Before Heri could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey came bustling in. Heri felt herself flushing. It was bad enough that she'd reacted so badly with that horrible creature without everyone making all this fuss. "I don't need to be looked at," Heri said, "Really, Professor —" "Oh, it's you, is it?" said Madam Pomfrey, bending down to look closely at Heri. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?" "It was a dementor, Poppy," said Professor McGonagall. The two older women exchanged a dark look. Madam Pomfrey proceeded to look Heri over, clucking disapprovingly when she noted the shaking and hazy eyes. "Setting dementors around a school," she muttered. "She won't be the last one who collapses. Terrible things, they are, and the effect they have on people who are already delicate —" "Delicate!" Heri repeated, offended. When had she ever been described as delicate before? "Hush now, don't work yourself up," said Madam Pomfrey absentmindedly, now taking Heri's pulse. "What does she need?" said Professor McGonagall crisply. "Bed rest? Should she perhaps spend tonight in the hospital wing?" "A night in the hospital wing might be just the thing; I'd like to keep her monitored until the shaking stops. She should have some chocolate as well." "I've already had some, ma'am," said Heri. "Professor Lupin gave me some." "Did he, now?" said Madam Pomfrey approvingly. "So we've finally got a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who knows his remedies. I suppose you're a sight better than you were before then." After deciding that Heri didn't need immediate medical attention, Professor McGonagall moved on to the real reason Heri and Granger had been summoned. "Both of you have signed up for an unusual amount of classes. The usual limit on electives are three, but as you two are the top of your class, I petitioned the Ministry of Magic for the use of two Time-Tuners." McGonagall went on to described how Time-Tuners worked, their limits (twenty-four hours), and how Heri and Granger were absolutely not allowed to let anyone else know that they had the things. "For your studies only," she told them severely. While Granger nodded her head solemnly, Heri wondered when giving time-machines to children became more logical that setting up evening and weekend classes. Not that Heri was complaining of course. There had to be something wrong with Draco Malfoy. On a chemical level, Heri thought. Why else would he walk up to a creature bigger than a horse with the talons and instincts of a bird of prey that had already been explained to take offence at insult and insult it — right within striking distance as well. It was the first day of classes and Heri had been in a fine mood since the morning. The shakiness that came from dementor exposure was all gone when she woke up, and she had been excited to start with her new classes. She had signed up for Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, divination, and Ghoul Studies (the last being an extra-curricular class). Before she went to sleep last evening, she had spent a few minutes sketching out how she'd get to her classes and when she'd do homework. It was with great relief that she came to the conclusion that if she used the Time-Tuner as she had first thought to do, she would have no trouble getting in work, sleep, and play between lessons — indeed she'd actually have lots of spare time. Her first class of the day had been divination, and it had proved to be as interesting though bewildering as she had been expecting. Professor Trelawney had been a masterpiece of showmanship, and even though Heri took her warning of deathly danger with more levity than what was likely appropriate, she thought the woman did a fair job of teaching her subject. Heri's contentment lasted right up to Care of Magical Creatures. As soon as the announcement came that Hagrid would be teaching CoMC, Heri knew the lesson would be on something impressive. Lo and behold, she was correct, and the class was greeted by the most magnificent creatures she had ever seen, doubly so because they weren't trying to kill her. Hippogriffs: Creatures with the head and foreparts of an eagle and the hindquarters of a horse. When Hagrid asked for a volunteer, Heri didn't hesitate. Heri and the hippogriff named Buckbeak had exchanged cordial bows, taken a short flight around the docks together, and had landed amongst the embolden class when Malfoy decided it was high time that he made an arse of himself. As the others spread out amongst the other hippogriffs around, Malfoy decided on Buckbeak. While Heri still stood at Buckbeak's shoulder, he had approached the proud avian the same way Heri had. And then he went and shot himself in the foot. "I knew it must have been easy if Potter could do it. I bet you're not dangerous at all, are you?" Malfoy said to Buckbeak. "Are you, you great ugly brute?" It happened in a flash of steely talons; Malfoy let out a high-pitched scream and next moment, Heri had tackled him to the ground while Hagrid was wrestling Buckbeak back into his collar. Malfoy and Heri laid curled in the grass, blood blossoming over their robes. "I'm dying!" Malfoy yelled as the class panicked. "I'm dying, look at me! It's killed me!" "Are you a complete idiot?!" Heri roared, startling Malfoy from his shrieking. She got up and wrapped her arms around her middle. Though Malfoy was clutching his forearm, it was obvious now that the majority of blood was actually coming from Heri. Heri pinned him with a furious look. "Professor Hagrid told us they take offence easily, and you just insult one to its face? Do you have a death wish? If you want to die, Malfoy, there are easier ways of going about it!" It was then that shock had worn off enough for the other students to react. "Heri, oh my goodness, we need to get you to Madam Pomfrey!" wailed Megan.
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