The Wizard's Guide to Timelords and Other Demons Book 1: The Forgotten War

Best Laid Plans

"Miss Nott, I must insist that you refrain from any future attempts to transform Draco Malfoy into a salamander," said Professor Dumbledore.

"I am sorry about that, Professor," she replied sincerely.

However, Kendra's remorse was not over her spiteful attack against a fellow student, but rather because it had been foiled by Professor Snape, who had happened to be standing nearby when she had started to cast the spell. Still, Kendra considered herself lucky to have successfully vanished the jar of pickle juice, which she had prepared for the transformed Draco, before anyone had seen it.

"Now, I understand that you were only seeking retribution after the unfortunate incident with Miss Lynch earlier this afternoon—and I assure you that we will be looking into that," Dumbledore promised. "However, you must understand that any future offense of this nature may result in your expulsion from Hogwarts. Are we clear on that Miss Nott?"

"Perfectly, sir," Kendra replied.

"Now, you should also know that Mr. Malfoy had been assisting Professor Snape in his classroom most of the morning. More specifically during the time the regrettable prank had supposedly been committed," the headmaster explained," So it would have been quite impossible for him to have been the perpetrator."

This news came as quite a disappointment to Kendra, who had been certain of Malfoy's complicity and had been looking forward to meting out judgment against him.

"Now, as for the punishment which an offense such as yours requires us to administer," Dumbledore continued, "you will spend the rest of the afternoon assisting Professor Hagrid with slug removal. I understand his cabbage patch has experienced a considerable infestation this winter."

"Yes, Professor," Kendra replied respectfully.

Despite her normally defiant attitude, Kendra held Albus Dumbledore in the highest regard. He had always been kind to her, and more than patient. Furthermore, she honestly enjoyed their little visits from time to time, even if they usually ended with her being sent off to do some unpleasant task as penance for her misbehavior.

Upon being dismissed from the headmaster's office, Kendra headed out of the castle and made her way down the hill to Rubeus Hagrid's hut, where the Care of Magical Creatures Professor could already be seen wandering through the rows of his garden, spraying Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent on small, leafy vegetables peeking out from beneath the snow-covered ground.

Kendra sighed. This was not the way she had hoped to spend her Christmas evening. Still, the quiet time would give her a perfect opportunity to plan the demise of her next suspect. And she was definitely looking forward to that.

As the afternoon waxed old, so also did Elise's taste for sherry. She had just downed her fourth glass with her now drunken aunt, while the two of them chatted in Professor Trelawney's small apartment.

Elise was eager to learn more about the Hogwarts school and its staff, hoping to identify individuals who might serve as potential vessels for her demonic quarry should he decide to possess someone here. In short, Elise was looking for those with sordid, mysterious pasts, and who clearly had dark secrets they wished to keep hidden.

Unfortunately, that list seemed to grow with each additional glass consumed by the Divination teacher, until it seemed that nearly the entire faculty was, according to Trelawney, a morass of sinister conspirators predestined for horrific fates. At least that is what her considerably inebriated Inner Eye had told her.