Disclaimer: NOT MINE! NOTHING IS MINE EXCEPT FOR LOKI, THOR, VECTOR, LEO,
AKIRA, KAZUKI, AND RIN! AND OTHER OCS IN FUTURE CHAPTERS! THE HOUSE-ELVES
BELONGS TO ME TOO!
First time attempting to write a Harry Potter fic so be kind and R&R. And no one beta-ed this so don't mind my grammar mistakes.
Warning: This will be SLASH! Meaning 2 guys in THAT kind of relationship!
Spoilers: Books 1-4, ignore 5
Pairings: Main - Severus/Sirius Others - Harry/Kazuki and Leo/Draco
Languages:
"blah blah blah" - English
'blah blah blah' - Japanese
------------------------------------------------------------------
14. We're going into the Forbidden Forest?
(Posted 11/21/03 - Friday)
------------------------------------------------------------------
"What's with this school uniform?" Loki complained, pulling his black robes over his T-shirt and jeans. "It's so drab. I would rather wear Sakura's shirt, pants, and blazer than these. At least those had some kind of taste."
"It is dull in color and design," Kazuki said, tying his hair into a ponytail. "But we have to wear it anyway. Part of school rules."
Draco's familiar bodyguards, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, looked at the two speaking. They were not really smart but not as dumb as some people think. Gregory nudged Vincent.
"You're Draco's new friends, right?" Vincent said uncertainly.
"Yup!" said Loki, flashing them a bright smile. "Jr. is real close to us."
"Jr. is Draco's nickname," said Kazuki.
Gregory looked at his childhood friend and sighed. "I guess he won't need us around him anymore."
"Ah, don't say that," Loki said, his grin falling. "Friends are not measured by how useful they are but the mutual liking of each other's company. You think Jr. doesn't care about you guys but he does. If he didn't, he wouldn't have helped you study from first year until now so you can stay in school."
"I thought he wanted us to stay in school to protect him," said Vincent.
"We're not good enough for anything else," said Gregory.
"Vince, you have to look beyond the surface," Loki said slowly. "Not everything has to be obvious. And Greg, you're not useless but you can be more helpful if you start thinking for yourself. Stop listening to what other people says."
"What about professors?" Gregory asked, warming up to Loki who was in his philosophy mode. "They want us to listen to them all the time, even when they're wrong."
"It's the professors' fault," Loki said, nodding like he was agreeing with himself. "Professors should not say, for example, because I am your professor, what I say is correct. That is completely bull - I mean wrong. Teachers are entitled to making mistakes like any normal person, which goes the same for Bumblebee."
"Nickname for Headmaster Dumbledore," Kazuki supplied. "And if you require help with assignments, you can ask us. We would be happy to help."
"Yup," said Loki. "We're really good at tutoring."
Another fifth year Slytherin had been listening in on their conversation from his bed. He was a very skinny boy, almost to the point of looking malnourished, and was, by nature, always quiet. However, he found Professor Snape's nephew to be a very intriguing character.
Words came out from his mouth before he could stop them. "Many believe Dumbledore to be a saint. Doesn't that reflect something akin to brainwashing the public with his flawless reputation?"
"Believe me, Bumblebee has made a lot of unforgivable mistakes," Loki said without missing a beat. "People know he's too good to be true but they have to have the perfect hero to worship so the wrinkles on his rep are erased from their minds. By the way, what's your name?"
"Nott," said the thin boy. "Theodore Nott."
Vincent's eyes were wide. "You can talk!"
Theodore raised an eyebrow, Kazuki giggled behind his hand, and Loki cracked.
"Oh God," Loki said, pounding a fist on his bed. "That was hilarious. Vince, I don't think a student is allowed in this school if they can't speak."
"Breathe Loki," advised Kazuki. "You're going to have an asthma attack if you don't stop."
Loki calmed a bit. "I don't have asthma."
"At the rate you're going, you will," teased Kazuki.
"What's asthma?" Gregory asked, feeling stupid.
"Don't worry about not knowing the meaning," Akira said, coming out from the bathroom in his school robes. "It's a Muggle term."
"Muggle you say?" said Theodore, even more interested in these transfer students.
'It was my fault,' Kazuki said forlornly, noticing the glare Akira was giving Loki. 'The word slipped out accidentally.'
'You shouldn't suspect me without knowing the facts first,' Loki grumbled, crossing his arms. 'It's not always me making the mistakes.'
'Sorry,' said Akira, taking a small object from his pocket. "Here, have a chewy candy. It's lemon-flavored.'
There was no way Loki would refuse free sweets so he forgave the Go player and took the offered candy. Greg and Vince shrugged and began packing their textbooks and stuff into their bags.
Theodore's curiosity was genuinely caught. "So what's asthma?"
Leo exited the bathroom, fresh from the showers, and his hair still wet. He had a habit reflex of answering questions in dictionary form and he heard his year mate's clearly. "Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease, often arising from allergies, which are characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing. What the HELL were you guys talking about while I was in the showers?"
Theodore was unnerved by the scholarly definition that sprouted so easily from Leo's lips. The door to their room opened and Draco walked in.
"Sir, here's your report!" Loki cried mockingly, standing at attention. "I was talking to Vince and Greg about how they're not useless and Jr. is their friend, not their master. Then Theo pointed out how many people sees Bumblebee as a saint. Then Vince exclaimed and I quote "You can talk!" and I laughed and laughed, which caused Kazuki to say I should stop before I have an asthma attack. That is all Sir! Thank you for listening and a good night to all!"
With that, Loki grabbed his book bag from the floor and bolted out the room. The occupants of the room were stunned.
"That idiot," Leo said, picking up his bag and running after him.
"I came in here to inform you guys that if we don't go eat breakfast now, we won't have time before class begins," Draco said, shocked from the near collision he had when Loki left. "Who gave him sugar?"
"Guilty," said Akira.
"Oh yes, thank you for reminding us about the time Draco," Kazuki said, amused. "We better get going."
Akira nodded. He, Kazuki, Draco, Vincent, and Gregory left for the Great Hall together. Theodore was motionless.
"He called me Theo," he said, dazed, then gathering his own things and rushing to catch up with the new students.
Breakfast went well but it was funny for the professors, seeing Loki running from the Slytherin table to the Gryffindor and back again. It was even worse for the short boy that the tables were at the opposite ends with the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw House in the middle. When stomachs were full, it was time for their first class of the day.
"Walk faster! I want to see Rin," Loki said, skipping through the Hogwarts entrance. "I wonder what creature he's going to show us."
"Our new professor for Magical Creatures is a man?" asked Theodore, wheezing from keeping at Loki's pace.
"Yea," Loki said, slowing down. "He's Uncle's adopted son."
The Slytherin prefect, Blaise Zabini, was nearby and made a surprised noise. "He's Professor Snape's son? Legally?"
"Of course it's legal," Loki said, laughing. "Documented and everything."
"Mr. Snape is really nice," said Kazuki.
"Has a witty sense of humor," said Akira.
"The craziest collection of sci-fi novels," said Leo. "And has an even crazier collection of weird potions."
"Other Houses don't understand our Head of House like we do," said Draco. "No one can understand us Slytherins except for Slytherins."
"There you go again with the whole isolating Slytherin from the rest of the school thing," said Loki. "I thought I taught you better Jr. What do I always say?"
Draco sighed and recited. "Slytherin children were not born with the notion of being superior to other children, Muggle-borns and Muggles included. It is the teachings of the children's parents or guardians who are to blame for providing half-truths and narrow thinking, which is why egotistical pure-blooded families want to have their children in Slytherin with other pure-blooded children so they can be narrow-minded concurrently."
"Jr. is the best pupil I ever produced," Loki said, fake weeping. "I can be no prouder."
Vincent was confused. "You said earlier that people should listen to themselves and not to other people. Why is Draco listening to what you say?"
"There's a difference," said Loki. "Jr. is listening to what I say but I never say I'm never wrong or my word is law. Jr. has the option of taking what I say to heart or not. I'm just expressing my thoughts and if it's logical enough, it makes sense for people to believe me but in the end, it's solely your choice."
Theodore nodded considerately, repeating the words in his mind.
"He could be the one," he thought. "He could be Slytherin's savior."
'The Gryffindors are already here,' observed Kazuki.
'I know you're eager to talk to Lightning,' said Loki. 'We won't be jealous if you run up to him now.'
Kazuki slapped his arm lightly. 'I didn't mean anything by what I said. Stop saying things that could ruin him.'
'Lightning likes you,' said Loki.
'And there are many girls in the school who likes him and would make a good girlfriend,' said Kazuki. 'He has too much going on in his life already. It would be a bad idea for him to be questioning his sexuality at this time.'
'You okay?' Loki asked, concerned. 'You're not yourself.'
'A little tired,' said Kazuki. 'I'll be fine.'
"What are you two blabbing about?" said Draco. "It's gets annoying not knowing what you're talking about."
"Sorry Jr." said Loki, pulling Draco by the arm and walking ahead.
Akira clapped a hand on Kazuki's shoulder and whispered, 'I hope your family is not demanding something from you.'
'No,' said Kazuki. 'It's something else but I can take care of it myself.'
Leo patted him on the back. 'You can count on us if you can't handle it yourself.'
'I know,' said Kazuki. 'Thank you.'
The Slytherins stood a few feet away from the Gryffindors as if there was an invisible wall between them. Loki rolled his eyes and went to Harry's side. Leo, Akira, and Kazuki followed a second after.
"Hey Lightning," said Loki.
"Hey Loki," said Harry.
The usual greetings were exchanged.
"Umm, Kazuki, I have a question to ask you," Harry said, scratching his cheek nervously. Both Houses quieted their own conversations to eavesdrop.
"Yes?" said Kazuki.
"This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend and, umm, I was thinking you and I could, umm, maybe go to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer or something," Harry finally said. "If you have nothing planned I mean."
Kazuki cocked his head to one side.
"What's there to think about?" said Loki. "Say yes."
"I'm sorry," Kazuki said, shaking his head. "I have something urgent to do this weekend."
Harry deflated, shoulders slumping. "Oh, okay."
"Perhaps the next Hogsmeade weekend," said Kazuki. "I should be free then."
That brought life back to the Boy-Who-Lived. "Sure."
"ALRIGHT CLASS!" yelled Rin, emerging from the Forbidden Forest.
"Rin, you're looking good," said Loki.
"That's Professor Rin to you," said the new instructor, winking. "I'm going to call your names out and when you hear yours, say either here or present."
That went smoothly.
"Good, everyone's here," said Rin. "We're going to be studying a rare creature in today's lesson. It's huge, it's black, and it has many legs. Can anyone guess what it is?"
Ron gulped and said, "It wouldn't be a spider, would it?"
"Correct," Rin said smiling as the redhead paled. "I award one point to Gryffindor but next time, raise your hand and wait until I call on you. Now, can anyone tell me what breed of spiders could be found in the Forbidden Forest? It's going to worth two points."
Hermione, of course, raised her hand.
"Ms. Granger," said Rin.
"Acromantulas," she said confidently.
"Very good," said Rin. "That's a total of three points to Gryffindors and zero for Slytherin. Here's the last question, worth three points. Is their bite poisonous?"
Draco raised his hand.
"Mr. Malfoy," said Rin.
"Yes, their bite is poisonous," said Draco. "The bites are usually fatal because the poison travels fast in the victim's bloodstream. There is an antidote but it takes too long to brew and only a highly skilled Potions Master could make it in a short period of time."
"What a wonderful thorough answer," said Rin. "That's worth at least five points."
"He's favoring Slytherins because his father is a Slytherin," Dean said scornfully.
Rin shot him a Look and planted his hands on his hips.
"Is there a problem with how I award points, Mr. Thomas?" demanded Rin. "If there is, you can say it in my face instead of mumbling to yourself."
"You gave Slytherins extra points," Dean said childishly.
"Well, there is a good reason why," Rin said, tapping his dainty foot impatiently. "Mr. Malfoy didn't only answer the question I asked but also gave more information, which could come up on an exam."
The students, who weren't writing down notes, pulled out their notebooks and quills.
Rin continued, "If Mr. Weasley's answer was a spider classified as a beast, I would have given him more points. If Ms. Granger had answered that acromantulas are found in the Forbidden Forest but are native to Borneo, I would have awarded her four points. What I have just said might appear in an exam."
"Will we get to see any of these acromantulas?" Loki asked excitedly.
Rin smiled. "As a matter of fact, we will."
Half the class gasped, while the remaining half was speechless.
"We're going in there?" said Seamus, afraid of the forest even though the sun was shining on it. "There are monsters in there."
"Not monsters," said Rin. "The right term is magical creatures."
"But that's the Forbidden Forest Professor," Neville said faintly. "We're not allowed to go in there."
Rin pulled out a parchment from his overalls pocket. "I have the Headmaster's permission."
"Is it mandatory for us to go?" asked Draco, harboring a deep fear of walking into the unknown.
"Yes," said Rin. "The other classes will have to do the same."
"What sort of professor are you?" Pansy Parkinson, a female Slytherin, shrieked.
"Did you know your face is like a small sturdy dog of an ancient breed originating in China, having a snub nose, wrinkled face, square-shaped body, short smooth hair, and curled tail?" Leo said to her. 'It means a pug.'
"Huh?" was the class's reaction but Rin, Kazuki, Loki, and Akira were laughing.
Rin coughed a couple of times and said, "That wasn't nice Mr. Mizuno."
Leo shrugged.
"I'm going to pair you guys off in twos or threes so you have someone to guard your back," said Rin. "The Forbidden Forest is a dangerous place and petty rivalry could cost you your lives. Is that clear?"
"Yes," chorused the students.
"Group one, Ms. Granger, Mr. Longbottom, and Mr. Snape," said Rin. "Group two, Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. Group three, Mr. Nott and Mr. Shimizu. Group four, Mr. Touya, Mr. Zabini, and Mr. Finnigan. Group five, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Mizuno. Group six, Mr. Thomas and Ms. Parkinson. Group seven - "
After the groups were done, Rin told them to leave their bags on the ground and carry only their wands. Then they followed him into the Forbidden Forest.
"Watch your steps," warned Rin. "There are tree roots protruding from the soil that could trip you."
As the last of the students disappeared into the forest, Dumbledore moved away from the window where he was monitoring how Rin taught.
"He is a talented professor," the Headmaster said to himself, popping a lemon drop into his mouth. "I wonder if he will be interested in co- teaching with Hagrid when he returns."
------------------------------------------------------------------
A.N. - YES! Another chapter! Sirius will be appearing in the next one. Severus too.
First time attempting to write a Harry Potter fic so be kind and R&R. And no one beta-ed this so don't mind my grammar mistakes.
Warning: This will be SLASH! Meaning 2 guys in THAT kind of relationship!
Spoilers: Books 1-4, ignore 5
Pairings: Main - Severus/Sirius Others - Harry/Kazuki and Leo/Draco
Languages:
"blah blah blah" - English
'blah blah blah' - Japanese
------------------------------------------------------------------
14. We're going into the Forbidden Forest?
(Posted 11/21/03 - Friday)
------------------------------------------------------------------
"What's with this school uniform?" Loki complained, pulling his black robes over his T-shirt and jeans. "It's so drab. I would rather wear Sakura's shirt, pants, and blazer than these. At least those had some kind of taste."
"It is dull in color and design," Kazuki said, tying his hair into a ponytail. "But we have to wear it anyway. Part of school rules."
Draco's familiar bodyguards, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, looked at the two speaking. They were not really smart but not as dumb as some people think. Gregory nudged Vincent.
"You're Draco's new friends, right?" Vincent said uncertainly.
"Yup!" said Loki, flashing them a bright smile. "Jr. is real close to us."
"Jr. is Draco's nickname," said Kazuki.
Gregory looked at his childhood friend and sighed. "I guess he won't need us around him anymore."
"Ah, don't say that," Loki said, his grin falling. "Friends are not measured by how useful they are but the mutual liking of each other's company. You think Jr. doesn't care about you guys but he does. If he didn't, he wouldn't have helped you study from first year until now so you can stay in school."
"I thought he wanted us to stay in school to protect him," said Vincent.
"We're not good enough for anything else," said Gregory.
"Vince, you have to look beyond the surface," Loki said slowly. "Not everything has to be obvious. And Greg, you're not useless but you can be more helpful if you start thinking for yourself. Stop listening to what other people says."
"What about professors?" Gregory asked, warming up to Loki who was in his philosophy mode. "They want us to listen to them all the time, even when they're wrong."
"It's the professors' fault," Loki said, nodding like he was agreeing with himself. "Professors should not say, for example, because I am your professor, what I say is correct. That is completely bull - I mean wrong. Teachers are entitled to making mistakes like any normal person, which goes the same for Bumblebee."
"Nickname for Headmaster Dumbledore," Kazuki supplied. "And if you require help with assignments, you can ask us. We would be happy to help."
"Yup," said Loki. "We're really good at tutoring."
Another fifth year Slytherin had been listening in on their conversation from his bed. He was a very skinny boy, almost to the point of looking malnourished, and was, by nature, always quiet. However, he found Professor Snape's nephew to be a very intriguing character.
Words came out from his mouth before he could stop them. "Many believe Dumbledore to be a saint. Doesn't that reflect something akin to brainwashing the public with his flawless reputation?"
"Believe me, Bumblebee has made a lot of unforgivable mistakes," Loki said without missing a beat. "People know he's too good to be true but they have to have the perfect hero to worship so the wrinkles on his rep are erased from their minds. By the way, what's your name?"
"Nott," said the thin boy. "Theodore Nott."
Vincent's eyes were wide. "You can talk!"
Theodore raised an eyebrow, Kazuki giggled behind his hand, and Loki cracked.
"Oh God," Loki said, pounding a fist on his bed. "That was hilarious. Vince, I don't think a student is allowed in this school if they can't speak."
"Breathe Loki," advised Kazuki. "You're going to have an asthma attack if you don't stop."
Loki calmed a bit. "I don't have asthma."
"At the rate you're going, you will," teased Kazuki.
"What's asthma?" Gregory asked, feeling stupid.
"Don't worry about not knowing the meaning," Akira said, coming out from the bathroom in his school robes. "It's a Muggle term."
"Muggle you say?" said Theodore, even more interested in these transfer students.
'It was my fault,' Kazuki said forlornly, noticing the glare Akira was giving Loki. 'The word slipped out accidentally.'
'You shouldn't suspect me without knowing the facts first,' Loki grumbled, crossing his arms. 'It's not always me making the mistakes.'
'Sorry,' said Akira, taking a small object from his pocket. "Here, have a chewy candy. It's lemon-flavored.'
There was no way Loki would refuse free sweets so he forgave the Go player and took the offered candy. Greg and Vince shrugged and began packing their textbooks and stuff into their bags.
Theodore's curiosity was genuinely caught. "So what's asthma?"
Leo exited the bathroom, fresh from the showers, and his hair still wet. He had a habit reflex of answering questions in dictionary form and he heard his year mate's clearly. "Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease, often arising from allergies, which are characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing. What the HELL were you guys talking about while I was in the showers?"
Theodore was unnerved by the scholarly definition that sprouted so easily from Leo's lips. The door to their room opened and Draco walked in.
"Sir, here's your report!" Loki cried mockingly, standing at attention. "I was talking to Vince and Greg about how they're not useless and Jr. is their friend, not their master. Then Theo pointed out how many people sees Bumblebee as a saint. Then Vince exclaimed and I quote "You can talk!" and I laughed and laughed, which caused Kazuki to say I should stop before I have an asthma attack. That is all Sir! Thank you for listening and a good night to all!"
With that, Loki grabbed his book bag from the floor and bolted out the room. The occupants of the room were stunned.
"That idiot," Leo said, picking up his bag and running after him.
"I came in here to inform you guys that if we don't go eat breakfast now, we won't have time before class begins," Draco said, shocked from the near collision he had when Loki left. "Who gave him sugar?"
"Guilty," said Akira.
"Oh yes, thank you for reminding us about the time Draco," Kazuki said, amused. "We better get going."
Akira nodded. He, Kazuki, Draco, Vincent, and Gregory left for the Great Hall together. Theodore was motionless.
"He called me Theo," he said, dazed, then gathering his own things and rushing to catch up with the new students.
Breakfast went well but it was funny for the professors, seeing Loki running from the Slytherin table to the Gryffindor and back again. It was even worse for the short boy that the tables were at the opposite ends with the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw House in the middle. When stomachs were full, it was time for their first class of the day.
"Walk faster! I want to see Rin," Loki said, skipping through the Hogwarts entrance. "I wonder what creature he's going to show us."
"Our new professor for Magical Creatures is a man?" asked Theodore, wheezing from keeping at Loki's pace.
"Yea," Loki said, slowing down. "He's Uncle's adopted son."
The Slytherin prefect, Blaise Zabini, was nearby and made a surprised noise. "He's Professor Snape's son? Legally?"
"Of course it's legal," Loki said, laughing. "Documented and everything."
"Mr. Snape is really nice," said Kazuki.
"Has a witty sense of humor," said Akira.
"The craziest collection of sci-fi novels," said Leo. "And has an even crazier collection of weird potions."
"Other Houses don't understand our Head of House like we do," said Draco. "No one can understand us Slytherins except for Slytherins."
"There you go again with the whole isolating Slytherin from the rest of the school thing," said Loki. "I thought I taught you better Jr. What do I always say?"
Draco sighed and recited. "Slytherin children were not born with the notion of being superior to other children, Muggle-borns and Muggles included. It is the teachings of the children's parents or guardians who are to blame for providing half-truths and narrow thinking, which is why egotistical pure-blooded families want to have their children in Slytherin with other pure-blooded children so they can be narrow-minded concurrently."
"Jr. is the best pupil I ever produced," Loki said, fake weeping. "I can be no prouder."
Vincent was confused. "You said earlier that people should listen to themselves and not to other people. Why is Draco listening to what you say?"
"There's a difference," said Loki. "Jr. is listening to what I say but I never say I'm never wrong or my word is law. Jr. has the option of taking what I say to heart or not. I'm just expressing my thoughts and if it's logical enough, it makes sense for people to believe me but in the end, it's solely your choice."
Theodore nodded considerately, repeating the words in his mind.
"He could be the one," he thought. "He could be Slytherin's savior."
'The Gryffindors are already here,' observed Kazuki.
'I know you're eager to talk to Lightning,' said Loki. 'We won't be jealous if you run up to him now.'
Kazuki slapped his arm lightly. 'I didn't mean anything by what I said. Stop saying things that could ruin him.'
'Lightning likes you,' said Loki.
'And there are many girls in the school who likes him and would make a good girlfriend,' said Kazuki. 'He has too much going on in his life already. It would be a bad idea for him to be questioning his sexuality at this time.'
'You okay?' Loki asked, concerned. 'You're not yourself.'
'A little tired,' said Kazuki. 'I'll be fine.'
"What are you two blabbing about?" said Draco. "It's gets annoying not knowing what you're talking about."
"Sorry Jr." said Loki, pulling Draco by the arm and walking ahead.
Akira clapped a hand on Kazuki's shoulder and whispered, 'I hope your family is not demanding something from you.'
'No,' said Kazuki. 'It's something else but I can take care of it myself.'
Leo patted him on the back. 'You can count on us if you can't handle it yourself.'
'I know,' said Kazuki. 'Thank you.'
The Slytherins stood a few feet away from the Gryffindors as if there was an invisible wall between them. Loki rolled his eyes and went to Harry's side. Leo, Akira, and Kazuki followed a second after.
"Hey Lightning," said Loki.
"Hey Loki," said Harry.
The usual greetings were exchanged.
"Umm, Kazuki, I have a question to ask you," Harry said, scratching his cheek nervously. Both Houses quieted their own conversations to eavesdrop.
"Yes?" said Kazuki.
"This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend and, umm, I was thinking you and I could, umm, maybe go to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer or something," Harry finally said. "If you have nothing planned I mean."
Kazuki cocked his head to one side.
"What's there to think about?" said Loki. "Say yes."
"I'm sorry," Kazuki said, shaking his head. "I have something urgent to do this weekend."
Harry deflated, shoulders slumping. "Oh, okay."
"Perhaps the next Hogsmeade weekend," said Kazuki. "I should be free then."
That brought life back to the Boy-Who-Lived. "Sure."
"ALRIGHT CLASS!" yelled Rin, emerging from the Forbidden Forest.
"Rin, you're looking good," said Loki.
"That's Professor Rin to you," said the new instructor, winking. "I'm going to call your names out and when you hear yours, say either here or present."
That went smoothly.
"Good, everyone's here," said Rin. "We're going to be studying a rare creature in today's lesson. It's huge, it's black, and it has many legs. Can anyone guess what it is?"
Ron gulped and said, "It wouldn't be a spider, would it?"
"Correct," Rin said smiling as the redhead paled. "I award one point to Gryffindor but next time, raise your hand and wait until I call on you. Now, can anyone tell me what breed of spiders could be found in the Forbidden Forest? It's going to worth two points."
Hermione, of course, raised her hand.
"Ms. Granger," said Rin.
"Acromantulas," she said confidently.
"Very good," said Rin. "That's a total of three points to Gryffindors and zero for Slytherin. Here's the last question, worth three points. Is their bite poisonous?"
Draco raised his hand.
"Mr. Malfoy," said Rin.
"Yes, their bite is poisonous," said Draco. "The bites are usually fatal because the poison travels fast in the victim's bloodstream. There is an antidote but it takes too long to brew and only a highly skilled Potions Master could make it in a short period of time."
"What a wonderful thorough answer," said Rin. "That's worth at least five points."
"He's favoring Slytherins because his father is a Slytherin," Dean said scornfully.
Rin shot him a Look and planted his hands on his hips.
"Is there a problem with how I award points, Mr. Thomas?" demanded Rin. "If there is, you can say it in my face instead of mumbling to yourself."
"You gave Slytherins extra points," Dean said childishly.
"Well, there is a good reason why," Rin said, tapping his dainty foot impatiently. "Mr. Malfoy didn't only answer the question I asked but also gave more information, which could come up on an exam."
The students, who weren't writing down notes, pulled out their notebooks and quills.
Rin continued, "If Mr. Weasley's answer was a spider classified as a beast, I would have given him more points. If Ms. Granger had answered that acromantulas are found in the Forbidden Forest but are native to Borneo, I would have awarded her four points. What I have just said might appear in an exam."
"Will we get to see any of these acromantulas?" Loki asked excitedly.
Rin smiled. "As a matter of fact, we will."
Half the class gasped, while the remaining half was speechless.
"We're going in there?" said Seamus, afraid of the forest even though the sun was shining on it. "There are monsters in there."
"Not monsters," said Rin. "The right term is magical creatures."
"But that's the Forbidden Forest Professor," Neville said faintly. "We're not allowed to go in there."
Rin pulled out a parchment from his overalls pocket. "I have the Headmaster's permission."
"Is it mandatory for us to go?" asked Draco, harboring a deep fear of walking into the unknown.
"Yes," said Rin. "The other classes will have to do the same."
"What sort of professor are you?" Pansy Parkinson, a female Slytherin, shrieked.
"Did you know your face is like a small sturdy dog of an ancient breed originating in China, having a snub nose, wrinkled face, square-shaped body, short smooth hair, and curled tail?" Leo said to her. 'It means a pug.'
"Huh?" was the class's reaction but Rin, Kazuki, Loki, and Akira were laughing.
Rin coughed a couple of times and said, "That wasn't nice Mr. Mizuno."
Leo shrugged.
"I'm going to pair you guys off in twos or threes so you have someone to guard your back," said Rin. "The Forbidden Forest is a dangerous place and petty rivalry could cost you your lives. Is that clear?"
"Yes," chorused the students.
"Group one, Ms. Granger, Mr. Longbottom, and Mr. Snape," said Rin. "Group two, Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy. Group three, Mr. Nott and Mr. Shimizu. Group four, Mr. Touya, Mr. Zabini, and Mr. Finnigan. Group five, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Mizuno. Group six, Mr. Thomas and Ms. Parkinson. Group seven - "
After the groups were done, Rin told them to leave their bags on the ground and carry only their wands. Then they followed him into the Forbidden Forest.
"Watch your steps," warned Rin. "There are tree roots protruding from the soil that could trip you."
As the last of the students disappeared into the forest, Dumbledore moved away from the window where he was monitoring how Rin taught.
"He is a talented professor," the Headmaster said to himself, popping a lemon drop into his mouth. "I wonder if he will be interested in co- teaching with Hagrid when he returns."
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A.N. - YES! Another chapter! Sirius will be appearing in the next one. Severus too.