Summer came on fast after getting school supplies, but with Autumn, Zarif was able to send letters to Merula and Hermione much faster. On their last evening, Mrs. Weasley conjured up a sumptuous dinner that included all of Harry's favorite things, ending with a mouthwatering treacle pudding. Fred and George rounded off the evening with a display of Filibuster fireworks; they filled the kitchen with red and blue stars that bounced from ceiling to wall for at least half an hour. Then it was time for the last mug of hot chocolate and bed.
It took a long while to get started the next morning. They were up at dawn, but somehow they still seemed to have a great deal to do. Mrs. Weasley dashed about in a bad mood, looking for spare socks and quills; people kept colliding on the stairs, half-dressed with bits of toast in their hands; and Mr. Weasley nearly broke his neck, tripping over a stray chicken as he crossed the yard carrying Ginny's trunk to the car.
Zarif and Harry couldn't see how nine people, seven large trunks, three owls, and a rat were going to fit into one small Ford Anglia. He had reckoned, of course, without the special features that Mr. Weasley had added.
"Not a word to Molly," he whispered to Harry as he opened the trunk and showed him how it had been magically expanded so that the luggage fitted easily.
When at last they were all in the car, Mrs. Weasley glanced into the back seat, where Harry, Ron, Zarif, Fred, George, and Percy were all sitting comfortably side by side, and said, "Muggles do know more than we give them credit for, don't they?" She and Ginny got into the front seat, which had been stretched so that it resembled a park bench. "I mean, you'd never know it was this roomy from the outside, would you?"
Mr. Weasley started up the engine and they trundled out of the yard, Harry turning back for a last look at the house. He barely had time to wonder when he'd see it again when they were back. George had forgotten his box of Filibuster fireworks. Five minutes after that, they skidded to a halt in the yard so that Fred could run in for his broomstick. They had almost reached the highway when Ginny shrieked that she'd left her diary. By the time she had clambered back into the car, they were running very late, and tempers were running high. For his part, Zarif had closed his eyes to try and get a bit more sleep on their way there, only being awakened by Percy when they arrived.
Everyone got out and Zarif helped Ginny with her case as they unloaded to help speed things up as they had little time before the train left the station.
"Percy, you and Zarif first," Mrs. Weasley instructs as they got their carts ready.
Percy takes a good hold of his cart along with Zarif before they both run in, one after the other and come onto the platform. Both sighing in relief they got there on time. Once inside, Percy made his way onto the train, heading for the prefect car and Zarif scanning the crowd until someone tapped his shoulder, making him turn around to face them.
"Hi. I see you made it," Merula says smiling, her cart full of suitcases tied down and a pet cage perched on top.
"Hi," Zarif greets as Morgana was circling Merula. "I see Morgana has grown," Zarif says smiling as Autumn made herself known from her cage on his cart.
"And you finally got a bird," Merula motes, seeing the owl cage with the owl watching her every move and Morganna barking at her.
"Autumn is a bit of a spitfire," Zarif explains opening up the cage and pets her head to comfort her.
Autumn hoots happily, closing her eyes and slightly nuzzling him back.
"She try and bite you any when delivering you my letters?" Zarif says before casting a glance at where he had spotted Draco.
"No. But she did bite my uncle when they got too close," Merula giggles a little at.
"Oh, you seem to like her then?" Zarif says smiling as he let Autumn climb onto his arm so he could withdraw her from her cage before lifting her up so she could transition to his shoulder.
"I think it's she likes me," Merula jokes a little.
"So what do you think?" Zarif asks as they move to get onto the train with their luggage.
"I think you should watch out. Smart as you may be, it sometimes doesn't best the strong arm with the ministry," Merula warns.
"I am more worried he will try something as I hear he doesn't like a few laws in the work," Zarif says as they enter an empty compartment. "Merula, what is your opinion on blood status?" Zarif asks.
Merula hums. "Honestly…I'm not sure about it. I mean, if you're a half-blood or a muggle-born…I wouldn't care at this point."
"I am a pure-blood actually," Zarif informs.
Merula fumbles with one of her bags and looks to him in surprise. "Oh…sorry…didn't know. Heh…I think my parents would like to meet you…if…" she tries to laugh and make a joke of, but failed miserably.
"There is no worry, but how many of us are there left?" Zarif asks seriously.
Merula sits as she tries to think about it. "Doubt a lot."
"And that number is falling each generation unless the purebloods want to start marrying their own sisters," Zarif says getting a disgusted look from her. "Exactly, the 'pure' bloodlines are heading for extinction. We should just accept it and move on," Zarif says.
"Doubt the most vocal will," Merula sighs as Morganna jumps onto her lap and lays there, letting Merula rub her back. "Even the most deadly will fight to the last breath for it."
"There will always be idiots and fools. The sad fact is the world as a whole has changed greatly and the wizarding world has been forced to change because of it, even if it was by dragging it kicking and screaming," Zarif points out.
Merula hums, staring at the ground in thought as the train started to move. "Wish all this can end and we can just relax and do our studies and live our lives in peace."
"Well, we will get our chance at school," Zarif says giving her a smile.
Merula smiles back a little, looking to him and wondering what brought this on. It can't be his own life. But maybe…the Malfoys? Could he be thinking of…"Anything from the trolley?" a woman calls from outside, pushing the snack trolley down the hall.
"Anything you want Merula?" Zarif asks.
"Thought you were from the orphanage and you only get enough for what the school asks for?" Merula asks, a bit surprised as she only had a few sickles for some treats between King's Cross and the school.
"I will explain later," Zarif says before sitting up and going to get a few things.
Merula tilts her head to see more as she watches him talk with the woman and grabs a few boxes and snacks before handing her a gallon and a few sickles, surprising her with how much he has. Then watching as he leans down to the bottom of the trolley and notices something before paying for it too. "No way the bank let you have that much from a set amount they allow," Merula says in disbelief as he gives her boxes and snacks before giving Morganna a sweet bone and Autumn some mice.
"Let's just say I got this from an ancestor's vault that I inherited while at there last," Zarif says making her nod in understanding as it was very believable with him being a pure-blood after all.
"Must have been a very wealthy one," Merula notes as she picks up a chocolate bar and starts to eat. "Thanks."
"I also got something else. An artifact," Zarif said making sure the door was locked as he noticed they had started moving.
Merula stops eating and swallows what she had. "Artifact?"
Zarif opens up his trunk and brings out the shield for her to see.
"That's a…is that a dragon wing?" Merula asks in shock as Morganna went to Autumn and lays beside her, chewing happily on her bone.
"Check the inside of it," Zarif says handing it to her.
Merula quickly takes the shield and starts looking and feeling it. The texture almost less of a leathery wing and more of a hardened metal shield. She then flips it over and spots a seal branded over the arm handles. "Gryffindor? How…what…?" she tries to come up and ask, but the words couldn't come out correctly as they stop only at her surprised thoughts.
"Not just any Gryffindor. Godric Gryffindor. Apparently, a member received or inherited the shield from either him or someone he had given it to," Zarif says.
"Lucky…and this is yours now?" Merula asks, feeling how tough the shield is.
"Yeah, it is. So how was your summer overall?" Zarif asks.
"Normal," Merula simply answers, still entranced by the shield.
"Is that good or bad?" Zarif asks as Morganna lays her head onto his lap.
"Yes," Merula says.
"You are not going to give me a straight answer are you?" Zarif asks.
Merula smirks. "Yes."
'I don't think I will ever truly understand women,' Zarif thinks.
Autumn hoots at him, almost sensing what he was thinking.
The two students continued to converse until Hermione opened the door, looking around. "Have you seen Ron or Harry?"
"No, they should be on the train though as they were right behind me entering," Zarif informs.
"Well, they are not. In fact, I haven't even seen their luggage," Hermione explains.
"…oh no," Zarif mutters patting Autumn's head. "Autumn, take a letter to Hogwarts and give it to one of the professors," Zarif says quickly as he starts writing a hasty letter.
"What are you even going to say to get them off trouble?" Merula asks shrugging.
"I am saying they aren't on the train and should have gotten on right behind me," Zarif says, giving it to Autumn.
Autumn hoots before biting onto the letter and takes off out the window after he opens it.
"Hopefully, they can find the two," Zarif says.
"One can hope. Others can do," Merula recites.
"So what are you going to do with the shield?" Hermione says, seeing Merula holding it.
"Probably keep it packed away where it could be safe. Could come in handy in case Snape sends us out for potion ingredient hunting. Especially in the forest. But to prevent theft, I will be giving it to the staff to put on display somewhere until needed," Zarif shrugs at before pausing. "I will have to leave to find somewhere to change into my robes as well,"
"Same for us," Hermione points out. "If we're lucky, those idiots might be at the school by first class."
"You would think there would be a changing room on one of the cars," Zarif says as Hermione joined them for the rest of the train ride.
Zarif awoke the first day of school to find Harry and Ron in their beds near him. 'What happened to you two?' Zarif thinks before getting ready and heads down to the great hall for breakfast and to study some spells alone.
"Did they make it?" Hermione asks, sitting across from him.
"Oh, they are in their beds when I left," Zarif says starting to eat.
"And any idea what happened?" Hermione asks curiously.
"None yet," Zarif says before they start hearing rumors they crashed a flying car into the whomping willow to Hermione's horror. "Well, that is a thing," Zarif says as McGonagall walks up to him.
"Mr. Trazax. The shield you have given is now put away and if you need it back at any moment, just ask one of us," McGonagall explains.
"Thank you, professor," Zarif says going back to studying the freezing charm before peering over to see she had one of Gilderoy's books. "Read them all and something feels off about the man."
"You…read them all? Over the summer?" Hermione asks in some surprise as she looks at the size of the book.
"Yeah…I know you have a crush, but don't trust the guy," Zarif says looking at her face.
Hermione immediately blushes in embarrassment. "I…I don't have a crush," she responds immediately.
Zarif says nothing, going back to his spellbook as Ron and Harry came in with the rest of the students. Zarif kept reading as he set aside a plate full of sausage in preparation for what was to come.
Owls start to hoot throughout the great hall as many of them start flying in, carrying various packages and letters that they drop with their respective owners before flying off again. Only Autumn flying over and landing beside him before noticing the plate of sausages and starts to peck and eat away.
Zarif, without looking up, reaches over and pets the owl as she ate smiling all the while until he heard Mrs. Weasley's voice, "…STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE…" Zarif, hearing that, shot his head up and looks to where it was coming from to see a letter doing the yelling. Looking around, he noticed people throughout the hall was swiveling around to see who had received the Howler, and Ron sank so low in his chair, that only his crimson forehead could be seen.
"LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRING YOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULD BOTH HAVE DIED! ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER'S FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT BACK HOME!"
A ringing silence fell. The red envelope, which had dropped from Ron's hand, burst into flames and curled into ashes. Harry and Ron sat there stunned, as though a tidal wave had just passed over them. A few people laughed and, gradually, a babble of talk broke out again.
"Well, then…what made you guys steal a car?" Zarif finally asks.
"The entrance to the train station sealed on us. We couldn't get through," Harry informs.
"…what?" Zarif spoke up confused now. "That door is handled by the ministry which I would bet has very advanced magic. And it closed on you? So why not wait as Mrs. Weasley did say they saw the car gone?"
"We didn't think of it," Harry says humiliated.
"I think they would have reported the door and got you to the school with the ministry and school giving you a small break," Zarif added.
"They were seen," Hermione says showing him the front page.
"Oh…yeah…that will do it," Zarif says.
Ron and Harry groan as they drop their heads onto the table.
Soon Professor McGonagall was moving along the Gryffindor table, handing out course schedules. Zarif, seeing this, pats Autumn's head and lets her leave, having finished all the sausages he had for her. Taking his schedule, he looked over it to see he had double Herbology with the Hufflepuffs first.
Seeing this, Zarif started to put his books away and head off to the greenhouses with the rest of the students.
On his way there, he noticed professor Sprout with her arms full of splints being followed by Lockheart. Her expression said it all to Zarif and continued on to the greenhouse as because he didn't want to be near the professor as well. Harry was not so fortunate when he was singled out by the man.
Herbology was a tough class starting out this year around having started with mandrakes. By the end of it, the entire class was filthy, tired, and some in pain from them. After heading back to get cleaned up with the rest of the Gryffindors, Zarif made his way to transfigurations. The first lesson back was a hard one, but what caught Zarif's attention most was Ron's wand. It was held together by magitape and didn't seem to be working right. Actually making a furry cup with a tail…almost as if it was mimicking his condition.
After that class and then lunch, it was off to defense against the dark arts with Harry's group. On the way there, they were stopped by a first year with a camera and to Zarif's surprise it was not as bad as he thought. It was far worse as their professor was just incompetent all the way through. "All right, Harry? I'm…I'm Colin Creevey," he said breathlessly, taking a tentative step forward. "I'm in Gryffindor, too. D'you think…would it be all right if…can I have a picture?" he said, raising the camera hopefully.
"A picture?" Harry repeated blankly.
"So I can prove I've met you," said Colin eagerly, edging further forward. "I know all about you. Everyone's told me. About how you survived when You-Know-Who tried to kill you and how he disappeared and everything and how you've still got a lightning scar on your forehead," Colin says looking to his hairline, "and a boy in my dormitory said if I develop the film in the right potion, the pictures'll move." Colin drew a great shuddering breath of excitement and said, "It's amazing here, isn't it? I never knew all the odd stuff I could do was magic till I got the letter from Hogwarts. My dad's a milkman, he couldn't believe it either. So I'm taking loads of pictures to send home to him. And it'd be really good if I had one of you," he says, looking imploringly at Harry, "maybe your friend could take it and I could stand next to you? And then, could you sign it?"
"Signed photos? You're giving out signed photos, Potter?" Loud and scathing, Draco Malfoy's voice echoed around the courtyard. He had stopped right behind Colin, flanked, as he always was at Hogwarts, by his large and thuggish cronies, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Who called for the useless?" Zarif asks out loud.
Draco was very unamused by this, letting his anger show on his face. "Care to repeat that?"
"The useless. The one unable to get by without his family's influence or wealth," Zarif adds.
"And what about you? Not able to get by at all and have to rely on some loans from the bank just to even buy supplies? Doubt someone like me has that problem in your position you filthy mudblood," Malfoy brags.
"You're about as stupid as you are ill-informed. I am a pure-blood. I would say like you, but that would just be insulting comparing myself to you," Zarif says.
Draco was enraged how Zarif just outright dismissed him and pulled out his wand without thinking before calling, "Flipendo!"
Zarif grunts as he flew away onto his back and groans as he lays on the ground. "Ow…second…time…that happened…but you done it now," Zarif mutters to himself.
"What do we have here?" a cold voice says behind the three Slytherins.
Malfoy and his group froze and turned around to see Snape there glaring. Not at Harry as usual, but at Draco. It was obvious he had seen what had happened. Draco opened his mouth to try to explain, but Snape cut him off, "Twenty points from Slytherin and you will have detention Draco."
Zarif smiles a little hiddenly as he gets help from Harry and Ron to stand again.
"Now get to class," Snape informed the three before walking up to the group. "That means you all too, except for Mr. Trazax."
"See you at next class, mate," Ron offers comfortingly as they all left for next class.
Snape looked Zarif over for a few moments after they were alone when Zarif spoke up, "Professor, may I ask a favor?" Snape stares at him, not giving an answer and letting Zarif take that as if he was being told to proceed. "I have little faith in the abilities of the new defense against the dark arts professor. So I was wondering if it was possible to have you fill the role instead for my extra lessons for the subject?"
Professor Snape stared at Zarif in silence for a bit before turning and walking away. "Meet me after office at five o'clock every Tuesday and Thursday," Snape instructed.
Zarif sighs in some relief. "At least I have some better lessons," he mutters to himself before walking on to next class. As Zarif had feared, Gilderoy was very underqualified for his position in his opinion. Not only was the entire first test all about Gilderoy, but he also didn't know what to do with the pixies he himself unleashed. It took Harry, Ron, Hermione, and himself a while to stun all of them and get them back into containers. Now more than ever, Zarif looked forward to his extra lessons as he would need them with Professor Lockhart.
For the rest of the week, things seemed a little hectic for the group if it wasn't Harry's avoiding Lockhart and the first year Colin. It was Ron and his messed up wand that Zarif was sure was broken. Zarif was looking forward to sleeping in a bit later but was woken by the noise Wood and Harry was making. "Thanks for waking me," Zarif says getting up now. "Wood, I will repay this in kind. I won't say how, but revenge will be mine," Zarif informs before thinking, 'By way of Fred and George.'
"Come on Harry. It's time for Quidditch practice," Wood says as if he hadn't even heard Zarif before leaving the dorm with Harry soon following.
"Well, I am up…I guess I will go visit Hagrid, Fang, and Morgana," Zarif says getting up and getting dressed before heading down to Hagrid's cabin where he knocks on the door.
"Comin. Comin," Hagrid's voice came and soon the door opened up.
"Morning Hagrid," Zarif greets.
"Morning. Yer friend is already here," Hagrid informs as he lets him inside.
Zarif smiles seeing Merula there holding her pet and Fang.
Fang growls softly as he boops Morgana on the nose and she boops back as Merula giggles.
"Having fun?" Zarif asks.
Merula jumps in her seat and hugs Morgana closely. "Oh…Zarif," she says in relief while relaxing again.
"Didn't expect me so early?" Zarif asks.
"No. I expected you in class to be honest," Merula says, letting Morgana go to enjoy playing on Fang.
"It's a free day," Zarif reminds.
"Oh. Guess I have been busy on getting first-day school work finished in time," Merula says to herself.
"I see Morgana has grown," Zarif points out to the dog.
Merula nods as she watches the almost regular sized dog play around on top of Fang.
"She is only going to get bigger too," Onyx adds.
Morgana barks happily at him for that.
Zarif and Merula talked to Hagrid for nearly half an hour more before, to Zarif's displeasure, Lockhart entered the cabin and, after a quick greeting to Hagrid, started telling him how to do his job, but all three could tell he knew nothing about what he was talking about.
The three had to endure this until Lockhart left, remembering he had to do something. "It's a simple matter if you know what you're doing!" Lockhart was saying loudly to Hagrid as Zarif and Merula resisted to facepalm. "If you need help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy of my book. I'm surprised you haven't already got one. I'll sign one tonight and send it over. Well, good-bye!" he said before striding away toward the castle.
"Thank goodness," Zarif says comments as Harry, Ron, and Hermione came in.
"Was that Lockhart trying something new?" Harry asks, helping Ron walk in and lays him down into a chair, almost looking sick of himself.
"No. Trying to tell Hagrid how to do his job, but what is wrong with Ron?" Merula asks.
"His slug spell backfired," Hermione explains as Ron pukes up another slug.
"Ew," Merula could say in a grimace.
"Why was he trying to curse someone?" Zarif asks as Hagrid got him a bucket, almost feeling Ron's pain with his style of the condition.
Hermione seems to tense up and Zarif turns his gaze to her, making her stutter slightly in the beginning. "Malfoy…called me a mudblood."
"He didn'!" Hagrid growled at Hermione.
"He did," she said. "But I don't know what it means. I could tell it was really rude, of course," Hermione says a bit upset.
"Merula, I think it is time we get back at Draco," Zarif says.
"I already have twenty plans. Which do you want?" Merula only asks.
"He already called me a mudblood and shot me with a spell. So spread it around he can't tell a pureblood from a non one or that he thinks he and his family are the only true purebloods and that he sees everyone around him as inferior," Zarif whispers to her as Ron explained to Hermione what it meant in between puking slugs.
"Done," Merula agrees.
"Well, I don' blame yeh fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron," said Hagrid loudly over the thuds of more slugs hitting the bucket. "Bu' maybe it was a good thing yer wand backfired. 'Spect Lucius Malfoy would've come marchin' up ter school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least yer not in trouble."
"If you ask me, the prat could use being cursed and humiliated," Zarif says.
"Yes, he could," Merula says, smirking at the thought.
None of those present disagreed with the two on this and the conversation shifted to talking about how Lockhart got the job, especially with a few opinions that he was useless at the job, but Hagrid informed them that he was the only person who applied for the job, but this didn't seem right to Zarif as he knew the Snape would have applied for the job but never voiced this and eventually Hagrid let them out to his garden to show them the pumpkins he was growing for Halloween.
Soon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione left as Zarif and Merula stayed to play with the two dogs and helping Hagrid a bit around his hut. The two talked about the summer and got caught up on what had happened. Zarif even informing Merula of him and Harry ending up in that dark arts shop and how Draco's father had talked to him as he sold something that would most likely be illegal in the ministry's eyes.