Chapter Five: Crimson
I descended the North Tower and headed for my second class of the day: History of Magic with poor Professor Binns. I dreaded this class, but who didn't? Professor Binns was a dry and slow-spoken individual, possibly even worse than Snape. He was the only ghost to teach at Hogwarts. Some students claim that he merely woke up from his nap one day in the professors' lounge where he had died and continued on with his day as normal. Nearly every student fell asleep in his class; I, for one, never did. I always had the fear I'd end up like Professor Binns if I even dared to blink for longer than three seconds.
Today, though, it was the first class of the year, was not unlike any other day. I sat in my desk and doodled aimlessly all over my parchment paper. My mind drifted as Professor Binns droned on about the magical endeavours and treaties in Ancient Rome.
I thought a lot about what happened in Divination, not about Harry, but about myself. Were my dregs really a warning, or rather a pitiful representation of my House like Granger said? I sighed. Either way, I wasn't in a particularly pleasant spot.
The class quickly came and went as my attention was obviously somewhere else. Students practically sprinted out of the life-draining classroom, making for the Great Hall just in time for lunch.
I sat at the end of the Slytherin table again for no particular reason aside from wishing to be alone; I wanted to know more about the readings I had gotten. My mind was spinning. I brought out my Divination textbook and looked in the glossary for 'snake'.
Detailed Meaning of the Snake Tea-Leaf Symbol
TOP OF CUP: A snake appearing in the top portion of the teacup is an indication that you must stop worrying. Face your problems head-on. The more you worry and do not act, the greater you become drained and weak.
MIDDLE OF CUP: A snake appearing in the middle of the teacup is a sign that you direly need change in life. The snake is a sign that your unsustainable lifestyle must change if you wish to succeed in your endeavours.
BOTTOM OF CUP: A snake appearing in the bottom portion of the teacup shows you being a hard worker and a go-getter. You should continue down the path you have started, as it will lead you toward success and away from needless worry.
SCATTERED: Scattered snakes in your teacup are a sign that you are to face many challenges. Without sorting out these problems, your life may upend completely.
Neville's words buzzed in my head. They're kind of scattered. Of course, out of all possibilities, the dregs were scattered. If it were whole I'd be able to manage but destroy my life completely? What kind of sick joke is this?
I didn't bother checking on worms. My life was to be destroyed. I didn't need the additional worry of my secret foes being my friends or family. I groaned in frustration and pulled out my schedule to see what I had after lunch.
"You take Divination?" said a familiar voice from behind me.
I let out another groan, "Yes, Malfoy? Could you make it quick? I'm not in the mood."
Malfoy eyed me suspiciously at my response. "Just seeing if we have any classes together," he explained, snatching my schedule and bringing it side by side with his.
"Excuse you!" I half-shouted, more bothered than angry. "Must you keep sneaking up behind me and taking my stuff?"
"It's funny."
"Funny? It's not funny! It's a bother! Didn't you just hear me? I'm not in the mood!"
He, of course, neglected to listen to me. "Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, Herbology, Astronomy, Defence Against the Dark Arts…" Malfoy read off, giving me back my schedule off-handedly. "That's all we have. Shame you didn't choose Arithmancy, we could have had that too. Divination is such flimsy magic, it's almost comical."
"Are you thick?" I huffed, looking to see what my next class was. Great. Care of Magical Creatures with Malfoy. Malfoy looked at me with questioning eyes. "Arithmancy is a type of divination, only instead of palm readings and damned tea dregs you read the meanings of numbers."
"Read the meaning of numbers?" he retorted. "There's more than just one, two, three?"
"Yes, there's more than just one, two, and three," I mocked.
His groaning became even louder. "I knew I should have chosen Ancient Runes! Stupid Pansy talked me out of it!" he griped. "I'm surprised that you didn't take Arithmancy, then. You seem to be into that crap, with your Death Omens and such," he said, pointing at my opened books.
"I was considering picking up Arithmancy since I have a free period after Creature Care, but seeing as you're in that class, I just might not." I rolled my eyes.
He hummed. "You're probably not smart enough for it anyhow… but, that's what Pans is taking, too. Aren't you buddies of some sort?"
"Not… smart enough…?" I gaped, but then forced a half-hearted laugh. "Says the one that didn't quite know what the class was about in the first place," I shook my head at him. "… And to answer your question… of some sort…" I folded my schedule and stuffed it into my robe. "What's with the sudden interest?" I asked, turning to look at him.
"You obviously have some kind of past with her. I'm sure you know how talkative she can be. There must be a good reason why she's neglected to mention you and I'm determined to find out why," he smirked.
Standing up from my seat, I looked him directly in the eyes, "Look, Malfoy. Pansy and I are not friends, nor would I ever like to be. If you're so curious to know what her deal is, why don't you ask her!" I huffed, collected my things, and left the Great Hall.
I returned to my dorm to switch out my books for the one I'd need in Care of Magical Creatures. I had wrapped it in rope because it was so bothersome. I didn't quite know how to manage with a book that was constantly trying to eat me. Slowly, I dragged myself through the castle and out down the hill towards Hagrid's hut where the class was to be held. My stomach growled loudly and I clenched at my sides; I had completely forgotten to eat. How stupid of me.
"Oi, hello there, miss—err," I heard a large burly voice call to me.
I looked up. It was Hagrid, "Y/N Y/L/N," I responded.
"Well, miss Y/L/N, yer sure early, aren'tcha."
I nodded.
"Well," he trailed on, looking a bit uneasy, "if yeh wanna sit down over yonder, yeh can. That'll be where class is at for today's lesson. I'm mighty nervous," He rambled a bit gingerly, pointing at a clearing near the rim of the Forbidden Forest enclosed by a paddock.
I smiled at Hagrid, "Thank you. You'll do brilliant Professor Hagrid, no need to worry," I affirmed, trying to lift his spirits.
"Pro-professor?" He sputtered and stared at me, "By Merlin's beard! I thought I'd never — ahem, well, thank you Miss Y/L/N, but please, jus' Hagrid," he stumbled over his words becoming flustered.
I chuckled at him and took a seat on the stone fencing that formed the paddock. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was so glad this class was to be outdoors. Constantly shut inside such cold and tight walls was making it hard to breathe. I took a deep breath and smiled.
This is nice.
After basking in some much needed time to myself, I overheard a hoard of chatter coming down the hill. I stood and turned to look towards the large group of students listening to Hagrid. Soon they made their way toward the paddock.
"Everyone gather 'round the fence here!" Hagrid called to the group of students.
I looked at the descending crowd. Tagging along far in the back, I saw Pansy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy. Malfoy, for whatever reason, appeared as if he was searching for someone; he kept turning around and peering back towards the castle.
As the four reached the bottom of the hill, Malfoy shifted the large satchel on his shoulder in discomfort, swatting away Pansy's hands. His rolling eyes landed on me. He smirked and walked his way towards me.
My textbook clenched to my chest, I took a sharp breath, bracing myself to be hurled back into the shitshow that was today. I let out a narrow stream of air from my lips to keep myself collected. I spun back around and faced Hagrid.
"Now, firs' thing yeh'll want ter do is open yer books—" instructed Hagrid.
"And how are we supposed to do that?" said the cold, drawling voice of Malfoy coming up behind me.
"Yeh've got ter stroke 'em," said Hagrid as though it was the obvious thing to do, "Down their spine, now."
The class brushed down the spine of the book, its furry cover grossed me out quite a bit, a feeling I was certain I was not alone in. However, one student seemed to get attacked by his book as I overheard a panicked yelp from behind the group of students.
"Oh, how silly we've all been!" sneered Malfoy, "We should've guessed."
"I thought they were funny," Hagrid said to the Granger girl. He looked anxious.
I jabbed Malfoy in the side with my elbow to make him shut up. He scowled and straightened his vest. "Shut up, will you, Malfoy," I whispered to him. He, of course, ignored me.
"Oh, tremendously funny!" mocked Malfoy. "Really witty, giving us books that try to rip our hands off!"
"Righ' then," stated Hagrid. The anxiousness he was having before was whelming up inside of him again. "So — so yeh've got yer books, an' — an' — now yeh need the magical creatures. Yeah. So, I'll go an' get 'em. Hang on…" He said more to himself rather than the class. He strode off into the Forbidden Forest to fetch today's subject of interest.
"God, this place is going to the dogs," said Malfoy loudly. "Wait till I tell my father that they have this oaf teaching classes—"
"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry spat out.
Malfoy smirked maliciously, taking off his satchel, and dropped it in my hands. He and his goons whistled like owls, their 'oohs' meant to mock Harry. Malfoy swaggered his way up to Harry and sized him up.
"Careful, Potter," Malfoy began.
"Or what?" retorted Harry.
But before Malfoy could reply, he glanced up behind Harry, stumbling backwards and pointed towards the treetops.
What was this git getting at?
Malfoy's face had terror etched all over, "D-dementor! Dementor!" he cried.
Harry and many others quickly looked behind them, but there was nothing there. Malfoy howled with laughter, his gang following suit. They threw on their hoods and taunted Harry as they pretended to be dementors themselves.
Harry looked like he had had enough. He approached Malfoy, but Granger stopped him and gave Malfoy a dirty look, which was completely warranted. But, of course, Granger gave me the same look soon after. I knitted my brows at her.
I turned towards Malfoy and hit him on the side of the arm with his heavy satchel, "What is wrong with you?" I huffed, looking at him in disapproval. Malfoy just laughed and took back his satchel, placing it on top of the stone fence.
Hagrid soon returned, and with him was the most bizarre creature I've ever seen. Whatever he had with him had the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse, but the front legs, wings, and head of what seemed to be a giant eagle. The talons on their feet looked to be roughly a foot long.
"Hippogriffs!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at the creature behind him, "beau'iful, aren' they?"
I supposed I could see what Hagrid meant. Horses and eagles both laid claim to being some of the most majestic creatures in the muggle world, so I suppose, this… hippogriff, would only receive the same status.
Everyone seemed very curious about the creature. Well, everyone besides Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, of course. They were huddled together just a foot or so away from me, scheming up their next little attack on some Gryffindor, I'm sure.
I turned to them and growled in a whisper, "Malfoy!"
Nothing.
"Malfoy!" He turned to look at me. "Pay attention, will you!" I said, keeping my voice low. Malfoy looked as if he were about to say something when my stomach let out a loud growl. I clasped one hand to my stomach and the other to my mouth in embarrassment, hoping it wasn't too loud. Malfoy gave me a smirk and took a step towards me.
"Hungry, Y/L/N?" he laughed lowly.
"What of it?" I growled.
Malfoy turned and dug in his satchel. A bigger pit grew in my stomach. What on earth is he about to do? He turned back around holding two bright lime green granny smith apples and handed them to me. "Don't act like you haven't eaten. I was there when you stormed off before lunch was even served, you barmy dim-wit."
I looked at the apples suspiciously, then back at Malfoy.
Malfoy groaned and took a large bite out of one of the apples, "They aren't cursed if that's what you were thinking. Now take the damn apple," he demanded.
I hesitantly took the apple from Malfoy's pale hand. I inspected it and glanced back at Malfoy. He had taken another bite, widening his eyes at me. He shook his head in a sort of way to tell me again, it's not a poisoned apple.
"Any volunteers to meet Buckbeak?" I overheard our chipper professor call out, but I wasn't paying too much attention. His words were rather drowned out.
I glanced back at the apple, and my stomach grumbled again. I took a bite and was surprised at how good it was. Normally I hated apples, but this… I glanced at Malfoy again and I suppose my face had lightened up a fair amount because Malfoy had given me a knowing grin. I looked away quickly, feeling a bit taken-aback shocked by his actions, and Malfoy went back to chatting with his friends. I was brought back to the reality that I was still in the middle of a class when a bunch of people backed up into me.
"Brilliant, Harry!" roared Hagrid, "Now, c'mon up then."
Harry turned around and saw no one stood directly behind him. Hesitantly, he walked up to Hagrid and the hippogriff, as was expected of him. I leaned up towards another Slytherin who was paying attention unlike myself and asked them what was just said.
The tall brown-skinned boy looked down over his shoulder at me. "In short, Hippogriffs are very proud creatures, and you should never insult one," the boy answered with a shrug.
"Thank you," I said, climbing up on top of the boulder beside me to get a better view of what was happening in the front. I looked back at the boy who watched me, he seemed very entertained. "Y/N Y/L/N," I introduced myself, "I don't think we've officially met. Zabini, right?"
"Yes. Blaise Zabini. I don't think I've ever seen you around from all the way up here," he smirked, seeming proud of his own joke.
I rolled my eyes, "You're not all that tall yourself," I jabbed, though it was an obvious lie.. He took offense to this, which made me giggle at the expression upon his face. I then looked back towards what was happening with Harry and the hippogriff. It looked like to me he was — saddling it?
How much did I miss? Damn Malfoy.
I groaned to myself, taking a harsh bite from my apple.
Hagrid slapped the hindquarters of the hippogriff and he started trotting; Harry held on for dear life. I watched as the silvery hippogriff approached. I wondered what it must feel like; his silky feathers and the trotting. I could only imagine what it must be like to fly. Swiftly, the creature's wings stretched into a wide span, and he pushed himself off the ground into flight. Everyone ducked to not get hit by the creature's long talons as he swept over the crowd. I was so lost in thought that I didn't fully acknowledge that the winged beast was heading right for me until I heard two deep, yet panicked, voices shout out towards me.
"Y/L/N!"
Startled out of my trance, I peered at the steel talons. My eyes were wide. I could feel my throat clench. In immediate horror, I shrieked and quickly slid off the boulder. Hitting the ground with my feet, I stumbled backwards into four arms, clasping onto my robes tightly. I groaned, sitting myself up, then turned in my spot from side to side to see who I landed on.
Zabini and Malfoy?
My eyes widened, and I stumbled up to my feet and dusted off my robes.
"Well, about bloody time you got your fat arse off me," groaned Malfoy, trying to play it off like he wasn't the one that came running over right underneath me.
Zabini glanced at Malfoy and rolled his dark eyes. He got up and dusted himself off, "Are you okay, Y/L/N?"
Malfoy aggressively got up and glared at Zabini.
I eyed the two boys curiously and then looked up at Zabini. "Oh… yeah… I'm fine. I had a nice cushion," I smirked. "But, I should ask you that. Are you okay? I mean — I fell on top of you."
Zabini grinned, "Don't worry, you're light, I hardly noticed you were there."
I chuckled softly at Zabini's words.
In the distance, through the thick of pine, the class could hear a distorted cheer. A couple of students turned their heads, even more began to buzz. The professor stayed silent, but he was not short of any glee; his high shoulders gave off the appearance that he was rather proud. He swayed back and forth on his heels in anticipation of Harry's return.
"Light?" scoffed the touchy blond. "What are you saying? She's as heavy as a great old troll!"
I scoffed loudly at the audacity of Malfoy, "… And I suppose you speak from experience then, don't you, Malfoy? I would like to hear the story behind a great old troll atop your prissy self, as you put it. Because you're so brave and noble, right?" I mused aloud, bringing a dust of pink to appear on Malfoy's cheeks as Zabini disguised his chuckles into coughs.
Malfoy cleared his throat, ready to retort when the sound of large, flapping wings distracted them. Harry was back. Everyone ran over to Harry, who had jumped off the hippogriff and walked his way towards the group. He had an enormous grin on his face; I supposed he had a good time.
Malfoy, his nerves still in a twist for whatever reason, saw the praise Harry was getting and scoffed. He pushed students out of his way and swaggered over towards the hippogriff. Zabini and I slowly followed behind to see what he could possibly be up to.
"I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" Malfoy huffed at the hippogriff.
"Malfoy, no!" Hagrid, Zabini, and I all called out in unison.
The class turned from Harry to see what was happening.
"You big ugly brute!" Malfoy insulted as he neared the Hippogriff.
Then, in a flash of steel talons, Malfoy let out a piercing scream. I found myself running over to Malfoy as the irate creature charged up on its hind legs to strike down on Malfoy again. I quickly slid on the grass down beside Malfoy and brought my wand up in the air in a defensive position.
"PROTEGO!" I shouted, hovering over Malfoy's scrunched up body as the hippogriff struck down in significant force but staggered backwards when his talons bounced off the invisible shield.
Hagrid wrestled the large agitated creature back into a harness. Zabini ran over to Malfoy and I. Malfoy's goons, only just now realising what had happened, were suddenly by his side - who knows where their heads had been the entire time.
Malfoy was curled up in the grass, clenching at his blood-stained robes. "I'm dying!" Malfoy yelled as everyone else started to panic. Zabini held Malfoy down and I pulled up his sticky blood-soaked sleeve. "Get your hands off me!" Malfoy yelped in pain. "It's killed meh! It's killed meh!" he yelled out.
"Oh, can it," I hushed him, examining the massive gashes in Malfoy's arm. My face went pale. It was bad. Very bad. I glanced up at Zabini with a worried-ridden face.
"Yer not dyin'!" said Hagrid, who had gone white.
I faced upwards towards Hagrid; he saw the worry in my face. "Hagrid…" I began in a low voice, "He needs to go to the hospital immediately! If he keeps bleeding at this rate, he could die," I shouted, though I didn't mean to. I was scared.
Hagrid froze. The entire class murmured.
"Hagrid!" I yelled, meaning to this time.
Hagrid hurried over, being shaken out of his shock. He bent down and picked up the bleeding blond who fell limp in the half-giant's arms. Blood splattered all over the grass. The whimpering of pain was unbearable. "Class is dismissed!" shouted Hagrid, "Get on, nothin' to see 'ere!" he shooed the students.
Pansy ran over crying, "They should fire him right away!"
I shot daggers at Pansy, "Shut up, will you! You're not helping!"
"It's Malfoy's fault!" yelled several Gryffindors.
I glared at the Gryffindors. They immediately seemed to get the message and hushed themselves.
"Y/L/N, Zabini, follow me to the hospital wing, will yeh!" Asked Hagrid. We nodded. I quickly grabbed mine, Zabini's and Malfoy's belongings and followed Hagrid through the large crowd of nosey students and through the gates.
"I'm coming, too!" demanded Pansy, as she ran after us.
I immediately turned around and stopped Pansy. "No. You're of no help!" I shouted at her. "Stay here, cry, and let people who actually know what they're doing handle this!"
Pansy stiffened up. She looked like she was going to say something, but couldn't. Instead, she huffed and stormed off back into the crowd of students. The rest of the Slytherins followed her.
I let out an angry puff of air and turned on my heels, running up the hill to catch up with Zabini and Hagrid. I finally caught up to them. The hallway was silent and empty; classes were still in session. "He'll be okay," I muttered.
Zabini glanced down at me, "I know he will," he said, placing a hand on my left shoulder.
I looked at his hand, then up at his dark brown eyes, "Huh? Oh, no, I was telling myself that."
Zabini eyed me as I looked down at my bloody hands. He took his belongings then patted my back softly, "You know, that was quite something you did back there." I looked up at him. "I don't think anyone else would have done what you did. Not even a Gryffindor would have, and you know how reckless they are."
I shrugged, "I don't know what came over me, but I'm glad I did. Who knows if Malfoy would be conscious even if I had done nothing…" I trailed off in thought, thinking what might have occurred if I had just stood idly by like everyone else. "Malfoy might be a bloody annoying git, but I don't think he should get hurt."
"Well, you saved him twice in just a matter of five minutes. I believe that's a record, I don't think even Potter could say the same," he grinned, trying to make me feel better.
"I suppose not," I grinned back up at him.
We finally reached the doors to the infirmary. Blaise and I both hurried ahead of Hagrid, who was riddled with silence, and we pushed the heavy doors open. Madam Pomfrey shot up from her desk and looked at the half-giant in concern, and she ran over.
"My! Rubeus! What on earth happened?" Madame Pomfrey asked hurriedly and ushered Hagrid to put the limp boy on a cot.
Hagrid stumbled over his words awfully.
"Madame Pomfrey," I took over and got her attention. "We were in Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid, and Malfoy failed to listen to instruction. He thought it'd be a grand idea to approach the hippogriff by insulting it," I explained. Madam Pomfrey shot Hagrid a glare at the say of 'hippogriff,' and I felt bad for the gentle giant.
"Well, it's very good that you brought him up to me right away," she said, examining Malfoy's torn body. "It seems he's very lucky to have you three, or else he might've not sur—"
"Y/L/N," Zabini cut her off. "Y/L/N is the reason, not us," he stated. "She saved him."
Madam Pomfrey looked at me, I stiffened with embarrassment. "Is that so?" she quizzed, I began to nod unsurely, but Zabini cut in again.
"Yes, ma'am. She blocked the hippogriff's second strike with a spell, and if she didn't examine the wounds herself, I'm sure we would have all thought Malfoy was just playing it up for attention."
Madam Pomfrey nodded, "That's very impressive Miss Y/L/N, I'm sure Mr Malfoy will be very grateful when he wakes up."
"Will he be okay?" I asked in a worried tone, finally finding my voice.
She smiled at me gently, "He'll be very much okay since he's now here with me. Now, if you three don't mind. I must tend to his wounds immediately and it won't be a very pleasant sight, so I'd advise you all to leave."
Hagrid left immediately, riddled with worry for his job, I'm sure. Zabini put a hand on my shoulder and tugged me backwards, telling me it was time to leave. I set down Malfoy's belongings on the visitor's chair and then slowly turned on my heels, following Zabini out of the hospital wing. The doors magically closed behind us, and as we headed down the stairs, we could hear the screams of Malfoy echoing through the door. It was awful. I rushed down the stairs to escape the ear-piercing screams, Zabini followed suit.
