Chapter Nine: Classes and Surprises

The next morning, I reported to Madame Pomfrey, and she gave me the go-ahead to take a full course-load, but warned me to be careful. I assured her I would, and then arrived at my next appointment for the day; Professor Dumbledore's office, where I met with him, Magistra Whitehawk, a boy who looked to be about twelve, and a mournful-looking ghost girl who looked to be sixteen. We were all introduced, and it was explained to Benjamin and Myrtle that they would be attending Songsmith for the next year or so. Professor Dumbledore shot a look at the ghost as he said this, implying that she would definitely need more than a year to learn what she needed to know. "But Professor," she complained mournfully, "how am I supposed to haunt my toilet if you send me half-way around the world?" He smiled and said that Songsmith would provide her with a toilet to haunt if she wished.

Benjamin then piped up and said that he didn't want to leave England, even though he had received a letter informing him and his family of the permanent change of school during the summer. Professor Dumbledore and Magistra Whitehawk soothed him by telling him that he had a great opportunity, one afforded few young wizards or witches: to learn magic in a second school system. He finally agreed to go, and the three of them departed to pack trunks. (Well, Myrtle had no trunks to pack, but she left the office anyway. I suppose she was telling the other ghosts good-bye.)

I turned to go as well, but Professor Dumbledore held me back. He told me to stay close to my friends, and close to my brother, and in time my memory would return in full. I replied that I had already visited Madame Pomfrey, and she had cleared me to attend every class. "But I don't know what classes I am to take, sir," I said hopelessly, "I don't know how your school system works." He smiled, his eyes twinkling, "I knew that, and I took the liberty of arranging your schedule for you. I hope you don't mind, my dear." "Oh, no sir, not at all," I assured him, accepting the parchment he handed to me. "Off you go then."

I nodded and left, taking Jakkin with me. Fortunately for me, Jakkin had stayed in small size since the day I asked him to; although I'm sure he would have enjoyed being his full size and stretching his giant muscles. I promised him that I would find a way for him to do it, as soon as I met a few more students and a couple more teachers. I walked down the corridors, lost in thought, until Ginny found me and grabbed my arm, "Come on, Mel, we're going to be late for class!" She pulled me in the direction of the grounds, chattering on about nonsense. I mentally sent an apology to Jakkin, and almost stumbled upon hearing him answer me, "Oh, that's alright, Mellie, you go have fun with your friend; I'll find a way to shapeshift myself."

I'd never heard him speak before, and definitely not in a royal British accent, and I was dumbstruck all the way through my first class, Care of Magical Creatures. I really should have been paying attention, for this was one teacher I needed to make friends with, for Jakkin's sake. I woke out of my stupor just as the bell rang, and asked Ginny to wait for me while I asked Professor Grubbly-Plank a question.

I approached the Professor hesitantly. She saw me, and briskly strode the rest of the way between us, "Alright, girl, what's your problem? I know you're new here, but that's no justification for mooning right through a lesson." I quivered slightly, then held Jakkin out as my excuse, "Please, Ma'am, it's my cat. As you seen he's a winged jaguar cub, extremely rare according to Magistra Archon. I've had him since my fifth birthday, on my ninth he started size-changing, and today he SPOKE to me!" She looked me over, and then took Jakkin from my hands, "Well, missy, that's a tall tale and no mistake. But if you're telling the truth, we've got quite a mystery on our hands. You leave him with me a while, and I'll see what I can do for him." I thanked her profusely, and ran off to follow Ginny to our next class.