Here I am again with another short chapter. I really prefer them a little longer than this, but apparently my muse thinks otherwise.
The Book of Carmen
Chapter III:Unexpected Findings
~*~
"It is a hideous thing to look upon. With the torso and legs of a lizard, but with the head of cat it terrifies all whose eyes happen to fall upon the beast. Although such meetings with beast are usually quite short, because the Arassas always enjoys a tasty passerby." Harry turned the page, "Officials in France have warned witches and wizards who have gone in search of the beast for its hide, which is said to be a cure for the hiccoughs. Alas many do not take heed the warning and end up as a meal." Harry's eyes glanced down the page to the illustration of the Arassas. The book didn't lie; the monster really was quite ugly.
"Ugh. What is that?" Ron asked approaching Harry from behind.
"That is an Arassas." Harry replied.
"A what?"
"A monster that lives in the French Alps." Hermione whispered from across the table, "Of course you would know that, if you had bothered to do your homework for Hagrid."
"I was planning on it," Ron said defensively and sat down next to Harry, "but I've been busy."
"Doing what?" Hermione asked.
"Things." Ron said and Hermione rolled her eyes, "Very important things." Ron added seeing the look on Hermione's face.
"I'm sure," she said and then stood up from her seat. "I'm going to find the book I need for Snape's essay," she turned to Harry, "I trust that you will not let Ron copy your homework."
After she left Harry slid his homework over to Ron. "Thanks Harry," Ron said and pulled out his quill and a fresh piece of parchment to copy what Harry had written.
"No problem. I needed the break anyway; my eyes were starting to glaze over. Next time you'll look up the words and I'll copy from you."
"Fair enough," Ron said. "Hermione just doesn't understand the concept of team work. Although I'm surprised that she has had time to complete all of her assignments with as much time as she has spent in the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey," he added with a hint of bitterness.
Harry smiled to himself, being careful that Ron didn't see his grin. Originally Hermione was sent to Madam Pomfrey for detention, and although her detentions were over, she had enjoyed herself so much Madam Pomfrey had agreed to let her continue to help her after classes. Harry figured that Ron was upset because Hermione was so busy these days that she hadn't been able to spend a whole lot of time with them. "Speaking of detentions, how are yours going?" Harry asked.
"A lot better now that I don't have to spend them with Malfoy. Hagrid is nice enough and everything, but sometimes…"
"What?"
"Sometimes he just gets a little too into his work. I mean I just don't find the underbellies of gripoys very interesting," Ron said.
Harry nodded. He could easily picture Hagrid discussing the finer aspects of gripoy anatomy with Ron. He patted his friend on the back, "Don't worry, it is almost over."
Ron shrugged his shoulders and flipped through Harry's book. A letter slipped from the pages, "What is this?" he asked.
"Oh. I meant to take that out."
Ron eyed it suspiciously, "It's not a letter from my sister is it?" he asked making a face.
"No." Harry looked around making sure no one was close enough to hear them, "It's from Sirius and Selene."
"Really? Can I read it?"
Harry nodded and Ron unfolded the letter and began to read, "They are coming to see you?"
"Yes. They are coming to spend Christmas with me." Harry said, a wide smile spreading quickly across his face.
"That's great Harry!" Ron exclaimed, probably a little too loudly for a library. "I'm really happy for you. When are they coming?"
Harry shrugged, "I'm not sure."
"Speaking of Christmas," Ron started hesitantly, "I think I need your help."
"With what?"
Ron moved his chair closer to Harry, "I don't know what to get Hermione for Christmas."
"What did you give her last year?"
"A book."
"Did she like it?"
"I think so."
"Then why don't you get her another book?"
"Well, I wanted it to be something a little more…"
"A little more what?"
Ron looked at him knowingly, "You know…"
Harry knew, but was enjoying taunting Ron, and just looked at him questioningly.
"A little more personal."
"Oh I see," Harry said.
"Any ideas?"
"For Hermione? No."
"What are you getting my sister?" Ron paused, "Never mind, I don't want to know."
"Actually, I don't know. We are going to Hogsmeade this weekend, we can team up and help each other find gifts."
"If you think I'm helping you find something personal for my sister you are sadly mistaken."
"Fine. I'll just help you look for Hermione's present."
Ron nodded, "Sounds like a plan." He looked over Harry's right shoulder and saw a boy carrying about two dozen books, piled so high that they hid his face, "Is that Neville?"
Harry turned around and saw a toad following closely behind the boy, "Yeah, that's Neville alright."
"I guess we should go help him," Ron said and then stood from his chair. Harry followed suit and the two made their way over to Neville.
"Let me take some of these for you," Ron said, grabbing a few books from the top.
"Oh thanks Ron." Neville sighed, relived that the weight of the pile had diminished some. "I was just taking these to…whoa…" Neville said trying to steady the wavering pile. Unfortunately he over adjusted and sent the rest of the books falling towards Ron, who stumbled backwards and fell.
"Neville!" Ron yelled picking himself up off the floor.
"Are you okay?" Neville asked.
"Yeah." Ron said rubbing his elbow.
Harry began to pick up some of the fallen books. There was an old dusty book that had flipped open and lay upside down on the floor. Harry bent down and picked it up; he flipped it over and was about to shut it when he saw an image that made his blood run cold. "Neville? Why are you carrying these books?" he asked, his eyes locked on the picture.
"They are for the new DADA professor," Neville said and then added proudly, "he asked me to pick them up for him."
Ron walked behind Harry and stared at the picture.
"He seems really nice." Neville continued, oblivious to the fact that neither Harry nor Ron was paying him any attention, "It's great that they were able to find a professor on such short notice, being that Professor Ross had to leave. Why did he have to leave again? Ron?"
"Hmm?"
"Professor Ross? Why did he leave?"
"He was bitten by a Capalus. He needed the rest of the year to recuperate," Ron said not lifting his eyes from the book. "Is that a picture of the Book of Carmen Harry?" Ron asked, while Neville picked up the rest of the fallen books.
Harry nodded. It had been two months since he had last laid eyes on the real thing. Even the picture of the Book forced small hairs on the back of Harry's neck to rise. He remembered far too well what that Book had done to him and Selene, the words that it had said to him. He had nightmares about the book, he still heard it calling to him and he still heard the screams it made when Harry tore a piece from it. He snapped the book shut and looked at its cover which read, "A Complete History of Wizarding Books, Volume XIII: The Book of Carmen."
"Why would the new professor need a book about the Book of Carmen?" Ron asked, keeping his voice low.
"I don't know."
"You don't suppose that he might be trying to…"
"No I don't." Harry interrupted. "Here Neville, don't forget this one," Harry said handing the book to Neville who placed it on the pile. "Remember Ron, only a few people know what's in the Book of Carmen, and only Selene knows how to work its magic."
Ron nodded and the two helped Neville carry his books to the counter.
"Still," Harry said, "I wonder who this new professor is."
"You're in luck," Ron said, "We have DADA after lunch, and today is the first day for this new professor."
~*~
Harry looked at his watch and then at Ron. They were sitting in DADA along with the rest of the class, however the new professor had yet to show.
"You don't suppose that he got bit by a Capalus too?" Ron asked.
"What is a Capalus anyway?" Harry asked.
Ron shrugged, "I don't know, but its probably got scales and fangs." Ron looked over at Neville who was listening to their conversation and looked quite horrified at whatever mental image Ron had conjured up for him. "Of course its poisonous," Ron added, watching Neville turn whiter.
"Yeah. Not to mention its gleaming red eyes." Harry added, picking up on the jest.
"And its long snout," Ron said.
"Why a long snout?" Neville asked.
"All things that breathe fire need a long snout," Ron said.
"Don't listen to them Neville," Hermione said turning around in her seat, "They are just messing with you. A Capalus is a large cat."
"Just a cat?" Neville asked.
"Yes."
"Then why did it attack Professor Ross?" Ron asked.
"It probably got hungry. A Capalus has an enormous appetite." Hermione said.
Neville swallowed hard, Hermione's words did not quite have the calming affect that she had intended.
The door to the room opened and a very odd looking wizard entered the classroom. "Good afternoon," he said trying to make his way over to his desk, bumping into a few students along the way. "So sorry I'm late, I'm running a bit behind today."
"Apparently." Ron whispered.
The man eyed a pile of books behind his desk, "Ah. Thank you for bringing those books up for me, Neville. I know it must have taken some time to gather up all these lengthy titles, and haul them up here. Five points to Gryffindor."
Everyone in the classroom looked at Neville who was beaming.
Harry watched as the professor dug through the stack of books that Neville had brought up for him. He paused momentarily as his eyes came across the book that contained the information about the Book of Carmen. The slight pause did not go unnoticed by Ron either, who nudged Harry with his elbow.
"Ah ha!" the professor exclaimed. "I've just found today's lesson," he flipped through a few pages of the textbook, "I figured that since it is so close to the Christmas holidays that I'd start with something light, and really get down to the nitty gritty after the new year. Please turn to chapter three, which I believed is entitled, "The Trouble with Tribbles."
The room was suddenly filled with the noise of pages being turned. To no one's surprise, Hermione raised her hand.
"A question already?" the professor asked. "You must be," he paused running a finger down the class roll, "Hermione?"
Hermione nodded.
"What is your question?"
"What is your name sir?"
"My name? You mean that I didn't already…"
The class shook their heads.
"Oh. I'm terribly sorry. My name is McGinn, William McGinn," he answered, bowing slightly.
~*~
Good ole' Will, just can't get anything together. Please let me know what you think about him, and the rest of the story as well!
One more thing, so very sorry about the Tribble thing, I just couldn't resist it, really, I just couldn't.