Humble & Wild

When Terra returned to the Hufflepuff common room that night, she was greeted with a cold demur, none of her dormmates said a word to her, only her brother kept her company but he said nothing about what happened in the Great Hall, so with that she went to bed, but sleep did not come, her mind was racing about what happened not mere hours ago, Harry is a Parselmouth, but she was more worried about what the rest of the school will think, ‘The Boy Who Lived’ can speak Parseltongue, she noticed the panic in his voice when he said ‘I can’t be’, and with no living family member on his wizard family’s side it would be impossible to confirm his birthright.

But she knew Harry, one of her best friends, he would never attack anyone without reason, and why would he be attacking Muggleborns when Hermione is one, it just would not make sense.

After waking up from what little sleep she got, once dressed she made her way out of the common room when Justin push pass her quite hard, she turned back but Justin kept on walking not even looking over his shoulder. Why did he do that, she got on well with everyone in her house, even if the ones that she hardly talked to who wanted to be left alone where fine, however she quickly remembers that how rapid students in this school can turn to hate you as fast as a Golden Snitch. Forgetting about Justin she makes her way to the Great Hall for breakfast, then head to classes with her Gryffindor friends.

When it came to last Herbology class of the term, it was cancelled due to the snow outside, Terra took the free period to go near the forest, to let the Kitsune Pups to see their first snow under the watchful eye of their parents. She saw Hagrid walk up to the castle, she told the Kitsunes to pop back into her suitcase and headed after him, but she was quite a way off from him, she had to run. By the time she caught up with him, he had someone walked into him, knocking the person to the floor, she looked around to see Harry, then noticed a dead rooster in Hagrid’s huge hand.

“Oh hullo, Hagrid, Terra,” Harry said looking up.

“All righ’, Harry?” Hagrid said, pulling up the balaclava so he can speak. “Terra, you were outside?” he asked her.

“Yeah, I had something to do,” Terra told him, she raised her case and patted it.

“Ah,” Hagrid said and winked at her in understanding, knowing what’s inside the case. “Why aren’t yeh two in class?”

“Cancelled,” Harry said getting up. “What’re you doing in here?”

“Second one killed this term,” he explained as he held up the limp rooster. “It’s either foxes or a Blood-Suckin’ Bugbear, an’ I need the Headmaster’s permission ter put a charm round the hen-coop. Yeh sure yeh’re all righ’? Yeh look all hot an’ bothered.”

“It’s nothing,” Harry said. “I’d better get going, Hagrid it’s transfiguration next and I've got to pick up my books.”

He walked off, Terra knew that something was bothering him, after saying bye to Hagrid she hurries off after Harry.

“Harry?” she called out, he turns his head around, and the two walk together. “You okay?”

“Yeah I just,” Harry started, “I just overheard some of the Hufflepuffs in our year, about yesterday.”

“Oh yeah,” Terra says awkwardly. “They have been acting cold towards me too.”

“Why would-”

Harry and Terra stopped in their tracks at the sight in front of them, Terra put her hand to her mouth as she gasped, Justin and Nearly Headless Nick have been petrified, they both walked close, Harry kneeled down at Justin, Terra was more confused of how Nick got petrified, a sudden fright shanked in her stomach like ice, what is doing the attacks?

“Caught in the act,” came a voice from behind, making them both jump, it was Filch. “I’ll have you out this time Potter, mark my words.”

“No Mr Filch,” Harry called out as the Caretaker walked away. “You don’t understand.”

Something caught in the corner of Terra’s eye, a trail of Spiders all trying to get out of the open window, just like at the first scene on Halloween night.

“Harry look at-”.

But the sound of hurried footsteps took her attention away, Filch had returned with McGonagall, she gasped at the scene.

“Professor I swear I didn’t,” Harry tried to explain himself.

“This is out of my hands Potter,” she said. “Come with me, you too Miss Scamander.”

Without speaking a word to each other they followed the Deputy Head, down several corridors till they reach a Griffin statue, immediately Terra knew where they were going and by getting a quick glance at Harry so did he.

“Professor Dumbledor will be waiting for you,” said McGonagall.

Harry and Terra walk towards it as McGonagall gestured them to approach it.

“Sherbet Lemon,” she said, and the Statue began to move.

It started to rise up into a spiral staircase, they stand on the top step, by the time it stopped at a door, the entrance to Dumbledore’s Office. Harry knocked before opening the door.

“Professor Dumbledore?” Harry called out, poking his head in the room.

No answer. He opens the door fully and he and Terra entered, the looked around in awe, out of all the offices the headmaster’s did have the most interest, Terra put her suitcase down on one of the tables and wonders around looking at the many portraits of sleeping wizards and witches no doubt they are the previous Headmasters and Headmistress of Hogwarts.   

“Your wrong!”

“Pardon?” Terra said confused, turning to Harry who was near the Sorting Hat.

“Um, nothing,” Harry replied.

The sound of gagging came from the big desk, standing on a golden perch is a large bird, with red and gold feathers that seem to be moulting quite rapidly, Terra smiled knowing what it is, and before Harry could ask, the bird combusted into flames, its ashes that landed on a dish underneath the perch.  

“Harry?” Dumbledore’s voice came from above them, the two students looked up to see him on the small staircase from the back of the room.

“Professor, sir your bird,” Harry tried to explain. “There was nothing we could do, he just caught fire.”

“Oh and about time too,” Dumbledore replied. “He’s been looking dreadful for days, pity you had to see him on a burning day.”

Harry gave a confused look, Terra notice and giggled.

“The bird is a Phoenix,” Terra said.

“Indeed,” Dumbledore says with a smile, walking towards them. “Fawkes is a Phoenix Harry, they burst into flame when it is time for them to die, and they are reborn from the ashes.”

They watched the pile of ash move and a baby Fawkes pokes his head out and chirps, Terra’s smile grew, it’s not every day you would see a Phoenix going though is reborn circle.

“Fascinating creature Phoenixes,” said Dumbledore awing over a cooing Fawkes. “They can carry immensely heavy loads, and their tears have healing powers.”

Terra moved closer to pet the baby Fawkes’s head who is enjoying it, and a good thing to because when Hagrid came thundering in, the poor little thing jumped out from his ash pile in shock and would have landed on the cold stone floor if Terra did not caught him in time.

“Professor Dumbledore sir wait!” the Game Keeper said and stormed right up to the three of them. “Listen, Professor Dumbledore sir, it wasn’t Harry.”

He was ranting while waving rooster around sending feathers everywhere, one of them unknowingly landing in Terra’s hair as Dumbledore tried to say something.

“Hagrid.”

“It cant’ve bin him, I’ll swear it in front o’ the Ministry o’ Magic if I have to-” 

“Hagrid!” said Dumbledore loudly. “I do not think Harry attacked those people.”

“Of course you don’t, an-,” Hagrid stopped realizing now. “Oh, oh right,” he had gone red with embarrassment. “Well, I'm- I’ll just wait outside then.”

They watched him leave before Harry turned to the Headmaster.

“You don’t think it me professor,” Harry said.

“No Harry I do not think it was you, but I must ask you, is there something you wish to tell me?”

Terra slightly tensed at that moment and the rooster feather fell out of her hair, she quietly places Fawkes back on his perch.

“No sir,” Harry replied. “Nothing.”

“Very well then, off you go both of you,” Dumbledore says, and just when they were at the door. “Oh Miss Scamander would you mind looking after Fawkes for me, there are some papers I must go over that cannot wait.”

“N-No, I don’t mind at all sir,” Terra replied,

She walks back, places her case down on the floor, opens it, picks up Fawkes carefully and steps down into her case, and no more than a minute she steps out and closes it.

“Thank you my dear I’ll send a message when I'm free again should be a day or two,” Dumbledore tells her with a smile.

Once the two second years got off of the stairs and a good two corridors away, Harry checked his watch they have five minutes to get to Transfiguration, but his mind is not set on his next class, he could not get what the hat said to him, Terra noticed that Harry is still troubled.

“Harry?” she says as she stopped walking, Harry stopped too  to look at her. “I don’t care what everyone else says, you are not the Heir of Slytherin.”

Harry sighed. “I need to tell you something, but you cannot tell Ron or Hermione about this.”

“I swear on the Scamander name,” she gently replied, placing her hand on her heart, feeling that what Harry is about to tell her is important.

He takes a deep breath before responding.

“Before I was sorted into Gryffindor, the Hat told me I would have done well in Slytherin, but as you know Ron kept on going on about how many dark Wizards and Witches had come from that House, so I…I asked the Hat to put me in Gryffindor.”

Terra was surprised to say the least, but she would expect for him to worry from not being aware of the magical world at a young age while has only been in it for little over a year, and with the good in the world there is the bad too.    

“Harry do you remember what I said to Ron back on the train when we first met?”

“You was cross with Ron about stereotypes in Hogwarts Houses.”

“Exactly, it is not the house that makes you who you are, it is the path that you choose that makes you who you are, not all Slytherins are evil, not all Gryffindors are brave, you can have mean Hufflepuffs and can have reckless Ravenclaws. It doesn’t matter what house you ended up in its ones actions that make you, well you. And also if you did ended up in Slytherin I would still be your friend Harry.”

“You would?”

“Yeah, now we should get going to Transfiguration, we don’t want to be late.”

They started to walk again, Harry felt better after discussing his issues, and he definitely knows that Terra is a Hufflepuff through and through.

By the time when term ended most of the student body left Hogwarts, very hand full of Hufflepuffs stayed behind, most of Rolf’s mates stayed along with Cedric and his group, they kept to themselves, perfect for when Terra had to check the Polyjuice Potion, and for the next plan for Harry and Ron to get the last ingredients.

By Christmas morning, Terra and Rolf woke up early then they would normally would but with their Creatures to be tended and giving them Christmas treats, but they didn’t mind. But before they do that they opened they presents, from there, Father, Grandparents, great Uncles and Auntie. They both received Native American Dream Catchers from Newt and Tina with the traditional marks of the Thunderbird in the centre and Uncle Jacob’s famous gingerbread-man biscuits, and an added addition they both got a Weasley Jumper, both canary yellow Rolf’s had black badger pawprints along the chest and back, while Terra’s had a badger’s face on the front with a chest pocket for Lulu to get all cosy.

After telling Rolf she was going to exchange present with her Gryffindor friends, she made a quick pitstop to Moaning Myrtle’s Bathroom, taking a look at the Polyjuice Potion, and giving Myrtle a few mouldy mince pies before heading straight to the Gryffindor Common. Saying the password and wishing the Fat Lady Merry Christmas she meets Hermione and the two head up to the boys dorm to give presents and notifying them that the Potion is ready.

When Christmas dinner was underway, Terra sat next to Rolf eating dinner, sneaking sprout leaves for Lulu hiding in Terra’s Weasley jumper, she soon moved the Gryffindor table to eat dessert with the Golden Trio, thankfully their where so few Gryffindors there was plenty of space so they could talk freely.

“Everything’s set,” said Terra. “We just need a bit of who you're turning into,” she looks at Harry and Ron.

“We also need to make sure that the real Crabbe and Goyle cant burst in on us while we’re interrogating Malfoy,” Hermione added.

“How?” Ron asked.

“I've got it sorted,” Terra said, she reaches into her pocket and pulled out to buns. “I filled these with a simple sleeping draught, one bite and they’ll be out for a few hours.”

“Then once they are asleep hide them in the broomstick cupboard and pull out a few of their hairs,” Hermoine added.

“Whose hair are you ripping out then?” Ron inquired

“I've already got mine,” Hermione replied pulling out from her pocket a glass vile with a single string of hair. “Millicent Bulstrode the Slytherin that had in a headlock in the duelling club that day, I got it off her robes.”

“What about Slytherin robes?” Harry asked. “We can’t go in with Gryffindor colours on.”

“I've got three sets of robes in my case back in the bathroom,” Terra replied. “The Hufflepuff common room is not far from the Laundry room, and there are loads of sets, so they won’t go missing.” she gets up from her seat and Hermione follows. “I've got to check on the Polyjuice potion, make sure that Crabbe and Goyle find the buns.”

And with that the girls leave the Great Hall.

Thankfully the trip to the Mrytle’s Bathroom was left undetected, it did feel like forever for Harry and Ron to return with the hairs, but with Crabbe and Goyle being the greedy Slytherins when it comes to food they’ll be lucky if they can get it done by midnight and if not tonight they will need to wait even longer to find the truth. But they did show up around 40 minutes, and Gryffindors got changed into the Slytherins robes that are three time too big for them, as Terra carefully pouring the potion into three separate glass while kneeled over the cauldron as the other stand behind her in the cubicle.

“Okay you have one hour before you three change back,” she tells the trio, passing it each filled glass to them. “Now add the hairs.”

She watched as they added the hairs to their glass, Hermione’s turned into a sickly yellow, making Ron groan in disgusted, the Weasley’s own turned a dark murky brown, and Harry’s khaki bogey colour.

“Hang on,” said Harry. “We’d better not all drink them in here, once we turn into Crabbe and Goyle we won’t fit, and Millicent Bulstrode’s no pixie.”

“Good thinking,” said Ron. “We’ll take separate cubicles.”

“And I don’t want Terra to be crushed,” Hermione pointing out.

“Yeah no crushing please,” Terra added, making the four of them chuckle lightly.

(Five house points if anyone gets that refence :) )

They got out of the cubicle and Terra waited outside as the Gryffindors took separated ones, after Harry counted down out loud, and a few groans later of dislike came from each cubicle, and before she could ask if her friends were ok, Harry stepped out, but it wasn’t Harry is was Goyle. The potion had worked.

“Merlin’s Beard!” Terra gasped; Lulu looked is shocked too making an ‘ohhh’ sound.

Then the cubicle that had Ron open and Crabbe stepped out too.

“Bloody Hell!” Ron grunted, staring at Harry.

“Oh thank goodness,” Terra said relieved. It didn’t say anything in the book about the potion changing voices into the person in question.”

“Yeah” said Harry. “It would give us away.”

But where’s Hermione? Ron asked.

“I, I don’t think I'm going,” Hermione’s voice came from the only closed cubicle. “You two go on without me.”

“Hermione are you ok?” Harry asked with concern.

Terra thought it was weird hearing Goyle been worried about someone else’s wellbeing.

“Just go! Your wasting time!”

“She’s right,” Terra said looking at her watch. “You two go, I’ll stay with Hermione, meet up back here once you’re done.”

“Ok,” Harry replied, and he and Ron hurried out of the bathroom.

Once the Hufflepuff heard the door close loudly, she walked close Hermione’s door and knocked softly.

“Hermione? Are you alright?”

“Yes I'm fine,” Hermione shrieked.

“You sure? You don’t sound it; the potion not work for you?”

“Oh it worked,” Hermione replied, her tone worriedly, that did not settle Terra’s nerves.

“Then what’s wrong? Is it not Millicent’s hair?”

“Oh,” Hermione squealed. “It wasn’t.”

“Then who?”

“Not who, but what!”

“Mione open the door please,” Terra asked softly.

The lock slide open, it opened but stopped and Hermione said.

“You won’t laugh?”

“Of course I won’t.”

She heard Hermione take a deep breathe and opens the door, Terra eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in shock, she now knows what Hermione meant be ‘not who but what’, her friend had two pointed ears on the top of her head, her eyes where yellow and her shin is covered in black fur.   

“It was a c-cat hair,” Hermione sobbed. “Millicent Bulstrode must have a cat.”

“And the potion is not to be used for animal transformations,” Terra said after removing her hand from her mouth, she knew this after rereading the book several times. “Okay, uh lets think of something to fix this, uhmm, we should get you to the Hospital Wing, best that we get you there soon, that way Madam Pomfrey can help you.

Terra quickly went into her case and grabbed a clean blanket from her shed so Hermione can hide herself from embarrassment if someone were to pass by them on their way to the Hospital Wing. After coming up with a quick white lie to the School’s Healer, Terra left the Wing and hurried back to the Bathroom and started to clean up the potion station and getting rid of the potion by flushing it down the toilet, by the time she put the last item back in her case the door to the bathroom open making Terra’s stop thinking it was a Perfect making its patrol but sighed when she heard Ron’s voice, telling her that the potion had worn off.  

“That was close.”

“Terra? Hermione?” Harry voice called out. “We got loads to you.”

The two boys came around the corner, back to normal their oversized Slytherin robes dragged behind them.

“Where’s Hermione?” Harry asked.

“It uh, it would seem I have something to tell you too.”