24 Monday, September 23rd
Professor looked at each student and then walked them over to the wooden table in the middle of the shed. A large pot sat on top with some sort of hollowed tree trunk planted in the middle. "Today class, we learn about the Snargaluff. And next week we'll practice harvesting their pods. Now does anyone, besides Mr. Longbottom, know anything about this plant?" When no one answered or raised their hands, she continued. "No? Very well. This plant usually appears as a gnarled stump such as this. But don't be fooled. In the middle of this plant are hidden thorn-covered vines which it uses when provoked. Now, there are pods within the plant." She reached under the dirt covered table and pulled out a large green fruit looking object about the size of a cantaloupe or grapefruit.
She passed around the pod for everyone to look at. Noelle found it was somewhat heavy but the surface was smooth. The pod returned to the professor who proceed to crack it open on the side of the table and then held it together, motioning to a student with her head.
"Would you grab that bowl just there?" The student grabbed her the ceramic bowl she'd indicated and placed it on the table. The professor opened the strange fruit and small green tubers and juice poured into the bowl.
"Eww!" Several students backed up.
Professor Sprout smiled and passed the bowl around. "The juice and tubers are best when fresh. Next week, as I said, you will be harvesting these and practice opening them and learning their applications. Today we will pick partners.
After classes and dinner, Noelle, Azraeyn, Yori, Faith, and the others went to visit Hagrid for their punishment. The sun had begun to set as they trekked down the hill, and Noelle wondered if they'd be made to work in the woods after dark. The idea scared her.
Azraeyn walked up to her. "You okay?"
Noelle smiled. "Yeah. There are worse punishments than this. I love Hagrid and his creatures. And there are worse people to be stuck with too." She teased, nudging him.
He returned the gesture, grinning. "I noticed you looking at the Slytherin common rooms when we were in the lake. And that window? I assume yours? If I'd known where you were staying maybe I would have swum out to visit you sooner."
Noelle blushed. "You wouldn't dare! Not only would you get in trouble for swimming in the lake again, but visiting a girls' dorm room at night? You're really asking for it aren't you?"
He laughed. "I've really been enjoying getting to know you Noelle." He said genuinely.
As her cheeks began to burn more, she was saved further embarrassment as Hagrid greeted the group.
"I hear ye are going to be helping me for the week. Is that right?" The students nodded, though several with grumbles, Yori being one of them Noelle noted. "Good! I'll be splitting you all into pairs with one group of three, and you'll be put in charge of feeding, loving on, and cleaning up after a group of creatures depending on their needs. Understood?" When everyone nodded he clapped his hands together and called for everyone to follow him, walking towards the woods.
Well, she was out of luck for the woods aspect, but it was nice to know she'd be with someone at least. Hagrid's dog Fang followed them all, whining occasionally. Noelle knew he was notoriously a coward, but she still felt better having him there. He'd at least be an alert should there be danger.
Stopping in a grouping of trees, Hagrid passed out lanterns, lighting them as he went. Then he listed the pairings. "Yori and Adenza. Faith and Marco and Adam. Azraeyn and Noelle." Noelle felt Azraeyn glance at her and did her best not to do the same. "I'll take each of ye to your spot, explain what to do and then come back to collect ye later. Noelle and Azraeyn first. This way." He walked off, leaving the two to follow.
The next clearing he led them two was a circle of trees, lit up by everburning torches hanging there, similar to the ones in the castle, and to the right there was slope that went down into darkness. In the clearing was a small cage sitting on a stump, and all around the clearing Noelle could see some sort of force field, likely to keep the creatures in.
Hagrid walked through and so did the other two, and now Noelle could see small lizard like creatures darting back and forth in the air, flying with what looked to be their frills. In the cage was the Niffler Hagrid had let them all see the first week as well as several tinier puffballs that may have been baby nifflers. Noelle gasped.
"So cute!"
Hagrid smiled. "Like the nifflers eh? Well. The both of you will be taking care of the nifflers and the doxys here. Let the nifflers out to get their exercise, their feed is in that bucket there." He pointed to another stump that had covered wooden buckets. "And they don't need a cleaning yet, but just love on em a little for me. Then, once you're done here, the both of ye will be taking that bucket," he pointed beyond the force field to a metal bucket sitting on the ground, "to feed the spiders at the bottom of that there slope. If ye be quick and dump out the meat at the bottom, you shouldn't have any problems. I've told them you'll be comin."
Noelle gulped. "Spiders Hagrid?"
He put his hands on his belly like he did sometimes when he was made nervous. "Yup. No problems. Anyhow, this field ought keep the nifflers and doxys in, so don't you worry about that. I'll be back to check up on ye." He added as a side thought. "Oh and don't let the doxys bite ye." He turned and left.
Noelle looked at Azraeyn. "Want to take votes on who feeds the spiders?"
Azraeyn laughed again, though with a slight edge of nervousness to it. "Why don't we go together?"
Shaking away her fear for the moment, Noelle opened the nifflers' cage. Four little baby nifflers poked their heads out next to the bigger one, sniffing the air. Then they all jumped out, scrabbling around at the ground and darting to and fro. Noelle could see now that their cage was filled with gold and jewelry and she laughed. They really did like their shiny, sparkly treasures.
Azraeyn was already uncovering the first wooden bucket filled with meat. "I'm assuming this is for the doxys." He looked around, noting that none of them were landing. "Hmm…" He tossed a piece experimentally into the air and one shot its tongue out to grab it.
Noelle laughed and then looked confused. "I thought a doxy was a type of biting fairy. That kind of looks like a pixie almost."
"Maybe these are a different breed. Like dogs." He replied, still throwing meat into the air for the creatures.
Noelle set about grabbing the other bucket, filled with pellets of some kind, and spreading the feed on the ground. The nifflers, previously content to run around, lifted their heads and sniffed before running over and scooping up food into their bills. They reminded Noelle of the muggles' platypus.
After the creatures finished eating, Noelle scooped up the nifflers and nuzzled them, holding them close. The babies were especially cute, different colors from the black one. She wondered if maybe they changed colors as they grew.
The two students carried on this way for awhile before Azraeyn looked over at Noelle. "We'd best get to the spiders now you know."
"Thanks for reminding me." She grimaced.
"Very attractive." He smirked, referring to her facial expression.
Together they gathered up the nifflers and returned them to their cage before exiting the force field, taking their lanterns with them. Then Noelle picked up the bucket when it was made apparent that Azraeyn had no plan to. Walking down the slope, Noelle got edgier as the path grew darker. Soon, they could hear sounds around them. Noelle shuddered to think what could be causing them. It sounded like hundreds of little claws clicking along the forest floor.
The slope opened up into a hollow, and there was webbing everywhere. A large den had been fashioned from it at the far end. Noelle dumped out the meat on the ground and turned back the way they'd come, paling.
Azraeyn, who turned with her, looked shocked briefly. "Where did they come from?"
Where they'd walked only seconds ago, there were now hundreds of black spiders, as big as medium-sized dogs, their black beady eyes focused on the two and their lanterns. Behind them, something very large stirred.
Noelle leaned closer to Azraeyn, whispering out the corner of her mouth. "What do we do now?"
From behind them came a deep tired voice. "You must be the two children Hagrid told me would be coming to feed my kin… I warn you, you musn't stay long if you wish not to anger them. Though my allegiance is with Hagrid, I cannot control their hunger… It was the same with those wizards years ago that came to my hollow, looking for answers. The boy who lived…"
Noelle turned slowly in surprise and tried not to balk at the enormous spider that towered over her. She swallowed hard. "Harry Potter came to you?"
The spider looked at her. "If that was his name… Many years ago now… But you… You're the legilimens aren't you…?"
Noelle blinked. "How did you-"
"My children are everywhere, I know what happens in Hogwarts and in these woods…" He rumbled. "I am Aragog, friend to Hagrid, and keeper of this forest. But now… You must leave. For my children grow restless."
Noelle backed up, feeling the tension build in the air. Azraeyn, who had been quiet till now, grabbed her arm and pulled her back up the slope. The spiders split to make a path, but their mandibles came together hungrily and they watched for either student to slip up and become a late night snack.
Not soon enough for either of them, they reemerged next to the force fielded clearing. Noelle panted. "That was terrifying!"
Azraeyn nodded. "And I don't get scared easily… But, what did he mean when he called you a legilimens?"
Noelle looked away and saw Hagrid making his way through the trees towards them, with the other students behind him. "It's not important. But please, don't mention it to anyone." She pleaded, making eye contact with him.
He started to protest and then, looking at how serious she was, he said, "Okay. I won't. But I expect to hear about it later." Hagrid met with them then and they reported that everything had gone well. After their report, Hagrid led everyone from the woods.