Chapter Sixteen:

The Secret of the Note-Keeper

It had taken some time, but Harry had finally become adjusted to the sight of Lupin walking up and down the halls at Hogwarts. Usually there would be no exchange of words, just a simple nod of the head, or sometimes nothing at all.

Lupin did seem to be enjoying the fact that he was back in the magical hallways of the school, and it was when Harry was on his way to the Great Hall for lunch that  he had his first real dialogue with Lupin since the explanations Lupin had offered concerning Ambrose Von Derek.

It had been Double-Potions that day, and they were still experimenting with Shunning Solutions. Harry had been pleased to see that his solution had outlasted Malfoy's, but quickly disheartened when he only got half-credit as Snape coldly pointed out that Hermione's solution was still potent by the end of the period.. Hermione was still trying to cheer up Harry when Lupin strode up to Harry in the stone corridor.

"Good afternoon, Harry."

"Good afternoon," replied Harry with his eyes drawn to the floor.

Harry looked up just quickly enough to see Lupin frown. When Harry's eyes returned to their previous position Lupin prodded, "What seems to be troubling you?"

"Oh, Snape… he was just being his old, slimy self," answered Harry giving Lupin his full eye contact.

Hermione sprung into action, "That's right, Harry! It was all Snape's fault! I think you had an excellent Shunning Solution." I think mine wouldn't have lasted nearly as long as yours did against someone as dreadful as Malfoy."

"I'm sure Hermione's right, Harry," continued Lupin. The potency of the solution can be affected by the strength of the magic from the opposition."

"Yeah, I'm sure she is…" stated Harry feeling slightly better.

"Well, how have you enjoyed using your present?" asked Lupin.

Harry felt guilty. He had forgotten all about Lupin's note-keeper. Feeling slightly ashamed of himself for not using it all and now, on top of everything else he was going to have to lie about it, he managed a stammering, "Yes… um, thank you."

"Good, no questions then," returned Lupin succinctly with a bland face, "I'd best be on my way."

After Lupin was out of ear-shot Harry sighed deeply. Hermione looked sternly over at Harry's slightly pink face and said, "Have you used his note-keeper at all?"

"No!" replied Harry who began to continue his walk to the Great Hall. I have been using the new ones we picked up together. "Well, at least use it once," said Hermione in a scolding sort of tone as they arrived at the entrance of the Great Hall.

"All right," said Harry as he helped himself to food irritably. Harry passed the rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Hermione spent her time gossiping over the upcoming Ball with a group of Gryffindor girls.

Next was Divination and Harry said good bye as he made his way to the tower. When he reached the stepladder he found the ever-present Professor Trelawney surrounded by her usual spectators. Harry found a chair and waited for Ron.

When Ron arrived he was almost late. Harry was curious but decided it was best not to ask now for Professor Trelawney was in her usual "speak out of turn-and-die" mood of late. After she had finally finished her lecture she set everyone to work on casting the Legilimens Spell on each other.

Ron was normally surprisingly good at this but today he seemed a little distant and preoccupied. Harry decided that once it was his turn he would use the Legilimens Spell to find out for himself what was on Ron's mind.

Harry pointed his wand at Ron and said, "Legilimens!"

In Harry's mind a thin sliver of light shot towards a brick wall. After a few moments the wall crumbled and Harry was in Ron's thoughts. Flashes of Ron's childhood and other memories were flashing though Harry's mind. A red-headed baby was clutching a toy broomstick lovingly and next he was screaming as it slowly turned into a monstrous spider.

Harry kept looking. He finally found the image he was searching for and concentrated on it. It stopped and like a movie the scene played in front of him…

Ron was sitting in the Common Room playing chess with Seamus when Ginny stormed in tears streaming down her face,

"I can't believe him! "The nerve!"

Ron stood up and ran after Ginny, "Ginny? What's wrong? Tell me."

Wiping the cascade of tears from her face she choked out, "Dean… is seeing… someone… else!"

Ron was outraged and yelled, "Who?!"

Again Ginny forced out, "Some… Seventh… Year… I think her name is… Roz."

"I don't know a Roz, but I know Dean!" exclaimed Ron. "I'll put an end to this."

All of the sudden the connection was broken as Harry was knocked down. Getting up Harry saw Ron with his wand pointed at the place where Harry had been standing.

"Sorry," apologized Ron, "You know how it is, You can't control what you cast."

"It's okay, but is Ginny alright?" asked Harry picking himself up.

Ron nodded, "She'll be okay, but I want a couple of words with Dean… and that Roz!"

The rest of the class was spent on Professor Trelawney praising Harry's Legilimency work and the numerous scowls from the other students. As it was the last class of the day Harry and Ron went to the Common Room. Dean was the first person that Harry could see in the Common Room so after glancing at Ron, he ran upstairs.

Harry collapsed onto his bed and said to Sirius, "Hello, Sirius."

"How was your day?" asked Sirius stretching his limbs.

"Fair," answered Harry and sitting up he asked, "What do you know about a Gabriel Lovegood?"

"Oh, not much. He went to school with me and the other Marauders. He was a nice fellow, though he was little odd. But then there was that whole business with him and Voldemort. Why?" replied Sirius.

"No reason," said Harry getting up.

"Well, if you don't mind I'm off to see Remus," stated Sirius and with that Sirius walked from portrait to portrait in search of his friend.

Harry sighed and remembering his embarrassment at having to lie to Lupin about the Note-Keeper, he searched for it. After finding the now dusty mirror in the middle of the jumbled heap on his desk he pointed his wand at it and said, "Vulgo!"

At first nothing happened and then the Note-Keeper sprung to life. But instead of the usual screen a little green dot appeared. Frowning Harry prodded it with his wand and the strangest thing happened. A tiny fairy, no bigger than Harry's thumb, appeared.

"Remus?" asked the tiny fairy in a sweet little voice.

She was a sight. She had blonde hair tied in an elaborate knot and she had the most brilliant blue eyes. Her wings were the faintest shade of green and she wore a white gown.

Harry cleared his throat, "Um… no… I'm Harry."

"Oh, that's right!" said the fairy smacking herself on the forehead, "Remus told me about you! You own this now right?"

"That's right," replied Harry wondering what she was and why she was there.

"I can see you're a little confused," surmised the fairy, "My name's Infersia, I'm a search-fairy."

"What's that?" asked Harry, "Is it like the Outernet?"

"Aren't you a sharp one!" giggled Infersia fluttering around the mirror, "I'm much, much more thorough!"

She dropped down to the bottom of the mirror and continued, "I can go on the Outernet and find whatever you need me to find. Also I can find whatever you wrote on this mirror. Oh, and there's an extra secret!"

She giggled profusely and after stopping she said in a sweet voice, "I can spy for you. All I have to do is fly from one mirror to another. Similar to the way wizards move about in portraits."

Harry was amazed. This was much better than he could have ever dreamed. Harry would have to thank Lupin later. After clearing his mind of the excitement he asked, "So you're better than any other note-keeper right?"

Infersia nodded and she smacked her forehead again, "Oh, Remus wanted me to show this to you!"

After flying excitedly off into the distance of the mirror, she came back with an envelope in her tiny hand. She dropped it on the floor and it opened into a paper that Lupin had written when he was a student at the school. It was entitled, "The Parts of Veracitectors."

Harry scanned though the essay and found something interesting:

All Veracitectors consist of two parts: The Eye and the Ear. Only when placed together can the Veracitector function. The Eye is the part that is actually viewed through but it can only be opened by the Ear. An incantation activates the Ear, which opens the Eye.

After he finished with the reading, Infersia sealed up the essay, tapped it, and it disappeared. Not sure as to what to say, Harry settled on, "Well, it was nice to meet you."

"You too!" giggled Infersia and she vanished.

Harry placed the mirror down on his bed-table and then he became aware of all the shouts coming from the Dormitory. Harry dashed to the Common Room to find out that Ron had cast a Stinging Hex on Dean.

Harry went and grabbed Ron who struggled fiercely against him, "Let me go! This scumbag deserves it!"

"Let it go, Ron!" roared Harry, "Let it go!"

After a few more moments Ron stopped and said, "Alright… alright…"

Harry let go of Ron and Ron pounced on an unsuspecting Dean. They were wrestling on the ground when…

"Immobilis!"

Ron and Dean froze on the spot and Harry turned to see Hermione at top of the stairs with her arm outstretched and her wand aimed.

"I don't know what is going on, but you two quit right this instant! If you don't, I'll go straight to McGonagall! And don't you think I won't," said Hermione and seeming satisfied she pointed her wand yet again and uttered, "Finite Incantatum!"

Life returned to Ron and Dean and they broke apart. Dean stood up and said, "I'm-I'm sorry."

"Yeah, you'd better be," muttered Ron.

Harry helped Ron up and straight away Ron went to apologize to Hermione. She didn't seem angry, in fact, she seemed very happy to be talking with Ron and then…

"Of course I will!" exclaimed Hermione squealing in delight.

Ron turned a deep shade of red and upon seeing Harry's confused look he stated, "Asked her to the Ball, I did."

Harry was shocked by the reminder of the Ball and he was even more confused as to how an apology had become an invitation to the Ball, but then again, everything about Ron and Hermione's relationship was confusing.

Harry sat in a chair by the fire deep in thought, "Who would he ask to the Ball? Surely not Cho… He couldn't stand the sight of her. Maybe Ginny… but wait… that might upset Ron and Dean was probably going to go with her now… then it hit him and Harry scolded himself for not thinking of her straightaway…

"Ginny! Ginny! Do you know where Luna is?" asked Harry.

He was in the Great Hall with Ron, who had agreed to go looking with him. He was surprised at finding out who Harry wanted to go to the Ball with,

"Whatever floats your boat, Harry."

That had been his reply. Ginny had been talking with Dean. When she heard her name she ran over to them.

"I heard what you did Ron. That was the most barbaric and sweet thing that anyone has ever done for me!" giggled Ginny.

Ron blushed and Ginny continued, "Well, anyway, I'm not going with Dean to the Ball because after I saw him with Roz I asked Jack and Will Abersum and-"

"Wait a moment, you what?" asked Ron.

"I asked Jack and Will Abersum if they wanted to go to the Ball because, for First Years, they are pretty cute and they wouldn't be able to go anyway so-"

"Wait, which one did you ask, Jack or Will?" interrogated Ron.

"Why, both of them, of course," replied Ginny giving Ron a look of surprise.

"What?!" bellowed Ron.

Harry gripped Ron rather hard on the shoulder and asked, "Um… Ginny… do you know where Luna is?"

"She's in the library," answered Ginny, "I'll come with you."

So Harry, Ginny, and Ron set off for the library and when they arrived they found Luna sitting at a table by herself, jingling her butterbeer cap necklace. Harry walked up to her alone and asked, "Are you busy Luna?"

Luna turned her head and looked up, perplexed, "No… why?"

"Well, if you're not going to the Ball with anyone already… Would you like to go to the Autumn Ball with me?"

Luna nearly fell out of her chair, "You want to go with me?"

"Nobody's asked me anything like that before…" rambled Luna looking around the room as if the correct reply was somewhere in one of the many books contained in the shelves.

"Of course I want to go with you," answered Harry, "You're beautiful, smart, and very… well… unique."

Luna giggled. Harry was amazed. This was a totally different Luna. It seemed like her dreamy aura was just a guise and this was the real girl inside. Harry had meant every word he had said.

"I would be happy to attend the Autumn Ball with you," replied Luna finally and closing her book she ran up to Ginny gave her a hug and stopped,

"Oh no! What will I wear?! I don't have dress robes!"

And with that she dashed up to the Owlery."

"Why is she so worried about that?" asked Ron curiously, "I mean surely she can go to Hogsmeade and pick some out…"

"Ron! You can be so insensitive! She hasn't had a mother while growing up. She doesn't know what to wear to a Ball! I'm going to help her pick out the most beautiful dress at the Ball!" exclaimed Ginny and after completing her statement she chased after Luna.