Kodachi hurried on to the library, ashamed that she had been caught listening in on Harry-sempai's conversation. She didn't notice that Harry was taking the same direction upon leaving Professor Lupin's office.
She was going to meet Melody and Karen for some studying, and talk about Malfoy's current scam. Kodachi had come to enjoy a sort of leadership position among the first-years, and even part of the second year students, thanks to her well-known (and successful) rivalry with Draco Malfoy and her status as a prodigy in the field of Potions. However, Melody and Karen remained her closest friends with whom she spent the most time.
"That Draco is really getting on my nerves with his bandage and sling. Everybody knows that Madam Pomfrey fixed his scratch in a minute, so why's he still pretending?" They were seated at a table between two rows of shelves, which afforded them a bit of quiet to confer in.
"He's trying to get at Hagrid, of course," said Melody. "You know how he is about anyone who is friends with Harry Potter. He's batty, that way."
Kodachi nodded. Draco's well-known loathing for Harry-sempai was bordering on the ridiculous. "And he almost succeeded. Hagrid was so broken up over the incident that he seriously wanted to study flobberworms for the rest of the semester. Thank God I talked him out of that nonsense. You can't give an inch to people like Malfoy - and it's not as if that would have changed anything, anyway."
"I heard that Draco was trying to pull some strings to get the Daily Prophet to write up that stupid story of his 'terrible injury'," said Karen.
"What's he trying to do?" asked Melody. "Make House Slytherin look like a bunch of sniveling cowards and babies?"
Kodachi frowned deeply. "Considering the way the Quidditch team is trying to weasel out of its match against Gryffindor, perhaps that is what we are. It's a disgrace."
"Yeah," said Melody, "but Malfoy isn't going to be around forever. In just a few years he'll be gone from here, and then we'll be in his place - and we'll show everybody what House Slytherin is really capable of."
Kodachi tapped her lips with her index finger thoughtfully. "I don't see why we should have to wait that long... In any case, if Malfoy wants to use public opinion for his pathetic little scam, he shall find out that he's not the only one who knows how to play the media. I think it is time I found out whether the British press is any different from the Japanese one."
Harry was studying somewhat despondently, sitting alone at a table in the library. Normally Ron and Hermione would be here with him, but they were in Hogsmeade, of course. Everybody was. Everybody but poor, fragile Harry Potter who had to be kept shut inside for his own good. Not for the first time, Harry felt like kicking something - or someone - to release his frustration.
Since he was not having the usual conversation with his friends, he couldn't help overhearing the name of Draco Malfoy being mentioned on the other side of one of the shelves. A little ashamed of himself, Harry strained te hear what was being talked about.
It was Kodachi Hecate with her friends, he realized, and they were talking about Draco's slander of Buckbeak! From the sound of it, not everybody in Slytherin was approving of Draco's scam. He was surprised to hear about Kodachi's talk with Hagrid. Sure, Hagrid had mentioned flobberworms once, but Harry hadn't known how close they had come to spending the rest of the semester with those appallingly boring creatures. He tried to imagine what the Creatures lessons would have been like if Kodachi hadn't talked to Hagrid.
They would never have witnessed the beauty of the unicorn; never have met the tall, dignified and impressive centaur, who told them of the spiritual centaur community that lived in harmony with the stars. They would never have learned all about the different varieties of European and Asian dragons... He really had to thank Kodachi one of these days.
And what was that about Slytherin backing out of the match? Wood would have to be told about that. Harry gathered his books and left the library.
Later in the evening, as the fall sky was already darkening, Kodachi was enjoying another solitary exploration of the castle grounds. Sometimes she felt as if she could spend all seven years of her time at Hogwarts exploring these grounds and never cease to find new, wondrous and interesting things. The Whomping Willow, for example was a marvel to behold, as it slammed the ground, trying to squash her like a bug. How she would have loved to have a specimen like that in her topiary at home!
While she was still admiring the magnificent tree, she spotted a movement, off to the side. A flash of vivid orange drew her eye, and she saw two shapes trotting along across the grounds, towards the forbidden forest, one dark and large, one smaller and ginger. With quick, loping strides that were second nature to her, thanks to her rhythmic gymnastic training, she approached these two.
Upon drawing closer, she saw that the larger shape was a tremendous, hairy dog, while the smaller one was a cat - equally large for its species. She recognized the latter. "Why hello there. Aren't you Upperclassman Granger's familiar? Crookshanks, isn't it?" The cat meowed as if in confirmation, and Kodachi smiled. "And who is your tall, dark and handsome friend here?" She took a step towards the bear-sized dog, but it growled menacingly, so she stopped. "No need to be afraid," she said calmly. "I'm not going to hurt you."
The dog still looked at her distrustfully, then looked down at the cat. Crookshanks padded over to Kodachi and rubbed against her legs, purring, which prompted Kodachi to pet him and scratch him behind the ears. Apparently taking this recommendation at face value, the dog stepped closer and let Kodachi approach him.
She let him take her scent and moved slowly to stroke his fur along his back and flanks. "You two are certainly amazing creatures. I don't think I have ever seen a dog or a cat as intelligent as you are - or getting along with each other so well. What shall I call you, hm? How does Aoineko sound to you?"
The dog gazed at her blankly, not displaying any enthusiasm for the extravagant name.
"All right, I can see it doesn't strike your fancy. I shall just have to call you Wuffles, then."
The big dog looked down at the cat, then back up at Kodachi again, before giving a sighing 'Whurf' and a sort of canine shrug.
Kodachi laughed and hugged him around the neck, proceeding to pet him and Crookshanks in turn for a while, until it was time to return to the castle. She ruffled the dog's fur in parting and said, "I hope to see you two around here again, some time. I'll be looking out for you."
Giving Crookshanks another scratching behind the ears, she departed for the castle. She scaled the tower just in time to hear the summons to the Slytherin common room. Sirius Black had been spotted inside the castle.
(Posted Tue, 24 Dec 2002 14:41)
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