AN
Julie, I know right? Also, I realized just now that my /\-thing gets deleted (pointing to the left). The site doesn't want to accept me making hearts with a 3... Anyway, Hope you'll enjoy! I had a blast writing the chapter XD
AN
(September 25th, huh?)
Valerie was currently sitting on her bed, looking at the calendar she was holding, which showed today's date. Nothing was planned for today, as the calendar had been telling Valerie these past few minutes, and Valerie only sighed before thinking back to what's been happening:
Firstly, Sirius Black escapes and is apperently going after Harry to finish his job of killing the Potters, or something like that. Secondly, Dementors have been set up around the school, guarding against and searching for said Black. Thirdly, Amanda has kept up the record of screaming everytime she sees one of the dark hooded creatures.
Valerie sighed and got up, readying herself for the day.
(At least I don't have classes on saturdays.)
"Ah, Luna!"
Valerie ran up to her blond best friend and sat down next to her. Said blonde looked up and smiled at the redhead.
"Good morning, Valerie."
"Good morning to you too, Luna! Do you have anything planned for today?"
Luna stared at her Gryffindor friend with a serious expression.
"I have to visit someone. Do you want to come?"
Valerie nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course, Luna! Also, where are Hal and Ammy?"
Luna popped a bit of toast into her mouth and chewed for a few seconds.
"I think they're studying in the library."
Valerie put her head on the table.
"We've only been back at school for a month, and they're already studying?"
Luna looked at Valerie with her head tilted to the side, as said redhead lifted her head up and started to eat.
"Well, they do already have a test coming up for History of Magic."
Valerie sighed.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Who are you visting?"
Luna smiled.
"A friend of mine."
Valerie stuffed her mouth full while nodding, wondering who they would be visiting.
"We need to go by the kitchens first."
Valerie gave a slightly confused look, but nodded and followed Luna, not knowing where the kitchens were.
As the two of them went through a door to the right of the main staircase in the entrance hall, and walked through a corridor, going down a staircase, they eventually ended up in front of a painting of a bowl of fruit. Once there, Luna stuck out her hand and... tickled the pear? The pear started giggling and Valerie could hear Luna doing the same. After a few seconds of the pear giggling, it became a door handle and Luna used it to open the painting-door.
After opening it, though, the two of them were bombarded with a horde of House Elves. While Valerie was a dumbstruck with how many House Elves were working in the kitchens, Luna was only giggling, slowly getting through the flow of Elves. Valerie mimicked her moves, so she could also enter the kitchens, even though it was a bit slow, walking through the huge crowd of smaller creatures.
Finally inside, Luna gave one of the House Elves a piece of parchment, and she then came to stand next to Valerie, who was still quite dumbstruck.
"They're nice, aren't they?"
Valerie nodded, and Luna giggled.
"It's your first time entering the kitchens."
Valerie nodded again.
"Yeah. Fred and George knew where it was, but wouldn't tell me."
Luna smiled, and right then, a big bag was held up to her.
"Misstress Lovegood, your food is ready."
Luna took the bag and stroked the head of the Elf giving her the bag.
"Thank you, Woppy."
The Elf looked up at Luna in an almost sad way.
"Mistress too nice, Woppy doesn't deserve such kindness..."
Luna smiled once more and took Valerie's hand and left, waving at the Elf.
"She's sweet, isn't she?"
Valerie smiled at Luna.
"Yeah, she is, but one question: Where are we heading now?"
At that question, Valerie thought she was imagining things, because Luna almost seemed to get a mischievous gleam in her eyes. All the redhead could do was shake her head and hope she wasn't starting to see things.
After getting outside, the two of them walked through the snow to some kind of destination, and Valerie could not fit everything together. Before she could really puzzle pieces together though, Luna pushed the bag she was carrying into Valerie's arms.
"Wait here, please."
After that, the blond girl skipped over to the huge, tree standing in front of her, and to Valerie's surprise, it moved. As it was pulling back from Luna, said blonde looked back to the redhead with a lighthearted smile, and then started to run. The tree, which had apperently been preparing to attack, threw it's branches on the ground and whipped the air with its vines, trying to hit the little Ravenclaw running and dodging. The girl took out her wand while she dodged one of the branches and performed a Levitation Charm, holding the vine above her in place, protecting her from incoming attacks. After that, she held up her wand to keep her Charm in place, and slowly walked over to the tree trunk, bending down to push on a knot in the trunk, and the whole tree went back to how it was before, and Luna let her Charm go, as she held the knot in the tree pressed. Valerie finally realised her mouth had been hanging open.
"What was that?!"
Luna smiled.
"Come on, Valerie. We still need to visit my friend."
Valerie nodded and looked around her for anyone who might notice them. Not seeing anyone, she ran up to Luna.
"What happens now?"
Luna pointed at a hole right under the tree.
"We go through."
Valerie nodded again and crawled into the hole, only to find out it was a bit slippery and steep, so she ended up sliding the rest of the way, making sure the bag filled with food was safe.
Landing head first on the ground, she kept the bag up, and because of that, it had minimal damage. The redhead got up and brushed herself off. Turning back, she saw Luna coming down the 'slide' and landing on her feet elegantly. The blonde smiled.
"You'll get the hang of it."
Valerie sighed.
"I hope so..."
Luna grabbed Valerie's hand and pulled her through the tunnel they were in, eventually ending up at the foot of a staircase, leading up to a trapdoor. The blonde let go of the redhead's hand, walking up the stairs and opening the trapdoor. After going through halfway, she looked towards Valerie.
"Come on, Valerie."
Said redhead nodded and went up the stairs, following her friend. Once the two were upstairs, in some kind of living room, they were spotted by a big, black dog, which came sprinting towards the two of them, but, instead of biting, the dog slowed down and he started wagging his tail. This was making Luna smile.
"Hello there, Sirius."
The dog woofed, and Valerie froze. (Sirius?! As in, Sirius Black, the killer working for Voldemort?!)
"Luna? Why did you call the dog 'Sirius'?"
Luna smiled.
"Sirius, this is Valerie Weasley. She's a friend."
The dog walked over to our little redhead and sniffed her hand, after which he backed up again. Luna put her hand on the dog's head.
"Valerie, don't scream, and don't tell anyone."
The redhead nodded, and right before her very eyes, the dog changed into a human with big mass of filthy, matted, black hair hanging to his elbows, with yellow teeth and a very skinny body. Valerie took a step back in fear.
"Are... Are you really Sirius Black?"
The man nodded and smirked and then turned to Luna and took the bag of food from her.
"Thanks as always."
The blonde ignored the grown man and skipped over to the couch, and sat down. Valerie followed her friend and sat next to her, still quite nervous, and keeping a hand on her wand in case something went wrong.
"Why did you change from dog into human?"
Sirius looked at the redhead asking the question and smiled.
"I'm an Animagus. Been so since fifth year at Hogwarts, in fact."
Valerie tilted her head to the side.
"Animagus?"
Sirius nodded.
"It's when someone learns to change into an animal at will."
"Any animal?"
Sirius shook his head.
"The animal you become represents your soul. I, for example, become a dog because my soul is most like a dog."
Valerie's mind was overflowing with new questions.
"How would you know what animal you'd become?"
Sirius thought for a few seconds before answering.
"You just try it, I guess, although you could learn the Patronus Charm beforehand, but that's a bit too difficult for someone from second year..."
Valerie leaned in a bit further.
"Could you teach me how to become an animagus?"
Sirius froze for a second.
"How would someone from second year have the skills needed to become an Animagus?!"
Valerie smirked.
"I got an O in Transfigurations last year."
Sirius facepalmed at her comment.
"It's not that difficult to achieve in first year."
Luna cut in:
"She was the best in our year, and even next to some previous first years."
Valerie nodded.
"And I'll read or do whatever you ask, and in return you get information or something..?"
Sirius thought for a few minutes.
"You'll help me get in contact with Harry?"
Valerie nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course!"
"You'll bring me food?"
Valerie continued her enthusiastic nodding.
"Yes!"
Sirius sighed.
"Alright, but I'm not promising anything."
Valerie smiled brightly.
"Are you sure?!"
Sirius nodded. At this, Valerie got up and jumped a few times, fistpumping the air and shaking Sirius's hand.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'll try my best!"
Sirius smiled at the redhead.
"I will as well. Will you meet me right here, same time next week?"
Valerie nodded.
"Alright!"
The man smiled.
"Take along you're brother's Transfigurations book. We need N.E.W.T. Level Transfigurations at the very least."
Valerie nodded.
"I'll take care of it! See ya in a week, Sirius!"
"See you in a week, Valerie."
AN
As my sweet reviewer has pointed out, it's a bit weird how Valerie accepts Sirius so easily. I have to say, mentioning why has slipped my mind :/ Stupid me ; D Anyway, as pointed out in earlier chapters, Valerie is pretty sure Luna doesn't do anything without a reason, and she seems to have good judgement. So, if she trusts Sirius and wants to help him, and she brings one of her best friends to him, who could easily go and out him, she knows what she's doing. Also, did I mention he was an Animagus? If so, you could easily tell that Valerie was very excited, and just like the last bit of the fanfic, Valerie's brain is completely full of thought only based on learning to become an Animagus.
So, there's the two reasons: One, she trusts Luna's judgement, Two, She doesn't even think about the... 'murderer' sitting opposite her. Hope this clears things up! Se ya in a few days! XD
AN