Hi All,
Welcome to chapter 22 of Little Red Bird. Thanks for showing it love.
As always, keep the flames low, any constructive criticism is welcome. Drop a comment, it's always refreshing to hear your views
As always,Don't like, Don't read. - DZ2
Disclaimer: All HP rights and characters owned by JK Rowling, and fics are created for entertainment only
The jaguar growled and moved it's head closer as Ginny closed her eyes wishing for Bella to just save her. She has to be somewhere close, if only she would reach in time. Tears welled up in her eyes as she let out a whimper, "Bella!"
Ginny had her eyes closed tight in fear as she felt the snarling jaguar's jaws on her face, she expected a bite any moment. However, it never came, instead she felt something wet on her forehead and face while she gingerly opened her eyes to see the jaguar now playfully licking her forehead and lolled it's tongue once Ginny opened her eyes.
She was dumbfounded for once, while moments later the shock subsided and her heart rate returned to normal, did she realize, "Bella?" The jaguar backed off showing all its teeth, yet the action lacked any intimidation, it seemed more like an amused shit-eating grin it was trying to mimic. "Oh! For FUCK sake! That was not funny!" she banged her head back on the ground in frustration.
The jaguar then transformed back into the curly haired witch clad in all-black robes smiling smugly as Ginny got off the snow clad ground and brushed off the dirt and leaves covering her robes. With a flick of her wand, Bella cleaned up Ginny who stood in place unimpressed at her little play.
"Well! Are you going to say something, Bella?" Ginny said tapping her foot with her arms crossed.
"In my defense, it Was funny! You should have known it was me, Dinky pointed at the tree and I jumped down that tree. That was clue enough." Bella replied walking closer.
"Yes, but I didn't expect a 7 foot big black panther to jump ove-" Ginny stopped in the middle of her rant as she caught on and looked towards Bella with a grin of her own, "Oh wait!"
"Caught on, have you? I was waiting how long it'll take for you to realize. And technically I'm a Black Jaguar, to be specific. You know, sweetie, Hogwarts education has made you a bit slow intellectually I guess." Bella said mockingly while Ginny closed the gap and hugged her mentor.
"Shut up Bella! I'm not a dimwit, I was merely in shock!" Ginny said quietly as she hid her face on Bella's shoulders.
Bella laughed heartily, "Of course not, little birdie! Like my animagus form? I got this idea from my dimwit cousin back in Azkaban! I finally got the time and ingredients to do it perfectly."
Ginny stepped back looking appreciatively at her, "It's beautiful, Bella! I want to be an animagus too? How much time does it take for the entire process?"
"Sweetie, becoming an animagus is a dangerous process and many wizards or witches have died or seriously injured themselves trying over the years. It needs a lot of concentration and calm mind to find your form and go over the first transformation. That's the reason you have so few animagi."
"I don't care how dangerous it is, you know I have the skills, I'm a decent occlumens, you said it yourself." Ginny replied fiercely pleading Bella to teach her.
Bella sighed, "Is this the right time for this discussion dear. I thought I was the insane one! Fine, I'll teach you, as your birthday present next year. Till then just work on the occlumency exercises. And remember, DON'T attempt anything without my guidance."
Ginny was ecstatic, she'd be learning to become an animagus soon. She could already imagine what her form could be. Would it be as majestic as Bella's, surely she'd love to even have a similar animal like an elegant panther or lynx.
"Yes! Yes, I'll follow all the steps as you say. I'm so excited to find my form!" Ginny said, hugging Bella again.
"Calm down, dear. It's still a while before we start the training. Most probably after you come back for the summer. I do hope you still want your Yule present or were you satisfied with me being an animagus?" Bella said tauntingly, stepping out of her embrace.
"I thought you forgot about it. I wouldn't have blamed you, I couldn't come home and frankly, my own mother sent an apology note, probably she didn't have time or the inclination to send a gift for her Slimy Slytherin daughter!"
"Well, I'm not her, and a Slimy Slytherin is any day a better choice than a dimwit Gryffindork for me. Slytherin's are the best and LeStranges are the best. You, my dear, are the best of both worlds. So here's your little gift." Bella said, handing over a shrunken box covered in purple wrapping paper.
Ginny took the box with a smile and slid it happily into her pocket. "Thanks Bella! And I'm proud to be a LeStrange too."
"I'm sure you are, dear. Although, be careful with the box, it's a set of 4 potions. 3 vials of Blood Replenishing, 3 vials of Pepper-Up, 2 vials of Sleeping Draught and 2 vials of Polyjuice Potion. All are single use vials kept in stasis to last 7 months unless removed. Tap thrice with your wand to remove the vial from stasis for usage anytime you want." Bella replied
"What do I need so many potions for? I can get most of them at the hospital wing. Besides I don't really have any use for Polyjuice at the moment. Our plan's going so well." Ginny said confidently.
"That's what I always warn you against, Ginny. Never be overconfident. I was worried for you when you got injured, it was only Cissy that stopped me from tearing through Hogwarts to kill that mudblood bint. That's why I decided to give you these potions. In case of any emergency they'll help you. Polyjuice is just for precautions. You never know when you need a potion. Keep them in your dorms, Dinky can administer them in case you're in trouble again."
"This seems a bit unnecessary, Bella! It was a mistake, I'll be vigilant next time." Ginny remarked as Bellatrix cut her off, "It's good to see you'll be vigilant, but it doesn't hurt to have backup. So, you'll do as I said and there's no further discussion."
"Fine! I'll keep it, happy? Now, as we are out and I won't be missed until late morning, why don't we go to the Manor. It's been too long and I miss home."
"Good girl! And that's an excellent idea. Come now, hold my hand, we're outside the wards so apparition shouldn't be a problem." Bella replied, extending her hand towards Ginny, who held it firmly as both of them vanished into a wisp of black smoke.
4th Jan, 1993
Everyone was excited to return for the new year from the holidays, and soon the Great Hall was once again in an uproar over the Polyjuice incident. Rumour mill abuzz with gossip as everyone steered away from the Trio as they sat at the end of the Gryffindor table having their breakfast.
The owls swooped in to deliver daily mails to the students and an ordinary post owl swooped down to deliver Hermione her subscribed copy of Daily Prophet. The owl dropped the paper and flew off stealing a piece of bacon from Ron's plate who yelped at the indignation, with his mouth full, spraying some gravy on the spread out paper.
"Ronald! You're spraying gravy all over! Shut your mouth for God's sake." Hermione scrunched her nose in disgust.
Ron swallowed the bite of chicken and took a gulp of pumpkin juice to wash it down, "I was saying, what the hell is that owl's problem? Always that damn bird stealin' my food."
Hermione didn't reply as she was engrossed in a small article on the third page, which she normally avoids as it is the Society Gossip section, however something caught her eye. Harry moved closer and tried to peek at what got her attention so much so that she didn't even reply to him calling her twice, "Damn Godric!"
"Wha's it, Harry? Why're you two acting so weird?" Ron said, wiping his mouth.
"We're in the papers mate!" Harry replied with a sigh, "Again!"
"What do you mean again, Harry? All three of us? Mione'?" Ron asked in a voice slightly louder that students from the Ravenclaw table turned around to look at them curiously.
"Yes, Ron. Now will you keep it down!" Hermione hissed back looking around to see if anyone else was listening in on them.
"Someone's bloody leaked it to the press. It doesn't seem to paint us any good I'm afraid." said Harry rubbing his face.
"That's an understatement Harry! This Skeeter lady has literally painted you as an entitled snob flaunting Hogwarts rules and bashed Headmaster Dumbledore for favouritism. And she has basically urged the Governers to expel me for brewing polyjuice illegally." Hermione said folding the paper.
"What are we gonna do, mate?" Ron asked Harry while picking up another scone. "Nothing Ron!"
"Why? We can't just sit around. We have to do something 'bout it!" Ron replied indignantly.
"No, Ron. Harry's right, there's nothing we can do, right now. We just have to wait it out. I have already received a warning from my parents. Your sister really got us into a lot of trouble this time." Hermione remarked looking over at the Slytherin table where Ginny sat laughing and bantering with her housemates.
"Don't worry, she'll get her due when her slimy friends aren't around during summer." Ron sneered, turning around to look at his sister.
"What! Leave it Ron! We did after all trespassed into their common room. She just alerted the professor." Hermione said as Harry joined in, "Yeah, for all we know she was just miffed due to the corridor thing. Let her be, mate."
"Fine! But just for the record, I don't trust her anymore. The way she looks at 'Mione, I don't know, doesn't feel right. She's always trying to show up Hermione."
"That I do agree, she does seem to hate you for some reason." Harry said with a sad smile towards Hermione.
"You guys are over-reacting. Besides, she's just a first year, probably jealous of the attention we get. I'm sure I can handle her if she does try something." Hermione said shrugging off their concerns.
The rest of their day didn't fare too well as they were forced to occupy seats that were arranged in the front separated slightly from the other students. It was a bit humiliating for the Trio, however, what was more humiliating probably was that Hermione wasn't called on to answer any questions during the class in spite of raising her hands repeatedly.
It was Herbology where she finally lost her cool, "Professor Sprout!"
"Yes, Ms Granger."
"I have been raising my hands repeatedly throughout the class, yet you haven't given me the opportunity to answer even once! I think you're being unfair with me!" Hermione remarked in a raised tone.
"Ms Granger, first of all, please lower that tone. Secondly, I am the professor and it's up to me to decide who needs to answer. Others in this class are also here to learn and I need to give them a fair opportunity to answer. It seems my politeness has been mistaken for leniency. You are not above any other student, so please refrain from behaving so." the Hufflepuff Head of House replied sternly, "Now, I'd hope you would sit down and let me continue the class."
"I'm Sorry, Professor." Hermione sat down dejected and infuriated, her nails digging into her palms trying to calm herself. A few Slytherins snickered at that while the Herbology professor called the class in to order and continued.
The moment class was over Hermione packed her stuff and ran from the greenhouse towards the castle. She swiftly turned a corner and rammed head first into a couple of students.
"Oww! What the hell? Watch where you-" Ginny rubbed her now aching forehead as she helped the classmate up, "-Oh! Granger. What's the hurry, any potion brewing somewhere?"
Hermione stood up righting her robes and snarled back, "You! You fucking bitch! This is all your fault."
Slightly confused, Ginny simply asked, "What? What's my fault? You're the one running down the corridor like a rabid dog."
A bunch of other students coming down the corridor just stood there watching the confrontation. Astoria too reached the corridor and attempted to move towards her but Ginny just shook her head asking her to stay put and watch the drama unfold.
"I meant the detention. If it wasn't for you, we would not have such an unfair treatment by the teachers."
"You mean, if it weren't for me, you'd roam scot-free for your crimes? As usual favoured by the Headmaster to do as you wish like Hogwarts is your father's bloody property. Mind you the Daily Prophet still called for your expulsion Granger. Now that would be such a shame, right." Ginny stepped up to Hermione looking into her eyes with a cunning smile mocking her in front of everyone.
Hermione stepped forward snarling barely inches from Ginny's face, "How dare you speak about my father!"
"The same way you dare to preach righteousness, when you're nothing but a bloody disgrace. A bloody thief who assaults people behind their back. Don't think for one moment I've forgotten what you did, bitch!" Ginny's eyes suddenly glowed purple flecks for a flash as she hissed the last part faint enough only for Hermione to hear and then it was gone.
Hermione dismissed it as maybe play of light hitting her eyes from the setting sun through the corridor. However, before she could reply, she was pulled back by a pair of hands as Ginny stepped back smirking, "Go! Run away, run like the cowards you are!"
Harry and Ron pulled Hermione away from the gathering of students glaring at them and led her towards the Gryffindor tower. This was a really bad start to the new year. Harry really wished the rest of it would fare better for them.
Thanks for reading, if you liked/disliked the fic please do leave a comment. I love to read what you've got to say.
Cheers!