Two hours and several rounds of Exploding Snap later, the room finally emptied. While Hermione searched the room for any hidden housemates, Ron and Harry moved three chairs a little closer to the fire for light and warmth. "It's empty," Hermione said, sitting primly in a chair.
Ron was sprawled across his chair. "Let's pool what we know," he said, "which isn't much."
"Well, we know she was a Gryffindor four years ago, until she left Hogwarts for some reason. Now she has returned, but she didn't join her former classmates. Instead, she seems to have surpassed them and is undergoing teacher's training." Harry said from where he was similarly sprawled.
Hermione nodded, "That's right. She has unusual eyes too. Of course so does Madame Hooch, so that could mean nothing."
"Or it could mean something," Ron said. He sat up. "Did either of you notice that her coughs seemed to coincide with something horrible almost happening?"
Hermione looked at Ron appraisingly. "She did cough right before she immobilized Neville, that's true. But from what you told me, I thought she started coughing as soon as she got into the Divinations classroom."
Harry shook his head, "No. She seemed fine at first. Then her eyes started watering and she stopped talking. Of course the incense would get to anyone that first time. So I went to open a window, to get her some fresh air. You know the rest."
"You said, she managed to tell you to use a pillow to open the window. When and how did she do that?" Hermione asked. The boys could almost see the wheels turning in her head.
After thinking for a moment, Ron said, "Well she was coughing awfully hard, doubled over even. She sort of gasped out between coughs, 'no use pillow' which seemed like an odd suggestion at the time."
"But after the fact, quite good advice." Harry said.
"What I want to know is how she knew that you should use the pillow." Hermione sighed.
"That is the million galleon question, isn't it." Ron said. They all stared into the fire.
Something gray glided in front of the hearth. It was Shadow. But she wasn't alone. A slender black cat was with her. In the way of cats, they two of them seemed to flow together on the floor. Until they were two furry puddles in front of the fire. Harry frowned. "Have either of you ever seen that cat before?"
"Oh yes," Hermione said, nodding. "That's Starlight. She belongs to Professor Jameson. She came into the room while I was talking to Cora after class."
"Odd name for a black cat," Ron said, looking down at the felines.
"You, should talk," Harry grinned, "Pigwidgeon."
"That's not fair. Ginny named him that, not me," Ron blustered. Harry laughed. Hermione waggled her fingers at the cats. Starlight lazily stretched a paw up at her.
"What if…" Harry started, "What if Rose knows about dangerous things that are going to happen, before they happen?"
"You mean like a premonition?" Ron asked. Hermione looked at him approvingly. Then he added, "Or… you don't think she could be causing these things… Do you?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. She's too openly nice, to be doing that kind of thing."
"So was Barty Crouch, as Mad-Eye Moody." Harry murmured quietly, his face tense. Shadow stood up, and with fluid grace leapt onto Harry's lap. She started purring loudly, and snuggled into his chest. It soon looked like he had a pile of ashes there. After a moment, he started petting her and relaxed.
"I still don't think so," Hermione said. "Rose is strange, but not like he was. Besides, Two points make a line, not a pattern."
"Hermione, you've gone into your brilliant gibberish again. What do you mean?" Ron asked. He seemed to be stretching out a hand to Starlight. Either that or the cat was stretching towards him. It was probably a bit of both.
Hermione smiled at him. "I mean that with only two strange incidents to go by, we can't come to any real conclusion yet. If something else odd happens, we'll reevaluate our information."
Ron wiggled his fingers. "Well, then there is the fact that Neville is accident prone, so that one couldn't have been caused by her anyway. Yow!" He glared at the black cat. She'd pounced on his wiggling fingers. She had her front paws wrapped around his hand; claws sheathed, and was looking back at him, unblinking. Then with a raspy lick from her tiny pink tongue on the back of his hand and an indifferent flick of her tail, she released him. Then went to sit in front of the fire, a dark silhouette against the flames. Ron looked at his hand, disgruntled. "At least she didn't draw blood," he grumbled. The end of Starlight's tail twitched. Ron rubbed his hand.
Hermione and Harry looked at one another, and burst out laughing. After a moment of listening to them, Ron exclaimed, "That's reminds me Hermione." He looked at her. "What were you talking to Professor Jameson about anyway?"
"I was just asking her about homework. She didn't give any you know." Hermione said.
Harry gave Ron an 'I told you so' look. Ron persisted, "But you said you'd tell us what you had learned at the meeting tonight. So… What did you learn?"
"Professor Jameson got her teacher training in America, went to Hogwarts, was a Gryffindor like Rose, and left Britain four years ago." Hermione said.
"That's means she went to America before Rose's third year here," Harry said. Shadow was still cuddled on his chest, but her purring had quieted in sleep.
Ron yawned loudly. "I'm tired of riddles." He yawned again. "In fact, I'm tired altogether."
"We should go to bed. I don't think we're going to solve anything tonight anyway." Hermione said. "We've got Hagrid, McGonagall, and Flitwick tomorrow, as well as that new class." She yawned.
"What new class?" Harry asked.
Hermione looked at him crossly. "I don't know. There were merely slots on the parchment with just a time and place to be, not a course name, or even a teacher. It was on all three of our schedules. Now, I'm going to bed. See you in the morning." And with a sleepy wave, she climbed the stairs.
Ron looked at Harry. "Me too. You coming?"
"Yeah. Just a second." Harry carefully supported the sleeping Shadow with his arms and sat up straight. The cat stayed curled in his arms. She didn't even squeak. But she did start purring again. Harry followed Ron up the stairs.
A black thing streaked past them. Upon reaching their bedchamber, they discovered Starlight curled up on Ron's bed. Her eyes reflected the dim light from their candles back at them. "Looks like you have friend now, Ron." Harry chuckled. He poured a limp Shadow onto the foot of his own bed.
As he changed and climbed in bed he could hear Ron grumbling, "Presumptuous cat… Doesn't know where it's supposed to sleep…ouch!" Harry grinned into the darkness and patted the still purring Shadow. He fell asleep easily.
The next morning was lovely. The sun was shining brilliantly, the sky was blue, and the trio had Care of Magical Creatures right after breakfast. Not even having to deal with Malfoy could dampen their spirits. They walked across the grounds to Hagrid's hut, chatting with other Gryffindors and occasionally stifling yawns. They hadn't seen Rose at breakfast or in tower when they went up to get their things.
Hagrid met the class in front of his house. "Well 'ello everyone. I've got a great lesson planned for you today," he boomed cheerfully. The class looked at each another apprehensively. They remembered his previous great lessons. Thoughts of Blast-ended Skrewts, Hippogriffs and Flobberworms sailed through their minds. Hagrid was holding a large cardboard box. He put it down feet. "These are the subjects. Come in closer. They don't like open spaces." The Gryffindors moved closer, and the Slytherins formed a huddle slightly to the side of the group.
Hagrid opened up the box. A soft mewling sound came from within it. He reached in a picked up a tiny, fluffy red creature. It hung limply in his large hand, and turned bright blue eyes to the students. It's eyes widened and it started mewling and wriggling frantically. Hagrid closed his other hand over its head and it calmed. "This is an Agoradan kit. Otherwise known as a Dannikit. They are quite harmless creatures, until they get attached to a witch or wizard. Then they get quite protective, and dangerous to anything that threatens their companion." The mewling in the box grew louder. "Dannikits don't like open places at all, and can become quite stressed if left in that situation for very long. It's dangerous to their health." Hagrid put the red Dannikit back in the box and smiled at the class. "You'll all be getting one to take care of for the semester. I've got cages for you to keep them in. They're at the side of the house." He pointed.
Every one, even the Slytherins, went and picked up a small box. Malfoy sneered down at his, but he seemed to either be biding his time before making a remark, or genuinely interested in the Dannikit. Harry was willing to bet it was the former. The boxes were about a foot square, with a glass view screen on one side and a wire mesh lid. Hagrid cleared his throat. "Now, I'm going to lift out the Dannikits one at a time and hand them out. Hold them very gently and carefully. If the kit struggles, hand it to the next student. They'll only be calm with someone they'd be able to live with, so don't force it. If you try to, and get one that can't survive with you, they'll die."
Wouldn't that be a tragedy. The loss of yet another rodent from the world," Malfoy sneered.
"You're right Malfoy," said a voice behind the trio. They turned to see Rose looking at Malfoy. There were green flickers in her eyes. "There are too many rodents in the world. Especially here at Hogwarts." Her eyes glowed fully green for a moment. "But that's fortunate for the Dannikits, since that's what they eat." She smirked at Malfoy's scowl before approaching Hagrid. She smiled sweetly at him. "Hello Hagrid. Sorry I'm late."
"S'all right Rose." He smiled proudly down at her. "Danni's do eat rodents, but not till they're full grown."
She nodded. "I stand corrected Sir." She grinned again. "Can I help?"
"Yep. You can take over and hand the Dannikits to the students. I'll go get their mum, so y'all can see what they look like grown-up." Hagrid disappeared back into his hut. Rose went to the cardboard box and looked inside.
She whistled low. "He's got 'em crammed in here like sardines." She nodded. "Exactly the way it should be." She reached into the box and pulled out a brown-furred, brown-eyed Dannikit. She looked at it for a moment. "Who should you go to little one?" She looked around at the students.
Just as they had for every one of Hagrid's other classes; the trio stepped forward first. "We'll start it off, if you like." Harry said. Smiling, Rose handed him the Dannikit. Harry cradled it in his hands. After a moment, it wriggled around, so he passed it to Ron, who immediately passed it to Hermione, because the kit became frantic. She patted it a moment, but it started wriggling anyway. The Dannikit was passed around the students until it reached Neville. It went completely still in his hands and blinked up at him.
His eyes round with surprise, Neville exclaimed, "It's so soft!"
Malfoy looked as if he might make a remark, but a single green-tinged glance from Rose stifled it. She smiled at Neville. "Go ahead and hold it to your chest Neville. They like to be near other creatures. Your heartbeat will comfort it." Neville did as she said. The Dannikit snuggled itself under his chin. If his shirt hadn't been buttoned securely, it would have climbed inside. Neville looked at the little creature with awe. Can everybody say awwww… {Sorry had a George of the Jungle moment there}
Smiling, Rose went back into the box. Several Dannikits later, Hermione finally got one that liked her. She immediately cuddled it to her cheek. The light brown kit hid itself in her hair, snug against her neck. She was about to continue helping but Rose shook her head, "Now that you've got one, go join the others over there." She pointed to the growing huddle of students with Dannikits. Hermione nodded and did so, most of her attention on the tiny creature on her shoulder.
As he handed off yet another Dannikit, Harry asked, "So what do you know about these things Rose?" She glanced at him, before watching the black kit getting passed around. It finally settled on Dean Thomas, who stuck it in his shirt pocket. There were only a few Dannikits left and Hagrid had not yet come out of his cabin. There were occasional thuds from inside, but no yells, so Harry was not yet worried.
Rose snuggled a black and white spotted Dannikit before handing it to Harry. "I've done a lot of animal research. It was a requirement of my training."
"And what was your training?" Ron asked, handing the unusually patterned animal to Lavender Brown. The animal took one look at the next person in line, Goyle, and clung to her shirt squeaking pitifully. She cuddled it, making reassuring noises as she moved to join the paired students. Harry covered his laugh with a cough, paying close attention to Rose's reply to Ron's question. Unfortunately, she didn't have a chance to give one.
There was a yell from behind him. Malfoy was cradling his hand and glaring down at the ground. Rose dashed over to him; Harry and Ron close behind. There was a red ball of fur on the ground at his feet. It wasn't moving. "What Happened?" Rose asked, her tone stern. Ron knelt down and touched the tiny creature.
Malfoy smirked. "That thing bit me. It's dangerous." Ron picked up the limp body. Harry thought he was going to be sick.
Parvati Patil moved up to them. "It tried to get away from him. He wouldn't let it. So it bit him, and he threw it down." Her eyes glimmered with tears. "Is it dead?" she asked Ron.
Ron shook his head, cradling the Dannikit to him. "No, but it's hurt bad. I think I should take it to the hospital wing. Do you think Madame Pomfrey would know what do to with it?"
Rose nodded at him, her eyes a worried gray. Harry smiled wryly at him, "Madame Pomfrey can help with just about anything. I should know." Ron tried to smile and couldn't manage it. He started across the grounds. Hermione ran after him and Harry could hear her asking him what was going on.
"I need to go to the hospital wing too. For my hand." Malfoy whined. Harry could see that he wasn't even bleeding.
Rose's gray eyes blazed into green flames without even blinking. It was quite startling to watch. "50 points from Slytherin house for wanton mistreatment of a magical creature," she declared her tone so cold Harry almost shivered. Malfoy paled and took a step back.
"Y- you can't do that!" he exclaimed.
"Actually, she can," Hermione said, joining them. "Hagrid left her in charge. She has the power of his authority behind her."
"She's not a teacher, and neither is he! My father's going to hear about this!"
Rose smiled icily. "I'm sure he'll love hearing that his son nearly murdered an Agoradan kit. It'd just make his year." Her smile grew, "Or rather, his years, and yours. Since the killing of an Agoradan is a crime that gets a witch or wizard five years in Azkaban. Plus a ten-year long curse on the felon from the animal's mother." Her smile faded. "So, I'd get out of here before Hagrid brings her out. Might not be too healthy for you."
Without another word, Malfoy turned and ran back to the castle. Harry turned to Rose. Her green eyes remained on Malfoy. "Was all that true?" He asked her as they returned to the Dannikit box.
Rose smiled at him, her eyes now an odd mixture of blue and green. "Mostly." Harry grinned back. She lifted another red Dannikit from the box. Her eyes went gray again. When she tried to hand it to Harry, the Dannikit squeaked and waved a seven-toed paw at her. "Uh-oh. I'm not supposed to get one." She tried again to hand it to Harry and discovered that each of those seven toes contained a claw. It gripped her sleeve tenaciously.
"Looks like he thinks differently," Harry said. He smiled at the look on her face. It was a combination of amusement, anxiety and awe.
Hagrid banged out of his hut, carrying a huge box. It barely fit through the door, and that was certainly saying something. When he set it on the ground, it was almost as tall as he was. He looked around and appeared to be counting students. He leaned down to Harry. "Where's Ron and 'Ermione? And Malfoy?"
"Hospital wing," Rose answered. She was still trying to dislodge the Dannikit, but her efforts were becoming half-hearted.
"Quit fussin' with it Rose. You'll stress it. We've got enough for everyone." Hagrid told her. "Why'd they all go to the hospital wing?"
"Malfoy tried to force one of the kits. It refused him, so he almost killed it." Rose explained. She snuggled the Dannikit, unable to help herself.
"He did WHAT?" Hagrid bellowed. All noise from the other students stopped, and everyone looked at them. Harry had never seen Hagrid look quite like he did then. Sort of furious and afraid, all at the same time. "What's he in the hospital wing for? It couldn't have hurt him."
"He claimed it bit him," Harry said.
"Couldn't have hurt much. They've just got their milk teeth now," Hagrid looked into the Dannikit box. "There are a couple left. Who doesn't have one yet?"
"Harry doesn't have one," Rose said. "Neither does Malfoy, of course."
"What about the one that was hurt? Did it have a companion yet?" Hagrid asked. He started unfastening the latches on the large box.
"I think Ron bonded to it. He picked it up from the ground and he's taking it to the Madame Pomfrey." Rose said.
"It'll be okay then. Once they're bonded, they're stronger." Hagrid mumbled. Harry sighed with relief. Hagrid turned from the box to Harry. "Well, pick yours up Harry. I'm sure there will be a staff meetin' about the one left behind. And whether or not that git deserves it. If it consents to take him."
Harry looked down into the Dannikit box. There were only two kits left. A black one, and a white one. He reached in to pick up the white one, but the black one pounced on his hand. With its bright green eyes wide in its little round face, and its little paws wrapped around his wrist, there was no denying that he'd been claimed. He smiled as he scooped up the fuzzy animal.
"We can't just leave that one alone in the box like that. It'll freak out." Rose said. Her Dannikit was sitting on her shoulder, fluffy tail wrapped around her braid for balance. It regarded Hagrid solemnly, amber eyes unblinking.
Hagrid smiled at the little creature. "Well, do you mind holdin' it then? Since you are already bonded, it will tolerate you until we find it a companion."
Harry was playing with his Dannikit. He tickled its chin, and it mewled happily from its spot curled in the crook of his arm. He looked up in time to see Rose pick up the white kit. It went stiff for a moment and eyed her red one frostily. She tried to put it on her other shoulder, but it stayed stiff. Looking at it oddly, she put it in one of the empty student Dannikit boxes. It settled down and curled up in a ball. It lay there with its blue eyes open, watching everything through the little window of the box.
"That's strange." Hagrid said. Shaking his head a bit, He turned to the rest of the class. "Everybody get in a circle around this here crate. Stand about ten feet away." The students, all cuddling Dannikits, did as he said. There were kits in pockets, kits in hair, and on shoulders. Neville's had even managed to actually get inside his shirt. It occasionally squirmed, and he'd grin. Harry secured his kit in his arm, and watched as Hagrid opened the last latch on the large box.
The sides of the box folded down to the ground to reveal the Agoradan. She was bigger than Fang, and much more beautiful. She looked like a tiger (minus the stripes) only better. She sat primly, regarding them all with a steely gray gaze. Her thick fur was red, black, and white all swirled together in multi-layered brilliance. Large pointed ears sat perked on the top of her dark red head, turning this way and that to pick up the slightest sound. Her tail was at least three feet long, bushy and red with a white tip, like that of a fox. It curled neatly around her front legs. Her relatively small pink nose sniffed the air delicately. She stretched out one very large paw to Hagrid, extending all seven toes, complete with claws. She yawned, displaying sharp fangs.
"Meet Atanis. Affectionately known as Atty," Hagrid announced, smiling proudly. He stretched out his own large hand to her. She butted her head against it affectionately. He scratched her between the ears. A low rumbling came from her chest. It sounded like distant thunder. "Agoradans live as long as their companion does. Atty here has just reached her thirtieth year. You hold her second litter."
The white tip of Atty's tail waved proudly, and the thunder grew louder. Hagrid continued, "You'll notice a small pamphlet in your boxes with basic care instructions. You've been given permission to bring your dannikits with you to your classes, though some teachers will require them to stay in their boxes. The next couple of weeks are crucial to the development of a relationship with your Dannikit."
Harry's Dannikit had clambered up to his shoulder. It seemed to find his hair fascinating. He could feel its paws batting at his head and whiskers tickling his ear. Grinning, he asked, "Hagrid, you said they bond for life, so what happens to these guys after the semester's over?"
"If they aren't completely bonded at the end of their first year, they'll die." Hagrid said, then sniffed loudly. Atty gave him a reproving look.
"They must be rare, because I've never heard of them before," Pansy Parkinson sneered. Her kit was cradled in her arms, asleep. It was obvious however that the idea of owning something rare appealed to her.
"Yes, they are rare. They die without a successful bond. That makes for a small population. But it's growing." Hagrid continued. He pulled out a hanky and blew his nose. It sounded like a foghorn. Atty's thunder was cut off and her reproving stare turned into quite a dirty look. She stood up and moved a little away from him.
Standing, the tops of her ears reached Harry's chest. She walked with an easy grace around the circle of students. She came to the box containing the un-bonded white Dannikit. Everyone went quiet. She lowered her head and sniffed it. It mewled at her and she lifted her head, seeming startled. The pupils of her gray eyes narrowed to slits and she walked the circle, looking at each of the students in turn. She paused in front of Neville, and Harry could have sworn she looked amused. Neville wasn't paying her any attention. A tiny brown paw was reaching out of Neville's collar, batting at his mouth. He was making faces, and before each change in expression, the paw would tap his lips. She continued, passing right by Crabbe and Goyle, who were looking at the balls of fluff in their hands with bewildered confusion. Her gray gaze slid over the rest of the Slytherins, but she had a good look at each of the Gryffindors. Finally, she stopped in front of Harry.
She glanced over at the white kit, and then met Harry's eyes with her gray ones. Love, pride, and an amazing sense of power were in those eyes. She blinked and he came back to himself. That amused gleam was back, and she looked up at the top of his head. He could feel a we there. Then a wisp of black fur caught his eye. He realized that his kit was now sitting on his head. Not only that, but its front paws were resting on his scar. Rose was looking at him oddly. Atanis blinked at him again and moved on to Rose.
When Rose's gold eyes met those of the Agoradan, they turned a dark blue, before returning to that warm gold color. Her kit waved a paw at its mother, breaking their locked gaze. Atty moved to look down at the white Dannikit again. It was sitting up now. She picked it up in her mouth with the utmost care and brought it to Harry. She stared at him until he held out his hand. Then she gently placed the white kit in it. She seemed satisfied about something and returned to the folded box in the center of the circle.
Hagrid cleared his throat. "Looks like she approves of you all. That's the end of our lesson for today." He motioned the students toward the castle. Harry was looking down at the white Dannikit. It stared up at him, blue eyes unblinking.
He looked at Rose. She looked a little dazed. After shaking her head, and patting her Dannikit, she smiled at Harry. "What am I supposed to do with it?" He asked her.
"I'm pretty sure you've been designated its surrogate caretaker. Until a companion can be found for it." Rose said. "Come on, you're going to be late for your Charms class."
Careful not to unsettle his own Dannikit, Harry cradled the white one in the crook of one arm and carried his bookbag with the other. He was sure that he has never walked across the grounds with such perfect posture in all his time at Hogwarts. The white kit was perfectly still in his arms, but a black tail kept waving past the sides of his face. His kit seemed to be trying to keep it's own balance, but all it was doing was unbalancing Harry. Finally, after his fourth near stumble, Rose stopped him.
"Harry, let me see if she'll let me hold her," Rose said, a hand on his arm. Harry nodded and could feel the little paws gripping his hair. In all the moving, his kit had never unsheathed its claws, not even when he stumbled. Rose reached up, and took the kit from his head. Her own kit watched from her shoulder as she cradled it in her arms. It didn't squeak a protest, but it did keep its green eyes on Harry.
"How do you know it's a girl?" He asked.
Rose smiled down at the black kit. Her own climbed down into her arms and crowded in with Harry's. "Female Dannikits always chose men and the males always choose women. It's just the way they work." The black and red kits were snuggled together. "I guess they've decided to be friends."
"I wonder why this one didn't like you," Harry said, motioning his head to the white one. They had reached the doors.
"Well, it's a girl," Rose said, "and un-bonded. Although, I've never known them to be hostile..."
"So that really is unusual." Harry said.
"Yes," Rose paused. "You go ahead and go to Charms. I'll stop by the Hospital wing to check on Ron and that kit. We'll probably meet you there." She untangled the two kits in her arms and set Harry's on his shoulder. After a moment, it was securely perched, its tail wrapped around his neck. With a wave of her hand she went on down the hallway, her Dannikit back on her own shoulder.
Harry glanced at his kit. She blinked at him and batted at his unruly hair. With a tiny squeak, she fell off his shoulder and landed in his arms with the white kit, who loudly protested the disturbance. As Harry walked down the hallway, his own started griping too. It was that time between classes when everyone was in the halls. Harry, juggling two complaining dannikits, got many curious glances from passing students. He burst into the Charms classroom, put both of them down on his desk, pulled out his wand and yelled, "Accio boxes!"
The rest of the class, all Gryffindors, turned and stared at him. Two of the personal boxes for the dannikits flew through an open window and slid to a stop next to the still arguing kits. Harry scooped up the white one and put it in its box. As soon as it was inside, his own stopped griping, sat down primly and looked at him. He would have sworn to anyone that asked that there was approval in those bright green eyes.
Harry looked up at the class. "Sorry," he mumbled, flushing. "They didn't like each other." He sat down hurriedly at Professor Flitwick bustled into the classroom. Once he had climbed the stairway made of books to the top of a second pile of books in his chair, he sat down and looked out at the class. And promptly fell off again, startled by the sudden appearance of the head of Neville's Dannikit above his shirt collar.
Climbing back into his chair, the tiny professor said, "I see you've gotten your little companions. This year ought to be interesting." And so the class began. After a while, Flitwick noticed that Hermione and Ron were both missing. The information that they were in the hospital wing sent him falling to the ground again. Before he had climbed into his chair again, the missing students and Rose slipped into the classroom. Flitwick watched Ron and Hermione slide into their seats. Rose approached him; her Dannikit curled in her arms. She started whispering to him.
Harry leaned over to Ron and asked, "How's that kit?"
Ron pulled his bookbag off his shoulder and opened it. The red Dannikit was curled inside, asleep. "She'll be all right," he smiled down at the little creature and closed the bag again. He looked at Harry. "I'll tell you about it after class. He wiggled his fingers at Harry's kit, which was watching him closely. She blinked and batted his hand with a paw. He grinned.
"Who does that one belong to?" Hermione asked, pointing to the white Dannikit.
"Nobody yet. It's the one left over." Harry said. "Its mother designated me its babysitter, until a companion can be found for it."
"But the only one in the class that didn't get one is..." She stopped speaking.
Ron stiffened, "Malfoy." His blue eyes narrowed. "I'll certainly have something to say about that."
"That's good," Rose said, coming up to them, "Because there's a faculty meeting at lunch back at Hagrid's about that very thing. And we are all expected to attend."
"How do you know?" Ron asked. "You were with us from the hospital wing to here.'
"I spoke to my sister before I went there." Rose said. "Now shush. Flitwick's teaching y'all a cleansing charm, to help look after your kits." Giving her strange looks, the trio turned their attention to the professor.
The class started well, but about twenty minutes after the arrival of Ron, Rose and Hermione, everything seemed to fall apart. Every time one of them tried to swish and flick their wands, their dannikits would interrupt. Ron's would just mewl pitifully from his bag, forcing him to stop and check on it. Harry's would jump at his wand, trying to snag the end of it. Rose's would yowl even when she wasn't the one doing the magic. Hermione's kit would tangle itself in her hair and if she even attempted the spell, it would jump off her shoulder, jerking her head around. Neville couldn't get his kit to come out of his shirt. The white kit wasn't doing much of anything, until Harry got the bright idea to try the spell on it. As soon as he aimed his wand, it let out an unearthly shriek, but because it was in the box, couldn't do much of anything about it. The spell hit the kit with a pop. For a moment, it was hidden in a mass of soap bubbles. Slowly they dissipated to reveal a sparkling clean, dry, fluffy, white, complaining, but perfectly fine Dannikit.
"Oh," Hermione said. "They just don't like baths." She started wrestling her Dannikit out of her hair.
Fred and George came into the classroom. With winks at the trio, they went to stroll up to Rose. Her Dannikit peeked at them from her shoulder. It had worked several curls from her braid, and now had a thick curtain to hide behind.
After a few whispered comments, Harry heard George add to her, "I don't want to startle you, but there's something furry in your hair." Rose laughed. The Dannikit blinked at the twins.
"So are you coming or what?" Fred asked. Then he gaped, suddenly noticing the amber eyes that peered out at him.
"Yes I am. That's my Dannikit, an extra from the litter for the fifth years. We'll follow you in a moment." Rose said. She went to speak with the professor, who nodded at her and returned to helping Neville coax his Dannikit from his shirt. The kit was adamantly refusing to pay attention to either of them. In fact, after a moment, a delicate whirring sound came from the afore-mentioned shirt. Neville's face took on a blissful expression and he gave up.
Rose approached the trio, the twins sauntering after her. "Come on you three. We've got to get to that meeting. Everyone else is already there."
"Everyone else means who exactly?" Hermione asked. She released her kit, but it was so tangled in her curls by now that it couldn't move. It mewled pitifully. Sighing, she went to work untangling it. Ron almost laughed, but she glared at him and he started trying to help. Rose looked at the twins for an answer.
Fred shrugged, "Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape, as well as Hagrid... I'd love to know what you all did that requires the attention of the Headmaster on your second day." He grinned.
"Don't forget, Madame Pomfrey and that bloody great cat." George added, grinning at them too.
"It's an Agoradan, and the mother of these creatures," Harry said, wondering if the teachers would give the white kit to Malfoy after all.
"Yes, well, we'd better go. Thank you two for fetching us," Rose said, smiling at the twins. It was clear from her look that she assumed they'd be returning to their own interrupted class now.
George's smile grew into a smirk. "We're to come with you. Don't have a clue why."
Hermione had finally managed to untangle her Dannikit. Ron checked on his own and Harry settled his on his shoulder. The white kit was still grumbling. George picked up its box. "I'll give you a hand." He looked in to the box at the kit. "Who does this one belong to?"
"No one yet," Rose said, ushering them all out the door. They left the rest of the class all trying to get their dannikits to be still long enough for the spell to work. A few were sitting like Neville, smiling blissfully. That delicate whirring sound had grown louder. The dannikits were obviously trying to convince their companions that they didn't need a bath at all. Harry determined to make a note of that phenomenon so that he could see if his kit did the same thing.
They all walked, once again, out to the grounds. "Why do you have that one if it doesn't belong to anyone?" Fred asked, as they crossed a courtyard.
"The mother gave it to Harry to baby-sit, until a suitable companion could be found," Rose answered.
"She sure is a beauty," George said, looking in at the white kit. "Who is she supposed to go to?"
"Originally, she would have gone to Malfoy," Ron said with a scowl. He pulled his bag around and reached in to check on his Dannikit again.
"That nasty bugger?" Fred asked, incredulous.
"He's not fit to own such a creature!" George exclaimed indignantly.
"Especially since he's almost killed one already," Rose said, coldly.
"WHAT?" The twins yelled in unison.
"You'll hear all about it in a minute," Rose said, her eyes blue gold with approval at their reactions. They'd reached Hagrid's 'classroom' area. They could see him; McGonagall, Snape and Dumbledore all crowded around something on the ground. Casting a glance at the trio and the twins, Rose squeezed her way into the circle of teachers. She just as quickly squeezed her way out again. As she approached them, her eyes were swirling blue, green, and gold.
"What is it?" Harry asked. Rose smiled rather wolfishly and motioned them all over. The teachers spread out enough for them to see what was in the center. Upon realizing what was in front of him, Harry had to stifle a shocked gasp. Looking at the others, he saw that they were having much the same reaction.
It was Malfoy. He was lying on the ground, terrified, staring into what must have appeared to be the very jaws of death. Atanis had obviously pounced on him. Her huge front paws were on his chest, claws partially visible. Her large head was barely an inch away from his, and her lips were lifted in a silent snarl, displaying her fangs. "P-p-please call her off..." he stammered. His face was shiny with sweat. Dumbledore nodded and Hagrid put a hand on her neck. Her gray eyes flickered to him as he whispered in her ear. After a very tense moment, she growled deep in her chest and stepped off him. Malfoy remained on the ground, trying to regain his composure. Rose cleared her throat. The teachers turned their attention to the new arrivals.
"Ah good. You're all here," Dumbledore said with a hint of a smile. "I'd like everyone's account of what happened this morning. I've heard from a few of the other students already, but as you were all in the middle of it, I decided for a separate meeting." He looked at them expectantly.
Snape cleared his throat. "Headmaster, as I understood it, none of these students saw the incident, and everyone knows there is no love lost between Mr. Malfoy and the Hogwarts trio."
"Severus, the very reaction of Atanis to young Mr. Malfoy's presence lends credibility to the previous eyewitness accounts we've heard." McGonagall said with a frown at the still shuddering boy on the ground.
"We're not here to contest what happened," Madame Pomfrey said. She was looking over Malfoy, though not assisting him in any way. "I can tell you, from the injuries to the kit, what happened to it." She glanced at Ron. He patted his bag. It wiggled just slightly. She smiled.
"But the older Weasley's weren't there at all. Why are they here?" Snape snapped out.
"You know why, Professor," Hagrid said. Fred and George looked at each other, confused. Snape glared at them. Hagrid kept his hand on Atty's well-muscled neck. Her gray eyes had gone cold, and were locked on Malfoy.
"Pardon me," Rose said, with a glance at Snape "but perhaps we should begin." Dumbledore nodded at her. "I was handing out the kits, and heard a yell. When I approached, Malfoy was standing over the kit, whining about his hand. Ron checked on the kit while I learned what had happened from Ms. Patil. He was claiming that it had bitten him, though he wasn't bleeding, and that made him drop it. Ron took it to the hospital wing, along with Hermione. I took fifty points from Slytherin for mistreatment of a magical creature."
Harry heard Hagrid mutter, "Should have been a hundred." This was followed up by that distant thunder from Atanis. The sound made Malfoy shudder and scoot away from her. She yawned lazily, showing those fangs in their entirety; her gray eyes fastened on him. Harry almost laughed, but managed to contain it. He returned his attention to the conversation.
Snape was saying, "She has no right to take away points. She's not a teacher."
McGonagall started to say something, but Dumbledore stopped her. "Yes Hagrid?" He asked softly.
Hagrid cleared his throat. "I gave her the responsibility of the class while I got Atanis from inside the house. She had my authority."
Dumbledore nodded and looked at Ron, "Mr. Weasley, what do you have to add?"
Ron unslung his bag, reached in and pulled out his Dannikit. He cradled her gently in his arms. She lay still, until she caught Malfoy's shudder out of the corner of her eye. Her bright blue eyes went wide with fear; she trembled and tried to climb into Ron's shirt. He let her. He kept a hand on the lump she made under the fabric and began.
"I picked her up from the ground. I didn't pay much attention to what was being said, but I figured out that she'd been dropped. She was hurt badly, so I took her to the hospital wing to see if Madame Pomfrey could help. Hermione came too. Madame Pomfrey was surprised to see us. And even more surprised to see the Dannikit. By the time she was done fixing it up, Rose had come to escort us to Charms." He patted the lump that was his kit. "She'll be alright in a few days."
"That she will dear boy," Madame Pomfrey said to him. She smiled that medi-witch smile. The one Harry knew so well, that meant that everything was going to be okay… eventually.
Snape scowled, but this time, it seemed to be aimed at his prize student, instead of Harry and his friends. That in and of itself was surprise. "Can we get this over with? I have a class full of first years in ten minutes," he growled.
"In a moment Severus. George would you mind opening that box of yours?" Dumbledore asked. "I'd like to have a look at the last kit of the litter."
"Of course Headmaster." George was remarkably polite as he opened up the box. He held up the box. The kindly old wizard smiled and held out his hand. So George lifted out the white kit, put the box on the ground and handed her to him. The only problem was, it wouldn't leave his hands. He put it directly into Dumbledore's hands, and yet when he pulled his own hands back, he was still holding the kit. "What the…"
"Congratulations Master Weasley. You've been accepted." Dumbledore smiled kindly at his shocked expression.
"But he's a seventh year student!" Malfoy exclaimed. Atanis growled. At the same time, Snape grabbed him by the arm. He shut up, looking fearfully between the angry Agoradan and the irate Potions Master.
"Yes Mister Malfoy. But as you can see, the little one doesn't care. And neither do I." Dumbledore answered calmly. McGonagall looked furious. He continued, "Thank you all for coming. I believe you have a lunch to get to?"
They all nodded, a bit shocked. George was staring at the white kit in his hands, surprise and awe written all over his face. Fred reached out a finger and asked, "Can I touch it?" George nodded. Fred lightly touched her head with the tip of his finger. She waved a paw at George and mewled. He smiled.
They all started back to the castle. The teachers and Malfoy remained. Harry would have very much liked to stay, because it sounded like Malfoy was getting bawled out by Snape. His cold voice carried on the breeze, accompanied by that low growl from Atanis. But they'd been dismissed to lunch. Harry sighed, then smiled. They may have missed seeing Malfoy getting punished, but they had seen him shuddering and quaking with fear, pinned to the ground by an Agoradan. It was almost as good as the time he'd been turned into a bouncing ferret by Mad-Eye Moody. Before he could dwell on that particular man, his kit trilled at him from his shoulder and nuzzled his ear. And so his smile remained in place.
Rose was walking next to George, talking quietly to him. The white kit was staring at her and her kit, blue eyes wide. But apparently, it had gotten over whatever bothered it about Rose, because it climbed up to George's shoulder and waved a friendly paw at her. Her kit peeked out from behind her hair at his. Harry glanced at Ron and Hermione. Ron looked pleased, but Hermione looked a little confused. That was a surprising expression for her.
"What's up Herm?" Harry asked. She glanced at him. Her kit was nestled in the crook of her arm, sleeping. Ron looked over at her. His kit was still inside his shirt, but the tips of her ears could be seen over his shirt collar.
"It's just… doesn't it seem odd that the teachers would just let Atanis attack Malfoy like that?" She asked.
"You're DEFENDING that lummox?" Ron asked, shocked.
Hermione shook her head. "No, I just think it was odd, that's all. And Dumbledore didn't seem surprised at all when the white kit stayed with George."
"He knew that Atanis wouldn't really hurt him… And it was obvious what he was doing with the kit. He forced George to get it out of the box, instead of getting it himself," Harry said.
"Yes, but why?" Hermione asked.
"We'll have to talk about this later you two." Ron muttered. "I think we need another late night meeting."
"If this becomes a tradition, we'll never pass our O.W.L.'S " Hermione said worriedly.
Ron looked at Harry, "That's our Hermione, always thinking about school. Even with a Dannikit." Hermione sent a glare at him. Harry, noticing the glare, wisely refrained from comment.
They had reached the Great Hall. It seemed even louder than usual, but since it was only the second day of school, they didn't think anything of it. Everyone was still getting reacquainted with friends. Fred pushed open the door to reveal…
Utter chaos. There was food everywhere. It looked like the site of the biggest food fight in a century. The prefects were desperately trying to regain control of their respective houses. They were failing miserably. As he stared open-mouthed, Harry noticed something odd. The Slytherin table was devoid of any hint of the presence of dannikits. In contrast, the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables had kits climbing in the food, and all over the students.
Professor Jameson was standing next to her seat at the high table, a shocked expression on her face. There was a lump of mashed potatoes on her nose, and a faint splash of gravy on the front of her powder blue robe. Seeing them at the door, she made her way through the laughing students to her sister. "What in the world happened?" Rose asked. The twins were looking forlornly at the fun they had so obviously missed. Strangely, George didn't look as sad as Fred did. The white Dannikit put a paw on his nose, making him smile. Maybe it wasn't so strange.
Professor Jameson flicked the potatoes off her nose with a finger and said, "The Dannikits went nuts as soon as they got in here. I think they've abandoned the Slytherins for more hospitable companions. This started arguments between the original Slytherin companions and the new ones they had chosen." She looked around the hall. "As you can see it escalated into an all-out food fight."
"A pretty spectacular one," Fred said.
"And we missed it," George added, trying to frown. He couldn't pull it off because a white tail was tickling the back of his neck.
"You weren't supposed to get one," Cora said to him.
"Neither was I." Rose said in response.
"This is certainly interesting," Hermione said, "But don't you think we should at least attempt to get all this under control before Dumbledore returns?"
"It's not him I'm worried about," Ron said, "It's Snape. Can you imagine his response to the utter abandonment of his house by the dannikits?" He shuddered.
"He'll hate Gryffindors even more than he already does. None of us got abandoned…" Harry said,
"I'd even go so far as to say we probably gained a few of the former Slytherin kits as well."
Just then a wet yellow thing streaked along the Hufflepuff table towards them. It took a flying leap at Fred. Only his quick quidditch reflexes managed to keep it from hitting the ground. It was a dannikit. Moments later, a furious, pudding splashed Pansy Parkinson appeared. "Give me back my Dannikit," she ordered.
The yellow lump trembled in Fred's arms. "I don't think it wants me to," he said, frowning at her.
Pansy turned to Cora. "Professor I insist on the return of my Dannikit!"
Cora shrugged helplessly, "If it doesn't want you, there's nothing I can do about it." Pansy narrowed her eyes at the blonde woman. When she got no other response, she turned on her heel and stalked away. Cora turned to the others. "I'm glad it didn't stay with her. She was in my last class, cooing and preening in front of the Ravenclaw girls, because she had it and they didn't." She shook her head in disgust.
"Uh, Cora…" Rose said, hiding a smile. "Are you sure you should be telling them this?"
Cora's frown turned into a little O of surprise as she realized what she'd just said. The trio, Rose and the twins all laughed. The yellow dannikit started licking its paw. As their laughter subsided, Fred grinned at his brother. "Now we've both got one."
"Wait a second," Harry said, "If it was with Pansy, then it's a male, and only female dannikits stay
with guys… So what's going on?"
"She didn't stay with Ms. Parkinson," Cora said, "Pansy was just a means to an end."
Rose grinned, "And apparently, that end was Fred."
"Which means that it's a female," Ron said, catching on.
"Yes, that's right. Congratulations Fred and George. Now, Hermione was right. We really should see about getting this under control. If that clock is correct, these students have about five minutes to get to their next classes." Cora smiled at them all. "It's a good thing we're all witches and wizards." She winked and went up to the high table.
Cora climbed onto the table and raised her arms above her head. "SILENTUS!" she yelled. An eerie quiet fell on the hall. Students went still and faced her. "Now, everyone. You have class in less than five minutes. Which means that this Hall must be cleaned up very quickly. Because of the enormity of the mess, we cannot leave it for the house elves." A few students mouthed 'Why not?' but they were ignored. Cora continued, "Now, I'll release you from the silence spell in just a moment, and I want everyone to perform any cleaning spell they know. The faster and better you do this, the sooner you get to class and the less likely it is that you will be punished for this disaster." She swished her wand and yelled, "FINITEM!"
There was an immediate babble of voices, followed by spells being called out and flashes of magic. The few first years present watched avidly, as the older students performed their spells. Buckets of soapy water and mops appeared and began scrubbing floors. Food and dishes disappeared completely. {It was generally assumed that they went to the kitchens, however, the truth of this was never verified.} Within moments, the tables and floors were scrubbed clean, and the students were left standing around, they still food-spattered.
"What are we going to do about our clothes?" asked a Ravenclaw girl. She had a black dannikit draped over her shoulder. There was a white spot on its nose, and it was licking what looked like chocolate off its paw.
"We can't go to class like this!" A Slytherin girl exclaimed. It sounded like Pansy.
"Oh for Merlin's sake! Doesn't anybody here READ?" Hermione asked, frustrated. She swished her wand and muttered something unintelligible. All signs of the food fight on clothing disappeared. There were gasps around the hall. Even Harry and Ron turned to stare at Hermione. She flushed and whispered, "We need to get to class."
"I'd love to know how she did that," Ron said to Harry, who grinned.
Rose grinned at Hermione. The spell had readjusted her braid, so that the curls pulled out by the dannikit were once again securely in place. "That's an interesting use for that spell. I've never seen it applied quite that way. Very… creative." Hermione smiled back, surprised at the compliment, and blushed even harder.
They headed out of the hall. Fred and George followed. "Where are you two going?" Harry asked.
"To our next class." George said. His dannikit was balanced on his shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Fred returned. His yellow dannikit was now fluffy, clean and a deep golden color.
"To our next class of course," Ron answered. He squinted at his brothers suspiciously. "What is your next class?"
"We don't really know." George said, "It's a bit strange actually. We got a place and time to be somewhere, but no class title or teacher name."
"We've got the same thing!" Harry exclaimed. His dannikit twitched in his arms. She'd slept through the entire hall debacle.
"I wonder what it could be?" Hermione said. Rose didn't say a word, but her eyes were golden blue. Her dannikit was still on her shoulder, tail once again wrapped securely around her braid.
The group of them headed to a classroom in a strange part of the school. Only Harry's and the twin's memories of the Marauders Map told them where they were. Somewhere under the Astronomy Tower, away from the other classrooms, but not as low as the dungeons. At one point they reached what seemed like a dead end. It was a window at the end of a hall. But the directions on Hermione's schedule had directed them there, so she opened the window, stepped through without pausing and disappeared.
Ron gasped and jumped forward, Harry's heart stopped. They all stared at the place Hermione had been just a moment before. Rose just stood and waited. Harry was slightly reassured by the fact that there was not a hint of gray in her eyes. A moment or two went by. Ron had gone pale. His dannikit started making that whirring sound Harry recognized as the calming spell that Neville's kit had used in Charms class. It wasn't working. Ron turned panic-stricken eyes to Harry.
Just then a hand reached in from the window and grabbed his arm.
He yelled and they all gaped at the hand. There was no body attached to it. Suddenly Hermione's face appeared to be floating in the sky outside the window. "Hurry up you guys, the class is about to begin."
"Y- you're a-a-alive!" Ron stammered. His face still looked pale as parchment paper.
"Of course I'm alive you dolt." Hermione said, frowning. "Why wouldn't I . Oh. You thought I." She looked flustered and apologetic. "It's just a portal, like Platform 9 ¾. I'm fine." She pulled Ron out the window. He fell into the sky after her. The last thing Harry saw of him was his feet. But a moment later, Ron's hand appeared in that sky and waved at them. Harry took a deep breath and followed that beckoning hand.
He was in a classroom. Hermione and Ron were standing to his left, talking quietly now that he was through the portal. He turned back to said portal and saw a rather ordinary looking, wide-open, door. He reached back through and wiggled his fingers at those on the other side. He couldn't see them of course, but knew that they could see his hand. He felt someone grab it and pulled them through. It was George. He seemed to be holding Fred's hand already, because he came through not a second later.
"Well, that was different," George said.
"Quite odd actually," Fred added. Their newly attached Dannikits looked slightly rattled. Harry glanced at his own. She'd sat calmly on his shoulder throughout the odd ordeal. Her black tail was draped across the back of his neck and when he looked at her, the tip tickled his ear. He grinned and she scrunched up her whiskers at him. " I need to come up with a name for you little one," He whispered to her. She blinked.
"That's part of what we're doing here Harry," Rose said. She'd come through the doorway. Reaching behind her, she pulled the door closed.
He looked at her. "What do you mean? This is a class, isn't it?"
"Yes. My class," Rose said, " actually." Harry and the twins stared after her as she walked to the front of the classroom. There were other students in the room as well, including Neville, Ginny, as well as several unknowns. Two seventh year Ravenclaws, a boy and a girl, and two little first year Ravenclaw girls that were hiding in the far corner. All had dannikits. Rose moved to stand by the chair in the front. There were no desks in the classroom. Only fifteen chairs arranged in a wide circle in the center of the room. Rose faced them all. All talking ceased.
"Hello everyone. I'm glad you could all make it here on time. My name as most of you know is Rose Jameson. I am a student teacher here at Hogwarts. I have met each of you at least once previous to this, but you may be unfamiliar with a few of your classmates." She looked around. "Please take a seat anywhere you like, and we'll begin introductions."
Rose sat down. Her dannikit climbed from her shoulder to her lap, curled up in a ball, and fixed them all with an amber stare. Going to her left, the seating order ended up like this: George, Fred, Hermione, Ron, Harry, the Ravenclaw boy, the first year girls, the older girl, Neville, Ginny and then three empty chairs before coming back to Rose. Harry glanced at them all. Everyone looked confused except Rose. He cleared his throat to get her attention. Twenty- four pairs of eyes turned to stare at him. {Remember, they all have kits} He smiled, rather embarrassed, and asked, "Um. what is this class?"
"Didn't I tell you already?" Roe asked. They all shook their heads. "Oh. Well. I must have had a reason." She grinned. "Let's get through the introductions first, then I'll explain. Who wants to go first?" Silence. "Come on you guys, I just want names, houses, and a tidbit about yourselves. Is that so much to ask?"
The twins looked at each other. The one right next to Rose started, "I'm Fred Weasley, Gryffin"
"Ahem." Rose cleared her throat.
They both laughed. "Oh right. He's Fred, I'm George. I forgot." He winked at Rose. "Gryffindor, Seventh year, Beater on the House team."
"Fred Weasley, Gryffindor, The other Beater on the House team."
"Hermione Granger, Gryffindor, Fifth year, Prefect."
Whispered, "How come I didn't know that?" Then, "Uh, Ron Weasley, Gryffindor, Fifth year, Trying out for keeper."
Whispered as well, "How come you didn't tell ME that?" Then, "Er. Harry Potter, Griff"
"The Great Harry Potter. No need to say more. We know all about him," The Ravenclaw boy, turned slightly in his seat to look at Harry. "The Boy Who Lived, The youngest Seeker in a century, and Tri-Wizard Champion. I think that covers everything, doesn't it?" Smooth brown eyebrows quirked up over his silver-blue eyes. He grinned hugely and held out his hand. "I'm Daniel Emmortal, Seventh year, Ravenclaw Beater. You've missed my bludgers more than a few times in matches." He looked over his glasses at Harry. " I'm a pretty fair Beater. Malfoy can attest to that. He's taken a couple well- aimed bludgers to the head. Must be the reason he's such a sleazy git." He grinned again.
"Yeah, I guess." Harry smiled and shook the offered hand. The introductions continued.
"Carolynne Emmortal, Ravenclaw, First year, haven't even turned in any homework yet. This is only my second day." She twirled a dark brown curl around her finger.
"Regina Emmortal, Ravenclaw, First year, Call me Reggie. And yes I am related to those two. Lynne and I are twins. Not identical." She glanced at George and Fred. They grinned and she started twirling her blonde hair around her own finger.
"Antar Tasner, Ravenclaw, Seventh year, Call me Ana. I'm from Mexico and proud of it." She flung her long, straight black hair back over her shoulder, and lifted her chin.
"Neville Longbottom, Gryffindor, Fifth year, I'm the house klutz."
Muttered, "You're not that bad Neville," Then, " Ginny Weasley, Gryffindor, Fourth year, I'm related to all the male redheads in the room, as well as three other older ones." She made a face at her brothers.
"Okay, now that everyone knows each other, it's time to meet our Dannikits," Rose said cheerfully.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked. "We know our Dannikits."
"Yes, but now you will learn their names." Rose lifted her kit from her lap, stood and put it in the chair. It sat down, wrapped its tail around its front paws and watched her.
"You mean we don't name them?" Neville asked.
"Not exactly, they already have names. They're born with them. It's our job to discover what they are."
"And how are we going to do that?" Daniel asked. "They can't talk," he paused. "Can they?"
"Not without magic." Rose smiled. They all laughed a little.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Ana asked. Her smoky blue-gray dannikit was curled on her lap. It blinked pale green eyes at Rose.
"We have to wait for my assistant," Rose said. "She'll be here shortly."
"Who's your assistant?" George asked.
A dust-colored streak sped through the room and leapt onto the empty chair next to Rose's kit. Rose smiled. "This is her. Everyone, meet my cat Shadow."
"What do you need a cat for?" Carolynne asked. Her cream dannikit was balanced on the back of her chair. Its tail contrasted prettily with her brown curls.
"You'll see," Rose patted Shadow. "Talk amongst yourselves while I get everything ready." She went to a tall wooden cabinet in the back of the room.
A/N
I have just combined what was formerly chapters 4, 5 , and 6 into a single second chapter. I hope this doesn't confuse my faithful readers, but I had just decided that the sheer number of chapters may be what is deterring readers. Especially since I realized that I myself was unlikely to start reading a story that was more than 20 chapters… odd I know, but there it is.
Thank you all for reading!
Tara