When morning came, the storm had passed, even though the ceiling in the Great Hall showed heavy clouds.
"Today's not horrible. We have Herbology with Gryffindor, Care of Magical Creatures with them, Slytherin and Hufflepuff," Mandy said to Michael and Hailey.
"But we have Double Divination this afternoon," Hailey said. Divination was her least favourite subject, but it was better than Potions, even though Professor Trelawney had a very annoying habit of predicting Hailey's death.
There was a rustling noise above them and a hundred owls came soaring through the open window carrying the morning mail. Hailey looked up, trying to find her white owl among the mass of brown and grey, but Hedwig wasn't among them. Hailey was feeling dread and worry for both Hedwig and Sirius. Was it possible that something had happened to Hedwig and Sirius hadn't got her letter?
After breakfast, they walked across the soaked vegetable patch to greenhouse three, while Hailey tried to figure out what might have happened to Hedwig.
"Bubotubers," Professor Sprout told them in a brisk manner, showing them the ugliest plants that Hailey had ever seen.
The bubotubers looked like they were thick, black, giant slugs that were sticking out of the soil. The bubotubers were squirming slightly and had a number of large, shiny swellings upon it, which looked to be filled with liquid.
Profess Sprout continued to explain, "They need squeezing. You will collect the pus—"
"The what?" interrupted Seamus Finnigan sounding revolted at the idea.
"Pus, Finnigan, pus," Profess Sprout explained, "and it's extremely valuable, so don't waste it. You will collect the pus, I say, in these bottles," she held up a bottle. "Wear your dragon-hide gloves; it can do funny things to the skin when undiluted, bubotuber pus."
Hailey didn't want to squeeze the disgusting slug looking plant, but she popped a bubotuber anyway. A thick amount of yellowish-green liquid burst forth, smelling strongly of petrol.
"This is so gross," Mandy said sounding disgusted, as she collected the pus in a bottle.
By the end of the lesson, they had collected several pints of pus.
"This'll keep Madam Pomfrey happy." said Professor Sprout, stoppering the last bottle with a cork, "An excellent rememdy for the more stubborn forms of acne, bubotuber pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples."
Hailey was reminded of the story that Eva had once told her. Hufflepuff, Eloise Midgen, tried to curse her pimples off, but in the end, had to have her nose fixed by Madam Pomfrey, as Eva pointed her out to them. Eloise was pretty, even though her nose was off-center.
A booming bell echoed from the castle, signaling the end of the lesson, and the class was joined by the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins when they headed to Hagrid's hut, which was on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid was standing outside, one hand on the collar of Fang. There were several open wooden crates on the ground at his feet. Fang was whimpering and straining, wanting to investigate the contents of the crates more closely.
When they went nearer, there was an odd rattling noise coming from the box and there was what sounded like miniature explosions.
"Morin'!" Hagrid said, grinning widely at Hailey, Mandy, Michael, Hermione, and Ron. "Be'er wait fer the Slytherins, they won' want ter miss this—Blast-Ended Skrewts!"
"Come again?" asked Ron.
Hagrid pointed down at the crates. Lavender Brown looked inside a crate, squealing, "Eurgh!" while jumping backwards.
Hailey looked inside the crate, too. The skrewts looked like they were deformed, horribly pale, slimy-looking, shell-less lobsters. The skrewts had legs sticking out in very odd places and they had no visible heads. They looked like they were about six inches long and they smelt very strongly of rotting fish. "Eurgh" summed them up.
There looked to be about a hundred skrewts in each crate and they were crawling over one another. Sparks flew out of the end of a skrewt and with a small phut sound, it was propelled several inches forward.
"On'y jus' hatched," said Hagrid proudly, "so yeh'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves!
"And why would we want to raise them?" asked a cold voice, that belonged to Malfoy.
The Slytherins arrived and Hailey rolled her eyes. Crabbe and Goyle were chuckling appreciatively at Malfoy's words.
Hagrid looked stumped at the question.
"I mean, what do they do?" asked Malfoy. "What is the point of them?"
Hagrid looked like he was going to respond, but he said roughly, "Tha's next lesson, Malfoy. Yer jus' feedin' 'em today. Now, yeh'll wan' ter try 'em on a few diff'rent things—I've never had 'em before, not sure what they'll go fer—I got ant eggs an' frog livers an' a bit o' grass snake—just try 'em out with a bit of each."
"First pus and now this," Seamus muttered.
If Hailey didn't have deep affection for Hagrid, she wouldn't have picked up squelchy handfuls of frog liver and lower them into the crates to tempt the Blast-Ended Skrewts.
This is pointless because they don't have mouths, Hailey couldn't help but think.
After ten minutes went by, Dean yelled, "Ouch! It got me!" Hagrid hurried over to him, looking anxious. "Its end exploded!" He had a burn on his hand.
"Ah, yeah, that can happened when they blast off," replied Hagrid, nodding.
"Eurgh!" Lavender repeated again, "Eurgh, Hagrid, what's that pointy thing on it?"
"Ah, some of 'em have got stings," said Hagrid, sounding enthusiastic. Lavender removed her hand from the crate. "I reckon they're the males…The females've got sorta sucker things on their bellies…I think they might be ter suck blood."
"Well, I can certainly see why we're trying to keep them alive," said Malfoy sarcastically. "Who wouldn't want pets that can burn, sting, and bite all at once?"
"I would!" Stephen Cornfoot said loudly. He had shaggy black hair and had a silver eyebrow piercing. He wore a red and black studded wristband on his left wrist and on his right was a black and white studded wristband. "They're kind of cool looking and they're highly dangerous. Probably keeps out burglars."
"You see?" Hermione said sounding smug. "Just because they're not very pretty, it doesn't mean they're not useful. Dragon blood's amazingly magical, but you wouldn't want a dragon for a pet, would you?"
Hailey knew that Hagrid would have liked to have a pet dragon, which Hailey, Michael, Mandy, Ron, and Hermione knew all to well. In their first year, Hagrid had won a dragon egg and tried to raise Norbert in his hut, but Norbert had to be given away before things got to dangerous.
"You know what, Malfoy?" Mandy snarled. "Why don't you drop the class if you hate what you're learning so damn much? Oh, wait! You don't want a solution! You just want something to complain about!" She grabbed a frog liver and made a move like she was going to go throw it at Malfoy, but she decided not to. "Ooh, I'm going to get him back. I'm not sure how, but I will and it will be glorious," she said quietly to her friends.
"Well, at least the skrewts are small," said Ron as they made their way back up to the castle for lunch an hour later, after the lesson ended.
"They are now." Hermione pointed out, sounding exasperated, "but once Hagrid's found out what they eat, I expect they'll be six feet long."
"Well, that won't matter if they turn out to cure seasickness or something, will it?" asked Ron, grinning slyly at Hermione.
"You know perfectly well I only said that to shut Malfoy up," said Hermione. "As a matter of fact, I think he's right. They best thing to do would be to stamp on the lot of them before they start attacking us."
Hailey shuddered, thinking of the skrewts attacking her.
They entered the Great Hall and went to their separate tables. A few minutes later, Hailey looked up to see Hermione run straight out of the Great Hall.
"Wonder where she's going," Mandy said, sounding thoughtful.
Ron came over and sat down next to Hailey, grabbing some food from the table and putting it on a plate to continue eating.
"Where is she going?" Hailey asked Ron.
"To the library," Ron replied.
Michael looked at him, confused. "We don't even have homework yet."
"I think it has something to do with her stand on elves," Ron replied, shrugging.
"What?" Mandy asked confused.
"She found out that house-elves work here and she says its slave labour," Ron said, shrugging again.
After the bell rang signaling that it's time to start the afternoon lessons, Ron, Mandy, and Hailey set off for the North Tower while Michael went to his Arithmancy class. At the North Tower was at the top was a tightly spiraling staircase, where a silver stepladder led to a circular trapdoor that was in the ceiling. In that trap door was the room that Trelawney lived at.
When they emerged at the top of the stepladder, the sweet perfume was the first thing that Hailey smelt. The curtains were all closed; the circular room was bathed in a dim reddish light which was being casted by many lamp. The lamps were draped with scarves and shawls, which Hailey was sure was a fire hazard. They walked through the mass of occupied chintz chairs and poufs that cluttered the room. They sat at the same circular table that they occupied last year.
"Good day," the misty voice of Professor Trelawney said from right behind Hailey, making her jump.
Professor Trelawney was a thin woman, who wore enormous glasses that made her eyes look far too large for her face. She also she wore a large amount of beads, chains, and bangles, which were glittering in the firelight. She was peering down at Hailey with the tragic expression that she always made whenever she saw Hailey.
"You are preoccupied, my dear," she said, sounding mournful to Hailey. "My inner eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas…most difficult…I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass…and perhaps sooner than you think…" Her voice had dropped to a whisper. Ron rolled his eyes at Hailey and Mandy, who looked stonily back. Professor Trelawaney walked past them and seated herself in a large winged armchair in front of the fire, facing the class.
Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil, deeply admired Professor Trelawney, so they were sitting on poufs very close to her. Padma Patil just had a blank look on her face.
"My dears, it is time for us to consider the stars," Trelawney said. "The movements of the planets and the mysterious portents they reveal only to those who understand the steps of the celestial dance. Human destiny may be deciphered by the planetary rays, which intermingle—"
Hailey's thoughts drifted because the perfumed fire always made feel sleepy and stupid. Trelawney's rambling talks on fortune-telling never held any interest to Hailey. She couldn't help but think about what Trelawney said to her. "'I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass…'" Hailey was torn between believing Hermione was right on the fact that Trelawney was an old fraud, because she wasn't dreading anything at the moment…unless Trelawney was talking about Sirius and Hedwig, but what did Trelawney know? She would think that fortune-telling was just guesswork and just a spooky manner of doing it…But, of course, there was that time last term, when Trelawney made the prediction about Voldemort rising again…and Dumbledore said that the trance had been real, when Hailey told him about it…
"Hailey!" muttered Ron and Hailey got kicked in the shin from Mandy.
"What?" asked Hailey. She looked around to see that the whole class was staring at her. She must have been falling asleep because of her thoughts and the heat.
"I was saying, my dear, that you were clearly born under the baleful influence of Saturn," said Trelawney sounding irritated that Hailey hadn't been hanging onto her words.
"Born under—what, sorry?" Hailey replied.
"Saturn, dear, the planet Saturn!" said Professor Trelawney, now actually irritated. "I was saying that Saturn was surely in a position of power in the heavens at the moment of your birth…Your now darkening hair…your mean stature…tragic losses so young in life…I think I am right in saying, my dear, that you were born in midwinter?"
"No, I was born in July," Hailey corrected, confused.
Mandy buried her face in her arms on the table to hide her laugh, while Ron turned his laugh into a hacking cough.
Thirty minutes later, each of them had been given a complicated circular chart, and was attempting to fill in the position of the planets at their moment of birth. It was dull work, requiring much consultation of timetables and calculations of angles.
"I've done something, because I got two Neptunes here," said Hailey after a while, frowning down at her parchment. "That can't be right."
"Aah," said Ron, imitating Trelawney's mystical whisper, "when two Neptunes appear in sky, it is a sure sign that a midget in glasses is being born, Hailey…"
Hailey and Mandy busted out laughing, while Dean and Seamus, who were sitting nearby, started sniggering. Hailey and Mandy hurriedly stifled their laughs, trying to hide it whien Lavender squealed, "Oh, Professor, look! I think I've got an unspected planet. Ooh, which one's that, Professor?"
"It is Uranus, my dear," said Trelawney, looking down at the char.
"Can I have a look at Uranus too, Lavender?" asked Ron.
Hailey and Mandy busted out laughing again. Hailey couldn't help but think that if Michael had that class, he probably would've laughed too.
Unfortunately, Trelawney heard Ron. She snapped, "a detailed analysis of the way the planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to your personal chart." She sounded disturbingly like Professor McGonagall in that exact moment. "I want it ready to hand in next Monday, and no excuses."
After class, they joined the crowds descending the staircases back to the Great Hall and dinner. Ron, bitterly said, "Miserable old bat. That'll take all weekend, that will…"
"Lots of homework?" asked Hermione brightly, catching up with them, with Michael following behind. "Professor Vector didn't give us any at all!"
"Well, bully for Professor Vector," said Ron moodily.
The reached the entrance hall, which was packed with people queuing for dinner. They had just joined the end of the line, when:
"Weasley! Hey, Weasley!"
The voice rang out and Michael groaned. They turned to see Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were standing there, each looking thoroughly pleased about something.
"What?" said Ron shortly.
"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet and so everyone in the packed entrance hall could hear, Malfoy said loudly, "Listen to this!
FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch World Cup, and still unable to account for the disappearance of one of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh embarrassment yesterday by the antic of Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."
Malfoy looked up and crowed, "Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?"
Everyone in the entrance hall was listening now. Malfoy straightened the paper with a flourish and read on:
"Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keeprs ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr Weasely found, upon arrival at Mr Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr Weasely was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policement, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene."
Malfoy sneered, "And there's a picture, Weasley!" He flipped the picture over and held it up. "A picture of your parents outside their house—if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"
Ron was shaking with fury and everyone was staring at him, as if waiting for a response from him.
When Ron didn't respond, Hailey looked at Malfoy and shouted, "Get stuffed, Malfoy!" She looked at Ron, "C'mon, Ron…"
"Oh, yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter?" sneered Malfoy. "So, tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?"
Hailey turned to say something, but Michael beat her and Mandy to it. "Speaking of mothers, does your mother always look like she smelt something really disgusting? Or is it because you're around, because you're so full of crap that you need a air-freshener around your neck?"
Malfoy's face went slightly pink, "Don't you dare insult my mother, Corner."
"Oh, so it's okay for you dish it, but you can't take it?" Michael replied.
"Then you should keep your fat mouth shut, then," said Hailey, turning around.
BANG!
Several people screamed—Hailey was pulled back as a jet of light passed by. She searched for her wand, but before she can grab it, she heard another loud BANG and:
"Oh no you don't, laddie!" someone shouted.
Hailey turned around to see Professor Moody limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out and it was pointing right at a white ferret, which was shivering on the stone-flagged floor, exactly where Malfoy had been standing.
Everything was silent in the entrance hall as everyone seemed frozen, except for Moody. Moody turned to look at Hailey—actually his normal eye was looking at Hailey; the other one was in the back of his head.
"Did he get you?" Moody growled, his voice low and gravelly.
"No," said Hailey, "I was pulled out of the way." Michael's hands were still holding onto Hailey's shoulders…
"Leave it!" Moody shouted.
"Leave…what?" Hailey asked bewildered.
"Not you—him!" Moody growled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Crabbe, who had just frozen, about ready to pick up the white ferret. It seemed that Moody's rolling eye was magical and could see out of the back of his head.
Moody started to limp toward Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret, which gave a terrified squeak and took off, running toward the dugeons. "I don't think so!" roared Moody, pointing his wand at the ferret again—it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor, and then bounced upward once more.
"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned," growled Moody as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. "Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do…" the ferret flew through the air, its legs and tail flailing helplessly. With each word, the ferret hit the stone floor and bounced upward again, "Never! Do! That! Again!"
"Professor Moody!" exclaimed a shocked voice.
Professor McGonagall was coming down the marble staircase with her arms full of books.
"Hello, Professor McGonagall," said Moody calmly, bouncing the ferret higher and higher with each bounce.
"What are you doing?" asked Professor McGonagall.
"Teaching," said Moody calmly.
"Is that a—is that a student?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Technically, it's a ferret," replied Moody. He walked over, grabbed the front of Crabbe's trousers and stuffed the ferret inside. Goyle ran forward and grabbed the front of Crabbe's trousers, before sticking his hand inside. Goyle removed his hand and looked at his finger, apparently the ferret bit him. The ferret escaped through the leg on Crabbe's trousers and Professor McGonagall flicked her wand, turning the ferret back into Malfoy.
Malfoy took one look at Professor Moody and took a step back, saying, "My father will hear about this."
"Is that a threat?" Professor Moody demanded. A little louder he added, "Is that a threat? I could tell you stories about your father that would curl even your greasy hair, boy! It doesn't end here!"
"Moody, we never use transfiguration as a punishment!" snapped Professor McGonagall weakly. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"
"He might've mentioned it, yeah," said Moody, "but I thought a good sharp shock—"
"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!" Professor McGonagall said.
"I'll do that, then," said Moody, staring at Malfoy with great dislike. "Now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"
"Yes," said Malfoy, his voice full of resentment.
"Another old friend," growled Moody. "I've been looking forward to a chat with old Snape…come on, you…" He seized Malfoy's upper arm and marched him off toward the dungeons.
Professor McGonagall stared anxiously after them for a few moments, then waved her wand at her fallen books, causing them to soar up into the air and back into her arms.
"You can release her now, Michael," Mandy said, eyeing them. Michael was still holding onto Hailey's shoulders and he quickly released them.
"Don't talk to me," Ron told his friends quietly.
"Why not?" questioned Hermione in surprise.
"Because I want to fix that in my memory forever," said Ron, his eyes closed and he was smiling. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret…"
Ron, Hailey, Mandy, and Michael laughed at that.
"He could have really hurt Malfoy, though," Hermione said. "It was good, really, that Professor McGonagall stopped it—"
"Hermione!" snapped Ron angrily, his eyes opening again. "You're ruining the best moment of my life!"
Hermione made an impatient noise before they entered the Great Hall and went to their respective tables.
"Moody seems cool," Mandy said.
"He is," Cho Chang said. "I had him this morning. I never had a lesson like it, before. He seems to know this stuff because he was actually out there fighting the Dark Arts."
Mandy pulled her schedule out of her bag and looked at it. She looked excited, "Ooh, we have it tomorrow."
