Chapter Forty
The days crept on as the students found they had heaps of homework again. Lucy was working hard on her transfiguration homework. Briefly looking up to see the kittens walking around. Cinders having to keep getting up and picking them up by the scruff of their necks as she laid them back in the basket. Poppy giving Lucy a knowing look. It was getting a bit of a nightmare now having all these kittens in their dormitory. The meowing and running about at night was disturbing the girls' sleep by this point. Of cause the blame was still solely laid at her cat Mr Filch's paws even though Cinders wasn't exactly innocent in all of this herself. Ruth was laid on her back reading her potions book, she kept having to look down as a kitten kept insisting on crawling underneath her bed. Cinders rushing underneath to drag it back towards the basket.
"Stop it!" Ruth shouted at the kitten (which made no difference of cause).
"Look. It's only a few more weeks and they will be gone" Poppy tried to assure her friend.
"A few more weeks?! We all got our exams in a couple months and if I fail, it's yours and Lucy's fault. For both choosing cats instead of owls"
"Oh, do be quiet. You're making more fuss than they are right now"
"I'm going to the common room" Ruth told them all firmly.
Picking up her book and stepping over the kitten. Walking out of the room and walking down the steps towards the much calmer common room. Lucy looked slightly startled by the outburst. She hated any sort of conflict, minor or major. So she just looked back down on her homework, trying to focus on that again. Poppy noticed as she said...
"She will be fine, Lucy. Don't worry...She's just a bit sleepy"
"Well we all are but she doesn't have to be mean. She's meant to be a Hufflepuff" Lucy spoke in a huff.
"I know. She's awful at being one, isn't she?" Poppy joked with a giggle.
Lucy giving a laugh back. Victoria burst out into laughter as she added onto the joke..."Imagine being awful at being a Hufflepuff"
The girls soon were all laughing. They liked to poke fun at their own house sometimes. The girl in question soon returned as she couldn't focus in the common room either. She looked at her friends and their laughing faces, wondering what joke she missed. Ruth looked at them all with her potions book still opened on the same page.
"What's so funny?" Ruth asked them after a few moments of quiet sniggering.
"We were just talking about Hufflepuff" Victoria insisted with a smirk.
"Oh, aye? An amusing concept. I'm sure" Ruth said.
Though this just made her friends laugh again. She had no idea what the joke really was but they were fine with that. Ruth gave a smile nonetheless as she looked back down upon her book. The sudden sound of a loud thud followed by a boy saying "Ouch" set them all off again. Ruth included as they said together...
"Barty Crouch"
...
Easter Break had finally arrived. As excited students packed their bags to return home for the two week break. Lucy was leaving Hogwarts for the first time since September as he dragged her suitcase down the stairs. She had to leave her cat behind. The other Hufflepuff girls promising to watch over him in her absence put her mind at ease. She rushed over towards the Filch brothers as she got into the hallway. She couldn't wait to get to see a wizard's house, she's never seen one of those before. Argus giving her the smallest smile as the three of them began walking towards the exit. Lucy following behind the pure-bloods and some half-bloods, she was the only muggle-born allowed back home. The weather was still quite cold but it stopped snowing so that was something. The three of them walked to Hogsmeade as Ogg led the way. The young witch followed the boys into 'The Three Broomsticks', which looked like a normal pub to her. She could see her muggle father in here quite easily.
"Right, Lucy...It's floo powder time. You never did this before so listen very carefully. You grab a bit of this stuff and say the name of the place once you drop it. Don't be scared by the flames, they can't hurt you really" Archibald began to explain.
Lucy suddenly looked nervous as she thought about those flames. The lad took her suitcase as he thought it be easier for her to travel without it. He got in the fireplace first as he dropped the floo powder and said his home address. Lucy giving a nervous laugh as she looked away from the burning flames.
"You heard that? You go first" Argus instructed as he gently pushed his friend towards the fireplace.
"Argus...Does this ever go wrong?" Lucy asked as she began shaking.
"No! Now get going. People are waiting to use it"
The girl breathed in as she picked up the said floo powder. Dropping it before shouting..."House of the Raven, Yorkshire moors!"
Lucy saw Argus' face in the flames seconds before soot went into her eyes. She gave small yelps as she felt herself being knocked into different fireplaces. Having being given no warning, she didn't expect it as she gave out a yell in pain. Falling head first into the Filch parlour. Archibald giving a laugh as she tumbled onto the floor, greeting the floor before the Filch parents. She was humiliated as she knew that wasn't good manners at all! The girl quickly got up as she nervously looked up at the unamused Filch parents. So this was the famous Lucy Norris they thought, the friend of their squib son.
"Lucy Norris?" Bard asked her.
"Yes Mr Filch...Nice to meet you and Mrs Filch" Lucy answered nervously. Not knowing whether to curtsy or shake his hand.
Which made her give a odd expression as she half-bent down with her hand out. Archibald giving another laugh. Argus was thankfully soon there as he landed in the fireplace with his own small suitcase. He didn't know what he walked in to but he thought his friend looked daft. As he pulled Lucy back up, standing besides her now. His parents giving each other a look as they didn't know what to make of her, they only knew she was a muggle-born Hufflepuff. Lilac broke the silence as she suggested...
"Come on Lucy. Come to the kitchen and help me pour the drinks"
"Yes, Mrs Filch" Lucy replied politely.
The two witches went into the kitchen to pour said drink. This was mainly done so Lilac could speak to the girl and see a little about what she's about. Since she's staying with them for two weeks. Lucy began pouring some of the water into the goblets. Lilac looking at her son's friend for a few moments, she thought she seemed polite enough right now.
"So I heard you're very good at charms. Charms was my best subject too" Lilac began with a smile.
"Oh yes. I enjoy history of magic too"
"Oh, do you? I disliked that subject with a vengeance at your age. So may I ask why you're friends with Argus? I can't imagine a squib is much fun to be around for a witch"
This remark made Lucy's smile drop instantly. She thought that perhaps Argus was exaggerating but no, she really was that harsh towards him. She noticed Bard was speaking to Archibald and barely speaking to Argus. Which just made her understand everything now. Though she didn't want to say anything right now, not when she's got here just minutes ago. She was hoping she could change their mind by action, rather than speech.
"We always find fun" Lucy managed to reply as she carried two goblets towards the table.
Argus went over towards the table. Lucy giving him a small smile as she gave his shoulder a small pat. Sitting down besides him as the children took their places at the table. Drinking the water from the goblets. Lilac, Bard and Archibald soon took their places too as all had a goblet of water each. Archibald looking around as everyone was suddenly silent.
"So who's having the couch?" Archibald questioned.
Making the table look around at each other. Argus went to point at Archibald but got a slap on his hand for it. No way he thought. He already gave up his bedroom once for Argus. He wasn't doing it again, not when it was his friend. Lucy went to offer that she sleep on the couch but Bard interjected...
"Argus. Be a gentleman and offer up your bedroom"
"But father, I cannot offer up my bedroom. It's mine" Argus replied.
This was greeted by silence as his parents and brother looked on in disbelief. Lucy went to speak again but Archibald spoke up again in a loud tone of voice..."Argus. If you don't give up your bedroom. You won't ever ride on my broomstick again"
"Fine. You're not even any good at it anyway" Argus muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"I said you're not any good-"
"I don't mind taking the couch. I really don't" Lucy finally spoke up.
Though this just didn't settle right with the rest of the table. Argus could be very selfish at times and was a difficult brother to get along with. His squib status was sometimes counted as a blessing by his peers as they couldn't imagine what he would do if he could perform magic. Argus gave a small smile when he heard her say this, he knew she would take the couch. He was the only one smiling however and with a sigh, Archibald admitted defeat.
"I will take the couch because unlike my selfish brother. I'm a gentleman. I won't hear any arguments, Lucy" Archibald said.
"Oh...Thank you" Lucy replied to him.
...
"You have so much quidditch stuff" Lucy told Archibald later on.
As she stood with the Filch brothers in Archibald's bedroom. He had posters of 'Tutshill Tornados' on his wall. A quidditch team. As well as broomsticks, balls and other equipment. He really did want to play for the team when he got older, it was his dream career. The other things he had were books on charms, magical creatures and quidditch (he had the most books on this topic).
"I'm going to play one day for the tornados. I just know it" Archibald insisted with a smile.
"Well I'm going to...Take...I'm going to take Oakleigh Burton's job" Argus spoke up suddenly.
"Really? You're going to become caretaker? What a goal, Argus. We all wish to strive as much as you" Archibald replied with sarcasm.
Argus giving his brother a quick punch on his arm. He got one back harder. The only thing stopping the brothers from having a playful fight was Lucy's presence. As they remembered she was here. Lucy giving a giggle as she went around his room, his desk was filled with unfinished homework. He wasn't very academic, his professors didn't mind him but they wished he had a more realist goal. He had just really convinced himself he was going to play quidditch professionally and had no plans if he didn't get that.
"I got a lot of homework too" Lucy said to him.
"Homework is the worse. I swear they give me more on purpose but I don't do half of it. They keep reminding me that I got my O.W.L.S next year but I don't care. I already failed divination. I barely passed the main ones...Slughorn nearly had a fit at me last time because I got the ageing potion wrong" Archibald told her.
"Don't you enjoy any lessons?"
"Not really. Charms can be fun sometimes and defence against the dark arts is useful but apart from that? No. I don't need it anyway, I'm not going down the academic path" Archibald answered.
Lucy couldn't quite understand but she nodded anyway. He walked over towards his desk and chucked another dozen or so empty pages of homework. He would do some of them later. Argus had a smile on his face as he asked suddenly...
"Want to know a secret?"
"Is it another staff secret?" Archibald questioned.
"No. It's better...We are getting a new student in September and he's very odd. We never really had a student like him before" Argus replied with a grin.
"Argus. You shouldn't gossip about people" Lucy tried to say.
Though this went unheard as Archibald was keen to know. He enjoyed gossip like his younger brother. The older lad urged him to go on and spill the beans about this odd new student. He didn't quite know what to expect but he wanted to know. Lucy tried to ignore them as she went around the room. Briefly looking outside the window into the Yorkshire moors.
"A half-giant is coming!" Argus announced in a giddy tone of voice.
"What?" Lucy suddenly asked in disbelief as she turned her heard towards him.
"Oh! Saint Lucy does like a bit of gossip after all" Archibald teased.
This small insult however wasn't appreciated as Argus gave him another smack on his arm. He really hated when people called her that as he knew it wasn't coming from a nice place. Lucy walked over again as she stood besides him, wanting him to carry on now. A half-giant? She didn't even know giants existed, let alone half-giants! She wondered how a wizard could be one of those? Wouldn't he be ginormous?!
"I overheard Dumbledore and Slughorn. He's called Rubeus Hagrid and is coming in September as a first-year. He's so big that he's got to have his own special bed, stool, desk and whatever else" Argus explained.
"Giants don't exist" Lucy insisted with her arms crossed.
"They do. They just keep themselves to themselves...They live mostly in caves and mountains. So muggles can't see them. Even still, I think you're pulling our leg, Argus. A half-giant in Hogwarts? Never" Archibald said in disbelief.
"I'm not lying. I seen his big desk...It's hidden away as they don't want you lot to know yet. Because you will just mock him or something. Anyroad, he's really coming in September. I know he is" Argus promised them.
Lucy was picturing a huge boy towering over everything. She wouldn't believe it until she saw him. It scared her a bit actually to know giants existed as all she heard were awful things. The 'Jack and the Giant Beanstalk' story came to mind but she supposed that wasn't accurate. Nonetheless, she was still worried. What if he was nasty?
"Are giants nice?" Lucy dared to ask.
"Not really. They are brutes" Archibald replied with a shrug.
"They attack for no reason I heard. That's why they are being hunted down, they kill muggles sometimes" Argus added.
Lucy gave a gasp at the mere thought. Though something else crossed her mind as she was reminded he was only "half a giant". That means one of his parents was a normal human like them. Surely giants can't be that bad if they can get together with a human and have a child.
"But then how they have children with humans?" Lucy questioned.
"I don't know. Same way goblins can I guess...You can be sent to Azkaban for that sort of thing though. Depending on the circumstances" Archibald answered.
"Never mind that! A half-giant is coming. Just when I thought my job couldn't get any worse. He's going to break so much stuff and no doubt, get into fights" Argus interjected.
"Good luck punishing him" Archibald said with a smile.
Argus shaking his head as he tutted.
...
TBC