Chapter 28: Struck in the Forest
As the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff drew ever closer, Page saw less and less of Harry. "Sorry I'm late." Harry said as he burst through Page's office door half an hour late for Page's 'seeing' lesson. "One of the bludgers knocked a second year off her broom and we had to take her to the hospital wing." He closed the door, quite out of breath and he then slumped onto the chair in front of Page. "It's OK Harry, you have a lot to deal with this year. What's happening with the D.A?" Page searched her desk draws for a book she wanted to Harry to see. "It's a nightmare. Hermione and Ron are trying to track down people who started in December," he was saying "but Hermione thinks they have been blackmailed by the Slytherins not to join. I see a couple of them in the great hall, but they just run off." Page had found her book, and placed it in front of Harry. "Hmm, well at least other people are still joining in with the meetings. Your going to have to give them something exciting, something new to work with, then I'm sure they'll want to have lessons with you." Harry picked up the book and flipped through it. He raised his eyebrows now and again. "So are we going to be learning this? I mean do you think I can get to this level of seeking ability?" He put the book down, and looked at Page inquisitively. "It might be a little difficult, but we'll start this after the match. In the mean time, I just want you to listen to Snape next lesson-" "Why?" Harry interrupted her. "Because he's going to be teaching you a relaxing potion, which you will need. Although I must say, it's very complex. Take the book with you, the properties and how it's made is in Chapter three and no doubt Snape will want homework on it." Harry picked up the book and stuffed it inside his bag. "Shall I come by tomorrow and have a lesson?" He asked her as he was opening the door. "No, its OK. Until the Quidditch match is over, just pop by on Saturday and Sunday afternoons around five?" Page got up and headed for the door. "Yeah, that's fine. Bye Professor and thank you for the book." He closed the door behind him and once again, Page felt herself feel a little left out. She hadn't realised that she missed James. He would have always been there for her. Then as though a light switched on, Page tried to find the letter Hagrid gave her. She looked through three different pairs of robes and found it stuffed in the right hand side pocket. She ripped it open and quickly read it.
Dear Miss Quinn, Due to circumstances that had arisen in December you are to attend a meeting on Level 4, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office and Pest Advisory Bureau in the Ministry of Magic on Thursday the 30th of January at 2 o'clock. Yours Sincerely, Belinda Firemouth Incorporation Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions Office. Ministry of Magic.
"Don't they know I have classes then?" Page said to herself. She ripped up the letter and threw it into the fire. She then quickly wrote letters to her students that would be taking afternoon lessons with her, and then sent them to their common room notice boards.
When Thursday midday came Page left her office and went off to find Harry. She went into the great hall where most students were having their lunch. She spotted Ron, Ginny and Neville talking amongst themselves and went over to them. "Hey, have any of you lot seen Harry?" "Yea, he just went off to the Library with Hermione. Why?" Ron asked her. "Because I am going to the Ministry, I have to be there by two, and I need to talk to him about December." She said in a low voice so only Ron and Ginny could hear. "I have to leave in an hour." "How are you getting there?" Ginny asked her. "I am apperating from Hogsmead." Page told her. "I'll go and find Harry then. Speak to you later." Page then headed off to the Library. She found him, reading a book next to Hermione. "Oy Harry." She said in a whisper. He looked up and smiled. Page sat down next to him. "Listen I am going to the Ministry to talk about what happened...you know. And er, I just wanted you to tell me everything that happened, that you can remember." Harry gave her a quizzical look. But Hermione shook her. "Professor now really isn't a good time. Harry has to finish his homework." Hermione gave Harry a stern look. "It will only take a minute, I have been reading non-stop since we got here." He turned to Page, "All I remember is casting the spell, and feeling as though I was trapped and I couldn't talk. I wasn't nice." "And when you switched?" "I got some of his memories, not fully anyway, just clips of them. And then what Ron said last week, my dream." He looked around to make sure no one was around and continued. "To be honest I think they were his actual plans, and I don't think he knows I would on known." "Yeah, that's what Dumbledore seems to think. Well I better go. I'll see you later. Bye Hermione." "Bye professor." They both said as Page left. She went out into the entrance hall and was just about to go to the grounds when Snape stopped her. "Going somewhere?" Page turned around and gave him an impatient look. "I have to go to the Ministry Severus. Or wasn't you told?" Page started to walk off. "I think it wise that you should consult it with me first." Page stopped and turned round again to face him. "And why would I do that?" He walked forwards, and stopped in front on her. His face was neutral and white, as though he had never been out into the sunlight. "Because I do not think it prudent to leave on such short notice. The headmaster will not like it." He flickered a smile of disdain. "I have already talked to the headmaster Severus, so unless you want to be responsible for me missing my meeting?" She walked off. He didn't say anything in reply. As soon as she got into Hogsmead she went into Hogshead to buy a butterbeer. She then sat down on a small table nearest the window to drink it. A lot of people came in and out of the pub, and stared at Page as they passed. She ignored it, although she wondered why they were looking at her. As she got up to go, a wizard who was balding at the top of his head with a greying beard in a long indigo robe came towards her. "Can I help you?" She asked him. He seemed a little taken back by her talking to him. "Yes, your Page Quinn aren't you?" It seemed a little strange that strangers know her name but she nodded all the same. "Oh Merlin's beard. Congratulations. When I heard I thought it wasn't true until I heard it from a friend of mine who is most resourceful." He took Page's hands and shook them vigorously. "I am sorry, I don't know what you're talking about?" Page checked her watch; she had fifteen minutes to get to the ministry. "The promotion of course." He looked at her as if he had met a celebrity. "What promotion?" Page asked him. "Oh bless my soul, you haven't heard yet?" Page was starting to get annoyed with him. "Clearly not, or I wouldn't of asked you what you were talking about. And I'd love to continue our chat, but I really have to go." As Page opened the door, she looked around, several people were whispering to their neighbours, and the man whom she had talked to was waving at her. "Good luck." He called after her, as she closed the door. Page then apperated to the main entrance of the Ministry of Magic, so that she could see where she had to go and to check in for the appointment. She made her was to the front desk, a podgy looking witch was behind the counter with a pure white robe on and a name tag pinned to her chest that read 'Amelia Hodgeson'. "Hello, I am here to sign in for an appointment on Level 4. My name is Page Quinn." The witch nodded, as she flipped through some files. "OK thank you. You can go up to level 4, room 7ax." Page then took the polished glass lift to the fourth floor. Several witch's and wizards stepped into the lift and got out again on various levels, also Page seemed to notice that a couple of flying pieces of parchments came zooming in and out of the lifts too. The lift rattled and stopped at her floor. A couple of wizards pushed passed her, as they seemed to be in a hurry and walked off at a quick pace down the corridor. Page checked her watch; she had five minutes to go. She looked at the signs, which pointed her to different rooms on the floor itself, and quickly headed to the end of the corridor. Page looked at the door, it read '7ax'. Page gave a huge sigh of relief and knocked on the door. A portly man opened it for her. "Oh hello. You must be Miss Quinn, yes, please come in and take a seat here." Page walked in and sat down on a seat nearest to the door. "We are just about to start, we won't be long." He went up to the front of what seemed to be a brightly lit classroom which had two long tables with seat's around them; he sat down with a couple of other witches and wizards who were all whispering in deep discussion. Page started to feel a bit nervous. Had this something to do with that man in Hogshead? Did he know something that Page didn't? "Right then," said a slim witch with horned rimmed glasses on wearing a fury blue robe. "Page Quinn isn't it?" Page nodded. "You are here because you can tell us something that most seer's like yourself can't. Dumbledore has told us your unique ability to contact souls which have moved on, is this correct?" Page nodded again, afraid of saying anything that would make her seem stupid. "Where did you inherit these abilities?" A wizard asked her, whom Page saw dashing out through the lift. "My mother. Penelope Quinn." This was followed by a lot of murmuring between them. "Did you know your mother was an unregistered seer?" The witch asked her. Page thought it was odd that you had to register to be a seer, but she shook her head all the same. "I see, right now onto more pressing matters. Due to unfortunate rumours that you-know-who is back, we-" "They are not rumours." Page interrupted her. The witch was a little taken back by her outburst but smiled and continued with what she was saying. "Of course, but we are hear to discuss this matter. As reports from anonymous people have come forward claming that you and the young Harry Potter fought him. Is this true?" He quill was inches from her parchment, Page though that this wasn't why she came here. "Yes, we did. It was a duel to the death according to you-know-who, but it was unfortunate on what happened between him and Harry Potter." Page was telling her. "As you know, the boy is protected by various ancient spells, a boundary was formed around the three of us so that his deatheaters would not be able to pass through. And we fought." Page ended it on a weak line. They were all looking at her wide-eyed. Page didn't know what to say. "You-know-who is a very powerful wizard, how did you defeat him?" A portly wizard asked her. "We didn't defeat him. It's quite complicated on how he temporarily lost his powers inside this protection bubble, apparently my mother told me it was because of the moon." Page got startled looks from everyone. "I am sorry I must of miss heard you. You say your mother told you. Before she died you mean?" The witch asked. "No you heard me correctly, my mother had told me hours before. I can communicate with her you see." Puzzled looks swept across the faces of the people starting at Page like she had just come back from the mental ward of St. Mungo's. "Please, would you care to elaborate for us?" "I can talk to souls, my mother gave me this potion, which heightened my awareness to hear them. And if anyone touches my arm or shoulder, they can also talk to him or her. It's mainly Sirius Black, or James and Lilly Potter." "Sirius Black? Surly you don't expect us to believe that you talk to the mass murderer, who killed all those muggles and a handful of wizards? Asked the portly wizard, who now looked as white as a sheet. "Yes I do. I know what you think of him. But he wasn't the Potter's secret keeper, he handed the post down to Peter Pettigrew. Dumbledore has tried to explain this to Mr Fudge I am sure. And I know that none of you believe him. But after saying that, you do believe him that you-know-who is back? So why can't you believe that Peter is alive, and that Sirius didn't kill them muggles?" "Insubordination. That's what this is." Said the witch. "There were witnesses at that terrible night. How dare you say that!" Said the witch had now stood up in anger. Page felt remarkably calm for the situation, which was about to unfold. "Marian calm down. I am sure there is a rational explanation for all of this. Now Page, please continue on what you were saying. How do you know all of this? We would like to-", "No we wouldn't Toby. Page we only wanted you to come here so that we could register you into becoming one of the official seer's of our magical community, we did not, however need to get into this type of discussion. The decision is yours Page. The offer will be held for you if you wish to continue at Hogwarts." Marian said quickly, to stop Toby, the portly wizard from saying anything more. Everybody got up; bid Page good day and left, slamming the door as they went.
Page made it back to Hogwarts at four o'clock. As soon as she got into her office, there was a knock on her door, and Harry, Ron and Hermione came in, looking exhausted and soaked through. "What on earth happened to you lot? And why aren't you in class?" Page asked then sternly. "Malfoy hit us all with a spell, and we ended up in the lake." Harry protested. "We saw you heading across the grounds and we rushed to find you." Hermione used a steaming spell to try dry her clothes. "Hermione try 'Evapouratus.'" Page told her. And within second, they were dry again, although silt had dried into their robes. "So...what happened at the ministry?" Ron asked her, as he pulled up a chair and slouched init. "They wanted to tell me that I have been accepted into the ministry, for Spirit Division." Page told them. "I also ended up trying to tell them about Sirius being innocent and that Wormtail was the Potter's secret keeper, but they didn't want to go into that kind of conversation." Harry stared at her, Hermione gasped Ron wasn't paying much attention and was staring into the fire, oblivious to what Page was saying. "What did they ask? What did you tell them?" she asked her. "Well I told them that I talked to Sirius, and they of course didn't believe me that I did, and I tried to tell them about the switch with Wormtail but they didn't want to hear it." But Harry tried to change the subject. "Why do they want you at the ministry?" Harry asked her. He was leaning on her table, looking as though this wasn't really and interesting topic, but Page felt that he didn't want to hear about why people at the ministry still didn't believe about Sirius being innocent. "They want me to leave Hogwarts and start at the ministry. It's a great job, I'll get to help loads of witches and wizards round the country, and I'll be working alongside the greatest seer's of this century." Page told them. They all looked at her, even Ron who had broke himself free from the crackling wood. "But you can't leave, you have to stay for Harry's sake." Hermione said. "Why would you want to leave in the first place?" "Calm down Hermione, I am not leaving yet. They want me to finish this year at Hogwarts first, and then I'll make up my mind. But to be honest, this is what my mum wanted. And now she's getting her wish." Harry and Ron exchanged looks; Hermione was on the verge of tears, but Page couldn't understand why. "Look, you lot better get to lessons, no doubt I'll get in trouble for keeping you. Remember tomorrow six o'clock outside Hagrid's hut." Page said, trying to shoo them out of her office. They unwillingly picked up their bags and left. Page heard them muttering to each other outside her door, but the muttering faded away as the left to get to their classes. Yet again, Page found herself writing to Remus for advice.
Dear Remus, I don't suppose you have been told, but I have been accepted to join the ministry in Spirit Divisions. They have asked me to finish the year off at Hogwarts and they'll contact me on whether I want to join or not. But Harry, Hermione and Ron haven't taken it that well. Snape tried to stop me today, making up silly excuses as to why I shouldn't be venturing off to the ministry without consulting him first. I don't even think he has that type of authority. And today while I was about to leave the Hogshead for the ministry someone came up to me and congratulated me on getting promoted. Whether this had anything to do with the ministry I have no idea. I hadn't even seen him before. But he seemed to know me. Any way, how's everyone doing in London? Hope you are well. Yours faithfully, Page.
Page tied the letter to Ibid, whom Hagrid had given him back to Page. Ibid gave a quiet hoot to her, and took off through the window and Page watched him soar into the dimming light of the sun and over towards the direction of London.
By eight o'clock that night Page wandered down to the Quidditch pitch so see Harry and his team practise. "No Ron, you missed the second hoop, try and swerve to stop the quaffle." Harry was screaming at him. "Good, Ginny, keep flying in a tighter formation to stop people getting into the middle. TOM, WATCH OUT FOR THAT BLUDGER!" Page saw whom Harry was screaming at. Tom Perkins who was a second year for Gryffindor. He had quickly dodged out of the way, as the bludger was only seconds away from hitting him face on. Page caught Harry's eye and he waved at her. "Right you two, move in and watch out for the bludgers, Ginny speed up and use the wind to out fly Sam. And Ron, mark each hoop, your better then this." Harry was telling them. They did as they were told. Page saw Ginny dive and sped up, she then flew past Sam and then knocked the quaffle from his grasp. Ron was dead centre and was looking at Ginny and trying to anticipate her moves. She then flew straight at the left hoop, where Ron dashed towards her, then she threw it into the centre one. Page clapped along with Harry and the rest of the team. Harry then flew forwards towards Ron to have a private word with him. "Right everyone to the changing rooms." Harry said. He was looking to the right of Page. Severn yellow Hufflepuff's came out of their changing room and were waiting until Harry had finished with the pitch. Page saw them land, and went to meet them. "Nice flying up there you guys. Well done." She said to all of them as they walked past her, looking frozen and wet. Ron walked past her looking morbid and tired. Page grabbed a hold of his arm and led him to a bench. "Listen Ron. I saw you flying up there, your good, but you need some help. I know the match is on Saturday, but how about tomorrow I'll book the pitch and I can help you out?" Ron was looking at her as though he had missed his birthday and hadn't gotten any presents. "No, its OK Professor. Ginny's good, she and Harry will win it for us." Harry came out to see where Ron had gone and sat down on the bench with them. "Ron you did OK. You just need to focus. You did alright in the last match." Harry reassured him. But Ron's face fell. "We only won last time, because you grabbed the snitch in like five minutes, and Ginny was scoring goals like her life depended on it. The quaffle only came my way four times, and I only caught one of them by accident." He stood up and walked to the changing rooms, looking more upset. "Harry, persuade Ron to let me help him. Tell him I can meet him on the pitch at seven. We can finish early tomorrow so that Ron can get a head start on training." Page told him. He looked flustered and very tired. "Ok then, I'll see you tomorrow. Oh and thanks for wanting to help Ron. He just needs more confidence, and it doesn't help with the Slytherins song 'Weasely is our King'." Harry told her. He got up and went off towards the changing rooms while saying goodbye.
As Friday evening approached Page waited for Gryffindor sixth years outside Hagrid hut like she had told them the previous lesson. One by one they all managed to meet her. "Right, now that we are all here, we will split into groups. One group will go with me, the other Hagrid. Ron can you go and get Hagrid for me please?" Ron went to Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door. "I'm commin'." Page heard him through the door. He stepped out with a crossbow and his bloodhound Fang. Page saw nervous looks sweep across the class. Hagrid came to join them and waited for Page to speak. "Right then. Tonight we are looking for Culbedacks, can anyone tell me what they are and what they do?" Instantly Hermione shot her hand up in the air. "Yes. Hermione." "Culbedacks are burrowers. They dig big holes near undergrowth in thickness of woods and forests to trap passers-by. They try to lure people into their traps by a low whistle. Most muggles hear the whistle as someone screaming and run right into the trap, but all of the magical community hear the whistle itself and knows what is making the sound." Hermione said. Ron and Harry were sniggering to each other. The rest of the group looked practically bored by Hermione talking. "Well done Hermione, ten points for Gryffindor. Right now, Hagrid is going to show us where they tend to dig, and all we have to do is study them and to do that we have to stun them then put them into this bag." Page held up a big brown sack, so that they all could see. "But there is a catch, they are black and are very fast, and they might bite you on your legs if they get a chance. They aren't poisonous, but I think that a couple of us will be sent to the hospital wing. So Parvati, Lavender, Ron and Dean are with Hagrid, which leaves Harry, Hermione, Seamus and Neville with me." They got into their groups and set off behind Hagrid into the Dark Forest. The damp grass turned into sludgy, slippery mud as they cleared Hogwarts grounds and into the forest. Within seconds everyone had lit his or her wands. Page had to grab Harry's cloak as she slipped on a rotten log, which leaves and branches had littered the forest floor. Sounds of the snapping of branches that had been stood on echoed into the night. No one talked, but whispered to their partner as they walked two by two filed along behind Hagrid, Page taking up the rear with Harry, as Ron and Hermione were in front of them. Hagrid took them deeper and deeper into the forest. Page looked up and saw nothing but black, as the tree's were becoming thick and tall. "Do you think Hagrid knows where he is taking us?" Page heard Ron ask Hermione. "I suppose so, he knows the forest like the back of his hand. And he knows most of the creatures in here anyway. It's highly doubtful he'll ever get lost." Hermione reassured him. Suddenly everyone stopped. Page carefully went past everyone, counting them as she went. "'Er we are. There's a hole bunch of 'em along this path." Hagrid told her. She turned towards her class. "Right, now stay close together. Hagrid and I will be around and if any one gets in trouble send out some sparks so we can come get you OK? When you have got you Culbedacks, bring them to this clearing here, and put them in the bag. Any questions?" From the wand light, Page saw that no one put their hands up, which to Page wasn't a good sign. "Ok then, stay in your groups and off you go." They all took off in different directions. Page and Hagrid watched them carefully. "Do you think the centaurs will give us any trouble?" Page asked him. "Hmm, not sure ta tell ya the truth. They don't come this far west of the forest, but ya never know. They 'aven't been exactly friendly since Firenze became a teacher at 'Ogwarts. His clan literally kicked him out. But I'll keep a look out." He left her to follow this group and Page ran to catch up with hers. As soon as she neared them, she heard the whistling of the Culbedacks. By the wand light she saw Harry and Neville look under some dense undergrowth, then surprisingly Neville wasn't there anymore. Page hurriedly and safely ran towards him. Neville had fallen in a hole, it was pretty deep; he was covered in mud and he looked up at them with a shocked face. "I am sorry professor. I won't get detention will I?" Harry laughed, as both he and Page tried to help him out. "No Neville, just be careful where you tread. I am guessing you saw one and tried to stun it?" She asks them, while Harry and Neville tried to brush off the rotting leaves off of his robe and trousers. "Well actually no. Neville thought he saw one, but I am sure it was just a bowtruckle." Harry said. There was some rustling in some overgrown bushes behind them, next to the hole that Neville fell in. Harry then randomly cast stunning spells into the bush. It stopped moving and Harry went to check what he had stunned. He held up his wand, and brought out a black furry little Culbedack. "Cool I got one." He said, and went off to put it into the sack. Neville looked a little down. "Why can't I be like Harry, he can do almost anything in Defence Against the Dark Arts. He knows so much more then me. I'm useless at this." Harry came back with a smile on his face. He had heard Neville. "I'm not that good Neville. It was just luck that I stunned it. Come on, let's go over there and try and find one for you." Harry asked him kindly pointing towards a mini clearing. "No thanks Harry. I can do it myself." He retorted and went off in a different direction where Harry pointed out. "What did I say?" Harry asked Page, who was looking at Neville wondering off. "He just feels that he can't keep up with the class. I am sure he'll find one. Just keep an eye out for him. I'm going to check the others." Harry hurriedly walked after Neville while Page went to back to look at the bag where the students were meant to put their stunned Culbedacks. There were five in there already. Lavender and Parvati came creeping out of the undergrowth holding two Culbedacks. "We did it professor." Said Parvati, and she threw her dazed Culbedack into the bag. "They are cute little things aren't they? They look kind of familiar." "That's cos they are related to Nifflers." Hagrid said from behind them, making Parvati and Lavender jump. He peered into the bag. "One more ta go." He said. Hermione and Seamus came towards them. "That was fun wasn't it?" Hermione asked Seamus, who wasn't looking at all thrilled by the experience tonight. Hermione turned to Page, "Professor why are we going to study them, isn't that based in Care of Magical Creatures class?" Hermione asked her. "Yes, it is but there is something special about the Culbedacks, which hasn't got anything to do with Hagrid's lessons." Page told her. "Who are we waiting for?" Lavender asked Parvati. She shook her head. "Look sparks, I see sparks. Over there!" Seamus shouted at them. He pointed in the direction to where Harry and Neville had wondered off. "Harry!" Page said under her breath. "Everyone come with me." Page shouted at her class. They all ran to where the sparks had been seen. Page and Hagrid in front, leading the party. Everyone had their wands out. The surrounding trees and bushes briefly lit up as the lit wands passed them. To Page it felt deadly silent as only their footsteps could be heard. Page found Harry and Neville pleading with some centaurs that had seemed to of chased them into a corner of the clearing. "Leave 'em alone" Hagrid bellowed at the centaurs. They reared up at the sight of Hagrid, and snorted in anger. They then pointed their arrows at him and Page. "How dare you come back here Hagrid." A palomino retorted. He walked towards Hagrid his arrow still pointing at him. "This is our forest. We told you, you have no right to be here." "It's my right if you shoot any of the students. What did they do ta you?" He asked. "They should not be in this part of the woods. All any part for that matter. We knew you would come, the stars showed us." Said a pure black centaur that raised his head to look at the sky. The others followed suit. "Yeah? Well this visit was for a learning purpose. You'll leave 'em alone now Bane." Hagrid told him. Both Harry and Neville had their wands out. To Page's surprise Neville had a concussed Culbedack in his left hand. The centaurs that stood around Harry and Neville walked backwards and lowered the arrows. Harry and Neville then scrambled up and ran behind Hagrid. The centaurs walked off out of the clearing, whispering to each other as they went. They all walked back to Hogwarts grounds feeling scared and a little shaken up. They reached Hagrid's hut and sat down on the damp grass waiting for Page, as she had gone to talk to Hagrid. "Why do you think they came after the boys?" Page asked him. "Dunno ta tell ya the truth. Harry'll be alright. He's tough, been through worse things then a bunch of miserable centaurs. Dunno about Neville though. Never seen him in a worse state like this before." Hagrid looked towards Neville and seemed a little worried. "He should be fine. Thanks for helping us Hagrid." He said to him, as he made his way into his hut. "Don't mention it." He gave her a wink and closed the door. Page turned to her class. "Right then, you can go back up to your dormitories. On Monday we'll take a look at the Culbedacks. Ron, come with me." She said, as he was just about to walk off with Harry and Hermione. When the class left, Harry and Hermione hung back, to wait for Ron. "Ron, go and get your broom, we are going to practise. And don't give me that look." She said, as he looked a little disgruntled. He mumbled what sounded like 'OK' and he walked off.
Fifteen minutes after waiting on the pitch for Ron, he came out of the changing rooms with Harry. Page was Hermione in the stands watching them. They all took off into the air. The cold wind whipped Pages face, the breeze although cold had completely woken her up. She felt fresh and alive with excitement. Harry had brought up the quaffle and passed it to Page. The all joined up, hovering above the hoops. "Ron, we are going to test you out on how well you can anticipate people's moves, and hopefully I am going to teach you new one's." She called to him. The wind had picked up, so Page had to raise her voice in order to be heard. She thought it lucky it wasn't raining. "Right Ron, go to the hoops and do what you would usually do in a practise." He turned around and flew off and glided backwards and forwards over the hoops. Page flew closer towards Harry so she didn't have to shout. "What have you been teaching him?" "I have told him to keep an eye out for different moves that each team makes. The Slytherins usually-" Page cut him short. "I don't care about the Slytherins Harry, what about the Hufflepuff's? What moves do they make to score goals?" Harry seemed a little angry that Page had cut him off, but he knew that time was running short and let it rest. "They score goals like Ginny does. They fake them." Page knew what he was talking about. She had to teach Ron the moves that she was taught when Page was at Hogwarts. Page had been a seeker since third year, until the Gryffindor seeker left the school and Page had to become keeper. "Lets just try out some of Ginny's moves and see how he handles them." She told Harry. He took off and circled around Ron. Page waited until Harry was at the right speed to take the quaffle off him. He dived. Page sped up towards him the wind cutting into her face even more; she stood up on her broom, jumped off it, flipped over and grabbed the quaffle, and within a split second threw it into the goal over the top of Ron's head. "Merlin's beard! That was brilliant." Ron said. Harry dived for the quaffle and came towards Ron and Page clutching it under his right arm. "What was that called?" Harry asked her. He looked surprised, and very windswept. "We used to call it plan B." Page laughed. "We didn't have names for our attacks, we just called them to each other as we flew past one another." "Can you teach us some, we could practise them tonight?" Harry asked her. "Ron what do you think?" "Sure, I'm up for it." He called back. "Right then. Ron I'm going to try and throw the quaffle into the third hoop OK? You have to block it, but I'll be aiming for another one. That's what you have to watch out. See I might try and catch you off guard and throw it into the third hoop, but you have to anticipate my moves. All right, lets go." Harry handed her back the quaffle. Page flew straight up into the air; she spiralled down towards the middle hoop. Ron was watching her every move. Page then aimed for the third hoop like she told him, but she suddenly then jumped off her broom and flipped in mid-air and threw the quaffle towards the second hoop on the right. Ron made a swift move and knocked the quaffle away from the hoop. "Yeah! Look at that! Wow Professor that was bloody brilliant." He called to her, while she dived to get the quaffle.
For the rest of the hour, Page was teaching them some valuable moves for Ron and Harry to teach the rest of the Gryffindor team. When Page started to see Harry's team, come out from the changing rooms and ascend into the cold night air, Page flew down towards Hermione. "Professor, them moves. If Harry learns them, the Hufflepuff's won't stand a chance. But..." Page knew what was coming. Hermione always asked questions to which she though might lead into trouble. Page tried to avoid her on this matter. "Don't worry Hermione. I don't think it's against the rules. Besides Ron needed some advice." She nodded, but gave Page a funny look. "Good luck for tomorrow." Page added and left the Quidditch pitch.
As the Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff drew ever closer, Page saw less and less of Harry. "Sorry I'm late." Harry said as he burst through Page's office door half an hour late for Page's 'seeing' lesson. "One of the bludgers knocked a second year off her broom and we had to take her to the hospital wing." He closed the door, quite out of breath and he then slumped onto the chair in front of Page. "It's OK Harry, you have a lot to deal with this year. What's happening with the D.A?" Page searched her desk draws for a book she wanted to Harry to see. "It's a nightmare. Hermione and Ron are trying to track down people who started in December," he was saying "but Hermione thinks they have been blackmailed by the Slytherins not to join. I see a couple of them in the great hall, but they just run off." Page had found her book, and placed it in front of Harry. "Hmm, well at least other people are still joining in with the meetings. Your going to have to give them something exciting, something new to work with, then I'm sure they'll want to have lessons with you." Harry picked up the book and flipped through it. He raised his eyebrows now and again. "So are we going to be learning this? I mean do you think I can get to this level of seeking ability?" He put the book down, and looked at Page inquisitively. "It might be a little difficult, but we'll start this after the match. In the mean time, I just want you to listen to Snape next lesson-" "Why?" Harry interrupted her. "Because he's going to be teaching you a relaxing potion, which you will need. Although I must say, it's very complex. Take the book with you, the properties and how it's made is in Chapter three and no doubt Snape will want homework on it." Harry picked up the book and stuffed it inside his bag. "Shall I come by tomorrow and have a lesson?" He asked her as he was opening the door. "No, its OK. Until the Quidditch match is over, just pop by on Saturday and Sunday afternoons around five?" Page got up and headed for the door. "Yeah, that's fine. Bye Professor and thank you for the book." He closed the door behind him and once again, Page felt herself feel a little left out. She hadn't realised that she missed James. He would have always been there for her. Then as though a light switched on, Page tried to find the letter Hagrid gave her. She looked through three different pairs of robes and found it stuffed in the right hand side pocket. She ripped it open and quickly read it.
Dear Miss Quinn, Due to circumstances that had arisen in December you are to attend a meeting on Level 4, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, incorporating Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions, Goblin Liaison Office and Pest Advisory Bureau in the Ministry of Magic on Thursday the 30th of January at 2 o'clock. Yours Sincerely, Belinda Firemouth Incorporation Beast, Being and Spirit Divisions Office. Ministry of Magic.
"Don't they know I have classes then?" Page said to herself. She ripped up the letter and threw it into the fire. She then quickly wrote letters to her students that would be taking afternoon lessons with her, and then sent them to their common room notice boards.
When Thursday midday came Page left her office and went off to find Harry. She went into the great hall where most students were having their lunch. She spotted Ron, Ginny and Neville talking amongst themselves and went over to them. "Hey, have any of you lot seen Harry?" "Yea, he just went off to the Library with Hermione. Why?" Ron asked her. "Because I am going to the Ministry, I have to be there by two, and I need to talk to him about December." She said in a low voice so only Ron and Ginny could hear. "I have to leave in an hour." "How are you getting there?" Ginny asked her. "I am apperating from Hogsmead." Page told her. "I'll go and find Harry then. Speak to you later." Page then headed off to the Library. She found him, reading a book next to Hermione. "Oy Harry." She said in a whisper. He looked up and smiled. Page sat down next to him. "Listen I am going to the Ministry to talk about what happened...you know. And er, I just wanted you to tell me everything that happened, that you can remember." Harry gave her a quizzical look. But Hermione shook her. "Professor now really isn't a good time. Harry has to finish his homework." Hermione gave Harry a stern look. "It will only take a minute, I have been reading non-stop since we got here." He turned to Page, "All I remember is casting the spell, and feeling as though I was trapped and I couldn't talk. I wasn't nice." "And when you switched?" "I got some of his memories, not fully anyway, just clips of them. And then what Ron said last week, my dream." He looked around to make sure no one was around and continued. "To be honest I think they were his actual plans, and I don't think he knows I would on known." "Yeah, that's what Dumbledore seems to think. Well I better go. I'll see you later. Bye Hermione." "Bye professor." They both said as Page left. She went out into the entrance hall and was just about to go to the grounds when Snape stopped her. "Going somewhere?" Page turned around and gave him an impatient look. "I have to go to the Ministry Severus. Or wasn't you told?" Page started to walk off. "I think it wise that you should consult it with me first." Page stopped and turned round again to face him. "And why would I do that?" He walked forwards, and stopped in front on her. His face was neutral and white, as though he had never been out into the sunlight. "Because I do not think it prudent to leave on such short notice. The headmaster will not like it." He flickered a smile of disdain. "I have already talked to the headmaster Severus, so unless you want to be responsible for me missing my meeting?" She walked off. He didn't say anything in reply. As soon as she got into Hogsmead she went into Hogshead to buy a butterbeer. She then sat down on a small table nearest the window to drink it. A lot of people came in and out of the pub, and stared at Page as they passed. She ignored it, although she wondered why they were looking at her. As she got up to go, a wizard who was balding at the top of his head with a greying beard in a long indigo robe came towards her. "Can I help you?" She asked him. He seemed a little taken back by her talking to him. "Yes, your Page Quinn aren't you?" It seemed a little strange that strangers know her name but she nodded all the same. "Oh Merlin's beard. Congratulations. When I heard I thought it wasn't true until I heard it from a friend of mine who is most resourceful." He took Page's hands and shook them vigorously. "I am sorry, I don't know what you're talking about?" Page checked her watch; she had fifteen minutes to get to the ministry. "The promotion of course." He looked at her as if he had met a celebrity. "What promotion?" Page asked him. "Oh bless my soul, you haven't heard yet?" Page was starting to get annoyed with him. "Clearly not, or I wouldn't of asked you what you were talking about. And I'd love to continue our chat, but I really have to go." As Page opened the door, she looked around, several people were whispering to their neighbours, and the man whom she had talked to was waving at her. "Good luck." He called after her, as she closed the door. Page then apperated to the main entrance of the Ministry of Magic, so that she could see where she had to go and to check in for the appointment. She made her was to the front desk, a podgy looking witch was behind the counter with a pure white robe on and a name tag pinned to her chest that read 'Amelia Hodgeson'. "Hello, I am here to sign in for an appointment on Level 4. My name is Page Quinn." The witch nodded, as she flipped through some files. "OK thank you. You can go up to level 4, room 7ax." Page then took the polished glass lift to the fourth floor. Several witch's and wizards stepped into the lift and got out again on various levels, also Page seemed to notice that a couple of flying pieces of parchments came zooming in and out of the lifts too. The lift rattled and stopped at her floor. A couple of wizards pushed passed her, as they seemed to be in a hurry and walked off at a quick pace down the corridor. Page checked her watch; she had five minutes to go. She looked at the signs, which pointed her to different rooms on the floor itself, and quickly headed to the end of the corridor. Page looked at the door, it read '7ax'. Page gave a huge sigh of relief and knocked on the door. A portly man opened it for her. "Oh hello. You must be Miss Quinn, yes, please come in and take a seat here." Page walked in and sat down on a seat nearest to the door. "We are just about to start, we won't be long." He went up to the front of what seemed to be a brightly lit classroom which had two long tables with seat's around them; he sat down with a couple of other witches and wizards who were all whispering in deep discussion. Page started to feel a bit nervous. Had this something to do with that man in Hogshead? Did he know something that Page didn't? "Right then," said a slim witch with horned rimmed glasses on wearing a fury blue robe. "Page Quinn isn't it?" Page nodded. "You are here because you can tell us something that most seer's like yourself can't. Dumbledore has told us your unique ability to contact souls which have moved on, is this correct?" Page nodded again, afraid of saying anything that would make her seem stupid. "Where did you inherit these abilities?" A wizard asked her, whom Page saw dashing out through the lift. "My mother. Penelope Quinn." This was followed by a lot of murmuring between them. "Did you know your mother was an unregistered seer?" The witch asked her. Page thought it was odd that you had to register to be a seer, but she shook her head all the same. "I see, right now onto more pressing matters. Due to unfortunate rumours that you-know-who is back, we-" "They are not rumours." Page interrupted her. The witch was a little taken back by her outburst but smiled and continued with what she was saying. "Of course, but we are hear to discuss this matter. As reports from anonymous people have come forward claming that you and the young Harry Potter fought him. Is this true?" He quill was inches from her parchment, Page though that this wasn't why she came here. "Yes, we did. It was a duel to the death according to you-know-who, but it was unfortunate on what happened between him and Harry Potter." Page was telling her. "As you know, the boy is protected by various ancient spells, a boundary was formed around the three of us so that his deatheaters would not be able to pass through. And we fought." Page ended it on a weak line. They were all looking at her wide-eyed. Page didn't know what to say. "You-know-who is a very powerful wizard, how did you defeat him?" A portly wizard asked her. "We didn't defeat him. It's quite complicated on how he temporarily lost his powers inside this protection bubble, apparently my mother told me it was because of the moon." Page got startled looks from everyone. "I am sorry I must of miss heard you. You say your mother told you. Before she died you mean?" The witch asked. "No you heard me correctly, my mother had told me hours before. I can communicate with her you see." Puzzled looks swept across the faces of the people starting at Page like she had just come back from the mental ward of St. Mungo's. "Please, would you care to elaborate for us?" "I can talk to souls, my mother gave me this potion, which heightened my awareness to hear them. And if anyone touches my arm or shoulder, they can also talk to him or her. It's mainly Sirius Black, or James and Lilly Potter." "Sirius Black? Surly you don't expect us to believe that you talk to the mass murderer, who killed all those muggles and a handful of wizards? Asked the portly wizard, who now looked as white as a sheet. "Yes I do. I know what you think of him. But he wasn't the Potter's secret keeper, he handed the post down to Peter Pettigrew. Dumbledore has tried to explain this to Mr Fudge I am sure. And I know that none of you believe him. But after saying that, you do believe him that you-know-who is back? So why can't you believe that Peter is alive, and that Sirius didn't kill them muggles?" "Insubordination. That's what this is." Said the witch. "There were witnesses at that terrible night. How dare you say that!" Said the witch had now stood up in anger. Page felt remarkably calm for the situation, which was about to unfold. "Marian calm down. I am sure there is a rational explanation for all of this. Now Page, please continue on what you were saying. How do you know all of this? We would like to-", "No we wouldn't Toby. Page we only wanted you to come here so that we could register you into becoming one of the official seer's of our magical community, we did not, however need to get into this type of discussion. The decision is yours Page. The offer will be held for you if you wish to continue at Hogwarts." Marian said quickly, to stop Toby, the portly wizard from saying anything more. Everybody got up; bid Page good day and left, slamming the door as they went.
Page made it back to Hogwarts at four o'clock. As soon as she got into her office, there was a knock on her door, and Harry, Ron and Hermione came in, looking exhausted and soaked through. "What on earth happened to you lot? And why aren't you in class?" Page asked then sternly. "Malfoy hit us all with a spell, and we ended up in the lake." Harry protested. "We saw you heading across the grounds and we rushed to find you." Hermione used a steaming spell to try dry her clothes. "Hermione try 'Evapouratus.'" Page told her. And within second, they were dry again, although silt had dried into their robes. "So...what happened at the ministry?" Ron asked her, as he pulled up a chair and slouched init. "They wanted to tell me that I have been accepted into the ministry, for Spirit Division." Page told them. "I also ended up trying to tell them about Sirius being innocent and that Wormtail was the Potter's secret keeper, but they didn't want to go into that kind of conversation." Harry stared at her, Hermione gasped Ron wasn't paying much attention and was staring into the fire, oblivious to what Page was saying. "What did they ask? What did you tell them?" she asked her. "Well I told them that I talked to Sirius, and they of course didn't believe me that I did, and I tried to tell them about the switch with Wormtail but they didn't want to hear it." But Harry tried to change the subject. "Why do they want you at the ministry?" Harry asked her. He was leaning on her table, looking as though this wasn't really and interesting topic, but Page felt that he didn't want to hear about why people at the ministry still didn't believe about Sirius being innocent. "They want me to leave Hogwarts and start at the ministry. It's a great job, I'll get to help loads of witches and wizards round the country, and I'll be working alongside the greatest seer's of this century." Page told them. They all looked at her, even Ron who had broke himself free from the crackling wood. "But you can't leave, you have to stay for Harry's sake." Hermione said. "Why would you want to leave in the first place?" "Calm down Hermione, I am not leaving yet. They want me to finish this year at Hogwarts first, and then I'll make up my mind. But to be honest, this is what my mum wanted. And now she's getting her wish." Harry and Ron exchanged looks; Hermione was on the verge of tears, but Page couldn't understand why. "Look, you lot better get to lessons, no doubt I'll get in trouble for keeping you. Remember tomorrow six o'clock outside Hagrid's hut." Page said, trying to shoo them out of her office. They unwillingly picked up their bags and left. Page heard them muttering to each other outside her door, but the muttering faded away as the left to get to their classes. Yet again, Page found herself writing to Remus for advice.
Dear Remus, I don't suppose you have been told, but I have been accepted to join the ministry in Spirit Divisions. They have asked me to finish the year off at Hogwarts and they'll contact me on whether I want to join or not. But Harry, Hermione and Ron haven't taken it that well. Snape tried to stop me today, making up silly excuses as to why I shouldn't be venturing off to the ministry without consulting him first. I don't even think he has that type of authority. And today while I was about to leave the Hogshead for the ministry someone came up to me and congratulated me on getting promoted. Whether this had anything to do with the ministry I have no idea. I hadn't even seen him before. But he seemed to know me. Any way, how's everyone doing in London? Hope you are well. Yours faithfully, Page.
Page tied the letter to Ibid, whom Hagrid had given him back to Page. Ibid gave a quiet hoot to her, and took off through the window and Page watched him soar into the dimming light of the sun and over towards the direction of London.
By eight o'clock that night Page wandered down to the Quidditch pitch so see Harry and his team practise. "No Ron, you missed the second hoop, try and swerve to stop the quaffle." Harry was screaming at him. "Good, Ginny, keep flying in a tighter formation to stop people getting into the middle. TOM, WATCH OUT FOR THAT BLUDGER!" Page saw whom Harry was screaming at. Tom Perkins who was a second year for Gryffindor. He had quickly dodged out of the way, as the bludger was only seconds away from hitting him face on. Page caught Harry's eye and he waved at her. "Right you two, move in and watch out for the bludgers, Ginny speed up and use the wind to out fly Sam. And Ron, mark each hoop, your better then this." Harry was telling them. They did as they were told. Page saw Ginny dive and sped up, she then flew past Sam and then knocked the quaffle from his grasp. Ron was dead centre and was looking at Ginny and trying to anticipate her moves. She then flew straight at the left hoop, where Ron dashed towards her, then she threw it into the centre one. Page clapped along with Harry and the rest of the team. Harry then flew forwards towards Ron to have a private word with him. "Right everyone to the changing rooms." Harry said. He was looking to the right of Page. Severn yellow Hufflepuff's came out of their changing room and were waiting until Harry had finished with the pitch. Page saw them land, and went to meet them. "Nice flying up there you guys. Well done." She said to all of them as they walked past her, looking frozen and wet. Ron walked past her looking morbid and tired. Page grabbed a hold of his arm and led him to a bench. "Listen Ron. I saw you flying up there, your good, but you need some help. I know the match is on Saturday, but how about tomorrow I'll book the pitch and I can help you out?" Ron was looking at her as though he had missed his birthday and hadn't gotten any presents. "No, its OK Professor. Ginny's good, she and Harry will win it for us." Harry came out to see where Ron had gone and sat down on the bench with them. "Ron you did OK. You just need to focus. You did alright in the last match." Harry reassured him. But Ron's face fell. "We only won last time, because you grabbed the snitch in like five minutes, and Ginny was scoring goals like her life depended on it. The quaffle only came my way four times, and I only caught one of them by accident." He stood up and walked to the changing rooms, looking more upset. "Harry, persuade Ron to let me help him. Tell him I can meet him on the pitch at seven. We can finish early tomorrow so that Ron can get a head start on training." Page told him. He looked flustered and very tired. "Ok then, I'll see you tomorrow. Oh and thanks for wanting to help Ron. He just needs more confidence, and it doesn't help with the Slytherins song 'Weasely is our King'." Harry told her. He got up and went off towards the changing rooms while saying goodbye.
As Friday evening approached Page waited for Gryffindor sixth years outside Hagrid hut like she had told them the previous lesson. One by one they all managed to meet her. "Right, now that we are all here, we will split into groups. One group will go with me, the other Hagrid. Ron can you go and get Hagrid for me please?" Ron went to Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door. "I'm commin'." Page heard him through the door. He stepped out with a crossbow and his bloodhound Fang. Page saw nervous looks sweep across the class. Hagrid came to join them and waited for Page to speak. "Right then. Tonight we are looking for Culbedacks, can anyone tell me what they are and what they do?" Instantly Hermione shot her hand up in the air. "Yes. Hermione." "Culbedacks are burrowers. They dig big holes near undergrowth in thickness of woods and forests to trap passers-by. They try to lure people into their traps by a low whistle. Most muggles hear the whistle as someone screaming and run right into the trap, but all of the magical community hear the whistle itself and knows what is making the sound." Hermione said. Ron and Harry were sniggering to each other. The rest of the group looked practically bored by Hermione talking. "Well done Hermione, ten points for Gryffindor. Right now, Hagrid is going to show us where they tend to dig, and all we have to do is study them and to do that we have to stun them then put them into this bag." Page held up a big brown sack, so that they all could see. "But there is a catch, they are black and are very fast, and they might bite you on your legs if they get a chance. They aren't poisonous, but I think that a couple of us will be sent to the hospital wing. So Parvati, Lavender, Ron and Dean are with Hagrid, which leaves Harry, Hermione, Seamus and Neville with me." They got into their groups and set off behind Hagrid into the Dark Forest. The damp grass turned into sludgy, slippery mud as they cleared Hogwarts grounds and into the forest. Within seconds everyone had lit his or her wands. Page had to grab Harry's cloak as she slipped on a rotten log, which leaves and branches had littered the forest floor. Sounds of the snapping of branches that had been stood on echoed into the night. No one talked, but whispered to their partner as they walked two by two filed along behind Hagrid, Page taking up the rear with Harry, as Ron and Hermione were in front of them. Hagrid took them deeper and deeper into the forest. Page looked up and saw nothing but black, as the tree's were becoming thick and tall. "Do you think Hagrid knows where he is taking us?" Page heard Ron ask Hermione. "I suppose so, he knows the forest like the back of his hand. And he knows most of the creatures in here anyway. It's highly doubtful he'll ever get lost." Hermione reassured him. Suddenly everyone stopped. Page carefully went past everyone, counting them as she went. "'Er we are. There's a hole bunch of 'em along this path." Hagrid told her. She turned towards her class. "Right, now stay close together. Hagrid and I will be around and if any one gets in trouble send out some sparks so we can come get you OK? When you have got you Culbedacks, bring them to this clearing here, and put them in the bag. Any questions?" From the wand light, Page saw that no one put their hands up, which to Page wasn't a good sign. "Ok then, stay in your groups and off you go." They all took off in different directions. Page and Hagrid watched them carefully. "Do you think the centaurs will give us any trouble?" Page asked him. "Hmm, not sure ta tell ya the truth. They don't come this far west of the forest, but ya never know. They 'aven't been exactly friendly since Firenze became a teacher at 'Ogwarts. His clan literally kicked him out. But I'll keep a look out." He left her to follow this group and Page ran to catch up with hers. As soon as she neared them, she heard the whistling of the Culbedacks. By the wand light she saw Harry and Neville look under some dense undergrowth, then surprisingly Neville wasn't there anymore. Page hurriedly and safely ran towards him. Neville had fallen in a hole, it was pretty deep; he was covered in mud and he looked up at them with a shocked face. "I am sorry professor. I won't get detention will I?" Harry laughed, as both he and Page tried to help him out. "No Neville, just be careful where you tread. I am guessing you saw one and tried to stun it?" She asks them, while Harry and Neville tried to brush off the rotting leaves off of his robe and trousers. "Well actually no. Neville thought he saw one, but I am sure it was just a bowtruckle." Harry said. There was some rustling in some overgrown bushes behind them, next to the hole that Neville fell in. Harry then randomly cast stunning spells into the bush. It stopped moving and Harry went to check what he had stunned. He held up his wand, and brought out a black furry little Culbedack. "Cool I got one." He said, and went off to put it into the sack. Neville looked a little down. "Why can't I be like Harry, he can do almost anything in Defence Against the Dark Arts. He knows so much more then me. I'm useless at this." Harry came back with a smile on his face. He had heard Neville. "I'm not that good Neville. It was just luck that I stunned it. Come on, let's go over there and try and find one for you." Harry asked him kindly pointing towards a mini clearing. "No thanks Harry. I can do it myself." He retorted and went off in a different direction where Harry pointed out. "What did I say?" Harry asked Page, who was looking at Neville wondering off. "He just feels that he can't keep up with the class. I am sure he'll find one. Just keep an eye out for him. I'm going to check the others." Harry hurriedly walked after Neville while Page went to back to look at the bag where the students were meant to put their stunned Culbedacks. There were five in there already. Lavender and Parvati came creeping out of the undergrowth holding two Culbedacks. "We did it professor." Said Parvati, and she threw her dazed Culbedack into the bag. "They are cute little things aren't they? They look kind of familiar." "That's cos they are related to Nifflers." Hagrid said from behind them, making Parvati and Lavender jump. He peered into the bag. "One more ta go." He said. Hermione and Seamus came towards them. "That was fun wasn't it?" Hermione asked Seamus, who wasn't looking at all thrilled by the experience tonight. Hermione turned to Page, "Professor why are we going to study them, isn't that based in Care of Magical Creatures class?" Hermione asked her. "Yes, it is but there is something special about the Culbedacks, which hasn't got anything to do with Hagrid's lessons." Page told her. "Who are we waiting for?" Lavender asked Parvati. She shook her head. "Look sparks, I see sparks. Over there!" Seamus shouted at them. He pointed in the direction to where Harry and Neville had wondered off. "Harry!" Page said under her breath. "Everyone come with me." Page shouted at her class. They all ran to where the sparks had been seen. Page and Hagrid in front, leading the party. Everyone had their wands out. The surrounding trees and bushes briefly lit up as the lit wands passed them. To Page it felt deadly silent as only their footsteps could be heard. Page found Harry and Neville pleading with some centaurs that had seemed to of chased them into a corner of the clearing. "Leave 'em alone" Hagrid bellowed at the centaurs. They reared up at the sight of Hagrid, and snorted in anger. They then pointed their arrows at him and Page. "How dare you come back here Hagrid." A palomino retorted. He walked towards Hagrid his arrow still pointing at him. "This is our forest. We told you, you have no right to be here." "It's my right if you shoot any of the students. What did they do ta you?" He asked. "They should not be in this part of the woods. All any part for that matter. We knew you would come, the stars showed us." Said a pure black centaur that raised his head to look at the sky. The others followed suit. "Yeah? Well this visit was for a learning purpose. You'll leave 'em alone now Bane." Hagrid told him. Both Harry and Neville had their wands out. To Page's surprise Neville had a concussed Culbedack in his left hand. The centaurs that stood around Harry and Neville walked backwards and lowered the arrows. Harry and Neville then scrambled up and ran behind Hagrid. The centaurs walked off out of the clearing, whispering to each other as they went. They all walked back to Hogwarts grounds feeling scared and a little shaken up. They reached Hagrid's hut and sat down on the damp grass waiting for Page, as she had gone to talk to Hagrid. "Why do you think they came after the boys?" Page asked him. "Dunno ta tell ya the truth. Harry'll be alright. He's tough, been through worse things then a bunch of miserable centaurs. Dunno about Neville though. Never seen him in a worse state like this before." Hagrid looked towards Neville and seemed a little worried. "He should be fine. Thanks for helping us Hagrid." He said to him, as he made his way into his hut. "Don't mention it." He gave her a wink and closed the door. Page turned to her class. "Right then, you can go back up to your dormitories. On Monday we'll take a look at the Culbedacks. Ron, come with me." She said, as he was just about to walk off with Harry and Hermione. When the class left, Harry and Hermione hung back, to wait for Ron. "Ron, go and get your broom, we are going to practise. And don't give me that look." She said, as he looked a little disgruntled. He mumbled what sounded like 'OK' and he walked off.
Fifteen minutes after waiting on the pitch for Ron, he came out of the changing rooms with Harry. Page was Hermione in the stands watching them. They all took off into the air. The cold wind whipped Pages face, the breeze although cold had completely woken her up. She felt fresh and alive with excitement. Harry had brought up the quaffle and passed it to Page. The all joined up, hovering above the hoops. "Ron, we are going to test you out on how well you can anticipate people's moves, and hopefully I am going to teach you new one's." She called to him. The wind had picked up, so Page had to raise her voice in order to be heard. She thought it lucky it wasn't raining. "Right Ron, go to the hoops and do what you would usually do in a practise." He turned around and flew off and glided backwards and forwards over the hoops. Page flew closer towards Harry so she didn't have to shout. "What have you been teaching him?" "I have told him to keep an eye out for different moves that each team makes. The Slytherins usually-" Page cut him short. "I don't care about the Slytherins Harry, what about the Hufflepuff's? What moves do they make to score goals?" Harry seemed a little angry that Page had cut him off, but he knew that time was running short and let it rest. "They score goals like Ginny does. They fake them." Page knew what he was talking about. She had to teach Ron the moves that she was taught when Page was at Hogwarts. Page had been a seeker since third year, until the Gryffindor seeker left the school and Page had to become keeper. "Lets just try out some of Ginny's moves and see how he handles them." She told Harry. He took off and circled around Ron. Page waited until Harry was at the right speed to take the quaffle off him. He dived. Page sped up towards him the wind cutting into her face even more; she stood up on her broom, jumped off it, flipped over and grabbed the quaffle, and within a split second threw it into the goal over the top of Ron's head. "Merlin's beard! That was brilliant." Ron said. Harry dived for the quaffle and came towards Ron and Page clutching it under his right arm. "What was that called?" Harry asked her. He looked surprised, and very windswept. "We used to call it plan B." Page laughed. "We didn't have names for our attacks, we just called them to each other as we flew past one another." "Can you teach us some, we could practise them tonight?" Harry asked her. "Ron what do you think?" "Sure, I'm up for it." He called back. "Right then. Ron I'm going to try and throw the quaffle into the third hoop OK? You have to block it, but I'll be aiming for another one. That's what you have to watch out. See I might try and catch you off guard and throw it into the third hoop, but you have to anticipate my moves. All right, lets go." Harry handed her back the quaffle. Page flew straight up into the air; she spiralled down towards the middle hoop. Ron was watching her every move. Page then aimed for the third hoop like she told him, but she suddenly then jumped off her broom and flipped in mid-air and threw the quaffle towards the second hoop on the right. Ron made a swift move and knocked the quaffle away from the hoop. "Yeah! Look at that! Wow Professor that was bloody brilliant." He called to her, while she dived to get the quaffle.
For the rest of the hour, Page was teaching them some valuable moves for Ron and Harry to teach the rest of the Gryffindor team. When Page started to see Harry's team, come out from the changing rooms and ascend into the cold night air, Page flew down towards Hermione. "Professor, them moves. If Harry learns them, the Hufflepuff's won't stand a chance. But..." Page knew what was coming. Hermione always asked questions to which she though might lead into trouble. Page tried to avoid her on this matter. "Don't worry Hermione. I don't think it's against the rules. Besides Ron needed some advice." She nodded, but gave Page a funny look. "Good luck for tomorrow." Page added and left the Quidditch pitch.