A/N: Dripping with anticipation! I like that. To think someone's dripping with anticipation for this chapter...LOL! J.K.Rowling owns everything mentioned, except Nemo & Dilnavaz Patil.

The end of this chapter was originally going to be the beginning of the next chapter, but I decided to add more onto this one.



"Simple. I told yeh, Walter," said Nemo,"Alrigh' then, Romulus Lupin, 'oo's side are ye on?"

"The giant's," he replied.

"And when will ye blow yer horn?" laughed Nemo, sounding amused.

"Only when you tell me to."

"And will ye ever go near those ugly so called friends of yours, eh?"

"Never."

"Perfect. Let's go, Walt, we've to report ter yer master."

McNair stared at Romulus for a moment,"He...he recognised you, Nemo. He looked at you like he knew you. Asked what you were doing here."

Nemo faltered. He answered in a rather subdued tone,"Aye, I knew the bloke. Distantly, jus' at school. Don't pity him, though. He deserved it."

He muttered a charm and vanished. McNair followed half-heartedly, feeling very disturbed about Nemo's behaviour.

* * *

Harry felt substantially less burdened once he had spoken to Romulus. He wrote a letter to Sirius that said he had forwarded the message to Romulus, and had received his second last letter, but had already been too bogged down with work to reply.

He got used to his Prefect duties as well. They had access to different rooms in Hogwarts, like the Prefects lounge, and helped out at Hogsmeade.

Parvati seemed less of a nuisance than usual. She kept quiet, hanging around with the trio. They accepted the fact they could freely discuss Sirius and the like around her, and she seemed to take a great deal of interest in it all.

Once, when they were talking about Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, she piped up with an odd remark,"I think my mom knew them, Harry, her maiden name was Dilvanaz Jaharan. You ought to ask Snuffles about it."

A strange idea formed in Harry's mind;"Did your mom know Romulus Lupin?"

Parvati shrugged,"Probably". I'll ask her if you like." Harry nodded his mind racing. Maybe he could get some information off Dilnavaz Patil. She might know more about this horn business.

* * *

"I do not think McNair needs your help any longer."

"You're absolutely righ', Lord. He's a smart boy, he cin figure it ou'," Nemo bowed low,"He jus' needed a bit o' a push in the righ' direction."

Voldemort stood and began to pace, "I'm extremely happy I can trust you. Despite your past." Nemo nodded solemnly. "Lucius is crafty. quite the con man, and has lots of advantage over the rest of the Death-Eaters. But he tends to be a bit egotistical, far too sure of himself. You will be doing him alot of good by helping him.

"Your orders are straight forward and clear. The path to succeeding, however, is harder to find. Lucius's cleverness, and your logic will make catching Harry Potter easy.

"I will warn you, Lucius is low and manipulative. Don't take no as an answer from him."

"I think I will be a match for 'im," laughed Nemo, baring his yellowing teeth.

"Good. Lucius!"

Lucius appeared out of thin air.

"And where have you been?" said Voldemort curtly.

Lucius kneeled,"Planning a visit to Hogwarts, Lord."

"Hello, Lucius," said Nemo cheerfully, extending a hand,"I've heard an awful lot abou' ye."

"And I you. McNair is quite in awe of you," Lucius shook the extended hand.

"Formalities are over," said Voldemort loudly,"Out". I have work to do."

They bowed out of the cave.

Nemo had already decided to get right to the point,"And what do you plan to do at Hogwarts?"

Lucius's voice changed from the slick, deceptive tone he had used around his master to being harsh and cold,"I have not planned that yet."

"Get ter 'im through 'is friends. The ones he'd never think'd betray 'im," said Nemo carefully, keeping his cheerful tone.

Lucius's eyes narrowed,"Sure it would work, are you?"

Nemo laughed lightly,"Always does fer me. Do ye have any way o' finding 'is closest friends?"

"My son would know. He's always going on about Potter's friends, how they flock around him."

"This is going to be even more simpler than me last task."

* * *

Dilnavaz Patil glanced at the window. She had heard a hoot, one not unlike her daughter Parvati's owl, Laksmi. She was right; the barn owl flew in through her window and landed on the kitchen table.

Dilnavaz gave the owl a quick scratch behind the ear and removed the letter from her talons. She read it with faint relish. Her daughters were very open with her. Their letters went on about teachers, friends, and even the boys they happened to fancy. Parvati's letter was oddly formal, however.

She had almost finished reading it when a name popped out at her; Romulus Lupin. Parvati wanted to know if she had known him in her school years.

Dilnavaz stared at the words, tears blurring her eyes. She had never quite forgotten him. A tear landed on his name, smearing the ink. She wished she could wash away the memories of him just like that.

She sighed and laid down the letter. Why did she want to know?

Dilvanaz shook herself. Parvati didn't want to know that much. Just if she had known him.

But she had a strange feeling it would end up more than that.

Romulus was teaching at Hogwarts, Padma or Parvati had previously mentioned that. Maybe the best thing was to talk to Romulus. She had lots of questions brewing in her mind over these last fourteen years. She wanted to face him again.

Christmas was in a month or so. Perhaps, she could just go stay at Hogsmeade for the week, and go up to the castle.

Good plan, she told herself, wiping her tears, good enough.

* * *

Life at Hogwarts became sudden ritual. A quickly scrawled thank you letter from Sirius arrived mid-November. The signature winter blizzard came a week after, but no one in fifth year greatly enjoyed it. The thick, floating snowflakes seemed to mock them from outside the frosty glassed windows as they pored over homework.

"I'd like to see Snape try himself to finish this report by tomorrow," said Ron angrily,"Honestly, three rolls of parchment on the effect of different types of Grummas Wart on an Illictus Potion?"

"Maybe you ought to put a bit of that Grummas Wart in his goblet," said George dryly, licking toasted marshmallow off his fingers,"I'd like to see his face after he takes a sip of it."

Fred, in the armchair across from George, made a funny face and pretended to choke.

Hermione pursed her lips,"I don't see you studying for your NEWTs."

Fred laughed,"Newts, skrewts, they're ages away."

Hermione looked as though she disagreed, but she caught Ron's glare and returned to filing her Charms notes.

"I wish they brought back the Yule Ball," said Parvati angrily,"That was fun last year."

Harry chose not to answer. Personally, the Yule Ball last year had caused him a great deal of grief.

"Oh, and my mom sent me an answer," added Parvati,"Says she knew him. She's staying at Hogsmeade for Christmas."

Harry paused, then,"Why stay at Hogsmeade for Christmas?"

"Our dad left just after Padma and I were born. She's really lonely all the time. I suspect staying around a bunch of people will make her feel better."

Harry was, of course, not entirely satisfied with Parvati's mom's answer, and hoped to prod deeper.

* * *

"Room for one," Dilnavaz said, dusting ash from the Floo Powder journey off her olive green robes. She had just arrived at The Stone Gate, an inn in Hogsmeade.

The witch at the desk gave her an appraising look, then replied haughtily,"Ten galleons a night for a single bed."

"Good. I'll be staying for two weeks," she said vaguely, rummaging for her coins.

The room was bright and cheerful, painted a pretty pale blue. The window looked out to Hogwarts, looming unchanged from her memories.

Memories was the reason she was here. She stood, arms on the window sill, looking thoughtfully at Hogwarts. She remembered her days there, looking out her dormitory at Hogsmeade. As undifferent as the landscape was, it felt very odd looking from the outside in.

* * *

"Has yer son replied yet, Lucius?" asked Nemo, glancing over his newspaper.

"Yes," he replied bitterly. He hated being bossed around by this bloke. He dragged the first 'u' in Lucius so he said it 'Looosis', which was more annoying than his laugh.

"And?"

Lucius sighed,"Potter's a Prefect, like my son. He's always around the other Prefects."

"Who are?"

"Er, Parvati Patil, Hermione Granger, a Mudblood, and the son of that duffer, Arthur Weasley."

Nemo cocked his head and poked his eyes over the edge of the paper,"Patil, ye say? We ought to try usin' her."

Lucius pursed his lips. It was useless to argue with Nemo, though he'd rather trick a Weasley, just to torture them.

Nemo folded up his Daily Prophet,"Ye're goin' ter Hogwarts in January, ain't 'cha? Do the Imperius on 'er as soon as ye can."

"Right," Lucius stood and Dissappated. Nemo stared at Lucius's empty seat.

A Patil. Perfect.

* * *

By the time Christmas was two weeks away the homework had not died down. The usual amount of people booked seats on the Hogwarts Express, but the Gryffindor Prefects chose to stay.

Care of Magical Creatures was, for once, worth trudging through the knee-deep snow for.

Today Hagrid produced a pair of very interesting creatures. They looked like extremely fluffy cats, only no tails and were about twice as large. Their fur was thick and white, with a sparkly look to it, like snow.

"Froitidors. Come out about this time o'year. They like lots o'snow, camaflouges 'em yeh see. Very gentle, an' not that many predators. Got barely any meat on 'em under tha' coat," said Hagrid loudly, his breath coming out in great clouds.

While the rest of the class crowded around the animal's cage, Hagrid bent over and whispered to Harry,"I'd ter see yeh three this evenin', got summat ter tell yeh."

* * *

As dusk spread over the grounds, three figures wrapped in thick cloaks could be seen making their way towards Hagrid's cabin, it's bright windows standing out starkly against the dark trees of the forest.

Hagrid welcomed them in, smiling, but looking a bit sad.

"What's so important, Hagrid?" said Hermione, sitting down at the table and pulling off her hood.

Hagrid set down a tea tray and said,"Dumbledore's sending me abroad."

"What?" Ron spluttered.

"He's...he's sending me on business," Hagrid blushed a little.

They all stared at him for a moment.

"The giants!" said Hermione suddenly,"Of course! The giants!"

Hagrid looked surprised,"Eh? How'd ye know?"

"Obvious," she chirped.

Hagrid shook her comment off,"I'm ter go with Olympe Maxime, yeh remember her. In them foreign moun'in ranges, Dumbledore says. I migh' even get ter see me mom."

Ron looked very perplexed,"We're going to miss you, Hagrid."

"We all are," said Harry quietly,"But it's for the best."

"I'm leavn' after Christmas," Hagrid continued, his voice shaking a bit.

No one could really say anything. There wasn't anything to say.