Chapter 19: Classes Begin
Chapter 19
Classes Begin
Ron's face went brilliant red and he charged towards Draco. Harry was a bit slower but he too let his temper get the better of him and took to Draco. Draco jumped up as did Crab and Goyle. They stood in front of Draco acting like a shield.
Hailee and Hermione grabbed for Ron and Harry but were shaken loose rather quickly. Out of the corner of her eye, Hailee saw Snape enter form the side dungeon door. When he saw the events taking place he had an evil grin. Hailee hit both Ron and Harry with a freezing spell and stopped them in their tracks. She went to Draco Malfoy and slapped him in the face, with that Snape sprung into action.
"Oh Miss Potter, that little act of violence will have to cost Gryffindor 50 points and earned you one week of detentions. NOW take your seat. " Bellowed Snape.
Hailee silently released Ron and Harry. "Yes Professor." Hailee sat there fuming as Snape began to lecture the class about being lucky to be included in his newt class and that they probably did not deserve to be there. He said this looking directly at Hailee and Harry.
"Your directions are on the board for brewing the Wicken Well potion. Can anyone here be troubled to explain what it does? Let's see how about you Miss Potter?" Snape gloated.
"Well, it is a counter to weakness. It will restore the drinker to their full power. It isn't for being tired but if you are battling and weak from that it will restore you to normal." Replied Hailee.
Snape sneered. "Yes, that is what it is for. Now, what is the key ingredient used to make this potion?" Snape moved to be in front of Hailee as if to intimidate her.
"Sir there are two first the most important would be powered bezoar, shredded skin of boomslang is the other one, that is the part of the polyjuice potion that lets the drinker turn back into themself." Said Hailee.
Hermione's mouth was open. She never had someone that was so close academically. Ron and Harry had rather a smug look on their faces as they looked at the awed expressions of the Slytherins in the class.
"Very well then what are you all waiting for start brewing!" Yelled a disgruntled Snape.
Hailee started to compile her ingredients. "That was bloody brilliant." whispered an impressed Ron.
"It was nothing." blushed Hailee
For the duration of class then worked silently on their potions. Harry and Ron both watching Hailee when they were stuck. Hermione was happy to have someone else to help them, not that she wasn't happy to help but she had so many more classes this year that she was dreading all of the extra work on top of her own.
At the end of class, Snape couldn't find anything to criticize about their potions. He instructed them to bottle them and bring them to his desk. Crabbe and Goyle had melted their cauldrons and Draco's potion was rather thick, this didn't please Snape in the least.
Hailee took hers to the desk. "You will have detentions starting tonight. Report here at seven tonight for your duties." Snarled Snape.
"Yes Sir," said Hailee simply.
They left the potions dungeons rather happy that day.
"I can't believe that he couldn't find one thing about ours today. What do you think that he will do to Draco and his goons? I heard him call them back to the classroom as we left." Harry said.
"Speaking of Draco, how could Dumbledore let him come back knowing what he did in Diagon Alley?" Grumbled Ron. "I'll make sure he gets his. He won't hurt my sister and get away with it."
"Ron, Harry you two leave him alone..." started Hailee.
"I will not." Screamed Harry. "He hurt Ginny."
"Yes now calm yourselves. I will tend to Mr Malfoy. You will be the first ones that are suspected. I will get him. You both have to trust me, Please." Hailee begged.
Hermione walked alongside them just smiling. "You know Hailee I am so glad that you came. I have been trying to get these two to calm down for five years. Not to mention you have it in you to do exactly what you want to do. I love it!"
Transfiguration was an exciting class. They were going to be working on turning objects into animals. Harry had been wanting to learn this since he heard about Cedric changing that rock into a dog during the Triwizard Tournament.
Professor McGonagall began the lesson by turning her desk into a horse and back again. "This is very difficult magic and you must enunciate clearly. Commuto is the incantation. repeat after me. COMMUTO."
"COMMUTO," The class repeated.
"You will need a gentle wand tap." She instructed. " To change the item back you need the incantation NOVO it is simple to change your items back they will revert automatically after you say the incantation. Repeat after me. NOVO."
"NOVO," The class repeated.
"Now the key to this is to make up in your mind what you want to change your item into. Picture it in your mind. Detail the picture as much as you can. You saw me turn this desk into a horse now watch." She tapped the desk with her wand and said, " COMMUTO." The desk turned into a pig. She then tapped the pig with her wand and said," NOVO." The pig turned back into the desk. "You will take turns at your tables of two at turning your table into an animal. I will suggest you do not choose a flying animal. Begin."
Professor McGonagall walked around the room watching her students attempts at changing their tables. Hailee and Hermione were sitting together. Hermione went first. She tried to change the desk into a dog. The table had a tail and four moving legs. She turned it back to the desk. Then Hailee tried to turn the table into a dog and she got about the same results as Hermione. Harry and Ron hadn't gotten so much as a whisker on their table. Most of the class was right with them.
Hermione, with a look of determination on her face. tapped the desk and said " Commuto," The desk formed slowly to a huge black lab dog complete with a collar. Professor McGonagall then awarded Gryffindor 10 points for Hermione being the first to transfigure her table. Hermione turned the dog back to a desk. Hailee tried again but got no further than she had the first time. She raised her hand.
"Professor, may I have a word with you?" Professor McGonagall nodded and they walked to the front of the class. Harry and Ron stared at them. Professor McGonagall nodded and they turned back to the class.
"Mind your business." She instructed Ron and Harry.
Hailee sat back at her table. Hermione successfully transfigured the table again. Hailee tapped the table with her hand and said, " Commuto." The table melded into a rather large Saint Bernard. Hailee reached over and petted the animal and said "Novo" and the dog turned back into the table.
Everyone was looking at her. She was starting to feel like the odd person out in this school. Why was magic so much easier without a wand for her. Part of her thought about going to Dumbledore with this question but would he be able to tell her.
Professor McGonagall dismissed them giving them a two-foot essay on the value of being able to transfigure things into animals and to practice the incantations.
They headed to the common room for a short break. they were just about there when they ran smack into Draco Malfoy and his goonies.
"We if it isn't the mudblood, potty, and the weasel... and know it all potty..." Draco drawled.
"I suggest you keep your mouth shut you little ferret. Before I take a page out of Moody's book." Hailee enforced.
With that Draco and his cronies backed off and left the Gryffindors to their business, but they knew this wasn't the end of their dealings with Draco.