Disclaimer: You know. So I'm not going to go into it. But, I would like to say thanks to Lady Tsuru for reviewing the first chapter of this. And I have decided to post the next chapter at her request. Here you go!
Harry Potter and the Legend of the Golden Snidget
Chapter 2: Kneazle Kittens
Harry awoke to a voice telling him something. He was in such a deep sleep that he couldn't tell who it was talking or what the person was saying.
"Harry! Come on! Let's go get some breakfast."
It was Ron. He was poking Harry in the head, trying to wake him up. Harry managed to pull on his robes and stagger down to the Great Hall. He sat down by Hermione who was sipping her pumpkin juice.
"Harry! Really now!" she fussed. She grabbed his tie and started to fix it properly around his neck.
"I'm so tired," he yawned.
" Well eat some breakfast. That'll wake you up," she said as she started to butter his toast. He took the toast from her and started to eat it.
"So," Ron began. "What did McGonagall want last night?"
"Oh nothing important," Hermione replied without looking at him.
"Well, what then?" he asked.
"Its nothing."
"Is it so secret that you can't tell me?!"
"Oh look! The mail's come!" she ignored him.
A dozen or so assortment of owls came flooding into the Great Hall dropping packages and letters into the laps of their owners.
"Hey look, there's Hedwig. No…wait…she's passed us by." Ron said confused. "Oh look, Harry! Seems that you and your girlfriend think alike!"
Harry looked own to the very end of the Gryffindor table. The snowy owl landed right in front of the girl they saw in Madam Malkin's. The girl stood up, stuffed her letters in her robes, took a piece of bacon for her owl, and left the Hall with her owl perched on her arm.
"There's Hedwig!" Hermione pointed up.
Hedwig dropped Harry's letter, landed in front of him, and nipped his hand affectionately.
"It's from Sirius." Harry said opening it.
Dear Harry,
How is everything? Dursley's giving you trouble? Well, don't worry about them. I'll have a surprise for you this summer.
I have something to tell you. There have been reportings of strange happenings in Australia. Possibly dealing with the Dark Arts. I'm traveling with the Ministry of Magic to investigate. But I really don't won't you to worry.
Say hello to Ron and Hermione. Stay safe.
Sirius
The three looked at each other.
"This can't be all good." Hermione said finally.
"But you read what Sirius said. No need to worry." Ron sounding…er…worried.
"I guess you're right," Hermione agreed. "Well, I've got to go attend to something. See you in Transfiguration." Hermione got up from the table and walked briskly out of the Hall.
"Probably off to the library. She does get an early start, doesn't she?" Ron said, looking after her.
"That's Hermione. We should be going too. Can't be late for McGonagall's class," Harry reminded him. Harry and Ron finished their breakfast and left the Great Hall. They continued up the stairs talking. Ron was examining the letter in his hands.
"Do you think its true?" he asked Harry.
"If Sirius says it is, it's got to be."
All of a sudden the letter was snatched out of Ron's hand by none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Well, what have we here?" he asked tauntingly.
"Give it back Malfoy!" Harry said sternly.
"What are you going to do about it Potter?"
Just as Harry and Ron both reached for their wands, they heard…
PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!!
Draco snapped straight as a board and fell over backwards. Harry and Ron turned around half expecting to see Hermione. Instead it was the new Gryffiindor girl, wand outstretch.
Harry's mouth kinda dropped open. This is the closet he's ever been to her. He realized that she was even more beautiful than he first thought. Her deep dark brown eyes were full of concentration. She stepped forward and picked up the letter off the floor.
"I believe this is yours?" she said handing it to Ron.
Ron swallowed hard and said, "That was bloody brilliant!" The girl smiled.
"Thanks. I met him on the train. A real pain, he was. Wouldn't leave me alone."
"I'm Ron. Ron Weasley." he outstretch his hand.
"Hi. I'm Melissa. Melissa Brooks." she said, shaking it.
Harry finally found his voice and regained his senses.
"I'm Har…"
"Harry Potter. I know," Melissa smiled at him.
"Oh," Harry immediately thought of his scar.
"Not because of that."
"Huh?" he was kinda startled. It was the first time someone didn't immediately look at his scar when he first met them.
"It wasn't because of the scar. It was…well…your eyes. I mean, how many Potters have bright green eyes and attend Hogwarts, really?" she smiled again and added, "Besides, can't really see with all that hair, now can we?"
Harry ran fingers through his hair. It had gotten a little longer and more unruly.
"You have a point," he said. He felt his face go flush and looked down at his shoes. They needed shining.
"Well," Ron broke the slight awkwardness. "Lets go up to the common room shall we?"
The three headed up the stairs to the fat lady portrait hole, totally forgetting about Draco petrified on the floor.
They passed through the tunnel and into the common room. There, Hermione was sitting at one of the tables. She stood up and smiled when they walked in.
"I see you've met Ron and Harry?" she asked.
"Oh. Yes. Hermione, did you get that book for me?"
"Here it is," she handed her the book.
"Thanks."
Harry and Ron looked at each other with confused expressions on their faces.
"Wait…er…you…"Harry began, "you two…already know each other?"
Hermione had a mischievous smile on her face.
"Well, last night when McGonagall asked to speak to me. She wanted me to show Melissa around so she wouldn't get totally lost."
"Speaking of McGonagall, we better get to class." Ron reminded them. They got their books and headed out of the common room. Harry, Melissa, Ron, and Hermione made it to class so they had no need to worry about being transfigured into a pocket watch. They took their seats at the front and started a brief conversation before class started.
"Hello, Melissa." said an unpleasantly familiar voice.
"Oh. Hello, Draco. Is there anything in particular that you want?" Melissa said without smiling. Harry, Ron, and Hermione glared at him. Unfortunately someone had unpetrified him.
"Why are you sitting with this lot? There's a seat by me. You can sit there," Draco said, almost demandingly. Harry, Ron, and Hermione narrowed their eyes. Melissa looked up at him.
"No. I don't think so. I like it right here," she said coolly. Before Draco could say anything else, Professor McGonagall walked in.
"Would you be so kind as to take your seat, Mr. Malfoy?" McGonagall said strictly. Draco walked to his seat and glared at them for the rest of the class. When it was time to go to Potions, McGonagall stopped them.
"I need to speak to Melissa. You three can continue onto class. I will send her shortly."
It was about thirty minutes into the Potions lesson before Melissa finally showed up.
"You're late for my class, Ms. Brooks. Can you explain yourself?" Sneered Professor Snape, the Potions master and head of Slyhterin House.
"Professor McGonagall needed to talk to me, sir. She said that if there were any trouble, you could talk with her." Melissa said unfearing the consequences that might come. Everyone expected Snape to blow up and start raving, as he would anyone else besides Slytherin. But to their surprise…
"Very well then. You may take your seat between Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. They will get you up to speed," he said, not raising his voice once.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at each other, then at Snape, then at Melissa, then at each other again in amazement. Even Draco looked stunned. Melissa took her seat as if nothing out of the ordinary happened.
"Uh…er…here. This is what we're doing." Harry showed her, staring.
"Oh. Thank you. What? What is it?" She asked, looking puzzled. "Is there something on my nose? Is my nose gone?"
"No. No. It-it's nothing." Harry managed to say. They continued to work, all the while flashing curious glances at Melissa.
"Why are you all looking at me like that? Hermione? Ron? What is it? Harry? Someone tell me!" Melissa begged them after class out in the hall.
"Well it's just…" Harry began.
"You see, Snape. He…" Ron said.
"C'mon! Get it out man!" Melissa said impatiently.
"Snape always yells at us. Well, except Slytherin. Anyway, he always yells at everyone. But, he didn't yell at you. We just find it…peculiar." Hermione explained.
"Oh." Melissa understood.
"Why do you think he didn't yell at you?" Ron asked.
"How should I know?"
"Well, it's strange for him to be nice to anyone." Harry said.
"Very strange." Hermione agreed.
"Yes, that's all good. But can we please go eat?" Ron whined.
"Okay, Ron. We can go eat now." Hermione smiled.
"Good! I'm starving!"
"All he does is eat!" Harry told Melissa. She laughed and they continued down to the Great Hall.
They Great Hall was already echoing with conversations. The four sat down by George, Fred, and Ginny, who were arguing over which were better, Dungbombs or the Weasley Wizard Wheezes' exploding Bon Bon Toffees. Melissa could see through a space in the crowd that at Slytherin table Draco was still peeved about Transfiguration. But she didn't care. She like being with Ron, Hermione, the Twins, Ginny, and especially Harry. She didn't know what it was but she really like being around Harry.
After Ron was satisfied and full, they left for their next class. But when they reached the third floor Hermione turned a different way.
"Hey, Hermione? Where are you going?" Melissa cocked her head to the side.
"Oh, I don't take Divination anymore." Hermione said.
"She quit a couple of years ago. Got mad because she couldn't see the future in a lump of soggy tea leaves!" Harry said.
"I still think its rubbish!" Hermione stuck her nose in the air and stalked off to her class. Ron, Melissa, and Harry continued up to Professor Trelawney's tower Divination classroom. They climbed up the ladder into the warm air of the classroom. The sweet scent of the incense was overpowering and slightly sickening. The three friends sat around a round table and waited. Lavender and Parvati were excited as usual. Soon Professor Trelawney's light airy voice floated through the air.
"Welcome class. We will be working with the crystal balls. I want you to concentrate on your visions. Set your mind."
"See the future." Melissa said in a mocking voice. Ron covered his mouth from laughing.
"Be one with the ball." Trelawney continued.
"How corny." Ron rolled his eyes. "Her Melissa. You go first."
"Er…um…okay. Lets see…hmm…" Melissa closed her eyes and waved her hands all around the crystal ball. She looked as though she were concentrating on the unseen future.
"I see…I see…oh!…I see…Ronald Weasley…Harry Potter… and Melissa Brooks.falling..falling asleep from this stifling heat and that smothering smell!" She opened her eyes and made a face. Harry laughed. Ron leaned across the table and looked at the crystal ball.
"Hey! I think I see it too!" he said upon examing it.
"Alright Harry. Your turn." Melissa nodded at him.
"Um…er…I see…I see…" Harry began to mimic what Melissa had done. Then he saw a flash of blinding purple light. Then an enchantress in a beautiful golden gown holding a shimmering blue sphere. She was saying some kind of incantation. There was another figure. A wizard. Withering in pain…
"Harry? What is it Harry?" Melissa shook him. Harry opened his eyes. "Did you really see something?"
"No. No. Nothing at all." He said very unconvincingly. The trapdoor swung open and in climbed Madam Hooch, the flight teacher. She was nearly knocked down by the heat.
"Good Lord, woman! Do you really need a fire going as hot as it is up here?"
Professor Trelawney ignored the comment.
"Trelawney, I need to see Ms. Brooks."
Ron and Harry looked at Melissa. She shrugged.
"Why, what ever for?" Professor Trelawney asked in her airy voice.
"You're the Divination teacher. You should know already!" Madam Hooch snapped. "Come along, Brooks. And bring your things."
Melissa followed Madam Hooch down the trapdoor and through the corridors until they reached outside.
"McGonagall tells me that you're a pretty fair keeper, Brooks." Madam Hooch stopped and turned around to look at her. Melissa was stunned. She didn't expect this.
"Er…yes…yes, ma'am. I'd like to think so."
"Well, we'll see. We're going to the Quidditch pitch. I want to see just how good you are." Madam Hooch smiled, her yellow eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione ran out out the front doors down to Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical Creatures lesson. Melissa was already there.
"So, what did Madam Hooch have to say?" Ron asked slightly out of breath.
"Ron! If she want to tell, she'll tell!" Hermione scolded.
"I was just asking!" Ron and Hermione went off into an argument about manners. Harry ignored them.
"Hello, Hagrid." he said.
"Hello, Harry!" Hagrid was carrying boxes out of his hut. "How was your summer?"
"Fine, thanks." replied. Then in a whisper, asked Melissa, "What's in the boxes?"
She leaned in close to him. "I haven't a clue. But I swear one growled awhile ago." they looked at each other, at the boxes, then at Hagrid. Knowing Hagrid and his strange love for creatures, it was something dangerous. The rest of the students were coming out of the castle and heading toward the forbidden forest.
"We have this class with Slytherin!?" Melissa asked horrorstricken. Draco Malfoy was on his way to Hagrid's hut with his two mountain bodyguards, Crabbe and Goyle. A mischievous smile spread across his face at the sight of Melissa. "Someone shoot me and put me out of my misery," she said sounding…well…miserable. When everyone had arrived Hagrid began.
"Its nice to see you all back."
Draco rolled his eyes. Hagrid continued.
"Right then! Lets get started." Hagrid walked over to the boxes. "You're going to have to pair off now."
He began to pry open one of the boxes. Everyone took a step back as something hissed from inside it. Draco walked over to Melissa who was still standing by Harry.
"Well you heard Hagrid. So buzz off Potter." Draco said.
"Actually…"Melissa began.
"Melissa was going to work with me." Harry finished.
Draco stared at him, his cold steel eyes throwing darts at Harry.
"I think you better find someone else to bother." Melissa suggested. Draco backed away and called for Crabbe and Goyle to follow.
"Alright. Any volunteers?" Hagrid stood up. Everyone took another step back. "Oh. C'mon. Melissa. Come." Melissa swallowed hard and slowly stepped up to the box. She was relieved but a little puzzled by what she saw. Inside the box was a small catlike creature with speckled fur. It had outsize ear and a tail like a lion's.
"Go on. Pick it up." Hagrid urged. She bent down and picked it up. Its fur was extremely soft and it began to purr slightly.
"This, class, is a kneazle!" Hagrid presented.
Lavender and Parvati ooed and awed. The class was surprised because it didn't have two heads, stingers, or pinchers.
"The kneazle is intelligent and independent. It makes an excellent pet. It has the uncanny ability to detect unsavory or suspicious characters. These are just kittens. We're going to take care of these until they can be released. So, everyone come up and get a kitten." Hagrid explained.
Everyone rushed forward to pick out their kneazle. Melissa walked over to Harry still holding the kitten. It was staring up at her with its bright orange eyes.
"Its kinda cute, huh?" she asked Harry.
"Yea. What shall we name it?" he asked, petting it.
"Hm…well look at that speckle there. It kinda looks like a crescent moon. How about Luna?"
"Okay. Luna then." Melissa put Luna down and over walked Ron and Hermione with their kitten.
"Its real surprising, ya know. Hagrid not giving us something poisonous." Ron said.
"I admit. It's unlike him to give us something 'normal' for a change. Knowing his love of dangerous creatures." Hermione agreed. Luna and Ron and Hermione's kitten were pouncing on each other.
"Hey! Look!" Harry pointed toward Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Their kneazle was on the ground, its back arched and fur on end, hissing like mad at the three of them. Showing its long carnivorous teeth and slashing its claws through the air. Hagrid ran over to calm it down.
"Looks like they really can detect unsavory characters!" Melissa laughed.
