Athena Dumbledore - Thanx.
Emily - Now we all know how Malfoy feels about muggle-borns so just imagine how he would feel towards a deaf person. Glad you like it.
Satan Barbie - I'm happy to see you reviewing for this story as well. Yes, it is Seamus. I didn't really want to use any of the main characters (Harry, Ron, Hermione, Malfoy, etc.) with Tala. Happy to hear you think this is interesting
THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT REVIEWED. WITH SUMMER VACATION COMING TO AN END IN AUGUST, I'M TRYING TO UPDATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO I CAN PUT UP A LOT OF MY STORY IDEAS. BECAUSE WHEN SCHOOL BEGINS, MOST OF MY TIME WILL BE DEDICATED TO IT. SO ANYWAY I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THIS UPDATE.
Chapter 2 Insulting Professors and a Yelling Michelle
To say Professor Snape was in a bad mood would be an understatement. The students nearly jumped out of their seats when he entered the room. Tala knew how much of an effect he had on students from her sister but she had never imagined that he could scare them so badly. Professor Snape had his back to the students as writing appeared on the board.
"You will do this potion independently and anyone caught helping another student,"
Professor Snape sent a glance at Hermione and Neville,"will get so many points taken away their house will be in the negatives."
The Gryffindors openly gaped at him. The Slytherins who never got in trouble with Snape just snickered.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Get moving!" snapped Professor Snape.
The students grabbed their potion ingredients and were back at their seats in record timing. Tala quietly wrote down the directions from the board onto her parchment but froze when she saw what was written at the bottom of the board.
The potion will make a small pop sound and that will signify that your potion is done. You must listen closely in order to hear the pop in time or your potion will explode.
Tala cursed her luck. This had happened before in Potions at Pine View but Professor Dougum had helped her then and Tala was quite sure that Snape would not do so. She tugged on Seamus' shirt sleeve and signed to him.
"I have a problem," signed Tala.
"What's wrong? Do you need more ingredients?" signed back Seamus.
Tala rolled her eyes. Obviously Seamus had not yet read the board. She grabbed his chin and pointed him so that his eyes were locked on the board. His eyes scanned over the board. All the sudden, his eyes landed on the bottom and his eyes were as big as dinner plates.
"I know Snape said not to help but I think this is an exception. When your potion pops, I'll tug on your sleeve to let you know."
"Thank you. But don't you want to know why I don't just talk to Snape?"
"It's okay. I figured that you'd probably want your professors to find out about your deafness on their own. I mean they are Hogwarts professors so if they don't figure it out then too bad!"
Tala smiled and had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing. The two Gryffindors started their potions, making sure to watch how much of each ingredient they put in. Seamus would sneak a glance at Tala every few minutes to see how she was doing. He was amazed at how relaxed Tala was while brewing her potion. He couldn't think of any Gryffindor that ever looked as confident and relaxed as her while brewing a potion in Potions class with sixth year Slytherins and Snape.
Class slowly drifted on as potions were finished up and still no points were taken away to the happiness of the Gryffindors. Seamus had just bottled his potion in a vial when he heard a small pop from Tala's cauldron. Tala was sitting down and drawing something so Seamus tugged on her sleeve and when she looked up, pointed at her potion. She stood up and carefully bottled her potion.
"Well, well, Mr. Finnigan it seems you were helping Miss Hunter. Can you not hear the potion yourself, Miss Hunter, or are you simply being lazy and having Mr. Finnigan do it for you?" sneered Professor Snape.
Tala stared at him but said nothing. She wouldn't raise to the taunting like a Gryffindor normally would. Since Tala wasn't saying anything, Seamus tried to explain the situation.
"Professor, I was trying to-," began Seamus.
"To do what, Mr. Finnigan? Lose points from Gryffindor? Well, your fellow Gryffindors can thank you for losing 50 points," interrupted Professor Snape.
At that comment, the Gryffindors started in protest and only went quiet after 45 more points were taken away. Seamus had kept his eyes on Tala the whole time through the Gryffindors shouting and was the only one to see the slightly hurt look on her face that soon disappeared before anyone else saw it. The bell rang and the Gryffindors were out of the room in a flash.
"Mr. Finnigan, you and Miss Hunter will be serving detention with Filch tonight at eight!" shouted Professor Snape as the two bolted out of the room.
Seamus and Tala quietly followed behind the other Gryffindors as they left the dungeons. Unfortunately, the Slytherins were right behind them. The Gryffindors had Defense with Hufflepuff next and the Slytherins were on their way to Transfiguration with Ravenclaw.
"Poor half breed. Getting caught cheating like that," laughed Malfoy.
Tala could tell by the way Seamus was turning red that the Slytherin's were saying something. She glanced over her shoulder at the laughing Slytherin's and narrowed her eyes. She had a feeling that they were teasing her friend. Quietly, Tala snuck her wand out of pocket and pointed it at the floor.
Seamus barely heard her chant the spell but looked over his shoulder in time to see Malfoy slip on a small patch of ice on the stair he had just stepped on, fall forward, and break his nose on the stairs. Seamus had to slap a hand over his mouth to keep the laughter in, the other Gryffindors having a similar problem.
"Do you think that will shut him up?" signed Tala to Seamus as soon as they were in the Defense classroom.
"I think that will definitely shut him up," said Seamus as he signed while speaking.
The two Gryffindors laughed as they took a seat in the front. Out of the blue, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor appeared and writing suddenly appeared on the board.
"This is your syllabus for the year. Read and copy it. Today we shall be talking about the methods of taking down....." Professor Maflock droned on as the students wrote the syllabus down on their parchments.
Tala was busy copying down her notes that she didn't look over her shoulder at Professor Maflock to see what she was saying. She just figured she would ask Seamus later since he seemed to be half listening to her. All the sudden, a hand slammed onto the desk in front of her and Tala's head snapped up. Professor Maflock was standing in front of her with a smirk that was more creepy than a certain potion professor's own smirk.
"Do please answer the question, Miss Hunter. I'm sure we will all be happy to hear the answer to what I asked," said Professor Maflock with a sneer.
Tala glanced at Seamus out the corner of her eye and he attempted to sign to her, trying to help her, when Professor Maflock snapped at him.
"Keep your hands down, Mr. Finnigan! I'm sure the class doesn't want to know what type of disability you have. Answer the question, Miss Hunter!" barked Professor Maflock.
In truth, Tala had only understood half of what Seamus had signed to her so she had no idea what the question had even been about. She dropped her head, deciding instead to study the
floor.
"Is this your own special way of telling me you don't know the answer?" sneered Professor Maflock.
Tala's picked her head up and nodded; she didn't need to hear to know what the professor had said.
"So this would mean you were not listening to me? Surely a talented witch like you from Pine View would be able to pay attention and listen to your professor's lecture. 25 points from Gryffindors and a detention tonight with me at eight," snarled Professor Maflock.
The DADA professor whirled around and walked towards the front of the classroom. That's when Hermione suddenly spoke up.
"Professor Maflock, Tala can't serve detention with you. She had detention with Filch at eight tonight," quickly explained Hermione.
"Thank you for the news report, Miss Granger. Miss Hunter, you can serve detention with me tomorrow night at eight."
Tala did not speak but nodded her head in acknowledgment. Professor Maflock went back to lecturing the class as the students finished copying the syllabus down. Seamus wrote something down on a separate piece of parchment and passed it to Tala.
Are you just going to let her get away with saying stuff like that to ya? If she said something like that to me, I'd be up and out of this room heading for Dumbledore's office. It can't be legal for her to say that type of crap!
Tala understood where Seamus was coming from. Inside, she was just as angry as him but she had dealt with this sort of predicament before and knew how to tackle it.
Please don't get too angry. The professor doesn't know about me. Neither does Snape. It isn't like I haven't "heard" my professors say those words. This is what I went through in my first year before I was transferred to Pine View. Please allow me to deal with this my way.
When Seamus was through reading the passage from Tala, he nodded at her and then wrote something else down.
Okay. I'll calm down. I don't like this but I'll let you take care of it. BTW, what were you drawing earlier in Potions?
Tala reached into her backpack and pulled out a sketching pad. She flipped it open and after going past a few pages, handed it to him. He silently gasped as he gazed at the most amazing drawing he had ever seen. It was the drawing of a snow white cat with piercing green eyes. Tala tapped him on the shoulder and he looked up.
"That is a picture of my cat. His name is Gabriel. He sleeps on my bed every night. I brought him with me to Hogwarts."
Seamus smiled as he handed the sketchbook back to Tala who returned the smile. Without warning, the dismissal bell rang and the students were out of the room before the professor could speak another word.
"That despicable woman! I actually think she's worse than Umbridge ever was. How dare she say such words like that to Tala?" practically yelled Hermione.
The Gryffindors headed down the stairs to the Great Hall for lunch.
"It's okay, Hermione. I have seen people say those words to me. It is nothing new to me. After hearing them a few times, you become immune to it," tried explaining Tala.
"That's no excuse, Tala! You shouldn't have to become immune to something like that,"
exclaimed Hermione.
Unfortunately, Draco and the other sixth year Slytherins met with the Gryffindors on the first floor. Draco who's nose was as red as Rudolph's nose smirked at having heard part of the conversation.
"What's the matter, Hunter? Having problems with Defense professor? Don't tell me you cheated in yet another class," gasped Draco as if he couldn't believe his own words.
Harry moved forward but Tala put her arm out and held him back. Instead she stepped forward so she was face to face with the smirking blonde Slytherin.
"It is none of your business, Malfoy. If you want to know what happened, find out for yourself," said Tala.
She surprised the Gryffindors by not signing when she spoke. Draco laughed and the other Slytherin's joined right in.
"Nice voice, Hunter. Not only are you a cheater but also as weird as the rest of your Gryffindork friends," sneered Draco.
"You know what, Malfoy?" asked Tala.
"What?" replied the Malfoy heir.
"I was wondering if your nose had any blood left to bleed," smiled a knowing Tala.
The Slytherin angrily growled at her and stepped closer to her so that their noses were almost touching.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me, Hunter?" challenged Draco.
"I would be glad to."
Tala reached her hand up and put it on his nose. She twisted her wrist and CRACK! Malfoy's hands flew to his nose which started bleeding profoundly.
"I guess this means it does. It was nice chatting with you, Malfoy, however I do need to eat lunch before my next class."
Tala strolled around him with the Gryffindors following. Malfoy cursed loudly at Tala but she heard not one word he shouted as his friends tried to help him with his nose and he continued cursing, now saying words in French. As soon as the Gryffindors were in the entrance hall, they all cheered loudly for Tala who grinned sheepishly.
"I would have never done something as bold as that!" exclaimed Ron.
"And you actually had Malfoy cursing like some muggle. He was even cursing in French!" added Hermione.
"It was nothing. Really."
The sixth year Gryffindors entered the Great Hall together and Tala was about to enter when she spotted her sister coming inside from the outside.
"Hi Michelle," greeted Tala.
"Hey Tala. Heading for lunch, huh?" asked Michelle.
"Yes. I'm very hungry. Potions and DADA wore me out. I have to regain my energy for Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, and Art."
"Okay. I need to go give some papers to the Headmaster so I'll catch up with you later. Then you can tell me all about your day."
Tala nodded and entered the Great Hall. Michelle frowned, climbing the stairs in deep thought.
Tala seemed a little off. I wonder if something is wrong, thought Michelle.
Michelle walked to the statue which led to Dumbledore's office and sighed. She couldn't
believe she was about to say this but....
"Chocolate covered crickets with jelly inside."
Michelle silently gagged as the entrance opened up for her. She had tried such a candy before and had immediately ran to the nearest bathroom. Surprisingly, Tala had no problem with eating it so had taken it upon herself to finish Michelle's crickets. The visiting professor walked up the stairs and knocked on the door, only entering after she heard Dumbledore's voice say "enter".
She opened the door, smiling upon seeing the professors spread out around the room and eating their lunch. Professor Snape and Maflock were off to the side talking about their morning classes while McGonagall and Flitwick were on the other side of the room playing a game of Wizards Chess. Professor Sprout was talking excitedly to Professor Sinistra about some weird plant in a corner of the room. Opposite of their corner sat Professor Trelawney who was reading Madame Pomfrey's tea pot.
Michelle shook her head as she walked over to Professor Dumbledore who was feeding Fawkes. He smiled when he spotted her.
"Hello Michelle. I trust your day has been good so far," softly spoke the Headmaster.
"It has, Albus. I was helping Madame Hooch teach the first years how to fly this morning. Only one unlucky boy from Hufflepuff managed to plow into the ground. No real damage done," replied Michelle.
"Good to hear. Now I understand that you have some papers for me from Rolanda."
"Yes, sir."
She handed over the papers she had been carrying and Professor Dumbledore thanked her. Michelle turned around to leave when she spotted Professor McGonagall about to make a bad move that would cost her the game.
"I wouldn't move that pawn if I were you, professor," hinted Michelle as she walked past them.
Professor McGonagall, knowing that Michelle was one of the best known Chess players, took her hand away from the pawn and saw another move she hadn't seen before. She moved it
and Professor Flitwick groaned.
"That's checkmate, Filius."
Professor Flitwick grumbled something at her and Michelle softly laughed. She had forgotten how human the professors could act while not around the students. Michelle almost was to the door when something she heard made her blood boil.
"That Hunter girl was cheating in my class as well, Severus. Wasn't paying attention as I was talking about today's topic. Had to give her detention for tomorrow night since you assigned her to Filch for tonight," happily smirked Professor Maflock.
"What did Tala do to make you so wicked mean?" angrily growled Michelle as she stormed over to the two professor's.
Professor Maflock looked up at Michelle with a mix of confusion on her face along with a scowl.
"Who are you?" demanded the DADA professor.
"Michelle Hunter, the older sister of Tala Hunter," answered Professor Snape for her.
"Thanks for the introduction, professor. It's nice to know you still like me as much as you did a few years ago. Now out with it, Professor Maflock! What did Tala do to you?" snarled Michelle.
"Miss Hunter, your younger sister seems to have picked up a similar trait from you. She
does not listen to a word that anyone says. She cheated in Potions by having Mr. Finnigan tell her when her potion popped so that it would not explode. This is why she and Mr. Finnigan are serving detention with Filch tonight," explained Professor Snape.
Michelle pinched the bridge of her nose, mumbling to herself to keep calm. She had made a promise to her sister that she would not say anything. It was only when the new Defense professor spoke that Michelle grew more angry.
"Her class was writing down the syllabus from the board as I was walking around and lecturing the class on dementors for review. I asked her a question, she didn't answer me, so I slammed my hand down on her desk. Asked her to answer my question. She looked to Mr. Finnigan for help and I knew instantly that she had not been listening to me. If she had such a problem with listening to her professors, I would have thought that someone from Pine View would have told us," sneered Professor Maflock.
To hell with the promise! I'm not about to let this sorry excuse for a professor insult my sister, thought Michelle.
"I swear upon Merlin's grave that Tala is one of the best witches from Pine View. Not only did she get top marks in all of her classes but she was well respected by her professors and peers. The only reason she didn't hear you is because she can not hear you. My sister is deaf,"all of the professors in the room gasped," and has been since birth. Seamus were merely trying to help Tala. None of you knew because Tala wanted you all to find out for your bloody selves! But now thanks to you two idiotic sorry excuses for bloody professors I've just broken a sacred promise with my only sibling."
Needless to say, Michelle left the professor's speechless after she was done yelling. Professor Dumbledore did not say anything as he continued reading the papers. He knew that as soon as the two professor's had told Michelle what had happened that the older sister would explode at them. Of course, Michelle wasn't quite done chewing them out yet.
"Tala does not want pity from anyone. Especially from her professors! Professor Snape, if you were half as smart as I thought you were you would have noticed Seamus speaking to Tala in sign language. And didn't you get even the slightest bit curious when my sister, a Gryffindor, didnot talk back to you? Well, I hope you are both very satisfied. I'm sure you both just dropped to the end of my sister's favorite teacher list," finished Michelle before she stormed out of the room.
Her raw magic had shattered three windows and flung books all over the room. Professor Snape and Maflock looked at each other, silently speaking with their eyes. They both regretted having said anything to Tala. For it was a known fact that it was a disgraceful act even for a pureblood to insult a deaf person.
Tala quietly drew a picture in her sketchbook while working on her lunch as well. She nibbled on a biscuit as she concentrated on what she was drawing. Ron who was sitting next to her glanced over her shoulder. One quick glance told him she was drawing Hermione who reading a book at the time so the only thing of hers that was moving was her eyes.
"Hey Seamus," said Ron.
"Hmm?" replied Seamus as he drank some pumpkin juice.
"How do you say beautiful in sign language?" asked a curious Ron.
Seamus smiled as he put his cup down and showed him the sign. Ron tapped Tala on the shoulder to get her attention. She gazed up at him and he signed to her. She smiled in return.
"Thank you. I like to draw animals but my favorite thing to draw is people," reported Tala.
"You're a wonderful artist, Tala. Are you taking the Art class here?" inquired Ron.
"Yes. I have never been good at Divination and I do not really find Arithmancy interesting. When I was ten, I tried playing the flute but since I can not hear how I sound I had no idea if I was making the right sound. So finally I took up drawing. You see, to draw you do not need to hear."
Ron nodded in agreement and let Tala go back to her drawing. Out of the blue appeared Michelle who put her arms around her sister in a tight embrace. Tala put her sketchbook down so that she could turn around to face her sister. The look on Michelle's face told Tala all she needed to know.
"You told them. Why?"
"Snape and Maflock were talking about you. They said mean things that they should not have said. I yelled at them and the truth just sort of....came out. I'm sorry."
Tala gave her sister a weak smile.
"It's okay. Perhaps it is better this way. Professors Snape and Maflock did not know so I am not mad at them as much as the others are. They do not know of my first year in wizarding school. Only you, mom, dad, and a few other people know."
"I know you forgive me but I am still very sorry. I feel like I have broken your trust."
Tala threw her arms up and hugged her sister who equally returned the hug. When they separated, Tala spoke with her signing this time.
"I know you feel bad. But you shouldn't. No matter what I will always trust you."
Tears sprung to Michelle's eyes as she gave Tala yet another rib-crushing hug.
"You are a wise witch, Tala. I am happy to know that you can withstand anything."
Michelle and Tala hugged one more time before Michelle left to report back to Professor Hooch. Seamus had been watching the two sisters and could pretty much guess what had happened. Tala turned around in her seat and resumed drawing Hermione. When Tala was done drawing, she showed it to those around here.
"That's really good," exclaimed Harry.
"Quite a likeness to the real thing," remarked Dean.
"Thanks. I do better at my drawing when what I'm drawing does not move a lot," explained Tala.
End of Chapter 2