Chapter 87: Mad-Eye

Chris was pleased to get out of the castle after lunch. Yesterday's rain had cleared; the sky was a clear, pale grey and the grass was springy and damp underfoot as they set off for their first ever Care of Magical Creatures class.

The weather was beautiful, Chris felt very peaceful.

Chris, Ginny and Colin went down the sloping lawns to Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid was waiting for his class at the door of his hut. He stood in his moleskin overcoat, with Fang the boarhound at his heels, looking impatient to start. As the Slytherins approached, Chris saw a familiar face.

"Good. He also like magical creatures just like you." Ginny whispered in Chris's ear.

Chris glared at her as Jason crossed them.

"C'mon, now, get a move on!" he called, as the class approached. "Great lesson comin' up! Everyone here? Right, follow me!"

He led them a little away from their house, near a large box.

"Fang, s'ay away. S'ay away." He said to Fang then turned towards the students. "Alrigh' most impor'ant thing, don' do anything like as it fel' yeh're at'acking it. Ok?"

Everyone nodded.

Hagrid opened the box but nothing came out of it. Everyone tried to look at the box, Chris peaked as well. Some shiny kind of thing was inside and it wasn't moving.

"Do you think it's dead?" Said a Slytherin boy chuckling.

"Wai'. Wai'. Don' go very near. It'll come out." Hagrid said smiling.

And soon something came out which for a second looked like a walking gem box. Everyone backed off a little except Chris and Jason.

Chris looked carefully as it stopped between her and Jason.

"Fire Crab!" Hagrid roared happily, waving a hand at them. "Beau'iful, isn' it?

It resembles a large tortoise with a heavily jewelled shell, it was poking his head outside looking around. So many students around it definitely doesn't make it comfortable.

"And yeh wan' ter be car'ful around it as it shoots flames from its rear end when at'acked." Hagrid said grinning.

"It shoots fire? It can kill us?" Lauren, Chris's roommate said with a trembling voice. "I'm not going near it."

Few students murmured, in support of her.

Chris ignored their talk which was clearly upsetting Hagrid. Chris gave a big smile towards Hagrid and kneel down in front of it.

"Chris! What're you doing? It can shoot fire." Ginny said nervously.

Chris bend down a little and looked at Fire Crab's head. As soon as it looked at Chris, she felt it was frightened.

"It's just scared of us. We're so many and he is alone." Chris said without taking her eyes of it. "Do people take them as pets Hag... er... Professor Hagrid?"

"Ohhh. Yes, they can be good pets. But it need license ter ke'p them. Yeh see, people use them as weapons." Hagrid said quickly, getting others interest in it. "But it doesn' at'ack unless it feel threatened. So if yeh come one by one, everything will be alrigh'."

No one really nodded happily, only Ginny and Colin came forward.

"I'll go after Chris, it seems interesting." Colin said excitedly.

Chris smiled at Colin, Jason was still standing behind Chris.

"Can I touch it Professor?" Chris asked Hagrid.

"Go on." Hagrid replied cheerfully.

Chris tightly touched its gem shell and a cold, smoothing feelings spread in her hand. Chris felt the Fire Crab was relaxing slowly.

Hagrid stood close, ready for if anything happens but nothing happened. Chris shift to a side and motions Colin to come.

Colin comes and kneels beside her and touchs the shell.

"Cool." He said grinning.

Next went Ginny, Chris stepped aside and soon all students came one by one. Hagrid looked very happy. Chris was already felt connected to the creature, it was really surprising, because she could tell exactly what the creature was feeling.

Only Jason didn't move from his place and didn't touch it. Hagrid didn't like Slytherins very much, so he just ignored Jason and ended the class. As they started to go back, Chris felt something and turned around, as she looked down she saw the Fire Crab was trying follow her.

"....er...." Hagrid looked bewildered.

Everyone stared at Chris, as the Fire Crab reached near her leg and stopped.

"I don't think, it wants to leave you." Jason said still standing there.

"Really?" Chris said casually. "But I've to go little guy. I don't have a licence to keep you."

She kneel beside it and patted its shell.

"Professors can I stay a little more?" She then asked to Hagrid.

"Yea' sure. I don' feel it'll go in without yeh." Hagrid replied awkwardly. "I'm going ter need help."

"I'll help. I like this creature." Jason said suddenly, shocking everyone as he kneel beside Chris.

Everyone left except Ginny, Colin, Chris and Jason. Ginny and Colin went to Fang as Chris and Jason sat in front of the Fire Crab.

"Why suddenly you like this creature? I mean you didn't even come to touch it." Chris said still patting the gem shell.

"Just because I didn't touch it doesn't mean I can't like it." Jason said casually watching it. "I like it as weapon, it'll be cool to watch him firing on people."

"No it's not cool. They're just creatures, they're made like this just to protect themselves not to attack someone for fun." Chris said with an annoyed tone.

"So you just believe in defense not offence? Right?" Jason asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I don't like to attack people unless it's necessary." Chris replied.

"Necessary was the keyword there." Jason said curving his mouth into a smirk. "So you can attack people?"

Chris rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I can if they cross the line. By the way, I heard you don't do friends then how are you hanging out with a bunch of people?"

"Are you talking about Nott and the Greengrass sisters?" Jason said getting serious. "They're not my friends. Theodore's mother and Daphne's mother used to be my mother's friends. After Theodore's mother died, he had spent lot's of time with the Greengrass' and us. I just know him like that."

"Nice." Chris replied without looking at him.

"After I came here, I absolutely ignored Theodore and Daphne, and they didn't bothered me really. I was glad to be left alone." He sighed. "But then last year Astoria came and practically dragged me with them. I refused but then she wrote to my mother and I had to agree with them."

"So she's close with your mother?" Chris asked.

"Yes. Very." He replied with an annoyed tone.

"Good after all she's a pure-blood, isn't she?"

"Hey are you still upset about how my mother reacted after meeting you?" Jason said looking surprised.

"Nah. I'm good, I'm getting used to those looks now." Chris replied smiling a little. "I know I'm a muggle-born and nothing can change the fact."

"Look Chris...."

"Hagrid! I'm putting him back into the box." Chris cut Jason off, as she called Hagrid who was talking to Ginny and Colin.

"Yea'. It's getting dark. Yeh all shou'd go." Hagrid replied.

Chris nodded, "It's time to go back to the box, little guy."

The Fire Crab pressed itself on Chris's foot like a pet dog.

"Sorry, I really can't keep you but Hagrid is a good person. You'll like him. Trust me." She said with a smile and patted it's head affectionately. "Please go. Please."

Chris pushed him towards the box lightly and after few moments it walked back in the box.

"Take care of him Hagrid." Chris said and Hagrid gave a big smile.

"Ginny! Colin! Let's go. Bye Jason." Chris said looking at Jason and walked away.

"What happened?" Ginny asked as they walked towards the Entrance Hall.

"About what?" Chris asked.

"You know Chris what I'm talking about. Jason. I saw how upset he looked when you walked away. Anything happened with him?" Ginny asked looking concerned.

"No. Nothing special. You know just Muggle-born and Pure-blood thing." Chris replied cooly.

Ginny sighed. "I guessed it but I just hoped he's not like that..."

"Oh he's not, but his mother is.. leave it. I don't think our friendship is going to work anyway." Chris replied as they reached the Entrance Hall.

When suddenly Draco Malfoy's loud voice ringed trough the silent crowd. Chris, Ginny and Colin cut through the crowd and saw Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle standing in front of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Your dad's in the paper, Weasley!" said Malfoy, brandishing a copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking very loudly, so that every­one in the packed entrance hall could hear. "Listen to this!

FURTHER MISTAKES AT THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC

It seems as though the Ministry of Magic's troubles are not yet at an end, writes Rita Skeeter, Special Correspondent. Recently under fire for its poor crowd control at the Quidditch 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 Arnold Weasley, of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office."

Ginny looked worried.

Malfoy looked up.

"Imagine them not even getting his name right, Weasley. It's almost as though he's a complete nonentity, isn't it?" he crowed.

Everyone in the entrance hall was listening now. Malfoy straightened the paper with a flourish and read on:

Arnold Weasley, 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. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and at­tempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley 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.

"And there's a picture, Weasley!" said Malfoy, flipping the paper over and holding it up. "A picture of your parents outside their house — if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with los­ing a bit of weight, couldn't she?"

Ginny clenched her fist tightly.

Ron was shaking with fury. Everyone was staring at him.

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"Get stuffed, Malfoy," said Harry. "C'mon, Ron. …"

"Oh yeah, you were staying with them this summer, weren't you, Potter?" sneered Malfoy. "So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?"

Smack.

Suddenly everyone looked awestruck. Ginny just crossed Crabbe and Goyle, and gave a tight slap on Malfoy's face.

Everything was silent for few seconds. A blood red slap mark showed up on Malfoy's pale face. He looked around to see everyone was looking at him.

"Say that again Malfoy and I'll give another red mark on your face." Ginny said fuming.

"You... little..." Malfoy raised his arm angrily but Chris grabbed his hand and pinned it on his back.

Crabbe and Goyle tried to step forward but Ginny and Colin pointed their wands towards them, they stopped in their tracks.

"Get off me, you Mudblood." Draco struggled in Chris's grip.

"How would you have felt if someone said bad things about your mother, Malfoy?" Chris said calmly. "I'm warning you again, you'll get what you give. So change yourself or else I'll make sure you get a hell to pay for your behaviour."

She freed him with a jerk. Colin and Ginny lowered their wands. Malfoy stumbled and Ginny gave him a glare as they turned away.

BANG!

Chris dodged at the right moment as something white-hot graze the side of her hair. Several people screamed. Chris turned around pulling out her wand but before she could do anything with a another Bang, Malfoy transformed into a pure white ferret.

"OH NO YOU DON'T, LADDIE!" A voice came and Chris looked around to see Professor Moody was limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out and it was pointing right at the pure white ferret, which was actually Draco Malfoy.

There was a terrified silence in the Entrance hall. Nobody but Moody was moving a muscle. Moody turned to look at Chris — at least, his normal eye was looking at Chris; the other one was pointing into the back of his head.

"Did he get you?" Moody growled. His voice was low and gravelly.

"No," Chris replied, "dodged in time."

"LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted.

"What?" Chris said, looking at Moody.

"Not you — him!" Moody growled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at Crabbe, who had just frozen, about to pick up the white ferret. It seemed that Moody's rolling eye was magical and could see out of the back of his head.

Moody started to limp toward Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret, which gave a terrified squeak and took off, streaking toward the dungeons.

"I don't think so!" roared Moody, pointing his wand at the ferret again — it flew ten feet into the air, fell with a smack to the floor, and then bounced upward once more.

"I don't like people who attack when their opponent's back's turned," growled Moody as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. "Stinking, cowardly, scummy thing to do. …"

"It's getting weird." Colin whispered. "I don't like Malfoy but isn't it a bit extreme for a teacher."

The ferret flew through the air, its legs and tail flailing helplessly.

"Never — do — that — again —" said Moody, speaking each word as the ferret hit the stone floor and bounced upward again.

"Professor Moody!" said a shocked voice.

Professor McGonagall was coming down the marble staircase with her arms full of books.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," said Moody calmly, bouncing the ferret still higher.

"What — what are you doing?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyes following the bouncing ferret's progress through the air.

"Teaching," said Moody.

"Teach — Moody, is that a student?" shrieked Professor McGo­nagall, the books spilling out of her arms. She looked around and caught Chris's eye.

"Well Professor... technically it's a Ferret... but once it was a boy.... Draco Malfoy." Chris replied looking helplessly at Professor McGonagall.

"Yep," said Moody.

"No!" cried Professor McGonagall, running down the stairs and pulling out her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy had reappeared, lying in a heap on the floor with his sleek blond hair all over his now brilliantly pink face. He got to his feet, wincing.

"Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" said Professor McGonagall weakly. "Surely Professor Dumbledore told you that?"

"He might've mentioned it, yeah," said Moody, scratching his chin unconcernedly, "but I thought a good sharp shock —"

"We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head of House!"

"I'll do that, then," said Moody, staring at Malfoy with great dislike.

Malfoy, whose pale eyes were still watering with pain and hu­miliation, looked malevolently up at Moody and muttered some­thing in which the words "my father" were distinguishable.

"Oh yeah?" said Moody quietly, limping forward a few steps, the dull clunk of his wooden leg echoing around the hall. "Well, I know your father of old, boy. … You tell him Moody's keeping a close eye on his son … you tell him that from me. … Now, your Head of House'll be Snape, will it?"

"Yes," said Malfoy resentfully.

"Another old friend," growled Moody. "I've been looking for­ward to a chat with old Snape. … Come on, you. …"

And he seized Malfoy's upper arm and marched him off toward the dungeons.

"Well someone is having a very bad day." Luna said coming beside them. "He should've listened to Chris, that you'll get back what you'll give to others."

"Poor Malfoy." Chris said with a sigh.