Chapter 10 - The Boggart
"Malfoy we need to talk." Delaney said striding up to the blonde.
"What do you want?" He drawled.
"You gave a dangerous journal to my little sister." Delaney said.
"I was told to by my dad. He needed to get it to Hogwarts."
"Do you know it might have dark magic in it?"
He blinked in surprise and said "How did you know that?"
"I didn't but the bookkeeper said there was a possibility." Delaney told the blonde.
Before he could respond Snape walked over and asked "Everything okay over here?"
"Yes, professor." Delaney told the Potions professor.
"Okay, now run along."
They went their separate ways. Snape had suspected it from last year that Delaney was the daughter of one of his childhood enemies. Even though she went by her muggle mum's last name there was no question she was the spawn of the bookish marauder. The day continued. It was now Christmas, Delaney was opening up her gifts from Sirius and Remus. Sirius had bought her a stuffed wolf. Remus had bought her a book about Charms. She smiled. The year continued and ended. That summer Delaney went on vacation with her cousin and her family. They really enjoyed themselves but they couldn't help but miss their respective best friends. It was now time to board the train.
"Neville!" Delaney yelled running to greet her best friend.
"Laney!" Neville greeted hugging her enthusiastically.
The Longbottoms smiled at their son. He was sad most of the summer while Delaney was gone. Sure they wrote letters but it wasn't the same.
"How was your trip?"
"I'll tell you all about it." Delaney said breaking away from the hug.
"Okay." Neville smiled.
The scene repeated with Harry and Hermione a few minutes later. Remus was teaching this year. Maybe Delaney will finally have the courage to tell him that she knew he was her father. The five some sat in their usual compartment with the addition of the new professor.
"So, tell us about your trip." Harry said eagerly.
The two girls told their best friends about their trip to France. Remus casually listened as well his ears perked up when his daughter mentioned they saw some wild wolves. He had also noticed she was wearing a wolf pendant and she had a stuffed wolf. After she finished telling her best friend about her trip. It was quiet for a few minutes.
"So, how long have you had that wolf pendant?" Remus asked her.
"Oh, this. Since Christmas of first year. And I've had my stuffed wolf since last Christmas."
"And she also has a book about wolves." Hermione said getting the book out of her trunk and handing it to Remus.
He looked down at the cover and asked "How many times have you read this?"
"Plenty." Delaney answered.
"What's the name of your stuffed wolf?" Neville teased his best friend.
"What makes you think I name my stuffed animals. I'm thirteen." Delaney joked throwing her stuffed wolf at her best friend.
"Because we both know you do." Hermione smirked at her cousin.
Delaney blushed and said "His name is Akela."
"Why Akela?" Ron asked.
"He's a character from the movie and book the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling." Delaney told her surrogate brother.
"What's a movie?" Ron asked.
"Will you explain what a movie is to Ron, Hermione."
"Sure thing."
"Have you read the book?" Remus asked.
"Hermione and I have been trying to find the book but we can't seem to find it." Delaney frowned.
Remus took note maybe that's a good gift for her and then he asked "Who bought you all this stuff about wolves?"
"Uncle Sirius."
"Of course he did." Remus muttered.
The foursome continued talking. The professor chiming in her every now and then. The foursome separated from the professor once they reached Hogwarts. The sorting went off without a hitch. The year started. It was now Delaney and her fellow Hufflepuffs first defense lesson they had it with the Ravenclaws. Delaney was the second one up. Her boggart turned into the dead body of her mum she wasn't surprised.