The Badger Problem

Character(s): Wayne Hopkins, Minerva McGonagall, Leanne, Hannah Abbott & Megan Jones

"Merlin's name, boy!" Professor McGonagall roared at Wayne, "How in the world did you do this?"

Keeping his head down, Wayne looked out of the corner of his eye at the other students in the classroom. Practically everyone was staring at them! Biting the inside of his cheek, Wayne couldn't find an answer.

"Well, Mister Hopkins?" the professor demanded.

Lifting his gaze, the boy felt his lip begin to tremble at the anger he saw in the set of the woman's jaw and quirk of her brows. "I didn't-" stoping, he bit back the whimper building in the back of his throat and whispered, "It was an accident."

Eyes a bit wild, McGonagall growled, "I should hope so! There's absolutely nothing Miss Jones could have done to deserve this!"

Somewhere from behind them, Wayne heard Leanne and Hannah giggle as one stage-whispered, "The professor's obviously never been kept up by her sleep-talking then!"

Wayne was sure the outrage on McGonagall's face mirrored his own as they both turned their heads to yell at the girls.

"Belt up, you slags!"

"Ten points from Hufflepuff!"

Their shouts may have been simultaneous, but McGonagall was far too used to splitting her attention between students to have not heard his insult. "Mister Hopkins!" she rebuked, "Another five points from Hufflepuff for vulgar name-calling!"

Crossing his arms, the boy sank into his seat and blew out his cheeks. After a beat, he glanced to Megan. For a badger in the middle of a classroom, she looked quite happy. Though, that was probably because Megan was eating the muffin that she had put in her satchel for a snack later. Sighing, he knew that the badger's blissfulness wouldn't last once she was a witch again. "You can fix her, right, Professor?" he asked in a small voice.

McGonagall's face softened ever so slightly. "Yes, Mister Hopkins. While a little tricky, the counter is much easier to preform than the actual spell," she explained.

Relaxing some, Wayne stood up. "Good. And, erm, I think I should go for a...walk. Megan will be awfully upset when she turns back and figures out I did it because I wasn't watching where I was pointing my wand."

"Alright," Professor McGonagall agreed with a twitch of her lips. "Just note, young man, if Miss Jones really wants to give it to you for what you've done, she'll find a way."

Shoulders slumping, Wayne nodded his head. "Oh, I know," he replied. "But she has a tendency to react…physically. I figure you'll have to take more points from Hufflepuff if she gives me a black eye."

This caused the professor's upturned lips to turn into a poorly suppressed smirk. "You are quite right, Mister Hopkins, I would have to take points as we do not condone physical violence for any reason at Hogwarts. So, young man, I suggest you hurry because I will be countering the spell in just a moment."

Wayne did not need to be told twice. Jumping from his seat, he raced out of the classroom. Just in time too, he noted when an enraged shriek came from the Transfiguration classroom.

Hopefully, when he went to lunch, Megan wouldn't want to deck him anymore. Though, he was sure no matter what happened, she'd be giving him quite the earful.

I hope this was amusing overall and that you enjoyed it :)

Thanks for reading and please review, you guys!