Hermione's favourite class had become Care of Magical Creatures. She enjoyed having Dumbledore as a teacher, and he was much better than Hagrid. She smiled as she walked to the class, humming random songs as she walked along. Dumbledore always had fascinating new creatures to learn about. She walked to the tables set up outside and took a seat at an empty one.
"Is this seat taken?" she heard someone ask. Hermione did not answer Tom, and he took it as a no. Tom sat next to her while Lucius and Severus sat across from her. She turned her head so she would not have to face them and waited for Dumbledore to arrive. Dumbledore walked in ten minutes later with a cage in hand.
"Today, class, we will be learning about Fukal Fae," Dumbledore said and let the beautiful creatures out of the cage, distributing one to each table, which held only four people. Hermione picked it up.
"Aren't you cute!" she said to the little faerie in her hand.
"Let me see that thing," Tom said. He reached over to take it from Hermione, but it grew and changed a bit, then it bit Tom's hand. "OW! You stupid little..."
"Tom!" Hermione yelled and took the creature away from him, which returned to its normal state.
"Fukal Fae appear to be beautiful and gentle creatures, but can be extremely mean and vicious, Tom has already experienced that," Dumbledore paused and looked at Tom. "They tend to attach to one person, and only that person can control it. Now, we will work on a debate. The people at your table are the people you will be working with. The person sitting next to you is your partner. You and your partner will have to debate against the people sitting across from you. You have to decide who will be pro, and who will be con. The debate is, 'Fukal Fae are gentle creatures.' This assignment is due in one month, and your partner is your partner for the year. I expect the best from all of you."
"Arg! This is not fair," Hermione muttered into her arms as she put her head down onto the table.
"We are con," Tom said.
"NO WE AREN'T!" Hermione said. "We are pro."
"No, we are con, Hermione," Tom said.
"No, we are PRO, Tom. Lucius and Severus are con, okay?" Hermione sent the three a death glare.
"Fine, fine, we are pro then!" Tom said in retreat.
"Thank you," Hermione said and put down the fae. Severus and Lucius had no problems handling the Fukal Fae.
"Also, you need to take care of this fae for the next month," Dumbledore announced after people stopped talking.
"Wicked!" Hermione exclaimed and took the fae from Lucius. "We need to name her."
"How about Claudia?" Severus suggested.
"What kind of a name is that? Ick. . . I'd never want to be called Claudia," Hermione protested.
"Sarah?"
"No," Hermione said.
"You know, your name should have been Katerina," Lucius muttered.
"How about Bianca?" Hermione suggested.
"Sure," Lucius said.
"Fine with me," Severus said. The three looked at Tom.
"What? Oh, yea, fine, Bianca," Tom said.
"Good!" Hermione exclaimed. "Now, I already know a lot about Fukal Fae, and they are quite easy to take care of, they don't require much except one meal of vegetables a day and a nice little place to live."
"Seems easy enough," Severus said.
"I suggest you don't go near it Tom," Hermione said as Tom went to pick up the Fae.
"Why not?" he asked.
"It already hates you, best not go and make matters worse for yourself."
"These damn creatures have a problem with me."
"I don't blame them," Hermione said and picked up the Fae.
"Class is dismissed!" they heard Dumbledore exclaim. Hermione slung her bag over her shoulder.
"I'll take the fae for now, okay?" Hermione asked.
"Sure. . ." Tom muttered.
"Great!" Hermione exclaimed and ran ahead of them to their next class.