Hazel was desperately missing the dragons but she had to admit that Hogwarts was much less stressful. She felt very odd being a assistant professor her. Evidently assistants did not to finish the curriculum and it was all about experience.
She did not think she had much experience either to be honest.
Today she was working with Professor Trelawney. To say that the woman hated her was a true understatement. Hazel continually defended the woman with her friends but the woman just saw Hazel as someone trying to take her job and ruin her reputation.
Hazel sighed as she climbed up to the classroom.
"Today we will Work on palm reading. It is not as accurate as reading tea leaves but it has its importance in divination. Do you not agree assistant."
Professor Trelawney had a rather dreamy voice, like she was always on the verge of going to sleep, but she put so much emphasis on her last word that everyone looked to her and then Hazel. Hazel fought not to roll her eyes as she answered.
"Sorry Professor. I do not read tea leaves or palms."
"Then why are you here?"
"I think you would have to ask Headmaster Dumbledore about that ma'am."
"I think it means that tea leaves and palm reading is just nonsense." Hermione whispered but still Ron jumped out of his skin he looked to Harry incredulously and mouthed: "Where did she come from?" Harry shrugged while looking at Hermione curiously.
"I will speak to Professor Dumbledore. How can you assist if you know nothing?"
"I can still help. I do not use this technique but I fully understand it, how to perform it, and interpret what is seen."
"Meaning it is just nonsense."
Hazel raised her eyebrows at Hermione's comment, her eyes darting about as Professor Trelawney slowly turned to look at Hermione. The two just stared at each other for a long moment. Finally Hazel spoke.
"It's not nonsense Miss Grainger it is just a technique that I do not use. Divination is looked down upon a bit because we deal in future events. And some just pretend to divine while other true diviners sometimes only divine for money.
"But please believe me when I say Divination is a strong branch of magic that is looked down upon because so many can not tap into a rather unique part of the brain."
Hazel stopped speaking but she had the entire class and Professor Trelawney's rapped attention. She looked to Professor Trelawney And extended a hand to the class.
Hazel looked at Professor Trelawney For a long moment. "Professor?" When the professor did not respond Hazel did.
"Everyone we will continue with palmistry."
This actually brought the stunned Professor back to the moment she cleared her throat. "Palmistry is quite simple and looks at the lines and grooves of the hand."
After all of the students were gone Professor Trelawney turned to Hazel. Hazel was cleaning up the room but she looked to the professor almost simultaneously.
"So a part of my brain is not functioning correctly? Is this why I can not divine like my grandmother."
Hazel just looked at her for a along time. Then she sighed and walked to the older woman. "It is not that. You just try too hard. You are a diviner, a powerful one, it is just that you seek a perfection that does nor exist. I think, because you did not find the perfection, you now innately overcompensate. Nothing more, nothing less.
"You just need to learn how to calm and center yourself again Professor Trelawney."
The professor looked to the floor, lost in thought, it took some time for her to speak again.
"Can you show me how. I follow a method that my grandmother taught me but it no longer works for me."
Hazel looked at her thoughtfully. "How about we find out the cause behind your inability to do this and find you a way to overcome the issue?"
Professor Trelawney smiled and nodded.
"But the class is boring. You're not upset with me are you Hazel."
Hazel began shaking her head but Ron answered. "Of course she's upset. You essentially spat all over her chosen profession."
Hazel frowned and opened her mouth to respond but before she could Harry spoke.
"Hazel is not going to be a diviner."
"Well then what is she going to be?"
"I am going to care for magical animals. Can we go see Buckbeak now?"
"You're not caring for magical beasts."
"Wait. How are you saying what she will do or what she wont do?"
Harry shrugged to Hermione's question but he did not reply. The Hippogriffs were all standing in a single group but Buckbeak was no where to be seen.
"He isn't here."
Hazel looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. "Perhaps Hagrid has hidden him."
They all turned and went back to Hagrid's. Rachel had told them she heard Buckbeak would be executed for "hurting" Draco Malfoy. When she told everyone this they all decided to go and talk to Hagrid. As they walked toward Hagrid's house Shyla came out and sat on Hazel's shoulder.
Hazel looked at her with a frown. "Is something wrong?"
"You know Hagrid has the worst luck. Something bad is going to happen due to this Malfoy child."
"Yes. I would imagine so."
Buckbeak was tide up outside Hagrid's house. Hazel went directly to him with no problem. She pulled a chunk of raw meat from the air and held it out to him. The Hippogriff gently took it from her hand. Harry, Hermione, and Ron stood staring wide eyes and mouths agape.
"Come on let's go talk to Hagrid!"
Shyla rose up off of Hazel's shoulder and flew directly into Hagrid's house. Hazel shook her head then looked to the others, who were still in a bit of shock.
"She says let's go speak to Hagrid."
The others nodded blankly and followed her in. Shyla was sitting before Hagrid her melody was hurried and lecturing. Hagrid sat with his head bowed and bobbing up and down.
"Can Hagrid understand Shyla?'
Hazel shrugged. "Of course he can. They may have kicked him out and told him he can't practice magic but they can not strip innate ability away. He has a type of clairvoyance but it is only with animals. He senses their emotions and, for higher level creatures, he communicates easily with them."
"Come Shyla stop lecturing Harid. We came to talk to him."
Shyla stopped and came next to Hazel but it was clear she was not finished. Hagrid finally looked up.
"It's okay Miss Hazel. She is just being honest with me. I really do need to remember everyone is not good for magical beasts and all magical beasts aren't good for everyone. "
"Is that what she said!?"
Ron looked to Shyla as if he wanted her to verify things.
"No. I paraphrased. Tea everyone."
Shyla rolled her eyes as Hagrid stood to prepare tea. He put on the kettle and brought Shyla a silver tray filled with golden chunks. Harry Hermione, and Ron looked at them curiously. Hazel smiled.
"You still have the golden nut fruits. She loves them aged like that. You really are good with animals Hagrid."
Hagrid smiles at the praise.
"Now tell us what you have heard about Buckbeak."
Hagrid's smile dropped.
"I think they want to kill him. Can you believe that. He didn't hurt Malfoy too badly. And Malfoy was not being nice."
"What did Shyla just say to you?"
Hagrid looked over to the Star Bird as she raised her narrowed eyes to look back at him. He lowered his head.
"You're right. You're right." Shyla shook her head and went back to eating the golden nut fruits.
"We won't let them kill him we will?"
"No Buckbeak won't die."
"Do you have a plan Miss Hazel?"
Hagrid was pouring tea just as Shyla' head shot up and Hazel looked toward the window.
"You have more guests Hagrid."
Hazel picked up Shyla' silver tray, Shyla perched on her forearm, and Hazel took two steps and disappeared from view. They others looked with their mouths agape.
"Harry what are you doing? use dad's cloak. Hermione you can stand with me." Less than a heartbeat later Hermione had disappeared.
"Oh this is very interesting. Can I learn this."
"No. It is something I learned when my third eye fully awakened and began residing within me. Well maybe you can if you develop a third eye."
There was a knock at the door. Harry and the others quickly took their recently prepared tea cups.
Hagrid opened the door and Headmaster Dumbledore asked how he was and if they could come in. In walked Headmaster Dumbledore, Lucius Malfoy, Draco Malfoy's father and Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic.
"Mr. Malfoy you already tried to have Hagrid removed once. This is not about him."
"Well something needs to be done."
"This offending creature will have to be destroyed."
"But why?! It weren't his fault."
"Then whose fault was it and if you try to blame this on a child."
Dumbledore walked to the backdoor and opened it wide but stepped aside. They all knew this was for them but Dumbledore went to close the door after Harry and Ron went out. Hazel and Hermione almost ran into it. Shyla inadvertently let out any angry call and Dumbledore's eyes went wide.
Lucius Malfoy spun around at the sound.
"Do you have another dangerous animal in here! I am tired of this fool's incompetence!"
"You need to calm down Lucius. That was my Fawkes calling out to me." Dumbledore opened the door wide and Fawkes was sitting on a high branch looking at the door and chirping and cooing as if in conversation. Hazel, Hermione, and Shyla left through the open door.
When they caught up to Harry Hazel whispered to them.
"Let's go back into the forest."
It had been an interesting day.