Chapter 8
The second day of school was much calmer than the hectic panic of the first. The classes of the day were Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, a couple of easy ones in Harry's opinion. That is, until Professor Sprout announced a special project that all her 5th year classes would be participating in.
"Now, who knows what a Venus Fly Trap is?" Professor Sprout asked.
"Isn't that a plant that eats bugs? I thought many Muggles owned them?" Cassie said all in one breath. Professor Sprout looked from Cassie to Hermione, who merely nodded her head.
"I thought they weren't magical," Harry whispered to Ron. Ron eyes grew wider as he shook his head.
"No, Miss Takachi. Venus Fly Traps are indeed magical. Muggles would never notice it however...." Professor Sprout started with a disappointed sigh.
"Well, then, what's so magical about them?" Cassie inquired.
"I'm glad you asked that. Half the wizards in the world do not fully know the magic contained in the Venus Fly Trap. Do you know where the most beautiful fairies come from?" Professor Sprout said, smiling a little bit. Half the class shook their head, and half nodded. "For those of you that don't know, the Venus Fly Trap, eats fire flies as well as normal flies. When it has eaten enough, it will close up very tight and swell up. At night, it will reopen again to release this....." Professor Sprout pointed to a covered cage.
"That's not.....a pixie in there is it Professor?" Seamus asked with a gulp.
"No, no Mr. Finnigan. It happens to be a Venus Fairy." The teacher withdrew the curtain from the cage to reveal a glowing, human-like form with wings like a butterfly. "Since they hatch at night and only come out at night when near humans, they are rarely seen. If they are, they are quickly mistaken for the fireflies that fed the mother flower."
"Oh! It's so pretty!" exclaimed Hermione.
"I want one!" Parvati said, equally excited.
"Well, that's just too bad, because that one in the cage is going to be mine, all mine!" a bratty Pansy snapped at the Gryffindors.
"Calm down, calm down!" Professor Sprout said as the Venus Fairy in the cage stopped fluttering about to rest on the bottom of her new home. "You will each get one with the task of taking care of it in your Care of Magical Creatures class!" All the girls cheered at once, while some of the boys groaned.
"Professor, do we have to?" whined one of the male Slytherins.
"Yes! It is required! We ordered these plants especially for you!" she said, motioning to the rows of Venus Fly Traps in the back. "You will care and grow them in this class, and learn how to take care of them in Professor Hagrid's class!" More giggling from the girls and groans of despair from the boys. The rest of the class was spent on discussing the summer's homework, while Hagrid's class, Care of Magical Creatures, was no less fun.
"Open yer textbooks to page 173 and look at that picture. That is a Venus Fairy," Hagrid said. He seemed less enthusiastic about something that didn't have fangs or wasn't fifty feet tall. "It has special healing powers, a blessing from the Goddess of Beauty herself," the half-giant droned on.
"Oh! So they were named after Venus? Or Aphrodite in Greek Mythology?" Cassie said at once. "How about the other gods and goddesses? Did they bless some magical creatures too?"
"No," said Hagrid pathetically as he continued to lecture on about the benefits of owning the rare magical creature. And the class dragged on even longer. Cassie sighed and took out her CD player and a pair of headphones. She began to listen to some American hip hop. Harry just stared at her and the rest of his classmates, as they fell asleep as they sat in the grass outside of Hagrid's hut. Hermione was the only attentive one, sitting down with her back straight, eating up every word and storing it for later use. Hagrid noticed the class had died, but didn't seem to mind at all. He shut his book loudly, which shook everyone out of their dreams.
"Class dismissed early," he said with a smile. The class slowly got up to trudge back to the class half-awake.
"For once, the great oaf did something right," Malfoy mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"What was that?" Harry said, advancing towards the enemy.
"Nothing...too tired to fight," Malfoy replied. He, Crabbe, and Goyle sleepily walked to the castle as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cassie approached Hagrid, who was packing away the book he was lecturing from.
"Hey, Hagrid. I haven't talked to you since we arrived!" Harry said, looking up into the eyes buried in the mass of hair on Hagrid's head.
" 'Arry! How 're yeh doin'?" Hagrdid said happily. "An who is this?" Hagrid cast his beetle black eyes on Cassie, who was cowering a little bit. "It's our new student! I remember yeh!" He gave a her a big hug.
"I...can't.....breathe...." Cassie managed to get out. "Please....."
"Oh, sorry there," Hagrid apologized, letting her down. He turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Yeh treat yer new friend well, 'eh? Dumbledore tells me that this one's a special one, she is." He clapped Cassie on the shoulder. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground. "Oops, sorry again!" Hagrid said, helping Cassie back up. Harry laughed. Poor Cassie was being put on the spot.
"I think we better go now," Hermione said, taking Cassie by the hand. "Bunnie....I mean, Cassie and I need to go study now......" She tugged at Cassie's hand and the two ran up to the castle.
"So, how're yeh boys doing? Found any girlfriends yet?" Hagrid said with a wink. Harry and Ron both blushed, shaking their heads. "Yeh will, yeh will," he said, with a glint in his eye as he looked in the distance at Cassie and Hermione climbing up the front steps.
"How about you Hagrid? Any luck with Madame Maxime?" Ron asked. Hagrid blushed, remembering the beautiful headmaster of Beaxbatons. She was just as big as he was.
"Yeah," he said, shuffling his feet. "We spent a lot of time together tryin' to persuade them other giants to be on our side.....It worked in more ways then one....." He gave them a smile. "Now go and find yer other friends now," Hagrid said, shooing them away.
Harry and Ron gave Hagrid a couple of smiles as they headed back to the castle. "Speaking of Beaxbatons," Harry started. "How about you and Fleur? I thought you said you two sorta....you know...talked over the summer....."
"Err, not really. Just a few letters.....I bet Hermione and that Viktor Krum sent a lot more letters to each other..." Ron replied in a bitter manner. Harry shrugged and stayed silent the rest of the way to the common room.
The third day was worse, because it meant Double Potions with the meanest teacher at Hogwarts, the Potionmaster Severus Snape.
"Welcome back students," he said, more irritated than usual. Harry guessed that he was still pissed off from what Dumbledore had sent him to do over the summer. Snape had probably not succeeded, from what Harry could tell from the scars littering the professor's sallow skin. "Today," he continued aggravatedly, "We will be mixing a potion called colos alteramentum. Can anyone tell me its chemical properties?" Hermione's and Cassie's hands both shot up into the air simultaneously. From the other side of the dungeon-like classroom, some of the Slytherin girls were coughing incoherent phrases such as "suck up" and "teacher's pet." Professor Snape rolled his eyes.
"Let's pick on the new girl then. Miss Takachi, please stand up and give your answer to the class....." With great fluorish, the little girl stood up. She wasn't much taller standing up than many of her classmates that remained seated.
"Colos alteramentum changes the color of whatever it touches. Sometimes, Muggles will use it to color their hair, not knowing that too much will make their hair fall out," Cassie recited as if reading from a textbook.
"Right answer, Miss Takachi. However, I must take ten points from Gryffindor, because you yourself have altered your hair using this potion!" Snape said with glee. Cassie scrunched up her face.
"But, why professor?"
"Because you dyed your hair purple, you git!" yelled Pansy from behind her. Pansy and her gang of friends started giggling uncontrollably. Cassie paused for a moment, still standing up, then pulled her long hair out of the bun she had it in. She examined it for a moment, not noticing that all eyes, including Harry's, were still upon her. The bright purple streaks still shone brightly against her raven black hair in the dark room. She squinted her eyes then blinked a few times.
Turning back to the teacher, who was busy preparing some ingredients on his own desk, she yelled out, "Professor! But, I didn't dye my hair! It's natural! Just ask my cousin, Cho! She can tell you! My mother had pink streaks in her hair, and her mother before that had yellow!" She continued on and on, making every possible argument, her mouth going a million miles per hour in that squeeky tone of hers. Professor Snape turned angrily around, fire blazing in his eyes. The rest of the class grew silent as they watched the Potionmaster stare down the girl.
"Well, then, Miss Takachi," he said calmly, much to the surprise of the rest of the class. "We can just test your hair later. I myself will brew a potion to prove whether the color is natural or not. But ten points will still be taken away for your disgraceful manner in dressing." He motioned to her uniform. "Shirt untucked, sweater tied around the waist. Why, that is a flagrant uniform infraction Miss Takachi!" The rest of the class gasped, while most of them struggled to get themselves back in order. Harry retucked his own shirt as Hermione slyly unwrapped the sweater from around her own waist. Cassie, speechless, fixed her own uniform and sat back down in silence.
At the end of the class, they tested their potions on some parchment. Harry's turned emerald green, while Ron's was a brilliant orange.
"Chudley Cannons," Ron said with a grin. Harry laughed a little, until Snape announced that his own brew was done. He was going to test Cassie's hair with the potion that he had made himself. Malfoy was commanded to take the ladle and spoon it on the ends of Cassie's hair. Malfoy, with a smirk on his face, went to the front of the class with Cassie. Harry caught Snape giving him a wink as Malfoy took the potion and began to pour. Harry put his hand to his mouth as the potion made a hissing sound.
"It's acid!" Hermione screamed, and she and Harry ran up to pull the singed ends of Cassie's locks away from the laughing men.
"Well, Miss Takachi," Professor Snape said with a chuckle. "It looks like your hair hasn't been dyed, or else it wouldn't have burned as it did. And let me use this as a warning and reminder to you all." He cast his eyes on the Gryffindors, who were watching on in shock as Harry and Hermione tried to console Cassie. "Defy me and pay the consequences. Harry and Hermione had Cassie in the corner and were desperately trying to make her feel better. They both had their arms around the sobbing girl, as the rest of the class was dismissed.
"It's really okay, Cass," Hermione said sympathetically. "It just got to the ends of your hair, see?" Hermione held up the singed hair that was lying on Cassie's shoulder. Cassie took one look and buried her face in her hands again, crying even harder. Harry, speechelss, looked over to Malfoy, who had a look of triumph written all over his face. And right behind him was Ron. Harry watched as Ron tapped Malfoy on the shoulder, then decked him with all his might. Crabbe and Goyle came to Malfoy's aid, holding the red head back from their boss.
"Why? Why did you do that? She hasn't done anything to you!" Ron spat out as the two thugs held him back.
"On the contrary. The little mudblood has done plenty," Malfoy said coldly. Harry felt the anger well up inside him. The helpless girl had not meant to do any harm with any of her pranks, at least Harry hoped so. Harry didn't know what to do, afraid that he would burst with anger. So, without thinking, he grabbed a cauldron and flung it at Malfoy's head. The contents spilled all over the laughing Slytherin, drenching Malfoy from head to toe.
"Blimey, Harry," Ron said, still restrained by Malfoy's cronies. Harry watched in shock. What had he just done?!
"Potter, your gonna get it!" Malfoy said, as he jumped onto Harry, wrestling him to the ground. Harry struggled under the weight of his foe, keeping his eyes closed as he tried to get the wet Malfoy off of him. "You and your stupid, idiotic friends have done it this time!" As he raised his fist to give Harry a good punch in the face, Harry opened up one eye. What he saw caused him to erupt in uncontrollable laughter.
Malfoy, confused, looked to Ron, who was also laughing. Crabbe and Goyle had their usual confused looks on their faces. Malfoy then stared at the two girls. Hermione was covering her mouth and rocking back and forth in glee. Cassie slowly removed her hands from her face to get a look, and started laughing as well, forgetting about her hair. Malfoy looked back down at his captive.
"Wha'ts so funny, Potter?" he asked indignantly. Harry took his opportunity and caught Malfoy off guard by pushing him off. Harry got up and glanced back at Malfoy still on the ground.
"Malfoy's a smurf!" Cassie yelled out. She started hopping up and down around the now empty dungeon. "A big, blue smurf!" Malfoy, horrified, turned his glare back at Harry. Harry had already gone into Hermione's bag.
"You have a mirror in here, don't you Herm?" he said, still searching. Harry looked to his best friend, who nodded her head. Harry whipped out her mirror a couple of seconds later and flashed it in front of Malfoy's face. Malfoy saw a blue face with blue hair reflected back.
"AHHHHHH!!!" he yelled, screaming like a girl as he ran out of the room. Crabbe and Goyle exchanged looks and followed their master out. Cassie was still bouncing around and clapping her hands, chanting, "Malfoy's a Smurf! A big, ugly Smurf!" Hermione, still laughing, took out her wand and mumbled something, pointing it at Cassie. Sparks shot out of her wand and to Cassie's ruined hair. When the sparks departed, her hair was repaired. But, Cassie didn't seem to take notice as she continued jumping around, cheering.
"The things we'll do for them," Ron said as he arrived at Harry's side, rubbing his arms. Harry nodded his head slowly as the two girls started talking rapidly, Cassie rattling on about how that blue potion was hers, and Hermione trying to explain that Cassie's hair was back to normal.
Thursday and Friday weren't much different, save the different classes. Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts came on Thursday, along with the fantastic realiztion that Dumbledore had hired another ghost to fill the ever changing job position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Yet, this ghost was much more lively that Professor Binns, the teacher the teenagers had on Friday for History of Magic. Professor Brendaster was exciting and fun, and kept her students on their toes. And Malfoy stayed blue though out the whole week, much to the glee of the Gryffindors.
The second day of school was much calmer than the hectic panic of the first. The classes of the day were Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, a couple of easy ones in Harry's opinion. That is, until Professor Sprout announced a special project that all her 5th year classes would be participating in.
"Now, who knows what a Venus Fly Trap is?" Professor Sprout asked.
"Isn't that a plant that eats bugs? I thought many Muggles owned them?" Cassie said all in one breath. Professor Sprout looked from Cassie to Hermione, who merely nodded her head.
"I thought they weren't magical," Harry whispered to Ron. Ron eyes grew wider as he shook his head.
"No, Miss Takachi. Venus Fly Traps are indeed magical. Muggles would never notice it however...." Professor Sprout started with a disappointed sigh.
"Well, then, what's so magical about them?" Cassie inquired.
"I'm glad you asked that. Half the wizards in the world do not fully know the magic contained in the Venus Fly Trap. Do you know where the most beautiful fairies come from?" Professor Sprout said, smiling a little bit. Half the class shook their head, and half nodded. "For those of you that don't know, the Venus Fly Trap, eats fire flies as well as normal flies. When it has eaten enough, it will close up very tight and swell up. At night, it will reopen again to release this....." Professor Sprout pointed to a covered cage.
"That's not.....a pixie in there is it Professor?" Seamus asked with a gulp.
"No, no Mr. Finnigan. It happens to be a Venus Fairy." The teacher withdrew the curtain from the cage to reveal a glowing, human-like form with wings like a butterfly. "Since they hatch at night and only come out at night when near humans, they are rarely seen. If they are, they are quickly mistaken for the fireflies that fed the mother flower."
"Oh! It's so pretty!" exclaimed Hermione.
"I want one!" Parvati said, equally excited.
"Well, that's just too bad, because that one in the cage is going to be mine, all mine!" a bratty Pansy snapped at the Gryffindors.
"Calm down, calm down!" Professor Sprout said as the Venus Fairy in the cage stopped fluttering about to rest on the bottom of her new home. "You will each get one with the task of taking care of it in your Care of Magical Creatures class!" All the girls cheered at once, while some of the boys groaned.
"Professor, do we have to?" whined one of the male Slytherins.
"Yes! It is required! We ordered these plants especially for you!" she said, motioning to the rows of Venus Fly Traps in the back. "You will care and grow them in this class, and learn how to take care of them in Professor Hagrid's class!" More giggling from the girls and groans of despair from the boys. The rest of the class was spent on discussing the summer's homework, while Hagrid's class, Care of Magical Creatures, was no less fun.
"Open yer textbooks to page 173 and look at that picture. That is a Venus Fairy," Hagrid said. He seemed less enthusiastic about something that didn't have fangs or wasn't fifty feet tall. "It has special healing powers, a blessing from the Goddess of Beauty herself," the half-giant droned on.
"Oh! So they were named after Venus? Or Aphrodite in Greek Mythology?" Cassie said at once. "How about the other gods and goddesses? Did they bless some magical creatures too?"
"No," said Hagrid pathetically as he continued to lecture on about the benefits of owning the rare magical creature. And the class dragged on even longer. Cassie sighed and took out her CD player and a pair of headphones. She began to listen to some American hip hop. Harry just stared at her and the rest of his classmates, as they fell asleep as they sat in the grass outside of Hagrid's hut. Hermione was the only attentive one, sitting down with her back straight, eating up every word and storing it for later use. Hagrid noticed the class had died, but didn't seem to mind at all. He shut his book loudly, which shook everyone out of their dreams.
"Class dismissed early," he said with a smile. The class slowly got up to trudge back to the class half-awake.
"For once, the great oaf did something right," Malfoy mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"What was that?" Harry said, advancing towards the enemy.
"Nothing...too tired to fight," Malfoy replied. He, Crabbe, and Goyle sleepily walked to the castle as Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Cassie approached Hagrid, who was packing away the book he was lecturing from.
"Hey, Hagrid. I haven't talked to you since we arrived!" Harry said, looking up into the eyes buried in the mass of hair on Hagrid's head.
" 'Arry! How 're yeh doin'?" Hagrdid said happily. "An who is this?" Hagrid cast his beetle black eyes on Cassie, who was cowering a little bit. "It's our new student! I remember yeh!" He gave a her a big hug.
"I...can't.....breathe...." Cassie managed to get out. "Please....."
"Oh, sorry there," Hagrid apologized, letting her down. He turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Yeh treat yer new friend well, 'eh? Dumbledore tells me that this one's a special one, she is." He clapped Cassie on the shoulder. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground. "Oops, sorry again!" Hagrid said, helping Cassie back up. Harry laughed. Poor Cassie was being put on the spot.
"I think we better go now," Hermione said, taking Cassie by the hand. "Bunnie....I mean, Cassie and I need to go study now......" She tugged at Cassie's hand and the two ran up to the castle.
"So, how're yeh boys doing? Found any girlfriends yet?" Hagrid said with a wink. Harry and Ron both blushed, shaking their heads. "Yeh will, yeh will," he said, with a glint in his eye as he looked in the distance at Cassie and Hermione climbing up the front steps.
"How about you Hagrid? Any luck with Madame Maxime?" Ron asked. Hagrid blushed, remembering the beautiful headmaster of Beaxbatons. She was just as big as he was.
"Yeah," he said, shuffling his feet. "We spent a lot of time together tryin' to persuade them other giants to be on our side.....It worked in more ways then one....." He gave them a smile. "Now go and find yer other friends now," Hagrid said, shooing them away.
Harry and Ron gave Hagrid a couple of smiles as they headed back to the castle. "Speaking of Beaxbatons," Harry started. "How about you and Fleur? I thought you said you two sorta....you know...talked over the summer....."
"Err, not really. Just a few letters.....I bet Hermione and that Viktor Krum sent a lot more letters to each other..." Ron replied in a bitter manner. Harry shrugged and stayed silent the rest of the way to the common room.
The third day was worse, because it meant Double Potions with the meanest teacher at Hogwarts, the Potionmaster Severus Snape.
"Welcome back students," he said, more irritated than usual. Harry guessed that he was still pissed off from what Dumbledore had sent him to do over the summer. Snape had probably not succeeded, from what Harry could tell from the scars littering the professor's sallow skin. "Today," he continued aggravatedly, "We will be mixing a potion called colos alteramentum. Can anyone tell me its chemical properties?" Hermione's and Cassie's hands both shot up into the air simultaneously. From the other side of the dungeon-like classroom, some of the Slytherin girls were coughing incoherent phrases such as "suck up" and "teacher's pet." Professor Snape rolled his eyes.
"Let's pick on the new girl then. Miss Takachi, please stand up and give your answer to the class....." With great fluorish, the little girl stood up. She wasn't much taller standing up than many of her classmates that remained seated.
"Colos alteramentum changes the color of whatever it touches. Sometimes, Muggles will use it to color their hair, not knowing that too much will make their hair fall out," Cassie recited as if reading from a textbook.
"Right answer, Miss Takachi. However, I must take ten points from Gryffindor, because you yourself have altered your hair using this potion!" Snape said with glee. Cassie scrunched up her face.
"But, why professor?"
"Because you dyed your hair purple, you git!" yelled Pansy from behind her. Pansy and her gang of friends started giggling uncontrollably. Cassie paused for a moment, still standing up, then pulled her long hair out of the bun she had it in. She examined it for a moment, not noticing that all eyes, including Harry's, were still upon her. The bright purple streaks still shone brightly against her raven black hair in the dark room. She squinted her eyes then blinked a few times.
Turning back to the teacher, who was busy preparing some ingredients on his own desk, she yelled out, "Professor! But, I didn't dye my hair! It's natural! Just ask my cousin, Cho! She can tell you! My mother had pink streaks in her hair, and her mother before that had yellow!" She continued on and on, making every possible argument, her mouth going a million miles per hour in that squeeky tone of hers. Professor Snape turned angrily around, fire blazing in his eyes. The rest of the class grew silent as they watched the Potionmaster stare down the girl.
"Well, then, Miss Takachi," he said calmly, much to the surprise of the rest of the class. "We can just test your hair later. I myself will brew a potion to prove whether the color is natural or not. But ten points will still be taken away for your disgraceful manner in dressing." He motioned to her uniform. "Shirt untucked, sweater tied around the waist. Why, that is a flagrant uniform infraction Miss Takachi!" The rest of the class gasped, while most of them struggled to get themselves back in order. Harry retucked his own shirt as Hermione slyly unwrapped the sweater from around her own waist. Cassie, speechless, fixed her own uniform and sat back down in silence.
At the end of the class, they tested their potions on some parchment. Harry's turned emerald green, while Ron's was a brilliant orange.
"Chudley Cannons," Ron said with a grin. Harry laughed a little, until Snape announced that his own brew was done. He was going to test Cassie's hair with the potion that he had made himself. Malfoy was commanded to take the ladle and spoon it on the ends of Cassie's hair. Malfoy, with a smirk on his face, went to the front of the class with Cassie. Harry caught Snape giving him a wink as Malfoy took the potion and began to pour. Harry put his hand to his mouth as the potion made a hissing sound.
"It's acid!" Hermione screamed, and she and Harry ran up to pull the singed ends of Cassie's locks away from the laughing men.
"Well, Miss Takachi," Professor Snape said with a chuckle. "It looks like your hair hasn't been dyed, or else it wouldn't have burned as it did. And let me use this as a warning and reminder to you all." He cast his eyes on the Gryffindors, who were watching on in shock as Harry and Hermione tried to console Cassie. "Defy me and pay the consequences. Harry and Hermione had Cassie in the corner and were desperately trying to make her feel better. They both had their arms around the sobbing girl, as the rest of the class was dismissed.
"It's really okay, Cass," Hermione said sympathetically. "It just got to the ends of your hair, see?" Hermione held up the singed hair that was lying on Cassie's shoulder. Cassie took one look and buried her face in her hands again, crying even harder. Harry, speechelss, looked over to Malfoy, who had a look of triumph written all over his face. And right behind him was Ron. Harry watched as Ron tapped Malfoy on the shoulder, then decked him with all his might. Crabbe and Goyle came to Malfoy's aid, holding the red head back from their boss.
"Why? Why did you do that? She hasn't done anything to you!" Ron spat out as the two thugs held him back.
"On the contrary. The little mudblood has done plenty," Malfoy said coldly. Harry felt the anger well up inside him. The helpless girl had not meant to do any harm with any of her pranks, at least Harry hoped so. Harry didn't know what to do, afraid that he would burst with anger. So, without thinking, he grabbed a cauldron and flung it at Malfoy's head. The contents spilled all over the laughing Slytherin, drenching Malfoy from head to toe.
"Blimey, Harry," Ron said, still restrained by Malfoy's cronies. Harry watched in shock. What had he just done?!
"Potter, your gonna get it!" Malfoy said, as he jumped onto Harry, wrestling him to the ground. Harry struggled under the weight of his foe, keeping his eyes closed as he tried to get the wet Malfoy off of him. "You and your stupid, idiotic friends have done it this time!" As he raised his fist to give Harry a good punch in the face, Harry opened up one eye. What he saw caused him to erupt in uncontrollable laughter.
Malfoy, confused, looked to Ron, who was also laughing. Crabbe and Goyle had their usual confused looks on their faces. Malfoy then stared at the two girls. Hermione was covering her mouth and rocking back and forth in glee. Cassie slowly removed her hands from her face to get a look, and started laughing as well, forgetting about her hair. Malfoy looked back down at his captive.
"Wha'ts so funny, Potter?" he asked indignantly. Harry took his opportunity and caught Malfoy off guard by pushing him off. Harry got up and glanced back at Malfoy still on the ground.
"Malfoy's a smurf!" Cassie yelled out. She started hopping up and down around the now empty dungeon. "A big, blue smurf!" Malfoy, horrified, turned his glare back at Harry. Harry had already gone into Hermione's bag.
"You have a mirror in here, don't you Herm?" he said, still searching. Harry looked to his best friend, who nodded her head. Harry whipped out her mirror a couple of seconds later and flashed it in front of Malfoy's face. Malfoy saw a blue face with blue hair reflected back.
"AHHHHHH!!!" he yelled, screaming like a girl as he ran out of the room. Crabbe and Goyle exchanged looks and followed their master out. Cassie was still bouncing around and clapping her hands, chanting, "Malfoy's a Smurf! A big, ugly Smurf!" Hermione, still laughing, took out her wand and mumbled something, pointing it at Cassie. Sparks shot out of her wand and to Cassie's ruined hair. When the sparks departed, her hair was repaired. But, Cassie didn't seem to take notice as she continued jumping around, cheering.
"The things we'll do for them," Ron said as he arrived at Harry's side, rubbing his arms. Harry nodded his head slowly as the two girls started talking rapidly, Cassie rattling on about how that blue potion was hers, and Hermione trying to explain that Cassie's hair was back to normal.
Thursday and Friday weren't much different, save the different classes. Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts came on Thursday, along with the fantastic realiztion that Dumbledore had hired another ghost to fill the ever changing job position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Yet, this ghost was much more lively that Professor Binns, the teacher the teenagers had on Friday for History of Magic. Professor Brendaster was exciting and fun, and kept her students on their toes. And Malfoy stayed blue though out the whole week, much to the glee of the Gryffindors.