Chapter Nine
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The Gryffindor common room was empty save for Endaira, Persephone, Darren, and the "Golden Trio." The three Americans were staying at Hogwarts for the holidays because it was too much trouble to go back home. This gave Endy something to ponder about.
It was Christmas Eve and Hermione and Persephone were asleep. Endy sat on the windowsill, her feet warmed by Crookshanks, who was curled up and purring contentedly. She gazed out at the stars, sparkling over freshly fallen snow that blanketed the ground and stifled the world in the way that only snow can do.
Selena must have sense her unease, for she asked, What is wrong?
Endaira sighed. What will happen to you at the end of the year, Selena?
What do you mean?
Well, it will be hard enough to bring you, Hermes, and Lenora back home, let alone hide you from the Muggles. But, I don't want to leave you here alone, either.
But I wouldn't be alone, Selena reminded her. I'll be with Hermes and Lenora, the creatures of the forest, Hagrid . . .
Yes, Endaira replied. But, would I be able to talk to you? You'd be so far away . . .
Don't worry, little one. I'll always be with you.
Promise?
I promise. Now, go to sleep, Endaira.
Yes, Mother.
Endaira sighed and stood up, much to the disappointment of a disgruntled Crookshanks. She climbed into bed, and with one last fleeting glimpse of the winter wonderland outside, fell fast asleep.
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The next morning, Endaira was woken up by a screech. Not the screech of an owl, but the screech of an exited girl opening a present of Christmas morning.
Groaning, Endaira reluctantly opened her eyes to see Persephone hopping around the room, clutching a small book. On her bed lay paper wrappings and a saddle of leather.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she shouted and hopped up onto Endy's bed to strangle her in a hug.
"You're welcome," Endaira choked. Persephone let go of her and dove back into her pile of presents. Endaira yawned and got out of bed.
Hermione looked up from a book Endaira had given her (Homer's Odyssey) to ask, "Where are your presents, Endaira?"
Endaira looked at the end of her bed which was rather bare. She shrugged. "I suppose I'll get them tonight."
"Why?" Persephone asked.
Endaira smiled and opened her trunk. Rummaging through it, she found what she was looking for and pulled the items out.
"What's that?" Hermione asked, looking at the nine-candle holder and box of candles.
"A menorah. And the first night of Hanukkah is tonight." Endaira placed the menorah on the windowsill as it is traditional to place the menorah in a window for everyone to see. She then grinned and held up two bags, one had a bunch of dreidels in it, and the other one had chocolate gelt.
"How 'bout I teach you and the boys how to play dreidel?"
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They were up in the boys' dormitory, and Endaira was attempting to explain the rules of playing dreidel, but no one seemed to be listening. Ron and Harry were examining Harry's new Firebolt, Hermione was eyeing the broomstick with distaste, and Darren was busy reading a letter. The only one who seemed to be paying any attention at all was Persephone.
Endaira stopped talking and sighed. Grabbing Hermione's hand, she dragged her downstairs to the common room followed by Persephone. The boys didn't seem to notice them leave.
"Look, Hermione," Endaira said, sharply turning to face her friend. "I know you think that Sirius Black sent Harry that Firebolt, and he did-"
"I knew it!" Hermione squealed.
Endy put up a hand for silence. "But, Sirius is innocent. I told you that already. So don't go telling McGonagall about it, because I for one know that the Firebolt is perfectly safe."
Persephone frowned. "Do you mean that she knows about the books?"
Endaira shrugged. "She would have found out sooner or later. Don't worry, she's not allowed to read any of them. She knows what happened during first and second year, and she can't know the future."
"Whatever," Persephone muttered. "C'mon. Let's go get the boys and play dreidel. It sounds like fun."
-----
They were sitting in the common room. It was after the Christmas feast and they were on the floor, playing dreidel and gambling on Hanukkah gelt. Ron was humming the song, "I Have a Little Dreidel" which Endaira had taught them.
It was Darren's turn and he was watching the dreidel intently as it spun in a blur. "You know, I have some Peppermint Patties up in my trunk. We could play for those."
Endaira jumped up. "I'll get them!" She ran up to the boys' dormitory in a flash. She loved York Peppermint Patties.
She flung open Darren's trunk and immediately found the Peppermint Patties. She grabbed them and shut the lid of his trunk. She was about to turn away when she spotted the letter Darren had been reading earlier lying on his night table.
Endaira knew she shouldn't, but curiosity took hold and she picked it up and began reading.
Darren,
Merry Christmas!
I miss you here at the Murtogh's. Alyssa and Dan have left, now - moved on by their social workers. Now it's only me, Ashley, and Zach. Our social workers suck. Even your social worker, Mr. Pearson, is nicer than ours.
We miss you. You were always there for us when the beatings got harsh. Now that you older kids are gone, the beatings are harder and more frequent than ever.
Mr. Murtogh is drunker than before. He's been coming home late every night now, and he and Mrs. Murtogh are always yelling loudly. Then they take it out on us.
Come back soon, Darren. We need you.
You foster-brother,
Sam
Endaira stared at the letter in shock. Darren was in foster care? And in an abusive one at that. But why?
"What are you doing?"
Endaira looked up. Darren was standing in the doorway, staring at the letter in her hands. He came over and snatched it away from her.
"This is mine. You shouldn't be reading it," he said, glaring at her.
She looked at him somberly. "How come you didn't tell anyone you've been abused?"
Darren's glare fell. He sat down next to her on the bed. "I . . . I don't know."
"Why were you even in there in the first place?" Endaira asked.
He didn't answer. Endaira frowned as she remembered something. Tenderly, she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Did it have anything to do with your boggart?"
He stiffened and looked away form her. Endy waited until he spoke up in a wavering voice.
"He . . . he killed my family."
"I'm so sorry," Endaira automatically said.
"It was two years ago. I think . . . I think it was a robbery at first." Darren went on. "My little sister had been awake, in the kitchen getting a drink of water. She was only five years old."
Endaira could hear the tears in his voice, and saw them when he looked at her. Reaching over to the night table, she grabbed the box of tissues and offered it to him. Gratefully, he took it and blew his nose before continuing.
"I woke up when she screamed. I ran out into the hall, my parents were already going downstairs. He killed my father first and then my mother. Then he came for me."
Endaira tightened her hold on his shoulder which was shaking beneath her hand. He took a shaky breath before going on.
"He almost killed me." Looking up at her, she saw in his eyes a mixture of grief, fright, anger, and pain. "If it hadn't been for my next-door neighbor, Mr. Pearson, I would've been dead. He had heard the shouts and gunshots and called the police. In the end, he became my social worker. I got sent to the Murtogh's with a few other foster kids. Sam is eight, and Zach and Ashley are only six. They beat us often, whenever they were mad."
"Why didn't you tell Mr. Pearson?" Endaira asked.
"I . . . did," Darren replied. "The Murtogh's denied his inquiries about it and that was that." He looked away, tears glistening in his eyes. "I'm scared, Endaira. I'm scared that I've left them there to die."
-----
Endaira entered the common room to be greeted by laughter.
"Hey, Endaira, what took you so long?" Persephone called. "And where's Darren?"
"He's not feeling well," she replied.
"Oh. Okay. You gonna play? It's your turn."
"No, thanks. I'm going to go upstairs, okay?"
She turned and headed upstairs to the girls' dormitory. She sat down on the windowsill and stared at the grounds, darkening in the fading light.
Endaira suddenly realized that she was still clutching the bag of Peppermint Patties. She threw them under the bed and into the secret stash of chocolate. She didn't have much of an appetite right now.
Picking up the box of Hanukkah candles, she placed two in the menorah. Striking a match, she lit the helper candle, as it was called, and blew out the match. Silently, she said the prayers and lit the first candle using the helper candle.
Endy stared glumly out the window as the sky darkened from blue, to purple, and finally to black. The full moon came out as did the stars, but Endaira found no solitude in them.
What is wrong, Endaira? Selena asked.
Endaira sighed and told her what had happened. I wish I could do something. I mean, first his family was killed and then he was put into a foster home where he was physically abused.
Selena was silent for a bit. Perhaps you could do something.
What?
Write a letter to Darren's social worker, expressing your concern. Ask him to do something about Darren's foster parents and his foster siblings.
I suppose I could . . . but would they do anything without evidence?
I don't think so, but you could get him to tell the other children's social workers. They could meet with the children. Physical abuse does leave marks, you know - ones that can be used in court.
Endaira thought about it. Okay. I will.
Good. Now, I must go. I'm hungry, and I smell deer.
Don't eat Bambi! Endaira chided.
You ruin all the fun.
Endaira smiled. Sighing, she stood up and walked over to her bedside table. She pulled out some parchment and ink and began composing a letter.
Dear Mr. Pearson . . .
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Things soon went back to normal. The students returned. Darren and Endaira made a silent agreement never to bring up the subject of his foster home again. Professor McGonagall must have learned about Harry's Firebolt, because she still confiscated it on the terms that it was being stripped for jinxes. However, Endaira had been looking out the window late one night, and had seen several dark, tall figures and one short one on the grounds. The appeared to be taking turns on a broomstick that was faster than any broomstick Endaira had seen. Luckily for Harry, he got his Firebolt back the next day.
Hermione was growing distant from everyone as the homework load increased. Having more classes than anyone, she rarely had any time for socializing and was usually found behind a pile of books. Endaira, too, was getting much more work, as well as Darren and Persephone. They had begun they second year work on top of the homework they already had from their other classes.
One night, Endaira came back to the dormitory to find Persephone sitting on her bed. She was absentmindedly brushing her blonde hair and appeared to be deep in thought.
"What's wrong, 'Seph?" Endaira asked, bouncing onto the bed next to her.
Persephone sighed. "Wormtail."
Endaira glowered at the mention of the traitor. "What about him?"
"Isn't he going to fake his own death soon?"
"Yeah . . ."
"Shouldn't we . . . shouldn't we do something about it?"
Endaira frowned. "Well, what do you suppose we do?"
"Well, I was thinking . . ."
-----
"There's got to be a book on it here somewhere!" Endaira exclaimed. They were in the library the next day, searching for a book - one that would tell them the spell for revealing an Animagus. So far, after several hours of searching, they had been unsuccessful.
Persephone gave a squeal, earning herself a glare from Madam Pince, which she ignored. With an open book in her hands, she made her way over to where Endaira was.
"You found it? Endaira asked hopeful.
"It's right here." Persephone shoved the book under her nose. Endaira began reading the passage.
In the event that the suspected illegal Animagus will not reveal their human form, a spell can be used to forcibly reveal their true form.
The Anti-Animagus Spell is often used by Ministry workers of the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, Healers on the Spell Damage floor of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, and Aurors using it on animals suspected to be Dark wizards in disguise. The Auror use of the spell was brought on by Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, famed Auror, who suspected many animals to be Dark wizards when He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was gaining power.
To use this non-verbal spell, one must point their wand at the suspected animal and clearly think, Revealio Animagus. A white light should then emit from your wand and surround the animal. If it is not an Animagus, then no harm will come to the animal. If it is, then the witch or wizard will be forced to transform back into their human form.
"Great. Let me write it down." Endaira grabbed a nearby quill and dipped it in an inkwell. She then proceeded to rite on the back of her and, Revealio Animagus - Nvbl.
They left the library and made their way back to the portrait hole. Sir Cadogan attempted to fight them, but failed miserably when one forceful swing unbalanced him. Persephone gave him the password and they went through, not paying attention to his calls trying to get them to "stand up and fight, you dogs!" They entered the common room to find everyone watching the scene in front of them. Ron was holding his bed sheets and glaring at Hermione, who was staring at her books. Ron turned away and stormed upstairs to the boys' dormitory.
Endaira glanced at Persephone and saw that her face had fallen too. Wormtail was gone.
Sighing, Endy walked over and flopped onto a couch beside Darren, who was finishing up a Potion's essay.
"Two hours, wasted!" Persephone exclaimed, sitting on an armchair.
"What are you talking about?" Darren asked, looking up.
"We just spent two bloody hours searching for a spell to reveal an Animagus' true form," Endy said, holding up the back of her hand to show him. "But Wormtail escaped before we could expose him."
"Oh." Darren paused, then asked, "What were you planning on doing once you had him?"
Endaira looked at Persephone.
"Uh . . . "
"We, actually hadn't thought about that."
"Ah. That was a swell plan, then."
They sat there in silence, save for the scratching of Darren's quill, the chatter of students around them, and the crackling of the fire. Endaira watched the dancing flames, mesmerized. Slowly, around her, people left, heading upstairs to their dormitories. The windows grew darker as the night fell upon them. Soon, it was only the three of them. Darren and Persephone bid Endaira goodnight, and left as well.
She watched the flames as they slowly died down, growing smaller and smaller. Soon, only the embers were left, glowing red in the near-darkness. Finally, with one last burst of smoke, the embers turned to ash and darkness filled the room.
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Outside, under a slightly cloudy night sky, something moved across the grounds. No other sound came but the stir of grass as a small, unseen creature brushed by it. The little starlight showed nothing but shadows.
A cloud moved and the light of a quarter moon splayed over the grounds of Hogwarts for a second, before it was once again concealed by clouds. During that second, the moonlight deepened shadows and brightened others.
In one patch of grass, it splayed across a thin, almost hairless, rat. It was making its way towards the Forbidden Forest, and the hut that lay just before the trees. Then the moonlight was gone, and with a flick of its tail, the rat continued on its journey.
