Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Bailey, her pups, and mate and any alterations to the original storyline their presence creates to various reader amusement everywhere across the globe.

A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic 3 Chapter 9

It baffles Bailey how the first day of the 3rd year term could've started so promising and ended so disagreeably.

One would think the clear weather Hogwarts had the next morning could've been viewed as a shining indicator of how good it was supposed to be.

It certainly stands as perfect proof that looks can be deceiving.

Truthfully it started like a regular day as any other. By the end of it the foreboding trickles like ice water through Bailey's pelt.

They all woke up, got out of bed, and headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast and to receive the class schedule listings.

One of the very first things they saw upon entering the Great Hall for breakfast was Draco Malfoy entertaining his housemates by doing a reenactment of the swooning fit he heard Harry go through. The Slytherins roared in laughter.

Rolling her eyes, Hermione said "Ignore him. Just ignore him, it's not worth it…"

Indeed it isn't.

But that doesn't mean it isn't difficult to do when almost the entirety of the Slytherin table mocking him. Passing over their schedules, George said "New third-year course schedules. What's up with you, Harry?"

"Malfoy," said Ron, sitting down on George's other side and glancing over at the Slytherin table.

Glancing over at Malfoy, calmly, George said "That little git. He wasn't so cocky last night when the dementors were down at our end of the train. Came running into our compartment, didn't he, Fred?"

"Nearly we himself," confirmed Fred, aiming a contemptuous glance in Malfoy's direction.

Shuddering at the memory, George confides "I wasn't too happy myself. They're horrible things, those dementors."

Bailey leans against George's leg in response to this.

"Thanks, Girl," said George, rubbing her ear appreciatively. He then slips Bailey some toast with scrambled eggs on top. Bailey gobbles up the morsel, grateful for the tasty food. As she's lapping up some water to quench her thirst George comments on something else he's noticed. "By the way, when did McGonagall pair up with one of Bailey's pups? Didn't think of her as someone that likes dogs. She was passing out the class schedules for Gryffindor before you came in and Whisper was with her."

Bailey's ears prick upon hearing her daughter's name in puzzlement.

"Oh, that," said Harry, shrugging. "It was a surprise to us, too. McGonagall told us that she and Whisper encountered each other a couple of weeks ago and something simply clicked. Whisper's been with her ever since."

"Huh, how about that," said George.

"Those dementors do Sort of freeze your inside, don't they," said Fred, solemn.

"You didn't pass out, though did you," asked Harry.

Bracingly, George said "Forget it, Harry. Dad had to go out to Azkaban one time, remember, Fred? And he said it was the worst place he'd ever been, he came back all weak and shaking…They suck the happiness out of a place, dementors. Most of the prisoners go mad in there."

"Bailey, Crookshanks, and Scabbers weren't affected by it," said Hermione, intrigued. "Why is that?"

"Dementors don't have any effect on animals. Just people. At least that's what we heard," said Fred. "Anyway, we'll see how happy Malfoy looks after our first Quidditch match. Gryffindor versus Slytherin, the first game of the reason, remember?"

With Quidditch taking his mind off the unpleasantness of the dementors Harry can enjoy the rest of his breakfast in relative peace.

Towards the end of breakfast as Ron is badgering Hermione about her crazy schedule about where she's at multiple classes at the same time Hagrid enters the Great Hall in high spirits about his first day as a teacher.

Pausing on the way to the staff table, eagerly, grinning broadly, Hagrid said "All right? You're in my first ever lesson. Right after lunch! Been up since five getting everything ready…Hope it's okay…Me, a teacher…honestly…"

Hagrid then continues to the staff table.

This is good news for Bailey.

Initially, she'd been intending to head down to Hagrid's hut to see her pups during lunch, but if they're going down to Hagrid's for Care of Magical Creatures then that already kills two birds with one stone.

Turns out the first class of the day is something called Divination. It's all the way over at the North Tower of the castle. They'd never been there before.

It's a long way up going over seven staircases already and yet need to climb spiraling steps even steeper. Bailey carefully places her paws on the steps, somehow managing to avoid tripping and tumbling from the stairs. Bailey has better stamina and endurance than them so she can handle and bear the burden better, but the kids are huffing and puffing from the vexing inconvenience. The small group comes close to being led astray by a crazed knight in a portrait called Sir Cadagon but eventually locates the classroom.

Or, at least, where it should be.

The whole class is gathered on a tiny landing with no visible door indicating where the classroom should be. Surprisingly it's Ron who spots where it is. The door is above their heads in the ceiling not in front.

Indignantly, Harry said "How are we supposed to get up there?"

No sooner asked than answered.

The trapdoor suddenly opens, and a silvery ladder descends directly at Harry's feet for them to scale.

This is going to be the one class Bailey isn't going to be able to follow. No way any of them will successfully cart her up this ladder under any circumstances. Not without a lift.

So, Bailey must be required to wait patiently until the Divination class ends. She reluctantly complies. Not as if there's any other choice presented to her. Thinking it over for future reference Bailey is more than likely going to stay at the bottom of the spiral stairs whenever Divination is in session. There is no way she can go up those steps on a regular basis under its restricted conditions.

Judging by the expressions on the student's faces at the time class is over Bailey knows she made the right call in not even attempting to accompany them up there. Bailey seriously wonders if she ought to not even come with them to Divination from now on.

The pale expression on Harry's is a testament to that. It makes the hairs on her back prickle and sends her heart lurching. Nervous ripples are sent along her spine, reading into his distressed state.

Just what happened up there to make him look so unsettled?

In fact, the majority of them are quiet as they head out, so Bailey has no sign of the cause behind this shared melancholy mood until they reach Transfiguration.

Bailey spots Whisper right away, the moment she steps inside Professor McGonagall's domain.

Whisper is seated beside Professor McGonagall's desk. She pricks her ears up and wags her tail upon spotting her mother, panting eagerly with affection shining in her gaze. Beaming, feeling a surge of fondness for her eldest girl, Bailey darts over as the students take their seats, smiling and eyes sparkling brightly. Bailey knows Harry won't begrudge her time spent with Whisper. Mother and daughter touch noses. Bailey tenderly licks her daughter's soft ears and Whisper presses her muzzle deep into her neck fur. Bailey and Whisper lay down pressed against each other's sides.

Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall commences with today's lesson. The no-nonsense woman immediately jumps into an explanation on Animagi, wizards, and witches that can transform on a whim as she can. Professor McGonagall even goes as far as to shapeshift into her tabby cat form with spectacle markings around her eyes to add to the demonstration.

Instead of the applause Professor McGonagall would normally receive from this no one from the class is quite paying that much attention to her. They're entirely focused on Harry, exchanging worried and flickering furtive glances at him.

Picking up on this, instantaneously transforming back, staring at them all in astonished disbelief, Professor McGonagall said "Really, what has gotten into you all today? Not that it matters but that's the first time my transformation's not got applause from a class."

Everybody's heads turn toward Harry again, but nobody dares to speak what's weighing so heavily on their minds. That is until Hermione gathers her courage and bravely raises her hand.

"Please, Professor, we've just had our first Divination class, and we were reading the tea leaves and-," said Hermione.

"Ah, of course," said Professor McGonagall, scowling in scornful disdain. "There is no need to say anymore, Miss Granger. Tell me, which of you will be dying this year?"

What did Professor McGonagall say now? Dying? Who was going to die?

Unease flutters amidst Bailey's stomach, chest tightening.

Sensing this Whisper lightly nudges her head against Bailey's in a kind effort to comfort her.

Everyone stares at Professor McGonagall, not understanding her meaning.

Swallowing thickly, Harry said "Me. Professor Trelwaney said she saw the Grim mixed in my tea leaves."

The Grim? Baileys never heard of something like that before.

"I see," said Professor McGonagall, brusquely, fixing Harry with narrowed beady eyes. "Then you should know, Potter, that Sybill Trelwaney has predicted the death of one student a year since she arrived at this school. None of them has died yet. Seeing death omens is her favorite way of greeting a new class. If it were not for the fact that I never speak ill of my colleagues…Divination is one of the most imprecise branches of magic. I shall not conceal from you that I have very little patience with it. True Seers are very rare and Professor Trelwaney…You look in excellent health to me, Potter, so you will excuse me if I don't let you off homework today. I assure you that if you die, you need not hand it in. Besides I highly doubt your faithful dog, Bailey, would even stand for death to come within even an inch of your person. Isn't that right, Bailey?"

Bailey releases a bark in approval and the class laughs in response.

Warm happiness floods through Bailey in relief from Professor McGonagall's lecture. Very good to hear that this Professor Trelwaney is be viewed as unimportant. More of a loon than an actual expert. A great big nuisance to the student body and the castle staff. Bailey reckons it's a mystery to other members of the staff as to the reason why Professor Dumbledore even hired the lady in the first place.

The lesson moves forward without further incident.

After Transfiguration, it is lunchtime, and the crowd thunders to the Great Hall for the noon meal.

Unexpectedly Ron isn't digging into his plate with his normal gusto, lightly pushing some stew around with a fork.

"Ron, cheer up," said Hermione, already guessing what he was thinking about, pushing a dish of biscuits within his range. "You heard what Professor McGonagall said."

Speaking in a low and serious voice, Ron said "Harry, you haven't seen a great black dog anywhere, have you?"

A great black dog. Is that what a Grim physically looks like?

No, she and her boy haven't encountered anything like that.

Unless…at Privet Drive.

Didn't they spot a black dog resembling that description watching them when they ran away from the Dursleys?

"Yeah, I have," said Harry. "I saw one the night Bailey and I left the Dursley's place."

Ron's eyes go wide, his fork dropping from his fingers with a clatter.

"Probably a stray," said Hermione, sensibly.

Looking at Hermione as though she's gone mad, Ron exclaimed "Hermione, if Harry's seen a Grin, that's…that's bad. My…My Uncle Billius saw one and…and he died 24 hours later!"

"Coincidence," scoffed Hermione, airily, pouring herself some pumpkin juice.

Starting to get angry, Ron insisted "You don't know what you're talking about! Grims scare the living daylights out of most wizards!"

"There you are, then," said Hermione in a superior tone. "They see the Grim and die of fright. The Grim's not an omen, it's the cause of death! And Harry's still with us because he's not stupid enough to see one and think, right, well, I'd better kick the bucket then!" Hermione ignores Ron's gapping expression, mouthing wordlessly at her, and preoccupies herself with her new Arithmancy book. "I think Divination seems very woolly. A lot of guesswork, if you ask me."

Hotly, Ron seethed "There was nothing wooly about the Grim in that cup!"

"You didn't seem quite so confident when you were telling Harry it was a sheep," said Hermione, coolly.

"Professor Trelawney said you didn't have the right aura! You just don't like being bad at something for a change," challenged Ron.

An irritated Hermione slams her Arithmancy book down on the table so hard that bits of meat and carrot fly everywhere.

Sniffing in open distaste, Hermione said "If being good at Divination means I have to pretend to see death omens in a limp of tea leaves, I'm not sure I'll be studying it much longer! That lesson was absolute rubbish compared with my Arithmancy class," snapped Hermione, snatching up her bag and stalking away.

Frowning, Ron said "What's she talking about? She hasn't been to an Arithmancy class yet?"

Bailey's not listening to that. Her mind is on the Grim.

She's just being silly and paranoid. Bailey knows Hermione is correct. There's no such thing as an actual Grim. Bailey smelled its scent on the night air and could tell it was a canine. It's just superstition and the big black dog she and Harry saw at Privet Drive was simply a stray that wandered into the neighborhood.

…Right?

Authors Note:

Merry Christmas!

For those of you on fanfiction I'm sure you've been facing the many unwanted ads when you're reading a story. Well, yesterday, I finally had enough, and I got an adblocker app. It worked! No more ads on any level! The one I got is Adblock Pro: Safari Ad Blocker. It really works. Just follow the instruction video that it attached to it.

Heads up everyone there's someone on fanfiction you need to seriously watch out for. Early a couple of months ago after I woke up I was checking my email and I saw I had a new guest review on my A Dog's Purpose Is Strange Magic 2 sequel. I took a look at it and got a very big shock. Some random person I've never spoken to before on here or anywhere else in my life was basically threatening me. Intimidating and practically ordering me to write a threatening letter to someone on their behalf, telling to stay off of for life or else they and everyone else close to them would be killed, disgustingly telling them to kill themselves. And at the bottom of the message this crazy person wasn't done. Warning me that if I don't send the letter then they would kill me and for confirmation to email them to make absolutely sure I complied with their demands. Of course I did nothing of the sort. Instead of doing what they wanted I reported them to the website, sent copies of this deplorable guest review message to police officer cousins of mine so they could have it on file, and I went to a nearby police station and reported it.

When I spoke to the police officers and they checked everything on the message they saw, that while the address and names of business were accurate the people and their names were not. They agree it was more than likely a scam because of the email address on the bottom in order to perhaps get access to personal information or potentially hack my computer. Despite that I'm still very happy they took it seriously as I showed and told them everything. All the same I'm still very happy that I brought this to the attention of law enforcement. Even though the entire thing might be fake I'm still very happy to have brought this to the attention of those who can do something about it if it was legit in some way. This may have been a scam, but it's obvious these people are beyond irresponsible if they try to goad people into sending death threats to random strangers just to get access to info.

Be that as it may if this does unfortunately happen to you do not send any messages to the email addresses they put down and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you bring the message to the authorities immediately whether it is legit or not.

Because it's a guest review it might not be visible for a couple of days as it loads if it is sent to you. But when it does you should definitely pressing the report abuse button and send it to the email that leads to the support staff that is available.

Just a heads up to those of you who aren't aware of this yet, Email alerts for this website are now only active if Email opts is enabled in account settings.

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.

So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.

I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.