The Chicken Chronicles: Saving The Wizarding World

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter universe. Anything here that might make you think of said universe does not belong to me. Teddy belongs to me. Rodney is my own creation. Blaise's personality is my doing as well. So, basically, this fic is AU. Oh, and I still don't own anything. Except for the above. Yeah.

Rant over now. :)

------------------------------

Since that it was still pretty dark, Teddy and I thought it best to sleep the night away. But no, Ms. Bossy Ravenclaw Perks demands that her -ahem- dear brother Rodney gets his ... nourishment.

'Rodney's hungry ... Zabini, go get something edible, will you?' Sally was kneeling on the grass, mopping up Rodney's face. Why she didn't use magic is still a mystery to me. But I didn't say anything. Let her clean it up with her bare hands, if she wanted to.

'I was just getting to sleep!' I cried indignantly. I was lying on the ground next to a tree. Teddy was already seated next to me, his head tucked under his wing.

'No. We better eat first,' she said firmly. Uh-huh. Sally wants to eat. Sally must eat. Sally won't take no for an answer. Sally is annoying.

'Alright, Your Royal Highness,' I muttered under my breath. I got up and prodded Teddy awake. He gave one clucked protest and opened one beady black eye.

'What?' he clucked snappily.

'Miss Bossy wants us to go on a food expedition. I'm taking you with me ... I don't trust Rodney.' I scooped him up in my arms before he could protest. 'We'll be going now,' I said loudly to Sally and Rodney. 'Risking our necks for your goodly cause and all that jazz.'

'Whatever, Zabini. Now hurry up,' snapped Sally. I glared at her and went into the Forest, deeper and deeper. How I was to find any food, I had no idea.

------------------------------

'Admit it,' clucked Teddy wearily.

'No,' I said, my teeth clenched.

'Come on now. I've got more sense than you, and I'm a rooster,' clucked Teddy smugly.

'You're not a rooster. You're a chicken.'

'Well, you're chicken, if you ask me. You know I'm right. Admit it.'

'Make me,' I growled.

Teddy stared at me with those small black eyes. 'If you say so.' And with that, he gave me a sharp peck on the index finger of my right hand.

'Ow!' I yelped, dropping him.

Teddy gave me a triumphant look. I glared at him. But he continued to look at me with that way of his. Like a 'I-know-better-than-you' look.

I muttered something incoherent.

'Sorry?' Teddy clucked cheerfully.

I gritted my teeth. 'Fine. We're lost. I admit it.' Teddy seemed cheered by this and scratched the side of his head in a smug manner.

'That wasn't so hard, was it, now?' I didn't answer, and scooped him up. 'So, genius. What are we gonna do?'

Teddy looked thoughtful. For one moment, I felt rather belittled by the fact that I was asking advice from a chicken. Or rooster. Yeah, rooster. Or it could be chicken. Whatever.

'We can't retrace our steps ... you've probably forgotten anyway ... and we can't even remember where those two are,' Teddy clucked slowly. I was under the impression that he couldn't bring himself to call Sally and Rodney by their names. 'Climb a tree.'

I blinked. 'What?'

'Climb a tree.'

The idea wasn't that bad actually. It was actually a good idea. But I had a horrible fear of heights. All because of a little incident that happened when I was five, involving a broomstick, a piece of rope and a half-finished jar of peanut butter. I never really liked to talk about it.

I looked at the tree nearest to me. It was a tall one- the kind with loads of branches that grows really high. Up in the sky. Perhaps I should give it a try ... but looking at it's awesome height made me want to cry. I swallowed, and looked around helplessly. Teddy eyed my every move.

And without warning, he jumped, flapping his flightless wings, and landed on the lowest branch. He stared at me pointedly, as if he were trying to teach me how to climb. I didn't move. When I still didn't do anything, he emitted a small disgruntled cluck and started to flap and jump his way up the branches. I watched as his dull yellow plumage went higher and higher and higher ... and I felt a sense of guilt. Was it really worth it, letting Teddy do what I didn't want to? Just because I'm scared? But I'm a Slytherin. We look out for ourselves. Look at Sally with Rodney. If I were her, I'd just leave the guy to clean his face up himself.

My stomach rumbled. I realised just how long I hadn't eaten. I wondered about the people who were running around, hysterical at Hogsmeade. What happened to them? When Teddy and I were making our way here, the usually busy little village was deserted. Where were they now? Locked up somewhere, dirty and hungry? That's awful.

But what can I do? I'm safe, and that's all that matters. And Teddy. That's all. An odd feeling rose up within me. It took quite a while to realise what it was. Guilt. Why am I guilty? I didn't do anything! Well ... maybe that's it. I'm not doing anything. Sure, I promised Sally. Anyway, she said 'ourselves'. She didn't say anything about everyone else.

That awful guilty feeling intensified.

Suddenly, I heard a crowing noise from above. Teddy came flapping down, falling rapidly, bouncing off the branches, but he didn't seem to mind.

'That way,' he waved a wing to my left.

I scooped him up. 'We didn't get any food,' I said quietly, 'Sally's gonna murder us.'

Teddy waved his wing in another direction.

And there was a bush. It was a small bush. But there were berries on it.

My jaw dropped. 'Why didn't I see that before?'

'You're half-blind, that's why. Now c'mon, before the Perks decide to murder you anyway.'

------------------------------

A/N: I think this is the longest chapter I've written ... I enjoyed writing this chapter. Even though I know I'm still not getting anywhere. But I promise that there's gonna be loads more coming soon! Oh, and sorry for the long wait. Exams, y'know. :)

Thanks to my reviewers, Emma Barrows and Silver Ice!

Oh yes ... please leave a review! Even if it is to point out something I did wrong. Anywyas, until next time!