seven — a unicorn and a person of value

IN THE NEW YEAR, HOGWARTS HAD resumed as normal. Lessons began, the second task was only around the corner and students were still recovering after the Yule Ball. The January that followed had gone by very quickly and had soon transitioned into a very cold February.

"Can you believe this article?" Tamara practically threw the copy of the Daily Prophet in Sabrina's face that morning. "What a cow! Rita Skeeter deserves a good kick up the arse."

"Let's see," Ginny asked, plucking the newspaper off of Sabrina's toast.

Sabrina peered over Ginny's shoulder, she picked up her buttered toast and brought it to her mouth as she read:

'DUMBLEDORE'S GIANT MISTAKE'

"Who's that about? Madame Maxine?" Sabrina mused, taking a bite of her toast.

"No, it's about Hagrid," Ginny said, pointing at the article, "look what she's said."

Ginny read aloud, "Rubeus Hagrid, who admits to being expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, has enjoyed the position of gamekeeper at the school ever since, a job secured for him by Dumbledore. Last year, however, Hagrid used his mysterious influence over the headmaster to secure the additional post of Care of Magical Creatures teacher, over the heads of many better-qualified candidates."

"An alarmingly large and ferocious-looking man, Hagrid has been using his newfound authority to terrify the students in his care with a succession of horrific creatures. While Dumbledore turns a blind eye, Hagrid has maimed several pupils during a series of lessons that many admit to being "very frightening" —"

Ginny stopped to laugh, "'I was attacked by a hippogriff, and my friend Vincent Crabbe got a bad bite off a flobberworm," says Draco Malfoy, a fourth-year student. "We all hate Hagrid, but we're just too scared to say anything." Hagrid has no intention of ceasing his campaign of intimidation, however."

Sabrina scoffed.

"Honestly! Who does he think he is?" Tamara exclaimed. "And that Rita Skeeter, she's always spreading gossip."

"Draco Malfoy loves attention and Rita Skeeter laps it up," Sabrina said, "I'm not surprised he jumped at the chance to talk about Hagrid, from what I heard from Sebastian, Draco and his Father are still furious that Hagrid didn't get fired last year."

By Care of Magical Creatures that afternoon, news has travelled amongst majority of the students of Hagrid's departure from Hogwarts. There was certainly an aura of dampened spirits amongst the Gryffindors. The Slytherins, however, were definitely gloating.

The new professor was a small, grey-haired witch named Professor Grubbly-Plank with a short temper. Today's lesson was on a unicorn, its' coat shone brightly under the February sun.

"Come on now, who wants to be my volunteer?" Professor Grubbly-Plank asked, adjusting her gloves and pointing at Sabrina, "how about you?"

"Me?" Sabrina asked.

"Yes, you, come on," Professor Grubbly-Plank beckoned her over.

Sabrina stepped into the paddock of the unicorn and approached it very slowly, outstretching her hand towards it. It huffed, a large billow of air coming out of its nose and Sabrina lowered her hand.

"It won't bite, don't be nervous now," Professor Grubbly-Plank encouraged. "They tend to prefer women."

Sabrina raised her hand once more, taking a few more steps toward the unicorn and placing her hand on the nose of the creature. She rubbed its' nose gently. This was certainly a memory she would never forget. How often was it that someone would get to stroke a unicorn?

"— Getting a bad bite off a flobberworm? They haven't even got teeth!" A voice travelled towards the paddock and the unicorn huffed against Sabrina's hand. Turning its' head away and cantering over to the corner of the paddock, obviously upset at the noise caused.

"Well, I think this should put an end to the oaf's teaching career," Malfoy's voice came next. "Half-giant...and there was me thinking he'd just swallowed a bottle of Skele-Gro when he was young....None of the mummies and daddies are going to like this at all....They'll be worried he'll eat their kids, ha, ha...."

"You —" Harry started.

Sabrina looked over at the group.

"Are you paying attention over there?" Professor Grubbly-Plank shouted.

The lesson finished up rather quickly after Harry and Draco's mid-lesson spat. There was soup for lunch (Sabrina's favourite!) and warm bread rolls, a perfect lunch for the students that had just been out in the cold for an hour. Sabrina happily tucked in, lathering butter onto her roll for her to dip into her soup.

"I can't believe Hagrid's been fired," Tamara said, "it's barbaric! He hasn't done anything wrong."

Sabrina shook her head. Her eyes went across the lunch table to Harry, who hadn't touched his own lunch, and she gave him a small smile.

After the Yule Ball, Harry had started to give Sabrina butterflies in her stomach. A warm fuzzy feeling that spread over her skin and it felt like a warm hug, comforting and sweet. She hadn't really fancied anyone before, sure she had had that crush on Lee Jordan last year but the way she fancied Harry wasn't the same.

It scared her a little bit but it also excited her.

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SABRINA CONTINUED HER LESSONS FOR THE DAY, the thought of Harry had been pushed slightly to the back of her mind. This has only happened however because Professor Moody had set some incredibly hard Defence Against the Dark Arts homework. Sabrina had heard of the Unforgivable Curses before, of course, but she had never seen them used in any other setting. It was common knowledge amongst the Sadgrove children that their Father and Uncle had used the three curses. Sabrina hoped she would never have to use them in her life, what was the need?

Sabrina and Tamara had headed to the Hall for dinner. Chatter of the second task was starting to travel amongst students, excitement bubbling underneath all of them.

Just before they entered the Great Hall, a hand tapped Sabrina on the shoulder.

"Oh! Hello Professor McGonagall," Sabrina smiled.

"Miss Sadgrove, I'd like you to accompany me to Professor Dumbledore's office," McGonagall wasted no time in getting straight to the point, she folded her arms over her chest.

"Alright," Sabrina said, slowly, "am I in trouble, Professor?"

"No, now follow me," Professor McGonagall said. "Sorry to take your friend away from you, Miss Richards."

The Professor and the Gryffindor girl headed in the direction of Professor Dumbledore's office. They didn't speak at all. The whole time Sabrina's mind was clouded with idea of what Professor Dumbledore could possibly want her for. Did he know that Professor Moody had put her uncle in Azkaban? Had something happened to her family? Was her father in Azkaban too?

"Come on, Sabrina, up the stairs now," McGonagall nodded to the stairs, motioning Sabrina up them.

McGonagall pushed open the door to Dumbledore's office and Sabrina stepped inside. She was surrounded by tall bookshelves, pictures and painting of past professors. Professor McGonagall joined the side of Professor Flitwick, he sent a smile Sabrina's way.

"Ah, Miss Sadgrove, please sit," Dumbledore welcomed her, opening a palm to the last empty seat at his desk.

The other three chairs were taken by Hermione, Cho Chang from Ravenclaw and a small, blonde girl.

"So, as you're all aware, the second task is tomorrow," Dumbledore began. "I hope you're all excited!"

Hermione and Sabrina exchanged glances.

"Our four champions will have to retrieve something valuable from the Black Lake tomorrow," Dumbledore continued. "That something valuable will be you."

"Us?!" Cho's voice came from next to Sabrina. "Sorry Professor, but why us?"

"Well, you're all people of value to each of your champions," Dumbledore replied. "For Miss Delacour, it is her sister, Gabrielle, for Mr Krum it is Miss Granger, for Mr. Potter, Miss Sadgrove and for Mr Diggory, it's you, Miss Chang."

Sabrina looked over at Hermione, who had gone pink.

"It'll be an easy procedure, a simple charm that will put you straight to sleep," Dumbledore explained. "The charm will wear off when the task is over and you have been retrieved from the Black Lake."

"Professor? What'll happen if— if our Champions don't get us?" Sabrina asked.

"I can promise you all of judges are more than capable of retrieving you if the worst were to happen," Dumbledore smiled. "Try not to worry."

Dumbledore rose from his desk, grabbing his wand from its stand and holding it close to his hip. He smiled brightly, his blue eyes glinting through his half-moon glasses.

"Now, if everyone's ready," Dumbledore rose his wand. "We'll see you all tomorrow."