PotterInk (Writing Contest) REVAMPED

Round 2: Entries

Emma Frey

Emma was so meticulously staring at the uneven, rutted ground of the Forbidden Forest that when she looked up at the sound of a bird’s crow, her head spun. She hadn’t had an incident like on the one upon exiting the Express since the day, and had remained moderately clumsy in her first few weeks as a Hogwarts fifth year. Emma was determined to keep it that way. Besides that, she had forgotten to ask Professor Snape what the spell was that he had used to catch her fall, and she had no plans to die today. Emma knew this was a ‘better-safe-than-sorry’ situation, so she paid full attention to the ground. 

She was walking alongside a tree root, watching the ground, and not having realized the rest of her classmates had stopped. The entire right side of her body collided straight into a very large fifth-year Slytherin. She gulped, nodded, and was simple in her apology. “Sorry, my fault.” And she skittered off to the other side of the class. 

“Quiet, quiet now.” Said Hagrid, their teacher for ‘Care and Study of Magical Creatures’. He hushed the students. “Today I’m going to talk to you students about the different choices you have for a career involving magical creatures.” Hagrid cleared his throat loud. “I, um, wanted do this since this is the year you take the OWLs and such.” 

Some snickering went through the group and Emma frowned. Hagrid was nervous and didn’t need immature students to make him even more uncomfortable “What jobs are available for someone interested in the care of magical creatures?”

“A magizoologist,” A Ravenclaw a few people down from Emma said. Hagrid nodded his large, hairy head. 

“Where can ya work at with that kind of job, kids?”

Emma raised her hand. She hated when classmates spoke quietly, so when she did get to speak she answered it as loudly as she could. “Magizoologists can work at the Ministry under the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.” 

“Nice, Emma, exactly.” Hagrid complimented her. She smiled a ‘thanks’ and they went on. “I just wanted to show you about the three different divisions they study in that Department. Does anyone know?” 

“Beings, spirits, and beasts.” Someone yelled out. Hagrid was pleased, and seemed to boost in confidence. He clapped his hands together. 

“Good job, guys, uh, so,” He held his hands out. “You are all a magical being. That’s your classification. What about a beast?” 

Few rounds of responses went around. The basilisk, the acromantula, and a chimaera were some of the few Emma heard. Hagrid asked for examples of spirits, but Emma’s attention was pulled elsewhere. 

In the bushes there came a rustling, and Emma’s blood ran cold. She gulped, and turned her head. Few others around her had heard it, but ignored. This wasn’t just a woodland creature or a pygmy puff or anything. She looked closer, and saw it was big. And it looked like. 

“Centaur.” She breathed. But not just one. Slowly, three came from the shadows. Hagrid stopped mid-sentence and everyone turned. A few screamed. Some smart ones ran for the school. But Emma stayed. Her heart beat like a drum.

“Hallo.” Hagrid’s voice was shaking. “Just teaching a class to these here students. Let’s get back into the school now.” He tried to push the students back, but most stood in awe at the half-man, half-horses. Just as Emma was about to turn, a figure appeared in the corner of her eye. Three more large, black, centaurs jumped Hagrid and surrounded him. The rest of the class ran. Still, breath slow and steady, Emma waited. 

“Centaurs.” She sounded stronger than she was. “I beseech you, release Hagrid and let us go back to the school. He was giving a lesson—“

“About the Ministry, witch!” The usual perk of enthusiasm didn’t arise when the Ministry came up, but now a surge of strength in Emma. She clenched her fists and attempted to stay diplomatic.