The Fox In A Snake Pit! Story 3

Sirius Black

Jade stood still for a moment, her heart pounding. The terrifying thought crossed her mind: 'Could Hagrid have sent me something to kill me?' A wave of dread washed over her. She was well aware of Hagrid's unusual friendships; he had a knack for befriending enormous spiders, purchasing ferocious three-headed dogs from shady characters in taverns, and even sneaking illegal dragon eggs into his cozy hut. 

"But this..." she began, her voice trailing off as the creature before her, snapped its jaws with a menacing crack.

Jade lunged for the lamp perched on her bedside table, her fingers wrapping firmly around the cool metal. She hefted it above her head, her heart racing with a mix of fear and determination, poised to defend herself. With her other hand, she snatched at the remnants of the wrapping paper, the crinkling sound heightening the suspense in the air.

As she tore away the paper, a perplexing sight emerged: a book? 

Jade blinked in disbelief, bewildered at how a mere book could emit such terrifying sounds moments before. Her eyes widened as they captured the stunning emerald green cover, the title The Monster Book of Monsters glimmering in gold. Just as she was processing this bizarre revelation, the book flipped onto its side, scuttling across the floor like some peculiar creature from a dark fairy tale.

Jade watched in silence as the mischievous book scuttled away, seeking refuge in the shadowy corner beneath her desk. She held her breath, hoping that the commotion hadn't disturbed the Malfoys, whose rooms were alarmingly close to her own. 

Jade dropped to all fours, stretching out to grab the elusive book. Just as she reached it, the cover abruptly shut on her hand, prompting her to exclaim, "Ow! Damn it!" The book fluttered by her like a frantic creature, its covers flapping wildly in a desperate attempt to escape. 

Frustration boiling over, Jade lunged forward, managing to pin the rebellious tome to the ground. With a firm grip, she wrapped her arms around the writhing book and dashed to her wardrobe, where she retrieved a sturdy leather belt.

As she secured the belt around the book, it quivered in protest, its anger palpable in the air. Yet, despite its furious attempts to break free, the book was now firmly restrained. With a sigh of relief, Jade tossed it into the depths of her wardrobe, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle over her as she turned her attention back to the spot where she had left Hagrid's card.

'Dear Miss Green, 

Happy Birthday! 

Thought you and Harry might find this useful for next year. I won't say no more here. Tell you when I see you. 

Hope the Malfoys are looking after you.

All the best,

Hagrid'

She found it odd that Hagrid believed a dangerous book could be of any help, yet she placed his card alongside those from Ron and Hermione. 

Jade's smile stretched wider than it ever had before, as she realized the only thing remaining was the letter from Hogwarts. Observing that the envelope felt unusually hefty, she carefully opened it, then retreated to her cozy room, where the warmth enveloped her. Settling onto her bed, she felt a rush of excitement as she extracted the first sheet of parchment and read:

'Dear Miss Green, 

Heads up! The new school year starts on September first. Be sure to catch the Hogwarts Express as it leaves King's Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven sharp.