Harry Potter
and
The Feathers of Freedom
Chapter Three
Noticed
Inside a huge, circular room, walked a woman, clad in a black robe, hood up. Her skin was pale, her hair black. Because of the black hood, it was impossible to tell where her hair really started and where it ended. Her eyes were shifted between grey and green.
The room was darkened, only lit by candles on tables and the candles on the large chandelier hanging off the roof, that stretched upwards in to blackness. At the center of the room was a large, spiraling metal staircase. At regular intervals, an old metal walkway would stretch from the staircase and to a glass door, where you could go outside and look out a balcony. The only problem with this was that the platform walkways didn't have bars to hold onto. Other than the woman, there seemed to be no one else here.
The woman began her ascent up the spiral staircase with feet that seemed to barely ghost over the metal material. Her skin glowed; she seemed to be some sort of celestial being.
The woman's eyes momentarily glazed over with a silvery white mist, which disappeared a moment later. The beautifully elegant woman then said in a quiet, yet carrying voice:
"He'll be there with her today
"It'll be the foxes' turns to come help and play
"She has begun to teach
"But it is their hearts she is really trying to reach
"He'll see her misery
"The Dragon will wish for her to be free…"
It was Thursday morning, and all four classes of the sixth years had crammed into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The classroom's inside had been magically expanded, and double the normal chairs and desks had been brought in. Also, the board had been moved from the length side, in front of the class, but to the width end, so everyone could see. Also, the desks had been turned to face that side as well.
"Good morning, class." Aletheia stood calmly in front of the class. She was dressed in a dark blue quipao with apple blossom flowers on tree branches extending over the silk cloth. "As you know, today will be when we go outside onto the school grounds."
There was a rattling of books and the scraping of chairs as the students prepared to go outside.
"But," Aletheia stopped them, "First, we need to know a few things, and I have a few grounds rules I need to set as well."
"So why didn't you do that over the week!?" Draco questioned, "Instead of having us try and shout You-Know-Who's name at each others and mirrors enchanted to have a black cloaked figure inside!?"
"Because, Mr. Malfoy, I have split the five days you go to school into sections. The first is working on your skills inside, the other outside. Yes, we are still inside, but what I am going to go over and teach with you next strictly has to do with what we are doing outside. In fact, you don't even know what we're doing outside.
"Now, take out quills and parchment. You'll be needing to take notes. And no, you may not use self writing quills. This has to be handwritten."
Another ruffle of sounds as the class gathered what was needed, and then Aletheia began again.
"I know for a fact, that all these years you have been studying about things that harm you. That's great, but what if you come across something or someone who looks like an enemy, but isn't? There are many things magical out there. They can either be good or bad, and this has to do with Magical Creatures as well. And that is the unit that we will be studying for the next couple weeks."
Aletheia turned to the board and picked up a long piece of chalk. She then began to write in her elegant cursive writing: Guardian Creatures.
"Guardian Creatures don't necessarily have to be guarding something of value to you. The title is, simply, just so that it is a bit easier in class, then having to write a long heading on your paper. To continue, guardian creatures are animals like dragons, unicorns, etc, etc, etc. However, they can also be animals that you don't even realize are, well, magical. Tell me, how many of you have seen a wolf before? A dog, a cat, a jackal, coyotes, foxes?"
The entire class had their hands raised.
"These are also magical creatures, only the ones that both the Wizarding and Muggle Worlds can see. You see, just as we have charms and spells to cloak ourselves, so do they. Some even have spells and charms that we cannot see through as well.
"But there are animals, such as dogs and cats, that choose to live in plain sight; who choose to live as "normal" pets. In reality, they have magic.
"Today, the animal we shall be discussing are Foxes. Now, foxes are a widely known magical creature, and in many different cultures as well. Foxes have been known as messengers, for long life, disaster, good luck, and even sometimes bad luck. The truth is, no one really knows what they do, but we do know that they are magical.
"Yes, that is what we are doing today. I've asked some of my friends to come help out. My friends? They are the foxes."
"Her friends are the foxes!?" Ron whispered to Harry. "I think she's gone completely insane!"
Hermione, who had heard and was trying to take notes, kicked Ron, "Ssh!"
"They are cautious animals, and must be handled with care; when meeting them, you have to stay quiet. You are going to try to befriend your own fox, and at the same time record information about them. Personality, their name if they give it to you, what you think magical about your fox: anything, and everything. I want you to get to know your fox as if they were a person you were trying to befriend.
"Foxes are noble creatures, and will not tolerate rudeness. They must be treated with the utmost care. And, mind you, you do not get to choose your fox. The fox will choose you. Now, we will walk outside and onto the grounds where a perimeter for our activity has been set up. We cannot have it all, because Professor Hagrid and his class will be out there as well.
"Ground Rules: You may not stray from our perimeter, be kind and courteous to your fellow classmates and of course the foxes. If a fox does not want to be your partner, don't try to force him or her. Oh, and one more thing, if your partner is not particularly interested or doesn't be friends with you immediately, it's alright. You don't have to do this on your first try, and I frankly don't expect you to either."
Aletheia walked to the door, "Follow me."
The students stood and scrambled to follow after Aletheia. They walked across the vast grounds, stopping somewhere near the lake, but not too close. They were in a nice, grassy area, but the grass wasn't too bad. The area was fenced off with a white painted fence. Just a few meters away, Hagrid and his first year Gryffindor class were also outside, doing an activity with unicorns.
Aletheia opened the gate to the pen, and the students all filed into the huge area. "Please take a seat on the grass."
The students sat, and looked around for these so called foxes.
"Where are these foxes?" Questioned Dean.
"Ssh." Aletheia hushed the boy, "Be silent and still, and wait."
It seemed like hours to the students until anything really happened. But it wasn't hours, in fact it was just a little over five minutes. The grass didn't even seem to stir, but all of a sudden foxes, hundreds, seemed to emerge from the grass. There were black ones, white ones, red ones, silver ones, golden ones, pretty much every color a fox could be was expressed on over ten different foxes.
"Hello friends." Aletheia said quietly, as to not scare them.
In unison, the foxes nodded their acknowledgement.
"These are the students. Go now, find a partner you find suitable."
The foxes began to spread out, sniffing people here and there. Sometimes staying, and sometimes moving on.
Harry waited, but felt an impatient stir every time a fox passed by. Some would sniff, but then move on, making him feel left out when he saw that others were getting partners. Ron, on the other hand, resolved to simply lying in the grass and sleeping. Hermione, however, was the most impatient. She was bored, and moved her folded legs in impatient anticipation.
Blaise sat next to a small patch of flowers, near where Draco was. A pretty little grey fox, the only grey fox he'd seen so far, with clear beautiful eyes, stopped by to sniff the flowers.
"Do you like flowers?" Blaise whispered to fox.
The fox turned slowly and cautiously towards Blaise. Seeing no danger, the fox nodded slightly. He or she began to walk towards Blaise, eventually beginning to sniff around Blaise. Blaise was able to determine her to be a she when she jumped into his lap. After sitting a bit, the vixen began to quietly climb his shoulder, where she stuck her nose through his hair, still exploring. Her whiskers tickled, and Blaise tried not to laugh too loudly or shake too violently.
After her inspection, the vixen leaped back into Blaise's lap. Smiling at her, Blaise asked barely above a whisper, "Does this mean we're partners?"
"I believe it does." The fox replied in an elegant voice.
Blaise's eyes widened, "You can talk?"
"Why yes, we can." The fox stated.
A little ways away, Draco was also having success. A black fox had suddenly trotted up to him, who had the deepest green eyes. The fox was a dog, meaning he was a male fox. The fox kept circling round and round Draco, but after a long while it was evident that the fox had chosen Draco. The only problem was, he wouldn't go any closer to Draco. It wasn't because of Draco, but the fox. The dog was trying to find something, searching, looking, for something.
"How is everything?" The blood red vixen spoke formally and quietly to Aletheia.
"Fine. The students seem to be responding well to the activity."
"And your Father? How is he doing?"
"He's great, Spinel."
"That's good." Spinel replied.
"How's Obsidian?"
"He's doing well with the program. I see he's chosen a certain silver haired boy."
Aletheia looked, "That is Draco Malfoy."
"Well, Obsidian sure does like him."
"Wouldn't you rather participate too?" Aletheia inquired.
"Not really."
"Thank you for helping out with my classes. I hope you don't mind me telling them that we're friends. I know we're close, but we're acquaintances…Right?"
"It's fine, and yes. But perhaps, only for now."
"So what's your name?" Blaise inquired to his friend.
"My name is Fluorspar." She answered, "And you are?"
"Blaise. It's nice to meet you, Fluorspar." Blaise said.
"I assure you, the pleasure's all mine."
"Hey, who's that with my friend Draco?" Blaise beckoned towards them. Fluorspar turned in their direction, "That's Obsidian, my brother. He's the leader of the clan. And that's his mate, Spinel." Fluorspar turned again. Blaise followed her gaze upwards, towards Spinel and Aletheia.
"She's beautiful." Blaise said, looking at Spinel.
Obsidian looked upwards at his mate. Aletheia and Spinel had now moved up a small hill within the area to watch all the other students. Draco too turned in that direction. His eyes widened in mild surprise at her sad face.
Harry and Ron had also turned to her, both recognizing her sadness. The only question was, what was causing it?
To Be Continued…