Thankfully the storm had worn out by next morning but there were still dull grey clouds in the sky when everyone went down for breakfast. Razor checked the timetable "We're outside most of today. Herbology with the Yagyu and than Care of Magical Creatures… Damn, we're still with the Raiju". Silver groaned when he saw what they had after lunch "Divination" "You should have given it up like me" Coral said as she buttered a slice of toast. Razor noticed "Eating again, are you?" "I've decided there are better things I could be doing" "And you were hungry". Coral gave him a scathing look "If you must know I've written a letter to Professor Locke to talk to him about the Marmolims". Razor changed from amused to horrified "You're going to criticise how the Headmaster runs the school?" "I just want to know what the situation is". Before they could argue further the post arrived. Antione as usual had some of the stuff he had forgotten to bring with him delivered by his gran. Silver was getting nervous, still no reply from Elias. Either something's happened to him or something's happened to Lily, both of which Silver didn't think he could bare.
Herbology didn't help relieving Silver's stress. Their first lesson had them having to extract the puss from a Dryalid. It was disgusting, the puss was a sickening yellow and smelled like fuel. Another problem was if you weren't careful and disturbed the Dryalid too much it would spray you with a blue mist that made you hallucinate. At one point during the lesson Bunnie Rabbot ran around the class screaming that she had a metal arm. Eventually they collected enough puss without further incidents. Chrysan was very pleased "Madam Vanilla will be needing this. An excellent remedy for the more stubborn forms of acne, Dryalid pus. Should stop students resorting to desperate measures to rid themselves of pimples. I knew a girl who tried to curse hers off once. Poor thing. But Vanilla managed to reattach the nose".
If Silver thought Care of Magical Creatures would be less stressful, he was dead wrong. As they approached Big's cabin there were multiple crates that had a strange rattling noise coming from them. Big looked excited "Mornin. Be'er wait fer the Raijus, they won' want ter miss this. Plasmas" "What?" Razor asked. Big pointed at the crate, behind Silver Undina screamed. Silver could understand her fear. The "Plasmas" as Big called them looked like tiny gorillas made out of white fire. There was about a hundred to each crate. Big looked very proud of himself "Yeh'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves! Thought we'd make a bit of a project of it!" "And why would we want to raise them?" Rutan said as he arrived with his fellow Raiju. "That's the next lesson, Rutan" Big said not being able to come up with a better answer. Big apparently didn't know what these creatures ate because the students had to look through a pile of different meats to try and see what they'd like "First pus and now this" Larry said. A lot of people got burns because the Plasmas didn't seem to like anything "Why are we keeping these things alive?" Rutan thought out loud. Coral glared at him "Just because they're not very pretty, it doesn't mean they're not useful. Dragon blood's amazingly magical, but you wouldn't want a dragon for a pet, would you?".
Once class ended they headed back up to the castle "Well at least they're small" Razor said. Coral shook her head "They won't be for long" "Well, like you said, they might end up being useful" "I only said that because of Rutan. In fact, I think he's right. The best thing to do would be to stamp on the lot of them before they start attacking us all". They had their lunch in the Great Hall and then Coral left the two of them to go to Arithmancy. Silver and Razor headed to Divination. The familiar stench of Pyjamas classroom hit them. They sat down at their usual table and Pyjamas did her usual entrance "Welcome" she said in a melodramatic voice. She then looked at Silver. He expected his death prediction to come again but instead "You are preoccupied, my dear. My inner eye sees past your brave face to the troubled soul within. And I regret to say that your worries are not baseless. I see difficult times ahead for you, alas. Most difficult, I fear the thing you dread will indeed come to pass and perhaps sooner than you think". She went around giving a few other predictions before starting the lesson "My dears, it is time for us to consider the stars. The movements of the planets and the mysterious portents they reveal only to those who understand the steps of the celestial dance. Mobian destiny may be deciphered by the planetary rays, which intermingle". Silver's mind drifted, despite Pyjamas prediction last year Silver was still convinced most of her fortunate telling was fake and failed to take much of what she said seriously. Unfortunately, Pyjamas may not have noticed him not paying attention she did notice Razor making wise cracks about the planets which put her in a bad mood by the end of the lesson "A detailed analysis of the way the planetary movements in the coming month will affect you, with reference to your personal chart. I want it ready to hand in next Monday, and no excuses!". Once they got out of the classroom "Miserable old dog. That'll take us all weekend" "Lots of homework?" Coral asked joining them "We didn't get any in Arithmancy" "Well good for you" Razor said in a mood. They waited in line to get into the entrance hall when "Hey, Razor". It was Rutan with a very pleased Rough and Tumble. Razor was clearly not in the mood "What?" "You Dad's in the paper". He read out the section.
FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles
are not yet at an end, writes Breezy the Hedgehog, Special
Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor
crowd control at the Sky Chase World Cup, and
still unable to account for the disappearance of one
of its witches, the Ministry was plunged into fresh
embarrassment yesterday by the antics of Ron O'Hedge,
of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."
Ron O'Hedge, who was charged with possession
of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved
in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers
("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive
dustbins. Mr O'Hedge appears to have rushed to
the aid of Striker the Mantis Shrimp, the aged ex-Diamond Cutter
who retired from the Ministry when no longer able
to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder.
Unsurprisingly, Mr O'Hedge
found, upon arrival at Mr Striker's heavily
guarded house, that Mr Striker had once again
raised a false alarm. Mr O'Hedge was forced to
modify several memories before he could escape
from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily
Prophet questions about why he had involved the
Ministry in such an undignified and potentially
embarrassing scene
Rutan laughed "Couldn't even get his name right. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it? And look they even have a picture of your house. If you can call it a house" "Piss off, Rutan!" Silver told him. Rutan raised his eyebrow "You were there over the summer, weren't you, hedgehog? Tell me is it just as bad inside. His mother's rags tell me it is". Silver and Coral had to hold Razor back "Better than that leather get up your mother wears. What the hell does she get up to, to need that?" Silver said. This made Razor laugh and forgot his own anger, a few other Shinobi around them laughed as well. Rutan looked ready to kill "Don't you dare insult my mother, Hedgehog?" "Then keep your mouth shut!". Silver turned to leave when *BANG*. Several people screamed and Silver felt something hot graze the side of his face. Silver was ready to retaliate when there was a second loud bang "Oh, no you don't, laddie!". He turned around, Striker was walking down the stairs with his trident raised pointing at a brown Ricky that was shivering on the ground right where Rutan was standing. Striker looked over to Silver "Did he get you?" "No" "Leave it!". Silver didn't understand "Leave what?" "Not you". He somehow knew that behind him Tumble stepped forward to pick up the Ricky. The Ricky tried to run but "Not you don't!".
Strike moved his trident, and the Ricky suddenly flew into the air and started bouncing up and down "I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back is turned. Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do!" "Professor Striker!". Echo had appeared "Professor?" "Hello, Professor Echo" Striker said calmly. Echo's eyes were following the bouncing ferret "What're you doing?" "Teaching" "Teaching?". Echo realised causing her to drop the books she was carrying "Is that a student?" "Technically it's a Ricky". Echo raised her bident and fired a spell which transformed the Ricky back into Rutan. He got to his feet wincing and red faced. Echo glared at Striker "Professor, we never use Transfiguration as punishment. Surely Professor Locke would have told you that". Striker shrugged unconcerned "He might have mentioned it" "We give detentions, Striker! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!" "I'll do that then". Rutan, whose eyes were watering from the pain and humiliation, muttered something, Silver couldn't make out much, but he heard "My father" in there somewhere. Striker heard this as well as he got face to face with Rutan "Oh, yeah? Well, I know your father of old, boy. You tell him Striker's keeping a close eye on his son, you tell him that from me. Now, your Head of House will be Infinite, will it?". Rutan didn't manage to hold his gaze "Yes" "Another old friend. I've been looking forward to a chat with old Infinite anyway. Come with me" he then grabbed Rutan's arm and marched him to Infinite's office. Echo was lost for words so simply used a spell to collect her books and order the students into the hall.
The trio sat down at the Shinobi table which was filled with excited chatter over what just happened. "Don't say anything to me" Razor said grinning and closing his eyes. Coral was surprised "Why?" "Because I want to fix that image in my memory forever. Rutan the incredible dancing Ricky", Silver and Coral both laughed. The latter after a few moments then said "He could have really hurt Rutan, though. It was good, really, that Professor Echo stopped it" "Coral, why are you trying to ruin the best moment of my life". Coral then looked at the time "Oh, I better get going. I've got to get to the library" "Library? You don't have any homework yet" "It's not schoolwork. See you later" she ran out of the hall. Not soon after she left Mighty sat down "Striker. How cool is he" "Beyond cool" Ray said sitting next to him. Finally Manic sat down "Supercool. We just had him after lunch" "What's he like?" Silver asked eagerly. Manic shared a meaningful look with the twins "He knows" "Knows what?" "Know what it's like to be out there. Fighting the Dark Arts". Ray and Mighty nodded in agreement "Amazing" "Never had a lesson like it". Razor checked his timetable "Aw, man. We haven't got him till Thursday".