To myself, this chapter sucks. But I decided to post it anyways. I hope a few more people review.
Chapter five:"Anything else your keeping from us?"
The three decided to accompany Ceo to McGonagall's office, as she remembered Professor Dumbledore saying he needed to speak with her. Peter caught up with them after they checked the Deputy Headmistress's office, then headed to the Teachers Lounge. They stopped just outside it, and Ceo motioned for them to be quiet, so they could hear the people inside talking. It was obviously McGonagall and Dumbledore.
"I also noticed, Minerva, that the mass attacks, and those ominous ones, are usually not pure-blooded wizards. He targets squibs and Muggle-born mostly." Dumbledore said, his voice calm and steady.
"He is rising to power too fast, Albus." McGonagall said anxiously. "His followers, his Death Eaters, are becoming stronger and using more force. Did you hear about poor Cesare Wilkins? Tortured so bad that St. Mungo's can't do an once for him except make him comfortable. His old school friends are now his cronies."
Peter gave a rather small squeak, and Ceo finally gave a loud knock on the door, hearing enough. There were hurried footsteps and McGonagall opened the door wide enough for Ceo to see Dumbledore sitting on one of the squashy armchairs, the Daily Prophet in his hands.
"Yes, Miss Hild, Mr. Potter, Black, Lupin, Pettigrew?" She asked rather harshly.
"Er...I wanted to ask the Headmaster something," Ceo said, blinking once. Dumbledore motioned for only her to come in, and the scoffs of the others were cut off by the shutting door.
"Yes?" Dumbledore asked serenely.
"Hagrid wanted some volunteers to go into the Forbidden Forrest and see if he could find anymore Unicorn hair caught in the branches. We were wondering if we could join him?" Ceo asked in a rush. McGonagall made to say something, but the Headmaster held up a hand and silenced her.
"If you are with Hagrid, I don't see the problem," he said, getting to his feet and walking to one of the cabinets on the other side of the room. He rummaged around in them for a while, before producing a very worn looking leather scabbard with an equally worn looking short sword in it. Ceo herd McGonagall's intake of breath as he held it out for Ceo to take.
"I found this the other day. It might prove useful if a wand ever fails you. It makes the wearer unbeatable." Ceo took the sword with shaky hands, then looked skeptically up at Dumbledore.
"What's the catch?" she asked, knowing that nothing was this simple in the wizarding world.
"Being killed and being beaten are two different things," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling, though his face was quite passive. "Make sure to take a lantern!" He called, as Ceo turned and bade farewell; the door shutting with a snap behind her.
"What's this?" Sirius asked, making a grab for the sword, but Ceo jerked it out of his reach.
"Nothing. He said I could go." They walked down the near deserted corridors in silence for a while.
"Did you hear was McGonagall was saying about Voldemort?" Ceo finally asked, casting a sideways glance at Sirius, who was walking to her left.
"She was talking about Voldemort?" Peter quipped, looking totally confused.
"No," James drawled in a sarcastic voice. "They were talking about a Muggle."
"Oh?"
"No!" Remus snapped, giving an almost feral snarl.
"Right, well..."Ceo sputtered surprised at his attitude. Then mentally smaking herself, she realized it was near full moon. "Did you hear what they said about the pure-bloods?"
"Yeah," James nodded. "Lilly-foot," he said to the Fat Lady, who opened up to reveal the portrait hole. They all clambered inside and sat down in the closest chairs besides the fire. Most students were on the grounds having snow wars, or in the Great Hall loitering.
"Good thing none of us are Muggle-born," Sirius said, albeit uncomfortably. James cast him a sympathetic look, but then Peter broke Ceo's train of thought.
"Not me!" He said, beginning to bite his fingernails. "My dad was Muggle-born!"
"But not you," Remus rolled his eyes and rooted around his pockets, until he found a slab of chocolate in which he ate hungrily.
"Yeah, but still. How far back does your mums side go?" Ceo asked, kicking off her shoes.
"About four generations." Peter shrugged.
"That's not much," Ceo pulled a face. Sirius looked over at her, an unreadable expression on his face.
"And what about you, Blackmailer?" He asked in an expressionless voice. "How pure is your blood?"
"I am distantly related to Merlin," She said in a rather indifferent manner. She pulled out her willowy wand and with a wave produced a tray of tea. She took a cup and after adding dismal amounts of milk and sugar, took a sip.
"Really?" James asked, interested.
"Yup."
"Wow. My family goes back to the Medieval ages, I think. Somewhat related to the dilapidated Howard line."
"The Howard's were magical?" In Primary school, Ceo was top marks in History, finding the old days fascinating. "I never knew."
"Yeah? Well Sirius here has a very ancient blood line. Did you know he is related to Narcissa?" Peter seemed excited now, but quickly fell to the floor with boils on his face. They all looked around to see Sirius sitting sideways in his chair, whistling innocently. Ceo gave him a dirty look before muttering something under her breath. Soon Peter reemerged and then made a hasty exit to the dormitory. James shrugged and grabbed the other cup of tea.
0-0
Ceo pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, her body wracked with giant shivers. Alongside her right, was Hagrid, stamping with his large feet and talking about the different animals in the Forrest. On her left was Sirius and Remus, behind them were James and Peter. The small sword Dumbledore had given Ceo thumped against her leg with each step and she wondered why she even took it.
Already they had five unicorn hairs that they had found on various branches and on the ground. Hagrid had mentioned that sometimes the centaurs would take them, or the pixies that liked to hide the otherwise useful remedy. So, they were supposedly lucky.
"There's a hair!" Peter suddenly called, they all turned to see him pointing at a strand of silvery hair hanging off a low branch of one of the large trees. Hagrid turned around and made to grab it off of the branch, but it suddenly disappeared. They all blinked, and Ceo raised her wand. After a quick incantation, a cloaked form materialized.
"What the bloody hell?" Sirius yelped, and jumped back. Hagrid, however, didn't seem the least bit perturbed. He reached his large hand out and snagged the cloak off of the person.
"Moody!" Hagrid sighed, throwing the silvery cloak back at the person. Ceo took an involuntary step back, not prepared for the sight of this man. He was rather tall, but his face was very scarred and grizzled. The tip of his nose was missing, and he had a very large electric blue eye whizzing around in his left eye socket. Looking down, Ceo noticed a wooden leg. She couldn't help herself, she shuddered.
"What are yeh doin' 'ere Mad Eye?" Hagrid's voice sounded exasperated.
"First I want to know who broke my cloak!" The man; Mad Eye Moody, growled, his eye turning to stare at Ceo. "How did you do that? The only other person I know who can un-do an invisibility cloak is Dumbledore. Explain yourself or your buying me a new one." Sirius, James, Remus, Peter, and Hagrid looked at Ceo, their eyes wide.
"I...I...the guy who sold me my cloak told me."
"A guy sold you an invisibility cloak? Where?" Now, Moody's eyes were narrowed suspiciously.
"Er...in Diagon Alley." Ceo quickly lied.
"How much?"
"Fifty Galleons."
"There is no way someone on Diagon Alley would seel you a cloak for so cheap." Moody stated, and turned so both eyes were staring directly into Ceo's own black ones. Instantly, she knew what he was doing and she fixed an image of guy walking up and offering her a cloak in her mind.
"I suppose you're telling the truth," Moody said reluctantly. "What's your name?"
"Ceo."
"Ceo, you could be a valuable asset as an Auror, you know."
"Yes, I have been told so. McGonagall and I discussed it last year. I am taking the necessary courses."
"Hmm." Without further ado, Moody turned and walked away, ignoring the calls from the group to come back. When he disappeared, they lookedflabbergasted at Ceo.
"Blimey, anything else your keeping from us?" James demanded.
0-0
"Hey, you." Sirius looked up from his notes and frowned at Ceo, who was standing in front of him.
"What is it?" He asked, shoving the book away and crossing his arms over his chest.
"Doesn't that map of yours have a few secret passages outside of Hogwarts, and to Hogsmead?" She asked, flopping herself down on the squashy settee next to him.
"Keep it down!" James hissed from the other side of the table they were sharing.
"Why?" Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I feel like a firewhiskey."
"...You don't look like one." James laughed at his own joke.
"You want to go all the way to Hogsmead at midnight to go get a firewhiskey?" Remus asked, who was on the other side of Ceo.
"Yeah, thats it."
"I'm not taking her." James said instantly, grabbing the nearest book and shoving his nose in it. Ceo looked over to Remus who was suddenly busy scratching away at his notes. Sirius looked like a deer caught in wand-light.
"I could go for one myself, I guess." He finally admitted, standing up. Ceo followed suit.
"Anyone else want one?" She asked, pulling her cloak from her pocket.
"Sure, I'll take one," James said. He pulled his own cloak out and handed it to Sirius, before taking out the worn bit of parchment Ceo knew to be the Marauders Map.
"Get me one!" Lily called from across the common room.
"Sure thing!" Ceo called back. She and Sirius quickly ducked out of the portrait hole, and after Sirius checked the map, proceeded to a hidden passage way behind a large mirror.
"So," Ceo started, as they began as they started trekking through the narrow tunnel. "Why is it that you always go to James' house on holiday?"
"Because he is my friend," Sirius said curtly.
"Well, don't your parents mind?" Ceo pressed.
"No."
"Why not? My parents would have a nervous strop if I stayed at Lily's house all the time."
"My parents aren't normal. And I don't want to talk about them." The tone in his voice clearly said that the matter was closed. Knowing when she lost a battle, Ceo became quiet and they didn't speak the rest of the way.