On Sunday morning after breakfast the study group went their separate ways from the Great Hall. Ginny went out to the Quidditch pitch for practice with the Gryffindor team, Luna went up to the Divination tower because she wanted to ask Professor Trelawney about an assignment, Theo and Neville went to the library to find books for their latest Charms assignment, and Rachel, Millie, and Hermione continued up the staircase to the fifth floor to go to the prefect's bathroom.
Rachel was feeling a little bit sick with dread, but not so much so that she thought she was actually going to throw up. She was a little worried about what her reaction would be once she was actually in the prefect's bathroom. She hoped she didn't start crying again.
"Here we are, fourth door past the statue of Boris the Bewildered," Hermione said, coming to a stop.
"Pine fresh," Rachel said, half hoping that the password wouldn't work. However the door unlatched and she followed Hermione and Millie inside.
"Wow," Hermione said as she looked around. "That's not a bath so much as it's a pool. Why are there so many different taps?"
"They do different bubbles," Rachel said. She set her bag down and stared at the painting of the mermaid. The mermaid was awake now, looking out at them as she moved slightly in the water. Rachel had been having dreams about that painting for nearly two years now, though they were much less frequent than they used to be.
"Are you alright?" Millie asked.
Rachel nodded. She didn't feel well, but she was okay enough.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, glancing at Millie before looking at Rachel.
Rachel looked down. She hadn't wanted to tell people this. "This is where Leander took me in second year," she said.
"Oh, Rachel," Hermione said. "We don't have to do this here, we can find another way."
"No, it's okay. We're already here and I don't know that there's another bathtub in Hogwarts. Let's just do it and be done with it," Rachel said.
"If you're sure, but if you want to leave, just say so and we will," Hermione said, not quite frowning.
"Why don't you turn on the taps, that way the bath fills up and we can listen to the egg," Rachel suggested.
"Okay, we can do that," Hermione said, going over to the bath, with Millie following her after a moment.
Rachel took the opportunity to take off her jumper and change into an old pair of shorts that she used to use for pajamas. She didn't particularly care to wear a bathing suit, not that she had one anyway, and she could use a drying charm on her shorts and t-shirt once she was out of the bath. She also took off her watch, even though it was supposed to be waterproof. She didn't want to ruin it.
She watched as Millie and Hermione went from tap to tap, turning them on and off, while leaving some of the more pleasant ones running.
"Turn it off," Hermione said with a laugh when Millie turned on one that had bubbles that floated up and out of the bath.
"Do you think if we left it on it would fill the whole room with bubbles?" Millie asked, even as she turned it off.
"Knowing Hogwarts, probably," Hermione said.
Rachel took the egg out of her bag along with her two-way book and a quill so they could write down what the egg said.
"I'm not much for swimming, is it okay if you go in without me?" Millie asked, coming back over to Rachel.
"That's fine. It's better if someone is writing down what the egg says, and watching the door anyway," Rachel said.
"I can do that," Millie said.
"That filled up fast," Hermione said, coming over to join them. "It looks like it should take a few hours to fill at least. Just let me change and we can go in."
Rachel took the egg over to the side of the pool to give Hermione some privacy to change and looked down in the bubbly water. Her chest felt a little bit tight at the thought of going in, but she knew she was still okay because her throat wasn't hurting yet.
"Alright," Hermione said, joining her at the side of the pool. She was now wearing a t-shirt and a pair of pajama shorts as well. "Let's go in and listen to the whole message once through so we can figure out where it starts. Then we can tell it to Millie and she can write it down."
"Okay. Um, just so you know, I don't know how to swim," Rachel said.
"Oh," Hermione said, looking surprised and then sad. "Well, let's stay close to the edge then so you can hold on to the side. Why don't I hold the egg? And when you stick your face under water, either hold your nose closed with one hand or slowly blow air through your nose so you don't get water up your nose."
Rachel nodded. That made sense. She lowered herself in the water and was not surprised to find that she still couldn't touch the bottom. It was deep enough that she doubted Hermione could either.
Hermione slid in after her, holding the egg under her arm. "Ready?"
"Okay," Rachel said, even though she could feel the pain in her chest a little more intensely now. She took as deep of a breath as she could manage and followed Hermione under the water.
Just like Tristram had told them, what had been loud screeches was now a song that they could understand.
Rachel held her breath as long as she could but then pulled herself back up to breathe.
"Is it working?" Millie asked.
"It is," Rachel said as Hermione surfaced.
"The message is longer than I expected. Give us a few times to get the gist of it then we'll tell it to you line by line," Hermione said.
They both took another deep breath and went back under the water. It took about fifteen minutes but they managed to repeat the entire song for Millie to copy down.
"I don't suppose there are any Merpeople in the lake?" Millie asked.
"There are, a whole colony," Hermione said. "Here, I'll get the egg and close it, and then pass it to you."
Rachel watched as Hermione dove back beneath the water and came back up a few moments later with the egg. "I suppose that means I'm going to need to learn how to swim," she said.
"I think the bigger problem is that you're going to have to find a way to breathe. The Merpeople colony is all the way at the bottom of the lake," Hermione said.
"Let's run it by the rest of the group and then we can hit the library," Millie said. "Are we done here?"
"I think so," Hermione said. "Anything you can think of, Rachel?"
Rachel shook her head. She wanted to be done with the prefect's bathroom for now. "Let's dry off and get out of here."
As they changed back into their dry clothes Rachel was sure that the mermaid in the painting was watching them.
"How'd it go?" Theo asked as soon as they entered the study room.
"Well enough, we were able to copy down the message," Hermione said. "We put it in our two-way books."
"Do you still have the egg with you?" Luna asked.
"I do," Rachel said, pulling it out of her bag along with her book. "You want to listen to it?"
"Yes, please," Luna said.
"Everyone put your hands over your ears," Millie said.
Rachel set the egg on the table and undid the latch, waiting until everyone had their ears covered before she opened it. She quickly covered her own ears and watched as Luna listened to the egg with a very thoughtful expression. "Are you done?" Rachel asked loudly to be heard over the sound of the egg.
Luna nodded and Rachel quickly grabbed the egg and closed it again.
"Why is it so loud?" Neville asked.
"I think being underwater muffles it some, it didn't seem that loud when we were listening to it in the bath," Hermione said.
Theo looked up from his two-way book. "So, I think the first part of the clue is fairly obvious. You have to go to the Merpeople."
"In the lake, there's a colony there and it makes sense for the task to be on Hogwarts grounds," Hermione said.
"Yuck, the lake is going to be freezing in February," Millie said.
"We'll add temperature to the list of things we have to find a solution for," Hermione said. "Maybe we can get you a wetsuit?"
"What's a wetsuit?" Luna asked.
"It's like a bathing suit that covers your whole body and helps to keep you warm. Muggle divers wear them," Rachel explained.
"How does it do that?" Theo asked. "Obviously it doesn't have a warming charm sewn in."
"It's a special type of fabric that insulates your body heat," Hermione said. "I think the next part is pretty obvious too, you have an hour time limit and they're going to take something of yours that you have to get back."
Rachel frowned. "What do you think they're going to take?"
"Could be anything," Neville said. "Probably something important but not irreplaceable, I would think."
"Maybe your broomstick?" Millie suggested.
"I hope not," Rachel said. Though she couldn't really think of anything she owned that she would be okay with them taking.
"Do you think you'll have to fight the Merpeople?" Luna asked.
"I doubt it," Theo said at the same time as Hermione said "No, I don't think so."
They looked at each other and smiled.
"What about the giant squid?" Neville asked.
"Maybe it's like with the dragon, you just have to get past the giant squid?" Millie asked.
"Well, I think we have a fairly good list of what we need to do. We need to find a way for Rachel to survive underwater for an hour. We need to teach Rachel to swim. We need to find a way to keep her warm. We should research what other creatures are living in the lake and be prepared for Rachel to defend herself against them," Hermione listed.
"I can help with the first one," Neville said. "I mean, I'll help with all of them, but I think I know the answer to the first one."
"How to survive underwater?" Rachel asked. She'd expected that one to be the difficult one to solve.
Neville nodded. "Gillyweed. It's a Mediterranean plant that allows you to breathe underwater. When you eat it, you grow gills like a fish. It also gives you webbed hands and feet to help you swim."
"Is it difficult to get?" Theo asked.
"No, most apothecaries will have it. We can order some pretty easily," Neville said.
"Assuming it's not too expensive, let's try to get several portions, that way Rachel can practice using it," Hermione said. "We should also figure out what spells can be cast underwater, if any can be cast at all."
"Thanks, Neville," Rachel said. "Where did you find out about Gillyweed?"
"Actually, in a book my great-uncle Algie got me for my birthday," Neville said.
"Well that's useful," Hermione said.
Rachel nodded. "Now that we know what we need to do, let's work on our Charms essays and then we can do our Potions essays after lunch?"
"Sounds good," Millie said.
Rachel got out her Charms book and a piece of parchment, ready to write about Scouring charms. She felt a little bit better now that they had a plan.
At six o'clock Theo and Millie walked Rachel down to Severus' office.
"We'll meet you in the common room after dinner," Theo said.
"Sounds good," Rachel said. She was ready to take a break anyway. Between yesterday and today she'd managed to get caught up on her homework and was now ready for another week of classes.
She went through the permeable wall that separated Severus' office from his quarters and found him in his armchair with a stack of parchment. "Why do professors assign so much homework if they just have to grade it?" she asked, setting her bag down next to the couch.
"I assure you that it's for your edification, not ours," Severus said, marking out a sentence in red ink and making a note on the side. "How was your day?"
Rachel sat down on the couch. "Fine, I got caught up on my homework and my friends and I figured out the clue for the second task."
"Already?" Severus asked, looking up from the parchment. "I thought you were putting aside the task until you'd taken a break."
"Well, we had time to do it, so now at least we know what we need to do," Rachel said with a shrug.
"What was the clue?" Severus asked.
"The Merpeople are going to steal something from each of the champions and take it to the bottom of the lake and we have an hour to retrieve it," she explained.
"The Merpeople are going to steal something?" Severus repeated flatly.
"Well, I guess not directly. I suppose they can't really go on land, can they?" Rachel asked.
"For brief periods of time, though not for long enough for them to make a sojourn into the castle," Severus said. "May I see the clue?"
"We wrote it down, it was in Mermish," Rachel explained, digging her two-way book out of her bag. She held her wand to the cover and said the password. She didn't particularly care if Severus heard the password, she didn't think he'd have any interest in what she wrote in there. She opened it to the last page they'd used, where Millie had written out the song and brought it over to Severus' armchair.
"Well, I can't fault your interpretation," Severus said after he'd read it.
"The plan is to use Gillyweed so that I can breathe underwater for the task. We're going to get some so I can practice using it," Rachel said.
"I would have suggested using a Bubble-Head charm, but Gillyweed might be more advantageous. I have some in my stock that you can practice with and I will order more," Severus said. "I'll also teach you the Bubble-Head charm just in case."
"Do you know what creatures are in the lake?" Rachel asked. "I mean, other than the Merpeople and the giant squid?"
"I do not think the Merpeople or the giant squid will be a threat to you. There are also grindylows in the lake, which you should avoid if you can. Don't go into any weeds or where there are any plants growing," Severus said. "Other than that, there are mostly fish and such that shouldn't be a problem."
Rachel nodded. "What about spells, do you know what spells work underwater?"
"I don't, I've never cast spells underwater before. That will have to be something to experiment with, as there may be advantages or disadvantages to using the Bubble-Head charm with that. However, I want you to take a break. You just finished the first task yesterday," Severus said, handing Rachel's book back to her. "Let's have dinner."
"Okay," Rachel said. She could take a break. She could have dinner with Severus and then maybe hang out with Millie or read a book for a little bit. It would be a lot easier to do all of that if her mind would leave her alone.
"Front page again, I know people who would kill to get this much press," Draco said when Rachel sat down for breakfast with Theo and Millie on Monday morning.
"Skeeter again? But she wasn't even here, was she?" Millie asked.
"She shouldn't have been, Professor Snape said she wasn't allowed on the grounds," Rachel said. "Can I see the paper, Draco?"
"Sure, but it's not very flattering," Draco said, handing over the Daily Prophet.
"When is it ever?" Rachel asked.
The picture was of Rachel facing off with the Hungarian Horntail, but it was from such a distance that her wand movements were barely visible. Rachel frowned as she read through the article. Rita Skeeter wasn't very flattering to any of them. She called Cedric handsome but foolhardy, Fleur was described as being aloof and disinterested, and Viktor was described as having a reckless disregard for the dragon's eggs. When she got to Rachel she focused on the fact that Rachel tried several things that didn't work, such as the Summoning charm and conjuring the seagulls, and said that the Disillusionment charm was the tool of someone who was a coward.
"That bitch!" Millie exclaimed, reading over Rachel's shoulder. "I'd like to see her face down a dragon."
"There's going to come a point where we need to do something about her," Theo said.
"I don't know why Professor Snape hasn't done something about her," Draco said. "If I was being slandered in the paper my father would have dealt with her the first time it happened."
"Professor Snape said there wasn't anything he could do, it's not considered libel, just opinion," Rachel said.
"My father would have settled this with his wand," Draco clarified. "Professor Snape should do so as well."
"What, like challenge her to a duel?" Millie asked.
"If necessary," Draco said.
Rachel doubted that Draco had meant that his father would have challenged Rita Skeeter to a duel. She thought he probably meant using all sorts of dark curses and threatening to do worse if she didn't stop.
"Do you want me to ask my father to do something about it?" Draco asked.
"No," Rachel said quickly. "It's fine, Draco. If she crosses a line then Professor Snape will deal with it."
"What line do you want her to cross? I don't see how she could say anything worse about you than she already has," Draco pointed out.
"I'm sure she can think of something," Theo said. "But Rachel's right. Professor Snape is her guardian, he's the one who should deal with this. It's only proper."
"It is proper, but if he's not going to do something, then someone should," Draco said.
"I appreciate it, Draco, but it's really not a problem," Rachel said. "I don't want anyone to do anything about Rita Skeeter."
"You should," Draco said, going back to his breakfast.
Rachel did actually want someone to do something about Rita Skeeter, but she couldn't think of anything anyone could actually do that didn't involve cursing her.
The next morning at breakfast a barn owl came with a letter addressed to Rachel.
Rachel had a brief moment to wonder who would be writing her when all of her friends were at Hogwarts, but when she opened it she found a letter from Sirius and Remus. She had the realization that she probably should have written them after the first task and told them that she was okay and decided to write a letter later that day.
'Dear Rachel,
Congratulations on getting past the dragon!
We read what was obviously a heavily biased account in the Daily Prophet and we'd love to know more about how the task went.
Remus would like me to write that he's very impressed that you managed both conjuration and the Disillusionment charm in your fourth year. You are clearly a very skilled witch. Your parents would both be so proud of you. We certainly are!
Let us know when the next Hogsmeade weekend is, we'd like to see you again.
Right now Remus and I are mostly loafing around the cottage, though we've started traveling a bit now that I'm up to it. Eventually I'll find a place to actually live - we've got the cottage on loan from an old friend of Remus' - but I'm not in a rush to pick somewhere. I spend a fair amount of time outside as Padfoot - Remus says that I'm welcome to stay that way all the time as it's closer to my true nature, but then he gets crabby when I track mud into the kitchen. Just like old times.
Dumbledore is trying to get me to resume the Black seat on the Wizengamot. I'll do it, of course, but I'm letting him and Amelia Bones sweat about it for a while. Merlin knows the last thing I want to do is become embroiled in politics.
Tell us how you and your friends are doing at school. We (mostly me) want all the Hogwarts gossip.
-Sirius and Remus'
Rachel thought that Sirius would be disappointed that she didn't really know much Hogwarts gossip. She supposed she could ask Pansy and Daphne if they'd heard anything interesting, they usually knew what was going on.
"Anything interesting?" Millie asked, eating another piece of toast.
Rachel tucked the letter into her robe pocket. "Sirius and Remus read about the first task in the Daily Prophet and want to know how it really was. I hope most people don't believe what Rita Skeeter writes," she said, returning to the eggs on her plate.
"My parents are a little bit iffy on it, though I've told them that what she prints about you is wrong. I'll write them tonight and tell them about the first task so they know what really happened," Millie said.
"I'm not sure it helps, but my father definitely doesn't believe what is in the Daily Prophet, but he has other ways of getting information," Theo said.
Rachel nodded. She was sure that both Draco and Pansy had written to their parents about the first task. "Has he said anything to you?"
"No, but that's not unusual. If he wanted me to know something he would write to me," Theo said.
Rachel tried to remember if she'd ever seen Theo getting mail in the Great Hall that wasn't something he'd Owl Ordered. She supposed it was for the best that Theo could at least get away from his father during school.
"Ready for Potions?" Theo asked.
Rachel nodded and took one last bite of her eggs.
"Let's go," Millie said.
"Rachel?" Luna asked once Madam Pince had finished checking out the books they were borrowing from the library.
"Yeah?" Rachel asked, turning to look at Luna.
"A little while ago you said that Madam Pomfrey might be able to tell me why I can see things that other people can't see," Luna said, twirling a long strand of her hair around her finger and looking a little worried.
"I don't know if she will be able to, but she might. Do you want me to come with you to go see her?" Rachel asked.
Luna nodded. "Would today be a bad time to go?"
"No, I think that's fine. If someone else is in the hospital wing we can leave and come back another time. Did you want anyone else to go with us?" Rachel asked.
"Just you, for now. I'd rather not have everyone watching," Luna said.
"Okay," Rachel said. She could certainly empathize with that. "We should at least tell one of the other members of the group that we're going somewhere so they don't worry about us."
"I see Hermione and Theo," Luna said, pointing at where Hermione and Theo were both bent over a book, seemingly in deep discussion.
"Let's go let them know," Rachel said. She led the way over to them, watching as Hermione shook her head and Theo started shaking his own.
"I don't think that's at all what it means," Hermione was saying.
"Of course that's what it means, what else could it mean?" Theo asked.
"It means that Crane's postulate is wrong," Hermione said.
"The entire postulate?" Theo asked incredulously.
"Sorry to interrupt," Rachel said, catching their attention. "Luna and I are going to step out. We'll be back in the study room in about thirty to sixty minutes."
"Do you want someone else to come with you?" Theo asked.
"I think Luna and I will be fine on our own," Rachel said.
"We're just going to the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey can look at me," Luna said.
"Okay, let us know if we can help with anything," Hermione said, glancing at Luna before meeting Rachel's gaze.
"We'll be alright. It shouldn't take long," Rachel said.
Theo nodded. "We'll see you soon. Send a message if there's a problem and you can't come back to the study room."
"We will," Rachel said.
Rachel and Luna left the library and headed toward the main staircase.
"Theo seems very concerned that you might be hurt at Hogwarts," Luna said. "He and Millie don't like you to go alone anywhere."
"Professor Snape doesn't like me to go alone anywhere either. They're worried about someone acting on instructions from Death Eaters," Rachel said.
"Are you worried about it?" Luna asked.
"A little bit, but I think I'm safer in the castle than I am just about anywhere else. We don't have to worry about apparation at Hogwarts, and I think it would be difficult for the Death Eaters to get to me otherwise," Rachel said. She was wary of some of the students, but she didn't expect them to outright attack her.
"I do hope the Death Eaters stay away. I don't want them to come here," Luna said.
"Me too," Rachel said. "Someone put my name in the Goblet. I don't think anyone is going to be less worried about that until we figure out who did it."
"Especially since they failed," Luna said.
"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.
"You didn't even get hurt during the first task and you already know how to do the second task. If they entered you in the tournament to hurt or kill you, then they're failing," Luna said.
Rachel considered that for a moment. The second task didn't sound nearly as dangerous as the first - the threat of drowning or the giant squid notwithstanding - but they didn't know anything about the third task yet.
"I think you're stronger than they thought you were. You don't look very strong or powerful, but you are," Luna continued after a moment.
"I don't feel very strong or powerful," Rachel said. She was very well aware of the gap between the magic she could do and the magic that she'd seen adults do. She was doomed if she had to face Death Eaters in a direct confrontation.
"Power isn't just what you can do, it's how you use what you can do too. We saw that during the first task. Fleur looked like she was hardly doing anything at all, but she did very well. Viktor attacked the dragon directly and nearly got trampled. You knew not to attack the dragon, so you found another way that worked for you," Luna explained.
"Professor Snape is the one who told me what to do," Rachel said.
"It's a good thing he's on your side, because he can keep doing that. I bet if you asked him, he would teach you a lot of different spells, maybe even ones that most people wouldn't know," Luna said.
"He probably would," Rachel said. It wasn't a bad idea. There were probably things that Severus knew that the Death Eaters wouldn't. "Are you okay to go in?"
Luna peered inside the hospital wing. It was empty. "Yes. I hope she doesn't find something wrong with me."
"I don't think it's about something being wrong with you, Luna. It's just about having an explanation for what is happening. Once you know why, you can decide if you want to do something about it," Rachel said.
Luna nodded. "I don't think I do, but it would be good to know."
Rachel followed Luna into the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey came out of her office to greet them.
"What can I do for you?" Madam Pomfrey asked, looking them over.
"We were wondering if you could look at Luna," Rachel said, when Luna didn't answer.
"Of course, what seems to be the trouble?" Madam Pomfrey asked, taking out her wand.
Rachel looked at Luna again and found Luna watching her. "Luna sometimes sees creatures that the rest of us can't see. We were wondering if you could tell us why she sees them."
"You see creatures? Can you tell me what they're like?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Well, there are a number of them, but usually I'm seeing wrackspurts, nargles, and occasionally a muahorn, but I mostly hear them," Luna explained.
"Come have a seat," Madam Pomfrey said, directing Luna over to a bed. "Are you seeing any of them right now?"
"No, the hospital wing is very clean. You don't have any wrackspurts either," Luna said, sitting still while Madam Pomfrey waved her wand around her.
"How long have you been seeing them?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Oh, years now. My father can see them too," Luna said.
"I'm not seeing any signs that something is wrong, but there are specialists at St. Mungo's that have spells to take a more detailed look at your brain. Would you like me to write your father and ask him to take you to St. Mungo's so they can look?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"I don't think he will take me," Luna said. "He thinks that other people can't see them because they don't pay attention, but I know my friends pay attention and they can't see the creatures."
"Do these creatures bother you?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "Are they frightening?"
"No. The nargles are bothersome on occasion, but most of the time it's fine," Luna said. "I don't mind seeing them, I'd just like to know why."
"I'm glad that they don't frighten you. Why don't I and Professor Flitwick write to your father anyway? I think we can impress upon him how important it is that you should be checked by a specialist," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Alright. He's on the continent right now, so it might take some time for him to reply," Luna said.
"Would it help if Luna brought a creature here to the hospital wing, and then you could look at her while she was seeing it?" Rachel asked.
"I don't see that it would hurt, but the spells I know to monitor brain activity are more limited than what is available at St. Mungo's. If you'd like to bring one of your creatures here, I would be happy to take another look," Madam Pomfrey said.
"I'll see if I can get one," Luna said.
"That will be fine. Come see me anytime. Are you well, Miss Snow?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Rachel said.
"Good, come see me if you need anything," Madam Pomfrey said.
Luna got up and they left the hospital wing.
"I'm sorry that she didn't have any answers for you," Rachel said as they went to walk back to their study room.
"It's alright, but I really don't think my father will want to bring me to St. Mungo's," Luna said.
Rachel frowned as she thought. "Maybe you could tell him that a specialist at St. Mungo's might be able to tell you how you're paying attention to see the creatures, so that other people might be able to see them too?"
"Maybe," Luna said.
Rachel bit down on her lip as she thought about it. Maybe Torey would have some suggestions as to how they could convince Mr. Lovegood.
"How are you, Severus?" Albus asked as Severus settled himself into a chair across from him.
"Well enough," Severus said. "And you, Albus?"
"I've noticed the disconcerting trend that as I grow older more and more seems to slip past me. Time, information, people. But otherwise, I am well," Albus said.
Severus frowned. Albus was over a hundred and ten years old now. While it was not uncommon for witches and wizards to live to a hundred and fifty, there would come a time when Albus would no longer be able to lead the fight against the Dark Lord. Severus wasn't sure what would happen then.
"And Rachel, how is she doing?" Albus pressed.
"She seems well. She and her friends have made excellent progress on deciphering the clue for the second task and preparations are underway," Severus said.
"Good. I'm impressed, it hasn't even been a week since the first task. I was also very impressed by the skills she and her friends displayed. It's not often you see students that young with such an impressive display of magic," Albus said.
"They are very committed, both to their studies and to Rachel. It helps that I'm able to teach Rachel skills and spells and she passes them to her friends. And now that several of her friends can perform the Patronus charm, that allows them to contact us immediately should Rachel encounter trouble," Severus said with a nod.
"I regret the necessity, but I'm thankful that is the case. If we had a permanent Defense teacher I would suggest that we teach the Patronus charm over a longer period of time and while students are younger. It's clear that it can be done," Albus said.
"I was also surprised by their proficiency. It's clear they're putting a lot of work into it," Severus said.
"Have you heard anything from your contacts?" Albus asked, settling back in his chair.
"Nothing of note. It's clear that Lucius and Wardell are being kept informed of what is happening at Hogwarts, but I haven't been given any indication of who may have entered Rachel's name in the Goblet. Lucius passed on his congratulations that Rachel did so well in the first task. Unfortunately I think this is undoing the effort I made to get them to underestimate Rachel," Severus explained.
"Despite what has been said about her in the Daily Prophet it is clear that Rachel is adept at magic. Did Lucius seem to intuit that Rachel had assistance with the task?" Albus asked.
"He remarked that the magic was advanced for her age, but did not inquire as to how she learned it. However, I think it is fairly obvious that I was coaching her," Severus said.
"Which is only to be expected in their eyes. Obviously I would not allow you to allow Rachel to fail," Albus said.
"I believe that is their understanding, however I will reinforce that message with them," Severus said.
Albus nodded. "Has Karkaroff spoken to you again?"
"Nothing more than passing conversation in the Great Hall. He inquires primarily about the status of his students. It's worth noting that the Durmstrang students are still spending time in the Slytherin common room. Rachel tells me they primarily sit and speak with the sixth and seventh years. I have requested that she stay close to Millicent Bulstrode while the Durmstrang students are visiting, though I don't expect an attack in the common room," Severus said.
"That seems reasonable. I have news that I'm not certain is related, but it caught my attention," Albus said. "Ludo Bagman mentioned in passing that one of his employees, Bertha Jorkins, has disappeared. This evidently happened shortly after we began making arrangements for the Triwizard Tournament."
Severus frowned as he tried to make the connection. "I vaguely recall Bertha being a student here while I was a student. A Hufflepuff, if I recall correctly."
"That's right. Ludo mentioned that she'd gone on vacation to Albania, but never returned. He has checked with the Albanian Ministry of Magic, but there's been no sign of her since she arrived by portkey," Albus said.
"I'm not entirely sure why you believe this is related to the Death Eaters," Severus said after a moment.
"I'm not certain that it is. However, in the period leading up to the first war against Voldemort there was a series of unexplained disappearances. I've asked the MLE to inform me if there are other disappearances, particularly of Ministry employees or anyone who is said to have specific skill sets," Albus said.
"That seems wise," Severus said. Any indicators of a coming war had to be monitored closely. "Has the Ministry seen any sign of Pettigrew?"
"None, whatsoever. They believe he has fled to the continent," Albus said.
Severus wasn't so certain about that, but there was little they could do about it.
"That's all I have for you for the time being. Please let me know if there's a concern or if anything catches your attention," Albus said.
Severus stood, recognizing the dismissal. "Thank you, Albus. I will see you at dinner."
"Of course, of course," Albus said, returning to the pile of parchment that was in front of him.
Severus left Albus' office, ruminating over the possibilities. He didn't think Bertha Jorkins disappearance was likely related, but Albus often saw patterns and signs earlier than anyone else. Severus decided to reach out to some of his lesser used contacts and see what he could find. Sometimes they saw things that the more well placed Death Eaters didn't.
"If I may have your attention," Professor Dumbledore called.
Rachel looked up at the staff table. They had just barely sat down for dinner, along with most of the rest of the students in the Great Hall.
"As you're aware, we will be holding a Yule Ball as is tradition while the Triwizard Tournament is taking place. The Yule Ball will be held here in the Great Hall on December 25th, starting at seven o'clock and continuing to midnight. Students fourth year and up are invited, though younger students may attend if they are invited by a student who is at least a fourth year. The champions will open the Yule Ball with an opening dance. If you have additional questions, please speak with your Head of House. Have a good dinner," Professor Dumbledore announced.
Rachel turned to look at Millie. "Now I have to dance in front of people? I don't know how to dance. This is worse than the dragon."
Millie giggled. "I don't know about being worse than a dragon, but now you have to find a date."
Rachel sighed and leaned across the table to serve herself from the pot of stew and to take a bread roll. She didn't want to dance at all, let alone in front of people.
"Worst comes to worst, I will teach you how to dance," Theo said, taking the serving spoon when Rachel was done with it.
"You know how to dance?" Rachel asked, slightly shocked at the revelation.
"Of course he knows how to dance," Draco said.
"Most people do," Pansy added.
"I don't think that's true," Rachel said. "Why would most people know how to dance?"
"It's cultural," Blaise said. "Formal dances are not uncommon events, especially among members of the Ministry and of the Wizengamot. Most pure-blood, and some half-blood families teach their children to dance from a young age. I had lessons starting when I was eight."
"I started at seven," Draco said. "I take it dancing isn't common in the muggle world?"
"I mean, some people do, but for most people they aren't attending formal dances," Rachel said.
"Rachel, who do you want to ask you out?" Pansy asked.
"I don't want anyone to ask me out," Rachel said, looking down at her stew. "Maybe I can talk to Professor Snape and I won't have to do the opening dance."
"It's tradition, you have to go with someone," Daphne said. "Don't worry, we'll find you someone. You too, Millie."
"Well, I don't have to go with anyone, because I'm not opening the dance," Millie said.
"You have to," Pansy said. "Otherwise you won't have anyone to dance with you. Theo, who are you asking?"
"I don't know yet," Theo said, quickly occupying himself with his dinner.
"Don't wait too long, or all the best girls will be taken," Pansy said, giving Draco a pointed look.
Rachel sighed and began eating. The less she thought about the Yule Ball, and about dancing, the better.
They met up with the rest of their study group after dinner and began climbing back up the staircases.
"Neville, you can dance, right?" Theo asked.
"Oh, yes. I've had lessons. My Gran insisted," Neville said.
"Good, we're going to have to teach the rest of the study group to dance. Ginny, did your parents teach you?" Theo asked.
"Not very much, just the basics," Ginny said.
"I did lessons for a year, but I wasn't very good," Luna said. "I didn't like their dances and I wanted to do my own."
"Are dance lessons a very common thing in the wizarding world?" Hermione asked.
"Yes, my mom made me go too, but I stopped after a while. Isobelle liked them better than I did," Millie said. "Rachel was telling us it's not common in the muggle world."
"Well, young girls often have dance lessons for ballet or modern dance, but ballroom dancing isn't very common at all," Hermione said. "My mom tried to get me to do ballet. I liked it well enough except for recitals, which I didn't like at all. Same thing with piano lessons."
"Don't worry about it too much, Neville and I can teach all of you the basics so you're prepared," Theo said as they reached their study room.
Rachel sighed again. Now she had to add dancing lessons to classes, homework, Quidditch practice, and preparing for the second task. She would be looking forward to the Christmas holiday, but that's when the Yule Ball was. "We've got our Potions essay tonight, right?" she asked.
"Yes, that's next on our list," Hermione said. "Do you want to lead us through it?"
"Sure," Rachel said, glad to have something she was prepared to do. "Let's start with the ingredient interactions in the Blood-Replenishing potion."
Severus set aside the stack of third year essays that he was grading when he heard a knock on his office door. A quick glance at the clock told him it was not yet curfew, yet most of his students were likely in the common room and the Durmstrang students should have already returned to their ship for the evening. He went through the permeable wall into his office and answered the door, a little bit surprised to find Theo Nott waiting and looking pensive.
"Professor Snape, sir. Do you have a moment for me to speak with you?" Theo asked.
Severus' mind immediately jumped to Rachel's worries about Ignatius Nott. "Of course, come in Mr. Nott," he said, standing back and opening his door wider.
Theo entered and stood stiffly as he watched Severus.
"Have a seat," Severus said, gesturing to the chairs sitting around his table. He sat down once Theo was sitting. After a moment he decided to prompt Theo. "There was something you wished to talk with me about?"
"Yes, sir," Theo said. "I wanted to ask you for a favor, if that's alright."
"I'll see what I can do to help," Severus said. If Theo was a different student with a Death Eater for a parent, he would suspect that he was here to request training in the Dark Arts. He very much doubted that was what Theo wanted. "What is it that you wanted?"
"I was wondering if you'd be willing to write to my father, and request that Rachel be allowed to go to the Yule Ball with me?" Theo asked.
Ah. This was an entirely different problem. Severus hadn't realized that Theo felt that way about Rachel. He suspected Rachel didn't know either. "I have some concerns about what your father would think of that request," he said as gently as he knew how.
"If it came from me, it would be a problem," Theo said, frowning. "But if the request came from you, as if you wished for Rachel to go with someone in the group who you knew she'd be safe with, then I think he'd understand. He respects you, sir."
Severus was positive that respect was not something that Ignatius felt for anyone. "Does Rachel know that you wish to go to the ball with her?" he asked, putting aside the issue of Theo's father for a moment.
"No, I haven't asked her yet. I wanted to wait until my father said that I could go with her," Theo said.
"You can't date Rachel, Theo. Your father will not allow it. Not even in secret. There are too many eyes and ears here at Hogwarts," Severus said. He empathized with the boy. Having a crush on a girl was a difficult experience to navigate at his age, especially with the social divide.
"I know," Theo said. "I'd just like to go to the ball with her. Just once. If you approve, sir."
"Rachel can make her own decision about who she would like to go to the ball with, my approval is not necessary," Severus said. "However, I will write the letter you request."
Theo smiled. "Thank you, sir."
"I want you to use caution. There may be difficult times ahead," Severus said, meeting Theo's eyes.
"I understand, sir. I'm doing everything my father asks of me," Theo said with a nod.
"Is there anything else you'd like to talk about?" Severus asked.
"No, sir. Thank you for your time. And thank you for writing the letter," Theo said, getting to his feet.
"I'd like to know your father's response when you receive it," Severus said, also standing.
"I'll bring it here, thank you," Theo said.
"Good. Go on back to the common room, it's nearly curfew. I assume Rachel is already in the common room?" Severus asked.
"Yes, she and Millie went to their dorm just a little while ago," Theo said.
"Good, goodnight, Mr. Nott," Severus said, opening his office door.
"Goodnight, sir," Theo said, hurrying out with a small smile.
Severus sighed and closed his office door. The letter he wrote to Ignatius had to be carefully crafted so that it appeared that Theo had no involvement whatsoever. It was a delicate balance, this back and forth with the Death Eaters. He could never ask too much or give too much away.
He went back into his sitting room and settled in with a quill and a piece of parchment. It appeared he needed to have a talk with Rachel about dating sooner rather than later.