Sorry this chapter has been so long in coming. School has a way of tying you down and messing up your life during finals. Well, now that the summer job hunt is done and I'm settled in till fall, there should be more chapters coming soon.
I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters in that universe with the exception of Angela Jade Frost. Not that I have the money if someone decided to sue me, being a poor college student.
Note, this takes place after Order of the Phoenix but it ignores The Half Blood Prince, in other words, this is Harry's 6th year.
Complete and total silence had descended on the dungeon classroom as everyone looked at Angela. Some were looks of outrage, mostly from the slytherins, while others were of amazement, shock, pride, and some that were unreadable. Snape just looked at her and Malfoy, trying not to snicker.
"Miss. Frost, that is a serious accusation, considering your back was turned when this happened. Do you have any proof that Mr. Malfoy is the one that did this?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. Someone saw him do it while I was cleaning up." Everyone started looking at each other, wondering who told her since no one had gone near her. Draco himself was shifting shade of red and white between rage, embarrassment, and fear.
"Really. Can you produce this mystery witness or point them out in the classroom. Since I didn't see any of the ghosts it must be one of the students here."
"Actually, it wasn't one of the students who told me Sir." As if in response to her words her cloak started to move a bit on it's own as something glided under the fabric, a low hissing voice answering the unspoken question.
"I saw the young master toss the root in."
Even Snape's eyes opened wide in shock as a small red lizard-like head poked out from Angela's robes and looked at everyone with fierce yellow eyes. Angela reached inside the robe and shock everyone further when she brought him out fully, revealing a cat sized dragon that had been hiding under her trench robe.
"I don't take kindly to people that mess with my mistress, no matter who they are. That young boy is the one and that is all that needs to be said." With that, Red slipped back under her robes as if he'd never been there in the first place. Snape looked directly at Malfoy, scowling at him.
"Mr. Malfoy, you will come see me in my office at the end of the day to discuss this transgression." Draco just gulped, nodded and sat down without another word.
The rest of potions class went off without a hitch and the students flooded out into the hall, all of the Gryffindors chatting excitedly about how Angela nailed Malfoy and that she was permitted to have a dragon for a familiar while the others could only have a rat, cat, toad, or an owl. While the Gryffindors chatted happily, the Slytherins all moved to one side, trying to figure out what was so special about Angela that Snape would dare to favor her over them and how they could get back at her for Malfoy's detention.
Angela, on the other hand, was calmly walking away from everyone towards their next class down in the greenhouses with Pr. Sprout. Herbology was becoming more and more difficult for the students as they progressed in years and this lesson promised to be just as challenging as the last. And sure enough, when all the other students from Slytherin and Gryffindor got down to the greenhouse there was a nasty looking tree sitting on Pr. Sprouts desk at the head of the class. Everyone quickly put on their coveralls and dragon hide gloves in preparation for a rough class.
"Good morning everyone, I hope you all had a good summer. Well, today we're going to get right to work and the arrival of our newest student gave me some inspiration for today's lesson," Pr. Sprout exclaimed happily as she pointed to the tree.
"Today, we are going to learn about a very rare plant that only grows where a dragons blood has been shed. This particular tree sprouted up last year after the tri-wizard tournament where the dragon tests were and I brought it inside before other creatures could eat it. Aptly named, this is a Dragons Blood Tree."
"Pr. Sprout, why would it take so long for a tree to grow, and why would other creatures wish to eat it. Dragons blood, in its raw form, is poisonous and that poison is usually transferred to anything that absorbs it unless it's properly treated," Hermione asked after raising her hand. Much to everyone's surprise it was Angela who answered her question.
"It's quite simply Hermione. For one, look at the size of the tree. Only a truly large deposit of dragons blood could render the whole tree poisonous, and it's true that some parts of the tree can kill you quite quickly. Secondly, the poison is commonly found in the leafs of the tree which are shed each year and thus after a period of time the whole tree is cleansed of the dragons venom."
"Very good Mrs. Frost. Ten Points to Gryffindor. And to continue with what Mrs. Frost was saying, a tree of this size would still contain much of the toxin it absorbed from the spilled blood. Now, the sap of the tree is the most harmless and most prized part of the plant and it's fairly easy to collect." She proceeded to go over to the tree and cut a small vertical slit in the trees bark, then pulled it back with a pair of spreading hooks. Everyone gawked at the blood red sap that flowed as easily as if the tree were a living animal.
"Now, everyone will come up in groups of three and collect a sample of the sap by making a two inch long cut like I just showed you and two of you will pry the wound open while the third student will collect the sap in these glass vials. Be careful not to get any on your skin as it will cause it to blister horribly. Now, pair up with the people around you and pick up your hooks, knives, and vials."
All the Gryffindor students piled up around Hermione and Angela, trying to get them into their groups. Angela actually pushed most of them aside before she put a hand on Hermione's shoulder and Neville's as well.
"I'll be working with them today," she stated calmly before heading over to get the required tools.
"Did I just miss something 'arry?"
"Your not the only one Ron."
Everyone took their own turns up at the tree to gather the sap for each group. Only two students were burned and needed to go to the hospital wing for the blisters to be healed. While Pr. Sprout was tending to the two students Draco snatched another vial from the table near the tree and filled it with sap as Crab and Goyle held the bark open. He just gave them a wicked grin and pocketed the vial before anyone saw him…
Care of Magical Creatures was far more interesting than either class before it as all the students ran from the greenhouses down to Hagrids little hut on the edge of the school grounds. Waiting outside his hut with a huge smile, Hagrid motioned them all down the hill towards a clearing he often used for large classes but stopped them before rounding the corner.
"Now, all ya's better listen up 'cus this won't be like a regular class. The creatures you'd be meetin' today aren't the mindless beasts you've seen before. These are highly intelligent folks that live right 'ere in the dark forest. Now, follow me and be polite!"
With that he led them around the corner and most of the students drew in a sharp breath. Assembled in the clearing was a small group of Centaurs, each one armed with a bow, crossbow, or some other type of weapon in addition to their imposing size and strength.
"Now… I ask'd the Centaurs to send some o' their people ta speak wit ya. Your lesson today is to break inta groups and listen to the stories they're gonna tell ya about their people an' history."
He motioned for everyone to move towards the centaurs while they calmly stood there and waited. Hagrid quickly split the students into equal groups and the centaurs each picked a group and moved off with them to a different part of the clearing. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Angela, Malfoy, Crag, Goyle, and two other Slytherins all went with a stoic looking black and white centaur who sat them down on the hillside. Hermione immediately took a seat closest to the centaur with Harry right beside her. All the Slytherins sat in the middle as Ron and Angela stayed in the very back.
The centaur, named Claw Hoof in English, turned out to be one of the groups warriors who filled the students heads with visions of grand battles, epic struggles and great hero's of the centaur nations. Hermione and Harry were completely caught up in his tails, as were most of the slytherins and Ron, but Malfoy took a chance to glance behind him to see Angela listening though very tense and sitting somewhat to herself. He smirked and turned back to Claw Hoof as he was explaining how he got some of the many scars crisscrossing his body, all the while reaching into his robes to uncap the vial with Dragons Blood Tree sap in it, just waiting.
About an hour later Hagird called an end to the story telling, much to the annoyance of many students who were rapt with attention to each of the centaurs. Claw Hoof just wrapped up the end of his story and bowed to the students as they picked up all their books. Harry and the others started to move back up towards the castle but Hermione stopped when she noticed that Angela had hung back to speak with Claw Hoof. He didn't look pleased by what she was saying but just nodded before moving back to the group. She turned and started climbing up the hill towards the others when Malfoy broke away from the group to move towards her.
"So, think your pretty smart for being the new kid don't you, damn Yankee."
"Your fairly brave when you know your friends are right behind you for back up, but I wonder how you'd handle yourself alone Malfoy."
"Right, and having a dragon isn't bringing back up."
"I don't need Red to deal with cowards like you who run and hide when someone stronger comes along." With that she moved to go around him towards the castle. In a split second move Malfoy flicked his hand and threw the contents of tree sap right into her face. Not even as second later as her pain filled scream filled the air Malfoy was lifted right off the ground as the clatter of hoofs surrounded him.
"Damn Coward! Your lucky we aren't permitted to punish you right now as our tribe would do for your treachery. The teachers will deal with you boy." Angry faces surrounded Malfoy as he realized Claw Hoof was holding him single handedly off the ground. He handed Malfoy off to a very angry Hagrid as Angela clutched at her face, making a high keening sound as steam rose from between her fingers, some parts of her hair just falling away where the sap ate through it. Hagrid grabbed Malfoy and looked at one of the other centaurs.
"Ferez, can you grab the y'ung lady and take her ta da hospital wing whilst I deal with this snake." The centaur Ferez just nodded and scooped Angela up and ran towards the castle. He was quickly met by Pr. Dumbledor who was running out to see what the commotion was about. A few quick words transpired between Ferez and Dumbledor before he pointed him off towards a different part of the castle before descending towards Hagrids hut and the other students.
"Mr. Malfoy… I hope you realize the gravity of this situation that you've just gotten yourself into. By throwing the sap into Miss. Frost's face you could have killed her easily. As it stands she is being tended to by Pr. Snape who has an antidote to the tree sap which will also heal her. In the mean time, you will have three detentions and I will be writing to your parents for a conference with them to discuss why you shouldn't be expelled for your actions against your fellow student." Without another word he motioned for Hagrid to take Malfoy up to the castle which he did, never letting Malfoy's feet touch the ground. Harry ran up to Pr. Dumbledor with Hermione and Ron right on his heels.
"Pr. Dumbledor, sir, she will be alright?" he asked breathlessly.
"Yes Harry, she will recover from her injuries. Don't worry about Miss. Frost, she far tougher than she seems and will be just fine." A faint twinkle shown in his eyes as he moved past the trio to have a word with the centaurs.
"We should go and see her Harry. It's dinner time and we could bring her something to eat," a distressed Hermione remarked. Harry nodded and the three of them took off running towards the castle.
Everyone in the castle was gossiping over dinner about what happened down at Hagrids cottage and all the Gryffindors looked expectantly at the trio when they came in.
"Is she going to be alright Harry?" asked a worried Neville.
"What happened down there Harry, how'd she get hurt," Colin chimed in, his camera hanging from his neck as always. Harry sighed and looked towards Ron and Hermione.
"Hermione, why don't you go see her while Ron and I tell everyone what happened."
"You got it Harry, I'll be right back." With that she grabbed up a plate and filled it with food before running off towards Snape's office. Skidding to a halt outside she knocked quickly and waited for an answer. A few moments later the door swung open to revel an annoyed and relieve Snape.
"And what can I do for you Miss. Granger?"
"Please Pr., I just wanted to check on Angela and I brought her some food from the great hall," holding up the plate and looking hopeful. With a reluctant sigh he moved aside and let her in. Laid out on a couch in Snape's office was a semi-sleeping Angela who had the right side of her face completely bandaged and the left side was still covered with her red hair. Hermione quickly went over and sat down beside her, taking her hand and just sitting there with Snape watching from the background.
"You'll be alright Angela, Pr. Snape will take good care of you and so will Madam Pompfry. They'll both make sure that you'll be good as new. Besides, I brought you some dinner from the great hall," she muttered as she leaned over Angela to put it on a small side table. Without warning Angela suddenly reached up with one hand and latched onto Hermione's shoulder, her other hand ripping away the shirt collar. Hermione heard Snape's distant yell of "NO!" as she gazed into the blood red, cat pupil eye that was looking back at her. Angela sat up and latched her mouth onto Hermione's throat and with two small pricks of pain, sent Hermione into the blackness of unconsciousness…
