CHAPTER SIX: Harry again

CHAPTER SIX: Harry again

After her first morning in the hospital wing, Isabel Clay would get an occasional question from a professor, but aside from this was given the run of the school and left primarily to her own devices. With a schedule provided by McGonagall, she began to visit various classes. By the end of a fortnight she was a frequent observer in Care of Magical Creatures and, of all things, Potions. Harry couldn't understand why anyone in their right mind would spend time with Snape in potions if they could avoid it. Yet, there she was eagerly asking Snape questions as he, Ron, and Hermione filed in for double potions with the Slytherins.

"Blimey, she's back," Ron said jerking his head toward the front of the classroom.

"I can't figure anyone liking potions that well." Harry hissed back.

"She does seem rather enthusiastic about the subject," Hermione noted thoughtfully, "I wonder if it has something to do with why she is here."

"That might explain potions, but what about Magical Creatures? She seems pretty well set on that, too." Ron noted.

Before Harry could add anything further Snape turned toward the class and said sharply, "If you all are quite through discussing your personal matters it is time to begin."

With that he turned to the chalkboard and began to write an impossible number of ingredients on it. When finished he clapped his hands sharply to rid them of chalk dust and turned, once again, to the class. "Turn to page Seven Hundred Seventy-Seven. There you will note some interesting properties and dangerous cross reactions of the ingredients I have written on the board. Using that page alone, and confining yourself to some or all of the ingredients on the board you are to concoct a restorative drought."

There was unhappy murmur in the room which Snape silenced with a swiftly raised hand and a sharp word, "Please do not forget that I am happy to remove points from your houses at will. It may serve you to remember as well that I will be creating and administering your Ordinary Wizarding Level in Potions. If you hold any hope of passing you would do well to apply more attention and less complaint."

With that he turned his back and returned to his desk. After flipping sharply through some papers, he rose and walked over to the chair in which Isabel Clay sat alongside the wall. She quietly asked him a few questions. He pointed out something to her in Most Potente Potions, gestured at the class, and then returned to his desk. Once he was once again absorbed in papers Ron leaned over toward Harry and whispered,

"That was almost mild for him. Maybe it is good to have someone observing."

"Five points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley. You have been warned." Snape said sharply from his desk as Draco Malfoy sniggered from his table. Hermione looked up at Malfoy when he did this and continued to look at him with a thoughtful expression even after Malfoy had turned his attention back to his textbook. Pulling out her quill Hermione scribbled a note and slid it carefully to Ron and Harry.

"Am I imagining things or is Snape not as chummy with Malfoy and his gang as he used to be?"

Ron made a face and shrugged. Harry looked over at Malfoy, who did seem to be applying himself more than ususal. His eyes traveled from Malfoy up to Snape at his desk. If anything Snape was more pale than usual. Suddenly Snape looked up at Harry with is dark, glittering eyes, and Harry quickly turned his attention back to his text to try and figure out which of the ingredients on the board would work in a standard restorative drought.

As the students began brewing their potions, Snape rose and prowled amongst the desks. Harry noted without satisfaction that he kept to his usual habit of only offering criticism. As he began to approach Neville Longbottom (who trembled visibly at his approach) Isabel Clay rose and made her way to him to ask another question. Instead of lambasting Neville, Snape wound up using his potion to explain something to Clay. In the process he wound up helping a clearly dumbfounded Neville to get his potion right for a change. When Clay moved on to look at other students' work Snape ladled up some of Neville's potion and let it splash back down. It looked perfect and Snape did not look happy.

Ironically, only Neville, Hermione, and Blaise Zabini - a Slytherin - got it right. Snape had some sharp words for all of them and assigned a rather lengthy essay as punishment. Before he could think of anything else, however, the loud bell signaling the end of class tolled and most of the students, Gryffindor and Slytherin alike, scrambled to leave Snape's classroom as quickly as possible.

As they made their way to the Great Hall for lunch, Ron complained loudly about the assignment. "I mean, really, we couldn't be expected to do that without any warning could we?" Hermione wisely said nothing while Harry had other things on his mind.

Grinning, Harry said, "Did you see the look on Snape's face when Neville's potion turned out right? It was almost worth it just for that." At Ron's incredulous look Harry added, "Well, almost."

"Well, brace yourselves," Hermione warned grimly, "It sounds like it's only going to get worse. We'll be lucky to pass the Potions O.W.L. if he keeps on like this."

"Come off it, Hermione. You know that you've got all your O.W.L.s down already." Ron said, perhaps a bit more irritably than he intended.

"Well, if you actually studied occasionally-" Hermione started her voice betraying some hurt feeling.

"We've all got our work cut out for us this year," Harry jumped in irritably. He was not in the mood for another pointless spat between Ron and Hermione. The tension between them was more pronounced this term and Harry's patience seemed to be at an all-time low.

"Say, do you suppose Hagrid's going to show us the new creature he keeps hinting about this afternoon?" Ron asked, shrewdly changing the subject.

"It sounded as if he might. Anyway it's got to be soon or he'll burst." Harry said his mood brightening.

"Well, someone's bound to spot it soon if he doesn't. I'm surprised no one has." Hermione said knowledgeably.

"Oh, know a lot about it, do you?" Ron asked.

"For your information, Ron, Hagrid has practically already told us what it is if you'd only pay attention."

Harry rolled his eyes. It seemed Ron and Hermione were determined to pick a fight with one another. Spotting Neville sitting down by Ginny he quickened his pace to join them - leaving Ron and Hermione behind. Neville was regaling a horrified Ginny with the story of their morning potions class.

"I'll never be ready to take my O.W.L.s next year!" Ginny moaned.

"Cheer up, Gin," Harry said. "Snape doesn't hate your class the way he does ours."

"I don't know about that, Harry. Snape seems to have it in for Gryffindors no matter what year they're in." Ginny said shaking her head sadly.

"Yeah, but his mission in life seems to involve making me miserable - he just doesn't mind dragging the rest of my year along for the ride." Harry said with a touch of bitterness.

At this point Ron and Hermione joined them... pointedly not speaking to each other. Harry caught Ginny's eye and was treated to an expression of disgust from her. Even Neville rolled his eyes. They were saved from an uncomfortable silence by the arrival of the Lee Jordan and the Twins who were chattering loudly about something Fred and George said they were nearly ready to sell. Harry listened with interest. He had secretly given the Twins the thousand Galleons he'd won in the Triwizard Tournament the year before in order to help them start up their dream joke shop.

Soon the Gryffindors were headed down the slope of the castle toward Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures. As they drew closer Ron elbowed Harry and hissed, "Look, there she is again!" Sure enough, Isabel Clay was standing beside Hagrid talking to him with quite a bit of animation. For his part, Hagrid seemed absorbed in her every word. He shook his head and turned to face the approaching students as the first of them reached him. When they were all gathered before him he broke into a broad grin.

"Today's the day we've all been waitin' for!" he said, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Follow me and we'll be meetin' a new creature!" With that, and a grin at Madam Clay, Hagrid turned and set off along the edge of the wood toward the lake.

"I knew it!" Hermione said once it was clear they were headed for the lake.

"Knew what?" asked Ron, apparently forgetting they were fighting.

"You'll see."

"I think she knows, too." Harry said, looking at Hagrid and Clay exchanging a whispered word and a laugh. It suddenly occurred to Harry that Isabel Clay's interest in The Care of Magical Creatures might have more to do with the teacher than the subject. Before he could suggest this to either Ron or Hermione they were at the lake shore and Hagrid was rummaging through his multi-pocketed coat. Finally with a crow of triumph, he pulled something out of the pocket and threw it into the lake.

"Was that a packet of Fizzing Whizzbees?" Ron asked incredulously.

"Dunno." Harry said, confused.

For her part, Hermione was squinting at the lake with a great deal of interest.

A moment later, Harry thought Ron must have been right about the Fizzing Whizzbees because the lake was beginning to bubble at about the spot where Hagrid had thrown in whatever it was. But the bubbling got faster and more intense and began to spread. Then the roiling water seemed to part in several places as a very large shiny dark shape emerged.

"Crimeney!" Ron breathed as several students let out surprised squeals.

"A Water Horse." Hermione said with satisfaction.

"Aye!" Hagrid cried with delight as the creature went up and down in undulating waves. "A Kelpie, otherwise known as a Water Horse. But this ain' no ordinary Kelpie, mind. This one's a celebrity."

"It's not!" Hermione gasped.

"Oi! Good show, Hagrid!" Harry cried.

"What? What are you talking about?" Ron said, utterly confused.

"This Kelpie is formerly of Drummnadrochit, near Inverness." Hagrid said with a gleam in his eye.

"Wait!" cried Dean Thomas, "Isn't the lake there Loch Ness?"

Harry wouldn't have thought it possible for Hagrid's grin to grow any wider but it did.

"Righ' in one!" Hagrid said happily.

Harry couldn't make out much in the cacophony of sound that followed. It took some time for the class to calm down, after which Hagrid relayed some pertinent facts about Kelpies. The obliging Nessie, whom Hagrid explained was actually a male, swam about on the surface for almost the whole class. When it was time to go to Herbology, the class set off chattering excitedly while Harry, Ron, and Hermione made their way to Hagrid who was still grinning broadly.

"How'd you get him, Hagrid?" Ron asked in an awe filled tone which seemed to please Hagrid.

"The Ministry seemed eager to find him a new home. I think he's gotten too fond o' publicity for their comfort," Hagrid confided, "I thought the surprise was ruint' firs' night, tho'. He surfaced in front o' the firs' year boats, but they was so scared they din' realize wha' he was!"

Ron turned sharply toward Hermione at this.

"That's how you knew! They told you about some creature in the lake!"

Hermione blushed, then smiled, "Well, it did help me figure it out."

Hagrid looked at the last of their disappearing classmates saying "Go, on wi' you, Don' be late on my account."

With that the trio sprinted to catch up to the rest of the Gryffindors on their way to the greenhouses.

"Hagrid seems pretty happy, doesn't he?" Harry said breathlessly to Ron and Hermione when they finally caught up.

"Are you trying to imply something, Harry?" Hermione asked in a voice that told Harry she knew exactly what he was talking about.

"Well, he and Madam Clay are awfully chummy, don't you think?"

"You don't mean?" Ron said, then clapped his hand to his forehead, "Why didn't I see it?"

Hermione giggled then said, "Well I hope Madam Maxime isn't the jealous type."

"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed, "They could be just friends, you don't-" but he was able to say nothing further as Professor Sprout was addressing the class.

* * * * *

"Please review me!!!" said the story desperately, "My author gets depressed without feedback!"