Chapter 6: Hogsmeade
The next morning was a Hogsmeade day trip. This was where students in third year and above were allowed to go to the pretty village of Hogsmeade on occasional days throughout the year. The students made a big deal about this event. I know because the fifth years wouldn't shut up about it yesterday in my class. The students also needed permission slips before they could go down to Hogsmeade.
As I was walking through the streets of Hogsmeade, I saw many shops with students crammed into them. Most of the students were in 'Zonko's joke shop' which was apparently closed last year but now it was booming with customers. I wasn't down here though to purchase some prank quills so I continued to walk on.
After a few minutes a walking I saw a nice looking Café called 'Madam Puddifoot's tea shop' so I decided to go into it and a bell above the door rang as I entered. The décor inside it was extremely lovey-dovey with frilly things everywhere. The place was rather empty as there were only two couples in here and only one of the pairs were students. I sat down near the back and before I had even gotten comfy a middle aged woman came to take my order. "Welcome to my tea shop honey. What can I get for you?"
"Some pumpkin juice and a cauldron cake please." She nodded and walked off behind the counter. I didn't know what they served here so I just ordered what one of the students had. The woman returned with the drink and cake and walked off. I took out my 'Jekyll and Hyde' book as I was near the end of it and wanted to finish it by the end of today.
While I was reading my book, the bell on the door rung so I looked up curiously to see who it was. I saw that it was Draco and he saw me too. Madam Puddifoot had walked over to Draco who was at the door to probably see what his order would be. He said something to her while keeping his eyes on me. When she walked off, he strolled over to me. "What are you doing in here?" he asked nicely while grabbing a seat and sitting opposite me.
I waved my book at him, "Needed abit a quiet time."
He nodded at it. "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, I've never heard of it before. Is it good?"
"Well it's a muggle classic. Thought I'd give it a shot, it's not too bad." He nodded again and the thought occurred to me, "What are you doing here?"
"Oh Crabbe and Goyle dumped me at Honeydukes. While I was looking for them I saw you in here so I thought I'd pop in."
"Oh," I said nonchalantly while placing my book on the table knowing all too well that I wouldn't make anymore progress anytime soon. "Any news you wanna tell me?" I smiled.
"Actually, I did abit of research on animagi last night and found out some interesting things."
I sat back in my seat. "I knew you guys would be all too tempted to do abit of meaningless studying. Ok, shoot". He seemed very eager and started talking.
"Well, I found out that there are only seven registered animagi of this century in Britain." I nodded at him in approval. "Are you registered?" he asked.
"Of course. You do know that being unregistered is an Azkaban sentence."
"Yeah, clearly Professor McGonagall is another registered one too. One of the books also said that animagi can only turn into one form which is determined by a wizards' personality and inner traits. Is that like a patronus charm?"
I was surprised at all this research he had done. Then again I bet a lot of seventh years did the same amount of studying last night. Only Draco had his facts straight on where to look. "Ya, it's always whatever your patronus is." Draco leaned over the table eagerly.
"So what's your patronus?"
I giggled at his cunning. "You're as subtle as a brick Draco." He sat back in his seat again. I sighed at him. "My patronus is a wolf," I stated and he sat up again.
"So your animagus form is a wolf?" I gave him a dramatic gasp with my hand over my mouth. "Yeah," I said lightly. Draco was obviously thinking about something and gave me a small grin. "Cool."
I decided to tease Draco abit and acted offended and started to rant. "Cool? I've been training to become an animagus all my life which is physically and mentally stressful. I can become an animal at my own will with or without a wand and all you can say is cool?" Dracos' smile was wiped clean off his face and he bowed his head in shame at his comment.
"Got'cha," and immediately he raised his head and saw me laughing.
He gave a light chuckle too. "You made me feel so bad you know."
"Oh, I know." Madam Puddifoot had just come over with Dracos' order which was strawberry and peanut-butter ice cream.
"So, how are you a wolf? You don't seem to be the type," he asked when Madam Puddifoot had gone back behind the counter.
"Well, it's not like I howl at the moon or anything. I guess in a sentence though I'm defensive, aggressive if needed, timid around people I don't know and bossy around those I do." He smiled and took a spoonful of his ice cream.
"You should hear what some of the students are saying about you," he smirked, "There positive you're a vampire."
"Shame my animagus form isn't a bat. It would freak them out so much," and we both chuckled. I looked at my watch and it was nearly five. "Speaking of students I better go back to Hogwarts. I've not got a clue on what I'm gonna teach you guys next class so I've got to try some things out." Draco seemed slightly disappointed but he quickly got rid of the look. It was so quick that I thought that I had imagined it or hoped for it.
"How about patonuses?" Draco asked. "Only the people who were in Dumbledore's army know how to cast a full patronus charm." I raised my eyebrows at him.
"Dumbledore had an army?"
He stared into his bowl softening the ice cream with his spoon. "Yeah."
I thought about it for a minute. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea and it would take about a week of classes anyway. "You know what Draco. I will, but don't tell anyone. It's another secret I want you to keep."
He smiled at me as I stood up to leave. "Will do". I smiled back at him, paid Madam Puddifoot eight sickles and left the tea shop.
It was slightly breezy outside and it was already getting dark as the winter was slowly closing in. Surprisingly, the majority of students were still here. I guess that they were taking every minute they could get. As I was walking up the various streets, I was thinking about how to teach them the patronus charm. It's difficult magic but since a few students already knew it, why not teach the rest. "Miss Lyons," I heard someone say.
I turned around and saw Mr Carrow jogging up to me. "How can I help you Professor?" I asked him.
"How can you help me? How about leaving Hogwarts for starters."
My jaw dropped. Where did all this come from? "Why should I leave?"
"Because, I know what you're doing to Draco and the rest of the students your teaching." I started to freak out. How did he know about why I was here? I doubt Dumbledore told anyone and Severus definitely didn't know.
"Sir, I don't know what you're on about-"
"-Don't lie to me witch. I know that you're working for the Order of the Phoenix and it'll only be a matter of time before the Dark Lord will have had enough of you."
I raised my eyebrows to him. I had completely lost him. He was obviously delusional or possibly had too much firewhiskey if he's saying I'm in league with a phoenix. "Look sir, I don't have a clue on what you're on about. Now if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to and I can't stay here with you arguing about me associating with birds."
I started to walk off when he grabbed my wrist and jabbed his wand into my back. "If you as much as twitch, I'll blast a hole through your chest," he whispered. His vile breath at my ear made me want to heave. "Sweetie, you're out of your league here. Go home and pretend that none of this had ever happened."
I was too scared to move but I didn't want Carrow to think I was vulnerable. "And if I don't?" I snarled but he gave an evil chuckle.
"Let's just say, I will personally cause you some unnecessary grief. And that will be before the Dark Lord finds out about your antics."
"Are you two ok professors?" the voice was music to my ears. Carrow hid his wand back in his pocket and we both turned to see Draco.
"Why yes Mr Malfoy. Now if you wouldn't mind; Miss Lyons and I have some business to attend to," said Carrow while he held my arm.
"Well Professor Lyons, you left this behind," said Draco taking my Jekyll and Hyde book out of his pocket.
"Oh thanks," I said as I shrugged Mr Carrow off me and he reluctantly let go, giving Draco a look to kill. I took my book off him and smiled, he gave me a reassuring yet caring look.
"Also, would you mind starting our tutoring now? Unless you and Professor Carrow have to do your business right-"
"-Oh it can wait," I said, giving Carrow a victorious look and without another word Professor Carrow stormed off into the three broomsticks.
"Are you ok?" Draco asked looking up and down to see if I was hurt.
"Don't worry about it. We were just talking about some Hufflepuffs acting abit wild-"
"-I saw him with his wand pointed into your back Sandra. What does he want?" I smiled at him trying to shrug off his assumption.
"It's nothing, just abit of a-"
"-Sandra"
I sighed at him. "I think… I think he's just abit annoyed that I took his post for defence class. Also I think he was abit drunk, probably didn't understand what he was doing." I knew that Draco didn't buy it but thankfully he dropped the subject for now anyway.
"Want me to walk you back to Hogwarts?" he asked and shrugged, "I'm going back anyway."
I thought about it for a second. "Sure, why not," I smiled and we both started walking towards the castle.
"Do you really want me to tutor you?" I asked slightly scared but luckily he chuckled.
"Nah just wanted a reason for you to ditch Carrow," and we both laughed. It made me realise that I never heard Draco laugh until he came to Hogwarts. I wondered if he laughed like this with his mates. I wondered if he even had mates. My heart fluttered the whole way back to Hogwarts and I knew deep down, that it wasn't because of Carrow and his threat.
Ooooh exciting stuff Ok I'm havin abit of a writers block here because I'm doing two completely different HP fics at the same time. If anyone has an idea to take a chapter or two, put it by me. If you liked this story in any way, mind leaving a review? I need motivation
Also, for any star wars fans out there, I've made a forum called Drabble wars where winners get reviews and simply joining it will get you a review on whatever you want from me.
Anyway. Thanks for reading J
