CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: YEAR THREE BEGINS
The summer holidays were soon over and I was once again ready to return to Hogwarts, but I would not be returning with the other students. Paranoid that Black would try to attack me on the train, my family and the Ministry both agreed that it would be safer for me to Floo to Hogwarts and wait there with Grandfather, until the rest of the school arrived. They all agreed that Black would not be stupid enough to attack me while I was with Grandfather.
This, of course, put me in a foul mood. I deemed this protection unnecessary. I didn't think that Black would be able to sneak onto the train, but no one was willing to take the risk. That meant I had to spend the entire day, at Hogwarts, waiting for my friends to arrive. I knew that they would be worried about me not turning up. It didn't cross my mind to send them an owl.
It wasn't all bad, though, as I was able to see some of the preparation the teachers did before we arrived, and I even got to listen in to their conversations. I even participated in a few.
As night fell, Grandmother led me into the Great Hall, where I was able to have the first choice of seat, before she hurried off to meet the first years. The other teachers had already taken their seats. Most of them commented on how awkward and lonely I looked sitting there waiting for my friends.
As the first students began to enter the hall, most of them looked at me, wondering how I got to Hogwarts so fast. Some wondered if I had flown another car to school. Thankfully, Ron and Hermione were able to find me in the crowd. They hurried over and sat either side of me.
'Where have you been?' Hermione demanded. 'We've been so worried!'
'I thought you might have been,' I said apologetically. 'I would have written to you, telling you that I wouldn't be on the train, but it slipped my mind.'
'So why weren't you on the train?' Ron inquired.
'The teachers and Ministry thought that it would be safer this year if I Flooed to Hogwarts and stayed here where they could keep an eye on me,' I replied with a slight edge to my voice.
'Why would they think that?'
Speaking quietly, to avoid being over heard through the racket around us, I told them about Sirius Black being my godfather and how he sold out my family to Uncle Tom. I then told them about how the Ministry thinks that he has escaped Azkaban to murder me.
Ron and Hermione were speechless. After all, how would one react to learning that a murder was after your best friend?
'Harry, you mustn't do anything dangerous this year,' Hermione managed to say eventually. Her eyes were full of worry. 'You can't go looking for trouble –'
'Hermione, you should know better than anyone that trouble usually finds me,' I interrupted impatiently. I had already had this conversation with my family, on separate occasions. I didn't need to have this lecture again. 'Anyway, it's not like I'm going to go out looking for Black. I have no wish to die just yet.'
Before Hermione could reply, the Great Halls doors opened and the new first year students appeared. I watched as they followed Grandmother to the front of the hall, wondering if I had looked as nervous as most of them looked now. One boy looked like he was about to throw up.
I then watched as Grandmother revealed the tattered Sorting Hat. The Hat then sung one of his traditional songs, before falling silent.
'Now when I call your name, you shall come forth, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be Sorted into your Houses,' Grandmother announced before looking down at the list of names she had in her hand.
Once the Sorting ceremony was complete, Grandmother removed the Sorting Hat and three-legged stool from the Hall. As she took her seat at the Teachers' Table, Grandfather got to his feet to address the silent hall.
'To all the newcomers, welcome,' he began, 'and to the rest, welcome back to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we all become befuddled in your wonderful feast, I have a few notices I wish to announce. Mr Filch has asked me to remind you, that there is to be no magic in the corridors and to familiarise yourself with all the forbidden items –'
'Yeah, that way you have a better chance to annoy him,' George sniggered to Fred and Lee.
'Those wishing to try out for their Quidditch House Team should see their Heads of Houses,' Grandfather continued. 'I am pleased to announce that we have two changes in staff, this year. I am pleased to welcome the appointment of Professor Lupin, who has kindly agreed to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts.'
Lupin got to his feet and acknowledged the polite applause. I noticed that Uncle Severus was giving him dark looks. Ron also noticed.
'Snape doesn't seem to like Professor Lupin,' he commented.
'Probably because he didn't get the post as Defence teacher again,' Seamus answered. He was sitting across from Ron. 'I have to admit, however, that he seems to dislike him even more than he did Quirrell and Lockhart.'
I stared at Lupin's tired face. I had accidently overheard Uncle Severus informing Grandfather how he didn't trust the appointment of Lupin, but I never found out why as Grandfather had conveniently interrupted my uncle before he could state the reason. He looked trustworthy to me.
I turned my attention back to Grandfather as he began to speak once more.
'I am sorry to inform you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, as decided to retire,' he said. 'Fortunately, his place will be filled by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid.'
Ron, Hermione and I all cheered loudly to this announcement. We couldn't think of anyone who would be better for the job. We only hoped that he wouldn't reintroduce us to Fluffy or Aragog.
Once the cheers had subsided, Grandfather became serious as he turned to a grim topic.
'On a more serious matter, by now most of you would know that Hogwarts will be playing host to the Dementors of Azkaban, until Sirius Black has been capture,' Grandfather said sternly. 'While I have been assured on countless occasions that their presence will not disrupt our day to day activities, I cannot express how serious it is not to give them a reason to harm you. They will not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one your gets in their way. It is for this reason, knew rules have been put in place and I implore you that no one is to leave the school without permission. Dementors are not fooled by tricks and disguises… or even invisibility cloaks.'
Grandfather gave me a look and I rolled my eyes with a groan. I could not believe they were still lecturing me. Okay, so I had gotten into dangerous, near death situations over the last two years, but that didn't mean it was going to happen again, right? After all, third time is the charm for staying out of trouble, is it not?
When the feast appeared, everyone started talking at once and began to tuck into the delicious Hogwarts food.
'I, for one, will definitely be staying away from the Dementors,' Ron said as he piled up his plate. 'That Dementor on the train was bad enough.'
'There was a Dementor on the train?' I looked up sharply. 'What was it doing there?'
'It was searching the train for Black,' Hermione answered, seeing as Ron now had his mouth full of food. 'They are horrible creatures! I felt as though I would never be happy again. I for one do not envy the prisoners of Azkaban having to deal with them all the time.'
'Yeah, but they deserve it,' said Ron, after swallowing a mouthful of food. 'We haven't done anything wrong, so why should we be subjected to their unwanted presence?'
'Well, it is for our own good, though I think they are here to secretly protect Harry,' replied Hermione, before changing the subject to something a little less depressing.
-THE UNMASKED MYSTERY-
The next morning, Ron, Hermione and I had our first Divination lesson. While Ron was indifferent about the class, Hermione was sceptical, which made me wonder why she even bothered taking the class. However, I was secretly excited. I would finally be learning about the ability I had inherited from Gran.
When the class began, Professor Trelawney, the Divination teacher, introduced herself and informed us that if we did not possess the all Seeing Eye, then she wasn't likely to be able to teach us much. She also informed us that books wouldn't get us far in this subject. Hermione was horrified by this piece of information. She then discussed the topics we would be learning. This term we would be learning the art of reading tea leaves, which we began to do immediately.
Trelawney told us to get a mug and make ourselves a cup of tea. We were then to drink the tea. Once the dregs remained, we were to swirl them around the cup three times with our left hands, before turning it upside down on its saucer until the last dregs of tea had drained away. Once this was done, we had to hand the cup to our partner to interpret.
Ron and I did as she asked. We looked down at each other's cups.
'You going first, or am I?' I asked Ron.
'You go first.' Ron didn't even hesitate with his answer.
Snorting, I began to interpret his tea leaves, but I saw nothing. All I saw was the tea leaves.
'All I see is the tea leaves,' I said bluntly. Maybe my talent wasn't in reading tea leaves. Maybe all I had were visions.
'You Inner Eye needs testing,' Ron said teasingly. 'Okay, my turn.'
He turned his attention to my cup, looking serious. I nearly started laughing at the look. I had never seen him so serious with a class activity before.
'Well, you got a wonky cross,' Ron said eventually, before consulting his textbook. 'That means "trials and suffering" and that there could be the sun, which means "happiness". So you're going to suffer, but you're going to be happy about it.'
'Why would I be happy about suffering?' I laughed.
'Would you like me to ask the cup for the answer?' Ron asked innocently.
I snorted loudly.
'A little less laughing, boys, and more work,' Trelawney said disapprovingly.
'Sorry, Professor, but apparently I'm going to "suffer and be happy about it"!' I started laughing again.
'Give me the cup.' Trelawney took the cup of Ron. The entire class stopped to watch her.
'The falcon,' she said eventually, 'my dear, you have a deadly enemy.'
You think? I thought sarcastically. You didn't need to be a seer to know about my relationship with Uncle Tom.
'The Skull… danger in your path…'
My Valkyrie instincts picked up to this piece of information, though I knew my family wouldn't be too happy about it.
Trelawney turned the cup, screamed, and dropped the cup, breaking it. I looked at her sharply.
'My dear,' she gasped, 'you have… the Grim.'
I stared at her blankly.
'The what now?' I asked.
'The Grim, child, the Grim,' Trelawney said, shocked that I didn't know what she was talking about. 'It is an omen of death, taking on the shape of a big, black dog.'
Everyone looked at me, eyes wide.
I didn't know how to take this piece of information. While I knew that Divination was real, due to firsthand experience, I was a little sceptical about having a death omen after me. Surely a big, black dog could have another meaning behind it. Maybe I was going to get a pet dog that was big and black?
Trelawney then dismissed the class and we made our way to Transfiguration where Grandmother planned on teaching us about Animagi – the ability to change into a particular animal. I, of course, already knew about Animagi as I had witnessed Grandmother transforming into a cat on the holidays and had immediately started asking her questions. It was for this reason that I didn't bother paying much attention to her. Little did I know, practically no one was paying her any attention. Something Grandmother immediately demanded an answer on. It was no surprise when Hermione answered, informing her that we had just had our first Divination lesson. Understanding immediately crossed her face.
Apparently, Trelawney predicted that one student every year would die, but no one ever had. While she didn't say it out loud, we could tell that she thought that Trelawney was a fraud.
After Transfiguration, we went down to the Great Hall and had lunch, before heading to Hagrid's Hut for our first Care of Magical Creatures lesson. My friends and I were all excited to see what Hagrid had prepared for us, though we were slightly nervous too. Hagrid did have a different definition of "dangerous creatures" to everyone else.
Once the class was outside Hagrid's cabin, Hagrid lead us into a small paddock, on the edge of the forest, containing a creature I had never seen before. It had the body, hind legs, and tail of a horse, but the front legs, wings, and head of a giant eagle.
'Hagrid, what is that?' Ron asked in awe.
'That, Ron, is a Hippogriff,' Hagrid explained. 'The first thing yeh gotta know about hippogriffs is they're proud creatures, easily offended. You don't want to insult a hippogriff, for it may be the last thing you ever do. Now, who wants to come and say hello?'
Hagrid looked expectedly around at the class, and when no one volunteered, I did. I had faced trolls, giant spiders, and a basilisk, so why should a hippogriff scare me, especially when Hagrid was there?
'Well done, Harry,' Hagrid said approvingly as I slowly approached him and the hippogriff. 'Now, you have to let him make the first move. So, step up and give him a nice bow, then you wait and see if Buckbeak bows back. If he does, you can go and touch him.'
'And if he doesn't?' I asked.
'Back up quick.'
I nodded my understanding. Once I was a necessary distance away, I gave Buckbeak a bow, looking curiously up at him. He turned his orange eyes upon me and snapped its beak angrily.
'Back off, Harry, back off!' Hagrid said immediately.
I did as he ordered, but still the hippogriff did not bow.
Hagrid looked worried.
'I think you should join the others, Harry,' Hagrid said, frowning at the hippogriff.
'Why isn't it bowing?' asked Ron.
'It would seem as though Buckbeak doesn't find Harry trustworthy,' Hagrid said thoughtfully. 'This can occur for numerous reasons, such as with wizards wearing disguises.'
I now knew why Buckbeak wouldn't bow. It was because I wasn't in my true form. He could somehow sense that there was something different about me.
Knowing that the hippogriff wouldn't be bowing to me any time soon, I joined my classmates feeling slightly embarrassed. This embarrassment increased when Buckbeak allowed all of my classmates, except for a couple Slytherins, to pat him. Heck, he even allowed Draco to pat him… at least that was until Draco insulted him.
'This is very easy,' he commented loudly, making sure I could hear him. 'I can't believe Potter wasn't able to do pat him. You're not dangerous at all, are you, you great ugly brute?' he added to Buckbeak, before screaming as Buckbeak screeched angrily and rearing. His talons then made a long deep gash on Draco's arm.
Hagrid immediately was by Draco's side, fighting off the hippogriff, before carrying Draco away to the Hospital Wing.
So far, my third year had definitely been interesting.
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Written: 2 June 2013
Updated: N/A
Beta: BETA WANTED
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT CLAIM OWNERSHIP OVER THE ORIGINAL COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL IN THIS STORY. THIS IS A NON-PROFIT FANDUB CREATED BY FANS, FOR FANS. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED, FAIR USE ONLY. I DO, HOWEVER, CLAIM SOME COPYRIGHT OVER HARRI SINCE SHE IS HALF BASED ON MY ORIGINAL VALKYRIE CHARACTER, PRINCESS HARRIETTA.
