HP-Hogwarts Story So Far

Transcript One

Another Divination Lesson

 

The first Hogsmeade-weekend was drawing closer and the students were getting more and more excited. During the Divination lesson even Morticia, usually sooo eager about anything involving predictions, was seen chatting and giggling with the Slytherin girls.

Finally, Professor Trelawny had enough of this. "Morticia! I want to talk to you after lesson!" she snaped with unusual sharpness.

Morticia got even paler than usual. "After...? But we've got Quidditch prac-"

"I don't care!" Trelawney seemed to be really angry. "And the next person who utters just one word that I haven't asked for will NOT be allowed to go to Hogsmeade!"

Morticia glared at a Hufflepuff boy who was smiling very broadly and then stared at her Astrology chart that she was supposed to be creating.

Marvo, finishing his astrological chart sighed and looked out of the window.

"Mr. Ward? Is my class boring you?" asked Professor Trelawny, still somewhat peeved by the lack of concentration from others in the class.

"Oh not at ALL Professor Trelawny. I was just, er... Contemplating a dream I had last night, and putting some of the wonderful teachings you have given us as to it's meaning." Before the somewhat bemused teacher could react to this obvious sarcasm he continued. "There was this snake, on a broom. And it was flying very badly. Well, that's obvious really, as we all know Snakes slither, not fly. Then it fell down into a deep, dark tunnel.... " Marvo looked very seriously at Professor Trelawny. "But the really strange thing was that this snake had really bad hair!" Marvo purposely avoided looking at Morticia as he said this. "What do YOU make of that Professor?"

Professor Trelawny is quiet for a moment then, turned to Morticia. "Morticia, I understand you like dream interpretation. Let's see what you picked up from the last lesson. What's your opinion of Mr. Wards Dream?"

Yvette nearly choked while trying to hold back her laughter. She'd caught the meaning of this and was hiding her smirk behind her hands, watching to see what Morticia did...

Morticia looked straight into Trelawny's eyes. Her cheeks got very red. "My interpretation..." She hesitated and swallowed hard. "My interpretation is that Mr Ward is a snotty little bastard who just can't cope with strong women and tries to infuriate them so that they get angry and he feels stronger! My interpretation is that if Mr Ward wants war, he can have it! There you go! I don't care about Hogsmeade! I don't even want to go to Hogsmeade! I'm so sick of this stupid Gryffindors prancing around here like they own the school and treating others who want to accomplish something in their lives like we are useless scum!"

"Morticia!"

"I'M NOT FINISHED!" Morticia shouted at Trelawny, who stumbled backwards with surprise. "I've had it up to here, you know? I've had it! I don't even know why they allow people like Ward here! I'd rather live with Yvette's family than spend just one single more day with him! I -"

Morticia stopped abruptly as she grabbed her table and steadied herself.

"Tish, are you alright?" one of the Slytherins asked with concern.

"Why... yes... I'm - fine, I think..." She seemed like she was about to faint, but then she looked at Trelawny. "Professor" she whispered, "who's the student that didn't turn up to class today? Cause... cause... cause I think we'll find her in the Forest!" And then she fainted.

Surprising all with his speed, Marvo rushed over to Morticia, looking very concerned. "Everyone. STAY BACK! She needs air! Professor, get Madam Pomfrey. NOW!"

Still somewhat shocked by Morticia's outburst Professor Trelawny ran out of the room.

Marvo knelt in front of Morticia and rested her head in his lap. "Come on my dear, snap out of it. Be calm and relaxed, all is well. Tell us what you see. Tell us without harm or fear." Marvo's voice was almost hypnotic and everyone waited with bated breath to see what happened next.

Morticia moaned and blinked before she opened her eyes. She stared at Marvo. She raised her hand and gave Marvo a slap right in the face. "How do you dare to touch me, Wart-boy!" she growled, crawling away from him and trying to get onto her feat although she still seemed to be confused and dizzy. "I... What... Oh, gosh, I'm so sick!" She let herself drop onto the floor again, sighed and rubbed her head. Then she looked up. "Where's Professor Trelawny? Damn it! I bet I'll be grounded over the weekend, and it's a Hogsmeade weekend, and it's all Marvo's fault! I hate you!"

Marvo, touched his face, but them looked calmly at Morticia. "Don't worry about Trelawny. I'll sort that out. And ... and I'm sorry I upset you. Just clam down and tell us what you saw. What do you know of the missing girl? And what happened in the forest?"

Morticia stared at him as though he had gone mad. "What missing girl are you talking about here? And what is it with the Fo-" She stoped. "Oh." She swallows. "I ... I remember... She was walking down there and she wasn't supposed to. Then she walked down the path, turning right, and she was thinking on how she should be in Divination right now but she thought the classrooms are so full that nobody would miss her. Then she went deeper into the forest and heard this noise, and she was trying to find out what it was, and then-"

The door opened, and Trelawny, Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey entered. "Now, now, don't you trouble the poor girl now!" Madam Pomfrey insisted. "She needs rest. Can you walk? Then come on." She led Morticia out of the room.

Dumbledore looked at Marvo. "Well?"

"I think we should talk alone for a moment sir." Marvo turned to Trelawny. "I hope you won't hold any of what Morticia said against her Professor. As you can tell, obviously with your own skills at divination, that she really was not responsible for what she was saying."

Dumbledore turned to the class. "I think it best that nothing is mentioned about what has happened here. Miss Lagrand was obviously somewhat strained, too much Quidditch practice I expect, and NOTHING she said should be taken too seriously. I think the lesson shall end here, you may all return to your common rooms."

He turned to leave. "AND I expect NONE of you to consider taking this any further. Mr. Ward, come with me." He led Marvo out of the class.

Elizabeth had held back during this flurry of action but as Marvo leaves the room whispers to Madison & Yvette. "Do you think he'll let us know what happens? I mean that was intense. He was baiting her but gosh what a hair-trigger temper she's got. Yvette, what do you think she was talking about?"

Kat and Joss are sat a little way from the action. Kat looked at Joss. She whispered, "I think we need to put our plan into action. I guess that if someone has gone into the forest we should wait until tomorrow night when the teachers won't be near the forest. I'll meet you in the dorm at 10pm."

Joss looked back at Kat, and thought for a moment before agreeing. 10 pm was just right, it would give them time to get everything ready.

Madison trudged along the path, hoping she wouldn't get caught. 'I really should be in class right now,' she thought, as she turned right at the fork. 'The classes are fully enough, nobody will miss me. I just hope I don't miss anything too important...'

Just then, she stopped. There was a strange knocking sound coming from just ahead. She tried to follow the sound, unknowingly going deeper and deeper into the forest and straying off the path. Finally, she came to a small clearing. Madison looked around at the trees surrounding the clearing, and suddenly realized she was lost.

"Great," she mumbled to herself. "I knew I should have marked the trail- " She stopped, seeing a strange green light coming from behind the trees just ahead of her. She followed the light, going even deeper, until it seemed that it had disappeared. Not knowing where to go, Madison leaned against a tree to rest. Suddenly, a dark figure seemed to come out from nowhere. "Can you help me? I think I'm lost..." Madison trailed off. The figure muttered a spell and a bright light followed. Madison screamed and clutched her head, hoping to stop the sudden sharp pain. "No!" she screamed, "Somebody help- " She was cut off by another spell, and the dark figure was the last thing she saw before she blacked out.

As Madison opened her eyes again, she looked right into Dumbledore's face who was sitting beside her bed. "She's awake!" he said quietly.

Madam Pomfrey hurried towards her. "Ah, finally! There you are again, my dearest. Careful, careful", she said as Madison tried to get up, "you'll stay here in the infirmary with me for a day or two. You need rest. Drink this!" She handed her a mug with something warm and smelly. "It'll help you feel better soon, Professor Snape has just made it for you."

She glanced at Dumbledore. "Don't question her too much, mind you, Professor. She's been out there quite some time until we found her. Thank god Miss Lagrand had this vision, otherwise the poor girl could have spend the night out there in the Forest! That was a very strong spell..."

Madison took a sip from the mug, then looked around. "How did you find me?" she asked, "How long was I out?"

"Morticia couldn't tell us where exactly you were", explained Dumbledore. "We had to search half of the Forest before we could find you. You were out there for several hours." He bent forward. "Do you remember what happened? Did you see or hear what struck you down?"

Madison shook her head. "I was walking into the forest, I don't remember why," she explained, "When I heard this strange knocking sound. I followed it until it stopped, but then I saw a green light and followed that." She took another sip from the mug. "A dark figure came out. I couldn't tell who or what it was, but it muttered some kind of spell and I was knocked out...I'm not in TOO much trouble, am I?"

Dumbledore smiled gently. "Not at all. But you realize it was very foolhardy to go into the Forest, don't you? You could have died." The smile faded and he looked very serious. "Don't do it again, Madison. There are things in the Forest that are far too dangerous for students to meddle with. And now rest, or Madam Pomfrey will murder me!" He laughed and left the room.

Later that day Morticia can be seen strutting towards the Slytherin common room, accompanied by Madam Pomfrey and a very concerned-looking Professor Trelawny. She looked tired and ill. She did not look at anyone, instead she just sliped straight into the common room and her two guardians went back to work.

Elizabeth was somewhat surprised to see Professor Trelawny outside of her class. It was said she rarely joined with the other teaching staff due to her sensitivity to psychic vibrations. Therefore, whatever had happened to Morticia it must have been taken very seriously indeed. "Will we ever know?" she mused.

She hadn't seen Marvo since the incident either and wondered what had gone on. Still it was something to talk over later. That is, if she managed to get the reading done she needed for her homework. She could just imagine how her parents would react if she slumped at Hogwarts.

Elizabeth had arisen quite early despite the late night. Her pet Calliope, a black kitten that had wandered into and adopted her during her first few days at Hogwarts, had scolded her when she had finally crept into bed.

Elizabeth was half convinced that her Mother, who had 'a way' with cats, had sent Calliope. She hadn't figured a way to test this theory out though. Currently Cally looked so innocent playing in the covers of the four-poster that Elizabeth dismissed any concerns that the cat would report her late night, at least. Aware her parents were somewhat over-protective, she hoped they wouldn't feel it necessary to check up on her too often.

Wandering down to the Great Hall for breakfast she saw some of the others who were there last night waiting for the doors to open. As usual, there was an atmosphere between those of different houses.

Uncertain whether he'd acknowledge a Gryffindor in the light of day in front of the other Slytherins - she said to Egreen loud enough for others to hear but not loud enough to attract unwanted attention:

'Samhain tide is almost upon us - Halloween - and if anything stranger than usual is happening around here it will be getting stronger with a waxing Moon. Maybe we should consider putting our heads and talents together to find out?" Noting Morticia's scowl possibly at the thought of co-operating with Marvo despite the revelations of the night before: 'Marvo's a buffoon and a pain at times but there's a lot more to him than meets the eye.'

As they were allowed in to take their seats she said in parting: 'Don't make a decision now - just think about it.' Seeing how Yvette was reacting to her words she recalled that Marvo was not the only problem but smiled at her: 'It's just a thought, it might not go anywhere'.

Morticia sat down at the Slytherin table and sighed. "You know, I don't want to spoil things" she says loudly to be heard above the clatter of the breakfast, "I could cope with Marvo OR Yvette, but both of them! They're just picking on me all the time! Maybe it'd be better if I keep out of this all. I mean... I think that maybe I should leave it to the rest of you. I got a lot of things to do... Trelawny gave me some things to do, you know, Divination-stuff that we don't do in class... My family wouldn't like me to mix with Yvette anyway. And she hates me anyway. And Marvo thinks I'm just a stupid girl."

She sighed again, looking a bit sad, and started eating her breakfast. Glueclaws, who had followed her to breakfast reluctantly as ever, looked up to her, and there seemed to be a glint of pity in his eyes, although he looked away quickly as though ashamed to show feelings for the girl that owned him.

Elizabeth couldn't help but overhear and after breakfast left passing by the Slytherin table. She droped the notebook she was carrying and stooped to retrieve it. As she rose she placed a note by Morticia's hand. She excused herself from the stares of some of the older Slytherins and hurried out.

Morticia looked confused and unrolled the note.

The note read:

'No one hates you or thinks you stupid (especially Marvo - I know he respects you). If we co-operate on this it must remain secret from our families and not arouse too much suspicion with the rest of the school. You saw Madison's peril. It is obvious that you are Seer and as such have a rare gift. Extra lessons are good but could you resist a little field experience? E.'

Trying to shun the note from the glances of the other Slytherin, Morticia put it into her pocket. "Seer!" she muttered with something between embarrasment and disgust and finished her breakfast.

*************

In the Ravenclaw common room plans were coming together for a trip to the forest by other means to try to make contact with the centaurs.

"I did think about going into the forest, but what if we get caught?" said Kat to Joss. "This may seem off the subject, but have you read and muggle books by a guy called Terry Pratchett? He has some very funny muggle concepts, and some weird ideas of witches and wizards, but one of the witch characters uses what she calls headology. Ultimately what I'm getting at is that she lets her mind get inside with an animal to go find out what is going on. Suppose we do the same? Put sight and sound through an animal and send them into the forest. Easier to slink past for them than us, especially if they are black. Scully would be good at that. Or you could use Kit and I'd use Scully..."

"Wow," Josslin said softly as her and Kat sat on their beds in the their dormitory talking about they conspiracy with the forest, ok so not a conspiracy but close. Kat had just explained Headology.

"Well, Yes, cool idea, but isn't that like dark magic or something?" Joss was all comfy with breaking rules but dark art just too far past the line of mischief. "But, then again, we aren't using it for dark purposes..right? We are doing it for Good...right? So, yeah I just I don't have a problem." She looked thoughtful for a moment and you could clearly read on her face the conflict and finally the resolution. "Let's do it!" She said suddenly. "We'll just use Scully for now.. If you don't mind... and then yeah 1 should do. Ok so how do we do this, I haven't read that author, even though I have heard of him. I'm a muggle fantasy fanatic!" Joss got up and searched threw her trunk. Finally she pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill to take notes of the plan so later they wouldn't forget anything.

Kat carefully explains how to seduce an animal to allow space inside their head for a part of another mind. And how to link into the senses the animal mind. They discussed the differences of the animal minds and human minds. "It's not that difficult although the change is a bit of a shock. When do we try it? Nighttime is best, because we need our bodies to rest while our minds can wander. You never really leave your body, but you also have to concentrate on what you are doing in the animals mind."