– Chapter Twelve –

Riddles

"The scapula connects to the humerus underneath the arm by the Glenohumeral ligaments, which reinforce the front of the fibrous capsule of the shoulder joint. The Cor-aco-humeral ligament joins it at the top, underneath the Coracoid process the Coracoacromial ligament the… Acromiocular ligament and the… acomion," Romi reciting, her eyes closed and her fingers poking at her shoulder.

"Acromioclavicular ligment," Madam Pomfrey corrected, holding the book open in front of her.

"Acromioclavicular ligament," Romi repeated, "which strengthens the fibrous capsule of the acromioclavicular joint between the… lateral end of the clavicle and the acromion of the scapula."

"And the clavicle is connected…?"

"To the… Coracoid process by the Coracoclavicular ligament?" Romi paused, opening her eyes. Madam Pomfrey nodded, and motioned for her to continue. "Which is a tendon of sup - supraspinatus muscle running under this ligament. And… the scapula and the coracoid are connected by…"

There was a long pause

"By…?" Madam Pomfrey repeated. Romi bit her lip trying to remember. "The Superior…?" hinted Madam Pomfrey.

"Superior transverse scapula ligament!" Romi finished in a flourish. She sighed and sank back into her chair. "Whew," she said with a smile. "That's a lot of words," Romi said.

"You're doing very well," said Madam Pomfrey, smiling and closing the anatomy textbook. "Excellent, for being only thirteen."

Romi smiled, "I feel like my brain is being stuffed with useless words…"

"What part of the brain would be stuffed?" Madam Pomfrey asked. Romi thought for a moment.

"The… hippocampus?" Romi asked.

"Is that the place?" questioned Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes?"

"You should be forming answers, not questions," Madam Pomfrey replied.

"Yeees," said Romi slowly, "memories are formed in the Hippocampus."

Madam Pomfrey chuckled, "you still sound a little unsure. But that's correct, the memories are in the Hippocampus."

Romi smiled. Just then the door to the Hospital Wing opened and two first years came in. One had her arm around the other.

"Sorry, Madam Pomfrey," the one girl said. "I fell down a flight of a stairs."

"Pushed more like it," said the other girl, she flicked her hair out of her face and Romi recognized her as Lyra Sharpe, that girl on the train. "I saw Bobby Ridge behind her."

"Be quiet, Lyra," said the other first year, looking very embarrassed.

"Well, take a seat," Madam Pomfrey said, getting up and bustling over, "we'll take a look and fix it all up."

Romi watched as the Lyra Sharpe helped her blonde friend to the bed and then stood back. She glanced to Romi after a moment and her eyes went wide. After glancing quickly at her friend, she sidled over to where Romi was sitting, textbook open on her lap.

"You're the girl," Lyra said quietly. "The one on the train… you scared the Dementors away…"

Romi stared at her for a moment and then smiled, "is that what I did?" Romi asked lightly.

"Didn't you?" Lyra asked, her eyes wide.

"Oh, they were already leaving," Romi lied. Lyra didn't seem to be convinced; she glanced down at Romi's textbook.

"Are you studying to be a Healer?" Lyra asked.

"Eventually," Romi replied. "Just anatomy right now. Lots and lots of big words."

"I can imagine," Lyra replied. Lyra seemed to waiting to say something, she kept glancing at Romi and then back at her friend.

"What is it?" Romi asked after a moment.

"It's just that…" Lyra trailed off in silence for a moment. "Some of the other first years are saying that if Sirius Black isn't caught soon the Dementors will in brought inside…" Lyra looked up to Romi with big eyes.

"That is a ridiculous statement," Romi whispered. "Professor Dumbledore hates the Dementors and he said that he would never allow them in the grounds – especially after that Quidditch match."

Lyra smiled, looking relieved.

"Who told you that anyways?" Romi questioned. Lyra blushed.

"Some of the Slytherin first years," she mumbled.

"Ah, well," said Romi with a little smile, "they were just trying to scare you."

"That's what I thought," said Lyra proudly, "Emma didn't believe me though. She was frightened by the idea."

Romi watched Lyra for a moment, "a lot of people would be frightened by that idea… it's a scary thought."

Lyra smiled, and glanced at Romi again. "You're not from Britain, are you?"

"No, I'm from Canada," Romi replied. "Sort of… born here… raised there…"

"I'm Lyra Sharpe," Lyra said after a moment, holding out a hand.

"Romi," replied Romi, feeling it best not to say her last name. "You're in Gryffindor right, I've seen you in the common room."

"You have?" Lyra said blushing bright red. "I didn't think anyone ever noticed the first years…"

"I do," answered Romi. Just then, Madam Pomfrey announced that Lyra's friend was all healed and they were free to go. Lyra left with a little smile to Romi and went to take her friend's hand. They scurried out of the Hospital Wing together. Romi smiled watching them go.

Madam Pomfrey returned to Romi, and pulled open the textbook again.

"Are you ready to continue?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "There's a lot of the skeletal system left to cover."

Romi turned and tried to focus on what Madam Pomfrey was telling her. But there was something about Lyra's conversation that was bugging her and she couldn't figure out what. It all seemed pretty normal; except of course the part about Lyra thinking Romi scared away the Dementors on the train. Well, it wasn't like that wasn't true, scaring them away did seem to be an accurate description of what she did, but that in itself was not normal.

Romi had to put her thoughts aside though for later and concentrate on what Madam Pomfrey was attempting to teach her. Perhaps with discussing it with Neville, Ginny and Luna she might be able to come up with something else.

Her lesson with Madam Pomfrey ended late and Romi had to rush to Potions, only making it there just in time. Severus was about to close the door, but waited half a second for her to run down the hallway.

"Please keep an eye on the time" he said, as she scurried inside.

The rest of the class was already claiming their seats, and Romi hurried towards the one that Neville had saved for her. He smiled, but didn't say anything, clearly dreading the next hour.

It seemed colder than usual as they forced themselves to write endless notes from the board. Neville kept breaking his quill and lagging farther and farther behind. Thankfully they were sitting near the back of the class and Severus didn't notice. And not soon enough did the bell ring and they were all hurrying out to lunch. Neville was still looking very pale but extremely relieved.

"Hey," Romi said, putting an arm around him. "Don't fret so much."

"I'm trying not too," Neville replied. "Really I'm am. It just doesn't seem to be working."

Romi didn't have anything else to say to help him and they just made their way down to the Great Hall for lunch. Many of the students in the Hall were looking grim. They ate their lunches in silence, and very little laughter was heard.

"No one seems very cheerful today," Romi said as they took their places beside Ginny. Ginny looked up at their arrival and then around slightly.

"You're right," she said, looking up and down the table. "I think that everyone's just feeling a bit down being back at school again after the holidays."

"I hope that's right," Neville muttered. "The whole place just seems freakier lately."

The three of them were silent too, and ate their meal quickly.

Romi wished the rest of the day would hurry up. Defence Against the Dark Arts was interesting as always, but Romi was just looking forward to having free time to do nothing.

After dinner, though she had to go up to Professor Dumbledore's office for their weekly lesson. Romi dragged her feet to his door, and after a moment of hesitation, knocked.

"Come in," said Professor Dumbledore's voice. Romi entered and went to sit at her usual seat.

"Ah, how were your classes?" Professor Dumbledore asked, as he cleared away his papers.

"Great," Romi said, pushing her bag under her chair with her feet. "Though I think Neville might have a nervous breakdown about Potions…"

"He does not like that class, does he?" Professor Dumbledore mused.

"I think it's more accurately, Severus doesn't like him and Neville's scared," Romi replied.

"Ah, well, yes," said Professor Dumbledore vaguely, "there is a reason for that…"

"What is it?" questioned Romi.

Professor Dumbledore watched her very closely for a moment. "I will tell you when you're older," he said finally. "Now, onto our work. Have you been practising quieting your mind before you sleep?"

"Yes," Romi said. It was true, but not exactly by will. She had been so tired before going to bed that her mind fell asleep long before she did.

"Alright," Professor Dumbledore said, pulling out a quill and laying it in front of him. "I want to try something new today." Romi looked at him intrigued. "I want you to close your eyes, and imagine the quill floating."

"I learnt how to move a feather in first year," Romi said frowning slightly.

"I know that you did," Professor Dumbledore answered. "That's why I think this will work. Without your wand or saying the words, or thinking the words. Just close you eyes and imagine the feather floating."

Romi sighed and closed her eyes, getting comfortable in her chair. She thought about the feather floating, tried to imagine seeing it in her head, three inches above the desk. She felt nothing different, like she was just sitting there, letting her imagination run free.

After about two minutes of this, Romi spoke, her eyes still closed.

"I don't think it's working," Romi said.

"Open your eyes," replied Professor Dumbledore. Romi did as she was told, and the second she did, the feather dropped to the desk. Romi stared at it, and then at Professor Dumbledore.

"What just happened?" Romi asked. Professor Dumbledore leaned forward on his fingers, and looked at Romi closely.

"From the second that you closed your eyes and thought about that feather floating – it did," Professor Dumbledore explained. "Exactly until the moment that you opened your eyes."

Romi looked at the feather and then at Professor Dumbledore. There was a long silence.

"Why?" Romi asked finally.

"I'm not entirely sure," Professor Dumbledore said. "I had an idea that might have explained your unusual abilities, including the death of that Dementor…"

"And?" asked Romi curiously.

"That just told me that I was wrong," answered Professor Dumbledore, leaning back in his chair, watching Romi. "What kind of power is hidden up inside you? You are progressing like a normal student in all of your studies, except History of Magic, where you excel like no other student. And yet, you have great abilities that a thirteen year old should not be able to control. I wonder if the Sorting Hat should have put you in Ravenclaw."

Romi smiled slightly, "it didn't give me that choice."

"What do you mean?" Professor Dumbledore asked, curiously.

"The Sorting Hat," Romi replied. "It said that it had sorted me before, well, it felt like he had sorted me before… then it… said 'I'm sorry' and put me in Gryffindor."

Professor Dumbledore watched her with wide eyes. "He apologized for sorting you into Gryffindor." Professor Dumbledore glanced up to the Sorting Hat that was sitting on his shelf, quiet and motionless.

"Yeah," Romi answered. "I guess because he knew that I would have rather been in Slytherin."

Professor Dumbledore looked back at Romi. "I think you're doing very well in Gryffindor," he said.

"Yeah, maybe," Romi answered. "But I'm not Harry or anything."

"You shouldn't compare yourself to your brother, you've had very different experiences growing up, you are not the same person."

"Yeah," said Romi. "He's a true Gryffindor, I'm just a somewhat Gryffindor – better to have been put in Slytherin."

Professor Dumbledore did not reply for a moment. "You do have Slytherin qualities," Professor Dumbledore said finally. "But you are also brave, and smart and kind, so you could go anywhere really. Sometimes I feel like Sorting is a tradition that is best left behind. It separates people too much. However, very few people agree with me."

Romi was quiet for a bit longer.

"I think," Professor Dumbledore said, breaking the silence. "We should try this again… and then some meditation."

Romi agreed and they spent the next hour doing just that.


Romi left Dumbledore's office feeling exhausted. She was longing for the softness of her bed and made directly for Gryffindor Tower. She had barely gone four feet when there was a grumble in the hallway. Romi turned to look, startled from her exhaustion. It was quiet and dark, and there was no one moving. It was late, and there was no light coming from outside.

Romi stared down the hallway for a moment longer. She was just deciding that she was hearing things, when there was the sound of metal being knocked over. Romi walked slowly down the hallway and turned the corner.

A helmet from a statue of armour was lying on the floor, but there was no one around. Romi strained her eyes to see down the end of the hallway.

Suddenly there was a huff and a snort behind her, and she turned quickly. Something very large and black soared over her, so fast that she only saw a bright eye and leathery wings. Romi was knocked over, but she turned and looked where the creature was heading.

She saw a scaly tail turn around the corner, she scrambled to her feet again and shot after it. Romi followed the trail of the creature down the corridor, through a secret passage, and then down endless flights of stairs, where she could hear and just catch glimpses of it.

Romi bolted around a final corner, completely out of breath, when she crashed into someone. Romi nearly fell backwards, but he caught her instead.

"Whoa, where are you going in such a hurry?" Draco asked, steadying her. Romi glanced up to him surprised and then looked around him.

"Did you see anything come by here?" Romi asked, taking a few steps past him and looking around. "Anything large and black?"

"No," Draco replied slowly, watching Romi. "Why?"

Romi was silent for a while and then looked back at him. "I thought I saw…" she trailed off. "I don't know what I saw…"

"Are you alright?" Draco asked, putting a hand on her shoulder and looking concerned.

"Yeah," she said, looking back at him slightly out of breath still. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" he asked, "because you look like you just ran through the school chasing something invisible…"

"I did…" Romi answered, and then shook her head, "it's alright. I just had a lesson with Professor Dumbledore and I always get exhausted when I have one with him."

"Then you should get up to bed," Draco replied, taking her hand.

"Why go to bed, when I can spend time with you now?" Romi asked, sliding her arms around his waist. Draco smiled, taking her face, kissed her on the top of her head.

"You could always come back to the Slytherin common room," Draco said. "You know in a bit… when most people are gone."

"I like that plan," Romi replied.


Between the glow from the fire and the eerie green from the lake, the common room stayed lit even though it was past midnight. Draco had fallen asleep an hour ago, lying on one of the couches. Romi lay next to him, but awake and staring into the green glow of the lake.

Occasionally fish would swim by and flash their little bodies in the firelight. Romi got up carefully and walked to the window watching the fish swim. A large body floated near to the window and blinked his large eye at Romi.

"Hey," she said quietly, though she knew that the Giant Squid could not hear her. "I hope your doing alright in there."

The Squid put one giant tentacle tip to the window, to the left of her and a couple of inches above her head, as though he was pointing to something. The eye swivelled to her, and then up to its tentacle and into the common room.

"What?" Romi said frowning at the Squid. The Squid looked at her, his tentacle and then behind her again. She looked at the tentacle and then over her shoulder. It seemed exactly like the Squid was pointing at the picture of Salazar Slytherin above the fireplace.

Romi turned back to the window, but the Squid was gone. She stared into the water for a long while before looking back at the painting. She dismissed it quickly and was starting to walk back to the where Draco was sleeping, when something caught her eye.

The portrait of Salazar Slytherin was painted with a dark wooded area for a background, and in the top right hand corner there was something else in it. Romi hurried up the stairs, so that she was level with painting for a better look at the right hand corner. There, what Romi had assumed the first time she looked at it was a snake, was in fact a depiction of a black dragon.

Romi hoped down the steps again and stared at the painting. The Black Dragon was quite visible in the top right hand corner, teeth snarling, frozen in place. Romi frowned for a moment.

She hurried to Draco and shook him awake.

"What? What!" he said, blinking through his sleepiness. "What is it?"

"Your picture of Slytherin," Romi said quietly, pointing up to the painting. "Why isn't it moving?"

"I dunno," Draco replied. "It's just a picture."

"All the other pictures move," replied Romi standing up and looking at the painting with her hands on her hips. "So why doesn't this one?"

"Maybe he didn't want to spend all his time telling off people who don't uphold Slytherin tradition," Draco replied with a yawn. "So he didn't make his portrait move."

"I've never heard of a painting that doesn't move," Romi replied.

"Oh, give it a rest," Draco said. "It's three in the morning," he said grabbing her hand and pulling her back to the couch. "Just go to sleep and forget about the painting."

Romi allowed him to drag her to the couch, but she glanced once more up to the right hand corner. And she wasn't sure if it was her exhausted mind playing tricks on her or not, but she could swear that corner was empty now.


Romi woke as the common room started to be full of light. She sat up rubbed her eyes, and ran her fingers through her hair. Suddenly she remembered where she was and stood up quickly. Thankfully the common room was empty, but by the sounds of people moving in the dormitories above them, it wasn't going to last long.

Romi shook Draco awake quickly. He blinked and then frowned looking at her.

"I was having the worst nightmare," he said groggily. "I don't remember anything about it though." He paused and looked around. "It's morning," he said slowly.

"Yes, it is," repeated Romi, shoving her things back into her bag.

"You're still here," he stated.

"Yes, I am," Romi said pulling her shoes on. "But I've got to go before the rest of them come downstairs. I should not have stayed the night."

"Yah, that was probably not a good plan," Draco said, getting up. There was the sound of feet hurrying down the stairs in the dormitory. Romi got to her feet, kissed Draco quickly and then ran towards the door.

She rushed out of it just as she heard people coming through the dormitory.

The school was quiet this early in the morning, and Romi hurried up towards the Great Hall, hoping that there would be breakfast ready, and no one would see her coming up from the Dungeons.

There were a handful of seventh year Hufflepuffs coming towards the Great Hall and Romi stood waiting in the shadows until they past. She quickly darted out and headed towards the Great Hall.

"And where have you been?" said a voice behind her making her jump. Romi looked over her shoulder to see Neville coming down the marble staircase.

She stopped and waited. He came up to her, with a little smile.

"Sneaking out of the dungeons super early in the morning, seems a bit suspicious," he teased.

"Haha," Romi replied. "Nothing happened."

"I didn't ask if anything happened," Neville said, smiling. They made their way through the Great Hall and settled themselves at the Gryffindor Table. Ginny appeared ten minutes later looking exhausted.

"Are you alright," Romi asked as she sat beside them, and sighed.

"Yeah," Ginny replied. "I couldn't sleep well last night."

"Why?" asked Neville.

"I don't know. I kept having a nightmare," Ginny said staring over their heads, trying to remember. "I don't remember what it was about. I just remember that it kept waking me up."

"That's terrible," answered Romi, sympathically.

"You don't look like you slept well, either," Ginny said, with a smirk.

"Well, it was more like, not much sleeping," Romi muttered. Neville stared at her eyes wide.

"You spent the night there?" he asked incredulously. Romi ran her fingers through her hair again, feeling her cheeks redden.

"It was accidental," she murmured.

"Accidentally spent the night and – nothing happened?" Neville asked.

"Nothing happened," Romi reinforced. Ginny was looking between the two of them slightly suspicious.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Ginny asked finally. Romi was sure her face was bright red now.

"No," she said quickly.

"Cause everything would suggest that you do," said Ginny.

"Can we pick a different subject please," Romi asked, looking anywhere but at Neville.

Ginny giggled, "alright, fine."

Just then Luna came up to their table, and their entire conversation was satisfactorily directed away from Romi and her mysterious boyfriend.