Hello there! I was reading some other fics and I saw a lot of people do shout outs to reviewers, so I decided to give it a shot.
So… I give my thanks to *takes a deep breath* Cat Attack 411! Kanathia! KBerry! BeautifulNoMatterWhat! Timeandcirque! SinMeracle!
On with the story!
Chapter 11:
"The Hog's Head"
I made it to the cobblestone road within minutes. I headed north, back to the main part of the village. There was a small crowd bustling through the streets. Most of them were Hogwarts' students, but occasionally I caught a glimpse of an adult wizard hurrying to their destination. I still had an hour before the planned meeting, so I decided to do some exploring.
I walked to the far edge of the main road, where I spotted Zonko's Joke Shop. A malicious grin made its way to my face as I stepped into the joke store. I scanned the stores cluttered shelves, not looking for anything particular. I saw sneezing powder, a love potion, and a potion that makes the drinker break out into boils. I ignored the boil potion and sneezing powder, and reached for the small pink bottle. I read the back, which said:
Merlin's Magic Love Liquid
Guaranteed infatuation for up to 24 hours!
Simply slip a hair of your beloved's into the potion
and pour it into your next meal!
Results will take up to one hour to show.
I grinned; this was perfect! I went to the front of the shop and purchased the potion, receiving a wary look from the shop owner –I guess he thought I was going to use it on some poor girl. I walked out of the shop and spotted Honeydukes, the wizarding candy store. I walked inside the store and looked around. Shelves of edible quills, chocolate, and (most importantly) blood pops surrounded me. I picked up one of the small baskets supplied at the front of the store and headed to the shelves of blood pops. The store was mostly empty, so no one saw me put a handful of the candies into my basket. I also got a large slab of chocolate, some edible quills, and a few licorice wands. I checked out at a dingy looking desk. If the storeowner thought my purchase was weird, he didn't remark on it. I walked out of the store, munching on the slab of chocolate.
I still had twenty minutes till the meeting started, so I headed to the nearest pet store to pick up some more bat treats (I had used most of them to coax Austin into the air). The pet store was pretty plain. They only sold a few cats, which hissed and spat as I walked by. I checked out and went to find the Hog's Head.
I nearly missed the swinging sign, thinking that we would be meeting in a nicer, more crowded place. I looked inside, thinking that the trio had told me the wrong name, but I was surprise to see that they (and a small group of people) were sitting at a table and drinking butterbeer. While giving the others the impression that I was looking around the small pub, I searched for Mr. Crepsley. My eyes passed over a man in a veil, (pretending to be a woman) a heavily bandaged man drinking a smoking drink, and a grimy looking barman before I spotted him. He was sitting in the shadows, as far from the sun as possible, and sipping from a mug of ale. He nodded lightly while I continued to pretend to scan the room. It seemed that hiding your face was pretty popular in this place. Mr. Crepsley blended in perfectly. I walked over to where Fred and George sat. They pulled up a seat and handed me a drink.
"Just in time!" said Fred.
"Yeah. The meetings about to start!" George said, finishing his brother's statement and clapping me on the back.
We chatted for a minute, but our conversation died out as it grew quiet around us.
"Er," said a nervous looking Hermione. "Well –er –hi."
As she spoke, most of the room's focus darted between her and Harry.
"Well… erm… well, you know why you're here. Erm well, Harry here I had the idea – *insert sharp glare from Harry* I mean, I had the idea –that it might be good if people who wanted to study DADA –and I mean, really study it, you know, not that rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us –" Hermione began, before finding some confidence, "because nobody could call that DADA –"
"Hear, hear," some boy said, strengthening Hermione's resolve.
"Well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands," she stated, before turning to look at Harry.
"And by that I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just theory but the reals spells –"she finished, looking relieved. "Well then, the next question is how often we do it. I really don't think there's any point in meeting less than once a week –"
"Hang on," a Gryffindor girl said, "we need to make sure this doesn't clash with our Quidditch Practice
"No," said another girl, "nor with ours."
"Nor ours," said a boy I recognized as Zacharias Smith, a sixth year Hufflepuff.
"I'm sure we can find a night that suits everyone," Hermione said, sounding rather impatient, " but you know, this is rather important, we're talking about learning how to defend ourselves against V-Voldemort's Death Eaters –"
"Well said!" Ernie Macmillan shouted behind me, making me jump. "Personally I think this is really important…"
I looked at my shoes. Knowing Ernie, this was going to be a long and boring monologue. I zoned out until I a familiar cough broke through the noise.
"Hem, hem."
I looked to my left, identifying the cougher. It was the twin's youngest sister, Ginny. I laughed, as did many of the people around me. A lot of the tension in the room settled.
"Weren't we trying to decide how often we're going to meet and get Defense lessons?" Ginny asked when the laughter died down.
"Yes," Hermione said quickly. "Yes we were, you're right.
"Well, once a week sounds cool," Lee Jordan spoke up.
"As long as –"began the Gryffindor girl.
Yes, yes, we know about the Quidditch," Hermione said, interrupting her. "Well, the other thing to decide is where we're going to meet…"
There was a moment of silence before a girl suggested, "Library?"
"I can't see Madam Pince being too chuffed with us doing jinxes in the library," said Harry
.
"Maybe an unused classroom?" said Dean Thomas, a fifth year Gryffindor.
"Yeah," piped Ron. "McGonagall might let us have hers, she did when Harry was practicing for the Triwizard…" he trailed off, realizing that the strict Professor probably wouldn't be too keen on letting us do illicit activities in her classroom.
"Right, well, we'll try to find somewhere," Hermione said, "We'll send a message round to everybody when we've got a time and a place for the first meeting."
She pulled out a parchment and quill from the depths of her bag and hesitated, as if she were about to give bad news.
"I-I think everybody should write their name down, just so we know who was here. "But I also think- deep breath- that we all ought to agree not to shout about what we're doing. So if you sign, you're agreeing not to tell Umbridge –or anybody else –what we're up to."
Fred was the first to grab the parchment, and as he eagerly signed, I thought about Hermione's strange actions moments ago. She seemed like a kid caught with their hand in the biscuit tin. The paper must have been bewitched. Her statement earlier must have been a warning. Good thing Mr. Crepsley was already here. If I would have had to tell him, the result could have been disastrous. I glanced at him when the parchment reached me. He gave a quick nod, and went back to sipping his ale. I signed my name and handed the sheet to Zacharias, who apparently did not want to sign.
"Er…" he began; looking at parchment like it was poisonous. "Well… I'm sure Ernie will tell me when the meeting is."
He looked to Ernie for confirmation, but Ernie looked at him doubtfully.
"I –well, we are prefects," Ernie burst out. "And if this list was found… well, I mean to say … you said it yourself, if Umbridge finds out…"
"You just said this group was the most important thing you'd do this year," Harry reminded him.
"I –yes" he said, abashedly. "Yes, I do believe that, it's just…"
"Ernie, do you really think that I'd leave that list lying around?" Hermione said, sounding a bit annoyed.
"No, no, of course not," he said, looking less anxious. "I –yes of course I'll sign.
After everyone had signed, Fred said, "Well, times ticking on. George, Lee, and I have got items of a sensitive nature to purchase, we'll be seeing you all later."
His statement seemed to be a dismissal. Everyone slowly filed out, in groups of twos and threes. I waited until only the trio was left, and made my way out of the smelly pub. I walked into an alley and waited for Mr. Crepsley. A few minutes later, the vampire walked into the small alley, unwinding the makeshift scarf from his head.
"I suggest you keep a close eye on that Potter boy," he said, skipping over greetings. "He seems to be the leader of the teens you were meeting with."
"I am," I said. "But we aren't in the same house, so I don't see him too often. The set of twins I was sitting near are close to him, and they have taken a liking to me."
"That is good news," he said, scratching his scar thoughtfully. "But, have you earned their trust yet?"
"I'm getting there," I said impatiently. "You can't form close bonds in a month. I've got until the end of the school year, mind you."
"I have not forgotten," Mr. Crepsley replied, looking insulted at the thought of me even hinting at him forgetting the plan. "Getting out of this school as fast as possible is also part of the plan. It is dangerous to linger here. If the wizards discovered a vampire under their roof, they would panic."
"I know, I know…"I said, having heard the lecture many times. "At the rate I'm going, I could get into their base by Christmas!" I joked.
"That would involve much luck," Mr. Crepsley said, running his hand through his bright hair.
"Good thing I've got the luck of the vampires," I said, nudging him with my elbow.
"Hmmph," was his only reply.
"I got you some more blood pops!" I said, remembering my trip to Honeydukes.
"That is kind of you," he said, taking the handful of suckers I offered him. "Thank you."
Well… That conversation didn't last long, so I switched the subject
"When you got your message from the mountain, did you hear any news about Harkat?"
"Yes," he said, looking at me with serious eyes. "I have heard that they may even nominate him to be a Prince. Imagine! A little person as a Vampire Prince! Ridiculous."
"Hmm," I said thoughtfully. "I guess it kinda does make sense. He was a vampire before he died."
"Yes," Mr. Crepsley agreed. "And he has taken charge of many of your duties since you left."
"Really?" I asked, feeling sorry for Harkat –I had been pushed to my limits when working in the mountain.
"Yes. With his dedication to the clan, his role in the war, and his history as a prince nominee, he has become a popular subject among vampires. But, his investiture will not take place for many years –long after the War of Scars ends."
"Wow," I said, surprised. "I didn't know people liked Harkat that much. I guess a lot can change in a month."
"Indeed," he said. "Great changes often occur quickly, leaving one dazed by the sudden turn of events."
"I should know," I said, thinking back to that one fateful night eighteen years ago.
"Yes," Mr. Crepsley said, looking down a little. "It is nearly sundown. You should head back to your school."
"Alright," I said, downcast. "I'll see you in December. "
He didn't respond, so I decided to leave.
"Luck!" I said, running out of the alley.
I could have sworn I heard him softly say, "Luck, Darren," but it might have been my imagination.
I ran to the carriages that were lined up near the gate, with the setting sun's light casting my world into a red blur.
This one wasn't as long as I would have liked, but you can only drag out a chapter so much. I think the next one can be longer –it doesn't have a set ending time.
So, who do you think Darren should use the love potion on? Leave suggestions in the comments. I don't think Umbridge should be the one who drinks it; she's bound to check her drinks after the canary incident…
