Chapter Three: Secret
First lesson of the day - Defence Against the Dark Arts was a shock to me as we entered the lesson. I took a seat next to Kali and produced my books.
"Lupey give this to Winget," James whispered from the table across from us.
I sighed and took the paper as Professor Merrythought entered the room and walked to the front wheres he tapped three times on the blackboard.
"Kali it's from Mooney," I gave her the paper as Professor Merrythought cleared her throat and looked over us all.
"Welcome to Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts," Merrythought began in her usual darkened tone when she taught. "The start of lessons which will bring you to your NEWTs at the end of your seventh year. These next two years will see you working to top standards. This year you will not receive much homework, however come your seventh be prepared for it."
"Ki, Remus is asking me on a date when we go to Hogsmeade," Kali gasped, cutting my attention for a few seconds.
"Today's lesson will revolve around something dark, and what evil wizards or witches can and will use," Merrythought explained. "Inferius," she explained. "Now can anyone tell me what Inferi are?"
I raised my hand along with Sirius, Remus and James.
"Miss Gryffindor," Merrythought choose me with a smile. I was a favourite of Merrythought 's which was good for me.
"Inferius are a dead people which have been bewitched into a puppet. The living dead, alive in their own way with magic. Living to do what the master bids, and once done they will be in an idle state," I explained and Merrythought smiled proudly at me.
"Furthermore," I continued before any of the Marauders could answer. "The only three things known to repel an Inferi are heat, light and fire. However to kill one you need a lot of any of the three. For example the breath of a dragon has been known to kill an Inferi."
"Well done Miss Gryffindor, 20 points awarded to Gryffindor house," Merrythought clapped for me and the Gryffindor's shared a happy glance with me.
Merrythought flicked his wand and the lights dimmed down around the room and a stronger light produced at the front of the room where a corpse stood perfectly still.
"This is an Inferi," Merrythought explained, walking around the corpse. "Some dark wizards in the past have used armies of these in order to try and take over the Ministry of Magic and other such things. When summoned up with powerful magic they will follow that one rule until dead or until that deed has been done," Merrythought explained and tapped her Inferi.
"This one is awoken when any student stands in front of it, within 5 meters, it will spring up and after ten seconds it will try and kill the student unless repelled," Merrythought explained, levitating the Inferi to the centre of the room as we all muttered between ourselves about what that thing could do. Merrythought's lessons were usual rather dangerous, she was one of the teachers who one could learn a lot from as she placed you in the situation if you were ever to face something.
"Miss Gryffindor since you know a lot about these creatures would you like to come up and attempt to repel one?" Merrythought smiled brightly at me.
I smirked, drew out my wand and stood. "It would be my pleasure," I walked around the Inferi until I was finally opposite it.
Once I stood about 5 meters from the Inferi it burst into life, shocking the students and making myself jump slightly.
"Incarcerous," I called, watching the ropes root the Inferi down so it wouldn't do me any harm the second it sprang into action.
I curled my wand around and aimed at the ropes. "Incendio," I let the curse leave my wand and successfully repel the Inferi and return it to its previous state, seemingly just a statue now that it had been defeated.
"Well done Kiara, well done," Merrythought clapped and I returned to my seat and the rest of the class began their turns in trying to repel the Inferi, most of which succeeded, some of which didn't.
"I want from you all twelve inches of parchment on my desk by the following Thursday on Inferi and the best ways to repell them," Merrythought called out as the lesson end was called.
Professor Slughorn wasn't happy and neither was Lily when we entered the classroom. James naturally wanted to sit beside Lily however she chose quickly to sit next to Kali, leaving me to sit alone, which I wasn't happy about at all.
However when the potions class started, whatever we tried to put into our cauldrons where repelled and jumped out...at Snape...this repeated the entire lesson which resulted in an upset Lily and upset Slughorn...and very angry Snape!
"Potter!" Lily instantly turned to the boy with fire in her eyes, rage set on the boy. "This is practice for our NEWTs and all you and Black care about is creating a mess!"
"Miss Evan's is correct boys. If you both want to pass your NEWTs, however skilled you are currently you'll need more boys," Slughorn explained, glaring at the two boys. "I'll see you both in detention tonight at 6," Slughorn demanded.
"It wasn't them Professor this was my doing," I stood instantly and took the blame. If they got detention on top of McGonagall's Streak would be partly without much food tonight.
"Miss Gryffindor?" Slughorn looked at you shocked as did Lily and Kali.
"I bewitched the Cauldrons to fire back everything put into them to Severus Snape. This had nothing to do with Pad- Sirius and James," I corrected myself mid-sentence.
"Very well Miss Gryffindor. Let this just be a warning to you then. If I see anything like this again you'll be straight to detention do you understand?"
"Yes Professor," I nodded and retook my seat to where Slughorn began explaining about our NEWTs and why we needed to pay attention in Potions.
"A pre-warning before we begin," Professor McGonagall started as her lesson began. "You're Sixth year Advanced Transfiguration Students who have at best an E at OWL level. From now on we will not simply be focussing on transfiguring other objects.
"Transfiguration in sixth and seventh year revolves around numerous different Transfiguration. Our studies will progress through Cross-Species Transfiguration, Conjuration, Self-Transfiguration, Untransfiguration and Animagus."
McGonagall looked around to see if there were any questions, but none were spoken. "We will begin today with reviewing each of the different types of Transfiguration then we will study each topic, including Inanimate to Animate Transfiguration which you have learnt in your previous years."
My head fell onto my desk as I realised the writing load and brought out my quill, ink and parchment, others doing the same as McGonagall wrote across the board "ANIMAGUS"
"Can anyone explain what an Animagus is?" McGonagall questioned. "Mr Potter," she chose instantly.
Oh yes McGonagall elected James, Sirius and Remus as her favourites as they got everything correct no matter what. Shocking really with the amount of trouble they got in with McGonagall.
"An Animagus is someone who elects to turn into an animal. However an Animagus cannot choose which animal they turn into. It's kind of within their blood. The animagus form is more than likely and 999.99/1000 times the same as their patronus," James explained.
"An animagus can transform whenever they desire, however it is illegal to be an animagus without been registered with the Ministry of Magic," Sirius finished off for James.
"Thank you boys, that is correct, and yes illegal to be an Animagus without been registered. However we have a lot of Unregistered Animagi amongst the wizarding world, which the Ministry are cracking down on," McGonagall explained.
"Now to become an Animagus takes a very skilled wizard and one who has become an Animagus does not need a wand to transform and may do so at will," McGonagall continued her explanation and showed us her own Animagus form as a demonstration.
"Professor is there a spell which can morph someone out of their Animagus form?" I questioned. "If there isn't can Animagus not be used to work with Auror's as spies?"
"Animagus, from what I've learnt are helpful to Auror's and do help them with spying. However yes, there is a spell to force someone out of their Animagus form. It is called the Homorphus Charm. Moving on," McGonagall cleared the chalk board.
"Conjuration," she underlined the word. "Rumour has it we already have someone who can perform this branch of Transfiguration if what Professor Merrythought tells me is true," her eyes met my own and I nodded.
She was speaking of the Incendio and Incarcerous spell I used to conjure fire during DADA. When my parents learned I would be taking Advances Transfiguration they knew a lot of my sixth year would be around Conjuration so began the basics of teachings with me.
"Conjuration is an advanced magic, thus you have waited until this advanced class the learn it. Can anyone explain to me the art of Conjuration?"
I raised my hand, looking around to see nobody else had. McGonagall gave me a smile and gestured for me to stand and explain.
"Conjuration is when an object or animal is Transfigured from thin are. Some objects and spells are easier to conjure than others, however a lot are very difficult and need concentration to conjure. Spells such as conjuring the elements are easier as we learnt through our fifth year when we touched the subject vaguely. However conjuring living things are by far the hardest thing to do."
"Conjuration," McGonagall gave me the cue to sit again. "You have all touched upon within your first five years for expample the lumos spell many of you learnt in your second year is the most simple form of Conjuration. The Incendio spell that a lot of you are learning and have used correctly," her eyes again landed on myself. "Is a simple step up from the light summoning spell. Once each of you has learnt to summon each element we will move onto bigger and better things."
Again, once she'd finished talking she went onto the other four subjects we'd be touching in these two years and finally set us more homework to write a detailed essay on each of the six subjects.
Lunch finally arrived and it was time I'd go see Streak, which would become my usual routine. Before I even got to the Great Hall, all four of the Marauders where waiting outside with numerous foods which were stuffed into my bag, including a full chicken.
I eyes James curiously as the chicken was stuffed in my bag but didn't mention it and went to get myself some simple lunch.
"Why did you stick up for Potter and Black in Potions?" Lily was instantly attacking me as I took my seat with the girls to grab some simple lunch, the Marauders sitting down shortly after.
"Because I didn't want Gryffindor losing points with them getting two detentions. They two detentions would overlap and they'd have to miss one, thus making Gryffindor house lose points," I lied as convincingly as I could, biting into some sandwiches.
"You're lucky you're in the Slug Club," Lily sighed. "Don't do it again okay? I don't want to be torn between my duties as a prefect and my duties as a friend to you."
"No worries Lily, anyway got to dash," I picked up a few bits more to eat, some which I'd give to Streak and walked out of the Great Hall, vaguely aware of Sirius following me out.
During my visits to Streak I became vaguely aware that Sirius wouldn't pass up an opportunity to see the dragon, which I had to admit did make me feel proud that I had such a creature. Sirius had shocked me that he had begun learning into magical creatures.
"Lupey,Lily and Winget suspect you," Sirius caught up with me as I headed out of the building, making a beeline towards the Forbidden Forest, vaguely aware that people began staring at us, mainly girls that had begun staring at us, obviously jealous that they weren't the one walking with Sirius.
"Well you're the one who asked me not to tell them so I didn't," I shrugged, passing the first few trees into the Forbidden Forest.
Sirius didn't say any more, neither did I, we just walked the familiar path towards where Streak was kept. Deep in the forest, away from where curious students would wonder.
"Streak!" I called, walking into the clearing, glancing around the area, not seeing the familiar red dragon.
I felt myself been pushed forward from behind and felt a few baby claws dig into my back as I hit the floor and felt Streak's familiar mouth on my head. I sighed as Sirius began laughing.
"You're playful today Streak," I commented, lifting the hatchling into my arms and observing his growth which was very clear. "Go say hi to Padfoot," I put the dragon down and pointed towards Sirius.
The dragon went running on all fours, opening his wings clumsily as he did so and jumped up at Sirius's legs.
"Why didn't Prongs come?" I quizzed, taking a seat and pulling the food out my bag which Streak smelt straight away and came running over, tearing his teeth through the chicken instantly.
"He wanted to spend some time with Lily," Sirius replied. "He wants to stop her hating him. Mooney is helping Wormtail with his homework and getting his out the way today."
I heard movement in the woods from where Sirius and I had entered and instantly our attention went to where James was making his way through the trees.
"Prongs?" We both questioned as James made his appearance known. "I thought you were spending some time with Lily," Sirius continued.
"Umm..." James looked hesitant and ruffled his hair with a sigh. "Well I was kinda bullied into..." he moved aside and revealed Lily and Kali stood glancing and Sirius and I, totally ignoring Streak who had backed up into the hole in the base of the tree.
"So, you two are dating?" Kali smiled happily.
"WHAT!" I screamed, jumping up instantly, but my loud roar has startled Streak and he made a grunting noise. "No Kali I'm not!"
"Then what-" Kali's questioned was cut short as I picked up Streak and showed him to Kali and Lily.
Both girls were silent at the baby dragon I'd brought out. "Since you're too curious for your own good this is what we have here actually. A gift that I was given at the start of year."
"Kiara I have to tell Dumbledore," Lily stared at the dragon. "A dragon cannot be kept on school grounds."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Kali demanded once Lily had stopped talking.
"Because we knew Lily would tell a teacher and you Winget wouldn't keep your mouth shut about it if Lily asked," Sirius explained.
"I'm sorry Kiara I have to tell, I can't let a dragon endanger Hogwarts," Lily definitely looked unhappy about it.
I clutched Streak closer to myself and held back some tears that formed in my eyes. I had no idea what would happen when Lily told...
"There's still time left before lunch, you may as well bring him with you," Lily held her words as strong as she could.
I could see where she was coming from and didn't hold it against her. After all a dragon was a creature that had been seen as untameable and dangerous. Lily was looking out for the Hogwarts students and felt, as a prefect it was her place to tell Dumbledore.
"Don't worry Lupey I'm sure Dumbledore won't harm Streak," Sirius reasoned, tickling Streak under its chin, a puff of smoke emitting from Streak's nostrils as he did.
"I can see now why you didn't want anyone else knowing," I blinked back some tears and stroked down Streak, keeping him calm as he looked around at the area we were taking him.
"Lupey don't worry, look I promise you Streak won't be taken away okay?" Sirius put a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"I'm more worried about him dying," I replied shortly and James came beside me, giving me a warm smile.
"Dumbledore won't kill him," James reasoned.
"Kiara you okay?" Kali also realised Sirius and I had fallen behind with Streak and now James.
I remained silent the rest of the way as we caught up with Lily as exited the Forbidden Forest. Lessons where about to begin again but Lily said she'd get us excused from the start of the lesson as we had business.
Luckily enough for us then that not many students saw me carrying a dragon in my arms, which we hid the best we could and I continued hand feeding him along the way.
"Chocolate Frog," Lily spoke the password to Dumblebore's office and once the staircase revealed itself we headed up and Lily gave a knock on Dumbledore's office door.
It opened shortly after and we were met with Dumbledore feeding his Phoenix Fawks.
"Professor Dumbledore," Lily walked into his office and Dumbledore turned to us, his eyes instantly lying on Streak as he glanced past Lily.
"Ah, you come to me about the young hatchling," Dumbledore walked towards us and observed Streak nestled nicely in my arms, his eyes briefly catching with Sirius, who gave a smirk which I caught.
"Professor Dumbledore, please don't hold this against Kiara but she-"
"She has a dragon kept within the Forbidden Forest," Dumbledore finished her sentence, glancing down at the dragon. "A gift from Mr. Black if I recall correctly."
Lily turned to Sirius and gave him a disgusted glare and turned to me with an apologetic glance. I shrugged at her glance and kept Streak in check.
"Miss Evans I have nothing against Miss Gryffindor keeping her dragon in the forest. She has a fantastic gift of charming creatures beyond my own," Dumbledore showed me a large smile. "Fawks, although not as deadly as a dragon took myself a while to tame when I was your own ages. If Miss Gryffindor can tame him then what other great things can we expect from her?"
"He can stay then?" I knew my eyes shone with happiness as Dumbledore spoke those words and I was in disbelief that he'd allow this.
"He may, now I will excuse you all from your next lesson however not the rest of the afternoon," Dumbledore explained.
"Hey Lil don't feel guilty, you were only doing what you thought was right," I heard James comment from behind as we began the walk back to the Forbidden Forest with Streak.
"I know James," Lily replied and I shared a glance with Kali and Sirius as she called him for the first time by his first name.
"Lily get a grip Prongs is trying to make you like him whilst your feeling guilty love," I turned and showed James a smirk as he glared at me and Lily clicked to what was happening.
"Lupey that was not cool," Sirius shook his head as we reached the Forbidden Forest.
"Hey if she dates him, means I have to date don't it?" I shrugged.
"Selfish," Sirius shook his head.
"Oh I am hurt Padfoot, I'm very hurt," I would have been dramatic about the sentence but I still held Streak and didn't want to alarm the dragon in any way. "How did Dumbledore know about Streak?"
"No idea, I didn't tell him," Sirius responded with a shrug. "Dumbledore has his ways though, he knows everything."
"Does Remus know about Streak?" Kali questioned from her spot beside me, her eyes never leaving Streak.
"Yep, but nobody comes to see him without me," I responded shortly, giving Kali a side glance as she dodged past a tree.
Kali didn't seem bothered, but her eyes still never left the dragon. James still stayed some distance back from the three of us, trying to cheer up Lily who felt she'd let me down.
We got to the clearing and I finally put Streak down and he ran straight to the chicken and began chewing on the meat. I made a note that Streak did enjoy whole chickens, including their bones it seemed.
"Streak's scales are hardening and growing," Sirius observed with a sigh, ripping off some of his Hogwarts robe and pulling a water bottle out his bag. Kali and I shared a glance, wondering what the hell he was doing.
"Here," he passed me the ripped off part of his robe and the bottle of water.
I took the items and stared at him questionably. Did he want me to wash Streak?
Sirius sighed. "You care too much about animals and magical creatures," his tone was firm as he spoke and I gave him a curious glance. "You save no care for your own health and safety."
"Excuse me?" I raised an eyebrow curiously but he said nothing and simply wet the cloth.
"Black is right Kiara," Lily finally spoke to me, forgetting her previous upset meant and grabbed hold of my wrist. "That dragons scales have scraped your skin almost raw," she explained and I only just realised both my arms were red, and some parts bleeding.
"Hey I didn't know his scales would do that," I defended. "At such a young age too."
"Let me clean you up," Lily offered, taking the cloth and water bottle off Sirius and letting the water drip over my arms.
"Accio," she called and I let out a hiss as she padded the rough cloth against the open wounds.
Streak let out a baby growl and padded over when he heard me hiss.
"Hey I'm okay," I smiled to the dragon who regarded me curiously for a second then settled against my leg. "Streak these are my two friends, Kali and Lily," you pointed to each girl and Streak only paid the slightest attention.
"Well there goes the idea of you maybe been able to ride him," Sirius laughed. "Your legs would be raw!"
I didn't share his amusement, and only just realised the seriousness of dragons. It wasn't only their breath, but their scales also could prove a problem at times.
"We can make a saddle for him," I spoke seriously as some bandages came flying to Lily which I guessed she'd accioed here for my arms.
"A saddle?" Lily gasped, looking at Streak then up to me. "You seriously think you'd be able to ride on the back of a dragon?"
"Well why not?" I asked with a smirk, running my hand down Streaks spines on his back. "If when he's older he's okay with me I don't see no reason why I couldn't."
"You're crazy," Lily shook her head. "I'd listen to Black if I were you Ki, show more care for yourself! Having a dragon is dangerous enough, but trying to fly on the back of one...I'm scared to think how it will go."
"Well we'll see how it goes when Streak is ready for that," I shrugged. "He may even fly away from here when he can fly."
"Doubt it, he seems to like you," James watched Lily as she bandaged my arms, his gaze falling on Streak every now and then. "What breed of Dragon is he anyway?"
"Antipodean Opaleye," I replied instantly. "You can easily tell from his scales which come through at an early age. His eyes haven't developed yet but once they do they'll change from this yellow colour to multicoloured," I explained, watching Streak intently, knowing I was correct.
"How do you know all this?" Lily enquired, knowing I was smart but only now realising my actual intelligence with animals and magical creatures.
"Hogwarts, books and research of my own accord," I presented her with a wink. "Dragon's like Streak though are often found by muggled with their eggs. Antipodean Opaleye's rarely live in mountain ranges you see and their eggs can sometimes be easily found. It's sad really because when their eggs are taken by muggles they don't have the magic within them to keep the dragon alive thus the dragon dies within its egg and then the egg is put on display at those places muggles call museums, thinking they are ancient fossils."
"That's awful!" Kali shrieked, kneeling beside Streak, startling him momentarily but he soon calmed when he saw I at peace with her there.
"It's something I wish to try and stop when I leave Hogwarts, as well as becoming an Auror, however I have been thinking further," I turned to Lily. "You may not like what I plan to do if I prove successful with Streak."
"What?" Lily questioned in curiosity.
"If what has been said about these Death Eaters are true the Auror's have their work cut out for them and when we become Auror's and these are still at large I wish to tame Dragon's into doing my bidding and-"
"That's foolish!" Lily almost yelled. "Proving you can tame a Dragon from it been a hatchling means nothing! Out there...Dragons could be hundreds of years old, you couldn't possibly try to tame a wild one as so."
"Lily you underestimate Dragon's," I gave her a smile and picked Streak up in my recently bandaged arms. "My bond with Streak, if it grows we are able to speak together through telepathy if what I've read is true. It's how Dragon's themselves communicate," I explained. "If I can get a strong bond with Streak we'll share that same communication which begins developing at 5 months of age. I can use that to my advantage with other Dragon's."
"You're the expert I guess," Lily muttered in shock. I could tell she didn't like it but wouldn't argue her point of danger further due to my stubbornness and also the fact that I knew a lot more of the issue. "Anyway we should be getting back; I'm not missing my next lesson also."
I didn't want to leave Streak again so soon but I knew logic, plus I had Care For Magical Creatures next which I didn't want to miss. I let a sad sigh out and gave Streak a kiss. "We have to go now Streak," I explained, giving him a small smile.
Streak understood what I meant once I'd put him down and stood, picking up my bag and throwing out the rest of the food. Streak gave a low whining type sound and I felt your heart break for him. I didn't want to have to leave him, but lessons called.
"Aww he's sad," Kali bent down to Streak and smiled. "Kiara will be back don't worry," she gave him a smile and headed off with the rest of us.
Streak followed us just outside of the clearing, his whining sounding behind me. He stopped following as we exited the area Streak lived. I glanced behind at the sad looking dragon and showed him a small smile and gave a wave.
Silence followed as we headed back through the Forbidden Forest, silence which was eventually broke when we were at the edge of the forest by Lily who seemed to have been thinking about the subject a lot.
"You know Kiara, I think you will be able to communicate with Streak. If anyone can it's you," she gave me a warm smile.
"Thanks Lily, it means a lot," I was telling the truth also, that did mean a lot to me. Having my friends behind me on the matter made everything better for me. "Anyone have a free period last?"
"Me!" Sirius, James and Kali all spoke up.
"Good, that means you can all meet me and come see Hagrid with me about a saddle for a Dragon," I explained, having thought a lot about the saddle for Streak before the silence broke.
"Well come on Kal we got Herbology," Lily said her bye's and headed off.
James and Sirius instantly turned to me after sharing a glance and facing me with smirks on their faces. I groaned, knowing exactly what they'd say.
"Looks like a certain miss 'I-want-no-boyfriend' will be dating soon," James taunted.
"Just because you were able to hold a conversation with her doesn't mean she'll fall at her feet to you," I explained.
"You just wait and see, your little Dragon will be the thing to bring us together I just know it," James was in dream land right then and I just sighed.
"Let's see how many ask you out when you'll be looking," Sirius laughed.
"Let's see," I thought about. "Everyone whose asked me prior to this?" I quizzed with a sigh. "Anyway Prongs you should go to lessons."
"Nah I got a free period to plan how Lily and I will get together," he showed me a cheesy grin which earned him another sigh from me. "Since someone ditched me for a stupid lesson."
"Hey! You ditched me to take History of Magic with Lily!" Sirius instantly interjected.
"Come on Padfoot, you're going to make me late for Care For Magical Creatures," I growled, taking his wrist and beginning to drag him away.
"No! Don't take me from my lover!" Sirius exclaimed dramatically, reaching out for James as he did so, halting my progress.
"Stop been complicated!" I yelled, getting annoyed at him pretty quickly.
"It's okay Padfood, you're getting taken away by Lupey! She's claiming you as her new lover!" James yelled back.
"I AM NOT!" I roared, dropping Sirius' wrist and turning on James with a red face. "Prick," I stated before stomping off.
"I think you annoyed her," I heard Sirius laugh then a quick bye exchange between the two of them before Sirius ran to catch me up.