Chapter Nine - Remember, Remember

The days following the Halloween party were uneasy for Bree, ever since she had heard about Brutus Gaston's past she had been anxious. Bree was even more sure now that he had stared directly at her, of course she may have been making things worse in her head; her memories of the night seemed to become more disjointed the more she tried to hold onto them.

She had asked the other students about him the next morning in what she hoped was a casual manner.

"He's brings it up at whenever he can…always makes a big show about it too," Cedric said thoughtfully as he buttered toast, "You'd think he would take the poor guy to one side and tell him politely."

"We are Hufflepuffs." Bree interjected, in her mind Hufflepuffs were the least confrontational of all the Houses.

"Just because someone was sorted into a House it doesn't mean they'll be a perfect example of that House." Cedric glanced down the table to where Brutus was sitting, "People can change, you can't just judge them based on their Sorting."

Bree nodded and looked down to him and his friend who were sat at the end of the table eating fried eggs, then went back to her cereal.

"Well, I have to go the library before Charms." Cedric got up and left the Great Hall in a rush.

"I think he's a nutter." Ernie said with a small shake of his head.

"Who? Cedric?" Justin said incredulously

"No. Gaston." Ernie lowered his voice as though it could be possible for Gaston to hear them, "Vampires aren't really as big of a threat as he seems to think they are."
"Really?" Justin asked, "I must admit I don't really know much about them…being Muggleborn."

"They're more common in Central Europe for one thing, there aren't that many in Britain. And they don't hunt humans anymore, his father must have been unlucky and picked a fight with the wrong man."

"Are vampires really strong? I would think a wizard could beat one pretty easily."

"Some vampires were wizards before they were bitten and they usually are strong so it's not that hard to see how it could happen…once they get their teeth into you; that's it."

"I think if a vampire killed his father he has a right to be angry at them." Hannah said quietly. Bree simply busied herself by pouring herself some orange juice, trying not to be drawn into the conversation or hear her friends opinions of vampires.

"Enough vampire talk. It feels like a DADA lesson!" Justin said after a few minutes of chatter, "We should be heading to History of Magic."

"I doubt Binns would notice if we weren't there, he'd just drone on and on and on." Hannah mimicked his monotone as she swung her backpack over her shoulders, Bree looked quickly back to Brutus and sure enough he was looking right at her. It plagued her mind the rest of the day, festering. She took her place in her seat in Professor Binns classroom, opened her book to page 459, 'Goblin Riots of 1480'then stared down at it allowing her mind to drift away. No-one she had talked to had taken Brutus Gaston and his 'hunting' seriously - except perhaps his friend LeFou - so she knew that she shouldn't take him seriously either but still, it was enough to worry her. He could see something suspicious and work everything out and have her kicked out of school, or worse he could take matters into his own hands. There was no doubt in Bree's mind that he carried stakes around with him even if he'd never used one. She rubbed her eyes then checked her watch, the lesson was only ten minutes in? Bree shifted herself slightly to take a look at Justin's watch and yes, it was only ten past nine. Whoever had decided to schedule History of Magic first thing on a Friday must be aware that it constitutes a cruel and unusual punishment? Bree stifled a yawn, she didn't know whether she would rather worry about Brutus Gaston or if she should use the lesson trying to master the art of sleeping with her eyes open. They had all been up quite late last night, especially with Justin and Hannah celebrating their win in the Fancy Dress competition.

She looked down the desk, Ernie had drawn the short straw this week and was furiously scribbling notes while Justin and Hannah were playing Hangman. Bree looked down at her textbook, flipped to the index and then found the chapter on The History of Vampires in Europe and read that instead. She was relieved and slightly disappointed when she discovered her father was not mentioned in the list of Notable European Vampires, she had always been curious about him and her mother had always been rather vague on the details; Bree was not even entirely sure he was European. The bell rang just as she began reading about Herbert Varney, a vampire who killed London women in the late 1800s, known by Muggles as Jack the Ripper, before being caught and killed by a special team from the Ministry. She closed the book and shoved it in her bag as the four of them headed to Charms where they practised Wingardium Leviosa and Locomotor.

They spent their break in the courtyard, Bree was surprised to see Harry and Ron with Hermione but by the looks on their faces they didn't seem to be arguing, in fact they seemed quite friendly. Hannah and Justin were eating some Cauldron Cakes they had won last night and Ernie was magically copying his notes from History of Magic so they would all have a copy and Bree was watching a Gobstones game when all of a sudden a bright blue leaflet was thrust under her nose, she looked up to see LeFou looking at her eagerly.

She took the leaflet and asked, "What is this?" despite having a pretty good idea. The front showed a ghoulish vampire with exaggerated features topped with the flashing red title 'The Nightmare Menace.'

"It's about being watchful, Brutus has heard that group of vampires has moved to Fife and-"

"A group?" Ernie asked sceptically, "I always thought a collective of vampires was a nest?"
"I heard it was a brood…or a colony. Actually that might be hags." Hannah looked unsure as she brushed some stray crumbs from her mouth.

LeFou looked like he had lost his train of thought but soldiered on, "A…" He paused looking from Ernie to Hannah not sure what to say, "A lot of vampires," he eventually said bypassing the need for a collective noun, "have recently moved to Fife. Brutus thinks we should be on alert."

"Why? Are they going to invade Hogwarts to recruit an army of the undead?"

"That is not as unlikely as you might think."

Justin looked confused, "What?!"

"Er…It's all explained in the leaflet."

Bree wondered if LeFou really believed all this or if he just went along with if for Brutus' sake.

"Vampires have rights. You can't treat them like an infestation of doxies!" Ernie exclaimed, pointing at a page in the leaflet.

"Ah, LeFou!" Bree looked up to see Brutus Gaston striding towards them, he was wearing his long leather coat over his robes with the collar turned up and Bree noticed that his long black hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She looked him up and down and didn't see any vampire hunting paraphernalia but a coat like that was bound to have inside pockets, "Warning these poor first years about the Nightmare Menace, are you?" His voice boomed over the whole courtyard, several people turned to look and Bree just wanted to disappear.

"Yeah Gaston! I don't think they're really into it."

"These poor impressionable youths! Ask about them in Defence Against the Dark Arts. Quirrell, now there's a good man…I would trust him with my life. He's hunted vampires, and destroyed them! Nothing evil stands a chance against him…He told me that…" He continued on and Bree, Hannah, Justin and Ernie exchanged a desperate look and tried to silently urge each other to interrupt.

"I'm sorry but we really have to go!" Hannah squeaked.

"There's another ten minutes until the next lesson."

"Bye." The four of them grabbed their things and hurried inside and spent the next few days avoiding him and thinking of increasingly bizarre reasons to excuse themselves from his long diatribes.

"I think he thinks we're really interested." Hannah said Tuesday morning at breakfast.

"We've been avoiding him all weekend, Hannah. I think he got the message." Ernie said as he poured them all a glass of milk.

"I don't know, he's not exactly the sharpest sword in the stone, is he?"

There was a lull in the conversation as the four of them nodded and murmured their agreement.

"Hey guys!" They looked up hoping it wasn't Brutus, it was nearly impossible to get away from him during meals, there was a wave of relief when they saw it was just a lanky, sixth year. He coughed and then recited in a dull monotone, "You may be aware that today is the Fifth of November…" He looked to their faces hoping for some hint of recognition.

"Yes, it's Guy Fawkes Night." Justin answered politely.

"Exactly. Hufflepuff House is known for its acceptance and celebration of Muggle culture as historically we have had the most Muggle-borns, half-bloods et cetera. So tonight in the Common Room we shall be celebrating this event. Be there at seven." And then he headed down the table to talk to the rest of the Hufflepuff first years.

"I didn't know Hufflepuff was such a party House. The Sorting Hat said we were hardworking." Hannah frowned slightly.

"Work hard, play hard I guess." Bree laughed, "I'm sure the other Houses do stuff like this too. What do Muggles do tonight, Justin?"

"Light bonfires, set off fireworks, eat a lot. Guy Fawkes was going to blow of the Houses of Parliament and kill the King but he got caught and tortured…then killed, rather brutally. It's an odd thing to celebrate once you think about."

"So, Justin what other weird things do you muggles celebrate?" Ernie asked and Justin launched into an explanation of some of the other Muggle holidays.


Later that evening after her usual trip to the Hospital Wing for blood she bumped into Harry in the Entrance Hall, he was muddy and wet and carrying his broomstick. He had obviously just come from Quidditch practice.

"Hey! Harry!" She called over as he slammed the doors shut. "You were out practising in that?" She gestured vaguely to outside, it had been raining all afternoon and there had even been some thunder.

"Oliver wants me ready for all weathers." He nodded, "And it's our first match on Saturday so we've been practising a lot."

"I'm sure you'll be really good. I mean, they wouldn't choose you if were bad."

"I guess so. Wood says I'm the youngest in a century."

"Wow! Good luck."

"Will you be going to the match?"
"It's not really my thing…but maybe." It depends on the weather, she added silently. "I'll be supporting Gryffindor though!"

His face broke into a smile, "Great!" He looked around and then dropped his voice conspiratorially, "Listen, this Gaston guy, he's a Hufflepuff. Do you know him?" Bree nodded, "Could you maybe ask him to leave me alone? He seems to think I'll be the poster boy for his anti-vampire campaign, just because I'm-"

"The boy who lived?" Bree interrupted, "He won't listen, Bernie Adams told me he does it every year and that he loses interest in 'recruiting' around Christmas. At least you aren't in the same House as him!"

Harry's face fell, "Well, I need to go and clean up." He motioned to his muddy clothes and walked towards the staircase.

"Hey, Harry?" He turned towards her. "Happy Bonfire Night!"

"Is it?" He looked confused and then seemed to consult a calendar on his head, "Oh yeah I guess it is. I never really celebrated it. The Dursley's would leave me at home while they went out with Dudley. But sometimes I could see the fireworks from the windows."
Bree wasn't sure what to say, she didn't really know a lot about Harry's home life, "I'm sorry Harry." She said earnestly.

He waved his hand as if to say 'forget about it' then said "'night Bree."

"Goodnight Harry." And she scurried off to the Common Room.

The party was in full swing when she arrived. All the furniture was against the wall and a roaring magical fire was in the centre of the room, every now and then it shot out baked potatoes wrapped in foil that had been cooked in it. Bree caught one and a fork appeared in her other hand. A large model of who Bree assumed was Guy Fawkes was perched above the fire reciting a poem,

"Remember, remember the fifth of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot,

I know of no reason,

Why the Gunpowder Treason,

Should ever be forgot!"

That night as Bree stood with her friends eating toffee apples and baked potatoes, laughing and joking as fireworks exploded sending showers of sparks over their heads she felt, for the first time in her life, that she really belonged somewhere.


AN- Thanks for reading, I'm trying to update more regularly. Let me know what you think!