Care Of Magical Creatures

                                    

                                          
I'm not sure what's worse, the letter I just received from mother, or the fact that Hagrid  is teaching a lesson. 
First of all, Mother is furious about me leaving Enorah behind and has refused to bring her to Hogsmeade for one of the teachers to pick up. She says I'm irresponsible, incompetent and in a lot of trouble, and not only that but she told me it's unbelievable how many tries it took me to repel the dementor on the train. I recounted that story in full confidence that she would be impressed with me, proud  even, but apparently not. Apparently three times is too many. Apparently I'm lucky that the gods even decided to give me that many chances after my continuous displays of ineptitude. 
Well whatever. Next time there's a dementor in my face I'll tell it to piss off the first time my patronus tries to smack it across its grimy chin.
Thanks for the support as usual, Mother.
The second problem is this. Hagrid. And I am not the only one who feels this way.
"What on earth was Dumbledore thinking  letting this incompetent oaf teach lessons?" Draco snarled as we reached the paddock, traipsing several steps behind the rest of the class.
Crabbe and Goyle grunted nothing comprehensible and I clutched my book angrily, tightening the belt that I'd double knotted around it. "The old man is losing his marbles." I hiss in response, almost dropping the monster book as it lurched for the back of Pansy's robes.
"Righ', less chatterin' and form a group over there, please," Hagrid bellowed, gesturing with a humongous hand towards an area clear of trees on the left of the paddock. I scowled at it, squinting at what looked like, from this distance, an ugly grey horse with a mutated head. "Oh, an' open yer books ter page 49." he added, and I watched as Draco stepped forcefully over a wall into the clearing.
"And exactly how do we do that?" He snapped, grunting as his book snarled between his double-shoulder-lock.
"Why, you jus' stroke the spine, of course!" cried Hagrid in response. "Honestly."
"Oh how could we have forgotten?" I asked sarcastically, shaking my head as Draco scoffed in agreement.
Before I even had chance to follow the stupid oaf's instruction, a pained cry screeched through the trees and Longbottom almost banged into me as he fell to the floor, his book snapping and snarling, shredding his robes to bits in a matter of seconds. 
Despite my bad mood, I sniggered, "Don't be such a wimp, Longbottom." I told him and Crabbe and Goyle cackled with laughter. 
"Well, I think they're funny," came Granger's whiny voice, and I watched Draco's irritable expression transform into a venomous snarl.
"Oh yeah - terribly funny - really witty!" He spat, throwing his book onto the raised earth behind him. Crabbe cracked his knuckles and Goyle was grinning. "God this place has gone to the dogs, just wait until my father hears that Dumbledore's got this oaf teaching classes!"
"Shut up, Malfoy." Harry growled, dropping his bag.
I couldn't help the sniff of amusement as he stepped away from his friends and sauntered towards us. I felt, rather than saw, more Slytherins join Draco, Crabbe, Goyle and I - and I shared a smirk with Draco, who whistled through his teeth and dropped his own bag into Crabbe's arms.
He brushed an invisible piece of lint from the sleeve of his robes and met Potter in the middle, biting his lip and smirking. The standstill lasted just long enough to make Potter mad and then Draco suddenly looked up, pointing over Potter's shoulder and shouting, "Ah! De-dementor! Dementor!"
The boy predictably spun around and reached for his wand. The Slytherins and I burst into loud laughter and tugged up our pointed hoods, waving our hands mockingly in front of our faces.