Disclaimer: I still don't own any of the characters from LOTR or HP



Chapter 3 - An Interesting Lesson

As Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way down to Care of Magical Creatures, they talked about the guests.

'That Gangalf must be pretty powerful if he's Dumbledore's cousin,' said Ron, 'he looks like you shouldn't cross him when he's in a bad mood.'

'I'm very interested in the hobbits,' said Hermione, 'they were thought to be extinct.'

'Well, it doesn't look like they are does it,' pointed out Harry.

'Looks like your books arn't reliable, Hermione,' said Ron, rubbing the bruise on his ribs.

'Oh be quiet,' snapped Hermione, then she spotted Hagrid, 'hullo Hagrid!'

'Hiya! Yeh OK?' asked Hagrid.

'Yeah, fine thanks,' said Ron.

'What d'yeh make of them guests of Professor Dumbledore's then?' asked Hagrid as he dragged over several heavy baskets that seemed to have a tendancy to shake.

'I don't know,' said Harry, 'we're not too sure why they're here and where they're going.'

'Ah,' said Hagrid, 'well I reckon if yeh come and see me later, I might be able ter tell yeh something bout 'em. That Aragorn seems a decent fella. He'll be helping me with me lessons while he's here. He's a Ranger so he knows a lot more than I do.'

One of Hagrid's baskets shook violently and moved about half a metre towards Ron.

'Um,' Hagrid, 'what's in those baskts?' he asked.

'Ah, yeh'll find out soon enough, just as soon as everyone's here.'

The Slytherin's arrived then, Draco Malfoy compaining loudly about not having a proper Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.

'A bunch of nutters if you ask me,' he drawled, 'have you seen the state of their hair?'

Without looking where he was going, he walked straight into Aragorn. He jumped back and seemed lost for words.

'Ah, Mr. Malfoy,' said Aragorn, 'I've been hearing a lot about you.'

'Mr. Aragorn's gunna be helping me teach your lessons,' said Hagrid, 'and he won't be taking no lip from anyone, 'specially you Malfoy.'

Malfoy turned a deep crimson colour.

'Now, gather round everyone,' said Hagrid, as he and Aragorn stood by the shuddering baskets, 'it's a new term so we got a new project for yeh.'

Aragorn lifted the lid off a basket and took out a small struggling creature. It was quite cute really. It looked like a cross between a small lion and a rabbit. It made small growling noises as Aragorn held it up for the class to see.

'They're Furrels,' said Hagrid, 'arn't they cute?'

Malfoy snorted in disgust.

'Are they dangerous?' asked Dean Thomas.

'Not if you treat them well,' replied Aragorn, 'a Furral will not attack you unless you attack it first.'

The Furral yawned, openeing its mouth wide to reveal sharp teeth and two long fangs.

'It's got a very sharp bite,' explained Aragorn, 'so don't tease it or harm it in any way.'

'Now, yeh need to get into groups of about two or three, and we're gunna give yeh a Furral to look after, 'said Hagrid, 'we'll see who manages to care for their creature the best.'

He proceded to pick Furrals out of baskets and assgin them to groups. Harry, Ron and Hermione were given one with a blue-grey coat. It really was quite beautiful. It snuggled into Harry's cloak.

'I bet you anything Malfoy's Furral bites him within ten minutes of him getting it,' said Ron, watching Hagrid hand Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle a brown-coated Furral.

'Now, does anyone think they know what Furral's eat?' asked Hagrid.

'Us?' suggested Malfoy. Aragorn gave him an icy glare.

'Grass?' asked Seamus Finnigan.

'Close,' said Aragorn,' a Furral will only eat grass if it has no other food, but it is a vegeatarian.'

'Now, I thought we could take them over to my vegatable patch and see which vegetables they prefer,' said Hagrid.

Hermione carried their Furral round to Hagrid's vegatable patch, 'this in quite an interesting lesson. These creatures are lovely!'

As they neared Hagrid's vegatable patch, he suddenly held out an arm to stop them. They looked over to see why Hagrid had stopped them.

Jumping about in the vegeatble patch were the hobbits, Merry and Pippin, gathering as many carrots as they could hold. When he turned round and saw Hagrid, Aragorn and the class, Pippin let out a squeak and dropped the carrots he was holding.

'Well, well,' said Aragorn, 'I suppose I knew you two would be up to something within an hour of us arriving.'

'It was his idea,' said Merry pointing an accusing finger at Pippin.

'Don't lie! You suggested we come down here to look for carrots!'

'Ah, but it was your idea to steal the carrots.'

'Stop it, both of you,' said Aragorn, 'I'm ashamed of you. We're welcomed here and so far we've been treated very well. This isn't how you repay kindness!'

The hobbits hung their heads.

'I'm sorry Hagrid,' said Aragorn, 'you're free to think of a suitabe punishment for them.'

Pippin gasped and was about to protest but Merry nudged him.

'Perhaps cleaning up after Furrals at the end of class might teach them a lesson,' suggested Hagrid.

'That sounds fine,' laughed Aragorn, 'don't look like that Merry, it's you own fault.'

'Yeh can come back in bout half an hour to help me,' said Hagrid, 'lesson finishes then.'

'But I can't tell the time!' wailed Pippin.

'Well I'll come and fetch yeh then,' said Hagrid, smiling, 'off yeh go now.'

'Yes Mr. Hagrid. We're sorry,' said Merry.

Hagrid turned back to the class to tell them about what vegatbles Furrals can and cant eat.

Merry and Pippin walked off, but as soon as Hagrid's back was turned, they pulled five or six carrots from their pockets and proceded to eat them!