Chapter 37
Alice's POV
"So, where's Hermione?" Ron asked as he ran up a few of the steps, surpassing the two twins, "She'd never be late to class, she would lose her mind if she ever was." Dressed in uniforms and robes walking the corridor it was a new day. One fresh without soul sucking monsters I still couldn't believe existed.
"I don't know, she was out of the dorms by the time I woke up this morning." Bella replied with a shrug. They left the conversation at that, presuming that where ever she was, she was fine and would explain her absence when she returned.
After another two flights of stairs they arrived outside of the class they had been heading to. Through the door was a large room filled with at least twenty rounded tables with the surrounding walls covered with posters of foreign symbols. At the front of the classroom a glassed cupboard displaying colourful liquids in estranged bottles.
As they entered, the majority of the students were already waiting.
"Welcome class to divination! Here I will be teaching you how to see the future!" The woman at the front of the room spoke. Her face framed by her untameable, frizzy hair and her eyes made wide by her too large glasses. 'See into the future' as a vision seeker, her ditzy sense of fashion almost felt offensive. "I am professor Trelawney and I will be your teacher. Today we will be learning the basics. In front of you is a tea cup, you will be reading your peers future by reading the pictures shown in the cup. You will use your books to find the meaning of the images on page one hundred and thirty-two. This is Tessomanncy. Now what you have to do this is you take the leaves from in front of you and drop them into the cup, but while doing so you have to free your mind and be one with the universe. Add some water and give it a stir then empty it out and you will be left with the symbols. Now go and reach into the future!" She instructed in dipsy voice.
"Are we sure she's a qualified teacher?" Emmett whispered.
"Morning Neville." Bella greeted her partner reaching over the table to grab a handful of tea leaves. In a comfortable silence, they dropped a few of the leaves into the small cup, poured in a few drops of water before throwing it out over their shoulders.
From the neighbouring table Ron and Harry mumbled complaints at one another. "This is so stupid." Ron sighed as he eyed the bottom of the cup. Just as soon as I had turned my attention back to Bella Trelawney had appeared in front of Neville, only inches away from his face. "Ahh boy, is your Grandmother well?" She asked in the same raspy voice, her eyes seemed even wider.
"Um, I think so." Neville stuttered uncomfortably.
"Hmmm," She said unconvinced before walking away. Neville stared widely at Bella who could only shrug. Glancing down worriedly at the muck left at the bottom of the cup he then searched frantically through the pages of the book to see if he could make anything out. Not that this in anyway felt legit.
"You!" She gasped spinning on her heel and pointing at Ron, "You, are you in the zone? Can you feel it?"
"Um…yes? I think so." Ron stuttered unsure what to say, "Well Harry has a sort of wonky cross and that means trials and suffering and that looks like a sun, which means happiness. So, your gonna suffer…but be happy about it?" Ron said slowly.
"Give me the cup, give me the cup." She gave it one quick look before yelling and dropping it to the floor.
"She's crazy," Emmett said
"The grim! The grim!" She yelped.
The what?
"What's the grim?" Someone from across the room asked.
"The grim is the omen of death." Hermione announced appearing between Harry and Ron.
"When the heck did you get here? When did she get here?" Ron looked around the room in confusion.
"What? Oh, Ronald, I've been here the entire time." Hermione shrugged it off despite the fact that she surely had not. Trelawney moved towards Bella, looking into her cup also, quickly jumping back startled as she let out the same panicked scream as she had done before. "The grim, they both have the grim!" She squealed in terror.
A boy who was sitting right at the back of the classroom spoke up. "The grim is the omen of death, one of the darkest omens in our world. It is a deadly monster with fur as black as night and eyes and eyes as red as blood, it kills."
Oh, okay…
The bell went off and the class scurried off in a chatter, tearing apart the tension in the room.
"Harry" Bella hushed running over to Harry, "That thing we saw at the park the other day, in the bushes. Do you think-?" Bella asked. Regarding what ever they had seen that night the day previous. Had they seen a monster in the bushes?
"I don't know. Maybe?"
.
"I told you, Ronald, I was there the entire time." Hermione scoffed.
"And I told you, no you were not."
"Bella tell him. Wasn't I there the entire time?" Hermione asked with pleading eyes.
"Yeah Ron, Hermione got in just after we did." She lied half-heartedly.
Partnering off with Harry the four separated into pairs as they head towards their next class.
"Hermione, I thought you said you were taking muggle studies, which still seems baffling to me since you know more about muggles than half the year…I thought it was at the same time as divination?"
"Don't be silly Bella." Hermione said with little conviction, "How could I be in two places at once?"
.
Arriving at McGonagall's classroom the two girls sat together at the front of the room with the boys one row behind. "Welcome, welcome class to third-year transfiguration." McGonagall announced over the continuing of class chatter, Calm down class. What is with you today?"
"We just had Divination."
"Oh, and who is going to die this year?" She asked with an amused smile.
"Harry and Bella obviously." Ron said it like it was a usual thing, which I guess it was at this point.
She smirked, "Well I assure you Miss and Mr Potter that Professor Trelawney has predicted a student's death every year and it has never happened. But you both seem in good health and so I don't have to stop you from bringing in your homework. Now, back to the lesson."
.
The picture morphed into a larger classroom, one with no tables and only a small closet facing the front of the room. "Good afternoon class, I am professor Lupin and I am your new defence against the dark arts teacher. Now today I will be teaching you about Bogarts, can anyone tell me what a boggart looks like?"
So the man on the train really was a teacher. This was the werewolf. Not at all what I was expecting. Maybe someone…bigger?
"No one knows." Hermione answered with a raised hand, "A boggart changes appearance depending on a person's fears." She further explained.
Well that sounds absolutely horrifying. I wonder what mine would be? An outdated wardrobe?
"Yes, very right miss Granger, ten points to Gryffindor. Now, I will be teaching you a very simple incantation to help deal with Bogarts. Ridikulas. Say it with me, ridikulas" The class echoed a response, "Very good. But the incantation alone isn't powerful enough. Ugh…Mr Longbottom, can you come up here please. Now Neville, what scares you the most?"
"Professor Snape." Neville whispered as the class laughed at his announcement.
"Ha, well he does seem to scare all. Now I believe that you live with your grandmother, am I right"
"Yes, but I don't want the boggart to turn into her either!" He stuttered.
"Don't worry, now Neville I want you to-" The Professor leant down to whisper something inaudible that only he could hear, "You don't have to say it, as long as you can see it so can we. "Now on the count of three." Throwing the doors open from the rattling cupboard, Professor Snape stepped out.
"Now Neville, think about your grandmother's clothes." Do what now?
Repeating the spell Snape's usual dark and drab get up was soon replaced by a woman's wardrobe; an emerald green blazer and skirt, a bright red handbag and a large hat with an extensive bird as the centre piece.
Who would wear something like that. It's horrible!
The class quickly gathered into a messy line through the centre of the room and Ron was pushed to the front. Nervously taking a step forwards the boggart took form of the hugely terrifying spiders from last year, rightly so Ron looked paralysed with fear.
I buried my face into Jaspers shoulders. No matter how many times I saw a giant spider or some sort of unnatural creature I was not going to be left unfazed.
The class laughed as a pair of roller-skates appeared on the end of each pair of feet as it struggled to stay in place. Replaced by another student it went from one horrifying creature to another, a spider to a snake. In its place, swinging manically back and forth, a jack in the box equal in size no less scarier, as Bella stepped to the front. For a moment the boggart seemed to struggle to find it's form. After all there were so many fears to choose from; Basilisks, Voldemort, giant tarantulas…but then it settled, transforming into the dementor from the train, it's bony black body inching forwards.
"NO!" Lupin yelled suddenly, pushing Bella aside dramatically as he jumped between the unsettling figure and herself. Replacing the dementor with a silhouette of the moon.
Now if that wasn't an easy sign that he was a wolf…
Humorously changing into a deflated balloon Lupin turned to face the class, "Well class that's enough for today," The students sighed in disappointment, "I'm sorry but you can't have too much excitement in one day. I'll see you tomorrow." They kids made their way out in smalls clumps.
"At least they have a teacher this time that seems to know what they're doing." Jasper commented, "That has to be an upgrade."
"Yeah but he's also a wolf." Rosalie sneered disapprovingly, "No good can come from mutts."
"Yeah but he's not the Quileute's Rose. Maybe wolves are different here as they are back home."
"I doubt it." She muttered.
"What lessons do we have next?" Harry asked as they walked.
"Care for Magical creatures…with the Slytherins." Hermione answered, none seeming entirely to pleased. I assume lessons with the Slytherins wasn't something they looked forward to.
"At least we have Hagrid!" Bella chirped, her mood finally brightening from the dejected mood she had walked from class with.
"Yeah, with Hagrid this class is going to be so easy."
"Ron!" Bella snapped.
"What? What did I say?"
"Don't say that. Just because Hagrid is our friend that doesn't mean that he's going to make it any easier for us, nor should we expect him to. We shouldn't exploit him like that." Bella explained as they made their way outside and began walking down the slope to Hagrid's hut.
"I hope we see some more weird magical creatures. Like a Unicorn!" Emmett took the pleasure in almost squealing.
"Emmett Unicorns? Really?" Jasper chuckled.
"What's wrong with unicorns?" Emmett asked with a hurt expression.
"You're a fully-grown man, and a vampire at that. I never thought Unicorns would make you this excited."
"They're UNICORNS Jasper, how do you want me to react? Magical creatures they all said weren't real but look who was wrong."
"Welcome class!" Hagrid bellowed enthusiastically as everyone gathered around the hut, "I've got a real treat for ya today, a real treat. Follow me and open up ya books." He began leading the students into the shallow end of the forest.
"And how exactly are we supposed to do that?" Draco sneered as he held out the furry book that did indeed look complex. Nevertheless, I guess one could spend an entire summer away and still come just as ignorant.
"Yer stroke the spine of course." Hagrid replied simply, "Now today class, I want yer to meet Buckbeack. Come here Buckbeack." He threw a dead animal towards the trees where a figure emerged from the shadows. At first glance, it resembled a horse, only bigger. Snow white feathers covered its body and two huge wings stood proudly on its back. Majestic.
"Wow!" I gasped, my eyes taking in every detail, "So pretty."
"Now this everybody is a Hippogriff, and the first thing ya want to know about Hippogriffs is that they are very proud creatures and so you don't want to make one angry or it might be the last thing ya ever do. Now who wants to come over here and meet him?" Hagrid's comment about possible death wasn't one of pleasant description and the entire class stepped back. Leaving an unobservant Harry at the front.
Hagrid cheered, "That's great Harry! Now, come forwards a little bit. That's it, a little further. Now, bow all the way down" Wearily doing as instructed and bowing low, the creature nodded ever so slightly. Raising one arm Harry slowly walked forwards until only an arm's length separated the two.
Suddenly the Hippogriff let out a huff causing everyone to jump back. "Stop Harry! Stop! Now let it come to you"
Fixed in place he stood and waited with his hand left in place patiently waiting for the animal to come forwards and ever so slowly it did. Once the animal got close enough he bent down allowing Harry to pat him on the neck.
"Well done Harry, well done!" Hagrid yelled laughing and clapping loudly along with the rest of the class, "Now ya can ride him." Hagrid said abruptly lifting Harry up from under his arms and putting him on Buckbeack's back despite Harry's struggle.
"What Hagrid? No!"
"Now hold on but don't pull out any of his feathers, he won't appreciate that," He smirked swatting Buckbeak on the back so that he galloped and took off into the air.
Wow!
"Wow!" Bella gasped looking off into the distance as Harry's figure slowly became harder to spot. How far out was he going to go? Harry barely knew how to direct a Hippogriff. "The spiteful sister in me want's him to pluck a feather but as the same time I really don't want to lose my brother to the lake."
"Hagrid's doing really well for his first class." Hermione whispered warmly.
"Yeah, he is. Guarantee Buckbeack doesn't come back with one less passenger i'd say this was a success."
"It's just a stupid oversized bird. Hardly a terrifying creature." Draco sneered a cutting remark, his rally of 'friends' behind him. Like I said, forever ignorant and displeasing.
"I didn't see you volunteer Draco, why was that?"
"Shut up Weasley!"
"Oh come on Draco, drop the act already. You act like some tough guy all the time but I still remember when you went running from the forest scared at the smallest sound." Bella snapped.
Yes sister, you tell him.
For a moment he appeared flustered, his face blushing red as he stuttered for the right words to say. Slipping right back into his arrogant ways as if remembering whom he was surrounded by, he argued back. Trivial as it may have seemed. A grasp at straws at best. "At least I wasn't the one passing out on the train Potter. Was it because you were too afraid? Did you need some milk and cookies to feel better?"
THERE WAS A DEMONIC CREATURE SUCKING THE HAPPINESS OUT OF HER, EXCUSE ME! She hardly passed out from feeling faint with fear.
Bella growled, Draco's words clearly having the intended affect on her and the laughs of the surrounding Slytherins not helping. She had every right to be mad, after all the dementor had clearly had left an impact if she was so afraid of it. Feeling defenceless and miserable was hardly anything but traumatic.
Only Ron's tight grip on her shoulders and the soft reminder that they were still in Hagrid's class stopped her from expelliarmusing him on sight.
And on that note, the familiar snowy feathered creature swooped back down into view, landing back on the forest floor with a gallop, Harry still on board thank goodness.
"Well done!" Hagrid bellowed as the class cheered on.
"You're not too scary now are you!" Draco stepped forwards clearly jealous of the attention the brunette child celebrity was receiving, "You big stupid animal." Getting way to close and forgetting Hagrid's instructions completely, Buckbeack climbed onto two legs like a startled horse and slashed his arm with his own claws and Draco fell on the floor withering in pain.
"Ahh! He's killed me, he's killed me!" Draco whined. A clear exaggeration. His arm was bloody but it was nothing a few bandages couldn't heal.
I bet he was a lot scarier up close, huh Draco?
"Hagrid, you have to take him to the hospital wing!"
Next came Quidditch, much to Emmett's pleasure. Though not anywhere close to being a fan of sports myself, things surely changed when the game was played in the air and your best friend was part of the team.
Only this time, the weather was far from pleasant unlike the last; the wind was howling and the sky spitting hail, yet the game played on.
It was a good thing that the rain and wind couldn't mess up my hair.
"Is it safe to let them play in this weather?" Esme asked. Sure enough the wind had to be stronger than the broom, right?
"Alright team Captains, shake hands." The woman had to yell to be heard as Oliver and the Captain of the Hufflepuff team gripped hands, "Now be careful of the weather, you don't want to be blown away. Mount your brooms!"
With the whistle signalling the beginning of the game brooms flew off and the real fun began. Sure enough the weather made the game more difficult but other than some almost mishaps no one had yet fallen.
And even better yet Gryffindor were leading by ten.
Trying to keep track on all the players, especially with height hardly being a limiting factor was a hard task…but thankfully having better eyesight than the regular human made things far easier. From the looks of it Harry had spotted the golden snitch and with his opposer following after him they flew higher until barely still in sight.
A beater from the Hufflepuff team hit the Bludger and watched as it went flying off into the stormy clouds. Not even hesitating Bella flew after it, her brother after all was up there and a fall from the height could do some serious damage. I couldn't blame her for her mistrust, after all the same ball had put both her and him in the Hospital wing the year prior.
I only worried that she was putting herself in more danger. Then again, she wouldn't be Bella if she didn't.
"And there goes Ms Potter, our Gryffindor Beater going off to save her brother and hopefully, the game from the Hufflepuff team." The boy announced from behind his watch box.
Moving at an angle that hardly seemed safe Bella reached her brother who payed no attention to her arrival. With the Bludger only getting closer and Harry's attention elsewhere completely she picked up speed and sped closer to her brother, only to hit the ball in the last second before it had chance to hit him instead.
How was anyone to know that the ball wouldn't be the cause of their danger today?
Sighing a breath of relief, she turned, only to find a dementor inches away from her own face. Flinching back most probably to scream for help from Harry, he too was faced by his own monster.
They were trapped, and they were defenceless.
Opening their mouths, the process from the train repeated itself and the dementors began to suck at their happiness. Only time there was no cleverly placed Professor around to help and they were hundreds of feet from the ground.
Then, they were plummeting towards the ground…
And there was nothing we could do to stop it.
.(Updated)