The Death Eater [HARRY POTTER]

14

"What are you lot doing?" Calla walked briskly up behind a group of Slytherins who were standing around in a circle, their heads bowed over something. "Shouldn't the lot of you be in class?"

All seven of them whipped around to see Calla headed toward them, and a unique look of fear and relief passed over all of their faces. Of course whatever mischief they were all up to, it was lucky that Calla had caught them rather than any of the other, older teachers. Calla was already known to be one of the kindest professors that Hogwarts had, simply because she didn't seem to have any house prejudices. Of course one of the Gryffindor's would be caught doing something stupid in the hallways, and if they happened to lose a few points she would grin quietly to herself, but she didn't show any favoritism in class. She would reward and take away points from any student that deserved it, whether they be a cocky Gryffindor, or a pompous Sytherin. One of the students rather conspicuously put their hands behind their backs, as if to shield something from Calla, and she rolled her green eyes in annoyance.

"Alright, Bradburry, out with it. What have you got in your hands?" Calla came to an abrupt stop in front of the group, a stern look on her face. Of course her larger than average eyes only added to the particularly disappointing gleam in her eyes, and as such Charles Bradburry seemed to almost thoughtlessly exposed what he had been hiding, ignoring the betrayed looks in his companions' eyes.

"It's Rita Skeeter, Ma'am," Charles looked to the side, letting Calla get a good look at the emerald beetle that was scurrying about in his hands. She's been banned from the tournament so a couple of us come down here every day and talk to her while she's in her animagus form. Draco, particularly, has been keeping her in the loop where Potter is concerned."

Calla's hand darted out quicker than Charles could react, and he snatched the beetle out of his cold hands, putting both Rita, and her hand sin her pocket so that none of the students could try to get her back, even if they wanted to.

"Fifty points from Slyhterin for knowingly assisting an unregistered animagus, and another fifty for knowingly breaking Headmaster Dumbledore's rule about speaking to the press about the Triwizard Tournament," Calla had, incidentally memorized and kept up on the animagi registry since she had become an unregistered one herself. And as such she knew that Rita Skeeter was not on it.

The group of Slytherin's groaned, but took their punishment with grace as they all hung their heads and dispersed. Once they were gone Calla squeezed the ugly little beetle in her hand a little tighter- not enough to harm the woman, but hard enough that Rita would quit biting her hand in an attempt to escape- and walked off toward her office, where she knew she had a jar somewhere.

*******

"What's this beetle in a jar for?" Hermione asked curiously, picking up said jar and examining the insect inside it rather closely. Of course Calla had been intending to threaten and release the woman eventually, but she had since changed her mind. And she had informed Rita Skeeter of her decision as well.

An article had been printed in the morning paper about Hermione going to the Yule Ball with Viktor Krum, rather than Harry Potter who she was rumored to have been dating earlier in the year, and since the article had been published Hermione had been receiving all sorts of hate mail from Harry's supporters. Hermione had already mistakenly opened an envelope with an incredibly acidic potion, that had done quite a bit of damage to her hands before she had been taken to Madame Pomfrey. And as Rita had knowingly endangered the life of a student, as well as defied Dumbledore's request for her to not enter the castle, Calla was having quite the time keeping the horrible woman captive.

"Oh, it's a rare little thing that I need for a potion. She's quite a rare breed, so please don't damage her. I need her alive when I add her to the potion later."