A Squib's Proper Place
a Harry Potter fan-fic
a sequel to "To Save A Squib"
Chapter 4: Testing
Everything in this story really belongs to J.K. Rowling.
"I hope that Hagrid hasn't gotten a Manticore or some other
monster for Callandra's test..." I muttered.
To my chagrin I discovered that I'd been nervously petting the
huge black dog who rested in the grass beside me. Even worse, I'd just
been about to scratch him behind the ears.
Fortunately, Sirius Black did not seem to have noticed. The
Animagus was dozing.
But, a moment later, my frightened shout startled him onto his
feet.
Callandra Moffitt, soon to be the first Squib ever admitted to
Hogwarts as a student, (assuming that she survived the Professors'
tests) had just soared into the air above Hagrid's hut! She was riding
on the back of a pinkish roan hippogriff!
"Callandra...!" My voice was a terrified squeak. What was Hagrid
thinking?! What was the Headmaster thinking, allowing that oaf to test
her, unsupervised!?!
I jumped to my feet, prepared to rush over to Hagrid's hut and
do... something.
The huge dog grabbed my shirt-tail in his teeth. Sirius Black was
recuperating from severe injuries. Even so, the beast was very strong.
He pulled me over backwards.
For the briefest of moments the Animagus resumed his human form.
"Calm down, Filch! She's happy! Look!" Black hissed in my ear. A
heartbeat later, he was a dog again.
It was true, I realized. Callandra's face was filled with joy.
Unlike most other children born into the Wizarding world, she'd never
been able to fly a broom on her own.
Callandra was now gracefully riding the hippogriff in a descending
spiral over Hagrid's hut.
"Good work!!" I could hear Hagrid's shout from behind the hut, as
Callandra and the hippogriff made a (hopefully) safe landing. The
paddock was hidden from Black's view and mine. We could hear other,
younger voices cheering.
I realized that we'd never seen the students in Hagrid's Care of
Magical Creatures class leaving to go back to the Castle.
That oaf! Had he actually made Callandra take the test in front of
so many witnesses?
My heart was still pounding with fright when Hagrid led a crowd of
children around the front of his hut, towards the dog and me.
Hagrid's class was made up of second year Ravenclaws and
Slytherins. All the children, from both houses, seemed to be jumping
around, talking and being generally boisterous.
Callandra was in their midst, grinning as if she'd just had the
most wonderful experience of her young life. She was walking with a
slim, dark skinned Ravenclaw boy. He looked so much like her that he
could only be her younger brother, Daniel.
The boy's face was as delighted as his sister's, and full of pride
in her accomplishment.
"Mr. Filch!! Did you see?" Callandra called over to me, her arm
across her brother's shoulders. "I rode a hippogriff! Wasn't he lovely?
It was so much fun!! Mum's taken me up on her broom a few times, but
that was different!!"
Hadn't the poor child sense enough to realize the danger she'd
been in? Apparently not. I wanted to glower at Hagrid but there were
children all around me now, petting Sirius, asking me about the kittens,
and then Callandra was introducing me to Daniel.
Then, a small Slytherin girl was tugging at my sleeve. "Mr. Filch?
When can Henna and I see our kittens?"
"In two weeks, Lilith..." I said, gruffly.
"How many female kittens are there?" Lilith Morgan went on,
excitedly. "Henna is sure that she wants a female, but I'd take a male
if there aren't enough females."
"They're called `queens' and `toms,' Lil!" One of the Slytherin
boys said, in exasperation.
"I know that, Graham!" Lilith shot back.
"Did you also know that a group of cats is called a "clowder?"
Graham retorted.
"Yes, I did. So there!" Lilith volleyed.
My head was beginning to throb. Rubbing my temples, I wondered if
there was a special term that one could use for a group of noisy
children. There was "brats" of course, but these children weren't
actually misbehaving, they were only being loud.
Black was surrounded by children too, petting his back and
stroking his head. To my relief, the Gryffindor Animagus showed no signs
of snapping at the young Slytherins who were near him. He was even
allowing young Malcolm Baddock to scratch him gently behind the ears.
"Alrigh' the lot o'yeh! Time to get ter Transfiguration Class!"
Hagrid bellowed. The sound made me clutch my head and moan. "Professor
McGonagall..."
"Was wondering what was keeping my students, Hagrid."
Minerva was suddenly there, a lovely island of calm in a sea of
chaos.
"They was jus' watching with me!" Hagrid said, beaming. "Callie's
passed her Care o' Magical Creatures test!"
"Excellent," Minerva smiled. She held out her hand to Callandra.
In her other hand she carried a sack which seemed weighted down with an
assortment of bulges.
"It's time for your Transfiguration test," she told Callandra,
briskly.
The children all became quiet, as if Minerva had used a silencing
spell on them. I was as surprised as the children were.
I was going to say something in protest, but Daniel Moffitt spoke
up before I could find my voice.
"Professor McGonagall? You know that Callie's a Squib..." he said,
a protective arm around his sister's waist. "She can't..."
Minerva's smile became gentler. "Callandra will not be asked to
Transfigure anything, Mr. Moffitt. Her talents in the area of
Transfiguration are somewhat ...different."
Biting her lip nervously, Callandra was looking at me for
reassurance. I desperately wanted to give her some, but I was as puzzled
as she was.
Minerva was looking around at the young Ravenclaws and Slytherins.
"You may sit down on the grass, if you like. Please make sure to give
Miss Moffitt some room," she began.
"It's all right, Daniel..." she added, as Callandra's brother
seemed reluctant to leave the girl's side.
Shortly, Callandra and Minerva was the only ones standing. Hagrid,
Black and I were seated with children all around us. I was clutching at
Black's fur, nervously.
Reaching into the sack, Minerva pulled out a small rubber ball and
a ceramic flower pot. She handed both to Callandra.
"Both of these are actually the same. I have Transfigured one of
them," Professor McGonagall said. "Can you tell me which item is not in
its true form?"
Poor Black yelped as I inadvertently clutched too hard at his fur.
This was worse than the hippogriff! What was Minerva thinking?!!
Minerva was always fair. I knew that! I trusted her. Minerva would
never ask Callandra to accomplish an impossible feat. But, as far as I
knew, the ability to tell if something was Transfigured or not was a
power reserved for only those witches or wizards most skilled at
Transfiguration.
The young Ravenclaws and Slytherins knew this too. None of them
could have done what Minerva was asking of Callandra.
I doubted that I could have done it. Then again, I'd never
tried...
Callandra stood, brow furrowed. She breathed deeply, turning the
ball and the flowerpot over in her slender hands.
"Professor?" She said, quietly, after what seemed like a very long
while, "I think they're both really flower pots."
"Excellent!" Minerva said, as if she'd expected no less. But the
other children, Hagrid and I all sighed with relief. I saw Daniel
Moffitt's shoulders sag with released tension. Stewart Ackerly, who was
sitting beside Daniel, clapped him on the shoulder.
Minerva handed Callandra a small pennywhistle and an empty ink
bottle.
"They're really pennywhistles," Callandra said, after a few
moments of thoughtful examination. She sounded a bit more confident now.
When her test had ended, Callandra had been able to tell the
UnTransfigured items from their Transfigured counterparts, nine times
out of ten! The young Slytherins and Ravenclaws applauded her when she
was done.
I realized that both Hagrid and Minerva were using their tests for
Callandra to serve a dual purpose. They were exploring the girl's
abilities, and showing them off to other children too.
Their risks had paid off, but what an awful chance they'd both
taken! I'd been so afraid for Callandra that now I thought I might be
sick.
When Minerva dismissed the children for lunch, they departed in a
noisy, laughing group. Daniel was proudly holding his sister's hand.
Minerva, Hagrid, Black and I were left behind.
"Argus... are you all right? You're as pale as Nearly Headless
Nick," Minerva said.
"No, I'm not all right," I whispered, very aware that I was
surrounded by Gryffindors. Most of Godric's chosen seem to thrive on
risks. If they don't take foolish chances at least once a day, that day
is thought to have been wasted.
"I've just been frightened out of my wits!" I blurted out.
"Had either of you thought about what might have happened if poor
Callandra had failed?" I asked Minerva and Hagrid, my voice shaking. "In
front of all those other children! Including her own brother!"
"She might have been hurt by that hippogriff!" I said, glowering
at Hagrid.
"Or," I looked at Minerva, "what if she couldn't do what you asked
of her? They might have turned on her, then. Taunted her, or worse. Not
her brother, but the others. Particularly some of the Slytherins..."
I didn't realize that I was trembling, until Minerva put her hands
on my shoulders.
"I've had the benefit of Hermione Granger's considerable
research," Minerva explained. "When two similar inanimate objects are
placed side by side, and one of them Transfigured, a Squib can nearly
always tell which item is in its true form and which item isn't. It's
been documented."
"I didn't know that," I murmured. "Lately, all Hermione and I have
talked about are the kittens..."
"Callandra did very well, Argus," Minerva said, gently. Her grey
eyes seemed to fill my whole world. "I had confidence that she would."
"I'm sorry, Minerva." I should not have doubted her.
"As fer the hippogriff," Hagrid reassured me, "he's a good 'un.
Very used ter people, he is. Callie's a polite girl. Knows how ter
follow directions. Curtsied ter him like a proper lady. Very respectful.
Never doubted her fer a moment!"
Quite pleased with how the testing had gone, the big man was now
sitting cross-legged on the ground. One large hand rested gently on the
Animagus's back.
"It did her a world a'good ter succeed in front a' so many
witnesses," Hagrid continued. "Yeh saw her face, Filch."
I had to admit that he was right. Callandra was far braver than
I'd ever be.
Fang had followed Hagrid over from the hut, to see what his master
was up to. The boarhound was nose to nose with the Animagus, both huge
dogs sniffing at each other in a friendly fashion.
After a moment, Fang flopped down next to Black, with a gusty
sigh.
"I-I should go and check on Mrs. Norris..." I whispered, summoning
red-and-gold. I was still shaking, though the danger of my being sick
was receding.
"Argus, wait. I'd like a word," Minerva said.
Gently, but firmly she took hold of my left arm before I could go
through my Door.
"Y-you may meet me outside my room, if you'd like," I said. I'd
wanted to be alone, but I couldn't just walk away from Minerva when she
wished to speak to me. "Perhaps Mrs. Norris won't object if you come in.
For just a little while. She's fond of you."
I knew that Minerva, of all people, would know how to behave
around a new mother and kittens.
"Very well, Argus," Minerva said. "I shall see you shortly."
Glancing at Black and Hagrid, I saw that Hagrid was grinning for
some reason that I could not fathom. And Black was grinning as well, the
way a dog grins; dangling tongue and eyes dancing.
Wondering what in Merlin's name the two of them were smirking
about, I spoke to Hagrid.
"You'll see that he gets back to Poppy in the hospital wing, won't
you?" I asked, nodding towards the Animagus. "Snuffles is not allowed to
exert himself too much. And keep him out of mischief!"
I stepped through red-and-gold.
*******
Mrs. Norris had not offered any objections to a brief visit from
Minerva. A short while later Professor McGonagall and I were admiring
the eight newborn kittens as they nursed.
I'd meant to refill Mrs. Norris's food and water, but one of the
house-elves had been there first.
I contented myself with simply watching my cat and her brood.
Minerva did not mind sitting on the floor next to me. She enjoyed
looking at the kittens as much as I did.
Minerva praised the kittens' healthy appetites, a compliment that
clearly won her a great number of points with Mrs. Norris.
I thought it clever of Minerva to immediately commend the kittens
on the one thing that the voracious little fluffballs could do really
well.
But Minerva found additional laudable traits and proceeded to
admire them with sincerity. She observed how the kittens jostled for
position with energy and boldness, it was clear that they were healthy
and strong, they were sure to be clever and patient hunters...!
"*This* one clearly knows an exemplary litter of kittens when she
sees them!" Mrs. Norris was obviously thinking, as she gave me a
satisfied look.
"You seem much better now, Argus," Minerva said. "I apologize.
Hagrid and I did not think that you would be there to see Callandra's
tests. We did not wish to frighten you."
"No," I protested, embarrassed. "I shouldn't have been so foolish.
You and Hagrid both want her to succeed, you wouldn't have set her up
for failure and humiliation."
Minerva was smiling at me, her hands both behind her back. I felt
a whisper of magic as she performed a conjuring spell.
When she brought her hand out in front of her, she was holding a
small china shepherdess and a silver teaspoon.
"Which one is Transfigured?" Professor McGonagall asked me.
Nervously, I took the two small items from her, turning them over
in my hands as Callandra had done. There seemed to be nothing out of the
ordinary about the shepherdess. But, did the teaspoon seem a bit...
slippery, when I compared the feel of it to the china figure?
"The spoon," I said, putting them carefully on the floor beside
me.
Minerva slid her wand out of her sleeve and Transfigured the spoon
back into its real form.
A small china shepherd now stood beside the shepherdess. They were
a perfectly matched pair.
"Got it in one!" she told me smiling. "See? It's quite easy for
you, just as it was for Callandra."
I blushed.
"No witch or wizard who hasn't studied Transfiguration for many
years could do the same!" Minerva continued.
"Of course, picking out one Transfigured item from many
dissimilar, unTransfigured items is quite a bit harder than that. And
being able to detect a Transfigured animate object is far more difficult
still. But my test was an adequate start. I'm sure that Callandra can
learn those things in time."
Her grey eyes were shining. "I was concerned that there would be
nothing that I would be able to teach her," Minerva confessed, quietly.
"And I did so wish to work with her. I'm sure that we're both going to
learn a great deal."
Minerva's pleasure delighted me.
"Albus and the Moffitts decided that Callandra's studies must be
highly individualized to best suit her needs," she said.
"Wherever possible, she will take classes with the other children
in her year. But, she may be taking some classes with the seventh years!
Her parents both work with Ancient Runes, and Callandra's knowledge in
that area is quite advanced..."
Her voice trailed off. She was studying me. "Are you sure that
you're quite all right, Argus?"
"I'm fine," I said, though my voice was a bit husky. "I was just
thinking. The way that the other children were all solidly behind her...
no one taunted her. They really wanted her to do well. I wasn't
expecting that. I was ...afraid for her."
"I'm sure that Callandra will have to face taunts and teasing,
Argus. All children do. But the second years of both Ravenclaw and
Slytherin are a particularly fine group of children. Callandra's brother
is well-liked among them. And Severus assured me that none of his second
year Slytherins are from families with ties to the Death Eaters. Hagrid
and I made quite sure that we could let those children witness two of
Callandra's tests without undue cause for worry."
I sighed. "The Slytherins with ties to the Death Eaters are going
to find out about Callandra's presence at Hogwarts soon enough. But this
school is the safest place in the Wizarding world. They won't be able to
get to her here. At least not easily."
Minerva's expression had turned both sad and pensive. I knew that
she was thinking of Cedric Diggory, as I was.
We both knew that no place in the Wizarding world was completely
safe these days. Not even Hogwarts.
"I've been mostly safe here," I said. Taking Minerva's hand in
mine seemed like the most natural thing in the world. I wished to
comfort her.
"I usually tell myself that my parents brought me here and
convinced Headmaster Dippet and Apollyon Pringle to take me on simply
because they wanted to make sure that I had a secure position." I
murmured. "And, it was one of their reasons. But not their only one."
"They never told me," I continued, even more softly. "But they
must have known, somehow. About Dark magic and Squibs. Mum was always
reading. She and Dad must have brought me to Hogwarts to keep me safe
from G-Grindelwald."
Saying his name was still frightening. The bogeyman of my youth.
"I never figured that out till I started thinking about it, only a
few months back. It worked, didn't it? If Grindelwald was looking for
Squibs, he never found me. Nor did any of his followers."
Minerva squeezed my hand, gently. "Finding you was quite a task
for a number of years, Argus. You hid yourself away so well. From the
students, from nearly everyone. You worked hard, but you were rarely
seen."
"Like a proper house-elf..." I said, a little bitterly. I sighed.
Thinking about my early days at the Castle was not something that I
enjoyed doing. "Hard work and pain are the best teachers." It's
something I often tell the students here. Hard work I learned about from
my parents, particularly my Dad. I learned about pain from Apollyon
Pringle.
Though, to be fair to the old man, he'd saved most of his real ire
for the students. He'd never once put me in chains. And old Pringle
hadn't even beaten me very often once I'd proven that I could do things
the way that he wanted them done.
"Work hard, boy. Keep your head low. Know your proper place. And
we'll get along fine."
No one was ever going to tell Callandra those things. Her place at
Hogwarts would never be the same as mine.
Minerva was pulling me to my feet.
"We've nearly missed lunch, and you already missed breakfast this
morning," she said. "We'd better hurry."
As we stood up, her hand slipped from mine. But her smile
continued to warm me.
I felt a rush of contentment that was quite separate from the joy
I already felt for Callandra.
And, Sirius Black and any mischief that he might be planning for
poor Severus, were the furthest thoughts from my mind.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
**********
Author's Notes:
Ryven: Thank you! The question of the Sorting Hat will be dealt with
soon, as will the question of Callandra's House. I agree that Filch
would have been a Hufflepuff. (He admires Ravenclaws, but doesn't
understand them. He admires both Slytherins and Gryffindors too, but he
thinks that they're all a bit crazy.)
Robert: Thank you!! Sorry about the e-mail... my mailbox was
overflowing. I hadn't deleted any messages in a while. It's all cleaned
out now, though.
Filch thinks he's too old to take classes with the children. Though he
is going to learn a great deal, through Callandra. And he already knows
far more than he thinks he knows.
The thought of Snape teaching Filch made me laugh out loud!
Elspeth: Thank you!! Some of the Slytherins will be kind to Callandra,
others won't. Snape will be the teacher that Callandra fears the most,
because she will only see the face that the Potions Master presents to
most of the school.
My thoughts on Squibs being able to sense Transfigurations are that
Animate Transfigurations are more difficult to pick up on than Inanimate
ones. If the Squib is already familiar with the Animagus in their other
form (as Filch is with Minerva) then the Squib would know they weren't
dealing with a true animal. Being able to tell an Animagus from an
ordinary animal is probably something that a Squib can learn, given
enough time and practice.
Miriam: Thank you!! The relationship between Snape and Filch has
intrigued me ever since the first book. I really liked it that Filch was
looking after Snape. I can see Filch being similarly protective of Harry
one day, if he isn't already. You're very welcome!!
Larania: Thank you!!
Mystical Witch: Thank you!! I read a wonderful story about Snape with a
kitten. It was called "Minnaloushe," I think. It's been a while since I
read it and I may have the title wrong. I wish I could remember the
author's name... anyway, I do have plans for one of the two unclaimed
kittens and I'm still not sure about the last one. The idea of Snape
with a kitten is adorable. Maybe too adorable to resist...!
Lataradk: Thank you!! Yes, Hagrid did have an 'interestin' creature' for
Callandra's test. But, she had fun anyhow. My family says "Hi!"
Pansy will probably show up again in a later chapter.
Jelsemium: Thank you!! A Ravenclaw is going to get one of the unclaimed
kittens. (It won't be Cho, though.) I meant to get to Callandra's
impressions of Harry this chapter, but it didn't happen. Perhaps next
chapter! Callandra is quite in awe of Harry, and was too shy to talk to
him at the party when Neville introduced her to him.
Demeter: Thank you!! Snape would agree that Filch has an innocence about
him... for an old grouch. And he's certainly an innocent, compared to
Snape. (I don't know if Rowling will provide a past history for Filch.
Until she does, I made some assumptions.)
I read the rumor about Harry and Draco teaming up in one of the later
books on one of the websites that has rumors about the unpublished
books. I'm not sure of the actual site, but there were several different
sites with rumors on them.
UnrepententReader: Thank you!! (Sirius definitely wants to prank Severus
again.)
Helen: Thank you!! I don't want Snape to be too nice either. He's more
fun when he's his nasty-but-noble complicated self.
Neville's had a year to mature, which is why he could seem older. He's
discovered his own talents in herbology and used them to help people.
And he's fallen in love. All of these have been growing experiences.
Neville has always seemed like a mature person to me, ever since he
stood up to Harry, Ron and Hermione in the first book.
Melodie: Thank you!! Yes, Neville and Callandra are an item.
Gramarye: Thank you!! Yes, eight kittens... no wonder the poor cat
looked like stuffed pillow.
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!! Snape was being unfair when he gave all the
fifth year Gryffindors detention. (In his defense, he was sore and
cranky.) He was supposed to be spending the day resting, but Professor
Grubbly-Plank didn't want to teach his fifth year Gryffindors and
Slytherins. He entered the room to find a fight between Neville and Ron
vs Crabbe and Goyle.
He gave Ron and Neville detention. When their fellow Gryffindors
protested too loudly, he gave them all detention too.
Ariana Deralte: Thank you!! Snape doesn't know what the glamour smells
like. Filch knew better than to tell the Potions Master that he smelled
like strawberries. Callandra has noticed that Hagrid's hippogriff also
smells like strawberries. She thinks that Hagrid uses the same bath soap
on his pets that Snape uses for himself.
My cat usually sits on my lap and drools on me while I type. Cats are
fun...
a Harry Potter fan-fic
a sequel to "To Save A Squib"
Chapter 4: Testing
Everything in this story really belongs to J.K. Rowling.
"I hope that Hagrid hasn't gotten a Manticore or some other
monster for Callandra's test..." I muttered.
To my chagrin I discovered that I'd been nervously petting the
huge black dog who rested in the grass beside me. Even worse, I'd just
been about to scratch him behind the ears.
Fortunately, Sirius Black did not seem to have noticed. The
Animagus was dozing.
But, a moment later, my frightened shout startled him onto his
feet.
Callandra Moffitt, soon to be the first Squib ever admitted to
Hogwarts as a student, (assuming that she survived the Professors'
tests) had just soared into the air above Hagrid's hut! She was riding
on the back of a pinkish roan hippogriff!
"Callandra...!" My voice was a terrified squeak. What was Hagrid
thinking?! What was the Headmaster thinking, allowing that oaf to test
her, unsupervised!?!
I jumped to my feet, prepared to rush over to Hagrid's hut and
do... something.
The huge dog grabbed my shirt-tail in his teeth. Sirius Black was
recuperating from severe injuries. Even so, the beast was very strong.
He pulled me over backwards.
For the briefest of moments the Animagus resumed his human form.
"Calm down, Filch! She's happy! Look!" Black hissed in my ear. A
heartbeat later, he was a dog again.
It was true, I realized. Callandra's face was filled with joy.
Unlike most other children born into the Wizarding world, she'd never
been able to fly a broom on her own.
Callandra was now gracefully riding the hippogriff in a descending
spiral over Hagrid's hut.
"Good work!!" I could hear Hagrid's shout from behind the hut, as
Callandra and the hippogriff made a (hopefully) safe landing. The
paddock was hidden from Black's view and mine. We could hear other,
younger voices cheering.
I realized that we'd never seen the students in Hagrid's Care of
Magical Creatures class leaving to go back to the Castle.
That oaf! Had he actually made Callandra take the test in front of
so many witnesses?
My heart was still pounding with fright when Hagrid led a crowd of
children around the front of his hut, towards the dog and me.
Hagrid's class was made up of second year Ravenclaws and
Slytherins. All the children, from both houses, seemed to be jumping
around, talking and being generally boisterous.
Callandra was in their midst, grinning as if she'd just had the
most wonderful experience of her young life. She was walking with a
slim, dark skinned Ravenclaw boy. He looked so much like her that he
could only be her younger brother, Daniel.
The boy's face was as delighted as his sister's, and full of pride
in her accomplishment.
"Mr. Filch!! Did you see?" Callandra called over to me, her arm
across her brother's shoulders. "I rode a hippogriff! Wasn't he lovely?
It was so much fun!! Mum's taken me up on her broom a few times, but
that was different!!"
Hadn't the poor child sense enough to realize the danger she'd
been in? Apparently not. I wanted to glower at Hagrid but there were
children all around me now, petting Sirius, asking me about the kittens,
and then Callandra was introducing me to Daniel.
Then, a small Slytherin girl was tugging at my sleeve. "Mr. Filch?
When can Henna and I see our kittens?"
"In two weeks, Lilith..." I said, gruffly.
"How many female kittens are there?" Lilith Morgan went on,
excitedly. "Henna is sure that she wants a female, but I'd take a male
if there aren't enough females."
"They're called `queens' and `toms,' Lil!" One of the Slytherin
boys said, in exasperation.
"I know that, Graham!" Lilith shot back.
"Did you also know that a group of cats is called a "clowder?"
Graham retorted.
"Yes, I did. So there!" Lilith volleyed.
My head was beginning to throb. Rubbing my temples, I wondered if
there was a special term that one could use for a group of noisy
children. There was "brats" of course, but these children weren't
actually misbehaving, they were only being loud.
Black was surrounded by children too, petting his back and
stroking his head. To my relief, the Gryffindor Animagus showed no signs
of snapping at the young Slytherins who were near him. He was even
allowing young Malcolm Baddock to scratch him gently behind the ears.
"Alrigh' the lot o'yeh! Time to get ter Transfiguration Class!"
Hagrid bellowed. The sound made me clutch my head and moan. "Professor
McGonagall..."
"Was wondering what was keeping my students, Hagrid."
Minerva was suddenly there, a lovely island of calm in a sea of
chaos.
"They was jus' watching with me!" Hagrid said, beaming. "Callie's
passed her Care o' Magical Creatures test!"
"Excellent," Minerva smiled. She held out her hand to Callandra.
In her other hand she carried a sack which seemed weighted down with an
assortment of bulges.
"It's time for your Transfiguration test," she told Callandra,
briskly.
The children all became quiet, as if Minerva had used a silencing
spell on them. I was as surprised as the children were.
I was going to say something in protest, but Daniel Moffitt spoke
up before I could find my voice.
"Professor McGonagall? You know that Callie's a Squib..." he said,
a protective arm around his sister's waist. "She can't..."
Minerva's smile became gentler. "Callandra will not be asked to
Transfigure anything, Mr. Moffitt. Her talents in the area of
Transfiguration are somewhat ...different."
Biting her lip nervously, Callandra was looking at me for
reassurance. I desperately wanted to give her some, but I was as puzzled
as she was.
Minerva was looking around at the young Ravenclaws and Slytherins.
"You may sit down on the grass, if you like. Please make sure to give
Miss Moffitt some room," she began.
"It's all right, Daniel..." she added, as Callandra's brother
seemed reluctant to leave the girl's side.
Shortly, Callandra and Minerva was the only ones standing. Hagrid,
Black and I were seated with children all around us. I was clutching at
Black's fur, nervously.
Reaching into the sack, Minerva pulled out a small rubber ball and
a ceramic flower pot. She handed both to Callandra.
"Both of these are actually the same. I have Transfigured one of
them," Professor McGonagall said. "Can you tell me which item is not in
its true form?"
Poor Black yelped as I inadvertently clutched too hard at his fur.
This was worse than the hippogriff! What was Minerva thinking?!!
Minerva was always fair. I knew that! I trusted her. Minerva would
never ask Callandra to accomplish an impossible feat. But, as far as I
knew, the ability to tell if something was Transfigured or not was a
power reserved for only those witches or wizards most skilled at
Transfiguration.
The young Ravenclaws and Slytherins knew this too. None of them
could have done what Minerva was asking of Callandra.
I doubted that I could have done it. Then again, I'd never
tried...
Callandra stood, brow furrowed. She breathed deeply, turning the
ball and the flowerpot over in her slender hands.
"Professor?" She said, quietly, after what seemed like a very long
while, "I think they're both really flower pots."
"Excellent!" Minerva said, as if she'd expected no less. But the
other children, Hagrid and I all sighed with relief. I saw Daniel
Moffitt's shoulders sag with released tension. Stewart Ackerly, who was
sitting beside Daniel, clapped him on the shoulder.
Minerva handed Callandra a small pennywhistle and an empty ink
bottle.
"They're really pennywhistles," Callandra said, after a few
moments of thoughtful examination. She sounded a bit more confident now.
When her test had ended, Callandra had been able to tell the
UnTransfigured items from their Transfigured counterparts, nine times
out of ten! The young Slytherins and Ravenclaws applauded her when she
was done.
I realized that both Hagrid and Minerva were using their tests for
Callandra to serve a dual purpose. They were exploring the girl's
abilities, and showing them off to other children too.
Their risks had paid off, but what an awful chance they'd both
taken! I'd been so afraid for Callandra that now I thought I might be
sick.
When Minerva dismissed the children for lunch, they departed in a
noisy, laughing group. Daniel was proudly holding his sister's hand.
Minerva, Hagrid, Black and I were left behind.
"Argus... are you all right? You're as pale as Nearly Headless
Nick," Minerva said.
"No, I'm not all right," I whispered, very aware that I was
surrounded by Gryffindors. Most of Godric's chosen seem to thrive on
risks. If they don't take foolish chances at least once a day, that day
is thought to have been wasted.
"I've just been frightened out of my wits!" I blurted out.
"Had either of you thought about what might have happened if poor
Callandra had failed?" I asked Minerva and Hagrid, my voice shaking. "In
front of all those other children! Including her own brother!"
"She might have been hurt by that hippogriff!" I said, glowering
at Hagrid.
"Or," I looked at Minerva, "what if she couldn't do what you asked
of her? They might have turned on her, then. Taunted her, or worse. Not
her brother, but the others. Particularly some of the Slytherins..."
I didn't realize that I was trembling, until Minerva put her hands
on my shoulders.
"I've had the benefit of Hermione Granger's considerable
research," Minerva explained. "When two similar inanimate objects are
placed side by side, and one of them Transfigured, a Squib can nearly
always tell which item is in its true form and which item isn't. It's
been documented."
"I didn't know that," I murmured. "Lately, all Hermione and I have
talked about are the kittens..."
"Callandra did very well, Argus," Minerva said, gently. Her grey
eyes seemed to fill my whole world. "I had confidence that she would."
"I'm sorry, Minerva." I should not have doubted her.
"As fer the hippogriff," Hagrid reassured me, "he's a good 'un.
Very used ter people, he is. Callie's a polite girl. Knows how ter
follow directions. Curtsied ter him like a proper lady. Very respectful.
Never doubted her fer a moment!"
Quite pleased with how the testing had gone, the big man was now
sitting cross-legged on the ground. One large hand rested gently on the
Animagus's back.
"It did her a world a'good ter succeed in front a' so many
witnesses," Hagrid continued. "Yeh saw her face, Filch."
I had to admit that he was right. Callandra was far braver than
I'd ever be.
Fang had followed Hagrid over from the hut, to see what his master
was up to. The boarhound was nose to nose with the Animagus, both huge
dogs sniffing at each other in a friendly fashion.
After a moment, Fang flopped down next to Black, with a gusty
sigh.
"I-I should go and check on Mrs. Norris..." I whispered, summoning
red-and-gold. I was still shaking, though the danger of my being sick
was receding.
"Argus, wait. I'd like a word," Minerva said.
Gently, but firmly she took hold of my left arm before I could go
through my Door.
"Y-you may meet me outside my room, if you'd like," I said. I'd
wanted to be alone, but I couldn't just walk away from Minerva when she
wished to speak to me. "Perhaps Mrs. Norris won't object if you come in.
For just a little while. She's fond of you."
I knew that Minerva, of all people, would know how to behave
around a new mother and kittens.
"Very well, Argus," Minerva said. "I shall see you shortly."
Glancing at Black and Hagrid, I saw that Hagrid was grinning for
some reason that I could not fathom. And Black was grinning as well, the
way a dog grins; dangling tongue and eyes dancing.
Wondering what in Merlin's name the two of them were smirking
about, I spoke to Hagrid.
"You'll see that he gets back to Poppy in the hospital wing, won't
you?" I asked, nodding towards the Animagus. "Snuffles is not allowed to
exert himself too much. And keep him out of mischief!"
I stepped through red-and-gold.
*******
Mrs. Norris had not offered any objections to a brief visit from
Minerva. A short while later Professor McGonagall and I were admiring
the eight newborn kittens as they nursed.
I'd meant to refill Mrs. Norris's food and water, but one of the
house-elves had been there first.
I contented myself with simply watching my cat and her brood.
Minerva did not mind sitting on the floor next to me. She enjoyed
looking at the kittens as much as I did.
Minerva praised the kittens' healthy appetites, a compliment that
clearly won her a great number of points with Mrs. Norris.
I thought it clever of Minerva to immediately commend the kittens
on the one thing that the voracious little fluffballs could do really
well.
But Minerva found additional laudable traits and proceeded to
admire them with sincerity. She observed how the kittens jostled for
position with energy and boldness, it was clear that they were healthy
and strong, they were sure to be clever and patient hunters...!
"*This* one clearly knows an exemplary litter of kittens when she
sees them!" Mrs. Norris was obviously thinking, as she gave me a
satisfied look.
"You seem much better now, Argus," Minerva said. "I apologize.
Hagrid and I did not think that you would be there to see Callandra's
tests. We did not wish to frighten you."
"No," I protested, embarrassed. "I shouldn't have been so foolish.
You and Hagrid both want her to succeed, you wouldn't have set her up
for failure and humiliation."
Minerva was smiling at me, her hands both behind her back. I felt
a whisper of magic as she performed a conjuring spell.
When she brought her hand out in front of her, she was holding a
small china shepherdess and a silver teaspoon.
"Which one is Transfigured?" Professor McGonagall asked me.
Nervously, I took the two small items from her, turning them over
in my hands as Callandra had done. There seemed to be nothing out of the
ordinary about the shepherdess. But, did the teaspoon seem a bit...
slippery, when I compared the feel of it to the china figure?
"The spoon," I said, putting them carefully on the floor beside
me.
Minerva slid her wand out of her sleeve and Transfigured the spoon
back into its real form.
A small china shepherd now stood beside the shepherdess. They were
a perfectly matched pair.
"Got it in one!" she told me smiling. "See? It's quite easy for
you, just as it was for Callandra."
I blushed.
"No witch or wizard who hasn't studied Transfiguration for many
years could do the same!" Minerva continued.
"Of course, picking out one Transfigured item from many
dissimilar, unTransfigured items is quite a bit harder than that. And
being able to detect a Transfigured animate object is far more difficult
still. But my test was an adequate start. I'm sure that Callandra can
learn those things in time."
Her grey eyes were shining. "I was concerned that there would be
nothing that I would be able to teach her," Minerva confessed, quietly.
"And I did so wish to work with her. I'm sure that we're both going to
learn a great deal."
Minerva's pleasure delighted me.
"Albus and the Moffitts decided that Callandra's studies must be
highly individualized to best suit her needs," she said.
"Wherever possible, she will take classes with the other children
in her year. But, she may be taking some classes with the seventh years!
Her parents both work with Ancient Runes, and Callandra's knowledge in
that area is quite advanced..."
Her voice trailed off. She was studying me. "Are you sure that
you're quite all right, Argus?"
"I'm fine," I said, though my voice was a bit husky. "I was just
thinking. The way that the other children were all solidly behind her...
no one taunted her. They really wanted her to do well. I wasn't
expecting that. I was ...afraid for her."
"I'm sure that Callandra will have to face taunts and teasing,
Argus. All children do. But the second years of both Ravenclaw and
Slytherin are a particularly fine group of children. Callandra's brother
is well-liked among them. And Severus assured me that none of his second
year Slytherins are from families with ties to the Death Eaters. Hagrid
and I made quite sure that we could let those children witness two of
Callandra's tests without undue cause for worry."
I sighed. "The Slytherins with ties to the Death Eaters are going
to find out about Callandra's presence at Hogwarts soon enough. But this
school is the safest place in the Wizarding world. They won't be able to
get to her here. At least not easily."
Minerva's expression had turned both sad and pensive. I knew that
she was thinking of Cedric Diggory, as I was.
We both knew that no place in the Wizarding world was completely
safe these days. Not even Hogwarts.
"I've been mostly safe here," I said. Taking Minerva's hand in
mine seemed like the most natural thing in the world. I wished to
comfort her.
"I usually tell myself that my parents brought me here and
convinced Headmaster Dippet and Apollyon Pringle to take me on simply
because they wanted to make sure that I had a secure position." I
murmured. "And, it was one of their reasons. But not their only one."
"They never told me," I continued, even more softly. "But they
must have known, somehow. About Dark magic and Squibs. Mum was always
reading. She and Dad must have brought me to Hogwarts to keep me safe
from G-Grindelwald."
Saying his name was still frightening. The bogeyman of my youth.
"I never figured that out till I started thinking about it, only a
few months back. It worked, didn't it? If Grindelwald was looking for
Squibs, he never found me. Nor did any of his followers."
Minerva squeezed my hand, gently. "Finding you was quite a task
for a number of years, Argus. You hid yourself away so well. From the
students, from nearly everyone. You worked hard, but you were rarely
seen."
"Like a proper house-elf..." I said, a little bitterly. I sighed.
Thinking about my early days at the Castle was not something that I
enjoyed doing. "Hard work and pain are the best teachers." It's
something I often tell the students here. Hard work I learned about from
my parents, particularly my Dad. I learned about pain from Apollyon
Pringle.
Though, to be fair to the old man, he'd saved most of his real ire
for the students. He'd never once put me in chains. And old Pringle
hadn't even beaten me very often once I'd proven that I could do things
the way that he wanted them done.
"Work hard, boy. Keep your head low. Know your proper place. And
we'll get along fine."
No one was ever going to tell Callandra those things. Her place at
Hogwarts would never be the same as mine.
Minerva was pulling me to my feet.
"We've nearly missed lunch, and you already missed breakfast this
morning," she said. "We'd better hurry."
As we stood up, her hand slipped from mine. But her smile
continued to warm me.
I felt a rush of contentment that was quite separate from the joy
I already felt for Callandra.
And, Sirius Black and any mischief that he might be planning for
poor Severus, were the furthest thoughts from my mind.
END OF CHAPTER FOUR
**********
Author's Notes:
Ryven: Thank you! The question of the Sorting Hat will be dealt with
soon, as will the question of Callandra's House. I agree that Filch
would have been a Hufflepuff. (He admires Ravenclaws, but doesn't
understand them. He admires both Slytherins and Gryffindors too, but he
thinks that they're all a bit crazy.)
Robert: Thank you!! Sorry about the e-mail... my mailbox was
overflowing. I hadn't deleted any messages in a while. It's all cleaned
out now, though.
Filch thinks he's too old to take classes with the children. Though he
is going to learn a great deal, through Callandra. And he already knows
far more than he thinks he knows.
The thought of Snape teaching Filch made me laugh out loud!
Elspeth: Thank you!! Some of the Slytherins will be kind to Callandra,
others won't. Snape will be the teacher that Callandra fears the most,
because she will only see the face that the Potions Master presents to
most of the school.
My thoughts on Squibs being able to sense Transfigurations are that
Animate Transfigurations are more difficult to pick up on than Inanimate
ones. If the Squib is already familiar with the Animagus in their other
form (as Filch is with Minerva) then the Squib would know they weren't
dealing with a true animal. Being able to tell an Animagus from an
ordinary animal is probably something that a Squib can learn, given
enough time and practice.
Miriam: Thank you!! The relationship between Snape and Filch has
intrigued me ever since the first book. I really liked it that Filch was
looking after Snape. I can see Filch being similarly protective of Harry
one day, if he isn't already. You're very welcome!!
Larania: Thank you!!
Mystical Witch: Thank you!! I read a wonderful story about Snape with a
kitten. It was called "Minnaloushe," I think. It's been a while since I
read it and I may have the title wrong. I wish I could remember the
author's name... anyway, I do have plans for one of the two unclaimed
kittens and I'm still not sure about the last one. The idea of Snape
with a kitten is adorable. Maybe too adorable to resist...!
Lataradk: Thank you!! Yes, Hagrid did have an 'interestin' creature' for
Callandra's test. But, she had fun anyhow. My family says "Hi!"
Pansy will probably show up again in a later chapter.
Jelsemium: Thank you!! A Ravenclaw is going to get one of the unclaimed
kittens. (It won't be Cho, though.) I meant to get to Callandra's
impressions of Harry this chapter, but it didn't happen. Perhaps next
chapter! Callandra is quite in awe of Harry, and was too shy to talk to
him at the party when Neville introduced her to him.
Demeter: Thank you!! Snape would agree that Filch has an innocence about
him... for an old grouch. And he's certainly an innocent, compared to
Snape. (I don't know if Rowling will provide a past history for Filch.
Until she does, I made some assumptions.)
I read the rumor about Harry and Draco teaming up in one of the later
books on one of the websites that has rumors about the unpublished
books. I'm not sure of the actual site, but there were several different
sites with rumors on them.
UnrepententReader: Thank you!! (Sirius definitely wants to prank Severus
again.)
Helen: Thank you!! I don't want Snape to be too nice either. He's more
fun when he's his nasty-but-noble complicated self.
Neville's had a year to mature, which is why he could seem older. He's
discovered his own talents in herbology and used them to help people.
And he's fallen in love. All of these have been growing experiences.
Neville has always seemed like a mature person to me, ever since he
stood up to Harry, Ron and Hermione in the first book.
Melodie: Thank you!! Yes, Neville and Callandra are an item.
Gramarye: Thank you!! Yes, eight kittens... no wonder the poor cat
looked like stuffed pillow.
Lizard of Fire: Thank you!! Snape was being unfair when he gave all the
fifth year Gryffindors detention. (In his defense, he was sore and
cranky.) He was supposed to be spending the day resting, but Professor
Grubbly-Plank didn't want to teach his fifth year Gryffindors and
Slytherins. He entered the room to find a fight between Neville and Ron
vs Crabbe and Goyle.
He gave Ron and Neville detention. When their fellow Gryffindors
protested too loudly, he gave them all detention too.
Ariana Deralte: Thank you!! Snape doesn't know what the glamour smells
like. Filch knew better than to tell the Potions Master that he smelled
like strawberries. Callandra has noticed that Hagrid's hippogriff also
smells like strawberries. She thinks that Hagrid uses the same bath soap
on his pets that Snape uses for himself.
My cat usually sits on my lap and drools on me while I type. Cats are
fun...