Chapter 36:
The trip to Hagrid's, though far from fun, had nevertheless had the effect Ron and Hermione had hoped. Though Harry had by no means forgotten about Black, he couldn't brood constantly on revenge if he wanted to help Hagrid win his case against the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. He, Skylar, Ron, and Hermione went to the library the next day and returned to the empty common room laden with books that might help prepare a defence for Buckbeak. The four of them sat in front of the roaring fire, slowly turning the pages of dusty volumes about famous cases of marauding beasts, speaking occasionally when they ran across something relevant.
"Can't you send your dad an owl, Skylar?"
"I can but the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures isn't really in my dad's wheel house." She sighed. "I don't know if he'd be able to remove their fear of Lucius either. The governors must have reached this decision while my dad was busy with his department. He doesn't have much time at the moment." Skylar was careful not to mention Black's name unless it set Harry off again.
"Here's something… there was a case in 1722… but the hippogriff was convicted — ugh, look what they did to it, that's disgusting —"
"This might help, look — a manticore savaged someone in 1296, and they let the manticore off — oh — no, that was only because everyone was too scared to go near it…"
Meanwhile, in the rest of the castle, the usual magnificent Christmas decorations had been put up, despite the fact that hardly any of the students remained to enjoy them. Thick streamers of holly and mistletoe were strung along the corridors, mysterious lights shone from inside every suit of armour, and the Great Hall was filled with its usual twelve Christmas trees, glittering with golden stars. A powerful and delicious smell of cooking pervaded the corridors, and by Christmas Eve, it had grown so strong that even Scabbers poked his nose out of the shelter of Ron's pocket to sniff hopefully at the air.
Skylar was awoken Christmas morning to Hermione shaking her awake.
"Sky, Sky wake up!" She was grinning as Skylar moaned. She waved a hand and battered Hermione's hand away. "Skylar!"
"What?" Skylar turned over and opened her eyes annoyed. The room was bright, the sun shining on snow outside the window and Hermione giggled at her.
"Merry Christmas!" Hermione grinned.
Skylar blinked before she sat up. There was a pile of presents at her feet and she smiled.
"Merry Christmas Hermione." She felt something snuggle beside her and looked down to see Meridiem at her side. "Merry Christmas, Meridiem." Crookshanks jumped up onto her bed and gave her a look. He was looking very grumpy and had tinsel around his neck. Skylar laughed.
"Hermione, what did you do to your cat?" She asked.
"He's joining in on the spirit." Hermione shrugged and Skylar rolled her eyes.
"I suppose you want some attention to, do you? Or freedom from the tinsel." She asked the ginger and she scratched his ear as Hermione sat down to open her gifts.
There was one parcel Skylar noticed rather well and she reached to open it, finding a hand made sweater from Mrs. Weasley. As usual it was sky blue in colour and she smiled before pulling it on over her pyjamas. She always loved Mrs. Weasley's jumpers. Along with the jumper was homemade mince pies and some fudge with nut brittle. Her mother had sent her a bottle with a potion inside. It had a card around the neck and she read over it, she smirked at its contents before putting it on her bedside table carefully. It was signed from both her parents. Nick had gotten her some of the Peppermint toads which she chuckled at, Leon had bought her a new book and she looked surprised as it was on animagus'. How had Leon known she'd been looking at animagus'? Hermione had bought her a lunascope.
"Wow!" A Lunascope helped to chart the phases and position of the moon.
"Well, seeing as you are close friends with a werewolf." She grumbled. Skylar rolled her eyes.
"And here I thought you bought it to help me out with my Astronomy." Skylar said.
Harry's present was last, last year he'd bought her a dreamcatcher, a muggle item that was said to catch bad dreams. This year it seemed he'd kept on the muggle theme, for he'd gotten her a device she'd never come across before.
"What's this?" She questioned and Hermione looked up.
"Oh! That's a polaroid camera!"
"Huh?" Skylar muttered.
"You take a photo and it prints it instantly, but it wont move unless you put it in a special potion." Hermione explained, "Who gave you that?"
"Harry did."
"That's rather lucky, there aren't many wizards that sell muggle things, since Harry doesn't have any muggle money." Hermione smiled.
"He seems to be keeping to the muggle theme." Skylar smiled.
"He'll run out of things eventually." Hermione chuckled. "Come on, let's go see them." Hermione picked Crookshanks up from Skylar's bed and moved for the door.
"Hermione, don't take Crookshanks!" Skylar snapped as she hurried out of her bed herself, grabbing the funny contraption Hermione had called a camera as she did, hurrying after the girl. "You know how Ron will react!" She warned.
Hermione didn't listen, simply moved to the boys dormitories.
"Hang on, show me how to work this thing, I want to use it when we walk in." Skylar said, holding the camera up.
Hermione showed her how to hold the camera and which button to press, she opened up a section with a bit of pressure to check there was photo paper in it before handing it to Skylar and opening the door.
Hermione opened it, laughter coming from inside and Skylar rose the camera in interest. Skylar snapped the photo before turning to it, there was a moment before it printed a bit of the photo paper.
"What're you two laughing about?" Hermione asked as Skylar frowned. The so-called photo in her hands was blank.
"Hermione, this is blank." She said.
"You need to keep it dark for a bit, put it in your pocket and look again in a few minutes." Hermione said, the two boys turning to them as they spoke.
Harry noticed the camera in Skylar's hands while Ron was focused on Crookshanks.
"Don't bring him in here!" said Ron, hurriedly snatching Scabbers from the depths of his bed and stowing him in his pyjama pocket.
Hermione and Skylar had looked at him but were taken by surprise with what was in Harry's hands.
"Oh my god." Skylar exclaimed as Hermione dropped Crookshanks onto Seamus' bed.
In Harry's hands was a broomstick, but not just any broomstick, it was a Firebolt, just like the one that had been in Quidditch Quality Supplies in Diagon Alley at the beginning of the year.
Skylar stared at it open mouthed.
"Oh, Harry! Who sent you that?" Hermione questioned.
"No idea," said Harry. "There wasn't a card or anything with it."
"Really… you mean kind of like the invisibility cloak?" Skylar wondered.
"Sorta, only this time there really was nothing." Harry admitted.
Skylar looked unsure. Hermione did not appear either excited or intrigued by the news. On the contrary, her face fell, and she bit her lip.
"What's the matter with you?" said Ron.
"I don't know," said Hermione slowly, "but it's a bit odd, isn't it? I mean, this is supposed to be quite a good broom, isn't it?"
Ron sighed exasperatedly. "It's the best broom there is, Hermione," he said.
"So it must've been really expensive…"
"Probably cost more than all the Slytherins' brooms put together," said Ron happily.
"Well… who'd send Harry something as expensive as that, and not even tell him they'd sent it?" said Hermione.
Skylar glanced at Hermione. It was strange… but it must've been someone who'd been at the game against Hufflepuff. No student would have spent that much money on Harry… and she doubted the teachers would have done either. No one else had been at the game to know… she had told her parents about it but they'd have signed a note.
The only other person that had been there… Skylar paled. Had been the black dog… Sirius Black wouldn't have bought Harry a super expensive broom though, what a strange thing to do… unless he wanted to hurt Harry…?
"Who cares?" said Ron impatiently. "Listen, Harry, can I have a go on it? Can I?"
"I don't think anyone should ride that broom just yet!" said Hermione shrilly.
Harry and Ron looked at her.
"What d'you think Harry's going to do with it — sweep the floor?" said Ron.
Skylar frowned, she agreed with Hermione, what if the broom was a trap…?
But before Hermione could answer, Crookshanks sprang from Seamus's bed, right at Ron's chest.
"GET — HIM — OUT — OF — HERE!" Ron bellowed as Crookshanks's claws ripped his pyjamas and Scabbers attempted a wild escape over his shoulder. Ron seized Scabbers by the tail and aimed a misjudged kick at Crookshanks that hit the trunk at the end of Harry's bed, knocking it over and causing Ron to hop up and down, howling with pain.
Crookshanks's fur suddenly stood on end. A shrill, tinny whistling was filling the room. The Pocket Sneakoscope had become dislodged from Harry's ugly, old socks and was whirling and gleaming on the floor.
"I forgot about that!" Harry said, bending down and picking up the Sneakoscope. "I never wear those socks if I can help it…"
The Sneakoscope whirled and whistled in his palm. Crookshanks was hissing and spitting at it.
"You'd better take that cat out of here, Hermione," said Ron furiously, sitting on Harry's bed nursing his toe. "Can't you shut that thing up?" he added to Harry as Hermione strode out of the room, Crookshanks's yellow eyes still fixed maliciously on Ron.
"Are you all right Ron?" Skylar asked.
"Fine." He barked annoyed. "Why'd you let her bring him in here?"
"I told her not to." Skylar confessed, "She's Hermione Ron, she's stubborn." She reached into her pocket and pulled out the photo she'd taken and turned it over.
"Woah…" she muttered. It had Ron and Harry in the picture, Harry holding his brand new broomstick while Ron was gazing at it in excitement. She handed the picture to Harry.
"You like it then?" He asked.
"Thank you." She nodded. Harry looked at her before turning his gaze back away, he still hadn't quite forgiven her, nor had they spoken about it. Skylar dropped her gaze before she nodded.
"Right." She mumbled before she turned for the doorway and left the dormitory, closing the door behind her to stop Crookshanks from being able to get back in again.
Skylar sighed. She had to talk to Harry, she felt like there was this wall between them now, things were weird and awkward, and she had no one to blame but herself, but it needed fixing. She didn't like this gap that had formed. One thing was, she didn't want to do it in front of Ron and Hermione, mostly because she didn't want to make them uncomfortable, or have them butting in.
Not that she had any idea what she would say…
Skylar buried herself in her new book from Leon after they'd gotten dressed. It was quiet between them, Harry wasn't talking to Skylar, Hermione was furious with Ron for trying to kick her cat, who was locked in the girls dormitory, and Ron was still fuming about Crookshanks' fresh attempt to eat Scabbers, and so was ignoring Hermione. Harry made a few attempts at getting them to talk to one another while Skylar remained silent, before he gave up and decided to give his attention to his new Firebolt. He was examining it closely while Hermione shot dark looks at it. She, like Skylar, feared it had been sent by Sirius Black…
At lunchtime they went down to the Great Hall, to find that the House tables had been moved against the walls again, and that a single table, set for fourteen, stood in the middle of the room. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, Sprout, and Flitwick were there, along with Filch, the caretaker, who had taken off his usual brown coat and was wearing a very old and rather mouldy-looking tailcoat. There were only four other students, two extremely nervous-looking first years, Stephen Cornfoot, and a sullen-faced Slytherin fifth year.
"Merry Christmas!" said Dumbledore as Harry, Skylar, Ron, and Hermione approached the table. "As there are so few of us, it seemed foolish to use the House tables… Sit down, sit down!"
Harry, Skylar, Ron, and Hermione sat down side by side at the end of the table, Skylar moving to sit beside Stephen.
"You're literally by yourself?" She asked him.
"Really easy to keep up on homework, it's so quiet." He shrugged. "How you doing?"
"Not letting myself miss out on the Christmas spirit." She admitted, glancing at Harry. Stephen noticed her look.
"He's who you upset?" Stephen whispered to her.
"Yeah." She whispered as she reached for her drink.
"Crackers!" said Dumbledore enthusiastically, offering the end of a large silver noisemaker to Snape, who took it reluctantly and tugged. With a bang like a gunshot, the cracker flew apart to reveal a large, pointed witch's hat topped with a stuffed vulture. Skylar smirked and hid her smile as she remembered the boggart with the vulture on top. She turned to see Harry and Ron share a grin also as Snape's mouth thinned and he pushed the hat towards Dumbledore, who swapped it for his wizard's hat at once.
"Dig in!" He advised the table, beaming around.
Skylar reached for the turkey, topping it with cranberry sauce and was reaching for some vegetables as the doors of the Great Hall opened again. Skylar thought she was seeing a giant glittery bug. The woman was very thin; with large glasses that magnified her eyes to several times their natural size. Innumerable chains and beads hung around her spindly neck, and her arms and hands were encrusted with bangles and rings.
"Who's that?" Skylar whispered confused.
"That's Trelawney." Hermione muttered from her other side.
Skylar blinked in surprise, this was the Divination teacher?
Professor Trelawney glided toward them as though on wheels. She had on a green sequinned dress in honour of the occasion, making her look ever like a glittering, oversized dragonfly.
"Sibyll, this is a pleasant surprise!" said Dumbledore, standing up.
"I have been crystal gazing, Headmaster," said Professor Trelawney in a misty, most faraway voice, "and to my astonishment, I saw myself abandoning my solitary luncheon and coming to join you. Who am I to refuse the promptings of fate? I at once hastened from my tower, and I do beg you to forgive my lateness…"
"Certainly, certainly," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling. "Let me draw you up a chair —"
And he did indeed draw a chair in midair with his wand, which revolved for a few seconds before falling with a thud between Professors Snape and McGonagall. Professor Trelawney looked at the table, Skylar knew she was counting those sitting at the table, before she moved to take her seat.
Professor McGonagall poked a large spoon into the nearest tureen.
"Tripe, Sibyll?"
Professor Trelawney ignored her. She was looking around once more and said, "But where is dear Professor Lupin?"
"I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again," said Dumbledore, indicating that everybody should start serving themselves. "Most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day."
"But surely you already knew that, Sibyll?" said Professor McGonagall, her eyebrows raised.
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look.
"Certainly I knew, Minerva," she said quietly. "But one does not parade the fact that one is All-Knowing. I frequently act as though I am not possessed of the Inner Eye, so as not to make others nervous."
"That explains a great deal," said Professor McGonagall tartly.
Professor Trelawney's voice suddenly became a good deal less misty.
"If you must know, Minerva, I have seen that poor Professor Lupin will not be with us for very long. He seems aware, himself, that his time is short. He positively fled when I offered to crystal gaze for him —"
"Imagine that," said Professor McGonagall dryly.
"I doubt," said Dumbledore, in a cheerful but slightly raised voice, which put an end to Professor McGonagall and Professor Trelawney's conversation, "that Professor Lupin is in any immediate danger. Severus, you've made the potion for him again?"
"Yes, Headmaster," said Snape.
"Good," said Dumbledore. "Then he should be up and about in no time… Derek, have you had any of these chipolatas? They're excellent."
The first-year boy went furiously red on being addressed directly by Dumbledore, and took the platter of sausages with trembling hands.
"Headmaster," Skylar pipped up and caught everyone's attention. "Is he sick sick?" She asked cautiously. "Too sick to say, maybe be taken a bit of Christmas Cake later…?" She wondered hopefully.
"I would suggest leaving it for another day." Dumbledore nodded. Skylar sighed and nodded, resigned. She thought it was sad that he had to be by himself on Christmas Day. Perhaps she'd slide a letter under his office door, just so he knew she was thinking of him and wishing him well.
Christmas dinner lasted two hours, and by the end of it, all of them had party hats on their heads from the crackers, Skylar's was a jester's hat, bells hanging off each tip and ringing every time she turned her head.
Harry and Ron were first to get up from the table, full of food and still wearing their party hats.
"Coming?" Harry said to Hermione. Skylar dropped her gaze, he glanced at her but addressed Hermione mostly. Stephen's forehead furrowed he looked at Skylar, nudging her slightly. She looked at him before shaking her head.
"No," Hermione muttered, "I want a quick word with Professor McGonagall."
Skylar glanced at the girl as the boys turned from the table.
"Probably trying to see if she can take any more classes," she heard Ron yawn as they made their way into the entrance hall.
Hermione looked at Skylar who was looking at her unsurely. It wasn't hard to figure out what Hermione was up to, her mind was an open book.
"Are you sure about this?" She asked.
Hermione looked at Professor McGonagall and Skylar pursed her lips.
"What's wrong?" Stephen asked Skylar.
Skylar glanced around the table before she nodded her head. The two of them got up from the table, wishing everyone a Happy Christmas before moving out into the Entrance Hall, and climbing the Marble Staircase.
"Harry got a mysterious present for Christmas."
"What was it?"
"A Firebolt." She admitted.
Stephen looked surprised. "The broom?"
"Yeah." She nodded.
"From who?"
"No one knows." She shrugged. "There wasn't a note."
"So Hermione…"
"Hermione's worried it's… jinxed or dangerous." Skylar said.
"She's gonna dob it in?" Stephen asked looking surprised.
Skylar shrugged. "She's Hermione… even if she knows Ron and Harry will be really annoyed if the broom's taken, she'll still do the right thing." Skylar admitted.
"I've heard she's really bright, but seeing her in Ancient Runes… I'm surprised she's not in Ravenclaw." Stephen admitted.
"I think the hat considered her for Ravenclaw." Skylar admitted thinking.
"What about you?"
"Oh, I was a straight Gryffindor." Skylar shrugged, "What with a brother, two parents and a few relatives, but I could have gone anywhere… though I think Slytherin was the least likely."
"You think or you hope?" Stephen wondered.
"Both." She shrugged as they came to a stop two corridors before them. "Anyway, my common room is that way." She pointed.
"And mines that way." He pointed down the other corridor. "Have you finished the Ancient Runes homework?" He asked.
Skylar scoffed.
"Well then, Library, shall we do it together?" He offered.
Skylar found herself smiling. "Sure, but, you have to help me with something too."
"Sure." He nodded.
"Cool, see you later. Happy Christmas."
"Happy Christmas." He nodded before turning and walking down the corridor. Skylar watched him for a minute before she moved off as well.
Skylar found she really liked spending time with Stephen, and it had turned out he was easy to talk to… a little too easy she might think. But seeing as Harry was upset at her, and until they'd cleared the air that made things awkward, she was glad to find an escape, away from all the madness.
Skylar reached the seventh corridor and stopped as Professor McGonagall was climbing through the portrait hole as she approached it. The Professor was carrying Harry's Firebolt.
"Professor," Skylar said and McGonagall nodded to her before continuing.
"Pass — hic — word?" It seemed Sir Cadogan had had a it too much wine. He was having a party with a couple of monks, several previous headmasters of Hogwarts, and his fat pony.
"Scurvy Cur." She said
"And the same to you!" He cheered before his painting swung forwards.
Ron's voice reached her and she walked in to find him glaring at Hermione as she moved aside a book she'd had, upside-down, in front of her face, she was rather pink.
"What did you go running to McGonagall for?"
Hermione stood up and faced Ron defiantly.
"Because I thought — and Professor McGonagall agrees with me — that that broom was probably sent to Harry by Sirius Black!"
Hermione turned for her dormitory.
"I cannot believe her!" Ron snapped angrily. He noticed Skylar. "You knew about this?" He demanded.
"That Hermione was going to tattle? What you didn't?" She asked, "You saw how she looked at the broom, you didn't put two and two together?"
"Why didn't you stop her!?" Ron demanded.
"Have you met Hermione?" Skylar demanded.
"You could have warned us?"
"And what would that have done? You going to hide it?"
Ron looked at Skylar furiously and she glanced at Harry. He was standing with a tin of High-Finish Polish from his broom servicing kit clutched in his hand, and looking as if he had no idea what had happened, staring at the Portrait Hole. Skylar wouldn't have been surprised if he hadn't actually seen her come in.
The girl sighed and resigned herself to move to the dormitory, away from Ron's furious look. She hadn't even done anything this time…