CHAPTER 33
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CHAPTER 33
Their exploration led them to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid's hut stood. The quaint dwelling exuded a charm of its own, nestled amid the towering trees.
I've heard Hagrid has all sorts of magical creatures here," Tracey whispered, excitement bubbling in her voice.
As they approached, a door creaked open, revealing the trio of Gryffindors—Harry, Ron, and Hermione—emerging from Hagrid's hut.
"Hey Elmi, how are you?" Harry greeted him with a friendly smile.
"Hi, Harry. We were just exploring the castle."
Harry said,
"We were spending some time with Hagrid, but he had to go into the Dark Forest just a moment ago."
Elmi turned and greeted Ron and Hermione, too. Ron gave a reluctant greeting. Hermione looked combative; whenever she saw Elmi, she would turn competitive. She saw him as her rival in academic aspects, but she returned his greeting in a mannerly way.
Elmi and others could clearly see the prejudge and repulsion Ron was showing as they talked, and Elmi couldn't help but say,
"What is your problem, mate?"
He said with a sullen face,
"Nothing, it is just you guys are slithering slimy Slytherin. That is the only problem. I am telling you, Harry, they will backstap you the first chance they get."
Elmi was trying to keep everything calm and talk things out, but Zabini got angry and said,
"I am sorry, Elmi, but I cannot be seen with a Weasly, and a Weasly definitely cannot look down on me."
Ron got angry and said,
"What does that mean? What is wrong with being a Weasly? Are we blood traitors because we wouldn't slaughter muggles."
This time, Zabini looked disgusted,
"That is why you cannot talk with a Weasly; they are ignorant people. Not every Slytherin is a Death Eater, you idiot. Like not every Gryffindor is a defender of justice. I look down on muggles and Death Eaters alike; just because I see my house and blood superior doesn't make me a death eater. The only reason I cannot be seen with a Weasly is your family has no class, and you are nothing but hillbillies. "
Ron got angry and jumped on Zabini. Elmi pulled Zabini back. Harry and Hermione pulled Ron, but Ron was not done; he pulled his wand and fired a spell at Zabini. Elmi pushed Zabini out of the way, and his spell hit the door of the enclosure right next to Hagrid's hut, and the door slowly fell down.
From the inside, bizarre hybrid creatures with elongated, scaly bodies resembling a cross between a giant scorpion and a crustacean got out. Elmi had seen their depictions in concept art books in his last life. They were Blast-Ended Skrewts. Five Skrewts scuttled about on thick, spindly legs. Their rear ends emitted occasional sparks and small explosions, living up to their name. The air was filled with the acrid scent of magical combustion as all of them pulled their wands.
Skrewts lashed their blasting tails at them and caused small explosions and sparks in the air. Ron was terrified since the Skrewts looked like spiders. Elmi acted like he was casting with his wand.
"Toxicus Nebula"
A greenish rain fell onto the Skrewts and made them drowsy. Right after him, Harry, Hermione, and Daphne were the next ones to cast,
"Impedimenta (Impediment Jinx)"
"Impedimenta (Impediment Jinx)"
"Stupefy (Stunning Spell)"
Thanks to the Impedimenta spell, the Skrewts were slowed, and one of them was stunned because Hermione cast Stupefy. Zabini, Tracey, and Ron had pulled their wands, too, but Elmi didn't wait for them and continuously cast spells.
"Obscurum Turbinis"
He conjured a swirling and putrid whirlwind of shadowy magical energy around the Skrewts, and the power of the wind pushed the beast back toward the enclosure.
"Protegus Repellus"
Elmi charged towards the Skrewts, and a shimmering globe of magical shields burst fort from Elmi and pushed the Skrewts more. This shield was really good against physical attacks, so Elmi could use it to push his target if they were close enough.
"Aquila Apparitio"
He summoned a crested serpent eagle, and the eagle pulled the attention of the Skrewts and bunched them together.
"Tempestus Spectralis"
Three wailing spectral skulls accompanied by strong winds moved swiftly across the ground, crashing into Skrewts. With this spell, Elmi pushed all the Skrewts inside the enclosure, and then Hermione cast,
"Repero"
The door to the enclosure raised to the air and repaired itself, locking the Skrewts back inside. Ron, Tracey, and Zabini felt embarrassed since they were too slow to act, and Ron was embarrassed more since he screamed like a little girl. Zabini put salt in his wounds and said,
"Weasly, is this the legendary courage of Gryffindor? That was magnificent."
Ron felt ashamed and couldn't give an answer to this taunt. Elmi felt rejuvenated after using winds of magic for a month, and he had almost forgotten how good it felt to control this power. He decided to sneak into the Dark Forest the next weekend and train his spells. While Elmi was deep in his thoughts, Daphne started laughing,
"That was thrilling."
Hermione looked confused and said,
"Thrilling? Did you say thrilling? Didn't you realize how dangerous it was?"
She turned towards Ron and Zabini, and then she started to berate them,
"Because of your meaningless fight, someone could have seriously gotten hurt."
Zabini was about to say something condescending, but Elmi slapped the back of his head and made him apologize to everyone, then turned toward Ron and said the same thing.
"Why should I apologize to you guys? You started it."
Elmi never liked little Ron; he was too whiny and too jealous of Harry until the last book when he turned into a true friend. So he was starting to tick him off,
"No, Ron! You insulted us first, and when Zabini dished it out back, you couldn't take it and attack him with magic. This all happened because of you! Stop acting like a spoiled child and apologize to everyone!"
After everything is settled, they leave the hut before getting caught. After reaching the dorm, Elmi realized what he had done, but it was too late to regret it. He was trying to look bad at fighting, but when people were in danger, he acted out of reflex.
He was hoping it wouldn't reach the ears of Voldi, but he wasn't holding his breath since Zabini couldn't shut up about how Elmi showed Griffindors how it is done. In a matter of minutes, he told every 1st year in Slytherin what had happened. Elmi could see jealousy burning in Draco's eyes, but he didn't have the guts to stand against Elmi. Draco might be a spoiled brat, but he was definitely a Slytherin through and through. He knew which battles he could win and stayed away from those he had no chance of winning.