Zarif's summer passed at a quick pace. He had decided to try and get a summer job helping at Flourish and Blotts for some money. Which he used to buy books from the store and potion ingredients. He even snuck into Knockturn Alley a few times to see what the dark sector had to offer. Never getting caught.
He kept in contact with all his friends. Autumn was soon back in shape from her frequent trips delivering letters and recommendations for the newest books he found. But she still tried to sneak snacks that Zarif snatches away when she tries to reach for them…in his sights of course.
"Still no signs of Sirius Black," Zarif says reading the paper as Autumn rested on the table in the leaky cauldron. Having just returned from just having returned with a letter from Merula. As he reads, he hears a very familiar voice and looks up. There was Harry looking around while looking over the books and reading out the titles in his own little disbelief in his voice of each.
"Harry?" Zarif asks getting up.
Harry looks up at his name being called and sees Zarif walking over to him surprised. "Zarif? What are you doing here?"
"I live here at the orphanage," Zarif informs.
"Never seen it to be honest. I always saw the shops," Harry admits.
"It's in the back. It would make sense why most don't. You have to be looking for it to find it," Zarif chuckles a little before sitting down across from him. "I see you got your books."
"Yeah. A few days ago," Harry says as Zarif spots the Monster Book of Monsters.
"Oh, that one," Zarif says, flinching a bit seeing it was tied with a belt.
"Yeah…it…attacked…had to stomp on it to stop it…" Harry explains, embarrassed that he would have to tell how he was almost beaten by a living book.
"You know they really should have the book come with an instruction manual," Zarif says showing him his copy.
The book is unbound and staying calm and cool on his hand. "How did you do that?" Harry had to ask.
"Yours please," Zarif says, putting his down.
Harry carefully pushes his book towards Zarif and he grabs it before stroking the spine and unbuckles the belt, letting it slide around a bit and look to the other book. "Just that? Stroke the spine?"
"That and treat them well. Think like a pet," Zarif says stroking around the entire cover before scratching on a certain spot.
The book growls happily, shaking itself around and trying to move towards his scratching hand.
"Now you try," Zarif says patting the book.
Harry looks warily to his book which seems to be eyeing without turning towards him. Zarif just gestures for him to do as he did. Harry sighs before reaching out and softly touching and petting the book. The book growling a bit as he kept trying to pet the book like a real dog.
"See," Zarif says scratching his own book now.
An orange cat suddenly jumps onto the table and paws at the two creature books, giving a strong stare at them.
"Hello there," Zarif says meeting the gaze and not breaking eye contact.
The cat waves its tail behind itself, not breaking eye contact as well.
"Oh…your half-Kneazle," Zarif says taking in its appearance.
The cat meows at him, pawing at the air in front of him. "I like you," Zarif says, smiling at the cat.
The cat meows at him again before stepping onto his book and curling up on top of it. The tail waving around behind it as it slowly blinks at him.
Zarif chuckles as Hermione runs up. "Crookshanks," she says getting her pet.
"I guess the whole gang has pets now," Zarif says as this commotion woke up Autumn who hoots angrily for being woken.
The monster book growls at her and she hoots back.
"No fighting you two," Zarif says petting both of them.
They both chuff and look away.
"Is the Weasleys here as well? You guys usually arrive around the same time," Zarif says poking Autumn's beak as she went for where he kept her treats.
"Yes. He is still getting his things together," Hermione informs.
"Oh, speaking of which, Hermione, did you find those books I gave you a list of via letter?" Zarif asks.
Hermione smiles. "A few tough ones to find, but I got them. I have them packed away for you."
"I have my own copies of them. I worked at the bookstore all summer," Zarif informs.
"Oh. And I got copies for you too. Hard copies even," Hermione says a bit sadly.
"How did you manage that?" Zarif asks in shock.
"They were there in the shops…after searching twenty of them," Hermione admits, blushing embarrassed.
Zarif stood there stone face a while before speaking. "I have been searching all summer and you found them in one day," Zarif says in disbelief.
Hermione holds up two fingers. "Two."
Zarif lets his torso just fall flat on the table and lays there.
"Zarif…you okay?" Hermione asks in some concern.
"I think he is in disbelief," Harry says as Autumn gets out a treat from a small plate before hopping onto his head.
She hoots, leaning down and pecking his head.
Zarif didn't move as Ron showed up.
"Harry…did you kill someone again?" Ron jokes as they all look to the almost zombie Zarif.
"If I die, I will haunt you for that one," Zarif informs.
"Obviously alive," Hermione assures as Crookshanks meows and jumps onto his head as well, pawing at his hair.
"As long as he doesn't go after Scabbers, I am fine," Ron says glaring at Crookshanks.
Crookshanks hisses and swipes at the two with Scabbers in his hands.
Ron pulled his pet rat back and nearly went for his wand before Zarif lifted his head up. "So have you all got your school supplies yet?" Zarif asks.
"We're all set. But Harry…we weren't expecting you to be here," Hermione explains, looking to Harry as he finished restacking the books.
"Dad told me he was and what happened," Ron says.
"What did happen to you?" Zarif asks, Crookshanks lying on his head and still pawing at his hair like a curious cat.
"I blow up my aunt," Harry informs.
"Balloon, right?" Zarif asks.
"Yes," Harry confirms.
"Was she nasty?" Zarif questions.
"Yes."
"Wicked."
"Zarif," Hermione says scolding.
"What?" Zarif asks innocently and Autumn hoots at him. "Oh, don't act like a beacon of virtue. I felt you get one of those treats," Zarif says accusingly. Autumn hoots and turns away innocently. "That is what I thought," Zarif says before something hopped into his lap.
A dog hops onto his lap and barks up at him before licking his face. Making Zarif laughs as he tries to push her away. "Alright, Morgana. That's enough," he laughs and pushes her head away and makes her jump off his lap. "Gotten big, aren't ya?" he asks poking her side and she yips playfully, going for a playful bite on his hand.
"I see you are here," Merula says walking up.
Zarif smiles over to her. "And I see you are ready for school."
"Yes, any of you find anything interesting over the summer besides books?" Merula asks.
"Well, I did find something in Knockturn Alley," Zarif says bringing something out and puts it on his head and the four watch as it morphed into a headgear with what looked like binocular like lenses going over the eyes that moved clockwise then counterclockwise. "You know what this is?" Zarif asks.
Autumn hoots and points a wing at him.
"You know the answer so no helping," Zarif says as they turned clockwise again, zooming in on her.
Autumn hoots and turns her head away.
"Is that the discontinued Felix alchemist examiner?" Hermione asks.
"Got it in one," Zarif says.
"What is that?" Ron asks.
"It's an item that was discontinued after the creator took the secret of how they are made with him to the grave. This is used by wizards to examine things and it can even tell you what some things are comprised of," Hermione informs.
"The witch I bought this from didn't even know what she had," Zarif says.
"How much?" Hermione immediately asked.
"Around twenty-five galleons. Most of what I had saved up," Zarif says.
"Well…it is a rare item," Hermione relents.
"Worth it as it has helped me in making potions in my spare time," Zarif says pulling out one.
"What is that?" Ron asks.
"What have you been making?" Merula asks curiously.
"Draught of Living Death," Zarif informs.
"But that is a sixth-year newt potion," Hermione says.
"Yes. And these have a few hidden features," Zarif says smiling and the eyes zoom out.
"Creepy," Merula only says.
Zarif takes off the gear and puts it away. "This thing is really precise too. It can accurately count the number of hairs in a wizard's beard. At least according to what I have heard," Zarif informs.
"And the reason why you are not trying it on…are you saving it for Dumbledore?" Merula asks almost accusingly.
"No, but not sure about wearing a headgear or looking through it for a long time. That gives me a headache," Zarif says.
"Maybe because of the different views and you aren't used to it. Maybe one with bad eyes and…" Merula started to suggest and they all turn to Harry as he looks between them all.
"Either way that and it's valuable. Never know when slimeballs like Malfoys may try and take it from you," Zarif says.
"Or pay it off," Merula says offhandedly to the side.
"Anyways, how was Egypt you two? You run into each other while there?" Zarif asks.
"Not really. We mostly visited the big sites and my brother," Ron explains.
"Oh, we must have missed each other then," Merula says as Morgana's head was being scratched by Zarif now.
"And what about you?" Zarif asks, scratching Morgana under her chin and makes her whine happily.
"She went everywhere there. She also likes running around the sand dunes," Merula says smiling.
"I bet she does. Look at those paws. Shows that she's a tough one. Aren't you?" Zarif teases to the dog and she barks and licks his face.
"So are you prepared? We go to Hogwarts tomorrow," Merula says as Fred and George come up.
"Oh, what was that you had Zarif?" George asks.
"Nothing important," Zarif plays off, holding a slick smile.
"Oh, don't be like that. We are your mates after all," Fred says.
"Sorry. But I earn my stuff fair and square. You have to earn yours," Zarif says cheekily as he grins.
"Oh, it's valuable then?" Fred asks.
"If you like making potions," Zarif informs.
"Only if they can make some good joke pieces," George points out.
"Ah…that would be tricky with potions," Zarif says before spying Percy wearing a head boy badge.
"So everyone here is ready I bet?" Merula asks the two brothers.
"Incoming head boy," Zarif says.
"Oh boy," Merula sighs as they all turn to the new kid in power.
"Hey Percy," Zarif says getting out a new book and when Percy saw it, he smiled a bit.
"Preparing for the future?" Percy asks, eyeing the book title.
"Always," Zarif says as Percy's eyes widen at the potion on the table clearly label. 'Draught of Living Death. DO NOT DRINK.' In big bold letters.
"This your idea of a joke?" Percy asks looking at the twins.
"We have no idea what you are talking about," Fred says, playing innocent with George doing the same hand motions.
"It's mine. I brewed it over the summer and want to see if Professor Snape would approve of the brewing," Zarif says as Percy was a little shocked.
"How many points do you think he would give off the bat?" Merula asks smiling.
"Don't know. Not really looking for house points. More of is it good or not," Zarif informs.
"Cheeky," Merula spouts grinning.
The next day Zarif hitched a ride with Harry and the Weasleys on the trip to king's cross. Hermes, Hedwig, and Autumn either seemed to talk or get on each other's nerves all the way to the train station. Once there, they all started looking for a compartment, but for Zarif and Merula who were with Harry's group were having a hard time finding an empty one. Eventually, they made their way to the back and decided to get into the compartment that a grown man was sleeping in.
"Really packed this year," Zarif notices as they pile in and put away their carry on bags. "Did word get around of the famous boy who lived and people wanted to see him?" he jokes chuckling a little.
"He seems a bit ill and looks shaggy," Merula says looking at the man.
"Maybe long trip to get here?" Zarif suggested.
"Who d'you reckon he is?" Ron hissed as they sat down and slid the door shut, taking the seats farthest away from the window.
"Professor R. J. Lupin," Hermione whispered at once.
"You know everyone now, don't you?" Ron had to ask.
"His case Ron," Zarif points out.
"Oh…" Ron realizes, looking to the case above the man.
"So our new defense against the dark arts teacher then?" Zarif asks.
"Hope he is better than the last," Merula says.
"Though…considering this somewhat famous curse…there is always bound to be something wrong," Zarif says before smiling a bit, but won't say anything.
"Well, I hope he's up to it," said Ron doubtfully. "He looks like one good hex would finish him off, doesn't he? Anyway . . ." he turned to Harry. "What were you going to tell us?"
Harry explained all about Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's argument and the warning Mr. Weasley had just given him. When he'd finished, Ron looked thunderstruck, Hermione had her hands over her mouth, Zarif looks only half surprised, and Merula didn't look at all surprised. Hermione finally lowered them to say, "Sirius Black escaped to come after you? Oh, Harry…you'll have to be really, really careful. Don't go looking for trouble, Harry."
"Are either you truly surprised there aren't people who want him dead?" Zarif asks seriously.
"Considering all the…charges," Ron slowly says.
"And the fact is quite a few death eaters are still free," Zarif adds.
The compartment went quiet. The only sound was from the sleeping Lupin. After a bit, Merula finally broke the silence. "So what are your plans for school this year?"
"I want to try and become an Animagus," Zarif answered.
"Wait a minute. That's a very dedicated thing…or are you going to make a one day potion?" Hermione asks, carefully studying him.
"I will take a long time to do it," Zarif informs.
"Zarif, that's something that will last as long as the year," Hermione warns.
"Preparations take a month if you do them right," Zarif informs.
Merula slowly taps her hands on her knees before looking to him. "Can I…try that? Heard good things…except for any fleas if you end up a house pet."
"Anyone else interested?" Zarif asks.
"Pass," Ron immediately said.
"I would, but I have so much to do already," Hermione says.
The ride on the train continued on for a while when the door opened for the second time showing. Draco Malfoy, flanked by his cronies, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle.
"Well, look who it is," Malfoy says in his usual lazy drawl, pulling open the compartment door. "Potty and the Weasel."
"Merula, you want to deal with the trash or should I?" Zarif asks closing his book.
Merula smiles to him before cracking her knuckles and stands up before them. "So, I will say how this will go. You leave, I won't say anything about that embarrassing bit of you three with the brooms and we all walk away happy, deal? Or do you live for embarrassment and humiliation?" she asks smirking.
"Don't forget to mention the new professor sleeping in here," Zarif adds.
"That as well," Merula says nodding her head to the man still under the blanket in the corner.
Crabbe and Goyle stopped looking to Draco for instructions. Draco, on the other hand, had wide eyes and quickly turned tail and walked away.
Merula smirks as she turns back to them. "Thank you. No need for applause…maybe a little."
Zarif smiles and starts doing a golf clap to not disturb the man's sleep.
Merula giggles as she sits back down and Ron looks at her surprised. "What's with the look?" she almost demands.
"That's the Merula we know," Ron finally said and Zarif smiles a little behind his book.
"Oh?" Merula asks.
"Ignore it Merula. They just hate the fact their new bully protector giggles," Zarif pushes as he started to smirk and sees outside that rain was starting to fall. "Here comes the rain."
The rain thickened as the train sped yet farther north; the windows were now a solid, shimmering gray, which gradually darkened until lanterns flickered into life all along the corridors and over the luggage racks. The train rattled, the rain hammered, the wind roared, but still, Professor Lupin slept.
"We must be nearly there," said Ron, leaning forward to look past Professor Lupin at the now completely black window. The words had hardly left him when the train started to slow down making Zarif look up from the copy of magical beasts and where to find them.
"Great," said Ron, getting up and walking carefully past Professor Lupin to try and see outside. "I'm starving. I want to get to the feast. . . ."
"That is odd," Merula says.
"We shouldn't be there yet," Zarif says getting up.
"We can't be there yet," Hermione said, checking her watch. "So why are we stopping?" The train was getting slower and slower. As the noise of the pistons fell away, the wind and rain sounded louder than ever against the windows.
Harry, who was nearest the door, got up to look into the corridor. All along the carriage, heads were sticking curiously out of their compartments. The train then came to a stop with a jolt, and distant thuds and bangs told them that luggage had fallen out of the racks. Then, without warning, all the lamps went out and they were plunged into total darkness.
"What's going on?" said Ron's voice from behind Harry.
"Ouch!" Hermione gasped. "Ron, that was my foot!"
Zarif heard all of this in the darkness as he put away his book, no longer able to read.
"D'you think we've broken down?" Ron was heard while Zarif felt around and grabbed someone's hand.
"Who's got my hand?" Merula asks.
"Dunno . . ."
"That would be me," Zarif says letting her go as they heard a squeaking sound.
"There's something moving out there," Ron said. "I think people are coming aboard. . . ."
The compartment door suddenly opened and someone fell painfully over Harry's legs. "Sorry…d'you know what's going on? Ouch. Sorry."
"Hello, Neville," Harry says as Neville reached Zarif.
"That is me Neville and next to me is Merula," Zarif informs as he feels Neville try to feel his way around.
"Harry? Is that you? What's happening?"
"No idea. Sit down." There then was a loud hissing and a yelp of pain; Neville had tried to sit on Crookshanks.
"And there is Crookshanks. He is Hermione's new pet," Zarif informs watching across from him to see if the professor was stirring.
"I'm going to go and ask the driver what's going on," came Hermione's voice before they all heard the door slide open again, and then a thud and two loud squeals of pain.
"Who's that?"
"Who's that?"
"Ginny?"
"Hermione?"
"What are you doing?"
"I was looking for Ron…"
"Come in and sit down."
"Not here!" Harry says hurriedly.
"I'm here!" Ron said before Zarif grunted feeling her.
"That's me," Zarif says before a hoarse voice spoke up.
"Quiet!" Professor Lupin appeared to have woken up at last and none of them spoke.
There was a soft, crackling noise, and a shivering light filled the compartment. Professor Lupin appeared to be holding a handful of flames. They illuminated his tired, gray face, but his eyes looked alert and wary.
'Wait. This feeling…I know it…dementors!' Zarif yells in his mind remembering when he first encountered one with Merlin and instantly goes for his wand and aims it at the door.
"What? What's going on…and why is it cold?" Merula shivers as Morganna whimpers.
"Dementors are onboard," Zarif says.
The professor quickly takes out his wand at that word and also points at the door. The glass slowly icing up and looking more like frosted stylized glass. But it made the view obscure, slowly a blurry long and bony hand that came into the view. It seemed to move and pointed at the door handle. Giving it a small slight wave of the hand, the handle clicks and moves, the door unlocking and sliding open. The hand slowly coming into view, showing its only viewable skin as glistening, grayish, slimy-looking, and scabbed, like something dead that had decayed in water. But the rest of the now whispering and haunting creature behind the hand is covered with a black cloak.
"None of us are hiding Serious Black under our cloaks, go." Lupin orders, obviously not liking the creature. The creature did nothing as it just hovered there. After a few moments, Lupin cast a spell that sent the dementor flying away and down the hall. Zarif, seeing this, put his wand back into his pocket.
"Harry, are you ok?" Hermione asks.
Zarif turned to see Harry slumped over and looked like he was now unconscious.
The lights flicker on and then the iced glass melts. Showing everyone outside confused as inside one particular cabin, there is a slight panic as they set Harry down as he doesn't seem to be waking up for some time.
"Well, he must have really experienced some trauma," Zarif mutters going through his stuff and pulls out a crunch chocolate bar.
"Just fainted? Like that?" Merula asks confused.
"The worst experience you have gone through in your life, the worse of an effect. And you see the results," Zarif says offering her half the bar.
Merula slowly takes it before biting into the bar. "So…I guess Harry has gone through very strong things in his life…wasn't he a baby back then? Wouldn't that mean he doesn't remember it?"
"Not fully, but the trauma is still there," Zarif informs.
Merula slowly nods and keeps eating as they wait for Harry to eventually wake while the train starts moving again.
"Are you okay?" Ron asked nervously.
"Yeah," Harry said, looking quickly toward the door. The dementor had been. "What happened? Where's that…that thing? Who screamed?"
"Scream? All we heard was whispering from that thing," Zarif mentions as he gives him a chocolate bar. "That was also a dementor. They feed on negative emotions and the worse of a trauma or experience, the worse the effect," Zarif says.
A loud snap made them all jump. Professor Lupin was breaking an enormous slab of chocolate into pieces. "Here," he said to Harry, handing him a particularly large piece. "Eat it. It'll help."
Harry didn't bite into it at first before Zarif sighs, getting out his books and pointing to the part on dementors saying chocolate is a good effective counter to the dementor's effects after the dementor is no longer there.
"It'll help. I need to speak to the driver, excuse me…" Lupin says before he strolled past Harry and disappeared into the corridor.
"I think we now know what the security that the ministry is implementing will be," Zarif says as everyone is now trying to read the book on the dementor's now.
Soon they all started eating on the chocolate as Lupin came back. "We'll be at Hogwarts in ten minutes," Professor Lupin says. "Are you alright, Harry?"
"Fine," Harry says embarrassed.
No one talked much during the remainder of the journey. At long last, the train stopped at Hogsmeade station, and there was a great scramble to get outside; owls hooted, cats meowed, Morganna barked as she walked beside Merula, and Neville's pet toad croaked loudly from under his hat. It was freezing on the tiny platform; rain was driving down in icy sheets.
"Firs' years this way!" called a familiar voice. The seven turned and saw the gigantic outline of Hagrid at the other end of the platform, beckoning the terrified-looking new students forward for their traditional journey across the lake.
"All righ', you five?" Hagrid yelled over the heads of the crowd. They waved at him but had no chance to speak to him because the mass of people around them was shunting them away along the platform. The group followed the rest of the school along the platform and out onto a rough mud track, where at least a hundred stagecoaches awaited the remaining students. Zarif stopped in front of the coach he and Merula would take before petting the thestral's snout.
"Hey there. Love to get us there?" Zarif whispers as Merula eyes him from the corner of her eyes and sees him moving his hand to nothing in the air in front of him. "Yeah. That's what I thought," he whispers again and holds out an apple with his other hand and it disappears. Leaving Merula so confused as to what happened. Zarif pats the snout one last time before getting in.
"Thestral. A magical creature that can only be seen if you have witnessed death before. Think horses with bat-like wings," Zarif informs.
The coach smelled faintly of mold and straw. As the carriage trundled toward a pair of magnificent wrought iron gates, flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars, Zarif scowled as he saw two more towering, hooded dementors, standing guard on either side. A wave of cold sickness washing over all those who rode passed them. The carriage picked up speed passing the gate, sloping drive up to the castle.
"Again? Dementors?" Merula had to ask as they get their bags and Zarif holds up a piece of chocolate in front of her, stopping her movement.
"Good excuse to eat any," Zarif says smiling as she bites it from his hand and continues to pull her bags from the carriage.
"Too bad Morgana can't eat it," Merula says with her mouth full and Morgana barks and whines for whatever she is eating when she heard that.
"You fainted, Potter? Is Longbottom telling the truth? You actually fainted?" Malfoy elbowed past Hermione to block Harry's way up the stone steps to the castle, his face gleeful and his pale eyes glinting maliciously.
"Wingardium Leviosa," Zarif says, rolling his eyes and Malfoy was lifted up out of the way. "Keep the line moving," Zarif says, walking past with Merula and then everyone else following. Leaving a drunken flying bird behind them before slowly descending back onto the ground.
"Keep it up and you'll be like me one day," Merula teases and bumps Zarif's side.
"Oh, thanks for the compliment," Zarif says smirking.
Merula giggles as Zarif just enjoys the way she tries to stay quiet while Morgana barks and struts around their legs. The pair kept walking with the crowd stopping momentarily when they heard. "Potter! Granger! I want to see you both!"
"What the heck did you two do?" Zarif asks dryly to the two. "Did you go out and engage in a criminal act…again?"
"No," both said defensively before leaving to follow their head of house.
"This is becoming such a regular thing, we won't question it eventually…will we?" Merula slowly asks and turns to him.
"No…we won't," Zarif says before they separated to go to their houses tables. Zarif and Ron saved Hermione and Harry a seat as many at the Slytherin table smiled as Morgana wore a witch hat and was sitting with them.
Soon the sorting started and every time someone was sorted into one of the houses that table cheered for them. Soon after all of that, Harry, Hermione, and McGonagall showed up. Harry and Hermione quickly took the seats saved for them and McGonagall went straight to the facility table.
The students all look to the table with anticipation as Dumbledore rose from his seat. "Welcome!" said Dumbledore, the candlelight shimmering on his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one of them is very serious, I think it best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued, "As you will all be aware after their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business." He paused, and Zarif recalled Harry telling them that Mr. Weasley said about Dumbledore not being happy with the Dementors guarding the school. "They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds," Dumbledore continued, "and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises, or even invisibility cloaks," he added blandly, and Harry and Ron glanced at each other. "It is not in the nature of a dementor to understand pleading or excuses. I, therefore, warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that no student runs afoul of the dementors," he said.
Percy, who was sitting a few seats down from Zarif, puffed out his chest again and stared around impressively. Dumbledore paused again; he looked very seriously around the hall, and nobody moved or made a sound. "On a happier note," he continued, "I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with Professor Lupin clapped hard, Harry among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to all the other teachers in their best robes.
"Look at Snape!" Zarif overheard from Ron whispering to Harry. Professor Snape was staring along the staff table at Professor Lupin. The expression was twisting his thin, sallow face. It was beyond anger: it was loathing. It reminded Zarif a bit of when he first started classes with Snape. Although his attitude to Zarif had changed dramatically since they had first met.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away. "Well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."
Zarif joined in with the thunderous applause from the Gryffindor table. Zarif, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the last to stop clapping as Professor Dumbledore started speaking again, they saw that Hagrid was wiping his eyes on the tablecloth. "Well, I think that's everything of importance," Dumbledore paused for a moment. "Let the feast begin!"
The golden plates and goblets before them filled suddenly with food and drink. Which Morgana barks at before slapping a chicken leg on the table to send it flying and snapping it out of the air.
When the last of the food was eaten, the plates and goblets disappear and Dumbledore gave the word that it was time for them all to go to bed, the group of friends though wanted to see Hagrid first though, but they were beaten to him when Morgana ran up and jumped onto the next teacher licking his face as he held her.
"Morgana," Zarif laughs as he tries to get her to calm down. "Sorry, Hagrid."
"Ah, she is a sweet little pooch," Hagrid says petting her.
Morgana barks happily and whines, enjoying the petting.
"Congratulations, Hagrid," Harry says excitedly.
"Yes. If anyone can be the professor for the creatures class, it's you. I mean…look at Morgana here," Zarif compliments as he points out Morgana who kept trying to nuzzle and lick his face.
"I still can' believe it…great man, Dumbledore…came straight down to me hut after Professor Kettleburn said he'd had enough. It's what I always wanted…" Overcome with emotion, he buried his face in his napkin, and Professor McGonagall shooed them away.
"Give him a day. He'll be fine," Zarif says, petting Morgana's head as she pads along with them.
"Well, I am off. See you three in class later," Merula says and Morgana follows after her very happy.
"Bye girl…now let's see how our common rooms are," Zarif says starting to walk.
On there way there, they heard Morgana barking at them as she was running towards them. "What is it girl?" Zarif asks as Morgana came up to him and something was in her mouth.
Morgana whines and drops a ball into his hand before running off. Leaving everyone confused as Zarif cleans off the ball and finds it to be a metal orb with some lines and writing in it. "Oh, boy…a mystery," Zarif sighs as he looks it over while they continue to walk back. "Seems to look like one of the ancient languages…just can't place my eye on it," he says, noting the bird symbol.
"Seems Merula sent you something," Harry says as they looked at it.
"Yeah…looks like I am going to be in the library for a long time on this," Zarif sighs at.
The group then caught up to the rest of the house outside of the fat lady portrait. "Coming through, coming through!" Percy called from behind the crowd. "The new password's 'Fortuna Major'!"
"Oh no," said Neville Longbottom sadly.
Through the portrait hole and across the common room, the girls and boys divided toward their separate staircases. "Good to be back," Zarif says as he started to organize his things once in the shared room.