"Your cousin is the one at fault." Liz said hotly.
The common room was relatively empty, a few students on the couch near the fire and the three of them at one of the larger tables, books and papers scattered around. The essay from McGonagall about Vanishing Spells had turned out to be more complex than they had thought, and nearing the end of their free hour even her parchment was only partially filled.
It didn't help that Liz and she had been having the same argument since last night, and it was grinding on her nerves, but neither of them was giving in, not on this topic. It only got worse when Liz returned from visiting Hagrid, who, according to her, was in shambles about the whole situation.
Tightening her hold around the quill, she kept her eyes on her book. "He isn't according to the school governors."
She could hear Liz grit her teeth from across the table.
"Hagrid told them not to insult the hippogriffs and your cousin messed up. That's on him and only him."
"We will see." Finishing her sentence, she tried to focus on reading the next. She had wanted to finish the essay before their double Potions class. Who knew what they could expect from Snape in their fifth year.
"He is the one that can't control himself enough to listen to his teacher." Liz continued angrily. "He is the one that made the mistake. They are the consequences of his own actions."
"We will see." Clenching and unclenching her jaw, she breathed out through her mouth.
"They can't punish Hagrid for this." Liz shook in her seat. "You can actually do something about it. Why won't you? You know as well as I that this is unreasonable."
Her grip around her quill tightened, enough for her to feel it crack under her fingers, but she kept quiet, not sure if she could keep her voice calm. They had argued enough. Liz had made her point, she had made her point, but Liz wouldn't let it rest.
"Damnit, answer me!" Liz cried out and it was the last drop.
Jerking her head up, she glared at her friend, just as viciously as she had done for the last hour. She had been patient for long enough.
"Hagrid has it coming. He is irresponsible and brainless, and if you think there is even the slightest chance of the Malfoys backing down on this, you're right there with him."
"It wasn't his fault!" Liz hissed back, leaning forward. "Your cousin…"
"It doesn't matter what my cousin has or hasn't done." Straightening her back, she made sure to look down on Liz. "The governors will decide the next course of action and we both know what they are going to do."
"It wasn't Hagrids fault." Liz stubbornly stared up at her.
"Hagrid thought it wise to put together a dozen hippogriffs and a class of third years." She said, sneering. "He is lucky that pet didn't do any worse or he'd be back in Azkaban."
Liz pressed her lips together. "It was a mistake, his first class. He knows better now."
"But that only proves my point, doesn't it?" She tilted her head. "First class and this is his course of action? He doesn't have the mental capacity to be a teacher."
"He isn't stupid!" Liz jerked forward.
"He never even finished his own schooling!" Reacting back just as quickly, her hand shook slightly and she clenched it. "He doesn't have his O.W.L.s and he doesn't even have a wand! We are more qualified to teach than he is."
"He knows everything about magical animals." Liz said, placing emphasis on every word. "You know how much he has taught me? Four years with him taught me just as much as Kettleburn did! He's one of the kindest people I've ever met."
"The worst injury in Kettleburns class was a burn from a salamander." Her tone was blank. "And Kettleburn didn't have a criminal record."
"He was released from Azkaban!"
"That doesn't take away that they thought they had to put him there in the first place." She pulled up her nose. "He still has his expulsion from the school, and now he teaches at it? It's preposterous and only shows us how low this school has sunk."
"Doesn't matter now he's going to get fired, does it?" Liz glared at her.
"Well, actions have consequences." She said sarcastically. "Or does that not count for the people you like?"
"He will correct his mistakes." Liz swallowed. "He will learn from them."
"He shouldn't have made such an idiotic mistake in the first place." She said firmly. "Anyone in possession of reasonable logic would have known that it was a situation set up to fail. Why didn't he?"
"He is learning." Liz hissed.
"He shouldn't have to." She said, glaring back. "Students at Hogwarts deserve better than this. Maybe Hagrid can find a job at some second rate school."
"You know he can't." Liz clenched her fists. "After this he definitely won't."
Shrugging, she turned back to her parchment. "I don't care."
Her answer struck the wrong chord. Liz shoved the chair she was sitting on back, quickly raising herself up and slamming both of her hands on the table. It drew the attention of the group sitting on the couches, a few turning around at the noise.
"He deserves this job and I stand behind him!" Liz's face turned darker. "And if I have to, I will stand against you."
The sound of her quill breaking was masked by Liz's voice, but the pieces dug in her hand when she bawled it tighter. If she hadn't been holding her quill, she would have been holding her wand.
"Really?" Leaning back in her chair, she knew she sounded threatening. "We both know this can go a lot easier. You told me that little bit yourself. One letter and everyone will know Hagrid isn't actually… big boned."
Liz froze instantly, blankly staring down at her. "I told you that in confidence."
It stayed silent between them for a full minute before she lied.
"I sent the letter this morning."
While she had written a letter this morning, it was still very much stuck between the pages of her Ancient Runes book. There was no chance the information would actually add anything to the situation, so she had been hesitant to send it. The last thing she wanted was for the Malfoys to think she was incompetent, delivering them information that had no use. It would bring a bad reflection on her.
But Liz didn't know that.
Liz stared at her with wide eyes, before turning to her books, shoving them in her bag with shaking hands.
"If Hagrid gets fired because of you, I'll never speak to you again." She said, not looking at them. "You can piss off."
Following Liz with her eyes, she didn't blink when the doors of the common room were thrown close so loudly the group sitting by the fire stopped talking for the second time to turn and look. That was it? Never speak to her again? Because of Hagrid and an animal? Was that what their friendship was worth?
The silence that followed was excruciating, which was apparent by Cassius, who gaped after Liz at first and then looked at her, eyes wide.
"She doesn't mean that." Cassius said quickly, still glancing between the common room entrance and her. "It was nothing…"
"Yes, she does." Interrupting him, she looked down at her hand, unclenching her fist. A few pieces of her quill had dug in so deep a couple drops of blood rose to the surface when she pulled them out.
"You…" Cassius hesitated. "You weren't serious, right?"
Grabbing her handkerchief out of her pocket, she pressed it to her palm, not giving him an answer. The morning was already turning out to be a lost cause. She had figured he had the same opinion as her, if not worse. When he heard Hagrid was part giant Cassius had been the one that hadn't dared to look at him for over a year.
"Black?"
Sighing, she looked up. "I thought you would be the person with the least objections. Growing fond of the gamekeeper, Cassius?"
"What? No!" Cassius exclaimed, looking surprised. "No, really, I'm not."
She gave him an unconvinced stare.
Moving a hand through his hair, he swallowed nervously. "I'm not defending him, he's part giant. It's only by Liz's request that I've kept it secret for this long, you know how she is. And he has never hurt her before."
Cassius halted to take a breath, biting his lip.
"But…" he shrugged. "But it was her secret."
He gave her a glance, but before she could respond the bell rang. Grabbing her books and paper, placing them in her bag, she stayed silent until they exited the common room. The Potions class was close, they didn't need a lot of time to get there.
"Do you really think I would pick Liz's secret over the injury of my cousin?" She raised her eyebrows at him.
"No, I mean… I understand…" Cassius looked frustrated.
Halting her step, she stood still in the middle of the empty, dungeon corridor, the Potion classroom just a few steps ahead. Cassius stopped a step in front of her, looking surprised.
"You would have done the same if it were any member of your family that was injured." She said firmly. "And they would have done the same for you."
He let out a weighted sigh. "Yes, but Liz wasn't raised like that. If Hagrid does get fired because of her, she'll never forgive you. Or herself. She trusted us to keep it a secret and doesn't that mean something too?"
"We'll see once we get there." She said, moving her hand through her hair.
"You really sent it already?"
Letting out a sigh, she leaned against the stone wall. "What do you think?"
"You didn't?" Cassius stated hesitantly.
"It won't change anything." Her voice was calm. "I checked. Lucius isn't a governor anymore and the information isn't relevant to the case. I'll look like a fool if I send it. I should know better by now."
"Then why did you tell Liz you did?" He frowned at her.
"Why is my friendship worth less than a half-giant and his pet?" She shot back. "Why is her reaction to me taking the side of my family that she'll never talk to me again?"
At that Cassius only shrugged slightly, his shoulders sagging. "You know how she is. Remember the mice? Sometimes it makes sense to her, but not to others."
"Hmm." She observed the empty hallway. Liz was special, but she had never been difficult. At least, not to her.
"I'm not going to send it, but I'm not apologising."
"You're not?" Interrupting her, he took a step closer.
"I said what I said and so did Liz. I will not go back on my word."
"Right," he said awkwardly, a grin developing on his face. "Thanks, Black."
"Are you two done?" All of a sudden Liz's voice rang from ahead. "Class is starting."
Startled, they turned around to see the back of Liz's hair moving out of sight and into the classroom, door slamming close behind her. They were the last to arrive? Everyone must have been in hysterics for Snape's first lesson.
"... Right." Cassius stared at the door, gesturing at her to go first.
Walking into the room, she sat herself down next to Sterling, who looked up in surprise. Liz was already seated next to Burke, a combination that clashed more often than not, but that left Cassius to pick his seat somewhere else. She needed a break from both of them.
"Settle down." Snape said grimly, waving his wand at the door.
The moment his voice rang out the room already fell quiet, fifth year Potions one of the most dreaded classes at Hogwarts.
"Before we start this lesson," Snape moved to the front, cloak billowing behind him. "I think it appropriate to mention that in less than ten months you will be taking one of the most important examinations of your life, during which you will prove what you have learned over the course of five years."
The entire class held their breaths. Every teacher so far had said something about O.W.L.s, but Snape made it sound like it was either this, or death.
"I know some of you are rather… moronic." Snape's eyes flickered to Towler at the front. "I still expect you to scrape an Acceptable in your O.W.L.s, or you'll have to suffer my… displeasure."
With a wave of his wand, the instructions for today's potion became visible on the board, the Draught of Peace, but nobody dared move.
"Many of you will cease studying with me after this year," Snape went on. "I only take the best into my N.E.W.T class. See it as either a motivational tool to try and drag yourself out of the pit you have dug," Snape's eyes flickered to the Weasley twins, staying there, "or accept that we only have one more year to go before that happy moment of farewell."
One twin actually nodded, the other digging his elbow in his side.
"You will make this potion individually," Snape looked at the clock. "Starting now."
Everyone burst out in movement, pushing to get a sight of the board or flicking the pages of their books to get to the right one.
Letting her eyes go over the list of instructions, she nodded to herself. The Draught of Peace was difficult, the pieces needed to be chopped precisely, measured, quantified, and put in at just the right time and temperature. Stirring was never more important, and even the heat of the flames had to be lowered to exactly the right level for a specific number of minutes before the final ingredient was added. Any fault in those could ruin it beyond saving. But it wasn't impossible at their current level.
It would be a good distraction.
Halfway through the lesson her potion was coming along fine. She tried harder than she usually did, making sure every step was read twice and actually well thought out. Though next to her, Sterling was a mess. It was clear he wasn't one for Potions.
"You have to shake it." She couldn't help herself, pointing out the mistake he was about to make.
"What?" Surprised, Sterling looked up from his cauldron, which began to admit dark green steam. A flash of mint green eyes was visible behind the curls.
"Give it to me." Taking a quick glance at Snape, who was busy hissing at one of the Weasleys, she lowered the temperature of Sterlings cauldron with one hand and grabbed the glass jar with stewed mandrake with her other. "You have to shake it until they start to soften and you see liquid coming out."
Shaking it vigorously, she showed him the moisture on the inside. "Now add until the potion turns red."
Pushing the container back in his hands, she turned back to her own cauldron, adding three pieces of mandrake herself until her potion turned turquoise. Almost done.
"Thanks." His voice reached her ear, but she waved it off, her potion turning purple before her eyes. Out of everyone she had talked to that morning, Sterling was the least troublesome.
He didn't say more and neither did she, focused on the last few steps.
"A light silver vapour should now be rising from your potion." Snape's voice rang out.
Not long after Snape said it a silver mist rose from hers, making her raise her hand. "Professor Snape."
"Miss Black," Snape made his way over, observing the shimmering mist. "Perfect, ten points to Slytherin."
He wasn't done talking or Sterling's cauldron started to expel a slight vapour. Not thick enough to be perfect, but most certainly a successful potion.
"And ten points for Mr Sterling." Snape blinked at the cauldron before turning around.
"Fill one flagon with your potion with your name and place it on my desk," Snape said to the classroom. "Homework: twelve inches of parchment on the properties of moonstone," the class burst out in groans, a green spark spitting up to the ceiling out of a cauldron in the back, "and its uses in potion making, handed in tomorrow."
The groans intensified, some even protesting, but Snape sent them all a glare and made his way to his desk. "If you're done you can leave."
Reaching for a flagon inside her bag, she filled it up with potion. Placing it on Snape's desk, she cleaned her workplace, Sterling following one step behind. She was out of the door before anyone. The library seemed like the right place to spend her afternoon, finishing everything she could, and she wasn't going to risk it with Cassius and Liz at the moment.
"Black, please wait!"
A raspy voice followed her into the corridor, making her turn around. Sterling was running up to her, books in hand and bag slipping off his shoulder. What did he want?
"May I join you?" Stopping in front of her, he grabbed a hold of his bag strap.
Raising her eyebrow, she gave him a quick glance. He stood at the same height as her, if the hair counted, and, as Cassius often had said in second year, he did have a Seekers built. Even three years later. Lean, if not a bit skinny. Maybe a little underfed.
"I'm going to the library to finish my essays." She said adamantly. "I don't have time for talking."
Sterling shrugged, taking a small step forward and staring at her.
She sighed, but caught up. Better with two than alone. "Fine."
Making their way up the stairs and to the library, Sterling never said a word, silently observing the paintings around them. The ones that interested him most would hold his attention the longest, his head turning slightly to keep looking at them while moving.
"I'll give you my Potions essay if you give me yours on the giant wars." Walking into the library, she took place in the back. Cassius better be right about him being interested in history.
Sterling nodded silently, sitting down across from her.
The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker and longer, and Quidditch training began taking its toll on everyone. Homework became a constant stressor and rumour had it that it was only going to get worse. It created a divide between two types of people; the ones glued to their library seat and the ones that believed O.W.L.s weren't necessary for a good career.
Most of the time it left her with Sterling in the library, now Liz was childishly ignoring her and Cassius could only handle a certain amount of time in between books. It left her with focus and a well kept schedule, even if the days started to bleed together in a repentance of flipping pages and silence.
On another rainy day close to the end of October, listening to Professor Sprout explain their focus for the day, she couldn't help but think about the full moon she was going to miss again. One day before Samhain, it had to be some kind of bad luck that rooted its way in her life after Sirius escaped. Unlike the year before, she didn't think another opportunity as perfect as a whole month of school free relaxation was going to present itself.
Could she expect Potter to harm Lupin in the last month of the year? Third time was the charm, right?
"Put your gloves on, because today we're tending Aconite." Sprout said, waving her gloves around making sure everyone saw them. "Aconite is useful in many potions, but it's very toxic. Poisoning will result in a failing grade and a visit to the Hospital Wing."
That got her attention. They were going to get graded on this? Her eyes immediately tried to find anyone to work with, whoever was closest. Burke had come in with her and was standing to her left, guessing what she thought the moment their eyes met. A decisive nod later, they had their partner.
"Before we begin, I will demonstrate proper safety precautions."
Sprout continued talking about grabbing the plant by its roots and not by the leaves, and showcasing the way of folding the sleeves into their gloves.
"Pss, Black." Burke leaned closer, her eyes on the Professor. "What's happening with you and Tuttle?"
Her eyes flickered down to Burke, taken aback at the unsubtle nature of the question. It was obvious people had noticed by now, it had been two months, but Burke was the first to actually question her on it. Glancing across the table, Liz and Cassius stood next to each other, both focused on Sprout's explanation.
"Why'd you ask?" She whispered back, tearing her eyes away from them.
Burke gave her an unimpressed stare, ignoring the hint. "I'm not blind. It's clear something is going on and I want to know."
Folding her own sleeves into her gloves, she responded. "It doesn't concern you."
Rolling her eyes, Burke huffed. "It does if she keeps sitting next to me during Potions. I can't hear any more rants about some weird animal. I have a limit and it has been reached."
"Switch with Spindle or Raywood." She kept her eyes on Sprout, who was cutting her roots in cube forms, showing them where to stop.
"You're kidding." Burke grumbled, twirling a piece of her hair around her manicured finger. "I can't believe you haven't noticed. They started dating during the summer. It wouldn't be as bad if I wasn't single, but sadly." She shrugged, sighing dramatically.
"Can't you set me up with Diggory? You're both prefects right?" Burke's smile wasn't completely innocent.
"Diggory?" Frowning, she tried to remember when she had even last seen the boy.
"I like Quidditch players." Burke said, finally pulling her own gloves out of her pocket. "Plus, Diggory is handsome."
"Aren't there enough Quidditch players in our house?" Her eyes followed Sprout as she left the greenhouse to the adjacent glass house, telling them to prepare while she grabbed the rest of the plants.
"Nah," Burke said, struggling with her sleeves. "Flint, Bole, and Derrick are obviously not my type. And Blechtley is taken by his psycho girlfriend. I'm not getting in between that."
"What about Cassius?" Raising her eyebrow, she looked at Burke wrinkling her nose.
"No, too close to home, if you know what I mean." Giving her a long look, up and down, Burke gave her a flirtatious smirk. "Out of our team you're definitely the most appealing. What do you say, Black, am I your type? We could give Daisy and Amalia a run for their money."
Fluttering her eyelashes dramatically, Burke burst out giggling at her blank face.
"Just see if you can get Diggory's type or something." Burke said heartily. "I've been running into him here and there, trying to start a conversation, but he's always busy. And the dark circles under his eyes aren't doing anything for him."
Rolling her eyes, she watched Sprout come back with a few pots floating behind her. "I'll think about it."
Burke opened her mouth, she hoped to thank her for even thinking of cooperating in this ridiculous effort, but she was interrupted by Sprout, who placed the Aconite plants on the table with a wave.
"As it seems, some of the plants have died because of the sudden drop in temperature." Sprout looked troubled as she looked around the room. "We don't have enough to go around even if I put you in pairs."
Whispers went around and a foreboding feeling settled over the room.
"Mr Jordan, you're joining Mr Colten and Mr Sterling." Sprout pointed at the two Slytherins in the back, the Gryffindor making a sound of protest. "Oh, don't give me that look. I know it was you that overwatered the Dittany last time. Go on."
Grumbling, Jordan picked up his bag and shuffled to the other side of the table. For the next minute Sprout moved people around, not only mixing the two houses, but also the levels of skill. Then her name was called.
"Miss Black, you can join Mr and Mr Weasley." That was all Sprout said to her, but it felt like the world froze. She had to be kidding, right?
Professor Sprout was, in fact, not kidding.
"Good luck." Burke gave her a wave before moving to the side, joining Johnson and Cygnet.
Scowling, she grabbed her own bag, pushing her way to the two heads of red hair. As if Herbology wasn't enough, now she was also outnumbered. A thought about shoving one of those leaves into one of their mouths raced through her mind, but she dismissed it. Too many witnesses.
"Black." "Black." Two voices rang out and she looked to find two faces as annoyed with her as she felt with them. Great start.
"Weasley's." Throwing their attitude back at them, she crossed her arms. Sprout had already distributed the plants and the questions they needed to answer, both on the table in front of them.
"How about you just do the questions?" One of the Weasleys shoved the parchment her way. "You heard Sprout, you touch one of those leaves and we're failing."
The other gave her a glance. "You don't exactly have the best track record."
Glaring, she pushed it back at the first. "I still have a better grade than either of you, answer your own questions."
"Don't be so difficult…" One had more to say, but the other stopped him.
"Everyone has already started." A quick glance around told them he was right. "Three questions, we each do one and the other two can cut at the same time."
Tilting her head, she rolled her eyes when they looked her way, but didn't disagree. Though she did reach for the knife first. Magical plants despised her but, while Aconite was dangerous, it most certainly wasn't magical. Not that the Weasley's would pay attention to that.
The following minutes were spent in silence, one Weasley squinting at her knife work, trying to find anything to complain about, she assumed. The other was scribbling on the parchment, not even bothering to look up. She mostly tried to ignore the faint narcotic odour that rose from the Aconite, which was, for want of a better word, disgusting.
"That looks like a rectangle." The Weasley next to her commented, pointing at one of her cubes.
"It's a cube." Focused on her hands, she smirked. "And you mean cuboid, not rectangle."
"Whatever." A grumble came from her right, but he didn't continue. "It looks bad."
"There." Looking down at her third of the roots, neatly cut, she smiled fakely. "Your turn."
He narrowed his eyes at her, but pressed his lips in a thin line and took her place, focusing on his portion of the root. She couldn't help but to look over his shoulder, which wasn't hard as they were shorter than their older brother, criticising his work too.
"Now, that's a cuboid." She commented on the last piece he had cut and shaped.
"It is not." Shooting her an annoyed look, he scoffed. "And maybe I could focus better if you would stop breathing so loudly in my ear."
Glaring, she took a step back. "As if, Weasley. The last thing I would want is to smell you."
"You…" Flushing, Weasley began to turn, interrupted by his brother.
"Done!" Standing up, he grabbed the knife out of his brother's hand, pushing him towards the parchment and quill. "Looks great, I'll finish."
Still glaring at her, Weasley passed her and dropped himself on the stool, bending over the questions. He seemed to forget his annoyance quickly, scribbling and crossing things on the paper.
The Weasley cutting the root now was actually doing a worse job than his brother, but she kept her mouth shut. He seemed to be fine with ignoring her and she was tired of the lesson already. Her grade wasn't going to plummet because of this alone, but normally lessons like these were supposed to be her safety net for the final exam.
"Fuck, Spinnet!" A shout came from the side and they turned to see Katie Spinnet bent over the table, breathing heavily and sweating.
"Oh, oh, no." Professor Sprout sped to the Gryffindor. "You didn't fold your sleeves correctly, Miss Spinnet."
Maia wasn't sure Spinnet was hearing Sprout, as the next moment she managed to vomit all over the shoes of the people around her.
"I'll take her to the Hospital Wing." Sprout looked around the room. "None of you touch the plant while I'm away. It will only take a second."
Weasley removed his hands from the plant, his portion of the roots already cut. They were almost finished either way, but at least they didn't have to touch it anymore.
"I hope Katie is okay." Shoving the paper towards her, the Weasley shared a concerned look with his brother. "We've training tonight."
"She'll be fine." Muttering, the other did give the exit of the greenhouse a troubled glance.
Focusing on the questions, she let them whisper to themselves, reading the paper and their answers. Looking it over twice, she felt a headache coming up. The first question was simply wrong, Aconite didn't in fact stem from Wolfsbane and Monkswood, they were the same plant. There was more written underneath it, but she didn't bother to read more.
Waving her wand at the words, she started to rewrite it.
"Give them one task, can't even do it right." Grumbling, she dipped her quill in the ink.
"What are you doing?" One of the Weasleys noticed her actions.
"It's wrong." Her eyes flickered to them for a second, trying to figure out which of the two had written the first question. "How is it that you are identical, yet one of you surpasses the other in this? Not as similar as you pretend to be?"
It always displeased her that she couldn't tell them apart, though she questioned if their own mother could. This was the first difference she had noticed in four years of them antagonising each other. One could do Herbology, the other couldn't.
"None of your business." "Just keep writing."
Raising her eyebrow at their reaction, she smirked and turned to her question about the different ways to utilise the Aconite leaves.
"Won't it be nice to get out of school and explore Hogsmeade, George?" It had been silent for only a few seconds when Weasley started talking.
"Personally, I can't wait to see what Zonko's has in store. Always worth a visit. Don't you think, Fred?"
Their voices were loud and obnoxious, and it didn't take a lot more to understand they were aimed at her.
Clenching her jaw, she ignored both of them. Hogsmeade weekend had been announced a few days ago and, of course, she couldn't go. How the Weasley's had figured out that she couldn't, she wouldn't know, though she suspected it had something to do with Potter. He was probably also restricted to Hogwarts grounds.
"I can't imagine what it would be like to miss it, George. It would truly be a loss."
"The fresh air, a warm butterbeer, and I heard Rosmerta is planning a special deal for Hogwarts students."
Dotting down her last sentence, she looked back up. "Good for you. Then you won't have to share."
Glares were thrown her way and she glared right back at them.
"You can't even go, Black." One said angrily. "Too scared that your uncle is coming after you?"
"Cousin." She corrected him. "And at least I have something to come after for."
"At least we aren't a miserable, slimy git." The other hissed back.
"Detention." Tilting her head, she smirked at both of them. "The both of you. Tonight with Snape."
"What?!" "For what?!"
Right as they exclaimed that, Sprout came back, waving at everyone to continue cutting.
"You can't do that, you snake." Whispering, their eyes flickered to Sprout as she started to go another round.
"Why not?" She said, leaning forward. "You just insulted a prefect. That is against school policy."
They gaped at her, the badge shining on her robes. A sense of satisfaction washed over her and she grabbed the container with the cubes in it, placing their question sheet on top.
"We have training tonight!" One whispered to the other, panicked.
"Do you now?" She pretended to be surprised. "That's too bad."
"We'll report you to Percy." "This is an abuse of power."
Right, their brother the Head Boy. She wondered if he would really do anything about it. On one hand, he was their brother, but, on the other, he was a stickler for the rules.
"Please, I've met your brother." Bluffing, she tried not to let it show. "I'm a prefect and you two are trouble. Do you really think he would question your insubordination just because it was me who told him?"
Lifting her bag over her shoulder, she grabbed their results. "Have fun with Snape."
She didn't hear what they said next, but she did feel the heat of their glares in her back. If it was any indication, she was most likely going to get their older brother nagging her. Fun.
The rain pouring down on the way back to the castle was enough to take her mind off of it.
The Great Hall was filled with uncut pumpkins, Professor Flickwick standing on one of the middle tables, waving his wand around and levitating another stream of orange bulbs into the hall. There were cages of bats rattling to the side, Hagrid having left them after he announced he had more, and lines of golden silk were balled up opposite at the front. It was going to take them at least an hour to simply get the wrinkles out of it.
"Miss Black, great, you're here." Professor Flitwick waved at her, placing the pumpkins on top of each other. "All the other prefects are at Hogsmeade, so we will have to be efficient. Minerva said she would probably come by at a later time to assist."
"Yes, Professor." Giving the pumpkins a side-eye, she hoped she could do anything else.
"Can you perform the Vanishing Spell, Miss Black?" Flitwick levitated, what she hoped was, the last row of pumpkins inside. "I will carve them, if you vanish the filling. We have more coming in, so we can't fall behind."
"Even more, Professor?" He couldn't be serious, half the hall was already filled. "They are quite big."
"Now, yes, indeed they are." Flitwick seemed eager. "Hagrid grew them this year. I don't know how he did it, but they are twice the size they normally are. He will bring the rest in after he finishes with the bats, some of them escaped to the second floor."
Sighing, she took place on the bench, getting her wand out. This was going to be a long afternoon.
And it was. Halfway through the pumpkins Hagrid delivered the last batch and set them back at least two hours. After the second hour of vanishing orange goo, she started to perform the spell non-verbally. By the fifth, all she had to do was wave her wand, resting her head on her arm.
Why hadn't she brought a book? How stupid of her to think this would only take a little while.
"Not very fond of Halloween, Miss Black?" Flitwick's motivated demeanour hadn't decreased, each pumpkin carved with care and patience. "Or is it the pumpkins? I heard they are quite the boost for your immune system."
"I am not, Professor, and I don't see how pumpkins are relevant." Raising her head, she waved her wand again. "They are only ever used for the festivities of Muggles. We have a different way of celebrating the change in seasons, so why don't we?"
They could use a few carved turnips during Samhain, it was one of the lesser used details no one really paid attention too. Yet, she would still prefer it over the orange monstrosities.
"Mmm." Flitwick hummed, carving another eerie grin. "Personally, I think our Headmaster likes the look of them. They do bring a certain… ambience, don't you think?"
Not answering, she vanished yet another pile. They were nearing the end, it was already getting darker outside, and they still had to charm the silk and release the bats. In case of the latter, she hoped Flitwick had some way of making sure they didn't fly all over the tables.
"And after a lifetime of dancing around outside, I do believe a slight change in tradition doesn't hurt." Flitwick charmed the last pumpkin and she let out a sigh of relief. Finally.
"Now, now, we're not done yet." Jumping off the table, Flitwick shuffled to the rows of silk. "How about I teach you the charm that gets these wrinkles out? It's a combination between the Hot Air Charm and the Aguamenti Charm. I figured it out myself. You start by…"
By the time the silk was wrinkle free and carefully floating as close as possible to the ceiling, Professor McGonagall had come in to place the candles in the pumpkins, letting them levitate around the room.
"On the count of three, Miss Black." McGonagall levitated the pumpkins to the side, making room. "One, two, three!"
Flicking her wand at the bat cages, all of them flew upwards simultaneously, in a whirlwind of flappering and screeches. Ducking, she scowled at one that had flown too close to her hair. If one of those got tangled in it she would hex them out of the sky.
"Good job." McGonagall smiled relieved, a strand of hair dangling outside of her bun. It seemed like only Flitwick had some endless supply of energy, standing on the table with a grin on his face.
"The other prefects can assist with the cleaning, Professor." Groaning, she finally put her wand back in her holster, flexing her fingers.
"Yes, they will." A voice behind her said out loud.
Turning, she came face to face with Weasley and Clearwater, Head badges shining on their robes. Both their faces were slightly red, probably due to the cold weather outside, but they looked around the room in admiration.
"Have you been here the whole day, Black?" Weasley asked her with a surprised look on his face.
"It's my responsibility, is it not?" Stretching her back, she decided the only way to reward herself was a nice long bath. If the other prefects thought she was getting out before the feast, they would be mistaken.
"Good job."
Her eyebrows rose significantly, observing Weasley. Had he actually given her a compliment?
He must have seen her suspicious look because he cleared his throat and waved at her. "Of course, this is to be expected from a prefect. Not only during Halloween, but also for Christmas, Easter…"
And there it was. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed her bag.
"I understand, Weasley. If that is all, I have an appointment."
Giving Flitwick and McGonagall a quick nod, she hurried outside of the hall. If Weasley was already back she dared to bet others were coming back soon too. If she wanted to be the first in the bathroom she had to hurry.
"Black, wait!" Weasleys voice followed her.
Groaning, she slowly came to a halt. What now? Hadn't she done enough today?
"What, Weasley?" Exasperated, she turned around. "Whatever it is, I'm not doing it."
"What?" He looked confused, shaking his head. "No, that's not what I wanted to say."
"Then what?" She asked, gesturing at him to continue.
"Uhm," he scratched his cheek. "Did you give Fred and George detention?"
At her blank stare there was a flush appearing on his face and he cleared his throat again.
"I am merely concerned that prefects are misusing the privileges they've been given…"
"Yes, yes," she said. "That was weeks ago."
"Any concerns are worth exploring." Weasley sounded offended. "As Head Boy I am in charge…"
"I gave them detention. One night with Snape." She interrupted him. The day had been long already, she didn't need Weasley to make it unbearable too.
"That's it?" He actually looked surprised, pushing his glasses up his face. "Those two complained to me for one night of detention?"
She shrugged. "They're your brothers."
"Hardly." Weasley muttered silently, but she still caught it. Trouble in the family?
"You can go, I'll set them straight." Giving her a nod, Weasley actually left first.
Staring back, astonished, she slowly turned back around. Had that actually just happened? Weasley was taking her side over his very own brothers?
By the time she arrived at the empty prefect's bathroom her mood had alleviated significantly. The day had started out abysmal, but now it was actually not that bad anymore.
"I got a Chimaera and a Phoenix. I couldn't choose so I bought both of them." Cassius shrugged, but the glance he gave her was obvious. "I think I'm going with the Chimaera one, so that still leaves one extra."
"Very interesting." Flipping the page of the Daily Prophet, she gave him no additional attention. The feeling of relaxation from her bath hadn't faded yet and, comfortable in front of the fire, she tried to hold on to it as long as possible .
"Hogsmeade was just like always." He said quickly. "Not that interesting. Honeydukes was full of third years that wouldn't leave, and someone dropped a firework in Zonko's, causing a whole stampede. Cygnet said he saw a dementor inside of the Three Broomsticks while he was there, but I think he's made it all up."
"I see."
Cassius smiled nervously, grabbing his bags. "I'll take this to my room. Dinner is starting soon."
"Hmm." She hummed, watching his back as he descended down to his dormitory.
Cassius meant well, but it wasn't the same. The balance of their group had been thrown of course, rather suddenly, and it got more obvious the longer it went on. She didn't know how it was for Liz and Cassius, but she did miss talking about something else than just Quidditch or the news. Cassus and her had a lot in common, but it also meant they had little new to talk about. It wasn't the same.
"We'd better go up. The feast is starting in five minutes and I'm starving." Cassius had come up from his dormitory, bringing her attention back to reality. "It was pretty cold outside for October. I think it'll start freezing soon, but we can probably expect rain first. Anyway, I bought extra butterbeers so I'll give you some. Madam Rosmerta had a deal and…"
Walking up the stairs, she listened patiently to Cassius recollecting his trip to Hogsmeade. Thinking of those that had entered the common room before him, she had already seen the decorations that had been carved in the silver cuffs of Liz's hair. It must have been fun to watch them carve in the silver, she had only ever heard of it. Maia wondered who had gone along with her to watch.
Entering the Great Hall, she couldn't help the sense of accomplishment at the sight. Halloween was absolutely not a tradition that deserved a place at Hogwarts, but she had done a good job.
"Oh, yeah, well," Cassius coughed, as if he now realised he was still talking. "What did you do today?"
Gesturing around her, she shrugged. "All of this. Absolutely horrendous task, but I am a prefect. The upside is that I don't have to remove it all again, that is a task for the other prefects."
Maybe she would watch. Towler and those bats were destined to meet and cause destruction. It would be hilarious.
"Even Weasley was grateful. I thought complimenting me would cause him physical trauma, but apparently not." Smirking when thinking about it, she finally helped herself to her favourite dessert.
"It's a Samhain miracle." Cassius said dramatically, taking place next to her.
The feast finished with entertainment provided by the ghosts. Popping out of the walls and tables they floated around each other in formation, the Bloody Baron's chains dragging through the ice cream bowl in front of her.
Listening to the others talk about their Hogsmeade trip, she took a careful glance at the Hufflepuff table. Squeezed in between Haywood and Diggory, Liz was laughing at something Diggory said. It seemed like it hadn't been hard finding her replacement.
She dismissed the sight, focusing back on the conversation next to her. If Liz wanted to continue like this, she would oblige. Maybe Liz could ask Dumbldore to place her in Hufflepuff next.
On their way out of the Hall, listening to Burke's retelling of someone tripping with a platter of butterbeer, she was close enough to hear Draco's voice shout.
"The dementors send their love, Potter!"
A glance to the front told her the third years were laughing to themselves, waving at a group of red robes. Stepping out of her group, she sped up until she was just behind her cousin and his friends. Draco had better things to focus on tonight than Potter. She wasn't going to act like his handler around the pyre, but that didn't mean she wanted him to get distracted and fall in.
"Prepared for tonight?" Standing over Draco, who still stood a full head below her, she smirked when he jumped.
"Maia!" Scowling at her, he glared at Vincent who had laughed at his reaction. "What is it?"
"I don't think your focus is in the right place." She said, giving the others a glance. "We don't want to get injured tonight, do we?"
"I'm fine." Sniffing, Draco stuck his hands in his pockets. "My mask is top quality and mother made sure that all of my robes are fireproof. This isn't the first time we have done this, you know. We don't need your help."
Entering the common room, the third years didn't wait and made their way straight to the dormitories. She almost wanted to laugh. For someone that said they were relaxed, they sure looked excited.
"I see." Smirking, she looked at the others. "Do any of you have questions about tonight?"
A wave of resounding no's went around, Draco the first to descend towards their room and the others following him. Surprisingly, Theodore stayed behind, fiddling with his hands.
"Do we all have to sacrifice an animal?" He didn't look her in the eye, focused on the stairs where his roommates had descended.
Tilting her head, she answered calmly. "No, that doesn't happen. The practice was removed some time ago. We get to throw in pieces of fruit, vegetables, and meat, all already prepared and cut. If you want to, you don't have to throw in anything."
Theodore looked up at her, clearly relieved. "Oh, okay, thank you."
Gesturing at him to get to his dorm, she made her way to the couches her classmates had placed themselves. It shouldn't come as a shock to her that the Nott's sacrificed animals, as it was a tradition to do so. But if families followed the tradition, which not that many in Britain did, most did wait until the child was at least around seventeen.
Not that she wasn't the slightest bit jealous. It was supposed to be very different from ready-made pieces of meat and fruit. From Theodore's perspective this was probably going to be a very dull night.
A few steps away from the couch, her eyes already on her usual, empty armchair, the common room entrance door opened and Snape came rushing through, looking more unkempt than she had ever seen him look.
"Black!" Breathing heavily, the Professor's eyes moved through the room, making eye contact with her.
Freezing in place, she couldn't take her eyes away from Snape as he rushed towards her. Had she done something?
"You are fine." Snape's eyes moved over her and automatically she raised her hands to show she had nothing in them.
"Yes, I am?" Confused, she watched him look around the room. What was going on?
Waving his wand once, a bang echoed between the walls, gathering the attention of everyone there.
"Silence." Snape spoke louder than he normally did. "Tonight's activities are cancelled. You are to change into your night clothes and follow me to the Great Hall. Inform your roommates, you have five minutes."
The confusion in the room was almost palpable, protests rising up at the reveal that the festivities would be cancelled.
"Now." Snape's voice rose louder than they ever had heard before and the protests stopped.
Slowly, everyone in the common room started to migrate towards the dormitories, whispering between themselves and throwing looks at Professor Snape.
About to turn around and follow them, Snape held out his arm.
"Not yet, Miss Black." He said, turning to her after the last person descended down the stairs. "Did you notice anything out of the ordinary today?"
"No, Professor." She was confused. "What is going on?"
"Nothing at all?" He frowned at her. "Weird glances? People following you? Even too much attention from a Professor?"
"No, Professor, nothing." She placed the emphasis on nothing. "What is going on?"
Snape sneered, straightening his robes. "Sirius Black has successfully found a way into the castle. He has attacked the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, tearing it to pieces. We were concerned that he would continue into the dungeons."
Her heart skipped a beat and her hand went to her holster. What? Inside of the castle?
"How did he get inside? Is he still here?"
Her eyes flickered around the room in an instant, almost expecting Sirius to jump out from behind a couch. Going past the dementors, fine, he did do that once before, but past the Hogwarts walls? Past the paintings, teachers, and all the way up to the Gryffindor Tower? Nobody saw him?
"We are unaware of how he made it inside." Snape sounded bitter.
It did mean he had gone for Potter first. Would he focus on Potter? Was he going to switch it up? Was she next?
She was suddenly very aware of every breath.
"I am to guide everyone to the Great Hall. Headmaster Dumbledore wants every student to spend the night there for their own safety. The teachers will search the castle in the meantime." Snape continued, observing her. "You don't look surprised he attacked the Gryffindor common room, Miss Black. How much do you know about the situation?"
Glancing back at Snape, her hand stayed near her holster. "Minister Fudge informed me this summer, Professor. About the relationship between Sirius and Potter."
"Then I don't have to tell you that that information is strictly confidential." He said flatly, looking at the first person to return in their pyjamas. "Go get your night clothes, Miss Black. The teachers will deal with this for now."
Turning around without a word, she couldn't help but let her wand drop in her palm. Under no circumstances was she going to exit her common room without it in hand.
Her bed was still made, her night clothes folded on top. Two waves of her wand had her clothes swapped out and her housecoat removed from the hanger. Sleep wasn't going to be likely. Should she message her grandmother in this case? The answer was probably yes, but that would cause a lot of other troubles. Maybe she should wait until the teachers found something?
"... Black!" Burke's voice was loud enough to pull her out of her thoughts.
It appeared she had been standing in front of the window, staring at the water.
"What, Burke?" Turning around, she pretended nothing had happened.
"What is going on? Why are we going to the Great Hall in our pyjamas?" Burke levelled her with a stare, both Spindle and Raywood staring silently from the side. Even Liz took glances at her, with that concerned wrinkle on her forehead.
Whenever it was the nerves, or the sheer incredulity of the situation, she couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Oh, Sirius made it into the castle. You might want to walk ahead of me to the Great Hall, in case he jumps out from behind a statue."
A silence followed, only broken by her nervous chuckles.
"What? How?" Burke paled considerately, the reaction she probably should have had.
Still smiling, she moved her hand over her face, lists of spells making their way through her mind. "Who knows?"
"We have to go to the Great Hall." Liz's voice rang out, gathering the attention. "We'll be safe there."
Liz still wasn't looking at her and her words were ambiguous enough to easily be spoken to anyone in the room, but Maia couldn't help but grin.
"Can't wait here forever." Pretending she said it to Burke, she was the first out of the door, quickly followed by the rest.
Her heart was beating loudly, but she felt oddly calm, the world around her coming into focus. If he dared she wasn't going to hold herself back.
The trip to the Great Hall was made with the constant sound of whispers all around them. It did nothing for her, because at every sound her eyes couldn't help but flicker to it. It got worse when they entered the upper levels and the paintings added to the noise.
Keeping her head down, her hand tightened around her wand with every turn they took.
Finally, entering the Great Hall, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor were already there, Ravenclaw coming in behind them. The big hall should have made it easier to breathe, but her lungs were still filling rapidly. Why would he give up now? One missed chance at Potter and he disappeared? Was he confident that he could come and go as he pleased?
Shivers made it down her spine and her eyes itched because of a lack of blinking. She kept observing other people, looking for someone staring or weird behaviour, but the whispers were already spreading. Gryffindors already seemed to know what was happening and they were telling the others.
Dumbledore quickly took hold of the room, before the whispers could travel too far between houses.
"Sirius Black has been spotted trying to enter the Gryffindor common room. The castle will be searched by the teachers and I," Dumbledore looked at everyone, easily stopping the whispers in their tracks. "For your own safety, you will have to spend the night here. The prefects will stand guard over the entrances of the Hall and the Head Boy and Girl will be in charge."
He turned to Weasley. "Any disturbance will be reported to me immediately through one of the ghosts."
Weasley nodded firmly, but it was noticeable that with each word Dumbledore spoke to him his ego inflated exponentially.
A few minutes later all the tables were stacked against the wall and the floor was covered with sleeping bags filled with students. But it wasn't even close to quiet.
Sighing, she placed herself on the left side of the wall, the furthest away from all the students. Keeping her eyes glued to the doors, she did her best to ignore the attention. A few students pointing at her she could handle, but how was she going to stop all the students at the same time? She bit her tongue and wished Weasley's uptight behaviour would work in her favour this once.
"Everyone into their sleeping bags!" Weasley shouted. "No more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"
Her attention never moved from the doors, which stayed perfectly shut. Part of her wondered if it would really matter that they were closed. If Sirius had managed to get all the way up to the Gryffindor Tower, what were a couple of closed doors going to do?
"The lights are going out now!" Weasley's voice shook her out of her thoughts. "I want everyone in their sleeping bags and no more talking!"
Waving his wand, all the candles floating above them went out. The only light they had was provided by the stars, shining through the invisible ceiling, and the ghosts darting around the hall. It was a clear night and the stars were brightly visible, the voices getting softer and softer, until she assumed most students had fallen asleep.
"Black."
From the side Weasley approached her, giving her a nod. He didn't look mad or judgemental, so it seemed they were still on good terms.
"Weasley." Nodding back, she kept quiet.
Weasley eyes darted around the room, whispering. "What was your cousin doing at the Gryffindor entrance? I thought he was after you?"
Sarcastic responses flooded her brain, but she discarded them. There was a time for those and this wasn't it. Plus, she dared to bet he knew about Potter.
"I think you know why." She answered softly, her eyes on Towler who was talking to Sir Nick. "Sirius was a Gryffindor so he already knows where the common room is. It was most likely the easier option."
"Sirius Black was a Gryffindor?" Weasley sounded shocked. Of course, that was the thing he would focus on.
"What?" She said, raising her eyebrow. "Every single witch or wizard that went bad has to be in Slytherin? You'd be surprised."
"No, of course no…" Weasley stopped mid-sentence. "It doesn't matter. Did you see anything out of the ordinary today? Any idea how he could have entered the castle? You know him best, Black. Think."
She glared at him, whispering back. "I already told Snape, Weasley. Nothing out of the ordinary. I would ask anyone with a connection towards him, but, not surprisingly, they are all dead. As far as I know, he doesn't even have a wand."
Grinding her teeth, she returned her stare to the doors. If only someone had some more insight on Sirius, that would be great, but this was all she had.
"No, I don't know how he entered the castle." She continued. "I just hope he gets caught tonight."
Right as she finished her sentence the door moved from its position, creating a gap wide enough for someone to slide through. Without a thought, she aimed and shot a Full Body-Bind Curse to the dark figure.
The purple light wasn't as disturbing to those around her, but it bounced off a shield as soon as the figure saw it, falling apart in little pieces on the wall. The latter created a sudden noise, which had some sleeping bags jerking up. Next to her Weasley grabbed his wand, having gasped in shock at her sudden movement.
A constant buzzing noise made it in her ear and she raised her wand to send another one the person's way, when the figure stepped in the light of the stars, illuminating the tight bun of black hair and the little spectacles.
"Miss Black! Put down your wand right this instant."
Oh, Merlin. It was McGonagall.
Lowering her wand faster than she ever had before, she felt her heart drop in her stomach. "Professor McGonagall." No other words made it out of her mouth.
The Professor looked at her over the glasses with the same disappointed stare she gave many other students. "I understand you are nervous, Miss Black, but it is important to observe your surroundings before you start to throw spells around. Don't let it happen again."
"Yes, Professor." Clutching her wand, she kicked herself mentally. Composed, calm, and collected.
"Good, one of the Professors will return every hour to check up on you." McGonagall's eyes found Weasleys next to her. "It would probably be better if the Head Boy and Girl placed themselves next to the door to spot the teachers first. We'll select an identifying phrase."
"Yes, Professor." Weasley darted from her side to McGonagalls, their whispers too far to reach her ears.
Hours ticked by, many teachers coming in and out the hall, checking in on the students and throwing her looks. By three in the morning, she hadn't moved from her spot. There was a slight tingle in her legs, but it didn't hurt. Most of the students had finally stopped whispering, and at precisely three o'clock Dumbledore made his way into the hall, meeting Filch, Flitwick, and Weasley in the middle.
The Hall was silent enough for their words to travel and, while she didn't move from her place, her eyes went back and forth between the doors and their position.
"I've searched the Astronomy Tower and the Owlery. There is nothing there." Filch was carrying his lantern, swinging it back and forth.
"The third floor is clear too, sir." Flitwick piped up, turning to see Snape make his way through the door, Clearwater closing it behind him.
"I've done the dungeons, Headmaster. No sign of Black, nor anywhere else in the castle." Snape glanced at her for a second and she looked back at the doors, anger making its way through her. How was Sirius doing this?
"Nervous, Black?" Towlers voice whispered from the front, where he previously had been prowling between sleeping bags, telling people to stop talking.
"Fuck off, Towler." Keeping it short, she didn't look at him, her ear still out for the conversation between the Professors.
"Don't you think this is ironic? I do." Towler continued softly, grinning to himself. "Last year you laughed at the idea of Muggleborns dying and now you are on the line yourself."
He shrugged. "I see it as divine intervention."
That actually made her snort, no matter how she wanted to keep it back. "My cousin, Sirius Black, a man of divine providence."
She twirled her wand in her hand, drawing his eyes to it. "Was this decided before or after his murders?"
Dumbledore made his way out of the Hall, walking quickly and quietly. Snape was left behind for a moment, watching the Headmaster with an expression of deep resentment on his face. Then he too left, leaving only Weasley, looking slightly abashed and confused. It said enough.
"But if he's so desperate for you, why do you think he tried the Gryffindor Tower? There is no way anyone is going to think you're a Gryffindor." He wasn't shutting up. "Bit weird, isn't it?"
Casting her eyes to the sky, she wondered if that was the question she was going to get for the remaining time Sirius was out there.
"I don't know, Towler. Maybe he's interested in you."
"Why would he be interested in me?" He sounded genuinely confused and she turned to give him a blank stare. It took him a minute. "Ugh, shut up, Black."
Mumbling, he took off, walking his usual route looking down at students and checking if they were asleep.
Up until sunrise her eyes didn't move from the doors and, when Professor Flitwick announced that they could return to their dormitories to freshen up before class, she basically sprinted out of the room.
It was said that the morning light could make the most depraved things tolerable, but that morning it didn't work.
The following days, all that the school talked about was Sirius Black. Like the year before theories ran wild, from how he had escaped Azkaban to how he had gotten in the castle. Unlike the year before, this time she was avoided like the plague. Unless any of her Slytherin yearmates sat next to her in class, she sat alone, and she had seen people take the longer route just to avoid running into her on the stairs. As if Sirius would jump at the idea to kill anyone that shared a staircase with her. Not to mention that the staring and pointing had gotten so bad she was forced to ignore it, unable to glare all the time.
With it also came the close attention of the teachers. Running into her on her way to the greenhouses, on her way to the Great Hall, on her way to the library, and even during Quidditch training had she seen Professor Snape standing next to the stands like an imitation of a dementor, in his black cloak, seemingly unbothered by the wind and rain.
Cassius had seen him first and had almost fallen off his broom from shock.
She was just glad Snape hadn't asked her to quit, but she wasn't sure that would remain that way forever. He couldn't like winning Quidditch more than he probably hated standing in the rain.
It didn't help that the weather worsened steadily as the first Quidditch match drew nearer. But a few days before Draco had come up with an excuse to avoid playing in those conditions, putting on an incredible performance for Madam Hooch, with his still bandaged arm, and getting her to switch the games so he could heal. It had been the only upside to her month so far.
When Saturday finally did arrive, the winds howled so loudly Professors had to place Silencing Charms on the windows. Extra torches and lanterns were lit in the classrooms and the exchange of blankets and Heating Spells arrived early in the Slytherin common room. Even the house-elves placed double the amount of teapots and cups on the tables.
"Your cousin is a genius." Cassius whispered next to her, the gale pounding against the windows of the Great Hall.
She curled her hands around her cup. "I think so too."
The Gryffindor team looked less than cheerful, glaring at them from their spot at the table, with their Quidditch robes on. It didn't help when Draco decided to put his own two Sickles in.
"Ah, if only my arm was feeling a bit better!"
It led to an array of chuckles between them and even more glares from the table in maroon. Her eyes flickered to the yellow table for a second, seeing Liz between Haywood and Diggory. The latter was wearing his Seeker robes.
"We won't have to worry." Cassius said, making her turn back to him and watch him remove the largest umbrella she had ever seen from under the bench. "This was made for four and layered in Protective and Heating Spells. We will be the most comfortable on the stands."
Shaking her head, she still smiled slightly.
The Quidditch pitch was completely soaked and people were holding onto each other trying not to glide in the mud. With a flick of her wand the water on the bench was thrown at their feet, now dry, and with Cassius's umbrella they were basically protected from everything, but, while squinting, neither of them could see either the maroon or the yellow jerseys.
Wind howling around them, they were forced to yell while sitting next to each other.
"Is that Diggory?" Shouting, she pointed at a small yellow dot in the sky.
"I thought that was a Chaser?" Cassius called back. "Have you seen Potter yet?"
"I thought he went into the clouds?" She said it like it was a question, because it truly was.
The commentary was blown away by the wind, no matter how hard Jordan shouted, and the sky got darker with every minute, making it harder to see anyone.
"I am so glad that is not us." Cassius sat back down on the bench, his leaning over the railing not working either. "Really, really glad."
By now the rain was so thick that when there was a flash of colour, just as they figured out what colour it was, it was gone.
"Remind me to get Draco a good gift this Yule." Wiping her face with her sleeve, she stretched her legs. "A big gift."
Lighting lit up the sky and at the same time Madam Hooch's whistle sounded over the pitch.
"Time out?" She squinted back at the play. "It's not like we can see anyway."
The play resumed and the rain slowed down slightly, enough for them to see the Keepers, the Beaters, and here and there a Chaser. Instead of water, the sound of lightning and thunder started to make its way over the pitch at steady intervals. If only she had had the chance to place the leaf under her mouth and make a potion out of it. This was prime weather.
"Hey, I think that's Potter." Cassius pointed at a small red dot, lighting following his words. "See?"
More whispers came around them, all of them focused on the red dot far up in the sky, only illuminated by the lightning.
"He's following Diggory!" Looking at the red following the yellow, she frowned when Potter slowed down. "What is he doing? Does he have the Snitch?"
It was silent for a second, before it became very clear what was happening to Potter. Lighting illuminated the space surrounding the little red dot, showing at least a hundred Dementors surrounding him. They were too close for any comfort, hundred feet up in the air.
"Oh, Merlin!" Cassius yelled first, jumping up from his spot. She wasn't far behind and many followed, all jumping up and leaning over the railing to get a better look. "He's falling!"
In a rendition of what could have been anyone's worst nightmare, Potter fell from his broom, gravity pulling him down quicker and quicker, past the dementors and to the ground. There was no movement in his limbs and, without even seeing his face, she knew he must be unconscious. Or worse.
She didn't even realise she wasn't breathing.
"Look." Her voice came out in a whisper, her eyes not on Potter's descent, but on a light peck on the pitch. "It's Dumbledore."
The light fabric of Dumbledore's robes was easily recognisable, his fluent movements too, as he ran out into the field. He waved his wand and less than ten feet from the ground, Potter started to slow down. Still unmoving.
"They're coming down." Cassius shivered, his frightened eyes focused on the sky.
He was right. At least half of the dementors floating above the pitch started to move towards the Headmaster. Her eyes flickered back to Dumbledore, whose face she might not be able to see, but the wand movements were enough.
Instead of a simple bright light, or even a corporeal Patronus, out of Dumbledore's wand emerged a shield of light, expanding and pulsating, moving outwards past him and Potter, but also past the tribune, washing over them like a warm blanket. The light repeated itself, expanding past them again and pushing the dementors back by the dozen.
"Wow." She could only whisper as she stared at the feat.
The whole tribune was silent as the dementors disappeared from view, nobody even daring to move. They watched as Dumbledore conjured a stretcher next, floating Potter onto it and marching his way towards the castle.
It was only when Dumbledore moved out of vision, that reality started to set back in. The sky was actually looking a lot brighter than it had before, and the lighting and thunder had stopped, the rain still falling in soft, little drops.
"Hufflepuff wins!" Jordan was a lot less loud, never even mentioning the score as he shut down the microphone and ran down the wooden stairs. A lot of Gryffindors followed.
"He's not dead, is he?" Cassius whispered to her, hesitantly looking towards the castle.
"No, he probably isn't." Waving it off nonchalantly, in all honesty, she wasn't sure. It didn't look good. "Do you think they'll remove the dementors?"
If they did, they would probably instruct her to stay inside the castle at all times, which wasn't any saver at this point.
Though, as far as luck went, she clearly did have a lot more of it than Potter.
"Oh, Maia, what a coincidence. Are you going out for a walk?"
Sighing, she turned around to come face to face with Professor Lupin. "Professor Lupin, what a coincidence indeed. It was my plan to stretch my legs, just for a little while."
Over the weekend, it had quickly become apparent that Potter had survived his fall. The topic of Sirius Black was put in the back of everyone's mind and Quidditch was on the forefront. Even though Potter had been intercepted by dementors, the play still counted and Hufflepuff had won, no matter how loudly Diggory protested.
But, clearly, Sirius was only put in the back of students' minds. Teachers weren't bothered at all and she had noticed Professor Flitwick escorting Potter to one of his classes a few hours before. She had just wanted to take an afternoon walk over the grounds, now that the weather had cleared up a bit. Obviously, she couldn't do this alone.
At least Lupin had the gall to smile. "Do you mind? I could use a bit of exercise."
"You can walk wherever you want to walk, Professor. Don't let me stop you." Resuming her way down the stairs, past the greenhouses, Lupin caught up next to her.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see he looked awful. Professor Snape had said Lupin was down with the flu when he took over the class on Vampire Bats, but it actually looked like he was dying. His robes were hanging from his body, as dishevelled as ever, and the dark shadows underneath his eyes were prominent. But if he was walking around it probably meant that he would be fine.
They walked in silence, past the greenhouses, and in the outer perimeter of the forest. The autumn sun was low, casting the trees into golden light, and she took a deep breath of air, pleased with the smell of the rain.
"Were you at the Quidditch match this weekend, Maia?" Lupin asked, glancing at her. "I was still feeling under the weather and decided to forgo it, clearly I missed a lot."
"I was, Professor." Stepping over a large stone, she answered. "Why do you ask?"
"I heard the dementors were particularly vicious that day. With a crowd that size I suppose it could have been expected, but it was still shocking." Lupin picked up a large stick behind her, using it to support his weight. "The Headmaster was very displeased. I think he threatened to send them all back to Azkaban."
"If by vicious you mean attacking Quidditch players, then you would be right." She glanced at him. "As I understand, they have been reprimanded and sent back outside the Hogwarts grounds. It will be hard to send them back before they catch Sirius, if they ever manage to catch him. It's clear he has found a way around them."
Pushing past the trees, using one to steady her step, she looked ahead at the furthest point of the hill. There was a small advantage point at the top where one could look out over the lake and the valley. She liked to see the sun shine on them in the morning, during her run, but now she wanted to see it at sundown.
Lupin's stick slipped in the mud, he was quick to catch himself. "Ah, yes, they have been corrected. Dumbledore is keeping a very strict eye on them."
"That sounds like a good decision. I doubt many students will know what to do when they are confronted by one. We wouldn't want this to happen again." She commented, halting her words. She wasn't sure what Lupin was trying to achieve here. Just a trivial conversation?
"Right, I was thinking along the same lines. Because of it, I wanted to let some of the higher classes try their hand at the Patronus Charm." Lupin continued thoughtfully, using his stick to anchor him instead of the trees. "Obviously, the seventh and sixth years are N.E.W.T level, but the charm is already beyond that. I won't be expecting anyone to be able to complete it, but it would be useful to have at least tried a few times. Preparation can already go a long way."
"I see." Letting her words draw out, she stepped on the final point. "Are you planning to teach the fifth years too?"
The top of the hill was partly barren of trees, except for one big oval stone looking out over the same view. The sun placed a soft blanket of gold across everything, the temperature lowering, and she leaned against the stone, her eyes focused on the shining water. She had always been a fan of dusk.
Lupin rose up next to her, panting slightly and with his walking stick still in hand.
He had gotten to his point, but she wondered what it had to do with her? Did he want advice from a sixteen year old?
"Well, I remembered that you managed a Patronus on the train." Lupin looked out on the view ahead of them. "If you wouldn't mind, I would like to schedule a moment where I could maybe pick your brain? I want to figure out what the best way would be to teach such a thing."
"I'm not sure if I would be a help, Professor." The sun started to touch the mountains, lowering slightly. "You have a lot more experience than me, and I have no talent for teaching."
"Yes, but I would like to try anyway." Lupin gave her a smile. "I won't pretend to be an expert, Maia. Dementors are not creatures one easily finds in the wild."
"Then do you consider me such?" Raising her eyebrow, she tore her eyes away from the view.
"I don't." Lupin said politely. "But since I'm teaching it to your agemates, I considered asking for your experience to be… resourceful."
"A useful quality to possess, Professor." Smirking slightly, she observed a ripple in the water, big enough to be the Giant Squid. Did Liz still attempt to teach it sign language?
"It won't be any time soon, maybe next term. I have quite a lot to do before the holidays. I picked a very inconvenient moment to fall ill. And if it doesn't work, I'll try something else. Sometimes it's better to try and fail, than to never try at all."
The sun was going down slightly more, the temperature dropping further, and she could already see the moon becoming visible in the sky.
"If you insist, Professor." She agreed, stepping away from the stone and back to where they had come from. Maybe she could figure out who he reminded her of during. "We better return before nightfall, it's going to freeze tonight."
"Yes, we should. I have to rest." Giving her a smile, Lupin turned around in front of her, descending first. "I get colds every year, yet they still manage to surprise me. My joints aren't what they used to be either. I would advise you to enjoy your youth and..."
Halting mid step, she looked at the Professor's retreating back with a frown. "Do you mean the flu?"
"Mm… Sorry, what did you say?" Lupin turned partially, his stick lodged in the ground.
"Professor Snape said you had the flu. He mentioned it quite a few times." Snape had complained about Professor Lupin's lack of responsibility for part of every lesson for a week, but that wasn't important.
"Did Severus say that? He must be right, he made a potion to help me through the worst of it." He chuckled and turned back around. "I always manage to confuse the two, they're too similar. Health and potions never were my greatest strength, so I am quite fortunate to have such wonderful colleagues. Are you coming?"
"Right." She said slowly, following after him, the sun fully disappearing behind the mountain.
They really weren't that similar, but what reason would Lupin have to lie?