HARRY POTTER AND THE SEERS' TRUTH
By Lady Lestrange
Ravenclaw and More
Chapter 34
(A/N: I know, I have to come up with a good name for this chapter. So this is your review challenge. Help me out. Think of a good name, and you get a yummy picture of your choice: Tom, Draco Harry or Ginny under an Invisibility cloak.)
10 REVIEWS. Here's the new chapter—I really hate blackmailing you into reviewing, but hey, I'm a Slytherin. It's in my nature, so when there are 10 reviews for this chapter, the next one will magically appear. LOL Love my readers and reviewers. Answers to reviews follow the story.
Disclaimer: The Harry Potter characters and previous situations belong to JK Rowlings. No infringement is meant or implied. No money is made from this Fanfic. THANKS JK.
--LADY LESTRANGE
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(A/N: I've been reading a number of fanfics in installments like this one myself, and find it is sometimes hard to remember exactly what has happened before-In a fic as complex as this one is, I thought having a reminder may be helpful for you. If you want to skip it, just page down FOUR times. --Lady Lestrange)
UP TO THIS POINT: Parvati has been having dreams and visions about the Dark Lord, Harry and a Prophecy Child. So far, they are not sure who the prophecy child is, and it is important for them to find him/her. The Sorting Hat is not sorting, so the students have "little brothers and sisters" to show around. The dream team thinks that The Sorting Hat failing is a plot to hide the Prophecy child from the teachers and anyone who can help insure that he/she stays on the side of light. No one is sure that the brothers and sisters actually belong to the house they are currently in.
The Hogwarts Express has been attacked. Dark Marks have been in the sky. The floo network is compromised. The Minister of Magic has been turned. Snape is now teaching both Defense and Advanced Defense, but it looks like Advanced Defense is just an excuse to let the Slytherins and Ginny and Edward visit the Dark Lord. Mrs. Figg is teaching potions and we know very little about her so far, except that she was against Dumbledore's suggestion to make Poly Juice Potion.
Beatrice is an animagus, a bunny. Edward's granny looks like she could have given the Dursleys a few pointers on cruelty. Slytherin is a house at war according to Snape, divided between Death Eaters and those who want to stay on the side of light. Harry uses his Invisibility Cloak and finds out when it is ripped, the Invisibility spell ceases. There is an unwelcome addition to Myrtle's bathroom, Olive Hornby. Peeves is his usual annoying self, but the Baron seems to have a little less control over him.
Samara, for some reason, lofts some wicked, powerful curses. She doesn't look like she has total control over them, which isn't really surprising since she's learned magic on her own from a book, that Harry is sure is a dark book. She seems to like Draco, but don't assume this is a romance. It is not. Ginny is still hearing voices in her head. Harry's scar is hurting more, and neither he nor Ginny know what this means. Ginny is closer with Harry this year, but again, not romantically. There is Edward, the new Gryffindor, who seems interested in Ginny, but Ginny really hasn't gotten over Tom.
We find out about Neville's powerful auror parents. We learn that Neville has a memory charm that was put on him as a baby. He's a more powerful wizard than anyone ever thought as evidenced by his yew wand and the way he reacts to Snape's ministrations in trying to remove the memory charm. We might wonder why Snape is trying to do this himself, instead of enlisting the help of Madam Pomfrey. Sirius and Lupin are on "fieldtrips" with the sixth and seventh years.
Of course we can also wonder why Snape is so determined to teach his classes advanced spells like the Patronus, or we can just chalk it up to Snape, being mean. The Fifth year class starts apparition classes and we meet Professor Sinistra. We also visit Hufflepuff, where we see The Wall, and Slytherin house, where we discover, to our amazement, a magic room that Draco shares with Samara, but Samara has a very unslytherin use for the room. Ravenclaw to come next weekend.
The chapter, CHAINED AND CHARMED, takes place at the same time as DANCING IS AN OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE-when Samara was in Slytherin, dancing. It is Saturday afternoon. Harry and the Gryffindors examine Samara's Dark Book, after they come back from lunch. They find an extreme potion, and decide they need to make a trip to the Chamber of Secrets. Ghastly Ghostly Dinner is when Gryffindor's meet with Samara after her little trip to Slytherin. Samara and Beatrice are persuaded by Edward to help him steal his snake back from his brother Ethan. Things get a little out of hand, and Samara learns more about Slytherin than she ever wanted to know.
Now the Gryffindors are mad at her. Samara wants to make up and be friends with them, but is it possible to befriend both Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy? How far will she go to make up, or will she just find some valuable information to store away for future use? (So, don't you want one of those Tee shirts?)
LIONS AND TIGERS: We see a very stressed out Snap both in Harry's memory of what happened with Snap and Neville and in the actual DADA class. We find out Trelawney doesn't want Samara in her class and Samara decides to take Ancient Runes instead. McGonagall assures Samara that Trelawney has done her a favor. McGonagall further talks to Samara about her experiences in Gryffindor, opening the door to give Samara someone to talk to, if she so chooses. We also learned lots more about animagi in McGonagall's class. Snape dismisses the Gryffifndors and keeps the Slytherins after class. We find out it's because Snape wants them to practice their patronus because the Slytherins are so lousy at the spell. Could it be because there are so few happy memories to chose from? In DRAGON BREATH AND BLUDGER BATS, Ginny and Edward set the Slytherins up with fire mints, and Samara gets extremely angry at them both because they hurt her friends. In an effort to contain her anger, she goes to the Quiddich pitch where she meets Fred and George. After lobbing a few quaffles at them in her anger, they decide to ask her to be a Beater for Gryffindor. She refuses, but later when she talks to Draco, he is not very nice to her, (hey, who said Draco was a nice guy?) so she wonders whether or not she should take the Beater job. In WISH IT REAL; WISH IT NOT we see into one of Ginny's dreams. If you don't remember this dream, go and re-read chapter 28. In Chapter 29, THE SPELLING BEE, Samara is feeling homesick and friendless until Draco invites Samara back to Slytherin. Also, includes a short intro into what's coming up in potions class. In Chapter 30, CHILD OF GRYFFINDOR, Neville and Snape break the Imperio part of the Memory Charm. The trio discusses the Founders' spells, which put their gifts in the Sorting Hat; however they do not have the original parseltongue version of Salazar's spell. Ginny also sees Edward painting and the reader sees a bit of Ginny and Tom's relationship. In SLYTHERIN GAMES—Well, if you don't remember it, you better re-read. Voldemort is finally out and angry—burning and pillaging and we see a little-known inside version of Slytherin through Ginny's eyes. In STICKY SITUATIONS, Samara uses her adhere charm on the Weasley twins, Neville sticks Beatrice's wand to his with bubble gum, and Edward is sticking in Gryffindor. In OW POST the Slytherins get even for the Dragon Breath Mints, among other things--
AND NOW ON TO THE STORY:
Ravenclaw and more
When Samara entered Ravenclaw common room on Sunday evening, the first thing that struck her was the stark spaciousness of the room.
"Is your common room bigger than the other house's common rooms?" asked Samara.
I don't know," replied Lisa "I've never been in the other common rooms."
"Oh right," said Samara "Well, it looks bigger—It could be because its so neat," said Samara.
"Well, these are cupboards for the books and games, so usually, unless they are in use, they are put away.
"Are you coming with me?" Samara asked Lisa Turpin. "If you want me to," replied Lisa. I do have some homework though, if you don't mind. I'd rather catch up with you at 10:15 in the library.
"OK" said Samara. She smiled at Mandy Brocklehurst, whose aura was a soft, patient blue. She was conducting the tour for Samara, Edward, and Gloria Snood, a first year, from Slytherin. . "I'm sorry," Mandy said. "I tried to find someone else to help, so that you wouldn't have to be together, but no one else is available on such short notice."
"Help with what?" asked Samara confused.
"Well," she looked anxiously at Edward. "After yesterday, we weren't sure you'd want to be too near a Slytherin. Are your burns healed?"
"A little sore still," replied Edward. Pushing up his right sleeve, to reveal a spattering of burn marks. "Madam Pomfrey says they shouldn't scar. But I'm lucky that Professor Snape was so quick thinking." He glanced at Gloria. "And I think I can keep Gloria in line."
"I think it's very generous of you to be so forgiving," said Mandy.
"It wasn't Gloria's fault," said Edward.
"Well, a lot of people just lump all the Slytherins together. It's nice to see someone who looks at the individual." Mandy gestured broadly. "This of course, is the Common Room. In here," said Mandy opening cupboards, "Are some games When we don't have too much homework they're fun to work on—Of course, this year I have OWLS so I doubt I'll be able to do a lot of game playing, First and second years usually like them though."
Mandy shut the cupboard and discussed how the cupboards receded magically within the wall to allow more space. Actually," she said, looking at Gloria. "I believe the cupboards and quite a number of the games were made by your Big Sister's father, Marshall Avery.
He had the highest number of OWLS in his class—then he was beaten out of the highest NEWTS by one point.
"How about that," said Gloria "Who beat him?"
"We don't say his name," replied Mandy.
Really? Said Samara. "Voldemort was that smart?"
Mandy frowned. "That's right," she said. It was the only year in more than a century that Ravenclaw didn't take the most OWLS and the most NEWTS. Bits of tan invaded her aura as she spoke.
"Let's continue up to the sleeping quarters," said Mandy and then we'll go to the place where you probably are most anxious to see—The Library."
"This is my room," said Mandy as she opened the door to a closet sized room just big enough for a bed, wardrobe and bookcase. It was painted ivory and had several wizard posters on the walls. "The rooms are arranged in pods," Mandy explained. "Six girls share a bathroom in the center."
"Six?" said Samara.
"In Slytherin, one would get the bath, the other five would get cursed," said Gloria.
"We have a schedule," said Mandy haughtily, and Samara had the definite feeling that Mandy was looking down on Gloria as if she were a lower life form.
"I wish we had a schedule in Gryffindor," said Samara. "We can never get Parvati and Lavender out of the bathroom. Hermione can brush her teeth with just a glass of water—no sink—She's amazing."
"I guess Rowena Ravenclaw realized that her students would need quiet and privacy for study," said Mandy, "and that they could share a bathroom. How many share a room in Slytherin?"
"Four," said Gloria
"I don't think it matters in Gryffindor," said Edward. "The more the merrier."
"How do you study?" asked Mandy.
"With difficulty," replied Edward.
Mandy led them to another small room. "I don't know if you've ever seen one of these," she said. "It's actually a muggle invention, but Professor Flitwick's great grandfather, Fergus Flitwick charmed it to obey summoning and banishing charms. It's called a lift. I don't believe any of the other houses have combined magic and muggle technology, although the house elves have a lift to take food up to Professor Trelawney in the North Tower. Fergus Flitwick designed that lift too."
Mandy continued talking as the lift, well, lifted them. "We are going to the conservatory—" she said. Plants in wild array filled the room. Mandy stopped and the threshold and gestured inside. "Unlike the greenhouse," Mandy continued, "This room contains many rare plants that are not available anywhere else. Honors students, Seventh years take care of it. You have to take at least one year of Advanced Herbology and pass a test to tend these plants.. We are not permitted to enter. Mandy let the door fall shut and continued onward.
"There's no wards?" asked Gloria
"No," said Mandy simply. "It's forbidden. Next door is the Chapel," she said.
Samara felt an immediate sense of peace when she entered the room. Again it is a charmed room," said Mandy. "Your troubles are attracted by the foyer and left there. Here, many Ravenclaws can find peace and serenity—except at finals time—then it is more crowded than the library.
Rowenna Ravenclaw believed that magic was a Divine Gift. She felt that if we failed to be thankful for it, generations in the future, the magic would be taken from us. Apparently she knew what she was talking about," said Mandy, "Ravenclaw is the only house that has not produced squibs—You've probably heard that in Slytherin," she addressed Gloria who nodded.
"Ravenclaws don't ever produce squibs?" asked Edward.
"That's correct," said Mandy. "No squibs have ever been born to a Ravenclaw mother or a Ravenclaw father. Now, about the Chapel—Rowenna felt that if a witch or a wizard could connect themselves to the Energy of the Universe, not through manipulation, but through meditation and thanksgiving, even squibs could find small talents within themselves. You've probably heard of muggles with a slight aptitude for telepathy or precognitive powers
Tapping into that power with the most precision possible is the primary purpose of the Chapel. Although there are always a few who neglect to study and try to rely on the chapel for answers. It never works that way," said Mandy
Here are the Mirrors of Life," said Mandy. They are passed down to the Head of house." One was on each side of the altar—an altar that looked much like an ordinary desk, thought Samara and she said so to Mandy.
"The simple is always profound," said Mandy. "By doing ordinary tasks with extraordinary care, we elevate our abilities. Shoddiness always leads to despair."
"Shoddiness/" questioned Gloria.
"Sloppiness—just getting by—" explained Mandy.
"Any work worth doing is worth doing well and with care—more than that—in fact—with your whole Spirit. Always doing your best brings peace to your soul, even if you fail. Doing less than your best ultimately leads to unhappiness and despair—you will have regrets about your life. If you can look back and say 'I did my best,' you cannot have regrets. It's the code of life, Rowenna Ravenclaw lived by and those in Ravenclaw attempt to emulate her."
Samara nodded. This made sense to her.
Mandy glanced at her watch. "I need to get you down to the library," she said.
"What about the mirrors?" asked Edward.
I'll explain on the way," said Mandy as she summoned the lift with her wand. "The silver one is the mirror of the past—Look into it at any given time and see the events of the past that shaped your personal history. "Ones who do not learn from the past make the same mistakes over and over again."
The golden mirror is the mirror of the present—where we should all live, unburdened by mistakes of the past and unconcerned with the worries of the future.
"Is there a future mirror?" asked Edward.
"Well there are rumors that there once was—"
"What happened to it?" asked Samara.
Mandy glanced at Gloria and then continued. "It is just conjecture, mind you, but rumor has it that Rowenna Ravenclaw smashed it over Salazar Slytherin's head when he insisted that the future he saw was faulty. "She told him to stop worrying over the future and live his best in the present. Then the future may be more to his liking."
"Rather feisty, wasn't she?" said Edward.
"It's just conjecture," said Mandy. "But Rowenna Ravenclaw is famed to have had somewhat of a temper when crossed. She had definite values of right and wrong. One of her many mottoes was: 'Live well in the present and the future will take care of itself.' She felt that there were no accidents. What you got out of life, you drew to yourself by your will and your actions.
"What did Salazar Slytherin see?" asked Samara. "In the mirror--According to conjecture—"
Mandy bit her lip and glanced at Gloria again. "The end of his line," she said softly. "At least the wizarding version—all that counted in Salazar Slytherin's eyes. He accused Rowenna of tampering with it as a joke. As if she would joke--"
"Maybe it was just bad luck," said Gloria softly. "Every seven generations—although a few make it to ten—"
"Perhaps," said Mandy thoughtfully. "We're at the Library. Terry Boot is today's library aide. He can summon any book you want. If you would like to study privately, he can give you the test." Mandy turned to go. "Terry will take care of you from here."
"You have to take a test to study?" asked Samara, looking at Terry. He was tall and aristocratic with sandy brown hair and vivid blue eyes that nearly matched his aura.
Terry nodded. "It's a simple test. To study independently with only one partner, you have to be able to do a stunning charm with either hand. We have some carnivorous books. Also you have to be able to do specific summoning charms. It's disastrous to summon a book if you don't know the exact title. You could be buried alive in books on similar subjects. Also, your partner doesn't have to actually be working with you on a project. They just have to be in close proximity to you in case you get into trouble. First years may not partner with another first year, in case they both panic, and if you come into the library alone, you can always join a group of two at their table. It isn't to undermine your privacy. It is just for safety's sake."
After they were tested, they began browsing. Terry Boot stayed close at hand because he said although except for Gloria, they were not the age of first years, their experience was still limited.
Several other students were in the library, but only two came over and introduced themselves: Cho Chang and her friend Ananda Fawcett. From Cho's aura, Samara got the feeling of mistrust. "So you are considering if you belong in Ravenclaw?" said Cho Chang, looking narrowly at Edward. "Haven't Lestranges been in Slytherin for years?"
"Yes," said Edward, "But Patils and Averys have been in Ravenclaw for years too and this year you've lost two of them, one to Gryffindor and one to Slytherin. I just hoped to make up the difference."
Cho looked at Edward like he was something nasty she had picked up on her shoe—and she was determined to scrape it off. "I don't believe that you or your companions are equal to the task," she said coldly. "Anyway, we already have Morag McDoogle. His father was a Slytherin."
Samara had edged away and found a book called Averys of the Age, and she showed it to the others. Lisa Turpin entered with about twenty books slung over her back. She waved at Samara as she put her books on a table.
"There have always been Averys in Ravenclaw," said Lisa, joining the conversation.
"Professor Flitwick must have been surprised when Lauren Avery was sorted into Slytherin," said Samara.
"Surprised isn't the word I would use," interjected Terry. "Appalled. Horrified--For generations, Averys have been among the brightest of the Ravenclaws. Then Lauren tells the Sorting Hat she wants to be in Slytherin. What a waste," said Terry Boot.
"She asked the Sorting hat to put her in Slytherin?" asked Samara.
"Undoubtedly," said Cho. "Of course an Avery would be a Ravenclaw."
"I agree with Cho," said Terry. "She had to ask for Slytherin— Of course, she wasn't the one to start it. That was Marshall, her father, even though he was sorted into Ravenclaw. I did a research paper on him last year for Muggle studies—the Interrelationship of Muggle Devices and Magical Artifacts."
"What do you mean?" asked Edward.
"Marshall Avery was a Ravenclaw, but he thought that Slytherins were misunderstood. He wrote his Graduation Thesis on the Psychology of why such a large number of Slytherin Wizards go Dark. A number of Slytherins were interviewed including Laurel Doogle. She decided to melt his cold demeanor—In short, she seduced him and got pregnant."
"Obviously, that wasn't all the fault of the Slytherin girl," spat Gloria, looking at Cho, who glared back at her as if she wanted to curse her on the spot.
Ananda chuckled.
Terry glanced at Gloria and apparently decided that her comment did not need to be replied to. He continued: "Marshall Avery felt he owed his unborn child, his protection. That child was Lauren. So he married Laurel and most everyone thought they'd divorce as soon as the child was born, but she took him to her Dark Lord, and for the safety of the child, he—changed. Some say he gave his life to Voldemort. Of course, he wasn't the first. Snape's grandmother was an Avery too. Slytherins have always courted Avery's because of—" He glanced at Edward and Samara and frowned. "Certain genetic conditions," he continued hesitantly "And the arrangements gave the Averys license to pursue research that others considered--on the edge."
"Well, I always say—if you're not living life on the edge—you're taking up too much space," said Edward.
Samara laughed. "Well, I'll never have that problem. " she said All the Gryffindor's think I'm on the edge—some think I'm over the edge—"
"Why's that?" asked Gloria.
"Well, I learned most of my magic from a book."
"Oh, that book," said Gloria. "The one you had in Slytherin on Friday?"
Samara nodded.
"Really? What book?" asked Terry, his eyes alight with interest, bits of gold suddenly flashing in the deep indigo blue of his aura.
"It's our Advanced History book: Current Achievements in Modern Dark Magic," she said. "You're in that class."
Cho eyed the book suspiciously. "Why would you choose to read a book on Dark Magic?" she asked.
"Professor Binns chose it," interrupted Lisa.
"It's fascinating," said Samara.
"Yes, isn't it?" said Terry. "But that book isn't exactly a beginner's text. I doubt I could have read it and understood it as an eleven-year-old. And how did you keep from getting bitten?"
"Oh, my book is dead," said Samara. "So I didn't have to worry about it biting me, but there were parts that just eluded me. Of course, when I found something I could understand—Oh that made all the difference! For a while, I could only do the must rudimentary wandless magic—until I made my wand—"
"You've done wandless magic!" said Terry
"You made your wand!" exclaimed Lisa at the same time. "I didn't know that, Samara. May I see?"
"Yes and yes," laughed Samara, pulling her wand from her hair and handing it to Lisa.
Cho took several steps backward, but her friend Ananda wasn't put off.
Lisa examined the wand. "Yew, isn't it?"
"Yes," said Samara.
"It's pretty small. What made you choose such a short wand?" Ananda asked.
"9 and a half inches," said Samara. I started out at fifteen inches, but it felt too long, so I cut it, and then I cut it again, and when it finally started to feel about right in my hand, I started using a file and then sandpaper. I did think I might have gotten it too short, because I didn't have a core."
"What's the core, now?" asked Terry.
"It doesn't have a core. It has a magical infusion. There's a process. It's on page 643 of the textbook. It talks about the difference between wands with a core, coreless wands, and wands infused with magic.
"I saw that process," said Lisa. "So what's it infused with?"
"Donno—It was just some dust that was in my book," said Samara.
"What!" Exclaimed all four Ravenclaws .
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that could be?" asked Edward. "What if it was something that would possess you when you used the wand?"
"It isn't.
"Some substances could kill you when combined with magic," said Terry "Did you know that unicorn hair is the only part of the unicorn that can be used in a wand?"
"I didn't know that," said Gloria, still looking at Samara.
"I'm still alive," said Samara. "Some of the Slytherins think it was a snake skin. Boomslang maybe. It was in my book. There's a stain."
"Couldn't be boomslang," said Lisa. "It's not magical."
"I'd love to see it," said Terry. "May I?"
"Sure. I'll bring it next time I come to Ravenclaw."
"No," said Terry. "I meant, may I summon it?"
"What?"
Terry went up to the podium that Samara had up to this point not really noticed. "I'll need your permission," said Terry. "It's your book."
"You have my permission."
"No. Come here. Repeat after me." Terry placed her wand hand on the podium along with his hands. "Acchio! Samara Donally's Advanced History Book, Current Achievements in Modern Dark Magic."
Samara repeated the statement and as if by—well—magic—the book appeared on the podium. She looked at it. It was her book. "Wow," she said. "That was great."
"Hold on--" she said, her eyes narrowing. "So that's why all the Ravenclaws always get all the good books out of the library when we have a report due."
"Guilty," said Terry with a lopsided smile.
"Well, now that I know, I want my share of those books," said Samara.
"Wait a minute," said Edward. "Me too."
"And me," said Gloria.
"Well, we can't give them to everyone," said Lisa.
"Ok," said Edward. "After you're finished, Samara, can I borrow your research?"
"That's cheating," wailed Lisa.
Edward laughed. "Just joking," he assured them.
Terry glanced up from Samara's book. "This stain doesn't look like a snake skin to me," he said. "What do you think, Lisa. Look at the shape of the scales. They're pointed, like miniscule pentagons. No snake has scales like that. Plus, it has to be magical."
"You know," said Lisa, rolling Samara's wand in her hand. "It feels right—May I try a spell?"
Cho and Ananda, Samara noticed, had retreated to another table and began working.
Samara shrugged. "Sure. If you aren't worried about being possessed or something."
"Oh no," said Lisa. "You already took that risk. We now know it isn't going to destroy its wielder."
"Windgaurdium Levioso!" proclaimed Lisa and Samara's book shot into the air and smacked the ceiling with a hard crack.
"Hey! Easy!" exclaimed Samara.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to—This wand is just—very touchy—How do you do little spells? I feel like I'm trying to swat gnats with a bludger bat."
Edward laughed. "Now we know why you over extend sometime, Samara. It's not your fault. It's that bludger bat you have for a wand."
"Well," laughed Lisa. "I have homework to finish—" She handed Samara back her wand.
"I know what it is," muttered Terry, who was studying Samara's book. "It has to be—look at this—"
"What?" asked Samara. 'You know what—what is?"
"They crowded around Terry, who had pulled out his own copy of the text, stunned it, and was comparing it page by page with Samara's. "I think I know what your dust is. Look. This whole section is a potion for incubating and raising basilisks. Most of these ingredients are obscure, but obtainable, except for the basilisk skin."
"Obtainable?" asked Gloria, as she looked at the list of bloods. "Giant, unicorn, werewolf, goblin—These aren't obtainable." She said as she sat down to study the book.
"Your thinking is too narrow, Gloria," said Terry. "Most of it can be bought, but if you didn't want to spend the money, it doesn't say what age any of those have to be. I'd opt for babies. Did you know Hagrid had baby unicorns for us to study last year. The adults only will appear for women, but the babies let men touch them too. They were fantastic. Anyway. I'm off the subject.
I think I know what happened. Someone left basilisk skin in the book to have it ready for the next time they made the potion. It was probably there for a long time and started to decompose. It was sheer convenience-- only it killed the book."
"That was convenience too," said Samara "Considering that everyone has been bitten by their books."
"I have another theory," said Terry.
"What's that?" asked Samara.
"I believe your wand can permanently stun the book. Would you do mine?"
"I'll try," said Samara. Sure enough, after only two stupefies, the book lay completely still."
"We won't know if it works for at least twenty minutes."
"Well, I'm not going anywhere," said Terry. "I was going to study—unless someone wants to play a game of chess with me." His startling blue eyes met Samara's, but her awareness was drawn to his aura. It was so crystal clear blue, like a deep blue lake, with bits of golden sunlight winking across it. "What do you think?" he asked. "Do you play chess?"
Samara nodded, and glanced over at Edward and Gloria. Both were engrossed in books of their own choosing. "Sure," she said, sitting down at the table while Terry summoned his chessboard. It was a beautiful board with inlays of walnut and maple wood and wooden pieces that were intricately carved.
"This looks like a muggle set," said Samara.
"Actually, it was," said Terry as they started to set up the board. "My great grandfather made it, and then my mother transfigured it in her third year at Hogwarts. Thereafter, it was a wizard chess set."
"So do the pieces blow up or something when they are captured?" asked Samara.
"Oh no," said Terry. "That's so antediluvian. They just bow their heads in defeat, and walk off the board."
Terry tossed two of the pawns into the air. "Umbra! Windgardian Leviosor" He said as the falling pieces faded to a shadowy gray color, and hovered in front of them. "Choose one," he said and Samara picked one of the pawns from the air. When he took off the spell, she was holding the maple pawn. "You're white. You go first," said Terry, pushing back his sandy brown hair.
Samara moved her king's pawn out in the classic beginning move.
Terry raised an eyebrow. "Have you played chess much?"
"Occasionally, with my brothers," answered Samara. "I lost to one of the Gryffindors, Lou Styevesant, the other day. I don't know that I'll be much of a challenge to you. I'm a little out of practice."
Conversation dwindled as they both concentrated on the game. Samara knew she was putting up a good fight. Terry just barely managed to keep his queen out of danger several times, and even so, she took his rook for a bishop. Finally, the game was down to a few pieces. In a daring attempt to trick him into losing his queen, she baited him with her knight. He fell for the trick, but Samara did not realize her own queen was in danger. Now, both minus their queens, they battled on.
"So you said your grandfather made this chess set. Are you muggle born then?" Asked Samara.
"No." Terry moved his bishop slowly down the diagonal, looking for dangers along the way. "My maternal grandfather was a muggle—a scientist doing research into what the muggles call paranormal psychology—and well, he discovered my grandmother. Check."
Samara frowned, uncertain whether she should move her king out of danger or take the bishop. If she took the bishop, she would lose her other knight, and she was already short on pieces. If she weren't careful, this game would end up being a stalemate. She decided to move her king. "So were your parents both in Ravenclaw?" she asked.
"Pardon me." A tall boy with dark red hair and a mustache interrupted them. Samara thought he looked like he could have belonged to the Weasley clan, but when she looked at his aura, she changed her mind. It was the deepest, darkest purple she had ever seen. It looked like velvet and once he opened his mouth she was sure he wasn't related to the Weasleys.
"Terry? I'm here to assume Library duty. I thought I would inform you—I've arrived--but of course, you can see that now—" Terry glanced up at him. "And Professor Flitwick said he left his parchment on the Conceptualization of Logic in the Casting of Runes. I told him I would love to read it."
"It's on the main desk in the brown folder, Aldwin" replied Terry, looking back at the chessboard.
Aldwin hovered a moment longer.
"Samara Donnally," replied Terry without lifting his eyes from the board. "Samara. Aldwin Oglesby."
"Pleased to meet you," said Samara smiling up at him. She assumed that he was at least a sixth year—maybe seventh—"
"Are you new to Ravenclaw?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
"Just visiting," said Samara. She found herself staring at his aura, and hastily looked away.
"I see," said Aldwin. He cleared his throat nervously, and blushed. His discomfiture looked strangely out of place against his magnificent aura. "I have reading," he said simply and hurried over to the desk, presumably to find Flitwick's paper.
Terry made his move and glanced at Samara. "Both of my parents are magical. Mum in Ravenclaw and Dad went to Beaubatons," said Terry.
"Oh," said Samara softly. "Did you know anyone who was—at Beauxbatons"
"No," said Terry.
"However did your parents meet?" Asked Samara. Trying to keep her eyes off of Aldwin's aura, which was now, if possible, even a deeper purple.
Terry studied the board carefully. "The war," he said. "Dad was eight years older than Mum. He was a medi-wizard. Mum was on summer break from auror school when Voldemort attacked Paris. She and a few of her friends were on holiday in Paris and tried to help. She got hit with a conjunctivitis curse and was taken to the Paris Hospital. My Dad attended her. She said she fell in love with him before she ever saw him."
"How romantic," said Samara.
"Yes," replied Terry non-committally. "Check."
Samara took the bishop.
"Unfortunately, a year and a half later, Voldemort leveled the hospital. Thirty-seven medi-witches and wizards along with one hundred and two patients were killed. My Father was among them."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Said Samara sympathetically. "Then you never knew your father."
"No," replied Terry. "Mum moved back to England before I was born. She does scheduling for the aurors, which probably suits her better than being on active duty anyway. She's never been on active."
"Have you been to France?" asked Samara.
"Oh yes. I go to visit my grandparents in France in the summer. They don't live far from Beauxbatons, so I just relax and read on the beach. It has a wonderful climate, but I'm glad we don't live there. England's home."
"If your Dad had lived, would you have gone to Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts?" asked Samara, her thoughts going to the scene of the destruction unbidden.
"I don't know. Possibly, although Mum really preferred Hogwarts."
Samara nodded. "Check," she said moving her rook forward.
Terry studied the board for another few moments. "You are quite an accomplished player," he complemented her.
"It looks like it's going to be a stalemate—or a draw—" she said.
"A draw," teased another Ravenclaw who unashamedly edged over from a neighboring library table to see the game. "Morag McDougal," he introduced himself. "And you are?"
"Samara Donnally." She shook hands hastily, looking back at the game.
"Don't you want to go for the win?" asked Terry.
"Oh you definitely want to go for the win," said Edward as he approached and looked over her shoulder at the chessboard.
Samara frowned. "I don't think I have enough pieces to checkmate," she said.
"Yes, you do," said Morag. "If you play it right.
"I don't see it," said Samara., as she reached for her chess pieces. "Let's just call it a draw."
"Ok," said Terry. "But look." He began moving her few pawns, and his warm fingers brushed hers, immediately his aura changed to a royal blue, the gold pulling inwards toward his body. He met her eyes and then continued. "If you put your pawns, just like this, and then you use the rook to force my king into this corner—See? You move here. I have to move here or here. You move here. I have to move here."
"I see," said Samara, "But are you really going to let me force your king into the corner?"
"I might not," said Terry, with a twinkle in his eye, "But you would be surprised how many people do."
Silence descended as they picked up the chess pieces and put them away.
"Are you ready to go?" asked Edward, glancing into the corner where Gloria was still reading. "I think Gloria's fallen in love with your book, Samara. You're going to have to wrestle it off of her.
"We'll just give her Terry's—hey! It's still stunned isn't it?"
"Yes. It is. Thank you, Samara," said Terry, picking up his book and leafing through it.
"How did you know that my wand would affect it differently?" asked Samara.
"Complementary magics," said Terry. "The question, of course is what enervated the book in the first place—The same type of magic would be able to end the spell, at least temporarily. I would guess that you could enervate it again with your wand too."
"How could you know that?" asked Edward.
Terry glanced at him. "You would have to have read most of this book to understand. It's listed as Dark Magic—Current Achievements in Modern Dark Magic. Which would mean that probably Elemental magic would effect it too, but a typically Light wand such as Unicorn hair would be almost useless. That's probably why some of the students only get ten minutes stunned time instead of the twenty that Professor Binns said we would get. A neutral cored wand, like Dragon heart strings would probably get the full twenty minutes, but a Dark wand, would get much longer, and a substance like Basilisk skin would probably match or exceed the power of the original spell, which I would assume was wandless."
"Why would you assume it's wandless?" asked Edward.
"Copyright date," said Terry, "Along with the fact that half of the book is about wandless magic."
"Have you tried that yet?" asked Samara.
"What?" asked Terry.
"Wandless magic," said Samara.
Terry shook his head. "Too dangerous," he said. "First of all, Elemental magic is very imprecise and capricious. Secondly, it's addictive. Didn't you read chapter seven?"
"On the Fire Elemental?" asked Samara. "Yeah, but those warnings were just for fire, not all the Elemental Magics."
Edward paged idly through one of the books while Samara, Terry and Morag got into a lively discussion about which of the Elementals was the most powerful or most dangerous. Much to Cho's dismay, Ananda joined the discussion too.
"Oh, no, Samara," insisted Terry, "Although fire is the hardest to control, the elements are of equal power."
"I agree with Samara," said Morag. "Fire is definitely the most dangerous. Of course it's also the most fun," he said, his aura glowing a separate combination of red and blue that didn't join anywhere to make purple.
Ananda laughed heartily at Morag's description.
"Not so," said Terry. "Although all of the Elementals are neutral—'any could cause the spontaneous combustion of the wizard himself.' It made me a little nervous," quoted Terry. "I'm not a Gryffindor."
Edward started to laugh. "No one's ever spontaneously combusted," he said.
"The book was obviously just meant for the study of magical theory," said Aldwin as he sauntered up to their table. "As evidenced by The Torch, Kenaz."
"What?" asked Samara.
"The Ancient Rune, Kenaz," said Aldwin "You were speaking of the Fire Elemental. It corresponds to the Ancient Rune, Kenaz. It brings all the Elementals together to bring light to some problematic situation."
"What situation?" asked Edward.
"None," replied Terry. "It's just theory." Terry's voice dropped to a whisper. " Don't get Aldwin started on Ancient Runes."
"We'll never shut him up," agreed Morag.
"The Torch of Kenaz brings light to darkness and dispels fear and anxiety." Said Aldwin. "If you cast the rune of fire, it is not a Dark day, but one of Light," he pronounced. "This is not a Dark book, but one which is exceedingly Light."
"Ha! Wait until I tell the Gryffindors," said Samara.
"How? Why do you think that?" asked Edward, a puzzled expression on his face.
"Shh-h," Terry tried to hush Edward.
"Because Darkness is only an illusion—the absence of light. It is in reality nothing, and, of course, any book is something, and it brings enlightenment, if it is understood. How then, can a book be dark? It cannot," Aldwin pronounced. "Unfortunately, the correct solution is often hidden in obscurity. But obscurity is not synonymous with darkness, and one certainly cannot blame the book for its reader's ignorance."
Terry rolled his eyes dramatically, and Samara laughed.
"But you can certainly blame the reader for his ignorance," interrupted Cho, from the neighboring table.
"Oh, Cho," said Ananda, moving back to Cho's table. "Don't get started with Aldwin. It's a suicide mission."
"Why would someone decide to read such a book if they did not have the prerequisite magics to perform the spells. "They could inadvertently annihilate themselves," said Cho. "Or worse, mutilate their magic to the point of –"
"Theory," interrupted Terry. "Pure theory."
"Some people's magic is way beyond mutilation already," said Morag. "I could name a few—"
Samara chuckled.
Cho slapped her hand on the table and several people hushed her. "This is just like the Dark Mark," she said in a harsh whisper. "Why would someone take the Dark Mark if they had no intention of killing. Once the decision is made, it doesn't matter how far down the path the person has traveled. The Intention is the same, and if you want to understand, you have to examine the Intention."
"How would you know what the Intention is?" questioned Morag.
"Cho, you are letting your plans to go to auror school color your reasoning," said Ananda. "Let it go."
"Wait," said Samara. "You're wrong." Samara tensed reading Cho's anger in her aura.
Both, Aldwin and Ananda appeared amused, but looked expectantly to see what Samara would add to this conversation. Morag pulled up a chair from the neighboring table, turned it around backwards and straddled it, facing Samara.
Samara realized almost immediately, that telling Cho that she was wrong was a pretty tactless thing to say to a Ravenclaw, but if she went by the auras, she would much rather believe Alwin whose aura was a velvety violet than Cho's whose aura was tainted with bits of red among the turquoise swirls.
"I'm waiting," said Cho. "What's your deduction?"
"I've seen some of the Slytherins struggling against their families who are determined for them to get the Dark Mark." Said Samara. "Sometimes the choice isn't theirs."
"Let me tell you something, child," Cho said in a soft voice. "Last year a very dear friend of mine died. He died rather than bend to the will of that monster, Voldemort."
Gloria shuddered. "Yes, I know," said Cho. "Many don't say his name, but I'm not afraid of him or his ilk. I intend to dedicate my life to ferreting out those vermin that call him master and killing them."
"After a trial, of course," said Ananda, but Samara didn't think Cho was too awfully concerned about the trial.
"There's always a choice," said Cho. "Some people choose to save themselves and some people would rather die than compromise their principles. I don't think I've ever seen a Slytherin with that many principles, though," said Cho looking directly at Gloria. Why are you here, anyway? To look at this Dark Book, Aldwin has been talking about?"
"What dark book?" asked Morag.
"It's not Dark," interrupted Samara. "It's a textbook for Binns, Advanced History of Magic."
"Oh, that one," said Morag.
"Interesting," said Aldwin looking at the book. "Too bad I'm in Runes and Transfig, as well as tutoring." The time-turner won't let me go to four hours—yet," he said with a twinkle in his eye and a flash of red in his aura.
"Half of the directions in this book are too obscure," said Terry. "You couldn't possibly attempt any of these spells with any expectation that they would work."
"I hadn't noticed," said Samara airily. "It's intent that matters anyway—"
"Are you telling us you've done these things?" asked Terry.
"Well," said Samara. "Most of them. I had to use some of the spells to make my wand."
Terry looked at her thoughtfully. "I hope you know the flame freezing charm," he said.
"I did avoid the fire elemental though," added Samara.
"Smart girl," said Terry.
"There's nothing wrong with fire," interrupted Aldwin, "As long as you are meticulously precise."
"Or inordinately lucky," said Morag.
__
++
It was much later when Samara finally left Ravenclaw and headed back to Gryffindor Tower. She had a book about Ancient Runes which Aldwin had allowed her to borrow. "Better be careful," said Edward. "Next thing you know you'll be playing chess with him too"
"So," said Samara confused. "What's wrong with that?"
Gloria laughed. "Edward just means that's the closest he's liable to get to romance." Gloria shivered. "All that analyzing—I don't think I could stand it."
"Oh quit it," said Samara. "You don't like it when people stereotype Slytherins. Why are you stereotyping Aldwin? He was just being nice."
"Well, you still might not want Draco to find out," said Edward.
"About what? Don't be ridiculous," said Samara. "Anyway, Draco doesn't own me."
"Give him time," said Edward. "Just give him time—"
Gloria laughed again and turned toward the dungeons. "Will I see you later?" she asked Edward.
Edward hesitated. "I think I'll walk over to Slytherin with you now," he said.
"Oh, well, in that case," said Gloria tapping Edward on the shoulder. "Patronus!"
Edward made a rude gesture and Gloria started to laugh. "So you can't do it either," she said. "Your brother says, it's a Gryffindor thing. I haven't seen a single Slytherin get the Patronus. Draco got some smoke though," and Snape practically wet himself with excitement.
Samara had trouble seeing Snape getting that excited about anything, but Gloria continued, " How long do you suppose it will be before Snape realizes that he's just taking points from his own house, by giving these free points to Gryffindor."
"I don't know," said Edward. "But there are some Gryffindors who can't do it either."
"How about you, Samara, can you do it?" asked Gloria.
"Yes."
"Well, let's see it, then," said Gloria, placing her hands on her hips in an attitude of expectation.
Samara took her wand from her hair and rolled it lazily in her hand.
"So have you gotten it to form more than you did in class the other day?" asked Edward.
"Yes," said Samara.
"Well, great," said Edward, tapping her shoulder. "Patronus. Let's make up some of the points you lost."
Samara glared at him. "No," she said. "I don't want to make up points. In fact, I don't want to do this at all—"
"Bye," called Samara as she started toward the Gryffindor Tower. Only two steps toward Gryffindor, she heard the singing. Peeves!
Your itsy bitsy spider climbed out of the castle wall
And your little puppies won't listen when you call
Listen to me, monster boy before you take a fall.
She turned around. She didn't think she wanted to meet up with Peeves right now either. "Wait!" she called. "Edward! Gloria! I'm going over to Slytherin with you."
"Nope," said Gloria. "Can't come unless we see your patronus."
"Fine," Samara spat. "Expecto patronum!" A roiling bunch of smoke poured out of her wand and fell to her feet in what almost seemed to be a heavy coil. The smoke kept boiling out until her Patronus was swaying before them.
"Bloody Hell," muttered Edward.
+++
"Harry," said Hermione, pushing the witch's hat up on her head for the tenth time, "We couldn't have picked a more perfect time to check the Chamber of Secrets. All of the first years are occupied. Even Ginny is busy."
"What's she doing?" asked Harry, absently rubbing his forehead.
"Practicing for her first Quiddich game with the other chasers. I saw her when I went down to the Quiddich Pitch to get the brooms." Hermione tried to adjust her hat again, and tripped on Crookshanks who had decided to coax to come with them by rubbing Hermione's legs.
Harry nodded. "Good. I didn't want Ginny to come with us."
"Go play somewhere, Crookshanks," said Hermione pushing the cat away and then catching her hat which threatened to fall off of her head.
"Why don't you just put a shrinking spell on that hat?" said Ron. "It's not like you don't know how."
"I did," said Hermione. "Four of them. It's affecting the flowers on the border. See? They look like polka dots."
"Why don't you just take it off," said Ron.
"No-o-," whined Hermione. "I can't. I look awful."
"Well, it looks ok with polka dots, I guess," said Ron. "Let me fix it." Ron took a minute trying to arrange Hermione's too big hat on her head, which was now devoid of the bushy hair. However, thanks to Madame Pomfrey, Hermione was well on her way to growing a whole new batch of hair. Unfortunately, it was as yet, only a few centimeters long and curling into tight ringlets all over her head. "Get off, Crookshanks!" Ron snapped, pushing the cat away.
"I'll let him outside on our way," said Hermione, gathering him into her arms. "He likes to chase the gnomes."
"Should we take the Invisibility Cloak?" asked Ron.
"We might need it on the way back," answered Hermione. "It's only an hour until curfew."
"I'll take it," said Harry. "It's in my pocket these days." He pulled out a corner of the shimmering fabric as they headed down the hall.
"You know, speaking of rules," said Hermione. "I think we should let the Slytherin curses rest."
"But Hermione, your hair!" said Ron. "I thought you hated it."
"Well I do, but Dumbledore said no more pranks—so no more pranks. We have to follow the rules."
"Hermione," said Ron softly. "I like it."
"What?"
"When the curls of your hair—" he shrugged. "I just like it," he said.
"I hope Myrtle's bathroom isn't flooded again," said Harry as they approached the door to Myrtle's bathroom,
"Wait," said Harry, stopping Hermione at the door. "I hear voices. Who is Myrtle talking to?"
"That isn't Myrtle. That's the new ghost, Olive Hornby," said Ron.
"And I hear—singing," whispered Hermione pointing down the corridor, "From that direction."
"Peeves," said Ron.
Harry pulled out the Invisibility Cloak and draped it over all of them.
"I hope he leaves soon," said Ron.
They all heard Peeves's singing now as well as the voices were coming from Moaning Mrytle's Bathroom. Peeve's loud singing drowned out the voices.
Your itsy bitsy spider climbed out of the castle wall
And your little puppies won't listen when you call
Listen to me, monster boy before you take a fall.
You can't cross the Slytherins. Remember that they reign
Myrtle, Carman , Tom and Olive can do it all again.
"I remember that day," said Olive, from inside of the bathroom. "For once you and Peeves weren't being perverted."
"Peeves was always being perverted," said Myrtle dreamily. "That's what I liked about him. It was you who were always so mean—saying things like—if you weren't already dead, Peeves, I'd kill you. That wasn't very nice."
"Nice?" said Olive. "What are you, a Hufflepuff? You always were the sorriest excuse for a Slytherin, Myrtle. Begging and whining and crying to the teachers."
"It worked didn't it?"
"Worked for what?"
"She was friends with them?" whispered Harry.
"Slytherins are just weird," said Ron.
"Sh-h-h" Hermione hushed them.
"I didn't get hung from the ceiling." Continued Mrytle. "I didn't have detention every other day like you did."
"Well, Tom didn't get detention and he didn't whine and cry."
"Oh yeah, Perfect Prefect Tom!" Myrtle spat.
"He was perfect," said Olive. "He still is—"
"Hardly perfect," spat Myrtle. "Mudblood."
"And you're one to talk. Your blood is just as thin as his was—thinner—said Olive, now that you're a ghost." She cackled unmercifully. "And he never was a Mudblood. Half-blood."
"Ghost!" Said Mrytle viscously. "You were the ghost—Carman won him in the end didn't she?"
"It hasn't ended—"
Peeves floated into the room.
"Tom, Tom the muggle's son
He and Olive sure had fun—
She had a prat to snuggle more.
He had a well-trained house-elf whore.
Fortunately, Ron's choking was drowned out by the Bloody Baron's shout.
"PEEVES." The Bloody Baron's voice echoed through the corridor. "YOU WILL NOT SPEAK OF OUR DARK LORD IN SUCH VILE TERMS."
"Yes, your bloodiship, Baron, sir," said Peeves, chastised.
"What is this?" whispered Harry. "King's Cross Station? This bathroom used to be deserted."
"We should just leave. Come back later—" said Hermione.
The Baron was addressing Peeves. "I WISH TO SPEAK WITH MS. HORNBY. PRIVATELY. LEAVE US."
Peeves darted away without another word.
Myrtle stomped a silent foot through the floor. "This is my bathroom—"she whined. "You—you—you—
SQUIB!"
Ron and Harry gaped at each other open mouthed.
Myrtle vanished almost before the word left her ghostly lips, but it seemed to echo against the bathroom walls.
"AARRRUGH!" The roar of the Baron's anger certainly echoed.
"Please," Olive calmed him. "You needed to speak to me."
He said nothing, but anger seemed to radiate from him.
"Please, Baron. You know how important you have been from the beginning. She floated close to him. Our Dark Lord appreciates you. You are one of his inner circle. You are and have always been a great man. The Baron and Baroness, your parents, made a mistake."
"A mistake they paid dearly for," growled the Baron, his bloody robes ruffling.
"Indeed they did." Said Olive. So don't let that moody little adolescent bitch distract you from your fine work. She is unimportant."
"You're right, of course." Said the Baron.
"Hasn't Tom always kept his promises to you? Wasn't she the first to die?"
"She was."
Harry thought it was a sobering sight to see Olive speaking to the Baron like this. He became aware of Hermione pulling him away from the bathroom.
"So what was it you wanted to tell me?" asked Olive.
"Come," said the Baron. "I'll tell you in the Chamber. We have work to do."
Harry turned and followed Hermione, still dazed.
When Harry had stood face to face with the sixteen year old Tom Riddle of the Diary, he had thought that his killing Myrtle had been a mistake—and that was before he realized that Tom was friends with Myrtle—well—maybe not friends, but he did know her—and he had chosen to kill her. The picture Olive was painting was different than the one Dumbledore had given him of the loner Slytherin Prefect who seemed to do everything right. Then another moment in the diary came to mind—when Tom stood in front of Dippet and Dippit asked him if there was anything Tom wanted to tell him and Tom answered "No." Even then, when Harry had watched the memory, he realized that Tom was hiding things from Dippit. He just didn't realize how much--
==
Harry Ron and Hermione left the Second Floor Girl's bathroom somewhat bewildered.
"Did I hear right?" Ron asked. "The Baron is a squib?"
"We don't know if it is true or not," Harry said. "Maybe it was just Myrtle's way of insulting him—"
"What an insult!" said Hermione.
"Yeah," agreed Ron. "It's a real howler. The Slytherin ghost, not only fails to be a pure blood—but a squib!"
"Technically," said Hermione. "I believe, according to what Binns told us, that he probably was a pureblood."
Harry hushed them. "Listen. Filch," he whispered.
"I hear them my sweet," came Filch's gravelly voice from the opposite corridor.
"Is it past curfew already?" asked Ron.
Hermione looked at her watch. "Five minutes past," she said. "I can't get caught! They'll take away my prefect job. I shouldn't have come."
"Go back towards the bathroom," said Harry throwing off the Invisibility Cloak and taking off at a dead run toward the kitchen."
"Bloody hell, Harry!" whispered Ron as Hermione tucked the Invisibility Cloak around them. "We could have all stayed under the cloak, and stood in a corner." Ron knew where Harry was going. If he could make it to the portrait of fruit, Harry could use the secret passage. He still had the map.
Harry came to an intersection and hesitated. He expected Mrs. Norris and Filch to separate. If he chose an empty corridor or even the one with Mrs. Norris he may still be safe—if he chose the one with Filch—
He listened for a moment to try to hear footsteps. Nothing. He took the shortest route at a jog. He chose wrong. As he turned the corner, he ran almost headlong into Filch.
"Well, well, well," drawled Filch. "The famous Harry Potter out for an evening stroll. It will cost you, Potter. Yes. It will cost you dearly."
Cavorting playfully behind him was Crookshanks, with Mrs. Norris.
==
Answers to my Reviewers—the best people in the world--
==
Reiven: You'll be glad to know that Edward had no lasting harm done. I had fun making everyone notice how shamelessly Dumbledore favors the Gryffindors. Obviously, Snape is just trying to even the score. Right. Draco thinks her brothers are squibs, and Milicent is the black cat. You are very observant.
Kemenran: More Slytherins? Well ok, but later.
Silverfox. Yes. I guess Severus of My Name is Severus would say that transfiguring a hedgehog, kills the hedgehog. That is a GOOD STORY. If you are looking for a good read, go check out Silverfox , My name is Severus. Right after you review. Hey, It's McGonagall that got into that morally suspect business of transfiguration, not me. Anyway, I don't think McGonagall is against pushing her students to the limit if she can see the benefit, and I think she assumed that since Neville had gotten his wand earlier, he could do it with a bit of a push. I think she was surprised it took Neville so long.—And, well, I better not say--
Raven: Glad you liked the pranks. They are going to have to last you for a while. No funny stuff in the next few chapters. Lots more war and worries.
Melbell: Put that tongue in before someone curses it into a green snake tongue.
Melbell: You were right. They were up to something. And right, the pranks don't stop.
Trillium: Here's your reminder. Never Never upset the entire Slytherin house, They can band together when the need arises. Yes, well, Samara's lucky for the moment, but do you really trust Draco? Even with the skull on his arm—Don't start thinking he's a Hufflepuff in this story. He's not. No fluff.
Tania Nightqueen: Welcome! Glad you joined our merry band. Remember, Harry and Ron have kept some secrets from Samara and Beatrice, but they are trusting Gryffindors too, so it's a balance.
Whiteriver: Yes, you were review number 9 and it took an awfully long time to get that 10th one.
Read Whiteriver's fics. They are excellent
Plash Ricrem: Oh, please send that greasy haired Snape to me. You obviously didn't read Draco Malfoy and the Goblet of Fire, or you would know that Snape only has greasy hair because he uses an anti-love potion to keep the hordes of fanfic women off of him!
Raven: Chapter one???? OK here's your chapter
NEXT CHAPTER UP WHEN I HAVE 10 REVIEWS.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
PLEASE READ MY REVIEWERS FICS. THEY ARE ALL GREAT.