Chapter Nineteen

Coal Expectations

It was review week, and as usual Corey Willowby had his mind on everything but his studies. It was bad enough that Professor McGonagall had caught him in the middle of class with a copy of the December issue of the Wizard's Digest (which featured a very nice article on the hot new brooms that year) and he had detention Saturday morning, but he was so bored during reviews that he couldn't help but get in trouble for everything from passing notes to whispering in class. Danny, on the other hand, seemed to come alive as she fervently made notes on top of notes, and appeared quite stressed about the entire matter.

Why should she worry so much, Corey wondered. After all, she was tied with him as top student in nearly every class except for Potions and the Dabbler's, where Corey surprised all the senior students in the class (as well as Jennifer) when he rose to head of Dabbler's also. But although she was tied with him for top student, Danny kept on studying as if she were struggling to make the mark, spending most of her spare time in the library studying with Taylor or her fellow housemates.

He didn't begin to worry until Danny and Taylor didn't show up for Sparring Club on Wednesday. The moment Doug had finished his bout and he was "benched," Corey and Doug left to find them. As expected, the two of them were still in the library, the only two people still there except for Madame Granger, who was quietly reading a book while waiting for the clock to chime. She glanced up and smiled when they came in, nodding over to where the other two sat.

"I say," Corey said quietly when they reached the two figures huddling over the Defense book. "You're not going to be doing this during our other 'study time', are you?"

"No, of course not," Danny promised. "Just squeezing in time while I can. And really, I'm far beyond what Professor Snape is teaching in sparring class. I just can't say the same about his Defense course." Corey looked over at her dubiously. Perhaps one on one with wands it might be true, Corey mused. But during their bouts in the forest, she lost as many as she won. Not to mention the fact that Danny was tied with him in Defense. Of course, Taylor wasn't doing quite as well with it, and it was very much like Danny to help someone else study when they were struggling.

"That's good. I wouldn't want to miss our last match before the Holidays, and I won't be around during the weekend. Saturday I have detention and Sunday I'm going with Snape to visit Grandfather in prison. I haven't seen him since we came to school," Corey explained. The clock above Madame Granger's desk chimed and she glanced up as Danny and Taylor walked over to the desk.
"Are you going to be here late this weekend as well, Madame Granger?" Danny asked. She shook her head with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I've made plans, but I will try to stay open later on Monday and Tuesday," she said. "Don't forget to turn in your final article copy by Saturday, Mr. Brittle. Creevy will be cross if you don't."

"I'll have it, don't worry," Taylor assured her as the four of them left. "Creevy will be cross anyway. Ever since he took over as editor for the Veritable Wizard, he's been a stress basket. He just wasn't cut out for journalism."

"Creevy doesn't seem to be cut out for much of anything," Doug snickered. "They really should have picked Ginny, you know."

"Ginny doesn't have the time, being Head Girl and all," Corey said. "Although I admit, I might join the paper if she asked me... well, and if my parents would get me a camera."

"A camera? They haven't even got you a broom yet," Taylor teased.

"Yeah, but they'll have to get me one now, I mean, I'm nearly top in all my classes and all that, and all they wanted me to do was keep my homework finished. I think I'll earn the broom I want... a C.S. Nighthawk," Corey said.

"You can't be serious, they're not going to get you a Nighthawk," Doug grinned at him shaking his head. "You said yourself how stingy your mother was, and besides, the Nighthawk doesn't even get released until the week before Christmas, and there's already a waiting list."

"I thought you said Skymasters were faster, Corey," Taylor said.

"Yeah, they are, but I was talking to Harry about brooms after dinner at Sagittari's last week, and he said that I needed to get one made for Beater maneuvers, and the Nighthawk is supposed to be one of the most sensitive brooms going on the market this year."

"And the most expensive," Doug said.

"Can we talk about something besides Quidditch for a change?" Danny pleaded. "Corey, what's your new grandfather like? What's he in prison for?"

"You mean you don't know?" Corey said with surprise. "Oh, I forgot, you weren't here, were you? My adopted grandfather is the Ivory Skull," he said proudly. "He's in jail for murdering Death Eaters, and he almost killed Voldemort at one point. I really like him."

"He's in jail for killing Death Eaters?" Danny repeated with confusion. "What's wrong with that? I mean, after everything they did, you'd think that he'd be a hero for that."

"I didn't understand that part at first either," Corey admitted. "But Mom said it was something about two wrongs not making it right or some such, and you can't take justice into your own hands. But it seems to me that Mom and Dumbledore and about everybody here does that in some way or another, so I'm not sure what the fuss is about."

The next couple of days flew by. Neither Doug nor Corey saw much of Taylor or Danny, for both of them avoided the library unless absolutely necessary. Instead, the two of them spent their down time playing cards in the Great Hall. But Doug had noticed a change come over Corey the closer the holidays got, becoming increasingly distracted. Whatever it was that was bothering him, he didn't speak of it to Doug or anyone else. He was, however, even more enthusiastic about weekend sparring and was grateful when Doug shook him awake. The two of them snuck out of the dorms and down to their normal meeting place in the Dark Forest.

It was almost unbearably cold, the stars wanly glowing like ice in the winter sky. Corey carefully cast a spell at their feet to hide their footprints as they walked across the snow and slipped into the woods, lighting the lantern once they got away from the edge of the grounds.

"This is the last match before the holiday, and I have every intention of winning it," Corey was telling Doug. "I bet she's off her game this week with all that studying, not getting outside and all."

"Yeah, she's definitely overdoing it. I bet she's trying to break the tie and take top spot in every class, Corey," Doug said.

"Not going to happen," Corey said calmly. "All the studying in the world is going to oust me from top of Potions." Taylor was already there when they arrived, pacing nervously and looking off into the darkness. Seeing his relieved expression when they appeared, Corey shook his head at him. "Don't tell me, you heard a noise."

"Yeah, and it wasn't a very pleasant noise," Taylor said. "You know, I don't think we should do this any more. I heard some of the older kids talking the other day, and they said that the teachers are worried that the forest is getting more dangerous than ever. We have more than your parents to concern ourselves with if we get caught."

"Stop worrying, Taylor," Corey sighed. "Just practice your forms and get warmed up. If Danny runs much later, you and Doug can spar first." As if on cue, a fox appeared from the woods and changed into Danny, stepping up to them.

"Sorry, I thought I'd have a look around. I heard an odd sound, but I wasn't able to figure out what it was," she said.

"See? It wasn't just me this time," Taylor said. "Maybe we ought to skip it this week."

"No way," Corey said.

"Not a chance," Danny said. "I owe Corey one after last week. You never told me what that curse was you hit me with," she added.

"Reflex Curse, learned it from Mom... well, sorta. Just don't tell her I know it, okay?" Corey grinned. "I don't think she'd approve of me using it."

"That's an understatement," Doug said. "Although me I'd be more worried about Professor Snape if I were in your position."

'That's because you don't know my Mom like I do," Corey chuckled, taking off his cloak and cracking his knuckles. "Whenever you are ready, Slythergirl."

"Taunting will get you nowhere, Newblood," Danny said, taking out her wand and fixing her eyes on him.

"Begin then," Taylor said.

Danny seemed anything but worse for wear than her long hours in the library. In fact, she jumped into a flip so fast that Corey just blinked at surprise, barely being able to dive out of the way as the vertigo spell came spinning towards him. Corey returned with a flash spell, the bright light momentarily blinding Danny and earning expletives from Doug and Taylor.

"Be careful with those sorts of spells, someone will see us!" Doug hissed.

"Relax, I saw Mom heading down to her office before we left, and she always goes on patrol with Dad," Corey said, pointing to the trees above them. "Quiver!" he intoned.

The trees began to tremble, and a wave of snow fell off their branches, trying to bury Danny. But Danny didn't need her eyesight to tell what was happening and rolled out of the way, rubbing her eyes until she saw Corey's hazy figure.

"Pinsin Eadulis!" she cast at Corey. Corey failed to block it as a sharp prickling sensation surged over his skin, slightly painful and itchy that he yelped and started brushing himself off as if being attacked by bees. Danny knew she had him now; there was no way he could concentrate to cast another spell.

But just as she lowered her wand to finish the match, a chilling sound erupted that was very, very close by... a loud, threatening howl. Everyone (except Corey, still under the influence of the spell) paused in sheer panic. Danny released the spell and ran over to the others as they pulled out their wands, forming a small circle with their backs to each other, looking out in the darkness.

As Corey recovered and raised his hand protectively, he suddenly noticed a pair of glowing eyes staring at them from the dense underbrush. It was then that the eyes seemed to elevate in height, and as the werewolf stepped out, Corey broke into a scream. As the other three turned, they screamed as well and mutually decided to make a break for it. Danny turned into a fox and ran ahead of the boys as they crashed through the underbrush, trying to get away.

The werewolf stared after them as they raced towards the school. Finally he turned, disappearing back to into the shadows of the Dark Forest.

The three boys were not about to take any chances that they might be getting followed, scrambling through the brush and getting quite scratched up in the process. The creatures in the pens began creating a commotion as they finally made it out of the forest, and Taylor begged for them to stop, lagging behind.

"Come on, come on, we'll get nailed here for sure," Doug hissed at him when he stopped to rest.

"I can't, you go on. I think I might have sprained my ankle tripping over that last tree trunk," Taylor said.

"We're not leaving without you," Corey said, going back over to him to grab an arm. "Help me, Doug, before we already get ourselves into any more trouble!"

"Too late," a low voice tinged with anger said from the edge of the forest.

Corey cringed in anticipation of impending doom as he looked around into Snape's furious glare. It was in that split second that he was quite convinced that life as he knew it was over.

Danny had shifted back and had gotten to the gate minutes before them, waiting in the stairwell to make sure they had gotten back in all right. When they didn't come, she went back towards the gate, worried that they might have been hurt. She was wondering if she go for help when she saw several figures appear. Ducking back out of sight, she saw that here friends were safe... mostly. Professor Snape was nudging them in front of him, heading towards Snape's office. Not now, she thought to herself. Please, not now before I have to go home!

In a panic, she raced towards a side entrance, down to the Slytherin rooms, and into her room. She quickly changed clothes and slipped into bed, lying awake for hours, terrified that someone would come for her.

The next morning Corey wasn't at breakfast, and Doug, sitting by himself at the end of the Gryffindor table, looked far from happy. Taylor glanced up and mouthed the word "library."

Danny nodded, turning her attention back to Casper and Roger, who were going on and on about what they expected for Christmas that year. It was just as her eyes began to glaze over from boredom that Amadeus Longbottom showed up in such a delightful mood that Danny had little doubt it was at the expense of someone else.

"Did you hear about Willowby and his band? Perhaps you did, Danny, since you seem to be an honorary member," he said snidely.

"No, do tell," Danny said, sipping her juice while watching him warily.

"Snape caught them sparring in the Dark Forest, and now they're all doing double detentions and their houses are down so many points that they'll never recover. All three of them are kicked out of Sparring Club, and if they get in trouble again, they'll probably get expelled. So much for teacher's pet," Amadeus grinned. "I bet Snape's sorry he let Craw talk him into taking pity on that mudblood now." Having heard quite enough, Danny got up and pushed her tray back. "What's wrong, Nelson? Did I offend your mud-loving sensibilities?"

"Don't flatter yourself, Longbottom," Danny said crisply. "The only thing offensive to my sensibilities right now is the fact you smell like a mule, eat like a pig, and have the brains of an ant. It's a good thing you do know how to at least whack a ball, or I'd have absolutely no use for you whatsoever."

She didn't miss the sudden rush of Liam and Casper on Amadeus' shoulder when he nearly pulled his wand.

"You are about to cut that thin line you're standing on, Nelson," he growled.

"Make a move on me, Longbottom, and I can guarantee you that you'll be cutting your own line, and you will live to regret it," Danny warned before heading out of the hall.

Danny sighed once she got out of the room. When she was first Sorted, she was relieved, knowing that her father would have not tolerated her in any other house. At that point, she had been more than willing to face the challenges she knew that would come with it. But in that moment, with the stress of studying, trying to stay in first, and constantly needing to keep her guard up in Slytherin, it was beginning to get to her. Her time studying in the library with Taylor was her only peace of mind, and yet even that didn't offer her much comfort. Corey was never in the library. He never needed to be there. How was she ever going to keep up?

And if she didn't keep up, how could she face that dreadful moment when she had to face her father when he found out she was not only second, but was second to someone like Corey? Not to mention how he would react if she found out about being out in the woods with Corey and his friends... the thought of the consequences of that were running through her head so much that she found herself in the Defense room, glancing at the office door thoughtfully. At last she knocked timidly and the door swung open.

Peering inside, she saw a very irritable Professor Snape looking up from his desk quizzically at her, tapping his quill.

"What is it, Miss. Nelson?" he asked briskly. "Well, don't just stand there. I've a lot of work to do."

"Sir, I was wondering if there was any way that I could stay here during the holidays," Danny said. Snape peered at her quizzically, pulling out a rolled sheet of paper.

"Your father requested you home for the holidays, and I don't see anything here that would indicate anything had changed," he said.

"Yes, Professor, I know, but I was wondering if I could stay here anyhow…"

"The school isn't a refuge, Miss Nelson. If we allowed every student to stay over on a whim, we would never be rid of them. And if you don't mind, I'd like to go home myself this year and not play nursemaid at the school. Of course," he added, his voice suddenly taking on a different tone rather unlike the one Danny had come to expect from him, "of course, it's possible there are some rare occasions that a student has a valid reason for not going home. Then perhaps I would take that to Dumbledore to see what can be done. So, why don't you want to go home?" Snape asked seriously. Danny stood quietly for a long moment.

"Never mind, sir. I just thought I would ask. Sorry to disturb you," Danny added, edging for the door.

"Yes, well, one has to be disturbed to be a professor here," Snape waved her away testily, his tone returning to the one she knew. As she left, she couldn't help wondering if his last line on her way out hadn't been some vain attempt at humor.

Back in the library, Danny met up with Doug, Taylor, and Corey, each one looking glummer than the next. Wincing slightly at their expressions, she went over and sat down beside them.

"I don't suppose you're still talking to me," Danny said questioningly.

"Why wouldn't we be? It's not your fault we got caught," Corey shrugged at her. "If I were an Animagus, I probably would have done the same thing."

"Well, I am really sorry, and I think it was all decent of you not to mention I was there," Danny said sincerely.

"We don't rat out our friends," Doug said indignantly, "even if it would have put you a little closer on house points."

"Good thing my Mom left early, or we'd all have been caught," Corey added.

"I expect I'll be getting a Howler today. My father is going to be furious," Doug grumbled.

"Both of my parents will send me one," Taylor said glumly. "At least you got spared that much, Corey."

"I'd rather have had a Howler," Corey muttered, putting his head in his hand. "My parents are so angry that there is no way I'll ever get any sort of broom, let alone a Nighthawk. After all the work I put in for it, too. I am definitely not looking forward to this Christmas."

"Neither am I," Danny sighed softly. "Well, I am sorry you got caught. But I think I'm going to go study in my dorm for a while. I need to double check my formulas for my Dabbler's project." The three boys watched her go, Corey looking after her in annoyance.

"There she goes again! What is with her, it's as if it might be the end of the world if she doesn't pull off a perfect score," Corey said exasperated. "At least she didn't get in trouble."

"Yeah," Taylor said, pushing his glasses up and watching as stepped into the hall. "All the same, it'd been worse for her than any of us if she had."

"My adopted parents want to disown me and I haven't even been with them a year, and we're up for coal this Christmas for sure. How could it be any worse?" Corey said.

"I don't think things are all right at home for her," Taylor said, glancing at the other two. "If I tell you both something, will you promise you won't tell her I told you? Especially you, Corey, but I think you ought to know anyhow," he said. The two of them shrugged.

"Sure Taylor, you know you can trust us with anything," Corey said.

"I really don't think her father is the forgiving sort," Taylor said, gazing at Corey. "I think she's going to be in trouble this year even without getting caught for study time."