DISCLAIMER: Again, I own nothing. Do I really need to put this at the top of every chapter?
A/N: My Hagrid dialogue sucks. Sorry. I tried.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
INNER EYES AND EXOTIC BIRDS
"Where is she?" Professor Trelawney demanded. She studied each student carefully behind her spectacles.
Cho smiled. Maybe the professor was going to give her an introduction after all. She stood up from her chair and raised her hand. "I'm right here, Professor."
Professor Trelawney, along with the rest of the class, turned to Cho. Cho carefully straightened her skirt and sucked in her stomach, as she knew that Draco was looking at her as well.
The professor looked at her with distaste. "No, not you my dear."
Cho opened her mouth, about to protest, then looked to the rest of the class, who were all sharing small smiles. She could feel all the blood rushing to her cheeks. She quickly sat down and tried desperately to concentrate on the parchment paper in front of her.
Professor Trelawney continued to search each face for something. "Where is she? The gift. The new gift." She made her way to the side of the room where the Slytherin's were huddled together. She glanced at Draco, and then at the girl next to him. "Ah ha! You are new, are you not? Stand up."
Cho scowled. What was so special about her? The new girl shakily stood up and the whole class had focused their attention on her. Even Draco was looking up at the new girl.
"What is your name?" Professor Trelawney requested.
"Um, my name…" The girl cleared her throat and spoke louder. Cho was at the edge of her seat. Finally, she would have a name to place with her face. "My name is Makana. Makana Nane."
Cho scoffed. What the hell kind of a name was that?
"And you have a gift. I can feel it. It is very strong with you, no?"
Makana looked down at the floor, her weight shifting from foot to foot. "I'm sorry professor, I think… I think you must be mistaken."
At least that girl is right about something, Cho thought with a smirk.
"I'm afraid not," Professor Trelawney replied haughtily. "My predictions are never wrong." There were some muted grunts from the other students, but she continued as though she hadn't heard them. "You do have a gift, my dear."
"My name means gift, professor," Makana answered. "It means gift in Hawaiian."
"Then you are aptly named," Professor Trelawney replied. She snapped her fingers. "This gift is a burden, Miss Nane. Sometimes it will aid you, and sometimes it will merely frustrate you. You will need much guidance with your inner eye." She made her way to the front of the classroom. "I suggest that you set up an appointment with me. We will have much to discuss."
Makana sat down as Professor Trelawney addressed the rest of the sixth years. "Now, this year will prove to be much more difficult than last year's activities. In fact, many of you who do not possess a particularly strong inner eye will not be doing well in this course. And you dear," she pointed at Hermione Granger, who sank down into her chair, "you might as well quit while you're ahead."
"Can you believe the audacity of that woman?!" Hermione shouted as she paced the common room. "She singled me out, right in front of everyone. It was terrible."
"I actually found it quite funny," Ron replied, plopping into a chair. "Don't worry, 'Mione. Nobody takes her seriously. Except for maybe Parvati and Lavender."
"And Cho," Harry added, sprawling out on one of the couches. "I wonder what she was doing there."
"Probably worshiping her idol," Hermione scoffed. "Honestly. I'm going to show that woman. I will pass her class with flying colors. Inner eye or not."
"That's the spirit," Ron said, reaching out and grabbing her hand.
"Hey!" she cried as he pulled her into his lap.
"Don't worry, I can tutor you," he said. "It's all about being creative. And I am very creative. You just need to stop worrying about it." Ron entwined her fingers with his own.
"I'm not worrying about it," she said defensively, not meeting his eyes.
"Oh yes you are. You nearly killed poor Susan Bones in Charms with that weaponry spell." Ron turned to Harry. "And at least you won't be dying this year."
"Yeah," Harry mumbled. It was rather odd that his name hadn't come up once during their divination lesson. Not that Harry was upset about it. It was nice to be able to take a backseat in that class. He had to wonder how long it would last though. Eventually, she was bound to mention him.
"You know," Ron said, gazing into Hermione's eyes, "we haven't gotten the chance to celebrate my making the house team."
"You're right," Hermione replied. "We could probably head down to the kitchen and get some leftover dessert from dinner."
Harry looked up at the two of them, cuddled so closely together on the chair. He felt awkward, like a third wheel. The two of them were so happy together. He didn't think he wanted to crash their celebration. "How about you two go and celebrate together," he suggested.
"Are you sure, Harry?" Hermione asked.
Harry nodded. "I've got to go visit Hagrid anyway. Get the other part of my birthday gift."
"Let us know if you need an extra hand," Ron said. "You know, if your little "gift" happens to bite off one of yours."
Harry grinned. "Gee, thanks."
"No problem. After all, what are friends for?"
The sun was just setting as Harry made his way down to Hagrid's Hut. The days were getting shorter and shorter as fall approached. He shivered, but he didn't know if it was because he was cold or because of the irony of the day's events.
'This is the enemy…'
Malfoy. Harry punched his fist into a nearby tree trunk. How could things be so backward? How could Kana be in Slytherin? How could she not remember him? How could she not remember their kiss? There was a part of him that was overjoyed at the thought of sharing classes with her over the next school year, but the other part of him was so devastated by the fact that she didn't remember him he didn't know if he could recover.
So this is what a broken heart feels like. He sighed as he stepped up to Hagrid's door and knocked. He could hear his ferocious dog, Fang, begin to bark happily inside.
"'At's enough, Fang!" Hagrid shouted as he opened the door. But there was no stopping the bloodhound. He tackled Harry and attempted to give his face a bath. Hagrid pulled the dog off of him and sent him outside. "Sorry, e's a little excited. Hasn't seen ya in a while an' all." Hagrid grinned.
"Hagrid, you look… different," Harry exclaimed. His clothes had absolutely no holes in them, and he had a very nice tweed jacket that was a little short on his arms. His hair was actually tamed, pulled back in a ribbon. His beard was still as unruly as ever. But as Harry looked him over, he did begin resemble more of a professor at Hogwarts than the gamekeeper.
He blushed. "Well, Maxine may 'ave had a bit to do with that. She says that any husband of er's got to be nicely dressed 'n jackets and look presentable."
"Husband?" Harry questioned. "You mean you two…"
"Oh no, no," Hagrid replied. "It's just 'at… Well, I wouldn't mind bein' a husband someday. I've thought about proposin'…" He grinned. "And the jacket makes me feel a little better 'bout teachin'."
Harry laughed. "That's great, Hagrid." But part of him felt a pang of jealousy. Was everybody in love? Did everybody have somebody except for him?
"So are you ready for the rest o' your gift?" Hagrid asked.
Harry gulped. "Ah, Hagrid, about that…" But Hagrid didn't seem to hear him. He ushered Harry outside of his hut. Harry followed closely behind him. "Is… is it something I can keep at the castle? Near my bedroom?"
"Oh no, 'fraid not, Harry. In fact, this will have ta be our little secret until the end o' the year." He winked.
Harry gulped. This was not good.
"You can tell Hermione and Ron, o' course." He grinned. "But other than that, nobody ought ter know." He paused. "Okay, close yer eyes now, 'Arry. You're gonna love her."
Her. Harry silently prayed as he did what Hagrid said. He could hear some commotion and the clanging of metal. He envisioned a giant wire cage containing some deadly gruesome animal, yet "cute" by Hagrid's standards. Maybe Harry could make a run for it.
"Okay, 'Arry, open 'em."
Bracing himself for the worst, Harry opened one eye. There was no cage. There was something standing upright on the ground. He opened his other eye. An object covered with a blanket. And best of all, it wasn't moving.
"It's not exactly somethin' ya can wrap an' send," Hagrid explained. "Go on and see."
Harry approached his "gift" with extreme caution. Maybe it was sleeping. No, it was definitely too oddly shaped to be an animal. His curiosity was getting the better of him. He took a deep breath, and then removed the blanket.
It was a motorcycle.
Not just any motorcycle. It was Sirius's motorcycle. Harry would recognize it anywhere. It had been in Hagrid's possession ever since the night Harry's parents had been killed.
"Hagrid…" Harry breathed. "I… I can't believe you're giving it to me."
"Well, it's not exactly my decision," Hagrid replied. "It's from both of us." He produced an envelope from the breast pocket of his suit. Harry's name was scrawled on the front. He recognized the handwriting. It was from Sirius.
"Was he here?" Harry asked angrily. "Did he come all the way to Hogwarts and not see me?"
"No, he sent me an owl." Hagrid paused, looking confused. "Well, I guess it wasn't exactly an owl, ter tell ya the truth. It was somethin' I didn't recognize."
Harry tried to hide his disappointment. "This is great, Hagrid. Thank you so much!" He reached over and gave him a hug.
"Aw, it weren't nothin'," Hagrid said sheepishly. "Now, I'll let ya take it fer a test drive tonight, but other than that ye've got ter wait ter the end o' the term ta drive it again – at least under my supervision." He winked.
Harry grinned. He got distinct impression that as long as Hagrid didn't know, Harry would be allowed to use the motorcycle as often as he wanted.
Now he could really fly.