Since I couldn't update for a loooong time, I decided to spoil you guys with another chapter! So, dig in and enjoy! And if you haven't reviewed yet, I'd love it if you did. If you have, thankies, and please review again. Lots of exciting stuff happening in these last few chapters, HAVE FUN!!!
Chappie SevenPatrolling
Two months passed. Sirius tried every chance he got to talk to Reagan, but she wouldn't hear a word of it. He would try to catch her in the hallways, in the library, in the common room, and even in class. This was not looked upon kindly by many of the teachers. In fact, Professor McGonagall lost her temper after the fifth time she'd told Sirius to be quiet.
"Mr. Black! Would you be so kind as to share with the rest of the class what you are so eager to tell to Ms. Whittier? No? Then I suggest you pay attention to what I am teaching, and not Ms. Whittier, or you will have detentions to last you a month!" McGonagall had practically shouted. The rest of the class laughed, then returned their attention back to McGonagall. Sirius sulked in his chair, and Reagan was able to take notes in peace for the rest of the lesson.
He hadn't gotten her to speak to him, until one morning at breakfast. Reagan had been laughing at a joke Potter was making about Professor Binns when Sirius came rushing over, the Daily Prophet clutched in his fist. Reagan was just about to get up and go back to the common room, when Sirius said, "Hang on, Reagan, you may want to read this." Reagan stopped mid-step. Sirius sounded worried, and she wondered what it could be. She leaned over Lily's shoulder and read the headline: "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named strikes again!" She gasped softly then went on to read the article.
You-Know-Who, and his band of Death Eaters have struck in Harlesden, where many wizards dwell. The house of Mr. and Mrs. Bielman, of number fifteen, Welchwood Circle, were found dead in their home late last night, the Dark Mark looming above the residence.
"Sirius! That's like a block from our houses!" Reagan exclaimed, and Sirius nodded solemnly. All around the Great Hall, people were buzzing about the article, and it was the sole topic of conversation in the hallways and in class that day. Some were crying, having known Sarah Bielman, the daughter of the deceased, and some were speculating as to where You-Know-Who would strike next.
In the middle of Charms, Professor McGonagall walked in and spoke softly to Professor Flitwick. He nodded, and McGonagall said a few names, Reagan included. She packed up her things, as did Lily, Lupin, Pettigrew, Potter, and Sirius, whose names were also called. They followed McGonagall to Professor Dumbledore's office in silence, inwardly wondering what this could be about.
Once inside, McGonagall told them all to be seated, and left them there. Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, looking very somber. "Hello. Please, make yourselves comfortable." Dumbledore said, motioning to a dozen chairs in front of his desk. Reagan sat in between Lupin and Lily, worried. A few more students were brought in by McGonagall. After everyone had been seated, Dumbledore spoke again.
"Now, I remember telling you all, that once you became of age, you would be allowed to join in the ranks for the fight against Voldemort. I have spoken to some of your families, and they have agreed that you are all ready and prepared to join. All that remains is your decision. You may choose not to, and if that is your decision, you may leave now. But if you choose to stay, please remain here, so that we may discuss what is ahead of us."
Not one person moved from their chair. Reagan hardly breathed, so as not to miss a syllable of what Dumbledore had to say. "The Order of the Phoenix is a group of wizards joined together to stop Voldemort. If you so choose to join it, I must warn you about a few things. It is very dangerous. You may be captured, tortured, even killed. You will be tested with your loyalty, with your strength. Many tempting offers will come from Voldemort. But if you can rise above them, we may very well be triumphant against him." Dumbledore looked around at all the students, then spoke again. "Now, none of you will be on full duty until you have left school for good this summer, but you must start your training and help to protect your fellow classmates from any danger. Patrols will be selected every night to guard the grounds. There will normally be around six patrols per night."
Dumbledore went on to explain how exactly to patrol, and what to look for on the grounds. He explained how dangerous it was, and how he could only trust the students sitting in front of him with these tasks. The meeting ended with Dumbledore pairing off students for patrol that very night. Reagan was put with Lupin, to patrol the entrance to the castle from Hogsmeade.
Reagan sat on a large boulder and tried to finish her essay on Appearance Potions. She slammed the book shut after a few minutes, and Lupin looked up at her. "I'll never understand this!" She exclaimed, tossing the book at her side. Lupin walked over, re-opened the book, and sat down next to her. "Here, I'll help you." He said, and Reagan leaned in. "Now, all you have to know for appearance potions is that the cooking times make it simple or complex. The longer you leave a potion to cook, the longer it will last, and the better it will look." He said, showing her a picture of the different types of times and potions. He was explaining how to simmer a hair-lengthining potion just right, when Reagan heard a rustle in the bushes right behind them.
She quickly grabbed her wand and spun around. The bush shook violently, then someone leaped out of it, taking both Reagan and Lupin to the hard ground below. Their attacker laughed loudly, and Reagan kicked out at him. "Padfoot, you idiot!" Lupin yelled, pushing Sirius into the boulder. Reagan brushed the dirt off her robes and kicked at Sirius again. "Hey!" He said, laughing. "You deserve a good kick up the-" Sirius laughed again, jumping back. "Dumbledore just sent me to tell you guys you're being relieved, and you're supposed to go inside."
Reagan collected her books, and hurried off to the castle. She wasn't fast enough, because Sirius quickly caught up to her. "Reagan, come on. The least you can do is talk to me, let me explain." He cried, trying to grab her arm. "Don't touch me, Sirius." Reagan warned, pushed him away and ran up the rest of the way.
A few days later, Reagan got very sick with the flu, so luckily, Potter had to cover her shift where she was paired with Sirius. She'd been throwing up into a bucket all night, while Lily kept running up to the room to ask if she needed anything. Reagan slept throughout most of the next day. When she woke the next morning, she felt better.
Unfortunately, she'd been paired with Sirius again for patrol, and she set out that night with her wand at the ready, if Sirius dared open his mouth. He kept surprisingly quiet for at least twenty minutes, when he couldn't stand it anymore. "Reagan, you've got to talk to me sometime. I mean, we're out here for three hours tonight. I'll die if I don't have anyone to talk to." Sirius pleaded. "Fine!" Reagan said. "What is it you want to talk about, Black?" Sirius smiled at her. "So, erm, how about those Cannons?" Reagan rolled her eyes, then went back to watching the Forbidden Forest, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
"Reagan?" Sirius asked softly. "What?!" Reagan yelled, spinning on him, looking livid. Sirius looked down at the ground. "Do you think there's any way you could ever forgive me?" He asked. "Nope." Reagan said simply. "It's your fault anyway, Whittier!" Sirius spat, and Reagan laughed out loud. "How? Did I push you onto Atwell's lips? I don't think so!" She replied. "No, but if you hadn't been flirting with Ferguson, that never would have happened!" Sirius said, punching a nearby tree.
Suddenly, from nearby, Reagan heard somebody shout "Stupefy!" and then, Sirius was lying on the ground, out cold. Reagan searched with her eyes, then heard the same cry, but dodged just in time to see a red light dash by her. The cry was uttered again, and Reagan felt the spell hit her, and she fell, and darkness closed in around her.
