Chapter Ten – The Visitor
It had been weeks since the Hogsmeade visit, Halloween was fast approaching and the Marauder group was in disarray. Remus and Belle had barely spoken, and the tension only fuelled Sirius and Leah's heated arguments. The only three who were cheerful were James, Lily and surprisingly Peter and even they struggled to stay upbeat. Harvey had distanced himself from the group, enjoying the positivity from his Hufflepuff peers, rather than the pessimism of the Gryffindors.
Belle had been spending less time with Leah, and after she had explained why, both Lily and Leah were annoyed at Remus on her behalf.
"Have you apologised to Belle yet?" Leah asked as they sat down for breakfast.
Remus looked up from his cereal, "Yes, about fifty times," he responded.
"Maybe if you made it one hundred she'd think about forgiving you." Remus dropped his spoon and milk splashed onto the table. Leah continued to eat, knowing that her attack on Remus was purely to release her anger. She had been on edge lately, as if waiting to go into battle. She argued, sneered, shouted and ignored as well as any Slytherin. She didn't like it, but couldn't put her finger on the reason.
Leah glanced at the teachers table where Dumbledore was sat talking with Professor McGonagall. She had forgotten all about the muggle man, and once it had come back to her she never got a chance to see him.
As she watched, Hagrid plodded up to him and leant down to mumble in Dumbledore's ear. The Headmaster listened closely and then nodded. Rising, he beckoned for McGonagall to join him and they exited through the back door.
"I wonder where they're going," wondered Leah and the others turned to her.
"Who?"
"Dumbledore and McGonagall have snuck out."
"Maybe they are having a passionate affair," Sirius suggested, but Leah didn't respond as she usually would.
After several minutes, as students finished their breakfast the teachers reappeared, but they were not alone. A woman accompanied them; she was tall and elegant with ebony hair and cat like eyes. The midnight blue robes that swathed her seemed very expensive. She skimmed the faces of students curiously, and barely registered that McGonagall was speaking to her.
Dumbledore stood in front of the top table and held up his hands, calling for silence. Voices faded and all eyes focused on the man.
"Forgive me for the interruption," he began calmly, "but before you leave for class I have an announcement to make. As you are all aware, the Halloween feast is in two days' time." A general murmur followed his words. "This year, marks the five hundredth Halloween celebrated at Hogwarts, the first being in 1476! To celebrate, along with our usual feast, there will be activities planned throughout the night." He gestured for the woman to step up and a few of the older boys strained to get a closer look at her. Leah supposed she was quite striking. "Miss Swan is a historian for the Ministry, and it is due to her vast research that the significance of this year is remembered. She will be in charge of all events for Halloween, so please be as helpful and welcoming as you can. It is sure to be a night to remember." Dumbledore bowed his head and a few people applauded, unsure of whether it was appropriate or not. Leah looked back at her friends, and frowned at Sirius who was gazing intently at the woman as she struck up a conversation with Professor Slughorn.
"This is brilliant!" James declared, "I love Halloween, I wonder what she'll plan." Everyone joined in with the brainstorm of ideas, relieved that the tension between them was somewhat dispersed. Everyone that is, apart from Sirius, who hadn't blinked since the woman had entered.
Later that day, Harvey sat in Herbology and listened to the discussion about the upcoming feast. The Hufflepuffs couldn't talk about much else, and even the Slytherins could be heard throwing ideas around about the activities. Their project that term had been to grow a plant named Curatore, its sap, if grown correctly, had the potential to heal severe wounds. Not only was it useful but the flower that blossomed was said to be one of the most spectacular ever to bloom.
Professor Sprout had set them to work changing the soil, preening and watering them. Although it sounded simple, the plants were highly sensitive and any small miscalculation such as a drop too much water, being a fraction too hot, or too cold, could cause it to wither and die.
"Mr Bennett, your Curatore is dangerously hot, get it away from that window at once! Put it by the fan, can you see how black it is at the edges? Honestly, did you not read any of the information from your textbook?" Timothy Bennett huffed and moved his plant to the line of fans, which were made up of large feathers that spun in the air.
Harvey glanced at Warren who was attempting to shield his plant from the short but occasionally fearsome teacher. It wasn't even close to blooming, and Harvey made his way over casually. "You need more soil," he muttered.
"I don't want help," Warren snapped.
"It'll die, and you can't afford to fail this class."
Harvey frowned and picked up the bag of soil, before sprinkling it evenly around the stem. He then patted it down and the plant shot up an inch.
Warren sighed and rubbed the back of his head, "Right," he mumbled.
"Mr Higgs, well done, your Curatore is much better than last time. I was worried it may not grow, what have you done?"
"It needed more soil," Warren answered.
"Fantastic, someone has done their research," she said and pointedly looked at Bennett who was wafting his plant with a book. "Ten points to Slytherin," Professor Sprout smiled.
As she toddled away, Warren looked up at his brother. "Thanks for that," he sighed and Harvey shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal about it. "I hate Herbology, I'm crap at it."
"It takes patience," Harvey added.
"It's alright for you, I mean look at yours!" Warren pointed at Harvey's Curatore which was a head taller than everyone else's. The petals were beginning to peel away at the tip and a shock of purple could be seen peeping from the inside.
"Some things I find easy, some things you do." Harvey said, Warren nodded and turned back to his plant. "I could help, if you want?" Harvey offered, and his brother frowned, considering the pluses and minuses.
"No, I'll be alright," Warren said eventually and Harvey let it drop. They hadn't interacted this much for weeks. "Have you heard anything about Aunt Maggie?"
"No, I read that article about the muggle man in St. Mungo's though."
"I saw that, do you know if he told You-Know-Who anything?" Warren asked quietly.
"Leah and Belle were supposed to ask Dumbledore, but they haven't had chance to yet. I'm sure if he had we'd have been told by now."
"Some of the other Slytherins have been talking about it, I'm pretty sure their parents are Death Eaters. I've tried to listen in, but nobody seems to know what He was after."
"Let me know if you hear anything."
"I will," Warren agreed. They fell into a comfortable silence as Professor Sprout announced that the lesson was over.
"Do you want to come and see Leah and Belle?" Warren grimaced and shook his head. "We could meet up another time?"
"Maybe," said Warren, but he didn't sound very sure. "I'd better go anyway, I'll see you around."
As Harvey watched his brother retreat he called out, "Let me know if you change your mind, about the plant or seeing us." Warren lifted a hand in the air and didn't respond, but it was something at least.
As The Study of Ancient Runes class finished, Belle, Lily and Remus were blocked from leaving by a young woman, Miss Swan. The trio hadn't enjoyed the lesson, and even Lily struggled to be enthusiastic, not when Belle and Remus wouldn't say a word to one another.
Miss Swan stood in front of them, with a hand on her hip as she gazed at the students through painted eyelashes. "Are you Belle Higgs, Lily Evans and Remus Lupin?" She asked, and the three nodded. "I need help with setting up an activity for Halloween, and I was told you were the ones I should come to. I need people who can keep a secret; we can't have everyone knowing about all the events. Can I rely on you?"
"Uh, I guess so," Lily answered hesitantly.
"Good, are you free now?"
"Until dinner," Lily confirmed.
"If you can come with me," she turned in a swift motion but a voice made her stop. Sirius was jogging up to them as James ambled behind. Miss Swan raised a perfectly curved eyebrow at him.
"What's going on?" He asked, and smiled charmingly at the woman.
"We're helping Miss Swan set up for the feast," Remus answered as James joined them.
"Do you need a hand?"
Miss Swan licked her lips as Sirius eagerly stared at her, waiting for a response. "I suppose you can come," she sighed.
Beaming, Sirius followed her as she sauntered down the corridor, hips swaying in a steady motion. The rest dawdled behind, watching him with amusement. "Someone has a crush," Belle said.
"I didn't notice," James chuckled. "It's like he's never seen a girl before."
"It isn't just him, all the boys are after her," Lily added.
James slung an arm around her shoulders, "Not me, I've already got the girl."
Remus caught Belle's eye and pretended to be revolted by their display of affection, Belle giggled but cut it short, remembering why she was annoyed with him.
They gathered in an empty classroom. In the centre sat a large box filled with small wriggling fish. Beside it was a box of apples and string.
"I need two teams," Miss Swan ordered, "one group will stay here and set up for Apple Bobbing and the other will assist in the Forbidden Forest." The woman darted her eyes around the faces, "You girls can stop here, I think the wood needs men, no offence."
Lily seemed very offended but didn't argue with the woman, something about her chiselled bone structure intimidated her. "What do we do?" Lily asked instead.
Belle wondered if Apple Bobbing was the same as it was in the muggle world. "First you must insert the string into the apple core so it is firmly in place, then three fish must be attached to each string." No, Belle thought, it wasn't like the muggle game.
"What do people have to do?" She asked.
Miss Swan rolled her eyes, "Students will gather at the Black Lake, and take it in turns to choose an apple that will float in the water. They will levitate it. The fish will attract the Grindylows from the bed of the lake. They will grab onto the line, the more Grindylows that are attached to your apple, the more points. The winners get a prize at the end."
It sounded like a warped version of hook a duck and apple bobbing combined.
"Understand?" Miss Swan asked and the girls nodded. "Good, come on boys, follow me." James pecked Lily on the cheek before dashing off after her.
Lily and Belle turned to the fish box, and gagged.
The sun was setting as they headed towards the forest. The Marauders had visited the woods in their first and third year, under the concealment of the invisibility cloak. Nothing exciting had happened on either occasion.
Sirius watched the back of the woman who was a shadow in the darkness, and James elbowed him. "Try not to be so obvious mate," he muttered, but Sirius didn't react.
They stopped at the edge of the forest and they could see a path woven into the trees behind her. On the ground was a cluster of candles. "The Forest Walk will be another activity for the night. I've formed the pathway that the students will take, but I need these candles set up at intervals so they can be lit on the night."
"Isn't that a bit dangerous? We're never allowed in the forest," Remus mused.
"Professor Dumbledore has agreed to it, and the activity will only be an option for years six and seven." Miss Swan held out a graceful hand and the boys picked up the candles in their arms. "Once you're finished, I'll be in the Great Hall."
"You aren't coming with us?" Sirius asked. Disappointment was evident in his voice.
"No, I have things to do," she ran a finger along his shoulder, "I'm sure you can manage it." Sirius puffed up his chest and nodded confidently.
With that, Miss Swan strode away from them back up to the castle.
"I'm going to marry that woman," Sirius breathed as they began levitating candles as they walked into the woods.
"She's twice your age mate," James said.
"No she isn't, I'll bet she's only twenty five at the most. I think she likes me." Sirius grinned and ignored Remus and James' looks of disapproval.
The darkness was thick, and the path Miss Swan had made was difficult to follow, even with their wands glowing. Nevertheless, they continued on deeper into the woods. "I should have volunteered to stay with the girls," James grunted, "at least I'd be with Lily and not stuck in some freezing forest."
"Speak for yourself," Remus shrugged.
Sirius and James looked at him, he hadn't spoken about what happened with Belle and they hadn't pressed him, but their curiosity was growing. "Look, are you going to tell us what went on in Hogsmeade or what?" Sirius said as he cast another candle into the air.
Remus frowned and shook his head, "I don't want to talk about it."
"Well tough, we're stuck with the two of you, so we deserve to know."
Remus scratched his jaw and checked around them when a branch snapped nearby. His friends waited patiently, but clearly expected an answer. "Fine," Remus breathed. "It was all going well, until she started talking about the Defence Against the Dark Arts class we missed." He slowed and they kept pace with him. "Professor Sloane was teaching the class about the full moon."
"Oh Merlin, you told her?" Sirius gawped and Remus rolled his eyes.
"Of course I didn't, now let me finish." Sirius fell silent. "They were learning the effects it can have in the magical world, but Belle said she wished he'd taught them about werewolves." Remus cringed at the memory. "She said she found it interesting, and felt sorry for them."
Remus stopped and the boys raised their eyebrows, "so?" Sirius said.
"So! She kept talking about wanting to help them and research it. Like it wasn't dangerous or awful."
"It isn't-" James began.
"Don't Prongs, it is, and you know it," he paused and inhaled deeply. "Anyway, she went to hold my hand after and I just…couldn't let her. So I moved away and she took it badly."
Both boys halted in their tracks, mouths open and eyes wide. "Please don't tell me that's it?" James begged, Remus didn't answer. "Bloody hell Moony, what is the matter with you? She was clearly attracted to you, and you blow it because…I don't even know why."
Remus clenched his jaw, "Belle is kind and understanding that's why."
"Oh yeah, I see your point," Sirius mocked sarcastically.
"Shut up Sirius, you don't get it. If she ever found out about me, she'd try and help. She'd insist on being with me, even when I'm dangerous, just like you lot did. Then one day, I'd hurt her and I couldn't live with myself." He ran his fingers through his dishevelled hair, now that he'd said it aloud, he knew it sounded insane.
"No wonder she's angry," Sirius said, "don't you think she deserves a chance? You're assuming a lot about her. She might hate you the minute she knows. Or she could not care less and go on like normal and not want to see you when you change."
Remus shook his head and levitated the final candles in the air. They didn't speak for a while, as Remus digested what they'd said. "What have I done?" He finally asked. "How do I fix it?"
"Don't ask me mate, I never got used to saying sorry to Lily."
"And I'm no help, I don't do the whole relationship thing," Sirius confessed.
The walked on in silence, out of the forest. Remus thought about Belle and his stomach dropped. He had to come up with a way for her to forgive him, he had to.
A/N: Just a short chapter, but lots is going to happen in the next one! It might take me a few days to publish but I will as soon as I can. Let me know what you think!