agreed. "What did he become for you, Gin?"
"Ugh, a zombie!" The young redhead shuddered in disgust. "A really nasty one, too. Guts pouring out of its stomach and covered in blood, half its jaw missing…Blurg. Though that might be replaced by Luna's if we ever do that again."
"What was hers?" Nasrin worried, seeing the half-Veela looking away from them all.
"Some bald guy in a brown trench coat with this weird black mask that looked like a mouth. Who was that, anyway?"
"It doesn't matter who he is, what matters is his plan." Luna replied, eyes glassy as she shuddered. "When Gotham is ashes, then I have his permission to die."
With a blink, she flashed a brilliant smile at everyone's confused looks.
"Why so serious?"
"Why am I not surprised?" Ron voiced as Hermione wrapped an arm around the young blonde in a comforting hug. "So, what do we have next?"
"You don't know your own schedule?" Ginny voiced, surprised.
"I have the same classes as these four, so there's no real need to. I just follow Harry and Nazz, and I get to my next class."
"That's either the smartest or dumbest thing I've ever heard." Neville voiced.
"That's my brother, the smartest dumb guy around."
Ginny gave a cheeky wave as she led Luna to their next class, smiling at Ron's stuck-out tongue.
"So, what class is next?"
"You mean you weren't kidding?" Hermione yelped, shocked.
"About what?"
Nasrin reached out to close the other girl's mouth as the group of Third Years continued towards the exit.
"Care and Coordinating." Neville supplied.
"Oh, okay…And what exactly is Care and Coordinating?"
Nasrin bit back a laugh at Ron's cluelessness and Hermione's attempts to restrain herself, and Harry squeezed her hand as he huffed in amusement.
"Coordinators raise Pokemon differently from other trainers." Neville explained. "Their focus isn't on strict battle tactics, but on elegance and grace and beauty and appeal. Coordinators have their Pokemon first perform moves in new and exciting ways, and get rated by the judges. Then they battle against fellow Coordinators. Not only does the battle determine who moves on, but the style of the Pokemon earns them more points that can help in their placing."
"Why do that when you can just attack?" Ron wondered. "Bang, boom! Real simple."
"I think it sounds interesting." Nasrin voiced, and Harry shrugged.
"It's kinda like Gauntlet running. The attacks and moves I teach Eevee aren't ones I might teach him if he were just doing straight battles for Gym Badges."
"Some say that Coordinating is the thinking man's Pokemon training." Hermione stated.
"Well, it'll have to wow me to prove that it isn't just a waste of time." Ron huffed.
The quintet reached that large open field where Professor Hooch had taught Environmental Survival in First Year, only to find undisturbed grass and picnic blankets in red and purple.
Once settled on a red blanket near the front, Neville let out Flora to soak up the sun while Harry and Nasrin's own Pokemon popped out to lounge happily.
"Well, this is rather nice." The Potter stated as Eevee and Scooby sprawled across his lap, Snow curling up between him and Nasrin with Ludwig settled on her back, chattering away.
"How are we supposed to take notes without any desks?" Hermione fretted as Togetic and Squeakers settled on Nasrin's chin-length curls, Prince curling around the half-Gem's back to see better while Squishie plopped onto Dobby's lap for a good scratch. "Oh, maybe we'll get clipboards!"
"Alright then, alright then!" Hagrid called as the students sat, lumbering forward. "Sit down, kids!"
Everyone was surprised to see the giant wearing a white lab coat and-for him-rather professional clothes, a far cry from the rumpled gatekeeper they all knew.
"Hagrid, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, Hedwig and Robin blinking in agreement.
"Actually, that'd be Professor Hagrid, Harry." The giant corrected, beaming. "I'm taking old Professor Kettleburn's position as Hogwarts Coordinator Professor."
"I didn't know you were a coordinator." Nasrin realized, the pink stars in Star's eyes shining brighter.
"Course I am! What do you all think I do when school is out of session? Me and Snubbull and Steelbeak have won all sorts of awards and trophies!"
Seeming to realize he needed to get class started, Hagrid smiled sheepishly.
"Oops. Sorry about that. Anyway, I'm Professor Hagrid, and this is Pokemon Care and Coordinating 101. This year, we're gonna learn the basics of the Coordinator Contest! At the end of this year, I'll be having each of you demonstrate a move you might use to dazzle the judges."
The giant clapped his hands, grinning.
"Now, the first part of a Coordinator Contest has a Pokemon performing moves in such a way as to surprise and entertain the audience."
"Like a clown at a circus." Draco muttered, earning chuckles from his hangers-on and a glare from the quintet of Gryffindors.
"Not quite." Hagrid answered, not realizing the insult. "Though you can go that route. Trainers can go all sorts of ways when it comes to performing. You can be dramatic or stylish or funny…Here, let me show you!"
Hagrid turned to rummage through the large bag he had brought along, muttering.
"Now where did I put you, Steelbeak?"
Draco stood up with a scoff, dramatic as always.
"I don't have time for this. I thought this class was supposed to teach us something, not have us watch some buffoon bumble about! The standards here at Hogwarts have truly slipped, and I think my father will be really interested to hear about just who Professor Dumbledore is having teach Avalon's future Gym Leaders. But if you stupid little Gryffindors want to sit around and get an easy grade rather than better yourselves, feel free-"
Hermione's foot snapped out, tripping the blonde Slytherin, and Nasrin stared in shock, Togetic and Squeakers yelping in unison.
"WHAT DO YOU THINK-?"
"Steelbeak, use Iron Feathers and Reflect!"
Razor-sharp metal feathers flew down, embedding themselves in the ground around the class, including two where Draco had once stood, and the entire clearing lit up with an ethereal glow, silencing the Slytherin's anger and everyone's doubts.
When the light faded, and Draco was seated once more, a great cry filled the air, and Nasrin finally turned her head to join Harry in watching Hagrid scratch the chin of a happy Skarmory.
"That there was Steelbeak's Mirror Works Dance." The giant informed them proudly. "Won us first four years ago at the Avalon Coordinator Contest, it did. If you listen to what I tell you, you and your Pokemon will be able to do the same."
Nasrin shared a look with Harry, however, before their gazes turned back to Hermione.
Like with Battle class, she had known Draco would get hit by Steelbeak's feathers, and purposely tripped him to prevent it.
But there was no way she could predict the future…
Right?