Chapter 56: Mischief Managed
Madam Pomfrey insisted on keeping Harry in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. He had lots of visitors, all intent on cheering him up. Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow cabbages, and Ginny made him a get well card, which sang shrilly unless Harry kept it shut under his bowl of fruit. The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday morning, this time accompanied by Wood, who told Harry (in a hollow, dead sort of voice) that he didn't blame him in the slightest. Hermione and I stuck with him the whole time until night would fall and we had no choice but to leave. And even though he was showered with attention and well wishes, he still seemed in a gloomy mood.
When he returned Monday morning, he was forced to to endure Malfoy's taunting. Malfoy was almost beside himself with glee at Gryffindor's defeat. He had finally taken off his bandages, and celebrated having the full use of both arms again by doing dumbass imitations of Harry falling off his broom. Malfoy spent much of our Potions class doing Dementor imitations across the dungeon. He had pissed me off to no end, so I let my temper get the best of me and flung a large, slippery crocodile heart at him, which hit him in the face and caused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor.
"If Snape's teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again, I'm skiving off." I said as we headed toward Lupin's classroom after lunch. "Check who's in there, Hermione."
Hermione peered around the classroom door.
"It's okay!" she squealed.
Professor Lupin was back at work. It certainly looked as though he had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and there were dark shadows beneath his eyes; nevertheless, he smiled at the class as we took took seats, and as soon as he opened the floor, everyone aired out their grievances about Snape's behavior while Lupin had been ill.
"It's not fair, he was only filling in, why should he give us homework?" yelled Parvati.
"We don't know anything about werewolves!"said Seamus.
"- two rolls of parchment!" grumbled a very angry Dean.
"Did you tell Professor Snape we haven't covered them yet?" Lupin asked, frowning slightly.
The babble broke out again.
"Yes, but he said we were really behind -"
"- he wouldn't listen -"
"- two rolls of parchment!"
Professor Lupin smiled at the disdained looks on all our faces.
"Don't worry. I'll speak to Professor Snape. You don't have to do the essay."
"Oh no," said Hermione, looking very disappointed. "I've already finished it!"
"Of course you did Hermione." joked Harry.
"Oh, be quiet."
We had a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had brought along a glass box containing a Hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he were made of wisps of smoke, rather frail and harmless looking.
"Lures travelers into bogs," said Professor Lupin as they took notes. "You notice the lantern dangling from his hand? Hops ahead - people follow the light - then -"
The Hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against the glass.
When the bell rang, we gathered up their things and headed for the door.
"You two go on ahead." he told us." I need to talk to Lupin about something."
We headed back towards the tower, talking happily about the lesson as we went.
When I got back to my dorm, a school owl had just dropped off a letter onto my bed. I already knew it was from Bill, returning my letter I had wrote him last week.
Hey Ronnie,
I'm glad to hear that you and your friends are loving the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher. I've never met the man, but I have always heard good things about him. He seems to have you guys on the right track.
I'm also very proud of you. Despite you getting a detention, I'm glad you stuck up for your friend, Hermione. I can imagine she isn't well liked with that brilliant mind of hers. And for a teacher to call her what he did was deplorable. I've always disliked Snape. He hated me and my friends in Potions class because we would hardly listen to him, we were too busy trying to get on with the girls in our class, mixing brews that grew flowers and smelled nice, that sort of thing. I'll teach you one day.
Egypt is nice. I'm almost complete with my training, and I should be in Gringotts working in a couple more years. That way, you guys will see more of me, although, I'm not moving back into Mum and Dad's.
How is Harry holding up? He isn't letting this Sirius Black shit get to him, is he? He is under a major threat, but I hope he doesn't let it take him away from what he loves to do.
Well, I'm needed. Write me back soon. Tell the boys and Gin that I love them. And you and your friends try to stay out of trouble.
Love you,
Bill
Two weeks before the end of the term, came frost covered grounds. Christmas was in the air. Professor Flitwick had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real, fluttering fairies.
Both Hermione and I had decided to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays. I couldn't stand two weeks with Percy, and Hermione insisted she needed to use the library. However, both of us were really staying because we didn't want to leave Harry by himself.
To everyone's delight except Harry's, there was to be another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of the term.
"We can do all our Christmas shopping there!" said Hermione. "Mum and Dad would really love those Toothflossing Stringmints from Honeydukes!"
On the Saturday morning of the Hogsmeade trip, Harry bid good-bye to us sadly. Again, we felt bad for leaving him.
We took carriages this time, as it was too chilly to walk. We managed to get one by ourselves and climbed in.
"What are you getting your parents for Christmas?" Hermione asked.
"Well, Mum and Dad have always told us never to get them anything. But I'm going to get Mum some blue yawn. Maybe she will catch the hint that I don't like maroon."
Why not?"
"Hideous color. Clashes with my hair." I said, pointing to my head.
"Oh."
We rode in silence for awhile for the next couple of minutes.
"I never thanked you." said Hermione.
"Thanked me for what?"
"For defending me against Snape." she said, looking at the floor of the carriage.
"So you're thanking me for being your friend?" I said. "Because that's what a friend would do."
"Oh. I thought you did it because you didn't think me a know it all."
"Of course you're a know it all." I said.
Hermione gave me a glum look.
"You're just not an insufferable know it all." I finished, causing her to grin. "Plus, no one should call you that."
"Not even you right?"
"Well, I can, just not anybody else."
"Well now, you're being insufferable." she said, laughing.
We made it to Hogsmeade and the first place we went was the bookstore to pick up some barmy book Hermione had ordered the last time we were here. Then, we set out for Honeydukes.
I gathered up my usual treats, Hermione got her parents some of those flossing stringmints and herself a box of sugar quills, and then we looked around to find Harry something different.
We ended up in a section called Unusual Tastes. These were from witches and wizards with...well...unusual tastes.
"What about these?" I asked, looking at a tray of blood flavored lollies.
"Ugh, no, Harry won't want one of those, they're for vampires, I expect." said Hermione.
"Would be a nice gag though. Ooh, how about these?" I said, shoving a jar of Cockroach Clusters under Hermione's nose.
"Definitely not." came Harry's voice from behind us, causing me to almost drop the jar.
"Harry!" squealed Hermione. "What are you doing here? How - how did you -?"
"Wow!" I said looking very impressed, "you've learned to Apparate!"
"'Course I haven't," said Harry. Then, he told us all about my brothers and the Marauder's Map. And I couldn't help but feel completely jealous and mad.
"How come Fred and George never gave it to me! I'm their brother!"
"But Harry isn't going to keep it!" said Hermione, as though the idea were ludicrous. "He's going to hand it in to Professor McGonagall, aren't you, Harry?"
"No, I'm not!" said Harry.
"Are you mad?" I said, goggling at Hermione. "Hand in something that good?"
"If I hand it in, I'll have to say where I got it! Filch would know Fred and George had nicked it!"
"But what about Sirius Black?" Hermione hissed. "He could be using one of the passages on that map to get into the castle! The teachers have got to know!"
"He can't be getting in through a passage," said Harry quickly. "There are seven secret tunnels on the map, right? Fred and George reckon Filch already knows about four of them. And of the other three - one of them's caved in, so no one can get through it. One of them's got the Whomping Willow planted over the entrance, so you can't get out of it. And the one I just came through - well - it's really hard to see the entrance to it down in the cellar - so unless he knew it was there -"
Harry started to hesitate. Then, I showed him the notice we saw while coming in.
BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
Customers are reminded that until further notice, Dementors will be patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade every night after sundown. This measure has been put in place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents and will be lifted upon the recapture of Sirius Black. It is therefore advisable that you complete your shopping well before nightfall.
Merry Christmas!
"See?" I whispered. "I'd like to see Black try and break into Honeydukes with Dementors swarming all over the village. Anyway, Hermione, the Honeydukes owners would hear a break-in, wouldn't they? They live over the shop!"
"Yes, but - but -" Heroine seemed to be struggling to find another problem. "Look, Harry still shouldn't be coming into Hogsmeade. He hasn't got a signed form! If anyone finds out, he'll be in so much trouble! And it's not nightfall yet - what if Sirius Black turns up today? Now?"
"He'd have a job spotting Harry in this. Come on, Hermione, it's Christmas. Harry deserves a break." I said in a pleading voice that I knew she couldn't resist.
Hermione bit her lip, looking extremely worried.
"Are you going to report me?" Harry asked her, grinning.
"Oh - of course not - but honestly, Harry -"
"Seen the Fizzing Whizbees, Harry?" I said excitedly, grabbing Harry and leading him over to the barrel. "And the Jelly Slugs? And the Acid Pops? Fred gave me one of those when I was seven. Burnt a hole right through my tongue. I remember Mum walloping him with her broomstick. Reckon Fred will take a bite of Cockroach Cluster if I told him they were peanuts?"
"Worth a shot." laughed Harry.
When Hermione and I had paid for all our sweets, the three of us left Honeydukes for the blizzard outside.
Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card; the little cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow; there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees.
Harry shivered, but still looked happy, as Hermione and I pointed out various places
"That's the post office -"
"Zonko's is up there -"
"We could go up to the Shrieking Shack -"
"Tell you what," I said, my teeth chattering from the cold, "shall we go for a butterbeer in the Three Broomsticks?"
Harry and Hermione nodded and we made our way over to the pub.
It was extremely crowded, noisy, warm, and smoky. The gorgeous Madam Rosmerta was serving a bunch of rowdy warlocks up at the bar.
"That's Madam Rosmerta," I said in some silly voice that I hadn't noticed till Harry looked at me. "I'll get the drinks, shall I?"
As I was leaving, I overheard Hermione saying "Ron fancies her."
I went up to the bar where Madam Rosmerta had returned. "What will it be, little ging? she asked with a wink.
"Ummmm, three butterbeers, please." I managed to stutter out. She smiled and poured out threw cups, overflowing with foam.
"It's on me, sugar. It's mighty cold out there." she said cheerfully.
"Thanks!" I said, perhaps a bit too loudly.
I bought the mugs over to the table they had found in a corner near a huge Christmas tree and placed them in front of them.
"Merry Christmas!" I said happily, raising my tankard.
It was fun watching Harry try butterbeer for the first time. He instantly looked warmer, and he had a satisfied smile on his face.
