𝓢𝓽𝓾𝓹𝓲𝓭 𝓖𝓲𝓻𝓵!

C21 Jokes on you

I really needed a vacation away from this school, attracting boys may not be such a bad thing for most girls but for me, I was awkward and shy, quiet too. So with that said I avoided Jackson and George like the common plague, though I think Jackson avoided me right back. He would sit at the Slytherin table with Wednesday, George at the Gryffindor. I was sitting back at the end of the Ravenclaw table, alone. It felt just like before only this time... I didn't even have Dumbledore this time. My heart ached and I pushed my plate of food away. I stood up and walked towards the doors. George ran in front of me. "Wait! Can we talk for a sec?" I nodded lightly. "Can we go to the three broomsticks tomorrow?" I shook my head. "I need to visit my... Uncle tomorrow at Hogs head, would you like to go there?" George nodded furiously. "I'll meet you in the courtyard tomorrow after breakfast then." He dashed off back to his brother and I left the great hall, it was lunch and I was already working out detention, in my head. I only had a few classes left and then detention... With Snape, who I pissed off. Great. I groaned.

Not only this but O.W.L.s were coming up and career week. They had already posted appointments with our head of house in the Ravenclaw common room, mine was for Monday after breakfast which would mean I'd be late for DADA, which I'd probably try to stall so I could just skip the class. I needed to see Uncle Alberforth because he may have heard something or from Albus himself. Growing up, Alberforth would often help with me when I was a baby. He was a part of my childhood and told the story of Grumble the grubby goat every time he'd visit. I'd even get to pet some of his actual goats and come to think of it, his patronus was a goat too... And he had been arrested for using inappropriate spells on the goats. I scratched my head and shook it off. Hopefully, he had heard something from my M.I.A. guardian. I wished he would come back soon.

I headed to care for magical creatures and listened to Grubblyplank. Hagrid was in a meeting with Umbridge and though she had gone over bowtruckles before today was going to be something special. She continued on about bowtruckles and showed us a nest of them living in a tree, the tree is protected by them because it's a wand wood tree.

''Now, these tiny creatures are very peaceful unless provoked. They guard all wand wood trees from predators and woodsmen, their fingers are very pointy and can even blind in some cases. They also use them to dig out and eat woodlice, to get bark or wood from the tree one would have to offer fairy eggs or woodlice eggs. A nest of bowtruckles is called a branch. They eat insects as well. Now, who would like to hold one?" Grubblyplank scanned the sea of faces. Draco's hand shot up in the air and Grubblyplank had a look of concern on her face. "You sure, Draco?" Draco shook his head. "I just had a question, I heard they're also good for picking locks too, is that true?" Grubblyplank sighed. "Yes, it's true, not something I recommend either. The poor things are very loyal and shy, if one gets attached to you. So I recommend that you don't take advantage of the little mites. Alright? So again, who would like to hold one?" I looked around and see a lot of the students were either bored or uninterested except for Draco who had a look of mischief on his face. I raised my hand before Draco could and I received a smile from the professor. "Great, now come on up and take these fairy eggs." I calmly walked up and took the eggs she gave me. "Now, walk slowly up to the tree." Grubblyplank walked up with me and I started to feel very nervous. "Now, stay calm and you'll be fine. Don't get too close to the tree, if one is interested it will come to you." Grubblyplank took a few steps back and I looked at the eggs in my hand and then at the tree, if they weren't moving, eyeing us all with their beady eyes, we all would have missed them as they would be perfectly camouflaged with the tree. One small one, the smallest out of the group ventured forward. The small bow-truckle went to the edge of the branch. I dared to take a few steps closer to the tree, looking at the rest who seemed to be on edge as is. I picked up one of the eggs from my hand with two fingers and slowly extended my arm, I was trying not to shake and to remain calm but I am greatly attached to my eyes. I took one more step and closed my eyes tightly. I opened them again when I felt a small pulling sensation coming from the egg. The tiny bow-truckle was trying to take it and slowly, I released the egg. "Now, offer another." Grubblyplank whispered and I did as she said. I offered another egg to the little one and he gladly took it, proudly holding the two. The other bow truckles seemed to relax a tiny smidge and the little bowtruckle ran to a small hole. "Now what?" I whispered but then the little one came back out, stepping up to the end of the branch. "Extend your hand again and he may let you hold him." I did as I was told again and extended my hand, open wide to the tiny twig. He seemed to search my palm for more eggs. "Sorry little one, I only had two." I softly said and the twig let out a small squeak before poking my fingertip with his pointed finger. I stopped breathing, my body stiffened and the small one stepped off the branch and onto my hand. I slowly started to breathe again. "Good job Raylona, this means you have gained his attention, and a bit of trust but not completely. You still need to be careful." I smiled at the small bow-truckle, he seemed to be more daring than the rest. The tiny bow-truckle walked around in my palm. He seemed to point at things and squeak like he was talking. The other bowtruckles took no interest. I slowly moved my hand closer to the branch so he could step back on. "There you go little guy, I'll let you go home now." He stared at me and then shook his head. "Squeak." He crossed his arms. "Uh... Professor? He won't go back to the tree.. what do I do?" Grubblyplank came closer to me and the small one went on the defensive. "Ohh boy, seems like he really likes you. Try.. stepping away from the tree, but slowly." I did and the small bow-truckle retaliated by sitting down in my palm and I could have sworn I saw him sticking his tongue out at the other bowtruckles. "So... Looks like you have a new friend Raylona, congratulations." My brows furrowed and I looked back and forth between the small stick and the professor. "So I'm just supposed to take him?" She nodded and the bowtruckle had moved from my hand to my shoulder. "Erm.. you sure you want to leave your home buddy?" Which only earned me another squeak. "Hey! Black! If you don't want him, I'll take him off your hands!" The bowtruckle started to make multiple squeaking noises and he sounded angry. "No way Malfoy." I rolled my eyes and Hermione came up. "Wow." That was all she got out. "What will you name him?" Ron followed, shrugged my shoulders. "I think I'll call him Squeak." The bowtruckle patted my cheek and seemed to like the name.

I continued on to astronomy, Squeak found his way into a pocket and comfortably hid for the rest of the night. I used my lunascope to help with the constellations. It got rather silent and I felt most at ease up on the astronomy tower than anywhere else of late. "Raylona Black, please report to the headmistress's office, Raylona Black to the headmistress's office. "Umbridge sounded from the loudspeakers, I looked at Professor Sinistra who nodded at me to go, I slowly grabbed my things and made my way to Umbridges office. "You wanted to see me, headmistress?" Astronomy had almost been over and then my detention with Snape would take place. "Yes, after our last talk, I had asked if you were friends with Harry Potter or friends, of friends of Potters." I nodded slowly. "I've noticed for a while now that you have been hanging about with Potter and I wanted to know why you lied to me." I took a seat opposite of her, her once primp hair was not as kempt, and her cheeks were red, more than usual. "I wasn't friends with them, not until I started talking to Luna Lovegood, the whole group pretty much welcomed me and my two other friends. I swear headmistress, I didn't lie to you." Umbridge picked up a cup of tea and added sugar. "Have they talked about anything that might be breaking school rules?" She eyed me, as if setting a trap. "No, ma'am. They normally talk about classes or quidditch. Especially with career week impending and O.W.L.s following suit, I think they're just nervous." She took a sip. "And Luna, has she been bringing in more of her father's paper, the Quibbler?" I shook my head no. "No ma'am, she is a bit sadder of late since it's ban but as far as I know, she hasn't brought any." Umbridge nodded and I looked at my watch. I was going to be late for detention. "Did you need to be somewhere my dear?" I smiled frailly. "I have detention with Professor Snape..." Her toadish smile appeared on her thin lips. "I'll write you a note dear, but first. Avery, please come in dear." Jackson strode in, a menacing look on his face. He avoided my gaze and held up a paper. It was the Quibbler. "I found more stashed in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom." Umbridge stirred her tea, with a grin on her face. "Are you sure you don't know anything?" I frowned. "Yes headmistress, I could always ask Luna if she knows anything." Jackson scoffed and Umbridge seemed to like my idea. "Exactly what I was thinking my dear.'' 

Umbridge swished her wand and her quill began to write something, the pad of paper floated over and Umbridge tore the paper off. She handed me the pink paper. "For Professor Snape, you're both excused but Jackson dear why don't you walk Raylona there and see to it that Snape receives the note?" He gave a Curt nod and I got up, he pushed me out the door and had me walking ahead of him. I was angry that he was helping her, angry that we weren't friends anymore.

We walked in bitter silence until I couldn't bare it anymore. "Jackson, please. I'm really sorry for al-. " But he raised his hand, cutting me off. I rolled my eyes at his childishness and then we reached the potions classroom. Jackson knocked. "Come in." Snape snapped and Jackson opened the door and pushed me in, I bit my tongue. "Headmistress Umbridge wanted me to make sure she got here ok and that you received her note." Jackson eyed me and I handed Snape the pink note. "I see." Snape tsked. "Well she's here and I have the note, now get out Avery." Snape barked and Jackson gave Snape an angry look before giving a Curt nod and walking out, closing the door behind him. "What did she ask you? What did she want?" He toned his voice down. "It was about Harry and his friends again... She's looking for answers on how the Quibbler is still getting in the school, apparently, Jackson found some in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "P-Professer... I was wondering... If you'd heard anything from my Gaurdian..." But Snape shook his head no gently and I sighed deeply. "What will I be doing tonight, sir?" I brought my wand up to his desk and he locked eyes with mine, warm chills ran up my back. "You will grade first-year papers and the grades better be deserving. "He handed me a large pile and I steadily brought them to my regular seat, begging to work on them.

By the time detention was done, my hand was cramped from marking errors and my mind worked overboard trying to make sure everyone got the grade they deserved. Severus walked silently beside me as we made our way to the Great Hall. "Listen to me Black, it would be wise if you did not warn Luna about Umbridge looking into the Quibbler problem. If she finds out, who knows what she'll do to you." Snape's voice softened for a moment before regaining its normal snarky tone. "Thank you professor but I'm well aware of what that woman can do." I had a flashback of Harry's second scar, the one on his hand that says: I must not tell lies. He had gotten it from her. "Whatever Black, good night." He walked behind and I shook my head with a slight smile.