NEW CLASSES

Last year, second-years had to choose what classes they wanted to take during the third year. The options were: Divination, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle studies and Study of Ancient Runes. Alex chose Divination and Care of Magical Creatures, same as Draco. She was glad they agreed. With how the year had started (no one talking to her) she needed her best friend by her side.

She woke up early, as usual. She hadn't been able to sleep well ever since she knew about her dad escaping Azkaban. She grabbed something to eat from the great hall, but she left immediately. She wasn't willing to have breakfast with everyone looking at her like she had just committed a crime. She sat on a bench, outside. It was warm, a little breeze caressing her skin and hair. That morning it was loose. She didn't feel like brushing it and getting her braids on point. Suddenly, someone sat next to her. She thought it would be Draco. Who else would sit next to her? That was until she heard his voice.

- I'm sorry I haven't talked to you sooner… - she looked to her side. There he was. Fred Weasley. He looked guilty and sorry, she could tell. But she was hurt.

- Are you?

- Yes, of course I am…Alex, I'm…

- Sorry, is your father a convicted criminal who just escaped Azkaban? No, that's me, right. Who do you think is more upset about it? Me or all of you who stopped talking to me? Who has a higher chance to get physically and emotional hurt here, me or you?

- Alex…

- I'll tell you. Me. I'm the one who's hurting here. I'm the one who can't sleep out of fear. And my friends? Oh, they all stopped talking to me because my father the criminal escaped Azkaban. Like that turned me into a criminal as well. So yeah, forgive me if I don't believe your apologies. Now if you'll excuse me, I have class.

Alex got up and walked away before Fred could say anything else. Maybe she had been way too hard on him. But that's how she felt. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville, George, Fred…They all left her aside. Like she was some kind of bomb or something. She didn't want to talk to any of them. Apologies did nothing. Not at the moment. She was way to upset. She headed to her first class of the day: Divination. It was in the North tower. It was accessible through a circular trapdoor. The room would be described as looking like a cross between somebody's attic and an old-fashioned tea shop.

When she arrived, she sat next to Draco. Which also meant to be way to near to Pansy. She couldn't stand her. Professor Trelawney moved into the firelight, and they saw that she was very thin. Her large glasses magnified her eyes to several times their natural size, and she was draped in gauzy, spangled shawl. Innumerable chains and beads hung around her spindly neck, and her arms and hands were encrusted with bangles and rings.

- Welcome, my children. In this room, you shall explore the mysterious art of Divination. In this room, you shall discover if you possess…the Sight. – she got up from her chair and bumped into the table, which made some students laugh. - Hello. I am Professor Trelawney. Together, we shall cast ourselves into the future. But know this. One either has the Gift or not. It cannot be divined from the pages of a book. Books only cloud one's Inner Eye. – suddenly, she turned towards Neville. - You, boy! Is your grandmother well?

- I…I think so. – said Neville, scared.

- I wouldn't be so sure of that.

- Is it me or she's mental? – Pansy whispered to the Slytherin gang.

- Well, you should know. Is like looking yourself in the mirror? – Alex said to her, which made Draco and his friends laugh, while Pansy looked at her with rage.

- The first term will be devoted to the reading of tea leaves. If all goes well, we will proceed to palmistry, fire omens, and finally…the crystal ball. Well, let's start, shall we? Grab the cup of the person in front of you. – Alex grabbed Draco's cup, and he did the same with hers. They were looking at the leaves at the bottom, as well as the book to consult the symbols. - Broaden your minds, my dears. And allow your eyes to see…beyond. Mister Longbottom, after you've broken your first cup… – suddenly, Neville's cup fell on the floor. - …would you be so kind as to select one of the blue ones? I'm rather partial to the pink.

- I'm starting to believe in her…

- Anyone could have guessed that Longbottom would break a cup… - Draco was right, Neville was clumsy.

- What do you see, Mister Malfoy? – Trelawney walked towards Draco, who looked at her with a frown.

- Let's see… - Draco looked at the leaves and the book. – According to this, Alex has a cross, which means trials and suffering… - he looked at her with pity.

- No surprises there, to be honest… - Alex said, as Trelawney walked towards Harry and Ron.

- Sorry, Miss Black. What do you see in Mister Potter's cup, Mister Weasley?

- Well. He's got a wonky sort of cross, that's trials and suffering. But this lot here could be the sun…that's great happiness. So, he's going to suffer but be very happy about it, or something. – Ron wasn't sure about what he said. Trelawney grabbed the cup to peered inside, and gasped.

- My dear boy… - she said looking at Harry. – You have The Grim.

- The Grin? What's the Grin? – Seamus said while laughing.

- Not the grin, you idiot. The Grim. – Lavender Brown started reading. – "The Grim…Taking the form of a giant spectral dog, it is among the darkest omens in our world. It is an omen…of death."

Everyone looked at Harry, and then at Alex. Like she was the one to blame for anything that could happen. Class ended, and they all headed to the next one: Care of Magical Creatures. It was outside, so they all headed to Hagrid's hut.

- Are you okay? – Draco asked Alex as they walked.

- Not at all. – she looked up ahead of them, where Hermione, Ron and Harry were walking.

- I can't believe they're not talking to you either. Such great friends. – Draco was annoyed at them, and so was Alex. Deep down, she tried to understand them. But it was tough. She hadn't done anything, except being Sirius Black's daughter. And that wasn't her fault.

- It's fine. I don't care. – she cared. Of course she did. When they arrived at Hagrid's hut, everyone was gathering around him.

- C'mon now, get a move on! Got a real treat for you. Great lesson coming up. Follow me. – Hagrid started leading the students towards a small paddock just next to the Forbidden Forest. In the paddock, there was an iron rack with dead ferrets. - Gather around. Find yourself a spot. That's it. Now, first thing you'll want to do is open your books…

- And exactly how do we do that? – asked Draco with disgust.

- Crikey. Didn't you know? All you've got to do is stroke them. – Draco looked at Alex, and then ran a finger down the book's spine. It calmed down. Alex did the same. Neville, on the other hand, opened it without doing so, and the book started attacking him. Neville wasn't talking to her either, but she wanted to help him.

- Here, Neville. – Alex got near him and caressed his book, making it stop attacking him. – There you go.

- Thank…thank you, Alex. – he got up and looked down as he walked away from her.

- Next time you should let that book eat him… - Draco whispered in her ear. For some reason, Alex had a shiver down her spine, and Draco noticed. He asked her in amusement. – Everything okay, Alexa?

- Yes, yes. I don't know what that was for. – she walked away with a red face. Draco smiled.

- Right then. So…so…you've got your books, and now you need the Magical Creatures. Right. I'll go and get them. – Hagrid turned around and disappeared into the trees. Draco shook his head as he spoke.

- God, this place is going to the dogs. Wait until my father hears Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes. – Crabbe and Goyle laughed.

- Draco… - Alex was tired, too tired to even fight his only friend left at Hogwarts.

- Shut up, Malfoy! – said Harry getting closer to him.

- Uuuuuh – Draco gave his bag to Crabbe and walked towards Harry. Suddenly, Draco looked terrified, his eyes on top of Harry. – Potter, there's a dementor behind you! – Harry jumped in fear, and everyone turned around. But there was nothing.

Instantly, Draco and his gang put on their hoods and made an eerie "ooooh" and started laughing. Alex couldn't help but laugh too. And so did others. Harry reddened as Hermione took him away. Hagrid came back with a creature behind him. It had the torso, back legs and the tail of a horse, but the front legs, wings and head of a giant eagle. It was beautiful. The students stepped back in fear, as Hagrid shooed the beast.

- Beautiful, isn't he? I introduced you to Buckbeak!

- Hagrid. Exactly what is that.

- It's a Hippogriff. – said Alex, and everyone turned to look at her, since she was in the back. She regretted speaking…

- That's right, Alex. Can you tell us something else about Hippogriffs? – Hagrid smiled at her and signalled to come closer.

- They're carnivorous and very dangerous until tamed. They're proud creatures. If someone wanted to get closer to one, they would need to show respect to them. To avoid danger.

- Excellent, Alex. That's 20 points for Slytherin. – he nodded and smiled. She smiled back, as the Slytherin lightly cheered.

- Well done! – Draco offered his fist to her, and she punch it back.

- As Alex said, they're proud. Easily offended, Hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, because it might be the last thing you do. Now, who wants to come and say hello? – the whole class stepped back, leaving Harry in front. – Good man, Harry! – Harry looked around, and then approached. – That's it. Easy now…stop! You want to let him make the first move. It's polite, see? Just take a step forward, give him a bow, and if he bows back, you're allowed to touch him. Ready?

Unsure, Harry nodded anyway. He stepped forward and bowed. Buckbeak's head cocked, eagle eyes studying Harry cannily. Harry waited and waited.

- Back off, Harry! Back off! - Harry started to step back, when Buckbeak ducked his beak. Hagrid sighed, relieved. - Well done, Harry! Go on. Give him a pat. - Tentatively, Harry reached out, laid his hand on Buckbeak's fierce beak. The class clapped and Harry smiled. - Look at that! I reckon he might let you ride him!

- Excuse me?

- We'll just set you behind the wing joint. Mind you don't pull any feathers out. He won't like that. - Hagrid lifted Harry high and dropped him onto Buckbeak's back, and before Harry had settled, he slapped Buckbeak's hindquarters. - Off you go!

The Hippogriff started galloping forward, unfolding its wings. Suddenly, it was flying through the sky, with Harry on top of him.

- He always has to be the main character, right? – Draco was annoyed at Harry. – He's unbearable. – once Harry landed, everyone started clapping. Draco, tired of all that, started approaching the Hippogriff.

- Draco! – Alex called, but it was too late.

- You're not dangerous at all, are you? You great ugly brute…

- Malfoy! No! – Hagrid said, but Buckbeak was already attacking Draco. He hit him in the arm and Draco felt to the floor. Everyone was screaming. Alex managed to get to Draco, and stand between him and the Hippogriff. She knew that the creature would not cease the attack, but at least, she would receive the hit, instead of Draco. But Hagrid stepped in the way as well and managed to calm down the creature. Alex kneeled next to Draco.

- Draco! Are you okay? – Draco was moaning on the floor.

- It's killed me! It's killed me!

- C'mon, Draco, you're not dead, don't be dramatic.

- Calm yourself! You're fine, it's just a scratch. – said Hagrid, more scared than the students.

- Hagrid, maybe it's better if we take him to the hospital. – said Alex, trying to calm Hagrid down.

- I'm the teacher, I'll do it! – Hagrid grabbed Draco on his arms. He was still moaning in pain.

- Oh, you're going to regret this…You and your bloody chicken.

- Class dismissed! – Alex walked right behind Hagrid and Draco, and she couldn't help but laugh at his words and his drama.