I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year

Chapter Nine

Care of Magical Creatures - 2 Sept 1992

Harry stuffed his notes for Ancient Runes into his bag, then his textbook. He smiled to himself. This was going to be a very interesting class. Professor Bathsheba Babbling was an older woman with streaks of white through her red hair. She wore reading glasses that hung on a chain of silver around her neck, and she popped them on her nose whenever she consulted her notes, or wanted to glare at anyone. Harry also liked that the class was not crowded - only ten students.

He ran down the stairs to the Entrance Hall and met a few other students leaving the castle to go to Professor Hagrid's outdoor classroom. He met Draco who was glaring at his vicious The Monster Book of Monsters.

"This book ought to be banned!" griped Draco as his book snapped at him.

"Yeah," said Harry, "Mine chased me all over my room and nearly took my fingers off."

Draco gawped at Harry. "When?"

"Just after my birthday. I wanted to look at my new books. Things a bloody menace, my dad said." Harry dug out his book as they loped down the hill. "Hermione told me if you stroke the spine that'll tame the book."

Draco smiled wryly at mention of Hermione. "I won't get to see her until Potions. I had History of Magic this morning with Ron snoring behind me the whole time."

"He really slept?" asked Harry incredulously.

"Most of the class did," replied Draco. "I think Binns must have bored himself to death and just didn't stop lecturing."

"Was his lecture any good?" inquired Harry as he finally saw the rest of their class.

Draco shook his head. "I may transfer and read my father's history books instead."

"Well, I can vouch for Ancient Runes," enthused Harry. "They're really interesting and I had no idea that they are used as the basis for predictive spells, and in creating spells."

Draco's eyes widened, "Are you going to…"

"'Allo class!" Hagrid lumbered into the clearing. He smiled at Harry but gave Draco a reserved glance. Draco sighed. It was getting tiring all this prejudice against his House.

"AUGHH!" Neville cried out as his book attacked him in force. He fell to the ground. Everyone watched but Harry and Draco dove in to help him. They both got the angry book off the boy, and Draco sat on it to subdue it. Harry helped Neville up and checked him over.

"You okay, Neville?" asked Harry.

"Yeah, yeah. Just shaken. Thanks, Harry. You, too, Malfoy," Neville looked down at his book that was snarling and growling under Draco's seat.

"Longbottom," groused Draco, "I'd appreciate it if you got your book to settle down!"

"I don't know how!" protested Neville.

"s'real easy, Nev… uhm… Mr. Longbottom," interjected Hagrid. "Jus' stroke it's spine and it's yours."

Neville knelt down by Draco, held his hand out, and abruptly snatched it back as the book snapped at him. "Wizard up, Longbottom!" Draco barked sharply.

"I'm t-t-trying, Malfoy!" Neville held out his hand again, and then very quickly pet the spine of his textbook. It purred. Draco rolled off, snatched up his fallen book, and with his free hand he slapped at the dirt on his robes and trousers.

Harry slapped at dirt and straw on Neville's robes. "This is the part of magic I hate," growled Harry under his breath.

"Ten points to Gryffindor fer helpin' yer friend," announced Hagrid.

"Thanks, Harry," smiled Neville. Harry nodded to Hagrid but then glanced at his friend, Draco.

"Figures you'd get points… Potter," Draco muttered.

Harry turned sharply, "Professor Hagrid, sir?"

"Yeh, 'Arry?"

"Draco helped Neville, too. What about points for him?" he asked but there was a hard edge to his tone.

Hagrid glanced at the tow-headed Slytherin who looked back at Hagrid belligerently. "Erm… yeh… uhm five points to Slytherin, Mr. Malfoy."

Draco rolled his eyes and Harry's mouth dropped. "Why only five points, Hagrid?" he demanded.

Hagrid narrowed his eyes at the indignant wizard. "'ere now, 'Arry! I done give Slytherin points an' that's said an' done. Professor Snape'll 'ave my hide I give you a detention." His piece said Hagrid clapped his hands together. He chuckled nervously. "Well, looks like Nev's got his textbook under control so come on over here! Come along, now!"

Harry touched Draco's hand and whispered, "That's not right!"

"That's how it's been for centuries, Harry," sighed Draco. "Nobody but a Slytherin likes another Slytherin." He turned away from Harry and followed the rest of the class.

Harry's lips thinned in annoyance. He had hoped that with Professor Dumbledore retired, Voldy absolutely dead, and Professor Snape having adopted him that this unfair treatment towards Slytherin had ended. It obviously had not. With a huff he joined the rest of the class.

The Care of Magical Creatures Class made their way to a paddock in which there was a low tree hugged by a creature almost invisible against the leaves surrounding it. It was green but it's fur shimmered according to the colour of the leaves and branches around it. The creature was the shape of a monkey and about as small as a Muggle Rhesus Monkey. The eyes were bigger - more like a sloth - and were a deep chocolate. The oddest thing was what appeared to be a blemish on its forehead that was currently a lighter colour than its fur.

"What is it?" asked Harry as he peered at the creature who stretched out an arm and clutched its fingers towards the boy.

"This, class, be a Clabbert. Gen'rally gentle but they bite an' have a venom that'll cause hallucinations for jus' long enough for them to get away. Now lookit that patch on 'is forehead. It's a warnin' signal that'll turn red if'n he's worried about ya. C'mere, 'Arry." Hagrid gestured to Harry who hesitated then walked forward. "Go on in and go up to 'im, 'Arry."

Harry opened the gate to the paddock and stepped inside. He peered at the monkey… er… Clabbert. Slowly its brown eyes blinked at him and it turned its head sideways as if to study the young wizard.

"Hi," said Harry tentatively. "I'm Harry." He took a few steps closer then paused. The clabbert plucked a leaf off of the branch it was curled around and munched on it. Harry took that as a sign of trust and so he stepped closer. The animal stretched out its arm again but instead of clutching the fingers were all spread outward. Harry stretched his own arm out, and then gave the small creature his index finger. The clabbert grasped it. Harry smiled and the clabbert squeaked at him.

"Verruh good, 'Arry! Ten points teh Gryffindor!" To Hagrid's chagrin Harry scowled at him, then walked out of the paddock and to the rear of the class.

Harry sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall with Draco, Ron, and Hermione. One elbow was on the table and his chin was plopped on his hand. He was frowning and not really paying any attention to his lunch.

"Harry? Harry!" Hermione broke through his silence. "What's bothering you, Harry?"

"Five points," he grumbled.

Hermione's brow wrinkled. "What?"

He lifted his chin off his hand and removed his elbow from the table. He glared at Hermione. "Five points. In Care of Magical Creatures Class Neville's textbook attacked him. Me and Draco both helped get the book off him before it could take a chunk out of him. Draco sat on that stupid book while it was growling and snapping. We both helped Neville, and I got ten points but Hagrid didn't give any to Draco or even tell him thanks. When I mentioned it Hagrid gave him only five points."

Neville piped up, "Hagrid also threatened you with detention, Harry."

Harry's fist thumped on the surface of the table. "It's not fair, and it really makes me angry that Draco, Neville, and everyone doesn't just accept it but they expect it!"

"That's just how it is, Harry," said Ron. "Besides, it's not that big of a deal."

Draco said nothing but glared at Ron.

"Ron," sneered Harry, "it's wrong. There's bad people in every House just as there are good people. Do you still think Draco's bad because he's a Slytherin."

"That's not fair, Harry," grumped Ron. "Draco's dad was a Death Eater so that makes him doubly evil."

"Hey!" yelled Draco. "My father paid for his mistakes and he's now respected by society! Don't you dare say he's evil or that I am just because I'm his son!"

"My dad was a Death Eater, you pillock!" snapped Harry.

"Your dad… your real dad... was killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! So was your mum!" Ron slapped his fist on the table and nearly hit his spoon. He grimaced at Draco, and pointed, "Your insane aunt nearly killed Harry last year!"

Harry's green eyes flickered with anger. He stood up and leaned over the table to glare at Ron. "My DAD is Severus Snape! He is not a terrible person! But you are! You're judgemental and… and…"

Hermione helped out, "...prejudicial."

Harry paused. Then continued his rant, "Yeah, prejudicial! My DAD died for me because he cares… and he cares about every last one of his Slytherins including those kids whose parents were Death Eaters! He even cares about your stupid hide…" Harry pushed away from the table, threw down his fork (before he stuck it in Ron) and stomped out of the Great Hall.

Hermione watched Harry sadly, and then she whirled upon Ron with all of her righteous anger, "You need to get some common sense, and compassion, Ron."

Ron slapped his hands upon the table in frustration, "He's the one taking this all out of proportion, 'Mione! Merlin! It was five bloody points… nobody cares!"

"Harry does!" Hermione growled right back. "And it's not just a few points lost, Ron. You had to go and insult Slytherins, Mr. Malfoy, Draco, and even the one person loves just because you think… all Slytherins are evil." Hermione got up from the table, and tossed down her napkin. "You're not just prejudiced, Ron. You're rigid in the thinking you do - which isn't much, and you're thoughtless." She then ran out of the Great Hall after Harry.

"You're a bloody idiot, Weasel," snarled Draco as he also left the Great Hall.

a/n: The Clabbert is from Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling.