Chapter 36: A Matter of Trust
"Did you get everything I asked?" Rosmerta asked Claire once she arrived at the Three Broomsticks the following Saturday.
"Right here, Madam Rosmerta," Claire said, picking up her Sugar Shrub which also had the two phials containing Mallowsweet and Moondew in the pot.
Taking the items from Claire's hands, Rosmerta beamed. "Thank you, Claire. I'll be just a moment with a new kind of Butterbeer the world has yet to try!"
After Rosmerta took the shrub and phials back to the kitchen, Claire decided to take up her shift. Soon enough, Rosmerta emerged holding two large mugs of Butterbeer that had a sugary sheen to them.
"All right, everyone!" Rosmerta called, causing the customers to silence and look upon her. "We're testing a new type of brew called Extra-Sweet Butterbeer! Feel free to try some on the house if you like!"
As several patrons cheered loudly, they immediately ordered the Extra-Sweet Butterbeer including the blue-coated wizard. He took one swig of it, and sighed merrily.
"Ros', you've outdone yourself on this one!" The blue-coated wizard proclaimed. "I think I've found my new favorite drink!"
Rosmerta nodded to him politely, and turned back to Claire. "That should satisfy him after that little Revelio stunt you pulled."
"Oh, you heard about that?" Claire said, looking down guiltily.
"It's all right, Claire," Rosmerta assured. "Because you've been a huge help, I'm going to ask Professor Dumbledore to reward Ravenclaw with House Points. Also, I found what you've been looking for."
From her sleeve, Rosmerta placed a black-feathered quill on the table before her.
Claire in turn took out her wand and muttered, "Well, here goes nothing. Reparifarge!"
Making a dipping motion as she annunciated, Claire watched as the black-feathered quill spun around and changed into a black book with yellowed pages.
"This has to be my brother's notebook," Claire guessed.
"Don't believe you'll be finding out anytime soon," a gravely voice murmured.
To Claire's surprise, Mr. Filch suddenly stormed over and snatched the book right from the table before tucking it inside his grey overcoat.
"Hey, that notebook belongs to me!" Claire insisted.
"Not anymore," Filch sneered. "I'll be addin' it to the collection of confiscated contraband I have in my office."
"Since when do you care about the Cursed Vaults?" Claire demanded.
"It's not my personal interest, but Snape's orders," Filch explained. "Anything related to the Cursed Vaults is to be kept away from students for their own safety."
Then Filch left the Three Broomsticks, while Claire fought the urge to cry.
"I'm sorry, Claire," Rosmerta said sympathetically. "You did so much work for that notebook."
"And now I'm going to have to find a way to get it back from Filch," Claire grumbled.
###
Back at Hogwarts, Claire noticed Penny was sitting by herself in the Great Hall after most of the Hufflepuffs had left and decided to sit across from her.
"So, Penny," Claire began. "Do you want to talk about the Boggart thing?"
In response, Penny said, "I'd rather talk about you, since everyone's saying you found another clue to the Cursed Vaults."
"Well, not exactly," Claire replied. "I found a notebook my brother left at the Three Broomsticks, which he had Transfigured into a Black Quill, but then Filch snatched it."
"Oh, dear," Penny muttered. "That must've been devastating for you!"
"No kidding," Claire said. "I had to do part-time work for Madam Rosmerta and gather ingredients for a new type of Butterbeer so she could look for the darn thing."
"Must be tough being the most popular student at Hogwarts."
"More like the most notorious student, apart from my brother," Claire sighed.
Penny hesitated for a moment, and then she mused, "You know, I've never told you much about my life outside of Hogwarts."
"No, except that you live in London and have a little sister."
"Well, I am a Half-Blood and my sister's name is Beatrice."
"Beatrice? That's a cute name."
This made Penny smile, and then she asked, "Claire, you trust me, right?"
"Sure."
"Um, there's a favor I'd like to ask of you. But I can't tell you what it is, so wait for my owl."
Then Penny left the Hufflepuff table before Claire could ask her anything further.
###
Later that night, Claire got a message from Penny telling her to meet in the Potions Classroom. Confused, she went down the dungeons and found Penny hiding behind a corner while the entrance to the Potions Classroom was being guarded by an older Slytherin boy with brown hair that was smoothed down and pale skin who had a Prefect badge on.
"Penny, what are we doing here?" Claire asked, once she got close to Penny.
"Shh! We can't let Felix Rosier see us," Penny murmured. "He's the Slytherin Prefect. While he's not looking, cast Petrificus Totalus on him so we can get into the Potions Classroom. You learned that in Charms with Ben, right?"
"Are you insane?" Claire said in disbelief.
"Do it now," Penny insisted, as Felix turned his back towards them.
Unable to argue with her, Claire cast the Full Body-Bind Charm on Felix causing him to freeze and fall flat on his face. Then Penny quickly ran into the Potions Classroom while Claire followed behind.
"Penny, what's going on?" Claire asked.
"I need you to help me steal some Lethe River Water from here," Penny explained.
"Why? Do you really want to incur the wrath of Snape?"
"Please, Claire. I wouldn't be asking you to do this if it wasn't important."
"Okay."
So Claire searched the containers while Penny did the same. After she found Lethe River Water, which appeared to be murky, Claire showed Penny who poured two drops of it in an empty phial she had on hand.
"Now, the next thing I need is a couple of Valerian Sprigs," Penny said. "Yours should be fully grown by now, right?"
"Um, I think so. Why do you need these things?"
"To brew a potion, obviously."
"But what kind of potion?"
"You'll see. Just get the sprigs from your Valerian plant tomorrow, and meet me in the Artefact Room."
"All right, but I hope you have a good reason for doing all this."
To be continued…