– Chapter Fourteen –

A New Lesson

No one in Gryffindor Tower slept that night. They knew that the castle was being searched again, and the whole house stayed awake in the common room, waiting to hear if Sirius Black had been caught. Professor McGonagall came back at dawn, to tell them that he had escaped again.

Everywhere they went next day the saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to recognise a large picture of Sirius Black; Filch was suddenly bustling up and down corridors, boarding up everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes. Sir Cadogan had been sacked. His portrait had been taken away, and the Fat Lady was back. She had been expertly restored, but was still extremely nervous, and had only agreed to return to her job on the condition that she was given extra protection. A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to guard her. They paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in grunts and comparing the size of their clubs.

Ron had become an instant celebrity. For the first time in Ron's life, people were paying more attention to him than to Harry, and it was clear that Ron was rather enjoying the experience. Though still severely shaken by the night's events, he was happy to tell anyone who asked, what had happened with a wealth of detail.

"… I was asleep and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draught… I woke up and one side of the hanging on my bed had been pulled down … I rolled over … and I saw him standing over me … like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair … holding this great long knife, must've been twelve inches… and he looked at me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he scarpered."

"Why though?" Ron added to Harry and Romi, as the group of second year girls who had been listening to his chilling tale departed. "Why did he scarper?"

Romi had wondered the same thing. Why not kill Ron and then get onto Harry? He'd proved twelve years ago that killing people wasn't a bother for him.

"He must've known he'd have a job getting back out of the castle once you'd yelled and woken people up," said Harry thoughtfully. "And he just stared at you, Romi?"

Romi nodded. People had asked Romi too recount her experience with Sirius Black. She could not make it sound nearly as interesting as Ron and she couldn't figure out Sirius Black's expression.

"You mean he was startled to see you or something?" Neville asked quietly beside them.

"He called me 'Lily'," Romi said, twirling her hair in her fingers, staring into space.

"He called you Lily?" Harry said his expression dead.

"Yeah," Romi said. "And he had this… expression on…"

"Raving? Mad? Crazy?" Ron offered.

"Sad," Romi replied. "He looked… sad." Romi turned to focus on them. The three boys were staring at her with confused expressions. She smiled slightly and shook her head. "I must be remembering it wrong."

Neville was in total disgrace. Professor McGonagall was so furious with him she had banned him from all future Hogsmeade visits, given him a detention and forbidden anyone to give him the password into the Tower.

Poor Neville was forced to wait outside the common room every night for someone to let him in, while the security trolls leered unpleasantly at him. Romi tried her best to never let him out of her sight, and made an effort to always let him in. None of these punishments, however, came close to matching the one his grandmother had sent him. Two days after Black's break in, she sent Neville a Howler.

The schools owls swooped into the Great Hall, carrying the post as usual, and Neville choked as a large barn owl landed in front of him, a scarlet envelope clutched in its beak.

"Run for it, Neville," Ron advised immediately. Romi could only guess that he was thinking of that fateful day last year when Mrs Weasley had send him a Howler of his own.

Neville didn't need telling twice. He seized the envelope and holding it before him like a bomb, sprinting out of the Hall, while the Slytherin table howled with laughter at the sight of him. They heard the Howler go off in the Entrance Hall – Neville's grandmother's voice, magically magnified to a hundred times its usual volume, shrieking about how he had brought shame on the whole family.

Romi looked after him with pity, but stayed in her seat with Ginny.

"Poor guy," Ginny said, as the sounds of the Howler diminished in the Entrance Hall. "He's not having it well at all."

"Not really," Romi said. "I was thinking of staying back from the Hogsmeade visits with him."

Ginny looked back to her. "He can always stay with Luna and I. You don't need stop going."

"Yeah, but who would I go with?" Romi said. "Harry's not allowed too, Hermione's locked up with her studying, and I don't really fancy wandering around with just your brother."

"You could always go with Malfoy," Ginny replied with a sly glance, as she ate. Romi felt her face reddening.

"Why would I go with him?" she forced herself to say calmly.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me," Ginny said, smirking. "But I have to ask… aren't you… cousins?"

Romi looked around at the rest of the table, in case they were listening. Her cheeks blazing red now, she whispered, "I'm adopted."

"Ah, I see," replied Ginny. "Don't worry. I won't say another word about it."

Ginny and Romi finished their meals and went out to find Neville. He was sitting in the corridor for the Gryffindor Tower, staring ahead at the blank wall in front of him. The security trolls were hovering at the opposite end, near the Fat Lady.

Romi and Ginny exchanged glances when they got to Neville. He looked like he had been crying but was all dried up now.

"Neville?" Romi said quietly, walking up towards him. Neville continued to stare at the opposite wall.

"I'm useless at everything," he said in a dead tone. "Absolutely everything. I can't even keep passwords to myself."

Romi looked at Ginny and then sat herself down next to Neville. She curled her arms around his and smiled at him.

"You're not useless," she said. "Don't be so hard with yourself. He would have got in somehow."

Neville looked to her, shaking his head. "He could have killed you – he was ten feet away from you! How can you be like that?"

"Because I know that you would have never let him in on purpose," Romi said, squeezing his arm. Ginny sat down beside him on Neville's other side.

"Come on, Neville," she said. "No one really blames you."

"No, I'm just the stupid, useless, petrified lump," Neville said, looking back at Ginny.

"You have strengths," Ginny said, smiling at him, "you just lack confidence."

Neville sighed and looked forward again.

"Neville," Romi said, "You're my best friend. I know you better than you know yourself. You're not a useless lump."

Neville looked at her sullenly. "Why are you friends with me? We are nothing alike."

"That's not true at all!" Romi said. "You're kind and you're caring, and you've been brave whenever you're not thinking. You're there to tell me when I'm going to far, when I'm putting myself or other people in danger. You decided to be my friend when no one else in the school would," Romi said quietly. "That's why you're my best friend. Because I have no idea where I would be without you."

Neville looked at her. Romi smiled, and nudged him a bit. A smile began to pull at the corners of his mouth.

"Not to mention that you have two pretty redheads on your arms," Ginny teased on the other side. "More than the popular people can say."

The smile broke free and Neville looked down.

"I don't know what I'd do without you guys," Neville said quietly. "Really."

Romi wrapped her arms around him, and rested her head against his shoulder. "That's what friends do," she said. "We keep each other held together."

Another Hogsmeade trip was posted for the next weekend, and Romi made sure to express that she wasn't going without Neville. He tried to protest, but when Romi mentioned that the last two trips weren't exactly reassuring a safe trip and she didn't want to go alone, he stopped.

Ginny and Luna made solid plans that they would all spend the day together, to keep Neville's mind off of the Hogsmeade Trip. They were to spend most of it in the Library, completing their homework. Ginny and Luna specifically brought their Herbology homework, and kept asking Neville for help, to boost his spirits. They kept away from Potions and it seemed to have a fairly good effect on Neville.

It was nearing noon when they had stopped doing homework, and were just trying to keep from laughing hysterically out loud. Luna had the strangest sense of humour and said the oddest things at the most inappropriate times.

Madam Pince had already shushed them twice, and they were on the way to getting kicked out if she came back again.

But there was just something about the extensive homework that was making them all silly and even the smallest thing was making them stuff their fists into their mouths.

"Oh," Romi said after one intense period when they were all laughing so hard they could barely breath, "I have got to get away from you three! You're going to kill me."

"Don't kill, Romi!" Ginny said, laughing through it all.

"I don't plan on it," replied Neville.

"Sometimes these things don't need planning," added Luna sounding completely and utterly serious, but then her eyes crinkled and they were laughing again. Thankfully there weren't a lot students around to disturb. Romi got up from her seat, and barely able to walk, she finally managed to disappear through the stacks.

She made it a couple stacks away from her friends, when she stopped and took a deep breath to calm the laughing. She put her hands on her hips and smiling looked around.

Her smile faded as her eye caught a book. She walked up to it, and pulled it down. It was the size of a novel, and very, very old. The spine was peeling at the edges, but the gold lettering was still visible.

Astaroth by Diomeda Odessa.

Romi stared at it. Remembering the dream she had had so long ago. A woman named Diomeda Odessa had warned her about the Astaroth. Romi flipped the book over, however there was just a picture of a black dragon on the back.

She turned it over and tried to open it. But it wouldn't open; no matter how she tried, it stayed closed. Romi walked back to where Neville, Ginny and Luna had calmed down.

"Try and open this," Romi said, tossing the book to Neville. He caught it and flipped it over.

"Astaroth?" he asked sceptically. Luna seemed to brighten at the name.

"Just open it," Romi said again. Neville pried at the edges but it didn't open. He tried a few more times with no success.

"Can I try?" Ginny asked, reaching over for the book. Neville handed it to her. Ginny tried too, but still the book remained closed. "What's the purpose of a book that won't open?" Ginny asked.

"Perhaps we have to figure out what the secret is first," Luna said, taking the book from Ginny and looking it over. "Maybe there is a spell laid by the witch?"

"I had a dream a long time ago about her," Romi said sitting down. "Diomeda Odessa. She said… I was there early… and," Romi sat thinking for a moment, "and that I should beware Astaroth, because he could be a blessing or a burden…"

"What does that mean?" Ginny asked bewildered.

"I don't know," Romi replied. "I don't know what Astaroth is."

"It's a fear demon," answered Luna. "It steals your soul through fear. Legend says that the four Hogwarts founders fought one before they were renown as the world's greatest witches and wizards."

"Do you know what it looks like?" Romi asked.

"No," Luna replied. "Only that it is a fear demon. I can write to my father an ask, I'm sure he knows."

Romi and Ginny exchanged glances. "Sure," Romi said finally. She took the book back and flipped it over. The dragon on the back of the book was snarling at them.

"There was a dragon in the Slytherin common room," Romi said finally. "In the portrait of Salazar Slytherin."

"Maybe he like's dragons," Neville said.

"He's a snake person," Romi answered. "And the dragon left the picture…"

"So?" replied Neville. "All of the pictures at Hogwarts move."

"Yeah, except that Salazar Slytherin wasn't moving. He was stationary, the entire time I was there," Romi said. "Draco couldn't explain why."

The four of them were silent for a while.

"Do you think Elena has something to do with it?" Neville asked finally. Romi looked up at him.

"I don't know," she said finally. "It's possible. We haven't seen or heard from her since last year…"

They all exchanged tense glances.

"I think we should all be prepared," Ginny said finally. "In case she appears at any time. It's obvious that security at Hogwarts has never been a problem for her."

Romi nodded, "I agree. She doesn't know about you two yet; at least I don't think so. But keep an eye out anyways. Don't you go running off alone," she added to Neville. "She definitely knows about you."

Neville nodded. "I think you should learn how to use your sword," he said, looking at Romi. "You've had it for about a year, and if Elena's got one to counter you, you should learn how to fight with it."

"Do you know anyone who can use a sword?" Romi asked. "I don't anyone who can duel with a thousand year old weapon."

"We'll help," Ginny said. "There has to be a book, we can use sticks or something to practice."

"The weather is getting warmer, we can go outside to practice, less interruptions," Luna offered. Romi looked at all three of them and then nodded.

"Alright," she said, "let's find us a sword fighting book."

Ginny had devised a plan for their homework schedule and when they could find time to practise. At first it was very difficult remembering to keep their branches up and their feet moving at the right pace.

Luna surprisingly enough caught on very quickly, and proved to be the best. Neville, after the first few tries, decided that he would be more hinder than helping them, and agreed to sit out as Ginny read instructions from the book. Romi was slowly getting the hang of it, but after several practices she felt exhausted and her muscles were very sore.

But she was very pleased with her progress. Between working with Madam Pomfrey, Professor Dumbledore and her best friends with sword fighting, Romi felt like she was learning very important things. She never thought too much about it, considering they were very odd things to be learning, but Romi just felt like they were the most important.

Ginny, Luna and Neville were very supportive of Romi's new passions. They agreed to be poked and prodded by her as she studied her anatomy textbooks, listing off bones, muscles and ligaments.

Ginny helped them all with their homework, and it took all four of them to figure out Neville's Magical Theory course, working through it so he could understand it. Romi felt like she was learning it too, and it was quite fascinating. She could remember last year when Captain had shown her true magic.

Romi had not told Neville or Ginny about that experience, because she didn't know what to think about it. It never came up and she just kept it to herself.

They practised one Saturday, just behind the green houses, near the lake, out of view from most of the castle and the Quidditch Pitch, where the Gryffindor Team was playing.

Ginny was standing with the book open in her hands, a long stick lying at her feet. Luna and Romi were facing each other with their own sturdy sticks up right.

"Now, remember to keep your feet facing forward," Ginny was saying, her eyes to the book. "Keep you strongest foot in front."

Romi nodded, adjusting her feet. Luna had already fallen into her stance and was looking at Romi calmly. Neville was standing, leaning on another stick watching them intently.

"Okay," Ginny said. "Are you ready?"

"Yup," Romi said.

"Top!"

Luna struck from above; Romi twisted her body and hands to stop it. Ginny called another and another. Luna gained a few steps and Romi nearly fumbled over her feet. Luna gave her a moment to regain and they were at it again.

It was quite a workout, in under ten minutes both of them were panting and sweating.

"I think you're slowly getting the hang of it," Neville said standing upright.

Romi leaned against her stick, "I haven't poked anyone's eye out yet," she said laughing.

"Eventually you are going to have to learn how to fight with one hand," Luna said, catching her breath. The other three looked at her. "Well," Luna continued, "Think about it, you have to be able to use your wand too."

"I didn't think about that," Romi said, looking at Neville. "I never heard of that before."

"Hang on," Ginny said, flipping through the book in her hands. "I read in here the technique to use a sword and a dagger at the same time… maybe we can modify it for a wand."

Ginny flipped through the book as the wind whistled up at them from the lake. Romi turned to look at it; the water was calm today, lapping against the shore. The wind blew hard for a moment, and it sent a shiver down Romi's spine. She looked up into the sky; it was periwinkle blue with a few clouds scuttling across. The sun was shining brightly, yet Romi still had this feeling of coldness.

"Here it is," Ginny said, interrupting Romi's thoughts. Romi turned back to her, and listened. "Let's just try with a short stick, don't want to hex anyone today."

Neville found them both a stick at the perfect length, and gave it to each of them. Romi took it in her left hand, and gripped her swordstick in her right hand. It felt large and unmanageable. She had been leading with her left hand, but if she were going to use her wand, she would have to learn to use her right hand.

"Okay," Ginny said. "Here the sword is the primary weapon and the dagger is your secondary. If you can catch your opponent's sword with yours, you can get under his reach with your dagger. Okay, well that it easy enough to do with a wand."

Romi and Luna worked their way through a couple of steps using the sword and wand. Ginny watched them carefully, making sure that they were following the instructions.

Luna pretended to fire a spell; Romi dodged and then brought up her sword to block Luna's. However, Luna had put a bit of force behind her strike, and Romi's wrist twisted.

"Ow!" she yelped, and dropped her sticks.

"Are you okay?" Luna asked immediately, looking at Romi with her large eyes, concerned. Neville and Ginny came up to her.

"Yeah," Romi said, feeling her wrist. "I think I twisted it."

"I'm sorry," Luna apologized, looking worried.

"It's not your fault. How many bruises have we acquired already?" Romi said smiling. "I guess this lesson is being cut short."

"We've been here for an hour and a half already," Ginny said with a laugh, "probably about time to stop anyways."

They gathered their things and made their way up to the castle. They went to the study hall, and got the seats closest to the fire where it was warmest. The hall was nearly empty today, but there were still some fifth and seventh years there studying for their exams at the end of the year.

They made their way through a bit of homework, but Romi was finding it hard to concentrate as her right wrist was throbbing. She kept rubbing it whenever she was reading.

"Maybe you should go and get it checked out," Ginny said, after watching Romi do this for the tenth time. "You don't want any lasting damage."

"Yeah," Romi said. "Maybe I should."

"Just go, we'll be here," Neville said, looking up at Romi.

"Okay," Romi said and leaving her stuff there, made her way out of the Study Hall towards the Hospital Wing.

She was just walking past Professor Lupin's office when he exited.

"Hello, Romi," Professor Lupin said pleasantly when he saw her. Romi stopped and smiled.

"Hello, Professor," Romi replied.

"What brings you to this part of the castle on such a fine Saturday afternoon?" Professor Lupin asked.

"Oh, I – uh – picked up some textbooks wrong and twisted something in my wrist," Romi lied. "I was just walking to the Hospital Wing."

"I'll join you," Professor Lupin said, smiling. "I was going that way myself."

Romi nodded and they started off together.

"Aside from that Boggart, you've been doing well since," Professor Lupin said, glancing down. "I hope you're not worried about that."

"No," Romi replied. "Though, I guess, I'm trying to make up my mark. I have to have top marks."

"Well, you've got some steep competition with your friend Hermione Granger," Professor Lupin said with a laugh.

"Oh, well, I just meant the highest possible mark," Romi said going a little red. "I want to be a Healer… so I need to keep the highest marks."

"That is an admirable profession," Professor Lupin said, looking down at her. "Bit young to have chosen what you want to do with the rest of your life, though."

"That's what everyone says," Romi said with a little smile. "But, trust me, it's important."

Professor Lupin nodded and they made it to the Hospital Wing corridor.

"I hope your doing all right, I heard about your experience with the Black break in," Professor Lupin said quietly.

"I'm fine, really," Romi said. "I think he was just as surprised to see me as I was to see him."

"Really?" Professor Lupin asked, looked at her curiously. They had reached the doors to the Hospital Wing. "What makes you say that?" he asked as they paused there.

"Well, he looked pretty startled, and... he called me 'Lily'," Romi said, thinking about it. "That was weird." Romi looked back to Professor Lupin. He was looking at Romi with a new light; there was something in his expression that Romi couldn't guess.

"He called you 'Lily'?" Professor Lupin asked.

"Yes," Romi replied. "Though I don't know what he meant by that."

Professor Lupin stared at her for a few seconds more and then with a small the shake of his head, he smiled. "You best get inside and get that fixed up," he said. Romi smiled and disappeared inside trying to understand Professor Lupin's behaviour.

Madam Pomfrey was sitting in her office, muttering over a cauldron that was bubbling slightly. Romi went up and knocked quietly on the door frame. Madam Pomfrey turned around to see who had arrived.

"Oh, hello, Romi," she said, putting the cover on the cauldron. "What brings you here on a Saturday?"

"I think I twisted my wrist," Romi said, poking her right wrist slightly. "I picked up a textbook and it just twisted…"

"Hmm," said Madam Pomfrey, "let me take a look." She held onto Romi's hand and gently felt her wrist. "Feels like a sprain, that textbook must not have liked you very much," Madam Pomfrey said, giving Romi a little glance that seemed to say she did not believe the textbook story. Romi just smiled, and Madam Pomfrey went to her store cupboard. A moment later she returned with a glass.

"Drink that up," she said. "It'll help with the pain, and it'll mend the damaged ligaments. Just wrap it tonight, and you'll be right as rain tomorrow."

"Thanks," Romi said swallowing the potion quickly. It tasted like stale chips. Romi put the goblet back on the table and allowed Madam Pomfrey to wrap her wrist. Five minutes later and Madam Pomfrey sent Romi off and she made her way back through the castle to the Study Hall.

It was nearing eight o'clock and the only ones in the hall were Ginny, Neville and Luna, clearly not doing homework anymore.

Romi went up to them and sat down.

"How's the wrist?" Neville asked as she arrived.

"It'll be fine by tomorrow," Romi said, looking at her wrist. "Just a sprain."

"I'm sorry," Luna said again, looking worried.

"Don't worry about it," Romi answered. "No lasting harm. Besides I have to make this hand stronger anyways. Perhaps it'll heal better this time."

"Just don't hurt it again," Neville said, grabbing his bag and packing up. "Come on, we'd better go. The study hall will be closing soon."

They packed up their things and headed towards the door.

"Well, see you tomorrow, Luna," Romi said as they reached the hallway that Luna always left at.

"See you tomorrow," she said lightly and with a little wave, drifted off towards Ravenclaw Tower. Romi, Ginny and Neville climbed the rest of the way to Gryffindor Tower in silence.

They were just reaching the hallway towards the Fat Lady when they heard a loud noise back the way that they had come. All three of them stopped and looked at each other.

"Did you hear that?" Ginny said, looking behind her.

"Yeah," Romi answered, turning around. "Sounded like something large."

"And not human," added Neville, turning white as a sheet. Loud muffled snuffling noises came around the corner, and the movement of large feet.

Romi took a couple of steps forward and the sounds stopped. They all waited standing very still, listening.

Then, suddenly, Harry walked around the corner. He stopped abruptly when he saw the three of them. He was still wearing his Quidditch uniform and was carrying his Firebolt. He looked extremely exhausted, and startled.

"What are you three doing?" he asked, glancing behind him briefly, trying to figure them out.

"Did you pass anything… you know… large and unexpected?" Romi asked.

"Large and unexpected?" Harry repeated.

"I – we thought we heard something from over there." Romi gestured towards to hallway he'd just come from. "I dunno, sounded like a large dog or something."

"Well, there is nothing there," Harry answered. "Are you sure you heard that?"

"Not now," Romi answered, looking at Neville and Ginny, both of whom shrugged slightly. Romi looked back at Harry, who was watching her slightly suspiciously. "How was practice?" she asked quickly.

"Very tiring," Harry replied with a sigh. "I think Wood is still trying to convince half of the team to spend another three hours out there."

"Wow," Romi said and moved slightly so that Harry could walk back with them to the Gryffindor Common room.

"Yeah," answered Harry. "Have you seen Ron at all?"

"We've been in the study hall all day," Romi answered.

"Well that sounds like fun," replied Harry. "Was Hermione there?"

"No, actually," said Romi, "I kinda expected her to be there…"

Harry didn't reply and they made it to the Fat Lady. Neville had to put his fingers in his ears before the Fat Lady would even allow them to say a word, which he did, going slightly red at the same time.

Romi gave him an encouraging smile and they all climbed into the common room. Harry disappeared up the boys' staircase to change and presumably go to bed. Romi, Neville and Ginny sat by the fire and said very little. Romi was starting to feel achy from her practice sword fighting and was slowly dozing off in the chair while Ginny steadily beat Neville at Wizard's Chess.

"You have a lot ahead of you, little one," said a calm and quiet voice. Romi looked up to see the young woman in the Grecian Style dress.

"Why?" Romi asked, softly. She was so very tired; she could barely keep her eyes open.

"You were born to do this," Diomeda Odessa said. "I'm sorry. But things are getting worse… you must find Astaroth."

"What is Astaroth?" Romi asked softly.

"No, you have to find out by yourself," answered Diomeda Odessa. "And I know it will be hard, because you can't remember. But when you do, that's when will you realise that you already have the answers that you're looking for."

"That doesn't make any sense," Romi said. Neville and Ginny looked up at her surprised. They were still sitting by the fireplace in the crowded common room.

"What doesn't make any sense?" asked Neville after a moment. Romi looked around her, confused.

"Um…" Romi said, rubbing her eyes. Had she fallen asleep?

"Did you See something?" Neville asked eagerly. "You were dozing…"

"I'm not quite sure," Romi answered. "I don't think so… maybe…"

"Do you remember anything?" questioned Ginny. Romi shook her head. Strangely enough, that was right; she couldn't remember anything about what had just happened. She must have been dozing right off and was in some kind of meaninglessness between awake and asleep.

"Well," said Neville, "be sure to tell us if you remember something."

Romi nodded leaning back into the chair, and thinking. Something important was about to happen, she didn't know why she knew it, but she just had that feeling.