A/N: …and cue the angry readers. I'm rather sorry I've been a loser, but to be perfectly blunt and honest, I was distracted with another story I'm writing on Harry Potter FanFiction and I was lacking inspiration for my dear little Memory. I was also terribly busy with my summer job, but that's another story. So after a large amount of character study for Memory Harrison, I have deemed that she was shifting in the Mary-Sue direction a little too much for my liking and I am going to have to explain, er, more so than usual. So forgive me if the writing seems different, but I'm just trying to get a grounding on her character. Thanks much!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Chapter Two: Horace the Unicorn

"Honestly, it was like she was trying to stare into my head. The woman's a nutter, I tell you!" Lee exclaimed as we walked down the hallway from Divination.

Personally, I found the subject rather fascinating, but I was sure that none of it could ever possibly be true.

"None the less, you shouldn't really have laughed at her," I added. "I mean, she seemed nice. Just a bit, er, off."

Lee snorted. "Yeah. A bit. Hey! Did I mention McGonagall asked me if I wanted to be commentator for Quidditch this year?"

I shook my head. "Must've slipped your mind while you were rolling around in the train."

Lee rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Are you trying out again this season?"

"No, I rather doubt it. I mean, I'm content enough watching Fred and George hit each other 'accidentally'," I answered.

I might have failed to mention that I also preferred to watch Cedric during matches from the stand.

That boy is so beautiful.

Ahem.

"I guess, anyway, I've got History of Magic, so I'll see you at lunch," Lee said, leaving me alone in the hall from the Divination 'classroom', although by my definition, a classroom must have a door that does not include a ladder.

I sighed and replaced my Divination book in my school bag, which was weighted down with the various books that signaled the school year had in fact begun.

I was tempted to take out my Care of Magical Creatures book just to see what we might be covering, but more so I fancied just enjoying to small break for my brain, aching from trying to find some sense in the last subject.

"Oi! Memory!"

I turned around to see Fred running after me. I slowed my pace so he could catch up and looked at him strangely.

"I do believe you've forgotten George," I pointed out to Fred, who gave a dry chuckle in response.

"More like the git decided to take History of Magic," said Fred as we wandered towards the grounds. "He didn't even tell me!"

"Maybe he wants to be independent for once. You two are always together. Besides, am I not good enough company?" I asked teasingly.

Fred blushed.

Wait.

Hold the presses, stop the train, freeze, hold up, Fred Weasley just blushed at something I just said.

I'm confused.

"No, it's just that he's more fun," Fred answered, recovering to his normal color, "And you seem to always get us in trouble."

"I do not," I said indignantly. "You just happen to be with me when Lady Luck decides to step out to use the loo. It's not my fault."

"Sure it's not," Fred mumbled as we reached the gathering that I guessed was Care of Magical Creatures class.

"…My name is Professor Kettleburn, and I will be your teacher for this year. I am very flattered that you fine students have decided to venture into the adventure that is Care of Magical Creatures and I do hope we will get along."

It was stunning to me that there was no age limit on teaching a subject like this.

Professor Kettleburn had to be at least 80, if not older. He had a very long and prominent nose that set off the large amount of scars on his face. But what was most prominent about him was the fact that the old man was missing his left hand.

What kind of class was this?

"Now, I will be assigning you all partners for the semester, so if you don't get along you'll be able to switch at term, and then, most likely, a select unlikely few will still be stuck with people they don't much care for. But that is life, I suppose," Kettleburn said, moving over to a small shed in the clearing.

"A chocolate frog says that I'll get paired with someone like Zenith," I whispered to Fred, who snorted in return.

Rodger Zenith was most likely the dumbest person in our year. In addition to being in Slytherin, he had mastered the bare minimum of spells and it was clear that the only thing even keeping him in school was the influence of his parents.

"You're on." Fred held out his hand for me to shake and I took it just as his name was called.

"Fred Weasley, you will be paired with, ah, here we are, Rodger Zenith," Kettleburn said pleasantly, looking up from his class list.

I could barely contain myself as Fred reluctantly went to the front of the class to join Rodger, who I could swear had been picking his nose.

"Now Alicia Spinnet, you will be paired with, let's see, Maria Smith, very well, that's it, and finally, Cedric Diggory, you will be with Memory Harrison. Right then, please find your partner and open your books to page 22."

I think luck has come back from the facilities and is hopefully staying with me this year, because Merlin knows I need it.

"So not all bad, right?" Someone said beside me.

I saw Cedric and grinned. "Definitely not," I agreed, opening my book.

The page was illustrated with several diagrams of a unicorn, by the looks of it.

"And here I was thinking they were a myth," I said to Cedric, who chuckled.

"No, certainly not. But sadly they do not leave rainbows wherever they go and apparently that horn is capable of a quite nasty skewering," Cedric said lightheartedly.

I shrugged. "As long as it doesn't feel the need to go after me, I'm sure I'll live."

"Now, class, look over here! This is Horace, our own resident unicorn. Isn't he just lovely? Now who would like to give him a pet?" Kettleburn asked, facing the class.

Behind him was what looked much like a horse, but with more of a magical shimmering quality that made me realize that this horse was not, in fact, what it seemed.

"Professor, I think Memory would love to give it a pet!" Fred called.

Ah, remind me to kill him later.

Great, thanks.

"Lovely! Miss Harrison, if you would be so kind as to step up."

I gulped and with a nod from Cedric pushed through the crowd to Professor Kettleburn, who gesture to, erm, Horace, with what was left of his left arm.

"Now, just approach him very slowly, there, that's it, and give him a pet," Kettleburn said as I inched my way closer to the beast.

As I was about to stroke it's mane, the thing suddenly let out a snort and moved away.

I did as well, but it seemed as if Horace was following me, but not in the way that one would hope a unicorn would follow them.

I don't think I've ever run faster in my life.

After several minutes of running, screaming my brains out, and climbing onto the nearest wall, Professor Kettleburn finally managed to get the crazed unicorn under control.

"Now, er, that can sometimes happen! Memory, may I ask if you are wearing any perfume?" Kettlburn said rather calmly for a man who just calmed a rampaging unicorn.

I swallowed and nodded. "Lavender scented, yes."

Kettleburn nodded his head. "Yes, I'm afraid that's it. You see, unicorns are terribly sensitive to some scents. I suppose I should have warned you, yes?"

I saw Fred out of the corner of my eye on the ground laughing.

Oh how I would love to wipe that grin off his face.

"Yeah, that would have been helpful," I managed to squeak.

Kettleburn nodded. "Now, how about coming down from the wall, yeah?"

I shook my head.

"I'm fine up here, thanks."

No way I was getting within a kilometer of that thing ever again.

END NOTES

Okay, so how was it? Horrible? Terrible? Mediocre? Good? Great? Bloody Fantastic? Please, let me know in a review!

Question for You: Do you think that Memory and Harry should get along? What about Ron? And Hermione?

Review Responses:

VampireFreak545: Thanks, that's what I've been trying to do, hopefully this chapter has more content in it!

Thanks to Kris 77, Hunter the son of Sirius, Xarii, XxRikela-ChanxX, and VampireFreak545 for reviewing!

And once again, I apologize for the ridiculously long wait for an update. I really thought that I was going to get this posted before I left for vacation, and then I forgot and just...gah. Thank you for being patient.

Thanks for reading!

-Valfish