Chapter 16: Sight of Glory The letter of Loss
As the cold winds and rain of October approached, Page had been teaching her classes hard for a mini theory exam at the end of Halloween. Harry had started to take Page's advice, and made an effort every Thursday night after Quidditch practise to control his power. On occasions they would both have the same vision, which meant that it was working correctly, and others Harry had concentrated on how to curse Malfoy when he wasn't looking. Page was not pleased when he did this. Although they laughed when Harry told her that a Bludger hit Malfoy during training for Quidditch. The DA meetings had a difficult start, as Harry had to find out how many people were going to attend. So he conducted a timetable of when and where the meetings were held and pinned it next to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, on the seventh floor. On the Friday night before the Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor, Page had asked Harry to come to her office for an off-hand lesson on new spells for the DA meetings. "Right Harry, here are four new spells for you to try out next Wednesday. 'Crippellus' and 'Intwinus' are binding spells. The smoke screen charm, 'Cloudscrenus' is what Professor Flitwick will teach you next term, but its nice to know it now, that way you can talk through his lessons, and the other one 'Impredomenta' is another form of 'Impedimenta', although its more powerful." Page handed a piece of parchment which had the spells written on it. "Thank you Professor, these will come in very handy." Page led Harry outside, and as she put her hand on his shoulder to lead him out she got another vision... Page was standing on the top row of the Quidditch stadium; she was looking down upon the crowds of people watching a game of Quidditch. She then saw a gold and red blur shot past her, waving, she waved back. After that an uproar of shouts and jeers came from the stadium, someone had caught the snitch.' Page found herself kneeling of the floor, Harry was beside her. "You saw me catch the snitch didn't you? We are going to win aren't we?" His face was beaming. Page hadn't even opened her mouth as he sped from her office at a run, to find Hermione and Ron. On the Saturday morning before Halloween, Page and the other teachers were out in the Quidditch stadium; the match between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Page and Hagrid both had gold and red scarves on, and waving a banner of a Lion and a Griffin dancing around Harry's face. "C'mon 'Arry you can beat 'em!" Hagrid shouted at Harry as he walked onto the pitch. Page heard whispering behind her, "Wow, I didn't know Potter got a Firebolt Extreme, and look at Weasely he's got himself a Firebolt." Said a Gryffindor second year. Page could hear Dean Thomas, the new commentator, calling out the players. "FIRST ONTO THE PITCH IS NEW CAPTAIN AND SEEKER HARRY POTTER FOR THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM. WOW HARRY COOL BROOM! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HARRY'S GOT A FIREBOLT EXTREME. WICKED" "That's enough Dean." Screeched Minerva, he looked a little taken back but continued over the booming crowd that echoed into the grounds. Page looked over to Malfoy as he strode onto the pitch, she couldn't see his face, but she knew he was kicking himself with jealousy. "This is going to be a quick game. Harry told me about the vision you two had. We are going to win aren't we professor?" Hermione shouted to Page, who could barely hear her but nodded all the same.
Hermione was right; the game lasted about five minutes. Ron saved many goals. Page got the feeling that Ron got loads more confidence now that he got a new broom, and felt invincible. And also the fact that Harry had been training the whole team three times a week. Gryffindor won 340 to 30. Harry caught the snitch, which was fluttering by Malfoy's feet. Page's vision had come true; she saw Harry swoop past her and waved. He had pelted towards Malfoy in a blur of red and gold, and Malfoy dodged out of the way. And by the look on Malfoy's face, Page thought that Harry was about to knock him off his broom. The roar of badges and the screaming Gryffindors was deafening, they all went onto the pitch to congratulate Harry and of course Ron. Page walked past Harry and smiled at him, he waved at her over the top of people's heads. Page saw him and Ron being carried on people's shoulders up towards the changing rooms.
The Great Hall was packed with excited Gryffindors that evening. Page was talking to professor Sprout, about Harry's new broom. "I'd never of thought that a student was allowed one. Page how did you ever get one for him?" She asked her. "A friend of a friend. Besides Harry earned it, and Ron needed a new broom, so it helped them both." Just then an owl came into view and flew down towards Page. Students were whispering and pointing at the owl to see whom it was going to. It landed neatly next to Page's plate, she gave it a piece of beef, untied the letter from its leg and it took off. A lot of people were looking at her. So she decided to call it a night and left. Eyes were following her out of the hall. Page didn't know but Snape was hurrying after her. As she got into the corridor she ripped it open and read.
Hello Page, You know who I am; I don't think we need another introduction. I have always thought you were a special friend of mine. Your father knew you would be. It's unfortunate he isn't here today. He was a good Death eater. It won't be long before I have him. It won't be long until I have my awaited revenge. You have chosen the wrong side Page. It's a heavy burden you will have to carry. You know what I mean. Goodnight Page.
Page's heart stopped, she fell to her knees and cried. Snape saw her and rushed forwards to help her. He carried her into his office, and sat her down on a chair. "Would you mind telling me, who that letter was from, that made you a weeping wreck?" His voice was calm but forceful; he looked at Page's scared face. She didn't seem able to talk. He handed her a chalice of potion. "Drink this, it will make you feel better." Page drank the potion, while Snape was watching her every move. He sat down in his chair, and waited for her to talk. With a much more steadied breath she told him all she knew. "The letter was from Voldemort. He talked about my father. My father was a Death eater and my mother couldn't bare him being in leads with dark power, and so she started to become very ill. I went to my father, and in front of other Death eaters, I killed him. No one tried to stop me." She looked up at Snape; his face was now white and sunken. He stood up quickly, and ran for the door. Page knew he was going to get Dumbledore, and she waited for their return. Within ten minutes or so, both Snape and Dumbledore came in. Page stood up, but Dumbledore issued for her to sit. "Professor Snape has told me about the letter Page. You are very brave of what you did. But I must ask you this." He paused for a long breath and continued. "Was your father by any chance Tobias Smithe?" Page nodded. "My mother kept her maiden name, so that no one would of known they were married. It brought much shame on the family. My mother and I would have been outcasts. I had to act. I had to do what was right for the family, for our name. He tortured so many wizards, witches and muggles. And I could not let it happen any more." Page looked down expecting the silence that came. Page then handed the letter to Dumbledore. He gently took it from her, and then they left. Leaving Snape in his office, not knowing what to say.
As the cold winds and rain of October approached, Page had been teaching her classes hard for a mini theory exam at the end of Halloween. Harry had started to take Page's advice, and made an effort every Thursday night after Quidditch practise to control his power. On occasions they would both have the same vision, which meant that it was working correctly, and others Harry had concentrated on how to curse Malfoy when he wasn't looking. Page was not pleased when he did this. Although they laughed when Harry told her that a Bludger hit Malfoy during training for Quidditch. The DA meetings had a difficult start, as Harry had to find out how many people were going to attend. So he conducted a timetable of when and where the meetings were held and pinned it next to the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, on the seventh floor. On the Friday night before the Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor, Page had asked Harry to come to her office for an off-hand lesson on new spells for the DA meetings. "Right Harry, here are four new spells for you to try out next Wednesday. 'Crippellus' and 'Intwinus' are binding spells. The smoke screen charm, 'Cloudscrenus' is what Professor Flitwick will teach you next term, but its nice to know it now, that way you can talk through his lessons, and the other one 'Impredomenta' is another form of 'Impedimenta', although its more powerful." Page handed a piece of parchment which had the spells written on it. "Thank you Professor, these will come in very handy." Page led Harry outside, and as she put her hand on his shoulder to lead him out she got another vision... Page was standing on the top row of the Quidditch stadium; she was looking down upon the crowds of people watching a game of Quidditch. She then saw a gold and red blur shot past her, waving, she waved back. After that an uproar of shouts and jeers came from the stadium, someone had caught the snitch.' Page found herself kneeling of the floor, Harry was beside her. "You saw me catch the snitch didn't you? We are going to win aren't we?" His face was beaming. Page hadn't even opened her mouth as he sped from her office at a run, to find Hermione and Ron. On the Saturday morning before Halloween, Page and the other teachers were out in the Quidditch stadium; the match between Slytherin and Gryffindor. Page and Hagrid both had gold and red scarves on, and waving a banner of a Lion and a Griffin dancing around Harry's face. "C'mon 'Arry you can beat 'em!" Hagrid shouted at Harry as he walked onto the pitch. Page heard whispering behind her, "Wow, I didn't know Potter got a Firebolt Extreme, and look at Weasely he's got himself a Firebolt." Said a Gryffindor second year. Page could hear Dean Thomas, the new commentator, calling out the players. "FIRST ONTO THE PITCH IS NEW CAPTAIN AND SEEKER HARRY POTTER FOR THE GRYFFINDOR TEAM. WOW HARRY COOL BROOM! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HARRY'S GOT A FIREBOLT EXTREME. WICKED" "That's enough Dean." Screeched Minerva, he looked a little taken back but continued over the booming crowd that echoed into the grounds. Page looked over to Malfoy as he strode onto the pitch, she couldn't see his face, but she knew he was kicking himself with jealousy. "This is going to be a quick game. Harry told me about the vision you two had. We are going to win aren't we professor?" Hermione shouted to Page, who could barely hear her but nodded all the same.
Hermione was right; the game lasted about five minutes. Ron saved many goals. Page got the feeling that Ron got loads more confidence now that he got a new broom, and felt invincible. And also the fact that Harry had been training the whole team three times a week. Gryffindor won 340 to 30. Harry caught the snitch, which was fluttering by Malfoy's feet. Page's vision had come true; she saw Harry swoop past her and waved. He had pelted towards Malfoy in a blur of red and gold, and Malfoy dodged out of the way. And by the look on Malfoy's face, Page thought that Harry was about to knock him off his broom. The roar of badges and the screaming Gryffindors was deafening, they all went onto the pitch to congratulate Harry and of course Ron. Page walked past Harry and smiled at him, he waved at her over the top of people's heads. Page saw him and Ron being carried on people's shoulders up towards the changing rooms.
The Great Hall was packed with excited Gryffindors that evening. Page was talking to professor Sprout, about Harry's new broom. "I'd never of thought that a student was allowed one. Page how did you ever get one for him?" She asked her. "A friend of a friend. Besides Harry earned it, and Ron needed a new broom, so it helped them both." Just then an owl came into view and flew down towards Page. Students were whispering and pointing at the owl to see whom it was going to. It landed neatly next to Page's plate, she gave it a piece of beef, untied the letter from its leg and it took off. A lot of people were looking at her. So she decided to call it a night and left. Eyes were following her out of the hall. Page didn't know but Snape was hurrying after her. As she got into the corridor she ripped it open and read.
Hello Page, You know who I am; I don't think we need another introduction. I have always thought you were a special friend of mine. Your father knew you would be. It's unfortunate he isn't here today. He was a good Death eater. It won't be long before I have him. It won't be long until I have my awaited revenge. You have chosen the wrong side Page. It's a heavy burden you will have to carry. You know what I mean. Goodnight Page.
Page's heart stopped, she fell to her knees and cried. Snape saw her and rushed forwards to help her. He carried her into his office, and sat her down on a chair. "Would you mind telling me, who that letter was from, that made you a weeping wreck?" His voice was calm but forceful; he looked at Page's scared face. She didn't seem able to talk. He handed her a chalice of potion. "Drink this, it will make you feel better." Page drank the potion, while Snape was watching her every move. He sat down in his chair, and waited for her to talk. With a much more steadied breath she told him all she knew. "The letter was from Voldemort. He talked about my father. My father was a Death eater and my mother couldn't bare him being in leads with dark power, and so she started to become very ill. I went to my father, and in front of other Death eaters, I killed him. No one tried to stop me." She looked up at Snape; his face was now white and sunken. He stood up quickly, and ran for the door. Page knew he was going to get Dumbledore, and she waited for their return. Within ten minutes or so, both Snape and Dumbledore came in. Page stood up, but Dumbledore issued for her to sit. "Professor Snape has told me about the letter Page. You are very brave of what you did. But I must ask you this." He paused for a long breath and continued. "Was your father by any chance Tobias Smithe?" Page nodded. "My mother kept her maiden name, so that no one would of known they were married. It brought much shame on the family. My mother and I would have been outcasts. I had to act. I had to do what was right for the family, for our name. He tortured so many wizards, witches and muggles. And I could not let it happen any more." Page looked down expecting the silence that came. Page then handed the letter to Dumbledore. He gently took it from her, and then they left. Leaving Snape in his office, not knowing what to say.