Humble & Wild

For a huge Castle in the Highlands, word gets around quicker then a house on fire, the news of Terra finding a baby Unicorn foal, that seemed to make her popular especially with Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Thankfully her Father arrived that afternoon to take the foal back to Devon, the foal seemed to like the idea of leaving Terra, but she knows it will calm down once it settles at the cottage, not to mention it’ll be the end of term within a month. Beside from that, Harry, Ron, and Hermione told her about what Firenze told Harry about what killed the Unicorn is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and Snape is trying to get the Stone for him.

“But He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is afraid of Dumbledore, I doubt he would try take something under his noise while he is in Hogwarts,” Terra said to them as they walk up the stairs.

“That’s what I told them,” Hermione says.

In weeks pass the End of Year Exams have begun, the writing papers was held in swelteringly hot large classroom, with Anti-Cheating spell quills. When it came to practical exams, each would mark them differently depending on how well the student does, in charms Professor Flitwick called in his students one at a time, Professor McGonagall watched them when a student turned their mouse into a snuff-box, and when it came to Professor Snape, he made them very nervous, even more then usually if that was even possible when he studied them while they try to make the Forgetfulness Potion. Terra noticed that Harry kept touching the scar on his forehead, recalling how she first saw that happening when in the Forest during the encounter with the Hooded Figure, she had a few nightmares during the first week before the Exams, Rolf had made her Dreamless Sleeping Potion after the second night, she was glad she did not get them anymore, but that fear of Voldemort trying to come back did clouded over her, but revisions did keep her busy.

When the last Exam was done, the quartet decided to wandered to the Black Lake and flopped under the tree, it did feel good of getting the tests done, and the stress lift off one shoulders. Terra laid on the grass, using her bag as a pillow while looking up at the clouds.

“No more revision,” Ron sighed happily, stretching out on the grass. “You could look more cheerful Harry; we’ve got a week before we find out how badly we done there’s no need to worry yet.”

Harry was rubbing his forehead.

“I wish I knew what this means!” Harry burst out angrily. “My scar keeps hurting, its happened before, but not like this.”

“Go to Madam Pomfrey,” Hermione suggested.

“I'm not ill,” said Harry. “I think it’s warning… it means danger’s coming…”

While they talk, Terra did think back on how the Stone is protected, several teachers have taken part of it, so as long as no-one knows about how to get pass Fluffy they still got over forms of Magic to get it, but something did find it odd to her, out of nowhere someone had a dragon egg and betted it on a game of cards, she does remembers how her Father worked on stopping traders from bring creatures into the UK without proper papers, and how normal for someone to get caught quick every2 other day was standard routine.

Then it clicked, and Harry had some thought, the two suddenly jumped to their feet.

“Where are you two going?” Ron asked sleepily.

“Going to Hagrid’s,” Terra answered, grabbing her bag.

Ron and Hermione hurried after them when they started running.

“I've just thought of something,” said Harry. “Don’t you think it’s odd that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon.”

“And a how many people wonder with dragon eggs in there pocket,” Terra then says. “And just so happens to be in the same place where Hagrid is.”

“What are you on about?” Said Ron.

They didn’t  answer as they now sprinted across the grounds towards the Forest, Hagrid was outside his hut, sat on the stone steps, playing the flute with Fang by his feet.

“Hullo,” he said. “Finish your exams.”

“Hagrid who gave you the Dragon Egg?” Harry asked him, ignoring his question. “What did he look like?”

“Dunno,” said Hagrid casually. “He wouldn’ take his cloak off.”

“What did you talk to him about,” Harry asked.

“Well, he,” Hagrid tried to remember. “He asked  what sort of Creatures I look’ after, so I told him, after Fluffy, a dragon would be easy..”

“And did he, did he seem interested in Fluffy?” Harry asked.

“Well, yeah, how many three-headed dogs d’yeh meet, even around Hogwarts? So, I told him, Fluffy’s a piece of cake if yeh know how to calm him, jus’ play him a bit of music an’ he’ll fall straight asleep.”

Hagrid suddenly looked horrified.

“I shouldn’ta told yeh that!”

They four ran, heading to the castle and straight to the Deputy head of Hogwarts, seeing how none of them knew where the Headmaster’s Office is, so Prof McGonagall is the closets.

“We have to see prof Dumbledore immediately,” Harry told, McGonagall who was at her desk.

“I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore left 10 minutes ago,” she replied. “He received an urgent owl from the Ministry of Magic and flew off for London.”

“He’s gone,” said Harry frantically. “But this is important, this is about, the Philosopher’s Stone.”

Terra had never seen McGonagall so shocked.

“How did you know?”

“We think is going to try and steal it,” Harry says.

“Professor Dumbledore will be back tomorrow,” McGonagall told them. “I don’t know how you found out about the Stone, but rest assured, no one can possibly steal it, it’s too well protected.”

She told them to leave and to keep it among themselves, while Harry was talk to Hermione and Ron, Terra felt someone walking towards them, she turned her head and her blood turn cold.

“Good afternoon,” Snape said smoothly.

The Gryffindor’s turned to face the Potions Master.

“Now what would four first years, such as yourselves be doing inside on a day like this,” he questioned.

Hermione tried to get an answer out, but Snape spoke again.

“Want to be careful, people will think your,” he looked at Harry, who was glaring. “Up to something.”

He turns around and walked back to way he came.

“Now what do we do?” Hermione asked her friends.

“We go through the trapdoor,” Harry answered. “Tonight.”

With a plan to meet up with the Gryffindors outside the third floor, how she was going to get there without getting spotted, the first time was just luck even if she was looking for Lulu at the time. So, she went to bed early, but change into her normal clothes, blue jeans, yellow t-shirt with her knitted cardigan where her wand in placed in the inside pocket. Once her roommates had fallen asleep, she get out of bed quietly she made sure that the common room was empty she silently made it to the exit.     

Half way up she heard flipping heading towards her, some books popped out from a random bookcase and flying towards her.

“Snufflifors!” Terra whispered once she drawn her wand at them.

The flapping books turned into mice with a pop, then scurry away to the nearest mousehole in the castle walls. After that she quickened her step to the third floor.

“Terra!” Harry said.

Terra looked around, no one was there.

“Harry? Where are you guys?”

“Here,” Harry said.

The sight made her jump, Harry, Ron, and Hermione are there, but their body where not.

“What the-” Terra gasped.

“Invisibility Cloak,” Harry says, removing the cloak, revealing the rest of the Gryffindors. “It was my Dad’s.”

“That’s handy,” Terra said recovering from her shock. “but don’t do that again please. Right are we ready.”

“Yeah let me just,” Harry says as he reached in his back pocket, but he then started patting down his other pockets. “Oh no.”

“What?” Hermione said.

“I must have drop the flute, when Neville tried to stop us from leaving the tower.”

“We got to go get it,” Ron says.

“We don’t have time,” said Harry. “By the time we get there and back, Snape will have gotten the Stone and be long gone.”

“I’ll do it,” Terra says.

“Do what?” Hermione asked.

“I’ll take of Fluffy.”

“Come off it,” Ron exclaimed. “That thing will rip you apart.”

“Harry is right, we don’t have time, besides I've been reading more about Cerberus, and I think I know how what to do.”

“You think?” Hermione shrieked.

“Look we can stand here all night, or we get this over with,” Terra spat. “You worry about getting the Stone, I’ll worry about Fluffy.”

“She’s right,” Harry said.

“Get under the cloak, don’t get out from it till I say so and don’t  make any noise.”

She unlocked the door with her wand while Harry put the cloak over Ron, Hermione, and himself, once again invisible. Taking a deep breathe and opens the door slowly, she poke her head in, hearing a harp playing and snores.

“His asleep,” Terra whispered. “Come on.”

Slowly stepping inside, leaving the door open for the others so the shut the door themselves, the harp was in the corner of the room, she turned her attention to Fluffy, she tiptoes to the sleeping dog, creeping around to the back-leg, and the next part she could have sworn she heard Hermione gasp and Ron cursing near the door. Terra was climbing onto the dog’s back, she had to stop when Fluffy stirred, thankfully the harp kept on playing, keeping Fluffy asleep, when she made it to the middle head, the harp stopped.

Fluffy realised that he has a girl on his back, the two heads look at her and growled.

Terra started to scratch Fluffy’s middle neck, instantly they stopped growling, and made a rumble noises, from all three heads, they were enjoying the scratches .

“Ok, go!” Terra tells the others.

Removing the cloak near the harp, the Gryffindor opened the trap door and enter.

“Good luck,” Terra says, still petting Fluffy.

Terra was starching Fluffy for so long, her arms ached and felt like they where going to fall off, but she had to keep going, thankfully Fluffy got on his side and she was giving him belly rubs, she had to test one more, is was more crazy then climbing into his back in the first place, she slowly stopped petting the dog’s belly, and finally gave her arms a rest, Fluffy got up from his side but still laid down, staring at her, she remained clam.

But Fluffy didn’t growl, or showed his teeth, all three heads where panting, she could here something thumping on the over side of the room behind him, he was wagging his tail, he was happy.

“Bet you’ve not had that done since you where smaller,” Terra whispered, making sure not make him anger to be save.

The three heads began panting, there breathe was horrendous, but Terra had been around and looking after Magic Creature for years, so it was nothing new. 

“Terra?!”

Hermione voice came from the trap door, she hurried over, Fluffy watched her.

“Hermione,” Terra called, looking down the trapdoor. “You alright?”

“I'm ok, we need to get the Owlery send word to Dumbledore, Harry has gone after Snape,” Hermione explained as her head pokes out from the floor. “I've got Ron with me; he needs to go to the Hospital Wing. Is it safe?”

Her eyes were on Fluffy.

“Oh, not to worry fluffy is a good dog aren’t you boys.”

Both three headed licked her, covering her in drool, she used her wand to be rid of it.

“You are wild Terra,” Ron said after seeing the Fluffy is nothing more than an oversized puppy, panting happily.

Once Hermione and Ron existed the Trapdoor, the trio rushed out of the room, before Terra was going to take Ron to the Hospital Wing and Hermione going to the Owlery, Dumbledore appeared and made his way to the room with the Trapdoor.

But morning the whole school knew of what happened, it’s nearly impossible to keep anything quiet in the school, Hermione and Ron were worried how Harry was passed out for a three days, when Dumbledore informed them that was awake they headed straight over, once after Madam Pomfrey let them in, Harry told them everything that happened, Quirrell, the Mirror, the Stone and Voldemort and when harry told them about what was underneath Quirrell’s turban, Terra gasped covering her mouth with her hands and felt a bit sick.

“So, the Stone’s gone,” said Ron finally. “Flamel’s just going to die?”

Terra’s heart dropped, feeling guilty for Nicholas Flamel to lose one of his creations, but for the best.

“That’s what I said,” says Harry. “But dumbledore thinks that, what was it? ‘to the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure?”

“I always said he was off his rocker, said Ron.

“So, what happened to you three,” Harry asked.

“Yeah Terra you still haven’t told us how you tamed Fluffy?” Hermione said.

“Oh, I got the idea of it from the Runespoor’s heads,”

“The what?” Harry and Ron said together.

“A three headed serpent, each head has purpose, so with that in mind and because Fluffy is a dog, and what dog does not want to be petted, I had the theory of the middle head not getting the most, and my theory was right.”

They looked at her in awe and shock.

“Never mind dumbledore, you are off your rocker Terra," Ron said.

“I’m a Scamander,” she simply replied shrugging her shoulders.

They talked telling Terra what the Trio did in order to go after the Stone, about what happened after dumbledore arrived back at the school, then how Gryffindor got steamrolled by Ravenclaw in Quidditch, that Slytherin had won the House Cup,  and the end of year feast is happening tomorrow, before Madam Pomfrey send Terra, Hermione, and Ron out.  

The night of the feast, the Great Hall had Slytherin banners hanging the beams above, the students wear their black pointed hats, Terra sat next to her brother, she looked over to the Gryffindor Table, they looked miserable, they where so close to winning the House Cup, hoping to break the Snakes 7-year win.

Professor McGonagall tap her glass, the hall falls quiet, Dumbledore stood up from his chair.

“Another year gone!” Dumbledore said cheerfully. “And I must trouble you with an old man’s wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully, your heads are all a little fuller than they were… you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts… Now, as I understand it, the House Cup here needs awarding, in fourth place, Gryffindor with 312 points.”

Terra clapped with several other Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws and a hand full of Gryffindors.

“In third place, Hufflepuff with 352.”

The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws clapped for the Badgers.

“In second place, Ravenclaw with 426.”

The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors clapped for the Eagles.

“And in first place with 472 Slytherin House.”

The cheering of stooping form the Slytherin table was loud, and a sickening sight.

AN: (no disrespect for any Slytherins reading this)

“Yes, yes, well done Slytherin ,” said Dumbledore. “However, recent events must be taken into account, I have a few last-minute points to award.”

The students started to whisper to one another.

“First to Mr Ronald Weasley, for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years, fifty points.”

The Gryffindor table cheered for the youngest Weasley in Hogwarts; Terra clapped too along with several others.

“Second to Miss Hermione Granger, for the cool logic in the face of fire, fifty points.”

The Gryffindor table cheered, Terra clapped louder seeing Hermione nearly burst into tears, the Lions were up 100 points.

“Third to Mr Harry Potter, for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor House sixty points.”

The cheers where close to deafening, Gryffindor and Slytherin are now at a draw.

“There are all kinds of courage, said dumbledore smiling. It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to out friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr Neville Longbottom.”

Now the cheers was deafening, but Dumbledore was not done, raising his hand to silence the excited students.

“And lastly, to Miss Terra Scamander, for her knowledge of Magical Creatures, her bravery and loyalty to her friends, I award Hufflepuff, 130 points.”

Terra felt her face turn red as Gryffindor’s Scarlet, she could not believe her ears, she never earned that many points and properly never will again, her table roared with cheer, even those on Gryffindor cheered just as loud as the Badgers, terra could see, Harry, Ron and Hermione cheering the loudest.

“Assuming that my calculation are correct, I believe that a change of decoration is in order.”

He clap his hands together, and with a wave of his hands towards the banners, the green sliver Serpents vanished and is replaced with scarlet gold Lions and black and yellow Badgers filled the hall.

“Gryffindor and Hufflepuff win the House Cup!”

The Lions stood from their seats, as did the Badgers, the Eagles followed after, all cheering themselves hoarse, they threw their hats up in the air, Terra was getting huge hugs from her brother, while other Hufflepuff’s from all years went up to her, shaking hands with her, patting her back, even if she didn’t know them or not she even got a hug from Cedric, she could not care. While the cheering was still going she made her way to her friends, hugging Hermoine, then Ron, then Neville and lastly Harry. This is a memory she will remember, a moment with her friends she will cherish.

The exam results came, Terra got good marks, as good as she can do, Harry and Ron got good mark too, Hermione got top marks as expected, trunks where pack, students pets in cages, reminders of not to use magic over the summer, the first years where taken to the boats to get back to the station, where the Hogwarts Express is waiting for them. The journey back was filled with laugher and talking, terra thought back to how she was when she got on the train the first time, meet her friends, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, how shy was and now she is a little braver now.

Out of their school robes and into normal clothes just before they got to Platform 9 ¾, gathering their belongings, and once they got pass the barrier, having to go in two’s or three’s so not to alarm the Muggles.

“You must come a stay this summer,” said Ron. “The three of you, I’ll send you an owl.”

“Thanks,” said Harry. “I’ll need something to look forward to.”

They heard several others called out their goodbyes.

“Still famous,” said Ron grinning at him.

“Not where I'm going, I promise you,” said Harry.

Terra and Rolf went before Harry Ron and Hermione.

They spotted their Father, talking to a red-haired plumed woman, standing by her side a little girl with matching hair, it had to be Ron Mother, Mrs Weasley, and the youngest child out of the family, Ginny. 

“Hello Rolf, Terra,” Oliver greeted his children, giving them a hug. “Kept busy?”

“You have no idea,” Terra mumbled, not too sure how much he knows about this year after her Detention in the Forest.

The trio had just passed through the gateway.

“Harry Potter!” Ginny squealed. “Look, Mum! I can see-”

“Be quiet, Ginny, and it’s rude to point,” Mrs Weasley told her. “Busy year?”

“Very,” Harry replied. “Thanks for the fudge and the jumper, Mrs Weasley.”

“Oh, it was nothing dear.”

Harry looked at Oliver, the man gave him a kind smile.

“You must be Mr Scamander?” He said.

“Mr Scamander is my father,” Oliver chuckled. “You can call me Oliver, it’s nice to meet you Harry,”

“Dad these are my friends, Hermione and Ron,” Terra said.

“Lovely to meet you all.”

“You too sir,” Hermione said smiling.

“None of that too,” he kindly replied. Just Oliver.”

“Ready are you?”

They turned around to see a man, that looked like a walrus, looking furious at Harry. This was Harry’s Muggle relatives; terra didn’t think his uncle would look so… mean. Compared to her great uncles, their whereas different as night and day.

“Hurry up, boy, we haven’t got all day,” the muggle walked away.

Harry hang back for last words with Ron, Hermione, and Terra.

“See you over the summer, then.”

“We’ll send letters every week if you like, or more,” said Terra.

“Hope you have, er, a good holiday,” said Hermione, looking at uncertainly after his uncle, shocked that anyone could be so unpleasant.

“Oh, I will,” said Harry, and they were surprised at the grin that spread on his face. “They don’t know we’re not allowed to use magic outside school, I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer.”

And with that, Harry hurried after his uncle, Terra watched till the scruffy black-haired boy was out of sight.