Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine.
Chapter 10 – Christmastime
Lucy, Ron, and Hermione escorted Harry back to Honeydukes to be sure that nobody saw him sneak into the cellar.
Once he was gone, Hermione turned to Lucy and Ron, looking fearful. "Do you think he'll be all right?" she asked.
Ron shrugged, and Lucy couldn't think of anything to say, her mind still reeling.
"It's a shock, yeah, but I'm sure he'll be okay," Ron replied. "They'll catch Black and throw him back into Azkaban, and Harry will be safe."
"Lucy?" Hermione asked, nudging Lucy's arm. "Are you okay? You don't look very well."
"What? Oh, yeah, I'm fine," Lucy answered. She shook her head a bit and added, "I'm just a little shocked."
The three Gryffindors walked up the snowy path back to the castle, not trying to talk over the howling wind.
When they reached the school, Lucy knew what she had to do next. "I'll catch up with you in a bit," she said. "I need to go see someone." Hermione and Ron exchanged confused looks, but Lucy took off up the marble staircase before they could say anything.
~LJ:C~
When she reached Lupin's office, Lucy knocked urgently on his door.
"Come in," Lupin called.
Lucy pushed the door open and entered the room. She shut the door behind her before turning to the professor. "Sirius Black betrayed my parents," she said. "That's why he killed all those people and went to Azkaban."
There was a beat of silence while Lupin stared at her. "Where did you hear about that?" he asked, frowning.
"I overheard Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Hagrid talking about it with the Minister of Magic in the Three Broomsticks this afternoon," Lucy answered.
"You certainly have a knack for listening to conversations that you aren't meant to hear," Lupin commented, sounding amused.
Lucy went over to one of the chairs and sat down opposite the desk from him. "I've always been good at that," she said dryly. "So, you were friends with Black when you were in school, too?"
"Yes," Lupin replied heavily. "There were four of us. James, Sirius, me, and Peter. I'm sure you've heard about Peter by now, yes?"
"He tried to stop Black from getting away," Lucy said. "How could Black have been your friend and then done this to you?"
"There was a war," Lupin said simply. "We knew that someone had betrayed our side, but nobody knew who it was. People began to turn on each other. We all suspected one another. Sirius always said that he hated the Dark side, and I'll be the first one to admit that I don't know why—or when—he changed his mind."
"Madam Rosmerta—she was talking with them in the pub, too—said that she had a hard time believing that Black would do what he did," Lucy said.
"Something happened to him," Lupin said. "Something happened to all of us. I wish I knew what had caused him to change, but to this day, I don't."
"They also said that Black is Harry's godfather," Lucy mumbled.
"Yes," Lupin replied.
"Does that mean... Does that mean he's mine, too?" Lucy asked, although she already had a suspicion about what the answer was.
"Yes," Lupin repeated. Lucy stayed silent for a moment, and Lupin added, "Are you all right?"
"I've just learned a lot of new information in a short period of time," Lucy answered. "My head is spinning a little bit." She glanced at the clock on the office wall. "I suppose I'd better go. It's nearly dinner time."
"Don't worry too much about Sirius Black," Lupin said. "This castle is well-protected."
"That may be, but he's already broken in once," Lucy pointed out. She stood up and stretched. "I'll see you later, Professor."
"Good-bye, Lucy," Lupin said.
~LJ:C~
Back in Gryffindor Tower, Lucy met up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione again.
"Is everything okay?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah," Lucy replied. "Nothing to worry about. Shall we go to dinner?"
The other three agreed, and they went down to the Great Hall together.
All throughout dinner, Ron and Hermione seemed very insistent on keeping the conversation topics off Sirius Black. Lucy and Harry didn't say very much, as they were both thinking about what they'd overheard.
After dinner back in the common room, Fred and George let off some fireworks to celebrate the end of the term. Harry disappeared up to the dormitories, but Lucy, Hermione, and Ron remained in the common room. Ron and Hermione started a game of chess; Hermione was determined to beat Ron someday. Lucy sat with the twins, challenging them to eat different Bertie Botts beans.
Ron beat Hermione in chess quite easily, putting Hermione in a frustrated mood. "I'm going to check on Harry," Ron announced, getting up. He disappeared up the stairs to the boys' dormitory.
"So, did Harry get to Hogsmeade today?" Fred asked as Lucy handed George a brown jelly bean.
"Yeah, he did," Lucy answered.
"I can't believe you two gave him that map," Hermione said, frowning. "Harry's not supposed to visit Hogsmeade without a signed form."
"Lighten up, Hermione," Fred said. "We just wanted him to have some fun before the holidays began."
George took a nibble on the brown bean and gagged quietly.
Lucy laughed at him before turning to Fred. "Hermione's right, you know," she said. "He needs to be more careful. If a teacher saw him, he could have gotten into a lot of trouble."
"But look on the bright side," George said. "He wasn't seen by any teachers."
Lucy rolled her eyes at him.
Ron rejoined them, descending from the boys' staircase. "He was in bed with the curtains pulled," he reported. "I think he's gone to sleep."
~LJ:C~
A little while later, Fred and George joined a group of their friends, leaving Lucy, Ron, and Hermione alone in front of the fireplace.
"I'm worried about Harry," Hermione admitted. "What if he wants to try and find Black on his own?"
"Would Harry really do that?" Ron asked doubtfully. "I know that Black betrayed his parents, but he has to know that a thirteen-year-old wizard-in-training is no match for that lunatic. He blew up a whole street of people! What would Harry expect to do to him?"
"If he's thinking about revenge, it's going to cloud his judgment," Lucy said quietly. "Besides, how can you blame him? If Black hadn't given away their location, his parents might still be alive." My parents might still be alive, she thought to herself.
"Well, if Harry's thinking about revenge, we need to talk him out of it," Ron insisted. "We can't let him run off and get himself killed."
Hermione nodded, and the two of them looked to Lucy.
"We can try," Lucy agreed.
~LJ:C~
The next morning, Lucy and Hermione met Ron in the common room.
"Harry's fast asleep upstairs," Ron reported. "Hopefully after some rest, he'll feel better about yesterday."
"Come on—let's go get some breakfast," Lucy said.
The three of them went down and had breakfast. Harry never came down to join them.
~LJ:C~
After breakfast, those who were going home for the holidays were in the entrance hall, saying farewells to friends who were remaining in the castle. Lucy, Hermione, and Ron said good-bye to the rest of the Weasleys, who were going back to the Burrow.
"Jeremy!" Lucy called, spotting the Slytherin through the crowd.
Jeremy turned and smiled when he saw her, and her heart beat accelerated a bit as he walked over. "Staying here for the holidays?" he asked.
"Yeah," Lucy replied. "We figured we'd take advantage of the castle being nearly empty to get some relaxation in."
"That sounds more enjoyable than my plans," Jeremy said, a slight bitter edge to his voice. "Mum insisted that I come home to visit this year, since I stayed here last year."
"It won't be that bad, will it?" Lucy asked.
"Don't get me wrong—I love my mother," Jeremy said. "It's the extended family that's going to get on my nerves. A few weeks in France wouldn't be so bad if my family wasn't so… old-fashioned."
"Old-fashioned?" Lucy repeated.
"Blood purity," Jeremy elaborated. "My mother's family emphasized it a lot. They all made respectable marriages. Except for my aunt Zoé—she went off to the States and married a half-blood. Needless to say, she won't be at Christmas."
"Well, I hope you have a good holiday, considering," Lucy said.
Jeremy grinned and stepped forward to give Lucy a hug. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered to life as she accepted his embrace.
"I'll see you when I get back," Jeremy added as he pulled away. "Happy Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," Lucy replied.
Jeremy turned and joined the rest of the school, which was moving towards the front doors of the castle. Lucy, Hermione, and Ron trooped back up the main staircase.
~LJ:C~
When they returned to the common room, Ron checked on Harry, but he was still asleep. Hermione immediately set to work on homework, and Lucy decided to do the same. She figured that if she got her homework done now, she wouldn't have to worry about doing it the night before term started up again. Ron, on the other hand, spent the rest of the morning eating his candy from Honeydukes.
Just before lunch, they heard footsteps on the dormitory stairs. They all turned to see Harry emerging from the boys' staircase.
"Harry," Hermione breathed in relief. "You—you look terrible."
"Thanks, Hermione," Harry replied, smirking. "Where is everyone?"
"Gone!" Lucy answered. "It's the first day of the break, remember?"
"It's nearly lunchtime," Ron added. "I was going to come up and wake you in a minute."
Harry dropped into a seat in front of the fire.
"You really don't look well, you know," Hermione commented again.
"I'm fine," Harry said firmly.
"Harry, listen," Hermione started, "you must be really upset about what we heard yesterday. The thing is, you mustn't go doing anything stupid."
"Like what?" Harry asked.
"Like trying to go after Black," Ron answered bluntly.
"You won't, will you, Harry?" Hermione asked, looking concerned.
"Black's not worth dying for," Ron added.
"D'you know what I see and hear every time a dementor gets too near me?" Harry asked. "I can hear my mum screaming and pleading with Voldemort. If you heard your mum screaming like that, just about to be killed, you wouldn't forget it in a hurry. And if you found out someone who was supposed to be a friend of hers betrayed her and sent Voldemort after her—"
Lucy closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to hear about how her mother died.
"There's nothing you can do!" Hermione said hurriedly. "The dementors will catch Black, and he'll go back to Azkaban and—and serve him right!"
"You heard what Fudge said," Harry argued. "Black isn't affected by Azkaban like normal people are. It's not a punishment for him like it is for the others."
"So, what are you saying?" Ron asked. "You want to—to kill Black or something?"
"Don't be silly," Hermione said, her voice a bit higher than usual. "Harry doesn't want to kill anyone, do you, Harry?"
Harry didn't respond for a few seconds. "Malfoy knows," he said suddenly. "Remember what he said to me in Potions? If it was me, I'd hunt him down myself.… I'd want revenge."
"You're going to take Malfoy's advice instead of ours?" Ron said in disbelief. "Listen… you know what Pettigrew's mother got back after Black had finished with him? Dad told me—the Order of Merlin, First Class, and Pettigrew's finger in a box. That was the biggest bit of him they could find. Black's a madman, Harry, and he's dangerous—"
"Malfoy's dad must have told him," Harry muttered to himself. "He was right in Voldemort's inner circle—"
"Say You-Know-Who, will you?" Ron hissed.
"—so obviously," Harry continued, "the Malfoys knew Black was working for Voldemort—"
"Malfoy'd love to see you blown into about a million pieces, like Pettigrew!" Ron insisted. "Get a grip! Malfoy's just hoping you'll get yourself killed before he has to play you in Quidditch."
"Harry, please," Hermione said. "Please be sensible. Black did a terrible, terrible thing, but don't put yourself in danger. It's what Black wants.… Oh, Harry, you'd be playing right into Black's hands if you went looking for him. Your mum and dad wouldn't want you to get hurt, would they? They'd never want you to go looking for Black!"
"I'll never know what they'd have wanted, because thanks to Black, I've never spoken to them," Harry said coldly.
"Shut up!" Lucy screamed, jumping up. She had promised Dumbledore to keep an eye on Harry—to try and keep him safe—and she couldn't stand listening to him saying these things. "Just shut up, Harry! Getting revenge on Black won't bring your parents back to life, and it'll probably just get you killed in the process. We might not understand what you're going through, but you're not understanding that Sirius Black is a fully-grown man who could kill you in two seconds flat while you stood there trying to disarm him! Get that through your head! If you hunt down Sirius Black, you will be killed!"
Harry stared at her, and Hermione and Ron both looked hopeful that Lucy's speech would be enough.
After a while of nobody saying anything, Ron said, "Look, it's the holidays! It's Christmas! Let's—let's go down and see Hagrid. We haven't visited him in ages!"
"No!" Hermione disagreed. "Harry isn't supposed to leave the castle, Ron—"
"Yeah, let's go," Harry said, "and I can ask him how come he never mentioned Black when he told me all about my parents!"
"Obviously he was trying to protect you, Harry," Lucy said, glaring at him.
"We could have a game of chess," Ron said, desperately trying to change the subject, "or Gobstones. Percy left a set—"
"No, let's visit Hagrid," Harry insisted.
The others reluctantly agreed to join him, and they gathered their winter clothes before setting off.
~LJ:C~
Unfortunately, they hadn't thought their plan entirely through. The grounds were covered in snow, and there was no path to Hagrid's hut. They plodded through the snow, their feet freezing after only a few steps.
When they reached Hagrid's, Ron knocked on the door. They waited for a few moments, but there was no answer.
"He's not out, is he?" Hermione asked, her teeth chattering.
Ron put his ear up to the door, frowning in confusion. After a moment, he reported, "There's a weird noise. Listen—is that Fang?"
Harry put his ear up to the door, as well.
"Think we'd better go and get someone?" Ron asked.
Harry raised his fist and banged on the door. "Hagrid!" he called. "Hagrid, are you in there?"
They heard Hagrid's footsteps come towards the door, and then Hagrid opened it, his eyes bloodshot and wet. "Yeh've heard?" he asked gruffly before throwing his arms around Harry and sobbing.
Noticing that Hagrid's weight was about to crush Harry, Lucy and Ron grabbed Hagrid by his arms and pushed him back into his hut. They guided him to one of the chairs at the dining table, and he fell into it, tears coursing down his face and into his beard.
"Hagrid, what is it?" Hermione insisted, sounding alarmed.
"What's this, Hagrid?" Harry asked, pointing to a letter sitting on the table.
Hagrid pushed the letter towards Harry, and Harry began to read it to the others.
Dear Mr. Hagrid,
Further to our inquiry into the attack by a hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident.
"Well, that's okay, then, Hagrid!" Ron said, grinning.
Hagrid, still crying, waved at Harry to finish reading the letter.
However, we must register our concern about the hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the hippogriff should be tethered and isolated.
"That son of a—" Lucy muttered darkly. "I can't believe they'd do anything for Lucius Malfoy after he gave Ginny that diary last year."
"You said Buckbeak isn't a bad hippogriff, Hagrid," Ron reasoned. "I bet he'll get off—"
"Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures!" Hagrid wailed. "They've got it in fer interestin' creatures."
A cracking noise came from the back of Hagrid's hut, and the four Gryffindors whirled around to find Buckbeak lying in the corner, eating something.
"I couldn' leave him tied up out there in the snow!" Hagrid cried. "All on his own! At Christmas…"
"You'll have to put up a good strong defense, Hagrid," Hermione said. "I'm sure you can prove Buckbeak is safe."
"Won't make no diff'rence!" Hagrid said miserably. "Them disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o' him! An' if I lose the case, Buckbeak—" He took his finger and drew it across his throat. Then he put his head back onto the table and cried some more.
"What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?" Harry suggested.
"He's done more'n enough fer me already," Hagrid said. "Got enough on his plate wha' with keepin' them dementors outta the castle, an' Sirius Black lurkin' 'round.…"
Lucy, Ron, and Hermione glanced at Harry, wondering if he would ask about Black now.
"Listen, Hagrid," Harry said, "you can't give up. Hermione's right. You just need a good defense."
"You can call us as witnesses!" Lucy chimed in, nodding vigorously. She was relieved that Harry hadn't brought up Black.
"I'm sure I've read about a case of hippogriff-baiting where the hippogriff got off," Hermione added. "I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened."
Hagrid sobbed harder, and Lucy, Harry, and Hermione looked at Ron desperately.
"Er—shall I make a cup of tea?" Ron asked. The rest of them stared at him questioningly, and he added, "It's what my mum does whenever someone's upset."
Ron hurried to make the tea, while Lucy, Harry, and Hermione continued to try and convince Hagrid that they would help him.
"Yer righ'," Hagrid finally said, sitting up. "I can' afford ter go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together.… I've not bin meself lately. Worried abou' Buckbeak an' no one likin' me classes—"
"We do like them!" Hermione said instantly.
"Yeah, they're great!" Ron added. "Er—how are the flobberworms?"
"Dead," Hagrid stated flatly. "Too much lettuce."
"Oh, no!" Ron said, trying not to laugh.
"An' them dementors make me feel ruddy terrible an' all," Hagrid continued. "Gotta walk past 'em ev'ry time I wan' a drink in the Three Broomsticks. 'S like bein' back in Azkaban.…" He stopped and took a deep drink of tea.
"Is it awful in there, Hagrid?" Hermione asked quietly.
"Yeh've no idea," Hagrid replied. "Never bin anywhere like it. Thought I was goin' mad. Kep' goin' over horrible stuff in me mind—the day I got expelled from Hogwarts—day me dad died—day I had ter let Norbert go.… Yeh can' really remember who yeh are after a while, an' yeh can' see the point o' livin' at all. I used ter hope I'd jus' die in me sleep.…
"When they let me out, it was like bein' born again. Ev'rythin' came floodin' back; it was the bes' feelin' in the world. Mind, the dementors weren' keen on lettin' me go."
"But you were innocent!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Think tha' matters to 'em?" Hagrid said. "They don' care. Long as they've got a couple hundred humans stuck there with 'em, so they can leech all the happiness out of 'em, they don' give a damn who's guilty an' who's not."
Hagrid paused, looking into his tea cup, before continuing, "Thought o' jus' lettin' Buckbeak go—tryin' ter make him fly away—but how d'yeh explain ter a hippogriff it's gotta go inter hidin'? An'—an' I'm scared o' breakin' the law.… I don' ever want ter go back ter Azkaban."
"I don't blame you," Lucy said quietly, shuddering at the thought of being stuck in a place with dementors.
~LJ:C~
The next day, they went up to the library and checked out any books they thought would help Hagrid with his case for Buckbeak. Sitting in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room, they started reading, only speaking when they found something they thought could be helpful. Hermione took notes whenever this happened.
As the days crept closer to Christmas, the castle was decorated as magnificently as ever. There were only a handful of students to enjoy it, however.
Christmas morning dawned cold but bright, the sun glinting off the fresh snow. Lucy and Hermione opened their presents eagerly. They both received hand-knitted sweaters from Mrs. Weasley and a lot of candy.
After all their presents were opened, Lucy and Hermione decided to go see if Ron and Harry were awake. Lucy let Evie crawl onto her shoulders, and Hermione picked Crookshanks up.
"Do you really think you should take him up to the boys' dorm?" Lucy asked tentatively.
"Why not?" Hermione replied, frowning.
"Well—I mean—Ron's just going to get upset," Lucy said. "Wouldn't it be easier to just leave Crookshanks here?"
"Crookshanks isn't going to do anything," Hermione brushed off, heading for the door.
Lucy mentally shrugged; she'd tried.
So, the two girls went down their staircase and then straight back up the boys' staircase. When they pushed open the door to the boys' dormitory, Harry and Ron were laughing about something.
"What're you two so happy about?" Hermione asked as they crossed the threshold.
Ron glared at Crookshanks in her arms and snapped, "Don't bring him in here!" He rummaged around in his bed before pulling Scabbers out from under the sheets and stuffing him in his pajama pocket.
Hermione ignored him, letting Crookshanks down onto the bed next to Ron's.
"Harry!" Lucy exclaimed, looking at the package on Harry's bed. "Who sent you that?" A brand-new broomstick was lying on the bed, and if Lucy wasn't mistaken, it was the Firebolt that Harry had spent the end of the summer looking at in the Quidditch shop.
"No idea," Harry replied. "There wasn't a card or anything with it."
Lucy frowned suspiciously. She glanced at Hermione, who was looking uncertain, as well.
"What's the matter with you?" Ron asked, also looking at Hermione.
"I don't know," Hermione started, "but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, right?"
"It's the best broom there is, Hermione," Ron said patronizingly.
"So it must've been really expensive…" Hermione trailed off.
"It probably costs more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together," Ron said in a satisfactory tone.
"Well… who'd send Harry something as expensive as that and not even tell him they sent it?" Hermione asked.
"Who cares?" Ron asked. "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"
"I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" Hermione insisted.
"What d'you think Harry's going to do with it—sweep the floor?" Ron shot back.
Suddenly, Crookshanks leapt at Ron from the next bed.
"GET—HIM—OUT—OF—HERE!" Ron screamed angrily as Crookshanks tore at Ron's pajamas.
Scabbers jumped out of Ron's pocket and tried to make a break for it, but Ron hopped up and snagged him by the tail. Then Ron attempted to kick Crookshanks away, but he missed and ended up knocking Harry's trunk over.
A shrill sound overcame the room, causing Evie to hiss from Lucy's shoulders. Crookshanks backed away from the source of the noise. Harry's Sneakoscope had rolled out of the trunk and the socks it had been wrapped in and was spinning wildly on the floor.
"I forgot about that!" Harry exclaimed. "I never wear those socks if I can help it—"
"You'd better get that cat out of here, Hermione," Ron scowled.
Hermione scooped up Crookshanks and stalked from the room. Lucy decided to follow her, as Evie was still hissing at the Sneakoscope.
"Who do you think sent Harry that broom?" Hermione asked as they entered the common room.
"I don't know," Lucy admitted. "I didn't. You didn't. Ron didn't.… Harry's aunt and uncle certainly didn't. Hagrid didn't, and none of the teachers did.… Maybe some distant relative?"
"I think Sirius Black may have sent it," Hermione stated.
"What?" Lucy exclaimed.
"It would be the perfect way to get at Harry and possibly put him in danger," Hermione explained. "Anyone else would have at least left a note."
"I—I don't know, Hermione…" Lucy said. "How would Sirius Black buy a broomstick in the first place? It's not like he can waltz into the store and buy it—not with the entirety of the Wizarding world on alert for him, anyway."
"I'm going to talk to Professor McGonagall about this," Hermione insisted. "I'll do it after Christmas dinner."
"Don't you think that Harry would be upset if you went to Professor McGonagall behind his back?" Lucy asked uncertainly.
"He might be, but I'm just trying to take precautions!" Hermione answered.
Lucy sighed. "You do what you think is best," she said. "I still think you should talk to Harry about it first."
"I think I'm going to put Crookshanks in our dormitory," Hermione said, ignoring Lucy's advice. "I don't want to give Ron any more reasons to try and hurt him."
She disappeared for the girls' staircase, and Lucy sank onto the couch in front of the fire. Evie leapt down onto her lap, and Lucy started to pet her.
Harry and Ron entered the common room a few minutes later. Harry had his new broomstick with him, and he carried it over to where Lucy was sitting.
"Isn't it amazing?" Harry asked, setting it on the table in front of the couch. "I can't wait to take it for a fly."
"It looks very sleek," Lucy agreed. She reached over and touched the handle.
"The Slytherin team isn't going to know what hit them," Ron gloated. "There is no way they are going to beat us when we have a Firebolt on our team! How much faster do you reckon this broom is compared to the Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones?"
The boys continued to talk about brooms and Quidditch, while Lucy sat back and petted Evie. Hermione had come back down to the common room a few minutes after the boys, but she sat on the other side of the room doing her homework.
~LJ:C~
Around lunch time, the four of them trooped down to the Great Hall to celebrate Christmas with whoever was left in the castle. When they entered the hall, they were surprised to find that the house tables had been pushed up against the walls. There was now only one table, currently set for twelve, at the front of the room. Sitting around the table were Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Sprout, Snape, Flitwick, and Hagrid. There were also two small Hufflepuff first-years, looking intimidated to be dining so close to their teachers.
"Merry Christmas!" Dumbledore greeted the Gryffindors as they joined the small group. "As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the house tables.… Sit down, sit down!"
Lucy, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all took seats at the end of the table.
"Crackers!" Dumbledore exclaimed, holding out the end of one to Snape.
Snape grudgingly took hold and pulled, and a witch's hat with a stuffed vulture atop it came springing from the inside. Lucy, Harry, and Ron grinned, remembering Neville's boggart, and Snape instantly pushed the hat to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore gladly put it on his head in place of his own hat. "Dig in!" he announced.
Everyone had just begun to fill their plates when the Great Hall doors opened again.
"Sibyll, this is a pleasant surprise!" Dumbledore said, standing to greet the woman who had entered.
"That's Professor Trelawney," Hermione breathed in Lucy's ear, and Lucy nodded her understanding.
"I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster," Professor Trelawney said, "and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness—"
"Certainly, certainly," Dumbledore replied merrily. "Let me draw you up a chair.…" He waved his wand and conjured a chair in between Snape and Professor McGonagall.
Professor Trelawney seemed to hesitate, looking fearful. "I dare not, Headmaster!" she exclaimed. "If I join the table, we shall be thirteen! Nothing could be more unlucky! Never forget that when thirteen dine together, the first to rise will be the first to die!"
"We'll risk it, Sibyll," Professor McGonagall said shortly. "Do sit down. The turkey's getting stone cold."
Professor Trelawney sat gingerly in the chair, as though she thought as soon as she had settled, something terrible would happened.
Professor McGonagall, however, simply said, "Tripe, Sibyll?"
Professor Trelawney did not answer; she merely took a look around the table again. "Where is dear Professor Lupin?" she asked.
"I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again," Dumbledore explained. "Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day."
"But surely, you already knew that, Sibyll?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Certainly, I knew, Minerva," Professor Trelawney answered airily. "One does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous."
"That explains a great deal," Professor McGonagall muttered before taking a few gulps from her goblet.
"If you must know, Minerva," Professor Trelawney continued, losing her cool slightly, "I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him—"
"Imagine that," Professor McGonagall said dryly.
"I doubt," Dumbledore spoke up, putting an end to Professors Trelawney's and McGonagall's conversation, "that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger. Severus, you've made the potion for him again?"
"Yes, Headmaster," Snape confirmed.
"Good," Dumbledore said. "Then he should be up and about in no time.… Derek, have you had any of these chipolatas? They're excellent."
One of the first-years went bright red at being personally addressed by Dumbledore.
~LJ:C~
The rest of dinner went by without any more arguments breaking out. The food was delicious, and Lucy filled herself until she could eat no more. When they were finished eating, Harry and Ron both stood from the table, and Professor Trelawney let out a cry.
"My dears!" she said. "Which of you left his seat first? Which?"
"Dunno," Ron answered, looking nervous.
"I doubt it will make much difference," Professor McGonagall said, "unless a mad axe-man is waiting outside the doors to slaughter the first into the entrance hall."
Lucy, Ron, and Hermione all let out a laugh at that, while Professor Trelawney looked offended.
"Coming?" Harry asked Lucy and Hermione.
"Yes," Lucy replied, standing up.
"No," Hermione answered. "I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall."
Lucy pursed her lips but didn't say anything.
"We'll see you back in the common room, then," Ron said.
~LJ:C~
Lucy, Harry, and Ron sat down in front of the fire in Gryffindor Tower again. The Firebolt was still sitting in the middle of the table, and Harry and Ron continued to admire it. Lucy wasn't sure how much longer they could stare at a broomstick, since they had done it all morning.
Eventually, Professor McGonagall and Hermione entered the common room. Hermione hurried over to the table where her things were still sitting and promptly hid her face behind a book.
"So, that's it, then?" Professor McGonagall asked, walking over to where Lucy, Harry, and Ron were sitting. "Miss Granger has just informed me that you have been sent a broomstick, Potter." Harry and Ron exchanged a confused look, and Professor McGonagall requested, "May I?" She picked up the broom without waiting for Harry's response and weighed it in her hands. "Hmm. There was no note at all, Potter? No card? No message of any kind?"
"No," Harry admitted, still looking confused.
"I see…" Professor McGonagall said. "Well, I'm afraid I will have to take this, Potter."
"Wh-what?" Harry exclaimed, jumping up to his feet. "Why?"
"It will need to be checked for jinxes," Professor McGonagall explained. "Of course, I'm no expert, but I daresay Madam Hooch and Professor Flitwick will strip it down—"
"Strip it down?" Ron repeated faintly.
"It shouldn't take more than a few weeks," Professor McGonagall finished. "You will have it back if we are sure it is jinx-free."
"There's nothing wrong with it!" Harry said. "Honestly, Professor—"
"You can't know that, Potter," Professor McGonagall said softly. "Not until you've flown it, at any rate, and I'm afraid that is out of the question until we are certain that it has not been tampered with. I shall keep you informed."
Gripping the Firebolt, Professor McGonagall turned and left the common room, leaving Harry and Ron watching her go with dropped jaws.
"What did you go running to McGonagall for?" Ron shouted, looking furiously across the room at Hermione.
Hermione put the book down and stared back at Ron. "Because I thought—and Professor McGonagall agrees with me—that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!"
~LJ:C~
A/N: I thought it was important that Lucy have a conversation with Lupin about what she overheard, no matter how brief. And she needed to have it confirmed that Sirius is indeed her godfather, as well.
Also, you learn a tad bit more about Jeremy's family in this chapter.
Originally, Lucy basically took Hermione's side completely when it came to the drama between Hermione and Ron. I didn't like how it turned out, so I've edited it so that Lucy tries to stay out of it and remain friends with both parties. Therefore, she tries to gently suggest that Hermione should leave Crookshanks behind (although, obviously, it doesn't work) and she tells Hermione to do what she thinks is best but doesn't get involved.