I cringe, what did the giant do ...
"What happened?" Hermione asks.
We then move so we weren't blocking the door.
"Hagrid introduced us to Hippogriffs , he warned us that they get easily offended but Malfoy didn't listen ...
Draco, what happened to Draco.
He insulted it and it attacked him," Weasly finishes.
I gasp.
"Is he OK?" I reply.
"Madam Promfrey has healed worse, he'll be OK," Potter says reassuring me.
I guess that's true, my ankle hasn't given me any problems since Madam Promfrey fixed it. It's still scary that Draco was attacked. I am confused as to why he didn't follow instructions. Was it to get Hagrid fired.
I'll go see him, I had one more class left for the day so I'll see him after that.
I see Daphne outside the transfiguration classroom. "Did you hear about Care of Magic creatures lesson?" I ask her.
"No," She replies interested.
I explain the story and continue discussing it with her until I got told off from Professor McGonagall.
She starts explaining Animagi. Something my father tried to teach Severus last year, but he still hasn't been able to to accomplish it. It can take many years. If it wasn't for mother's nagging against it he would have tried to start teaching me. When I was younger I loved seeing my father transform into a white colored stallion, but recently I see no joy in it at all. It's just another way wizards use their power to conceal their intentions. I start to think about what my mother has asked me to do.
Hunny I know you can intimidate Dumbledore, you must make him scared of you. It is the only way to keep our family safe. When Voldemort comes back ...
I hear an applause and I am taken abruptly out of my day dreaming, I see a cat, my nose itches slightly then the cat turns back to Professor Mcgonagall. I am not surprised that the transfiguration teacher is able to transfigure herself but I clap along with everyone.
After the lesson I tell Daphne I am going to the hospital wing to see if Draco's ok. She decides to give me privacy. I open the hospital wing door to find Draco. Pansy is already there comforting him, I noticed she skipped McGonagall's class, so this is where she was. I notice she is holding his hand then she leans in and gives him a kiss on the cheek, he blushes.
oh, my heart sinks, I always thought Drake found Pansy's affections overbearing. That he only saw her as a friend. I leave them.
I go to the great hall for dinner Daphne and a few other Slytherin's were in deep conversation when I reach the table. They were arguing about how they can get Hagrid fired for negligence. A few of their parents wrote complaint letters already to Dumbledore. I eat and listen to their complaining.
"So Danni you may get your wish after all, after what happened today I don't think he would even be able to stay in that hut of his," Greg says to me.
"So is that why Malfoy didn't follow instructions, to get him fired," I reply bitterly.
He is surprised by the malice in my voice. I guess in the past I haven't hid my disgust of the giant so Greg wasn't the only one surprised by this.
"Sorry, I am just not in a good mood today, stupid Hagrid," I mutter.
Daphne and I then leave for the library.
"So what's up?" She asks.
"Draco was being comforted by Pansy, it just annoyed me," I reply.
Daphne looks to me with understanding, "She is very annoying, but why do you care? Do you like Draco?" She replies.
I think on that.
"Well yes I like Draco, he was the reason I came to Hogwarts after all," I say.
I then explain that before I had started school here in Hogwarts I was having dreams about being on the train and getting introduced to Greg and Vincent by Draco.
"Have you had any more of these futuristic dreams since then?" She replies interested.
"No I haven't," I reply, she was disappointed.
"Do you like him more than a friend though?" She then asks.
I don't know. Maybe.
"Maybe," I allow.
She snorts in disbelief and surprising disgust.
"I thought I might find you two here," Hermione calls to us. I look up to see her smiling at us. She then joins.
"I've just come back from visiting Hagrid, I thought you two may be interested to know that Draco is still complaining that his arm still hurts after Madam Promfrey tried to fix him," She tells us.
Why wasn't she able to fix his arm I wonder. Well, I am already in the library, I decided to research about hippogriffs injuries to find answers.
"I have finished my essay for Professor McGonagall, I am going back to bed now, are you coming?" Daphne asks me.
I sigh, damn I still haven't started the essay for McGonagall. I'll have to work on it now.
"I haven't found anything that might be causing Draco's injuries to not heal, I am going to work on the essay about animagi now," I reply.
Hermione stays to keep me company. We left about an hour later to go to bed.
The next morning I sent mother a letter to find out if she knew something to help Draco. That afternoon Professor Flitwick wanted me to give Draco his charms homework. I went to the Hospital wing.
Draco sees me and smiles, "I was wondering when you were going to visit me, I was beginning to think you didn't care," He tells me.
I chuckle softly at that.
"Sorry for not coming earlier, I sent a letter this morning to my mom to find out if she knew anything to help you, I was told you're still in pain," I reply.
He grimaces, "Yes, you were right, I wish I didn't have that subject now," Draco replies. He sucks in a breath in pain then looks to his arm darkly.
I look to his right arm that's wrapped up. I laugh noticing this.
"Hey what's funny!" Moans Draco.
I reach into my bag and get his Charms homework out.
"You have no excuse not to do homework," I say then click my tongue twice, "Shame you're left-handed!" I continue then laugh more. He starts laughing himself then stops because he had jolted his arm, "ow," He cries.
"Oh sorry! I was just trying to make you laugh, I didn't mean for your arm to hurt more," I reply in concern.
"Draco dear! How are you feeling," I hear Mrs Malfoy say behind me.
She then gives him a kiss on the fore head. She then notices me. "Hello Danni dear, how have you been?" She asks.
"Fine Mrs Malfoy," I reply. After a brief conversation I leave them to have privacy.
Meanwhile in Dumbledore's office ...
"MR MERIDA, do you really think I don't take my students safety into account!?" Mr Dumbledore shouts in reply to his accusations.
"DO I need to list more errors of judgement to prove to you that you have failed your students?" Damien replies angrily his long blond hair covering his eyes, he flamboyantly flicks it back behind him.
"Hagrid is not an error of judgement, I have complete trust in him ...
"TRUST, TRUST, He is a half giant! Don't you know what they have been capable of. I will not trust them Dumbledore, and NOR SHOULD you! For his first ever lesson he teaches one of his students gets attacked!" Damien interrupts.
"Hagrid warned young Mr Malfoy ..
"Yes Hippogriffs get easily offended but it was his first EVER lesson don't you think he should have started with something less temperamental? The stupidity amazes me!" He interrupts Dumbledore again.
"I will not tolerate ...
Dumbledore stop midsentence, due from a knock at the door.
"You may enter," Dumbledore announces.
It was Mr Malfoy. Mr Malfoy takes in Damien's appearance.
"Ah I see, I guess I am not the only one not happy with this situation, Dumbledore that creature hurt my son. I have an order for its execution," He says then thrusts a rolled parchment on the desk in front of Dumbledore.
"That is all," He says and walks out.
"He is ordering the death of Hag ... Oh forgive me he meant the hippogriff," Damien says then sighs. He takes a sit across from Dumbledore and places his face in his hands.
"I can't take this anymore," Damien mutters through his hands.
Dumbledore walks around his desk and placed a hand on Damien shoulders, "Hagrid is not like the giant that attacked your family," Dumbledore says trying to reassure him.
Draco still hadn't been attending classes he was still saying his arm hurt. My mother said she will do research for me and that she was confused as to why it wasn't healing. It wasn't until Friday that Draco come back to class walking into our Friday lesson of Potion.
"How is it, Draco?" Simpered Pansy then continues with, "Does it hurt much?"
"Yeah," Said Malfoy, pulling a brave face. I keep my eye on Draco trying to get his attention so I can also ask him if he is all right, I then notice he winks to Greg and Vincent. What's that about!
"Settle down, settle down," Said Professor Snape lazily.
I notice Potter and Weasley scowled at each other over this. We were making a new potion today, a Shrinking Solution. Draco set up his cauldron right next to Potter and Weasley. Why did he do that, he normally sets up near Greg and Vincent. Daphne and I are set up behind them.
"Sir," Malfoy called, "Sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots, because of my arm —"
"Weasley, cut up Malfoy's roots for him," Said Professor Snape without looking up.
"There's nothing wrong with your arm," Weasley hissed at Malfoy.
Malfoy smirked across the table.
"Weasley, you heard Professor Snape; cut up these roots," He replies.
Weasley seized his knife, pulled Draco's roots toward him, and began to chop them roughly, so that they were all different sizes. I cringe, you idiot, you're going to lose your work. I finish up skinning my shrivelfig.
"Professor," Drawled Malfoy, "Weasley's mutilating my roots, sir."
Just like I thought. Snape approached their table, stared down at the roots, then gave Weasley an evil smile from beneath his long, black hair.
"Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley."
"But, sir — !"
"Now," Snape interrupted.
Weasley hastily shoves his roots across the table at Malfoy, then took up the knife again. I start to stir my potion in preparation to place the roots in to my potion.
"And, sir, I'll need this shrivelfig skinned," Said Malfoy, his voice full of humor. Why is he finding this funny? He has an injured arm because he was attacked by a monster. I hardly find monsters amusing.
"Potter, you can skin Malfoy's shrivelfig," Said Snape.
Potter skinned it correctly and quickly and flung it back to Draco without talking. Draco was smirking more broadly than ever. What is Draco up to?
"Seen your pal Hagrid lately?" He asked them quietly.
"None of your business," Said Weasley jerkily, without looking up.
"I'm afraid he won't be a teacher much longer, Father's not very happy about my injury —"
"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury," Snarled Weasley interpreting Draco.
"— he's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, you know. And a lasting injury like this," Said Draco then gave a huge sigh. "Who knows if my arm will ever be the same again?"
Was that a fake sigh?
"So that's why you're putting it on, to try to get Hagrid fired," Potter replies. I knew he wanted Hagrid fired already, it's not like Hagrid doesn't deserve to be fired. I was about to go to Draco's defense but he continued talking.
"Well," Said Draco, lowering his voice to a whisper, "partly, Potter. But there are other benefits too. Weasley, slice my caterpillars for me."
Wait, Potter is right? Draco is, is FAKING hurt. How did I not realize this.
I walk over to Malfoy and tap his shoulder he turns and looks to me. I put my thumb in my fist and quickly punched his nose. He staggers back with blood falling down from his nose, he looks to me in shock.
"How dare you, Malfoy, HOW, Ho .. You think being attacked by creatures is funny, you think pretending to be injured is something hilarious. Did I play up what happened to me with the Dementors for personal gain! Did I try to get sympathy from students because a giant killed my great grandfather! My mother and I have been trying to help you! Trying to find out why you weren't healing. YOU EVIL ...
"Miss Merida, contain yourself! Fifty points will be taken from Slytherin for your outburst not to mention two detentions for punching a student," Professor Snape tells me.
I grunt. I start to pack my things, "I didn't say you were to leave Miss Merida," Snape says.
"No, I am taking it upon myself to leave Sir," I say then place my potion in a flask for marking, I place it on Snapes desk.
"Miss Merida! If you leave I want you to go straight to Dumbledore to explain yourself," Mr Snape says icily.
I sigh, I guess that's better than staying here.
"Fine," I hiss.
I slam the door behind me avoiding the eyes of the students as I left. I run to my room and lie down on my bed breathing heavily. After a few minutes I realise I better go to Dumbledore. If I am going to Dumbledore, I might as well have the discussion my mother wants me to have with him.
Intimidation, how can I intimidate him. I notice my school robes, I guess the first thing is to not look like a pathetic student. I change into the outfit Delilah gave me. I go into the bathroom and splash water on my face and brush my hair to calm my messy hair.
I walk to Dumbledore's office holding the Dark Lords diary and say the password, Fawkes. My mother told me this would be the password when I find the courage to go to him. It works.
I go to knock but realize just walking in like I owned the place would work better.
I open the door, He doesn't look up when I enter, he is reading something. I take a sit before he will offer me one. I fake cough to get his attention.
"Miss Merida, what is it that you have come to see me about," He says while not looking up.
This isn't working, I have yet to startle him.
"The Dark Lord," I reply. This wasn't what he was expecting. He looks up to me, finally.
He looks to me curiously.
"What about him," He replies.
"It's about the events that happened last year," I say then place the diary in front of him.
"I was the one who told Mrs Prince where the Chamber of Secrets was, I was the one who found out it was the Dark Lord controlling Ginny to open it. My house elf destroyed this Horcrux. I wish you hadn't fired Mrs Prince," I say then cross my arms.
I still can't read the expression on his face to know if I have scared him but I doubt I would be able to scare him, not even the Dark Lord managed that.
"Did Mrs Prince inform you how she was able to conquer the Snake?" Dumbledore replies.
"No," I reply.
"She used dark magic, the spells that she used left the snake so mutilated, It was beyond comprehension ...
"I have to stop you there Dumbledore, I said no because Mrs Prince didn't tell me how she conquered the snake, my mother did," I reply interrupting him.
His eyes widen ever so slightly at this. He then lifts the diary to inspect it.
"How was this destroyed?" He asks.
"It was destroyed with a basilisk fang by my house elf," I reply.
"Basilisk fang? How did you come by one, you surely didn't go into the chamber of secrets with Mrs Prince?" Dumbledore replies.
I shake my head slightly at this, "No, I had enough adventure in my first year to go do something heroic again, I am no hero," I reply.
His expression hardens ever so slightly, he is so difficult to understand. My mother said I would be able to scare him but so far I have just been sounding like a insolent child.
"Talking about first year, you suspected Quirrell before you even entered the trap door, how did you find out?" Dumbledore asks.
"I wasn't the only one, Hermione knew as well. Please don't try and tell me you didn't know either, you knew what he was capable of but you allowed him entrance in this school, why?" I ask this in annoyance.
"Are you implying that I knew Quirrell was joined to Voldemort?" He replies.
"Not implying, you knew. Don't deny," I counter.
He stares at me in silence but says nothing until, "Is that all you came to tell me? If so, you may go," Dumbledore finally replies.
"Professor Snape also wanted me to inform you that I punched young Mr Malfoy in class," I say to this.
"Yes I wondering when you were going to confess to that, Professor Snape informed me," He says.
I stand to leave, before I leave I turn to Dumbledore and say, "Mrs Prince used Dark Magic for good, how does that make her magic bad."
Before I had to go to D.A.D.A I got another telling off from Snape. Great. I guess I deserved it though. It was annoying because he also decided to ban me from visits to Hogsmeade this year.
I go to the D.A.D.A room but nobodies there, where did they go? I exit and bump into Daphne, "So where is everyone?" I ask.
"Quick, we are in the staff room," She says then rushes off, I follow.
Daphne and I walk in, immediately I hear Hermione talking ...
"It's a shape-shifter, It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most," Hermione has stated to the class.
"Couldn't have put it better myself, So the boggart sitting in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears ..."
I gasp, I hope he doesn't intend for us to fight it. Neville also didn't like this.
"This means, that we have a huge advantage over the boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?" Lupin asks.
"Er — because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?" Harry replies.
Mr Lupin then explained how it can become confused if more than one person is there because it doesn't know which shape to take. I grab Daphne's hand and pull her towards the back of the class.
"Can we sit this exercise out?" I whisper to her.
"Good idea," She replies.
I wasn't the only one with this idea though, Draco, Greg and Vincent were at the back of the room as well. He gives me a look of hate then whispers something to Greg and Vincent they then turned and gave me dark looks also.
I cringe, I should apologize to Drake. His nose looks fine now though and his right arm I noticed is not wrapped up any more.
"Riddikulus!" Said the class. I should be paying more attention. I am not going to go against a boggart though.
"Good, very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville," Professor Lupin announces.
Professor Lupin then explained you had to imagine something funny. Neville put Professor Snape in his Grandmothers clothes. That was very hilarious. Neville always underestimates himself, I mean here he is performing a spell perfectly to get rid of the boggart while a lot of the Slytherin's were hiding in the back, myself included, yet he is still extremely unsure of himself.
"Parvati! Forward!" Professor Lupin cries.
As Parvati moved forward a blood stained mummy appeared after a horrible cracking sound. Parvati is scared of monsters also.
"Riddikulus!" Cried Parvati.
A bandage unravelled at the mummy's feet, it tripped and it's head rolled off. At the sight of the decapitated head rolling, I gasp. Daphne squeezes my hand, "It's OK Dan."
"Seamus!" Roared Professor Lupin. Seamus rushed past Parvati. Crack! A banshee appeared, great, another monster! She opened her mouth and a wailing shriek filled the room. I cringe again, this time Daphne has her arm around my shoulders.
"I am so sick of monsters," I moan to Daphne.
"Riddikulus!" Shouted Seamus.
The banshee made a rasping noise and clutched her throat, her voice was gone. Crack! The banshee turned into a rat, which chased its tail in a circle, then — crack! — became a rattlesnake, which slithered and writhed before — crack! — becoming a single, bloody eyeball.
"It's confused! We're getting there! Dean!" Shouted Lupin. Dean hurried forward.
Crack! The eyeball became a severed hand, which flipped over and began to creep along the floor like a crab.
"Riddikulus!" Yelled Dean.
There was a snap, and the hand was trapped in a mousetrap.
"Excellent! Ron, you next!"
Weasley leapt forward. Crack! I scream. A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair, was advancing towards Weasel, clicking its pincers menacingly. I hug Daphne now covering my eyes.
"Riddikulus!" I hear Weasley shout. I've had enough of this so when I hear Lupin yelled here, I am surprised he is going to let us see what he is afraid of, I look up to see his boggart, it's a, it's the, moon?
I am curious though, you don't surely stay under this roof when the full moon strikes.
My father's words enter my brain, huh, Professor Lupin is a werewolf. I suspected as much when my father made that comment but I wasn't sure, now there is no denying. I wonder how Lupin would have felt if one the fears of the students that the boggart showed was a werewolf.
"Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" Said Lupin as the boggart landed on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape was back. This time Neville charged forward looking determined this time.
"Riddikulus!" He shouted, and they had a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville let out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the boggart exploded, burst into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and was gone. Go Neville! I sigh in relief that the boggart is now gone and give Daphne a bit of space.
"Excellent!" Cried Professor Lupin as the class broke into applause. I didn't even bring my hands together once, and a lot Slytherin's weren't impressed with this lesson either.
"Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone ... Let me see … five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the boggart — ten for Neville because he did it twice … and five each to Hermione and Harry."
"But I didn't do anything," Countered Harry.
"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry," Lupin said lightly. "Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework, kindly read the chapter on boggarts and summarize it for me … to be handed in on Monday. That will be all."
As we were filing out of the staff room everyone was excitingly talking about the lesson. Draco, Greg and Vincent scrammed out the room hastily.
"He seems like a very good teacher," I hear Hermione say ahead of me, "But I wish I could have had a turn with the boggart —"
"What would it have been for you?" Said Ron, sniggering. "A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?"
Weasley isn't far off, Hermione greatest fear would be to find herself unable to go to Hogwarts. For her, magic is everything and to not be able to continue practising witchcraft frightens her.
"Ron, stop speaking nonsense. I couldn't see Danni in the lesson, was she there?" Hermione asks.
"Hey Herm, we're here," Daphne replies. She turns to see us.
"Oh, where were you two?" Hermione replies.
"Hiding with the other Slytherin's at the back of the classroom," Potter replies.
"I didn't think it would be good to see the decapitated he ...
"Yes Danni, we get it! Stop ..." Daphne interrupts.
"I can't believe you did that to Malfoy! Maybe you need to take more steps to stop your anger problems," Hermione says with concern.
"She does not! She did what Harry and I didn't have the guts to do. Seeing Malfoy get punched by a girl has been the highlight of my year so far," Weasley counters.