Chapter 9 - Halloween

Harry was let out of the Medical ward and made his way up the staircase to Gryffindor Tower. Everyone else was in lessons. Madam Pomfrey wished for Harry to remain in the Medical ward, but he had grown sick of it by now. And although he did not wish to go to lessons today, he wanted to lie down in his own bed.

He reached into his trunk and picked up the photo album that Hagrid had given him in his first year at Hogwarts. He opened it at his favourite page. It had a photo of his parents wedding day in it. There was his Mum and Dad, Lily and James Potter, his Godfather, Sirius Black, his third year Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Remus Lupin. There were also others, which Harry did not know the names of. Harry sat there gazing from face to face. Then he realised, there was a woman standing behind Remus Lupin, with short black hair, small round glasses, and trainers on underneath her best robes. Which Harry recognised as Professor Figg. He stared at her face. He was unaware that his Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher knew his parents. They were all waving up at him. His Mother and Father standing in the middle. Harry guessed that Arabella Figg must have been around the same age as them, but it never occurred to him that they were friends. Harry decided that he must ask Professor about it.

"Harry!" Neville Longbottom came rushing through the door. "Are you going to the Halloween feast?"

"Yeah, I suppose so." He replied

"Well you better get ready, it starts in half an hour." Neville ran out the door.

Harry got up and neatened himself up a bit. Then he walked out the door, and down the stairs, where Ron, Hermione, Neville and Ginny were waiting for him.

"Hi Harry. Are you feeling better?" Ginny asked

"A bit."

"Are you sure you want to go to the Halloween feast?" Hermione said, worrying as usual. "Because you don't have to, if you don't feel up to it."

"I'm fine, besides, it might take my mind off things."

The five of them made their way down to the Great Hall. When they reached the entrance they realised how noisy it was. Everyone was jumping up and down, throwing knives and forks, and tripping over all over the place. Harry realised instantly, that the teachers hadn't come in yet.

"It's very loud. Are you sure you're OK Harry?" Hermione nagged.

"Give him some room Hermione, he's hardly done anything except lie down for three days." Ron argued.

"I'm fine. Trust me." Harry went and sat down at the Gryffindor Table, with the others following him.

At that moment Professor Dumbledore and the other teachers came in through the door. There was silence as they sat down at the Teachers table. Dumbledore called over a house elf, and whispered something in his ear. Immediately the Hall was tidied. Everyone went and sat down in their places.

"Welcome! Everyone!" Dumbledore shouted "To yet another Halloween Feast!" Harry thought that he looked quite unwell, like he had been under a lot of stress, which was very likely. "I remember clearly back to last years feast. When our visitors from Beaux batons and Durmstrang arrived. But enough chit chat, let us begin our Feast!" At that moment the plates were filled with chicken legs, potatoes, vegetables, and gravy. Harry was starving, because he had hardly eaten anything since Saturday. He finished everything on his plate, and then reached over to get seconds.

"Harry," Ron leaned over "Have you seen Snuffles recently?"

Harry looked up, dropping the food from off his fork "What?"

"Ron and me saw him the other night." She paused "Why didn't you tell us that you had spoken to him?"

"But I didn't!" He lowered his voice "I saw him, during the last quidditch match, but I haven't heard from him since I the beginning of the summer holidays."

"Well then, what was he doing here?" Ron asked eagerly, as if still expecting Harry to know.

"I've told you. I don't know, can we go outside? There's way too much noise in here."

Ron and Hermione followed Harry out to the field by the lake. They still looked concerned, and doubtful at Harry.

"Harry, you know that whatever has happened to you, or Sirius, you can tell us." Hermione quickly looked around just to make sure that nobody was listening.

"I've told you! I've been worried about Sirius as well! I haven't heard from him at all!" He lowered his voice "I saw him on the field when I was playing Quidditch, as a dog of course, but he hasn't written to me, or got in touch with me since I last saw him before the summer holidays."

Harry sighed and rubbed his head; he was getting a terrible headache.

"O.K. it's alright Harry, you should get in touch, just to make sure he's fine." Ron turned and started walking back, his stomach rumbling.

"Ron's right you know, it would stop you from worrying so much." The three of them trudged back down the field to finish their meal.