Melody Riddle and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 12: Draco the Bouncing Ferret

The next morning, it was as if there had been no storm the night before. However, the ceiling in the Great Hall still showed us that it was quite gloomy outside. I commented on it shortly before Professor Snape handed us our schedules, and we quickly consulted them.

"I will talk to you after your afternoon class to discuss your tutoring schedule," Professor Snape said shortly, swooping away with his cloak flowing gently behind him.

"Tutoring?" Lissy asked me.

"I'm in a tutoring program –" I started to say.

"She's the tutor," Draco clarified.

"She's the best student in Slytherin House – possibly better than any Ravenclaw, too," Becky added.

Marcus wrapped his arm around me, "The only girl I've ever met that's smart and beautiful."

I sighed in frustration, "Listen to them boast, then. Besides, Becky, I highly doubt that I'm the best student... and Marcus, not even possible."

Becky giggled, ignoring me in favor of giddily talking and signing to Lissy and Trixy. "She's going to take her O.W.L.s this year too... and those are supposed to be for fifth year students." Both Lissy and Trixy looked at me in awe. "She'll be ending school earlier than anyone else. She's amazing and brilliant, that's what she is."

I rolled my eyes, "I'm not...... It looks like this morning we have Transfiguration, then Care of Magical Creatures. After lunch Becky and I go to Study of Ancient Runes... for a double period? Huh."

As the mail came in, Draco's eagle owl landed on his shoulder carrying his usual supply of sweets and cakes. His parents are over-generous with him, I thought as Becky and I nodded at each other in quiet agreement.

"Will you ever share those?" Becky asked him.

He looked at her as if she was some strange entity, "No."

I snorted.

"You have enough to feed us some," Marcus said, catching on, a large smile on his face. "If not to your closest friends, then how about these young first years here?"

Lissy and Trixy gave Draco their best puppy eyes.

Becky and I giggled uncontrollably at Draco's horrified reaction.

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For Transfiguration that morning, Professor McGonagall had us turn a hedgehog into a pincushion. I, as usual, was the first to transform mine perfectly, thereby earning Slytherin ten points and getting to help Becky and Draco to get theirs done.

At Care of Magical Creatures, outside Professor Hagrid's hut were several open wooden crates at his feet. His enormous black boarhound, Fang, was whimpering and straining at his collar to go take a look at them. The crates were emitting a strange rattling noise, and as we drew nearer it was punctuated by minor explosions.

The Gryffindors were already there when we arrived, and we heard Professor Hagrid say, "On'y jus' hatched, so yeh'll be able ter raise 'em yerselves! Thought we'd make a bit of a project of it!"

I walked straight to the crates to glance inside at the ugliest creatures ever... they looked like a mixture of scorpions and crabs when they grew up, but since they were just hatched they looked like deformed, shell-less lobsters. Pale and slimy looking.

"What are they?" I asked.

Professor Hagrid beamed proudly, "Those're Blas' Ended Skrewts"

"And why would we want to raise them?" Draco asked coldly. Vincent and Greg chuckled appreciatively.