CHAPTER 11 – TO FIND THE TRUTH
News of Lila Crabbe's incapacitation whipped through Hogwarts like wildfire. While no fingers, surprisingly, were pointed at Ravenna, the young winged witch was sure that people suspected her…or at the very least, feared her even more.
The following day, Ravenna decided to follow the hunch she had concerning Horace Slughorn's stolen potion supplies. After Transfiguration, she waited for the students to file out of the classroom, and then she spoke up.
"Professor Dumbledore?" she asked.
The teacher paused as he removed the writing from his chalkboard. "Yes, Royston?" he asked.
"Do you…happen to know of a potion that requires bicorn horns, lacewings, and hair?" she wondered. "Someone's…been stealing from Slughorn, and Rindow's not feeling well."
"Someone's…been stealing from Professor Slughorn?"
"Yes. I walked in on him when he was fussing, and I overheard the names of some of the ingredients. It appears…that someone was making a potion…but I didn't know what it was."
"Many a potion can be made from the ingredients you listed…but perhaps it is the Polyjuice Potion that is the culprit, especially if human hair is involved," Dumbledore replied. "Thank you for coming to me with the information that you did, Ravenna. Twenty points to Slytherin."
"Thank you."
"By the way…I do not mean to suspect you in the incapacitation of Lila Crabbe, but…where were you coming from when she fell?"
"I was coming from Nearly-Headless Nick's deathday party."
Dumbledore smiled. "Professor…do you think that I…was responsible for what happened?"
"No," he replied. "I just wanted to verify. Good day."
Later that day, she met with Professor Rindow for his lesson. This time, he was teaching her about becoming an Animagus…or, the ability to shift into an animal. This time, however…Ravenna could still note that Rindow was shifty. Nervous, even. He was informative, as usual, and he was very interesting…but Ravenna knew about something was wrong.
"Ravenna?" he finally asked at the end of the lesson. "Do you…trust me?"
It sounded like an odd trick question, but Ravenna was determined not to put him off. "I trust you, Professor…but I've noticed that you seem rather ill and nervous of late. Is everything okay?"
Rindow shot her a look that made her think she had stabbed him…and then, Ravenna's eyes fell on a marked bottle of Polyjuice Potion.
Rindow was up to something…but what was it?
"Ravenna, you can't worry about such things – they don't concern you!" Rindow snapped. "My condition is no business of yours! Now, I ask you again: do you…" He then paused, almost as if he knew he had made a misstep. "Oh…please forgive me, Ravenna. I…I must admit, I have been nervous and fidgety. Lila Crabbe…before she became ill…she suspected me of a lot of things. She's a horrible meddler of course…but…you do trust me, Ravenna?"
Ravenna knew she was lying when she said it; her father had always told her that the moment someone asked you to trust them was the minute you should stop. However, she had to keep Rindow calm – she needed him at ease so she could get the information she needed. "Yes," she said calmly, her face curled into a smile. "Of course, sir. Everything you've said…it'll be our little secret."
Rindow calmed and went on with his lesson, almost as if nothing had happened. However, when their private lesson ended, Rindow went out to go to the bathroom…and Ravenna saw an opening. Just as he left, Ravenna quickly made her way to his desk and scooped the Polyjuice Potion into her pocket, walking back and sitting down like nothing had happened. A few minutes later, Rindow returned…and smiled.
"I see you've gotten your hand on my little present for you!" he beamed. "That, my young friend, is Polyjuice Potion. I would have taught you how to craft it…but it would be a violation of school rules. One dose lasts one hour…and you'll need the hair of the individual you'll wish to turn into for it to work."
"Thank you, Professor," Ravenna said. "I'll be very careful with it."
"You're welcome," he replied. "Now, don't come in next Wednesday – I have a very important meeting with some very important people at three, and I can't have any listening ears. Meet me again the following Friday."
"Very well, sir."
Ravenna walked out, ideas bubbling in her brain. She knew she had to infiltrate the meeting…but she also knew she had to find someone that Rindow would feel comfortable with in the meeting. Who was he with constantly, other than her that would not set off alarm bells? Dumbledore and Dippet were out – he got suspicious every time they were around, almost as if he didn't like them. She knew Rindow didn't like Ogg and the Herbology teacher.
Ravenna's head spun…and then it hit her. Millicent Moltrov. When Rindow was with her, it seemed like he was at ease, and at times he appeared to be flirting with her. She pulled out her schedule, pleased that her DADA teacher had extremely long hair…and that Ravenna had an overgrown witch costume that would match Moltrov's long robes.
"Double DADA tomorrow…excellent."
All she needed now…was a place to keep the hair.
The day of the meeting, Ravenna found herself in the closet by the DADA classroom, checking her watch. There was no way for her to know how long the meeting would run, but she knew she had one hour to get the job done.
However, she did have a blessing: Rindow had given her a bottle with two doses. At the moment the clock struck two, Ravenna swallowed the potion, which tasted like black licorice. She contorted into the shape of the tall, dark-haired witch, took a deep breath…and determined to speak as little as possible.
She took a deep breath, listened for the sound of footsteps to lessen…and calmly slipped inside
