The Challenge | James Potter

Chapter 8 - Agreements and Realisations

MEISSA RUSHED INTO THE CLASSROOM, TRYING TO ESCAPE POTTER'S CONSTANT QUESTIONS. The class was half full as she looked for one of her friends, surely one of them had defence at the same time as her. "Everyone find a seat please, quickly" came the stern voice of Professor Kent "No time to waste" Meissa couldn't see any of her crew so she took a seat to herself by the wall, hoping one of them would come sooner rather than later. She could tell without looking who sat down behind her, Potter, and to make matters worse Sirius "Mate do you not want to sit somewhere else?" came Sirius's awkward voice, clearly uncomfortable sitting so close beside his former sister "There is no where else unfortunately Pads" which there was truth behind as the place started filling up and the seat beside Meissa was the only one left as a boy sat in beside her "Can we talk again Black?" bloody Nott "what is it with everyone wanting to talk, Merlin above, it's only the first day back " she said this loud enough for James to hear. "Black be quiet" Kent scolded. "I thought you didn't want to speak to me anymore, gaging from the looks in potions and how I apparently must have some plague that you needed to distance yourself from" Meissa whisper hissed at Nott "Can't you find another seat?" Nott looked guilty, regretting his earlier actions as he moved his chair closer beside her causing someone behind her to cough excessively loudly, Meissa turned around and gave Potter a dirty look "What" she hissed, to see him pointing at the Professor, who was waiting on her and Nott to be quiet. "Would you like a detention on your first day back Mrs Black?" "No, sorry Sir" "Well then keep your mouth shut, I won't tolerate this disrespect on the first day back, Mrs Black and Mr Black swap seats now, NO QUESTIONS, perhaps the head boy can teach you how to behave in class" Meissa was fit to cry out of frustration "Please sir I won't talk again I swear" "MOVE NOW" Sirius got up trying to help the situation, which was rare, Meissa at her wits end finally got up with her belongings and moved, could this morning get any worse. Not many students liked Kent, as he tended to pick on one student for the year and it seemed Meissa was the lucky student this year. "Sorry Black, honestly I just wanted to make sure your alright" Meissa was resorting back to her ability to go mute as sometimes she found no need to talk and she faced her body away from the apologetic boy as she thought "When has he ever apologised to me before and why does he care all of a sudden? Strange boy" She sat listening to Kent ramble on about the summer reading we had to do which was based on werewolves and animagus's, to make sure we remembered from third year. "So who would like to tell me the difference between the two" Kent looked around the classroom, but from the earlier encounter everyone knew who he was going to pick, including Meissa "Mrs Black, why don't you enlighten us all. Meissa sighed before starting, "An animagus is a wizard or witch who chooses to turn into an animal, but a werewolf unfortunately has no choice. A werewolf no longer has their former wizard or witch mind when they transform, where as an animagus still holds the same mental state as their former self" Meissa announced as she was familiar with the matter "Good work Mrs Black, you can return to your normal seat tomorrow" Kent had given her a second chance, that never happens. James was again impressed by Meissa's knowledge and wondered, had she always been this clever, the answer was yes. Kent followed Meissa's description by adding, "Werewolves are dangerous creatures and should be locked up or in their own sanctuary, as they do not fit in our wizard community" Meissa was going to regret this but couldn't help it "Sir, that's not correct" Meissa tried her best to be respectful as the class held their breath "Excuse me Mrs Black are you saying I am wrong?" Sirius and James shared a look of disbelief as she got in before they did. "Yes" Kent was red, he was fuming but Meissa was passionate about this topic so she continued "They have every right to be in our wizarding community, as they pose no threat except for a couple hours once a month, and now with the development of wolfsbane ---" "Mrs Black, twenty points from slytherin and detention later" "but Sir --"And you will remain in that seat for the rest of the year --, what now Potter" Meissa turned to see Potters hand up in the air along with Sirius's "Sir with all due respect, and I can't believe I'm saying this but I completely agree with Black, werewolves have every right to be amongst us in the wizarding community and should not be seen as dangerous monsters as they are people, more often than not" "I believe the same Sir, they have every capacity to be seen as equals and members of society that should be helped and not feared or locked away" came Sirius's strong voice seeming also very passionate on the topic. "ENOUGH!!! ALL THREE OF YOU DENTENTION TONIGHT FOR SPEAKING DISRESPECTIVELY IN CLASS, AND IF I HEAR A SINGLE WORD FROM ANY OF YOU, YOU WILL NEVER STEP FOOT IN MY CLASSROOM AGAIN! Does anyone else have something to say?" The room was silent "Didn't think so now where was I--" " Meissa hit her head against the table and wished for this day to be over, school was turning out to be just as bad as home at this rate.