Hello Everyone! I'm putting this up a little earlier than I planned do to a request, and because I finished my exams today! YAY! I'm free! Well…for a few days anyway….
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or Harry Potter.
Chapter 16
An elderly looking barn owl swooped through the window into the headmaster's office. Looking around for the person whom the lengthy letter attached to his leg was for, clicked his beak in annoyance, finding his target not in the office. Flapping in wide circles around the ceiling of the office, he swooped toward the desk, his feet gliding and sliding on the desk sending quills and parchment flying. He finally rested at the edge of the desk, hooting wildly. Several people in their respective portraits who had watched the wild ride clapped in appreciation. The owl clicked his beak with indignation, ruffling his feathers.
There was a rustle from somewhere in the office, a soft yet beautiful trill filled the air. The creature that had made the noise was sitting upon its perch, rustling its brilliant red and gold feathers delicately. It watched the owl, still trilling softly. The owl stared at the phoenix before hooting softly. With that the owl settled down and prepared to rest and wait for someone to come in and relieve him of his burden.
~*~
"Lucky the students are in the Great Hall," A man murmured, finding himself face to face with a stone gargoyle, which looked almost expectant. "Ah yes the password! Candy Cane!" The man cried and the gargoyle hopped aside allowing him to enter, the man was followed by none other than a dog, loping steadily behind him.
The two entered the Headmaster's office looking as though they were out on a Sunday stroll in the park, rather than heading to an important meeting. The owl peered at the duo as they entered the room, and let out a frustrated hoot. The phoenix on the other hand trilled and swooped gracefully over to the newcomers, landing on the arm the man held out.
He was a young man, though his hair was grayed in places, and his face seemed to be prematurely lined, giving him the look of a young man who has worked far too hard, far too soon, and has seen far too much. He was smiling though as he stroked the bird. "No, Sirius." The man stated, without even looking at the dog that had followed him.
The dog appeared to be heading for the door. In an instant the place were the large black dog had stood, was a tall thin man, with long shaggy black hair. "It would be nice to see Harry…..eh Moony?" The man spoke softly.
"No, Sirius."
"We could.."
"No." Sirius muttered something so softly, Moony didn't catch it. "Pardon?"
"I said, I just realized why you made prefect when we were here. You are no bloody fun." Sirius said gloomily, giving the exit an appraising glance. "Only Harry and his friends now I'm and animagus…. You could be walking your dog."
"No."
"Remus, no one here knows Snuffles, and even if they did, what could they do? They'd cry "Sirius Black," but do you really think anyone would buy it? Hell, the Minister has his head so high up in the clouds these days I doubt an Ukranian Ironbelly would catch Fudge's attention." Sirius said calmly and logically, as though he had been thinking about this for some time.
"We can't risk it. Remember, I'm not supposed to be here, can you imagine the problems it would cause if I was seen?" Remus Lupin replied, looking glum. "Besides Dumbledore and Hogwarts are in a precarious position enough as it is, any mistake now…" He trailed off.
"True," grunted Sirius, who had a sour look on his face, he began pacing the room, pausing when he reached a window that gave him a slight view of the Forbidden Forest. "Moony, you're good at creatures, what's that thing Hagrid's …errr..trying not to get strangled by?"
Lupin strode over to the window and blinked at Hagrid, who appeared to be struggling with what appeared to be a black cloak. His eyes widened slightly, "It's a Lethifold….those are rare…and dangerous." Shaking his head slightly he watched as Hagrid managed to subdue the creature…by dragging it into the forest.
~*~
The Great Hall was packed and noisy on the first lunch break of the new term. Every which way you turned kids where chatting, laughing, and stuffing their faces. Even the teacher's seemed cheerful and animated this particular day. Of course where there is food and laughter there are the Weasly twins.
"Hey, you guys have Defense Against the Dark Arts yet?" Fred (or George?) asked, plopping down and grabbing at the food as though he was starving. His twin plopped down as well.
"Tomorrow," Hermione supplied, seeing as Ron's mouth was too full for him to breathe, let alone form coherent words. She gave him a disgusted look, "Really Ron! The food isn't going to disapparate, you can eat a little slower."
"Too hungry, no time." Ron managed between bites of Shepard's Pie.
Harry on the other hand was eating quickly, but not quite as quickly as Ron. "did you have it?"
The twins nodded in unison. Looking neither pleased nor upset, as they loaded their plates and began eating hunger. Hermione looked at them expectantly, but they said nothing. It was as if they didn't notice her gaze, or they were ignoring it. Each possibility was quite probable due to the fact that they were Fred and George, and one never knew quite what to expect from them.
Finally Hermione lost patience with their antics. "How was it?" She queried, as she drank some pumpkin juice out of her goblet.
"Interesting."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, slightly.
"She seems nice, but she's…well.."
"Well?" she persisted.
"She's a bit, I dunno," Fred answered, looking quite perplexed.
"She's a bit ditzy." George supplied, "disorganized or absentminded you could say. She spent the first part of class staring into space and when we were finally loud enough to get her attention…."
"She looked surprised to see a classroom of students." Fred continued.
"She lost her notes."
"At the same time though, it seemed almost as if she knew what she was doing the entire time, once she picked up her books that is." The twins finished off.
Hermione looked appalled, and her mouth opened soundlessly as if she couldn't comprehend a Professor being disorganized.
"Picked up her books?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, she must have had about ten books; she tried carrying them to the bookshelf, but tripped over… well thin air they went flying." George replied, his lips twitching slightly as if trying not to smile.
The group lapsed into silence.
~*~
"He's late. I'm going out to see what I can find."
"Padfoot, we must remain here. Be patient. Albus Dumbledore arrives when he means to and not a moment before. He has a reason." Lupin said calmly.
"Very true," an amused voice said, "I do arrive when I mean to and not a moment before. Very wise Remus."
Remus Lupin and Sirius Black jumped at the sudden appearance of the very person they were waiting for, Albus Dumbledore. He had apparently come to his office after lunch was over. After all it would have caught someone's attention if the headmaster slipped out of the Great Hall right in the middle of a meal and it would have been foolish to try to slip out when nearly every teacher and student in the school was present. Besides they were serving one of his favorite meals for lunch today.
The owl gave a screech and flew over to Professor Dumbledore and flapped around, circling his head impatiently. He reached out a delicate hand and freed the envelope attached to the owl, which promptly flew out the window as if it had pressing matters to attend to. "Always in a hurry," the headmaster murmured, his eyes twinkling slightly.
Without a word he went to his desk, seemingly ignoring his company and settled himself in the chair behind the large desk. Dumbledore opened the envelope, recognizing the hastily scrawled writing. He began to read, his brow furrowed every so slightly before smoothing out once more. "This is another piece," Dumbledore said.
"Another piece?" Sirius asked.
"Another piece to that which we do not know." Sirius blinked and Dumbledore set the letter aside. "Well apparently you must have had no trouble coming here, otherwise you two would hardly be standing in my office." He said with a smile.
"We got here alright, coming at this time was a good idea." Lupin agreed. "How are you?" He said randomly, as if trying to make small talk.
"Moony we aren't here to make small talk," Sirius growled, "We are here to discuss Voldemort."
"I know that," Lupin said softly, "but we must not forget simple courtesies, even though we are in a time when darkness is approaching."
Sirius ignored him and turned to Dumbledore, "We need to know what's going on. I haven't heard about any strange occurrences or deaths, I've been listening, and so has Dung."
"You wouldn't have heard about any." Dumbledore replied. "Because there hasn't been any."
"But he has returned, he still has the same beliefs why would he not do the same as before?" Sirius continued.
"Because my friend," Dumbledore murmured, "things did not go as planned."
"Harry," Lupin inserted helpfully, "Harry wasn't supposed to live, Dumbledore wasn't supposed to know Voldemort had returned."
"Exactly, he wants to regain his former power, and now he knows he must do so quickly before he is stopped. At the same time, he doesn't want to broadcast his position to the world and gain the suspicion or attention of the Ministry of Magic, no matter how much they seem to ignore him and his followers."
"Because that would just make it harder for him," Sirius stated.
"True, so he's keeping things quiet. I believe he wants a magical method to gain power rapidly. He knows no modern magic can do this, so he is searching, trying to find an ancient means." Dumbledore informed them.
"Ancient powers can have no bounds…." Lupin trailed off, remembering he had read that statement in a book once.
"So he's trying to find something. Why don't we just move in and destroy him now while we still can?" Sirius asked rashly.
"Things are never as simple as they appear."
An hour later Lupin accompanied by a large black dog, began to leave Dumbledore's office. "Remus…a word? Before you go?"
"Don't leave yet Snuffles," Lupin told the dog.
"Yes, Professor?" Lupin asked.
"I need you to do something….."
~*~
"Welcome back students, you all returned as I knew you would. I would also like to greet out three newcomers." Professor Sibyll Trelawney in her customary mystical voice. Harry exchanged an amused glance with Ron. She floated over to Yugi and the others, peering at them with her magnified eyes. "You," She pointed to Yugi, "what you fear will happen unless you do something to stop it."
Yugi blinking owlishly at her, but said nothing. I wonder what I fear will happen unless I do something to stop it, was what he was thinking. "I appreciate your….concern." Yugi told her mildly, unsure how he was supposed to react.
She heaved a heavy sigh which seemed to be made purposefully extra loud, the students watched her, some with interest, and some warily. With a disappointed look at Yugi she swept over to Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, welcoming them.
"That was….enlightening…." Yugi told Ryou Bakura mildly. Yugi wasn't quite sure if he should actually be scared or not, if he was supposed to be scare, he wasn't. Besides slight amusement in apparently how serious Professor Trelawney seemed to take her grave prediction, he felt nothing, he wasn't scared or nervous. Should he be? Probably not, Yugi decided, after all Ron and Harry did say that this particular teacher liked to create disturbances and seemed overly dramatic about nearly everything.
What a waste of time, Malik thought crossly, there were things much more interesting he could be doing at the moment, and they did not involve crackpot predictions and sweet smelling perfume that was permeating the crowded attic-like room. As the professor gracefully went around the room predicting random occurrences for random people and greeting others like old friends, Malik just snorted and his purple eyes were narrowed.
"Today, to start the new term we'll be doing dreams," She proclaimed, "some of you may not know, but dreams are often great indicators of things to come, death for instance," She shot a look in Harry's direction. "In fact those of you who are blessed with a strong inner eye, may find your dreams are much more meaningful that those who do have strong inner eyes." Malik snorted again. "I beg your pardon?" She asked courteously.
The classroom filled with soft giggles and the sound of people trying to stifle their laughter. Ron looked rather delighted, thinking he had found someone else who was willing to cause a little bit of trouble in Divination. Ryou just rolled his large brown eyes disdainfully, and Yugi tried to look a bit upset.
"Now really!" The Professor snapped, her voice loosing the mystical quality that she used much of the time when speaking. "Get to it! Record as many of your latest dreams as you can, try and spot patterns."
Needless to say, Professor Trelawney's first class of the new term did not go quite as planned.
~*~
That night the conversations in the Great Hall were much more halfhearted and a lot more muted than during lunch. Many of the students looked slightly tired. Also many students watched the teacher's tables as if willing Professor McGonagall to show up. She didn't. Hermione wasted no time in bringing books to the Great Hall to read while eating or when Ron and Harry began discussing Quidditch.
"Hermione, do you ever give it a rest?" Harry asked softly, eyeing her with his vivid green eyes, as he helped himself to more food.
She raised an eyebrow at him over the book she was reading, Numerous Notations In Numerology, by Addine N. Minusine. "I see you two aren't stressing yourselves," She smiled slightly and buried her head in her large thick book.
Ron was feeling very cheerful as he recapped what had happed in Divination, to a half-listening Hermione, and an uninterested-because-he-had-been-there Harry. "Let's see Hagrid tonight," Hermione interrupted Ron's tale.
"I haven't finished the stor…."
"We may be able to find out what we are having for lessons this year." Hermione continued quickly and she closed the book, stuffing it into her already packed bag.
"What's with you tonight Hermione?" Harry asked.
Hermione blushed ever so slightly, "Nothing, I just…well… I've been thinking," she began desperately, "if we find out what Hagrid's planning for lessons, maybe we can you know, side track him to more tame options." She looked hopeful.
"We can try," Harry said dully, "but I doubt he'd listen."
Be that as it may, after dinner was done and the Great Hall was cleared, the trio headed across the gradually darkening grounds. The walked up to Hagrid's relatively small but comfortable cabin and knocked. No one answered. They banged on the door calling Hagrid's name.
"Hello you three," Hagrid greeted them suddenly, as he swung around the corner of his cabin, seeming to come from the direction of the Forbidden Forest. He looked tired, pleased, but also slightly winded as though he had been running quite a distance.
"Hi Hagrid." Harry returned with a grin, he leaned over to scratch Fang, the large fierce looking boar hound behind the ears.
"Just been getting stuff ready for tomorrow's lesson. It'll be a good one!" Hagrid cried cheerfully, rubbing his large hands together. Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nervous glances. Normally classes that Hagrid though were good meant dangerous creatures would be in the mix somewhere.
"What are…" Ron began to ask, hoping it wasn't anything too bad, he'd hate to have to go to the hospital wing so early in the term.
"Surprise." Hagrid interrupted gruffly, "Come in! We can have tea!" He opened the door to the cabin and ushered his friends in. "Boy this year will be good, been planning lessons all summer." He beamed, "Manticores, Quintapeds, Streelers, maybe even a Chimaera if I can manage it." Hagrid crowed as he shuffled around the room, getting cups out.
It was very interesting to watch how quickly three fifth year students could go from healthy colorings to varying shades of gray and white. "Manticores, Quintapeds, Streelers, Chimaeras?" Hermione squeaked. "Why don't you…I don't know Hagrid, do things like Crups, Knarls, and Bowtruckles? You know things that will be on our O.W.L.s?" Hermione suggested, trying to keep her voice light, as if she was not trying to save them from a rough year, even though she was.
Hagrid roared with laughter, "Those are boring! You can't tell me three adventured kids like you guys would rather do those things than the fun stuff!" Hagrid chuckled as if it were all a funny joke. They smiled at him nervously. Hermione wondered just what was for the lesson tomorrow, if things like Manticores were in the future….
Review Responses
simple insanity: You'll find out. ^_^ (I'm sooo much help ^-^;)
shadow-demon18b: Thanks! ^_^ I'll do my best!
Ruth 4 kai: Thank you. ^_^
Destiny's Dragon: I don't think I'll ever be able to stop writing. XD Not now that I've started writing anyway. ^_^
Yana5: Thanks. ^_^
G.O.T. Nick: True I suppose he could, but then I would have missed out on a chance to annoy/get to Snape, even though he is one of my favorite characters, I just love his reactions. ^-^;
Anime Lover: Actually that Chapter is more than twice as long as my first few chapters, but I think you're right. I think the review responses at the end gives the chapter an appearance of being longer, even though it isn't. ^-^; Thanks!
Mists: Thank you very much! I've tried really hard to keep the characters with their normal personalities. ^_^
Ryou Bakura Obsessor: o.0;; Well then, I accept and respect your decision to agree with your own thoughts as well as my own, which was that it was corny, I also respect your opinion to agree even if in reality you don't agree to what I personally agree with even though it seemed as though I didn't agree. Heh. ^_^ I also agree with your statement that you were rambling, but please keep it in mind that I may be agreeing just to agree and not because I really agree with what you may or may not agree with. *cough* I think I lost myself somewhere in there. ^-^ But it was fun!
Donella: Alright! ^_^
Curtis Zidane Ziraa: Thanks! I'll try! ^_^
Blood Aura: Sorry! This chapter is
longer than the last one!
C.M Aeris Queen of Insanity: Ahahaha, that's what I was thinking of! ^_^; All these times we get chemicals and the teacher says, "DO NOT PUT THESE TOGETHER" only to have someone do it and explode their flasks. ^_^;
Cute lil Yami: Thanks! ^_^
Akiko Koishii: Thank you! ^_^ Glad you liked it.
Immmmmortalllllyyy: Wow! Thanks! You reviewed to every single chapter I believe….like on the same day. I'm very honored. ^-^;
Fan: Thanks!
soeq7w59a : Thank you. ^_^
Evergladeord: =^_^= Alright will do!
Maruken: Ooooh really? Sweet! ^______^
Aleh: He uses Dragon Heartstring right? I didn't put dragon scale did I? *checks* darn it. -_- I did, didn't I? Gomen everyone, typo. I'll fix it as soon as I can. Thanks for catching my mistake.