Harry Potter's New Life

16) Buckbeak Returns

The minute Harry was done for the day, he raced down to Hagrid's hut. Fang bounded out to greet him, knocking Harry to the ground.

"Harry? That you?" Hagrid called from behind his hut.

"Yeah," he answered, pushing Fang off and walking around. What he saw made him want to cry. "Buckbeak!"

"Yup. Since, well you know Malfoy died, charges have been dropped and he could return. He's happy ter be home. Seems a little sad though."

"He misses Sirius, probably. I miss him too, Beaky."

"Would you like to take a ride, Harry?"

"Of course!"

Harry was quick to bow. Buckbeak returned the bow and allowed him to walk up to him and mount. Harry urged him forward and Buckbeak took off into the sky! Harry whooped and gripped tight. Something was quick to dart out at them from the right. It was a Threstal. It continually nipped at Harry's back until Buckbeak was fed up with it and lashed out. The Threstal flew away.

Harry felt the back of his neck. He felt a small lump between his robe and the sweater he had on underneath. He pulled it out and found the bloody stump of a headless mouse. Malfoy must've put it there as quick revenge. He tossed it down and watched the Threstal dart up and snatch it.

Harry turned Buckbeak back around to Hagrid's.

"So, how are you, Harry? You seem ter be taking this whole teaching business very well."

"It's weird, Hagrid. I expected myself to be scared and do a horrible job, but I think I did well enough."

"Harry, all of us, ter be honest, thought you were going ter have a breakdown today. I guess you didn't, considering you're here right now. C'mon Harry, surprise us all and last more than a year without a breakdown!"

"Hagrid, don't worry. So far I'm sure that I'll be able to handle My Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students. They get along. And today, I handled my Slytherin and Gryffindor classes well enough. I'm a little nervous about the day after next, though. I really pissed Malfoy off."

"Ah, well, I don't know what ter say ter that, Harry. I guess you need ter just hold firm and pray that the bloke don't cause ya no trouble."

"Thanks, Hagrid. I really appreciate the advice, and the ride on Buckbeak. Listen, er, tomorrow I'll be having free time during my first year class. It's first thing in the morning, and I was wondering if you'd like to drop in, considering you won't have a class..."

"I would really like ter, but Dumbledore gave me a class in the mornings now, so that I can have some time during the afternoon off. It really works out better, you see. Sorry."

"No, no. It's okay. I was hoping, but you're busy, so I will just... I'll live."

"So, Harry, Are all the classes every other day? Or just yours?"

"Just mine. Dumbledore made special arrangements to make it easier on me. I, er, better be getting back to my room. It's getting late and all..."

"Yes, yes, go ahead. See ya, Harry."

Harry returned the farewell and headed to the Gryffindor common room. Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were there to greet him.

"I loved your class, Harry!" Ginny exclaimed. "Food, working partners, jeez! I'm so glad you're my professor."

"Aren't we all? I mean, you gave us no homework mate! Thanks for that!" Ron put in.

"But how are you going to get all your other work done, Harry? Do you have extra time?"

"Yeah. You're always so worried about how and when I do my work! Jeez. Oh, and Buckbeak's back. Charges were dropped against him, so he's free to roam the lands again."

"That's great! Oh, I just thought of something. Cho!" Ron cried.

"Cho? What about her?"

"You'll be teaching her tomorrow, duh! And what about Quidditch? Can you still play?"

"Yeah, Harry, can you?" Hermione and Ginny chimed.

"Yeah. As long as it doesn't affect my teaching, I'm good to play. So, anything happen while I was gone?"

"Yeah, Fred and George sent an owl for us! We waited for you to come and open it with us, considering it's addressed to the three of us."

The three of them tore into the package and saw a three little bags, each filled with five colorfully wrapped candies. The bag each carried the label:

Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes

Applepips

Size: Small

"Applepips? What the heck are applepips?" Ron asked, gazing at them.

"It's probably something that will make you sick or injured to get us out of class." Hermione said.

"Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes? Oh, their joke shop! How come we never stopped in their while we were at Diagon Alley?" Harry asked, confused.

"Well, they had been on vacation when we were there and were gone a week. They were with Bill and went...er..."

"They never told us where, Ron!" Ginny interjected.

"Oh, yeah. We didn't mention it to you so you wouldn't be disappointed that you couldn't see the place."

"Oh, Harry it's wonderful in there! And they're doing good business." Hermione said.

"I'm just upset I didn't ask to see it! I completely forgot!"

"We kinda kept you away from their shop area. We wanted you to forget."

"Oh... okay. So let's try these out!"

Cautiously, they each popped a candy in their mouth. It tasted exactly like an apple, but it wasn't long before Hermione screamed.

"Oh my gosh! They make you grow pimples and...and... worms are coming out of them!" she screamed.

"How do you get rid of them? Check the bottom of the box for instructions!" Ron cried, touching his face.

Harry opened the box and under all the packaging was a note. Harry read it quickly, pulled his wand out, and murmured, "You asses!" as he rubbed pink glue over his face. Within minutes, the tingling stopped and the worms were gone from his face. He walked over to Ron and thrust the bottle in his lap.

"There are times when I really hate those two!" Hermione exclaimed, rubbing the paste as quickly as possible on her face. "Ah, that's better."

Together they composed a letter of threats and yelling. They sent the bags back with the owl and went to sleep.

17) Wormtail and Melinda.

Melinda sat in the Ravenclaw common room, alone. A great snake lay curled at her feet.

"Ah Hessi," she spoke quietly in parcel tongue, "do I answer the calling, or stay here, as rules say?" The snake looked straight at her, looked as if about to answer her, but decided instead on a riddle.

"Your choice," it hissed.

"Hessi! I guess I'll go. I'll just sneak out..." Melinda looked around as she trailed off. She gathered her black cloak around her and bade the snake to go back to her bed. She silently slipped out and knowing she was breaking one of the biggest rules, walked into the darkness, down the road to Hogsmeade.

Behind Honeydukes, Wormtail waited, looking around. When Melinda came into view, he bowed at her feet. She whipped her wand out and stood at guard, careful to be watchful.

"Get up, Peter. What is it that you want?"

"The Dark Lord, he wishes to speak with you, my lady."

"Out of the-- he what?"

"W-wishes to speak with you, my lady-lord."

"I know that, but when did he remember I exist? That I was born at all?"

"Your ladyness... er..."

"My name is Melinda, Peter. Answer me, when did he know?"

"He saw you."

"He saw me? Where?"

"Through Potter's eyes. He recognized you."

"Wait, Harry's eyes? Harry's?"

"Yes. Will you speak to your father? Please?"

"No."

"But... but... he'll..."

"I don't care what he thinks, Peter. I really don't. I haven't cared since I was eight and living on the streets. I've got an education and a summer job, oh, and a life that I enjoy. He wants me to spy, doesn't he?"

"Y-yes. On Potter. Please, won't you speak to him?"

"No, Peter! I care for Harry too much. I have class tomorrow, so you just tell him I put my foot down. If he wants to be my father, tell him he had better start acting like one." And with that, Melinda stormed off into the night.

"This is not good! Oh no, Master will hurt me!"

***

"She what?" Voldemort hissed from his chair.

"She doesn't wish to speak to you, Master. Please, have mercy on me! I tried to convince her! She just wouldn't listen!"

"Calm down, Wormtail. This is my daughter's fault. I'll just have to speak to her myself. What else did she tell you?"

Wormtail told Voldemort what she had said about his acting like a father. "And... she says... she says... she won't spy on Potter for us!"

"Why not! He goes to the same school as her, he teaches her, damn it!"

"He teaches her?"

"Yes. He's the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, nitwit. Don't you pay attention to what I say and foresee?"

"Yes, but..."

"Just answer me this: why won't she spy on him?"

"She said she cares for him too much," he answered in a small voice.

"What? No daughter of mine will ever love Potter as long as I'm around!"

"She didn't say love..."

"If she loves him," Voldemort cut in, "I'll just have to put a stop to it myself. Even if it means killing my own daughter, I'll kill Potter through her. She can't protect him!"

"Of course Master!"