It was the next morning when we found out what Malfoy was up to. His father, being upset by the whole incident of Buckbeak's attack, made him file a case against Hagrid. It looked to be that he might win. Blaise told us at breakfast when we our little group, including Luna, Ginny, and Ron, all sat down at Gryffindor table to eat.
Jenci was consoling Zuri as she burst into tears at the information. She was so upset at the story, she couldn't help herself. Hermione, Ginny, and Luna then took Zuri further down the table to talk in soft whispers to one another. No doubt trying to gauge Zuri's attention elsewhere; it was hard indeed not to join the help.
Jenci parted from the group and sat down beside me with a heavy sigh. He looked at Blaise, Ron, Neville, and I with an expression of deep reserve. His reserve leaked out to all of us and we all sat with a calm that was so abnormal for a group our age.
"Malfoy's father is going to win that case," he stated with more calm than was normal to hear from him. "Buckbeak is going to be executed."
Ron cursed as I muttered, "But we all saw what happened. There were witnesses. They can't play it off without a huge deal being made of it. What's wrong with the system, here?"
"Harry," Blaise hissed to me as he eyed the group of girls. "The Malfoy's hold a lot of power in the wizarding world. If Black wasn't a fugitive, he'd overrule them, if he wanted to. It's all about who's the oldest and most powerful. Although, I think I'll look up something to help."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked with confusion.
"You never did pay attention about the wizarding tradition growing up, did you?" Blaise sneered. "I mean to say that I think that I need to check if there is an older family who can overrule them. I think the Potters can and so can the Longbottoms. Harry, didn't you check your family status when you first entered the wizarding world?"
"No, I didn't have time or patience," I stated. "I was still so new to this wizarding world that I overlooked some things."
"Obviously," he laughed without amusement. He looked at Neville. "We need to teach this boy some tricks and fashions."
Neville nodded, turned to me, and stated with a calm voice, "Harry, we'll help you."
"Right now, it can wait," I stated with a short tone. "We need to help Hagrid and Buckbeak."
"But how can we do that?" Ron asked. "We'll can't win against the Malfoy's. They hold too much sway."
"Never mind their sway," I stated. "We've more tricks up our sleeves than they've ever seen."
We then looked up to see the girls. They stood with deep frowns, excluding Luna who wore an aloof expression, while watching us. Then Zuri spoke up with a tired voice that wobbled somewhat while she spoke.
"It's time for classes."
"Are you going to be okay?" Jenci asked while eyeing her with calculating eyes.
"I'll be fine," she stated tiredly. "I need the distraction that class offers."
"If you're sure," he stated worriedly.
Her eyes narrowed and the sad, tired expression was suddenly gone as she replied, "I'm sure."
"All right," he muttered while holding both hands in front of him in surrender. "You're sure. How about that class?" We laughed at that with some amusement; Zuri's eyes crinkled and she let a small sound of laughter.
We gathered our things and went to classes. Malfoy never appeared in class until that Thursday and he acted put out to be in any of them. The blond brat strolled late into the Potion's class and every one of the Slytherins crooned with worry and concern. Except for Blaise, who stood next to me and watched with a disgusted scowl.
"Settle down, settle down," Snape growled and the quiet of the room resumed itself.
I looked up as Malfoy complained about not being able to cut his daisy roots and Snape commanded Ron to do so. Ron turned brick red and hissed what was undoubtedly a venomous remark and Malfoy replied with some words and a smirk. I couldn't be sure as I was stationed at the far back table with Blaise while we finished the putting in the ingredients and started stirring.
"Dresden, skin Malfoy's shrivelfig," Snape snapped as Malfoy complained again.
I looked up and then looked at Blaise who nodded and took over both cauldrons for the time being. Malfoy put his foot out and I stumbled over it and then looked up at the glaring Potion's Master and raised a brow as if to say, you got a problem, deal with it. Then I went to skin the damned fig.
"Seen Hagrid lately?" Malfoy asked quietly.
"That would, in fact, be none your business," I stated with a noticeable lucid Spanish accent as I cursed in that language mentally.
Malfoy gave me a calculating look before continuing, "I'm afraid he will not be a teacher much longer." His voice held mock sorrow. "Father's not very happy about my injury—"
"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury," snarled Ron.
"—he's complained to the school governors. And to the Ministry of Magic. Father's got a lot of influence, you know. And a lasting injury as this"-- he gave a huge, fake sigh-- "who knows if my arm will ever be the same again?"
"Mon Dios, you are the most pathetic boy I've ever met," I stated in a low voice. "You know as well as everyone in this room that you instigated the poor creature and it struck you for it. Hagrid told you not to insult Buckbeak and then what do you do?--You insult the creature. Whatever excuse you've got is plainly ridiculous. And I know perfectly well--first hand, even--that the nurse in the Hospital Wing is the best in the country for these types of injuries. You're just putting on a show when everyone here knows your dumb arm is no longer in pain. And if it bloody well is, take some Advil and shut up your complaining."
Malfoy gave me a queer look of confusion and I smiled back nastily. I tossed the skin in the cauldron and walked back to where Blaise was and I growled as I resumed the work with the cauldron and he his own.
"Dresden, you're not finished helping Mr. Malfoy," Snape snapped and I growled under my breath and gave a look to the man who held a disgusting, in my opinion, smirk.
I went back up and Blaise growled and did the rest of the work with a dark furious frown. When I started adding things to Malfoy's potion, Seamus leaned over behind us and whispered, "Hey, Harry, did you see the Prophet this morning?"
"I don't read that stupid newspaper," I replied with a glance back at him.
He looked at me with surprise and then frowned as he stated, "Well you should. Black was sighted."
I paused and stiffened. I looked back at him. "Are you certain?"
"Yeah, one of the articles said he was sighted not too far from here," Seamus explained. "A muggle sighted him and called one of those hotlines." I rolled my eyes; normal peoples and their hotlines. "The muggles think he's just a normal criminal, you know? Funny, really."
"I sure am laughing," I replied sarcastically.
"Not too far from here," Ron repeated, looking significantly at me. We turned to notice Malfoy listening closely. "What, Malfoy? Need something cut or skinned?"
Malfoy watched me closely and gleamed malevolently. He leaned across the table and smirked. I watched warily.
"Thinking of trying to catch Black single-handed, Dresden?"
"Of course," I snorted with amusement. "Got me right, you have. Want to make my father proud."
Malfoy smiled darkly. "Of course, if it was me," he said quietly. "I'd have done something before now. I wouldn't be staying in school like a good boy. I'd be out there looking for Black."
"Oh, aren't you just heroic?" I chuckled. Honestly.
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked roughly with confusion.
"Don't you know, Dresden?" Malfoy asked; his eyes narrowed.
"Know what?" I asked with annoyance.
Malfoy let out a low laugh. "Maybe you'd rather not risk your neck," he said. "Want to leave it to the dementors, do you? But if it was me, I'd want revenge. I'd hunt him down myself."
"What are you talking about?" Ron asked with a snarl of irritation; my temper rose and the room starting dropping to freezing temperatures. But Snape started snarling off instructions and telling us we were going to test Neville's potion which was not appropriately made from what was earlier mentioned, but Hermione hurriedly instructed the poor boy.
We went to wash our hands and turn in our sample potions for Snape to grade and gathered around Neville's table as Snape went to test the potion he made with his toad Trevor. The potion did exactly what it was supposed to do, but Snape furiously spun around to look at Hermione.
"Five points from Gryffindor," he hissed. "Miss Granger, I told you not to help him. Class dismissed."
We packed up quickly and left. Blaise slung an arm lazily about my shoulders and forced a grin. He then looked behind us.
"Where's Mione?" he asked, but she appeared ahead of us, panting and then she released a cry of horror as her book bag tore open at the seam and spilled all her things on the floor. We raced over to help her.
"Mione," I breathed as I grabbed her books and quickly got them out of the ink that was peddling fast for them on the stone.
Blaise muttered a spell as he waved his wand and the ink disappeared and Hermione tried to gather all her other books that I hadn't grabbed as Blaise asked, "Hermione, enough is enough."
She looked up at him in surprise, "What? What do you mean?"
"You can't carry this many books and you're looking sick with no sleep already," he hissed as others passed by and eyed at us.
"Mione, we love you, no doubt, but this," I pointed about me at her quills and extra books. "This is not going well."
"Oh, Harry, you're being ridiculous," she laughed madly and patted my shoulder reassuring, "I'm fine."
"Hey, Blaise, can you grab some sandwiches at lunch for us?" I asked suddenly. He nodded knowingly and handed Hermione her quill and paused as he looked between us.
"Normal place?" he asked, meaning the classroom we practiced secretly in.
I nodded. "We'll meet you in a few minutes."
He nodded, "I'll be there."
"Come on," I sighed as I helped Hermione gather her things.
"Where are we going?" she asked in confusion.
"We're going to get you a bag," I replied.
She stopped, but then raced after me, "Harry, we're not suppose to go off the school property."
"We're not," I laughed. "We're going up to the dormitory really quick to put some stuff up and to get you a bag until you can get a new one."
In a few minutes, we got to the dormitory and Hermione went to put the books she didn't need for the rest of the day in her dorm room and then went to my dorm to look for me. I shuffled around in my trunk until I found my old backpack and handed it to her. Her eyes watered a bit and then the next thing I know, I was being hugged.
"It's okay," I chuckled nervously while patting her back. "Hermione, you need this more than I and besides, it's never been ripped or broken before. And trust me; I've carried loads in it before."
She pulled away and sniffled, "I'm sorry. I'm behaving utterly dismal."
"No, you're not," I reassured. "You're just stressed. If you're using that gadget, you should use it to get some rest."
There I said it. I was being supportive. Falsely supportive since I didn't really want her using it, but hopefully, she wouldn't start crying. Then I'd really be feeling horrible.
"We need to go meet up with Blaise," she stated while trying to practice breathing and she left the room. I followed closely behind.
Misha flew onto my shoulder as I stepped off the stairs and noticed the cat sitting on the railing once more. Hermione giggled and covered her mouth as she looked at my expression which was no doubt steeped in surprise. We then left for the classroom after Hermione put her things in the backpack.
A couple minutes later, we entered the classroom and Blaise looked up while eating what was no doubt his second sandwich. The others were there and waiting with him while munching on their own food. I noticed that Zuri just ate an orange.
"Hey, Mione, you all right?" Blaise asked quickly and came over and handed her food and poured a stolen pitcher of pumpkin juice into a conjured goblet.
Blaise and Jenci were excellent conjurors in our year. Then again, not many in our year can conjure anything. It's a sixth year taught spell. We just learned it a bit earlier than most.
I went to sit next to Zuri and Neville and the blonde girl asked, "Is she all right?"
"Yeah, just tired," I answered with a deep sigh. I looked at Neville. "Do you know something about Black that everyone seems to know but me?"
"Well he was close to your parents," Neville answered worriedly. His stammer cleared up after a couple of days with close friends. "And he was your godfather, from what Gran explained to me when I asked this summer."
"G-godfather?" I stammered with disbelief.
Was that why Lupin seemed distressed whenever I tried to bring up Sirius with him? Is that what Malfoy was talking about? And if it was, why didn't Sirius tell me when we met? Did he not mention it so not to upset Harry, my brother, and I? I started getting angry instead of thoughtfully depressed.
"Harry, is something wrong?" Hermione suddenly asked as she looked over at me.
I didn't answer as the thoughts and questions burst into my head. The room temperature started dropping as I felt slightly disturbed. I had to get air. Needed air more than I needed to be here in an enclosed space.
"I'm sorry, I have to get some air," I breathed and stood up and headed to the door.
"Harry, class starts in an hour," Hermione called after me and I heard footsteps following me. No doubt about it, Blaise was close behind.
"Harry, what's going on?" Blaise asked when we exited the castle and closed in on the forest.
"He's my g-godfather," I choked.
Blaise cursed. "Oh, Merlin, Harry, I thought you knew." He grasped my shoulder as we entered the forest and disappeared into its darkening depths.
"Oh, God," I growled roughly, "why didn't I know?"
"Nobody told you?" Blaise asked angrily.
"No," I snarled angrily. "Everybody wants to protect me and keep information from me."
"Calm down," he growled. "We need to figure this out."
"What I need to figure out is how I'm going to choke something without actually killing it," I snarled. "Black! Black! Wherever you're hiding—OI!"
Blaise grabbed my neck collar of my outfit and yanked me out of the forest right as I started marching to the shrieking shack. That was the only reasonable place the man could hide. The place was supposed to be haunted, but I didn't think it was.
"Stop this nonsense!" Blaise snorted with hilarity. "You're not going to go get yourself hurt just because you're angry."
"Let me go," I growled and cursed as Blaise put me into a headlock and dragged me toward the castle and into the Entrance Hall where everyone looked on with confusion as I tried to wrestle out of his grip.
"Oh, Harry, look at the time," he sang happily as I cursed loudly. "It's time for Defense."
"Almost," I replied darkly as I tried to make him let go of me.
"Almost time for Defense," he conceded and dragged me to the classroom which was empty except for one person who looked up with a frown. "Hello Professor." Blaise grinned and dragged me to the werewolf's desk and waited for a greeting in reply.
"Hello, Mr. Zabini," Lupin greeted. "Why do you have Mr. Dresden in a headlock?"
"He decided to do something foolish; I decided he wasn't going to," Blaise replied with a cheerful voice. "May I ask something, Professor?"
"You just did," Lupin chuckled, but frowned at Blaise's suddenly serious expression. "Yes?"
"Why didn't anyone think to tell Harry that the criminal Black is his Godfather?" the Italian boy asked with a dark expression and I stilled at the note of cloudiness in his voice.
"I thought he knew," Lupin muttered with confusion. "It's not like it wasn't common knowledge. Harry, are you all right?"
Blaise let go of me and stepped a few steps back and watched. "Yeah, once I go after the long-haired twit!"
I started marching out of the room, but Blaise grabbed me and yanked me back over to the desk. "Sit down!" he growled and shoved me into a chair at the side of the desk. "If you get up and go for that door one more time, I will literally conjure up the ropes to tie you into place. Understand, Dresden?"
"Comprende," I growled and slouched.
"Harry, why did you call him a long-haired twit?" Lupin asked with a dark frown pointed directly at me and I looked directly into his eyes without worry. Once a soul gaze is done, you need not worry about falling into another with the same person. I could hear Blaise let out a sound of surprise.
"Well he was in prison for what? Twelve years?" I explained calmly. "He's got to have long hair. Azkaban doesn't seem like the place where they'll gladly cut your hair every other year."
"Very clever," Lupin muttered with awe. "He always kept his hair short even when he wanted to grow it out. He started to, but Lily made him cut it before the wedding. She stated that the best man mustn't look like a beggar."
I snorted as Blaise laughed, "Oh, dear. I wonder what she would say about you, Harry?"
"Shut up," I chuckled and let the smile slide into a frown while I pulled on the long black braid. "I should really get it cut, but I haven't the heart to do it."
"You're such a girl, Dresden," Blaise teased as he messed up my hair.
I pulled it out of the braid and glared at him and then noticed Misha sitting in my lap watching me expectantly. I rolled my eyes and shook my hair out. Then I looked up at the two guys watching.
"Don't say a word," I growled and then looked at Misha. "Bloody cat." A meow was all I received in return. "You know, I think there are elves in the castle. How 'bout you go and catch one?" Another meow.
"Apparently, he wants you to get him food," Blaise stated with an amused smile.
"Well then he'll have to wait until dinner," I stated sharply and then yelped in surprise at Misha's swipe at my face.
"Well that answers your question," Lupin stated with a chuckle as I shot him a glare when he snorted.
Lupin snapped a finger and a house elf appeared in fine clothing and looked excitedly around at the three of us. I grabbed Misha before the cat could pounce on the elf and struggled with the damned feline. I had a realization that I might need to train the cat not to go hunter on the elves. Blaise snickered as he watched me struggle with my familiar.
"Hello Glow, could you please bring up some sandwiches, a pitcher of pumpkin juice, and a side dish of tuna for us?" Lupin asked the elf and the elf nodded and disappeared. Lupin then looked at me and Misha. "Your cat likes hunting elves?"
"Lives to hunt elves and faeries," I corrected. "He thinks them yummy."
A second later, the food appeared and we sat down to eat gratefully. Lupin eyed me for a few minutes and then asked seriously, "Have you encountered Black, Harry?"
"Loads of times," I stated offhandedly. "My hair's black, my kohl is black—"
"That's not what I meant," he stated with a frown and I quirked a playful grin.
"That would be telling," I stated with an amused voice. "And I don't encounter and tell. Unless it's very important and I don't think he's been fairly prosecuted."
"He wasn't prosecuted at all," Blaise growled offhandedly while munching on his second sandwich; his fourth for lunch if you wanted to get technical. "They just sent him off to prison without trial."
"Yes, precisely, that's what I meant," I stated with a beaming smile at Lupin who frowned.
"Harry, he's a dangerous man," Lupin stated.
"My dad's a dangerous man," I remarked, "and you don't see me shivering in me timbers."
"Harry—"
"Professor, if he kills me," I explained solemnly, "he's already dead."
"What do you mean?" Lupin asked with surprise.
"He'll signed his death warrant if he kills me," I stated with a wicked smile. "I'll take him with me."
Lupin didn't show any surprise at that. He'd seen my soul. He knew I had it in me to take someone out. We all had it in us. Given the right circumstances, that is.
We all looked up to see the students starting to pile in and the elf reappeared and took the finished plates and glasses. Hermione and Neville came over to us and smiled a greeting to Lupin. Misha retook position on my shoulder.
"Harry, why is your hair all messy?" Lavender asked from behind me. I looked around and then replied, "Blaise." She glared at the Slytherin and he waved cheerfully at her. "Let me fix this mess."
And once again, the girl started braiding my hair. I never had to do much with my hair before. Now I never had to. All the girls seem to play with it when I was reading or sitting down doing nothing. It drove Ron into confusion and his older twin brothers gave me thumbs up whenever it happened.
"There, all better," Lavender stated as she swooped down to give me a hug and then rejoined Parvati.
I reclined back into the chair I sat in and gave them a lazy grin, "They just can't keep their hands off me. One day I bet I'll need to beat them off with a stick."
"Show off," Blaise muttered with amusement.
"No, not really," I laughed in reply.
"Yes, really," Blaise replied and smoothly got up from his chair. I tried to do the same, but it was sloppy and insignificant and he quirked a brow with a wolfish grin.
"Shut up," I stated. "Professor, shouldn't we be going?"
"Yes," the werewolf replied with a smile and beamed at the students seated and ready for class. "Good afternoon. Please place your books back into your bags, get out just your wands, and follow me."
Everyone hurriedly did what he said and I noticed Malfoy eyeing my backpack that Hermione was using. Blaise put an arm around her and Neville and I followed behind them as they followed Lupin. The rest of the class hurried after us. While leading us around a deserted corridor, we ran into Peeves the Poltergeist. I sighed deeply with annoyance. Why now?
Peeves was up to his usual tricks up until he noticed Lupin, then he broke out into song: "Loony, loopy Lupin. Loony, loopy Lupin—"
We all watched Lupin smiled justly. "I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," he said. "Mr. Filch won't be able to get to his brooms."
Our Mr. Filch was the janitor of the school and was bad-tempered as he was squib. He was constantly raging war with the students and Peeves. Peeves ignored Lupin's words.
Lupin sighed and rolled his eyes. "This is a useful little spell," he told us. "Please watch closely. Waddiwasi!"
The wad of gum shot out like a bullet and straight down Peeve's left nostril. He whirled around and zoomed away. And as a gentleman, I cannot repeat the curses he used.
"Cool, sir!" Dean said in amazement.
"Thank you, Mr. Thomas," Lupin said. "Shall we proceed?"
We stopped just outside the staffroom door and Lupin ushered us inside and we noticed Snape sitting and drinking tea. He swept to his feet, leaving his empty glass on the table, and growled, "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this." He went to stand next to Lupin. "Possibly, nobody's mention this, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear."
I growled with rage. Neville turned scarlet and our group pulled closer together to one another. Snape raised his brow at the movement and I could tell he was calculating with his eyes.
Lupin stated, "I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation and I'm sure he'll perform it admirably." Neville's face turned redder.
"Indeed," Snape snapped and swept out of the room and the door snapped closed behind him.
"That man is a right prick," I stated in a low voice, but I knew Lupin heard it.
Werewolves heard everything. Lupin turned to give me a look and I lowered my gaze to the floor and gestured at Neville to go up. The shy boy looked at me and gulped. I smiled.
"Dude, you've got this in a sack," I stated. "Remember what I told you."
He nodded and went up. I had told our little group of friends what to expect for our first lesson and I helped Neville practice saying the spell correctly over the last couple days with him. I knew he was ready.
After we went over the description of the boggart, it was time to practice the spell. Lupin opened the wardrobe and the boggart came out. We held our breaths.
The boggart turned into Snape and then Neville turned his clothes into his grandmother's and we laughed heartily at that. The Slytherins, however, were not. Not even Blaise enjoyed it, but, then, Blaise respected Snape a lot. Snape was his Head of House, after all.
Then the whole class went about practicing the spell. As I stood in line, waiting for my turn, I thought about what I was afraid of. I was trained to handle fear and to think when scared. It helped me out of a few scuffles in the past. But what was I truly afraid of? I didn't know. Then the dementors came to mind. I shivered. Yeah, those things were absolutely creepy to me at the moment.
When it was my turn, Lupin looked at me with surprise and jumped in front of me. The boggart turn into a crystal ball. Or, at first, I thought it was a crystal ball, but then I knew. A moon. Everyone looked intrigued at it and Lupin sluggishly growled, "Riddikulus!"
The boggart turned into a chaotic balloon that aired out and then shot back into the wardrobe. I sent a silent spell to lock it in and turned to look at Lupin. He breathed heavily.
"Are you all right, Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, thank you," he breathed and straightened out. "Five points to everyone and for homework please read the chapter on boggarts and then summarize it for me. To be handed in on Monday. That will be all."
I left with the group and looked back to see Lupin ease heavily into a chair at the staff table and put his head in his hands. He seemed to be breathing heavily trying to fight the urge the moon gave everything magical when it was full. I paused and waited until everyone turned the corner. I then went back into the room. Misha meowed softly into my ear.
I decided to distract him from his problem. I wasn't going to mention it to him, but I thought it was a good opportunity. Dumbledore would just ignore everything till the last minute. Lupin, I knew, wouldn't. Especially when it came to this topic I was about to bring up.
"Professor?"
Lupin looked up with a note of surprise. "Yes, Harry?"
"I've read the papers back when Black was arrested," I stated sincerely. "It says that the street was blown to bits."
"Yes," he replied with a sudden frown. "What are you getting at?"
"Well they only found a finger of the one man that Black was after," I explained. "His name was Peter Pettigrew, wasn't it?"
"Yes," he answered carefully.
"If Sirius Black created the explosion, why is there only a finger left of just one man?" I asked just as carefully, trying not to give any of my intentions away.
"What do you mean?" Lupin asked hoarsely, his eyes severely clouded with sudden thought.
"I'm no expert on these things, but I know for a fact that every spell for explosion leaves lots of remains," I stated darkly. "Isn't it a bit strange that all they could find was a finger of one man? You said my father was a stag; what was Pettigrew?"
His eyes widened as he looked up at me. "You don't think—"
"I don't know," I stated darkly. "That's why I'm asking you."
"I think you're onto something that could be very dangerous," Lupin stated as he shot to his feet. "I must talk with Dumbledore. Thank you for coming to me with this." His eyes were glazed with the past.
"No problem," I replied. "It's just that that was bugging me for awhile. When you said my father was a stag, I thought maybe Pettigrew could've been something as well. I should have said something earlier, but I didn't think it wise until I figured out some of the details myself. Will you tell me what comes of the solution?"
"Yes, Harry," he answered and raced out of the room.
I swept out of the staffroom and went to the private classroom that I knew the rest of the group were already in. Blaise was just turning into a panther as I walked in. His change stopped about midway and he cursed, but it came out as a snarl. I chuckled along with everyone else.
Blaise changed back and stated, "I lost my bloody concentration. Sod off.."
"Nah, I think I'd rather laugh," I replied.
"Where'd you disappear to?" Hermione asked as she sat in a chair nearby with her cougar eyes watching me with curiosity.
"I thought I'd spread the good word and all," I stated with a mischievous voice.
"But you're Satan!" Jenci stated in disbelief.
"Am not," I shot back.
Zuri giggled, "I didn't know you were religious."
"I'm not," I laughed slyly and started changing my eyes and felt my teeth elongate into fangs.
"You look creepy like that," Neville stated as his eyes changed into darker and more bearish like.
"I do, don't I?" I asked wickedly.
"Seriously, what were you up to?" Jenci asked.
"No seriously, I was spreading the good word," I laughed. "Trust me; it'll be fun if it's taken into consideration."
"What did you do?" Hermione groaned.
"Nothing," I chuckled and then started turning into a jaguar.
Hermione and I started changing almost completely. We still had to get the rest of the body down. We both had the legs, tail, fur, eyes, ears, and face down, but we still needed to the rest.
Jenci had conjured a mirror so when we changed, we knew how far we'd gotten. I wasn't surprised at seeing a very thin half-human, half-jaguar looking back at me. I was hoping I would start bulking up soon.
I sneezed and I heard what sounded like a snort from Zuri who watched me with wolf eyes of purply-amber.
Hermione came up beside me and nudged me aside to look in the mirror. She purred and then batted at my face. I batted back. It turned into a slap fest at that moment. It lasted past the time we switched back.
Sometimes, you got to love being a teen wizard.
----
Everything had been moving smoothly along up until I had gotten a detention from McGonagall right before the day of Halloween. I didn't know what I did wrong, but apparently I did something. I was once again assigned to Lupin for detention for the day of Halloween, also the first Hogsmeade visit.
I knew what it was about when I summed it all up. They were going to keep me in the castle for 'safety' precautions in any shape or form since Harry signed the permission slip. This meant detention for every visit. That way, I wouldn't be at greater risk. I found it abysmal Halloween morning.
"We'll bring you lots of sweets back," Blaise stated.
"Lots," Jenci followed.
"Those horrid teachers," Zuri announced. "You've proven you can take care of yourself enough, haven't you? For them to do this is just wretched foul play."
"I'll let them know that," I muttered as I walked them out of the castle.
"You're already going to be late for detention," Hermione stated. "You shouldn't be walking us out."
"Lupin will let me off with a warning," I chuckled. "Don't worry your pretty head about me."
She glared and then pointed past me. I got the meaning. "Okay, okay, I'm going."
I waved them off and walked grudgingly to the DADA classroom and walked right into Lupin as he exited the door. He looked down with stern, but amused eyes.
"You're twenty minutes late," he stated sternly.
"And I didn't do a damned thing to get detention," I growled. "You and my Head of House will get over it."
"I know this isn't fair, Harry—"
"You think?"
"—But don't include me in your blame fest. I didn't give you detention, after all."
"Yes, but you thought about it."
"Yes, I did think about it," he conceded. "Come along."
I followed him and we walked about the castle. We remained quiet and solemn. I couldn't take it any longer.
"I obviously haven't needed protection in the past from the bloody bugger, but why now?"
"He's after you," Lupin answered.
"Yeah, and that means I've got to be babied like a sapling," I muttered.
"I know this is unfair, but it's for your protection," Lupin stated with a stern voice.
"If you wanted to protect me, then you should've told me to stay in Chicago like a good little chico and sent my homework via owl," I growled. "This! This is bloody ridiculous!"
Lupin raised a brow in answer and shook his head with amusement. I growled and promptly ignored his existence. He was the enemy right now.
We ended up in the high bridge that hovered over stories and peered out of it casually. I jumped up onto the sill of the ledge and pulled a charm off my necklace that I wore and whispered a spell. The charm enlarged itself and there appeared my guitar case and I opened it and set the case aside as I took out my acoustic guitar and smiled as I ran a hand over the strings gently.
The strings were thick and the feel of them relaxed me. I unhooked the neon green pick that I had hooked to my earring that I had gotten during the summer. Lupin watched as I tuned the guitar a bit and started playing. The music poured out and somewhere along the way I started singing.
"I'm frantic in your soothing arms,
I cannot sleep in this down filled world,
I've found safety in this loneliness,
But I cannot stand it anymore.
Cross my heart and hope not to die,
Swallow evil, ride the sky,
Lose myself in a crowded room,
You fool, you fool, it will be here soon.
It comes alive,
And I die a little more,
It comes alive,
Each moment here I die a little more."
I stopped singing to look out over the school grounds and let the music follow. It was nice and relaxing. Something that I found easy and it made my mind clear up and allowed me to think properly. It helped. Where Harry had his running, Adam his aikido, I had my music.
"You've a nice voice," Lupin stated as the song's melody ended.
"Thanks," I replied and looked out over the school.
"You know, I thought you'd look more like your father," he chuckled as I slid the melody into a Latin rhythm.
"Oh?"
"You have his features, but with the longer hair, I can see more of your mother's attributes especially the eyes," he answered as he watched me closely. He sighed deeply. "I'm sorry that you can't go with the rest of your friends, but it cannot be helped. He's after you, not them."
"I know very well who he is after, Professor," I replied with a crisp Chicago accent. "I just don't believe he's as insanely stupid as you'd all like to think."
"What do you mean?" Lupin chuckled with amusement.
"Perhaps his escape has proven that he's intelligent and sane enough to figure out a loop hole to the dementor's effects," I stated absently. "Those creatures are a great bother to the mental state, after all. Though I've noticed that in my studies, they referred to Azkaban being placed on an island in the north surrounded by freezing water. Even if he did escape the prison compound, who's to say he actually survived. It's like a repeat of escape from Alcatraz."
"How do explain the recent sighting, then?" Lupin countered with a raised brow.
"Well there is always the off chance that there's a Black look-alike somewhere in Europe," I stated matter-of-factly.
"You've thought of everything, haven't you?" he asked with a wolfish grin.
"Not everything," I corrected, "almost everything."
He paused to look at me with a thoughtful frown and then sighed, "Come along. We need to get back inside."
"Sure," I muttered as I got off the sill of the ledge, put my guitar in its case and re-shrunken it to put back on my necklace. I hooked the pick back to the earring and then proceeded to follow Lupin back into the castle and into the DADA classroom.
We sat down at his desk as he asked, "Would you like some tea?"
"Coffee, preferably," I replied as I glanced over at a huge tank of water that held a creature that peered directly at me with its ugly eyes.
"That's a grindylow," Lupin stated after he called and told the house elf what we'd like to have. The tray filled with biscuits, coffee, tea, and two cups appeared a few seconds later. "He's a—"
"Water demon, I know," I chuckled. "I've dealt with the nasty buggers before. Breaking their grips is one helluva task."
"When did you deal with them?"
"Never mind that, sir," I laughed for what felt like the first time today. "It's really nothing I'd like to remember." The Nevernever always had its nasty surprises waiting to gobble unsuspecting people up.
The door slammed open and I jumped in surprise and turned to see Snape glide into the room and Lupin greeted, "Severus, how nice to see you again."
Snape carried the steaming goblet carefully and handed it to Lupin, "Drink that straight, Lupin."
"Yes, yes, I know," the fawn haired man replied as Snape looked at the tank with the grindylow inside. Lupin smiled. "I was just showing Harry the grindylow we'll be studying in the next class we have together."
"Fascinating," Snape sneered subtly as he glanced down at me as I looked at the goblet in Lupin's hand. "Do not try to figure out what it is in that goblet, Mr. Potter. You may hurt yourself doing so."
I cocked my head to look up at him. "I already figured it out, Mr. Snape. It's wolfsbane."
"Indeed," he growled darkly and shot a look at Lupin. "Have you already been telling everyone of your special case?"
"No, I have not," Lupin replied with amusement. "Harry figured it out within the first few days we met."
"How clever," Snape sneered and scowled at me. "I would have imagined that Granger figured it out before you did."
"She likes to be on top of everything before she starts stating who's what," I stated with a cheerful voice and a cheeky grin. "I'm more abrupt in my questioning."
"Indeed," Snape sneered and then looked at Lupin. "I have made an entire cauldron, if you need more."
"I should probably take some more tomorrow," Lupin replied with a smile. "Thank you, Severus."
"Not at all," the darker haired man replied as he back out of the room with unblinking eyes and a creepy expression.
I shivered for a moment before stating, "That man's an utter creep."
"Indeed," Lupin chuckled and then gulped down the entire goblet of potion. He made a face.
"Horrible?"
"Yes, quite," he replied and then gulped down his tea quickly.
I gulped down my own cup of coffee and reclined back in my chair with a blissful expression. "Caffeine, how I've missed thee so!"
Lupin chuckled before stating, "Your detention as of now if over."
"Well that was quick," I stated with a smile. "I'm sorry for my behavior."
"Don't be," he laughed. "Your father would've been worse and anything's better than his temper."
"I guess he and I don't share a whole lot in common," I chuckled.
"Not much," he stated. "You have a lot more of Lily in you."
"Well that's good, at least," I muttered as I stood up and nodded to him. "Good day, Professor."
"Good day, Harry," he replied.
I then left the classroom and went to the Entrance Hall to exit the classroom. There, I found Blaise and Hermione walking up together, laughing. I met them at the door and we walked to the hidden classroom.
"Where's Neville?" I asked with curiosity.
"He's been stolen by Seamus, Dean, and Ron," Hermione answered. "He's fine."
"That's good," I murmured and then looked at Blaise who already was smiling.
"Yeah, Jenci and Zuri disappeared with the rest of the Ravenclaws to hang out with the Hufflepuffs," he chuckled.
"So what did you two do?" I asked with mild curiosity.
"Well we first went to Honeydukes and bought lots of sweets," Hermione answered. "We got you some chocolate, citrus items, and a few other things." She handed me a medium-size bag. "Then we went to the bookstore. You would have liked it."
"Then we went to the Three Broomsticks for early lunch," Blaise followed. "Hermione and I had to leave quickly due to Malfoy and his gang starting nonsense yet again. Hopefully, we'll get to go to some other places next visit."
"When Zuri passed us, she told me we had to go into the clothes store next visit," Hermione giggled lightly. "I haven't the heart to tell her I hate shopping for clothes."
"Well you want me to trade places?" I asked with a laugh.
"Unless you want to comment on what she tries on, I'd suggest not," she laughed.
"Oh, that wouldn't be fun," I muttered. I may like Zuri, but any guy knew where to draw the line on where to go and where not to go when shopping with a girl.
We discussed my detention excluding Lupin's werewolf potion and Snape's appearance. By the time we were halfway through conversing, it was time for the Halloween feast. We met up with the group and this time sat at Ravenclaw's with Zuri and Jenci and talked about the rest of everyone's day. Besides me and the first and second years, everyone already full with food from their visit to the village, was able to eat lots of the Halloween feast. It was a nice night and I was able to forget the problems I was stirring with all the adults.
By the end, I waved goodbye to our friends and with Neville and Hermione, we hurried up to Gryffindor tower only to stop at the sight of the portrait being torn to pieces. I let my magic go and search for residue of any destructive magic, but there was none. It was done without magic and with hands and knife from what I could gather. I felt myself tense with unease.
"Why has everybody stopped?" Percy's loud questioning voice rang out as I noticed that he fought his way through the rest of the house. His eyes widened when they fell on the portrait. "GET THE PROFFESSORS!"
"Who could have done this?" Hermione asked with horror.
"Who else?" I asked with a steady and calmer voice than usual making her shoot a glance at me. "Sirius Black."
Whispers followed my words as quick as a forest fire and people began to grow frantic. Percy tried to calm them down. We could hear the teachers coming up the stairs with loud voices.
"Where's the Fat Lady?" Neville asked.
"No doubt hiding," I replied. "I wouldn't want to get shredded with the picture. Would you?"
I looked at him calmly and he shook his head in reply and stammered, "N-n-no."
"It's all right, dude," I breathed. "He's long gone by now. This looks like it was done awhile back. Maybe at the beginning of the feast? Otherwise the portraits would be going mad with shouts. Makes you wonder why he didn't wait until after. He's sane enough to know it's Halloween tonight. Everything magical is stirring tonight."
"Looks like you've thought this out, Dresden," Seamus growled with an unspoken accusation. Ron and Dean tried to keep him silent.
I glanced angrily at him and snarled, "Don't you dare imply that I'd bring someone who might perhaps be potentially dangerous into our tower." Seamus shrunk back at my glare and the teachers finally appeared; Dumbledore taking the lead as he raced up to the portrait with Filch and McGonagall right behind him. Dumbledore examined the portrait and turned to look at the two other old adults.
Peeves appeared as he floated casually up above us cackling. Dumbledore had been issuing Filch and McGonagall orders to search for the Fat Lady, but he stopped to look up.
"You'll be lucky," Peeves cackled.
"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked calmly.
"Ashamed, she is," Peeves answered in an oily voice. "I saw her running up the fourth floor portraits and screaming something dreadful." He paused and then added as an after thought in an unconvincing voice, "Poor thing."
"Did she say who did it?" Dumbledore asked.
"Oh yes, Head sir," Peeves laughed almost too creepily. "He got very upset when she wouldn't let him in, you see." Peeves floated closer the Headmaster with a creepily excited grin. "Nasty temper, he's got, that Sirius Black."
-----
We all ended up in sleeping bags in the Great Hall while the castle got searched for that idiot. I wanted to strangle him, but that had to wait. Nobody, and they meant it when they said it, nobody was allowed to leave the Great Hall.
Jenci, Neville, Blaise, and I ended up in a far corner across from our group of girls nearby the door. Most of us guys started shedding off the robes of clothes casually and the girls eyed and blushed with embarrassment. I was down to the white wife-beater that I had under my dress shirt and my slacks and socks. I shook my hair out of its braid and rubbed my eyes.
Contacts just were not for sleeping in, I thought with annoyance as I slipped them out and proceeded to do the applications people did when dealing with their contacts at the end of the day. I carried the bag with my contact stuff around all the time and I thanked whatever that I had as I put everything away and wrapped the stuff in my cloak. Then I put on my glasses that I had set aside.
The girls just took off their jackets and sweaters and that was it. Hermione, Zuri, Luna, and Ginny trailed over to us and sat down. Ginny seemed unaware of anything wrong with wearing so little. But then, she had older brothers and probably could have cared less. Modesty's never a real issue in big families most of the time. The other girls seemed a bit sheepish.
"Do you think they'll find him?" Ginny asked with worry.
"I doubt it," I stated calmly. "He's had enough time to slip out of the castle without notice."
"Why do you say that?" Zuri asked.
"I've got an investigator as a parent," I explained soundly. "It rubbed off and now I think of all these things."
"That explains a great deal," Hermione laughed. Then she sobered. "What if they do find him?"
"They'll probably give him to the dementors," Blaise answered quietly. We turned to look at him.
"Is that a bad thing?" Hermione asked with real worry.
"Dad told me that they authorized the Dementor Kiss to be used on him once he's captured," he explained.
"That sounds ominous," Jenci stated.
"The Kiss takes the victim's soul," Blaise explained darkly. "It's supposed to be very horrendous to watch."
"That sounds…er…nice," Ginny slowly stated.
"It sounds incredibly gross," Zuri giggled without amusement.
Neville kept quiet and looked around with glazed eyes. He looked sad. He looked incredibly miserable, actually.
"All right, there, Nev?" I asked.
He shook himself of his thoughts and gave me a small smile, "Yes, thank you."
I smiled back as we watched Luna look around with aloof eyes. Hermione looked up when one of the Head students started shouting off directions. They didn't want the genders to mix, from the looks of things.
Sitting next to Blaise, I pulled out my guitar and played a few songs till the teacher's gave the 'light out' announcement. I set my guitar in its case and shrunk it and put it back on my necklace. I then put my glasses in their case and I laid back and turned to look at Misha who sat watching me.
I let my eyes slide into jaguar ones so I could see in the dark. I noticed that the other guys did the same and were watching things with half-closed eyes. Everything was blurry for me, but I could see well enough to get the gist of things. Dumbledore and Snape paused in front of our group.
Misha trailed to block the front of my face like he knew that I needed to look asleep and if I got caught then I was in trouble. The two men were whispering to each other. I decided I'd Listen carefully.
"Have you any theories on how he got in, Professor?" Snape asked.
"Many, Severus, and each as unlikely as the next," Dumbledore replied as I noticed him looking down at my group; his eyes settled on me.
I rolled onto my stomach and let my hair fall in front of my face which made it impossible for the man to see my eyes as Snape continued, "Headmaster, you do remember the conversation we had before the start of term?"
"I do, Severus," the old man replied calmly. "I do not believe he had help getting inside the castle, however." He paused to look closely at me and I fought not to tense up. "I must go inform the dementors that he has slipped away." He shook his head and nodded to Snape who nodded in reply. The both went their separate ways.
"Psst… Harry?" I heard Blaise hiss quietly.
"Yeah?" I replied just as quietly, if not more.
"What is Professor Snape talking about?" he asked.
I thought about what Snape meant and came to a clear conclusion, "He thinks Lupin let Black in."
"Why would he do that?" I heard Jenci ask on the other side of me. He had been telling Neville everything we said before he asked.
"Lupin used to be a friend of my dad and Black; best friends, in fact," I explained and paused as Snape walked pass again as he left the Hall. Then I continued, "He thinks Lupin might have let him in tonight. That's bullshit though. Lupin's been sick the entire day. He took a healing potion right before I left detention. He's probably sleeping it off."
"That's why he wasn't at the feast?" Blaise asked.
I hated to lie and I felt my lip curl in distaste which was thankfully hidden by my hair. "Yeah, he caught the bug going around in the muggle world and has been trying to get better since he started teaching. He's had it since a week before school started."
"Poor bloke," Jenci muttered. We heard him informing Neville and then there was a pause before he said, "Night, Nev." He turned to look at Blaise and I. "Night, gents."
"Night," Blaise snorted.
"Night, dudes," I laughed lightly and promptly went to sleep.
Notes
A lot is from the third book, but then, I didn't know how to put a lot of stuff without quoting the book. The song is from Metallica's "The Unnamed Feeling". I don't like it for this chapter, but then, I do like the song.
Gents is for gentlemen, not the bathroom for those of you under a different impression. I just want to point that out if there is, perhaps, a misunderstanding. I'm not trying to imply anything; I just want to point that out just in case. It happens. No worries.
I'm still iffy on this chapter. I can't say I like it, but I'm glad there's more talk between the group and Lupin. It gives a better perspective, or so I think.
I meant to update sooner, but there were some serious issues with various bad things. I'm afraid I might be a little late updating again. I've been getting ready for school and I might be gone for a few. But not to worry, I might make the next chapter extra long for you guys.
Although, I need miniscule help. I was thinking of having the group finish animagus training during Christmas, but I need to know if that's too soon. Leave your ideas, please! It would be very helpful indeed.
Thanks for reading and leaving comments. It's nice to know there are readers that actually like this version. And like the story. It makes me very happy to know that I'm not wasting my time, but then, writing's for yourself; not for others. But it is nice to hear your opinions.
Muchas gracias y hasta luego.