"Excuse me, Rachel?"
Rachel looked up from the book she'd been reading to find Michael Pike standing near her. "Yes?" she asked.
Michael Pike stared at her and then gave a short bow. "I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of attending the Yule Ball with me?"
Rachel kept herself from sighing, but only just barely. "I'm sorry, but no thank you."
"I understand, thank you for your time," Michael said, giving her a nod before retreating back to where the rest of the third year boys were sitting.
Millie started giggling.
"Shut up," Rachel said, trying to remember where she'd left off in her book.
"What does that make now, four?" Millie asked.
Rachel did sigh that time and covered her face with her hands. "Why does this keep happening?"
"Because people want to go to the ball with you. You're going to have to say yes to someone eventually," Millie said, marking her place in her book with a scrap of parchment.
"Not to Michael," Rachel said quietly, meeting Millie's eyes. "For obvious reasons."
Millie nodded, clearly also remembering that Michael's father was a Death Eater. "I need a shower. I'll see you in our dorm?"
"Yeah, I'm just going to finish this chapter," Rachel said. A quick glance around the room told her that the Durmstrang students had already left for the evening.
"Alright, grab Midnight if you see her trying to escape," Millie said, getting to her feet.
Rachel returned to her book but as soon as she found her place she noticed someone moving toward her. "Oh, hi Theo," she said, smiling.
"Hi. I was wondering if we could speak privately?" Theo asked.
Rachel checked her watch. "We have fifteen minutes before curfew. Is that long enough?"
"That should be fine. All the prefects are here, so we can just use the room down the hall," Theo said.
"Okay," Rachel said. She followed him out of the common room but was now a little worried. There weren't many things that Theo wouldn't talk to her about in front of Millie. The one that immediately came to mind was Theo's father. Maybe he'd requested that Theo come home for the Christmas holiday even though there was the Yule Ball. Hopefully Severus could do something to help.
They reached the classroom that the prefects had converted into a private meeting room and sat down on one of the couches and Rachel tried to find the right thing to say that would help Theo feel comfortable talking to her.
"Rachel, would you go to the ball with me?" Theo asked. He was watching her closely, but he seemed very nervous.
"What about your father? I'm sure he'd have something to say about that," Rachel said, her worry not going away.
"I asked Professor Snape to write to him and request that I take you to the ball, since Professor Snape knows my father. I got the letter from my father today, instructing me to ask you on Professor Snape's behest," Theo explained. "You don't have to go with me if you don't want to, but I wanted to ask you."
Rachel blinked in surprise. Theo had done all of that, just to ask her to the ball? "And Professor Snape said it was okay?"
"He said that you can choose who you want to go to the ball with, but he agreed to write the letter for me," Theo said.
"I do want to go with you," Rachel said. It would be much better than going with anyone else. "Are you sure it's not going to cause a problem with your father this summer?"
"I'll have to write to him and explain that I went with you because he told me to, which obviously isn't true, but I have to make it sound like that's the only reason I did it. I don't think it will be a problem," Theo said. "You really want to go with me?"
"Yes, I'd like that," Rachel said, managing to smile a little bit, even though she was still worried.
"Good, I was kind of worried that you'd say no. People are saying that you're saying no to anyone who asks you," Theo said, smiling back.
"That's because I didn't want to go with any of them. Michael Pike just asked me, and I bet his father did instruct him to ask me," Rachel said.
"Probably. You should tell Professor Snape he asked, just so he knows," Theo said. "We should get back to the common room."
Rachel nodded and got back to her feet. "You really think this will be okay?"
"I think it will be fine," Theo said. "Don't worry about it."
Rachel decided she probably needed to do some writing about it in order not to worry about it so much, but it would be okay.
"I'm going to my dorm room now, I told Draco that I'd watch one of the Quidditch games on his Omnioculars tonight," Theo said.
"How is that going?" Rachel asked.
"Not too bad, with Draco and Pansy. Avery still looks at me like I'm an idiot. Jacob is not particularly interested, and Hestia and Flora just ask me about you," Theo summarized.
"Well, better than nothing," Rachel said. Hopefully that would be enough.
"That's true. Goodnight," Theo said as they passed the prefects as they went out on their rounds.
"Goodnight, Theo," Rachel said.
She went to her own dorm and found Pansy and Daphne already inside. She grabbed Midnight, who was trying to slip out the door, and brought her over to her bed.
"That cat," Pansy said. "I think it needs to get out more."
"I'll tell Millie we should start taking her to our study sessions again," Rachel said as she pet Midnight and tried to find the page in her book where she'd left off.
She'd just found her place and started reading when Millie returned and Midnight made a mad dash for the door again.
"What is wrong with you?" Millie asked as she picked Midnight up.
"I think there's a tomcat out there that she likes," Daphne said.
"I hope not, my mom would kill me if she had kittens," Millie said, dropping Midnight on her bed and turning to put her things in the wardrobe.
Rachel had the small hope that if Millie's cat had kittens that Severus would let her keep one. Probably not, but it was a nice idea. "Oh, Theo asked me to go to the ball with him."
"About time," Millie said, turning to give Rachel a smile.
"What did you say?" Pansy asked, looking at Rachel eagerly.
"I told him yes," Rachel said.
Daphne squealed. "That's perfect. Now Pansy's going with Draco, I'm going with Anthony, and we just have to find someone for Millie! What do you think about Terry Boot?"
"No," Millie said quickly. "Don't worry about it, I can pick someone myself."
"You say that, but then you're just going to use the opportunity to go on your own," Pansy said.
"I will go with someone, I have some ideas," Millie said, sitting on her bed to brush her hair.
"Who?" Daphne asked.
"I'm not going to tell you until one of them has said yes," Millie said.
Rachel wondered if Millie actually wanted someone to ask her or if she just wanted Pansy and Daphne to leave her alone. "At least now people will stop asking me," Rachel said.
"They will once they know you're going with Theo, you've got to tell people," Daphne said.
Rachel sighed. She was sure word would get around on its own.
"Everyone feel ready?" Rachel asked.
"It's Hufflepuff, no problem," Adrian said.
"Still, Herbert Fleet is their Keeper and it's his last year. He'll be tough to get past. Lucian, Scarlett, I want you to focus primarily on their Chasers, particularly on Robin Botsdale. Eurig Cadwalleder is their new Chaser, we'll have to see how he does. However, head out to Viktor if their Beaters are focusing on him. Viktor, Cedric is their Seeker. He's pretty good, but I don't think you have anything to worry about," Rachel said, glancing around at the team.
"Has he ever beaten you to the Snitch?" Viktor asked.
"No," Rachel admitted.
"Then it will be fine," Viktor said.
"Questions?" Rachel asked.
"We can do this," Draco said with a firm nod.
"We've got it, don't worry Rachel," Lucian said.
"Alright, let's get on the pitch," Rachel said. She fell back to walk alongside Scarlett. "Are you doing alright? I know it's tough to go out in front of everyone, especially for the first time."
Scarlett gave her Beater's bat an experimental swing through the air in front of them. "I'm a little nervous, but Lucian has been working with me. I think I can do it."
"You can do it, you've been doing very well in practice. Try to ignore the commentator and the crowds, just focus on where the Bludgers are. If you're not sure what to do, see where Lucian is," Rachel said.
"I can do that," Scarlett said.
They walked onto the pitch and found that the stands were no less crowded than they would have been for their usual Quidditch games. The Hufflepuff team was already on the pitch, along with Fleur, who had agreed to act as an impartial referee to all the games since none of the Beauxbatons students were playing. Rachel had been surprised when Roger Davies had suggested her, but all the team captains had agreed that since she claimed to have plenty of experience with Quidditch games that she could take the referee spot.
Rachel approached where Cedric was waiting at the front of his team. "Ready for this?"
"Well, I'd rather be Seeking against you. I still don't know that it's quite fair that you recruited a professional player," Cedric said.
"Well, he's a student, and these games don't count for anything. Besides, now you'll get to say you played Quidditch against Viktor Krum," Rachel pointed out.
Cedric smiled. "That's true, not many non-professional players can say that I imagine. You doing alright as a Chaser?"
"I prefer Seeking, but I guess we'll see how I do," Rachel said.
"I think you're selling yourself short. Let's have a good game," Cedric said, offering her his hand.
"We will," Rachel said, shaking his hand and then going back to stand in formation with her team.
"On the count of three," Fleur said, coming up to them carrying her broom, the Quaffle, and a silver whistle. "One, two, three!"
They launched into the air and Draco flew forward to grab the Quaffle.
It was an entirely different experience playing Quidditch as a Chaser, even more so as she felt the need to keep an eye on Viktor and Scarlett as well. The Chaser plays came easily to her as they had done plenty of practicing, though it was a new experience to be dodging the Hufflepuff Chasers at the same time. She decided she was going to have Scarlett and Lucian start running interference in their plays during practice with more than just the Bludgers.
Rachel received the Quaffle from Adrian in a backwards pass and flew down beneath Eurig to make a run at the goals. Herbert had a long reach so she needed to fake him out by heading far left and then tossing the Quaffle through the right hoop.
"And that's twenty nothing to Slytherin. Looks like the Girl-Who-Lived knows what to do with a Quaffle as well as a Snitch," Lee Jordan, the commentator, said loudly.
Rachel shook her head and took off after Heidi Macavoy. She took a moment to glance around the pitch and saw that Viktor and Cedric were both searching on opposite ends of the pitch, and Scarlett was sending a Bludger toward Robin, who had just taken the Quaffle. Glad that her team seemed to be doing well, she refocused on the Quaffle and joined with Draco to do a pincer move.
She wasn't sure how much time had passed when she heard Lee announce "And here go our Seekers, that's Bulgaria's own Viktor Krum, head to head with our Cedric Diggory".
Rachel passed the Quaffle to Draco so that he could make a run on the goal and then watched as Viktor and Cedric dove after the Snitch. Viktor had pulled ahead, but Cedric was right behind him and they were both heading toward the ground at what was probably an unsafe speed.
"And that's another goal for Slytherin, made by Draco Malfoy. The Seekers are still after the Snitch," Lee called.
Rachel took a breath, remembering how the Irish Seeker had crashed at the World Cup, but both Viktor and Cedric pulled out of the dive, Viktor holding up the Snitch.
"And that's the game, somewhat predictably, 210 to Slytherin, 30 to Hufflepuff," Lee announced.
With a sigh of relief, Rachel made her way toward the ground. She was sweating and had decided that being a Chaser was much more work than being a Seeker.
"Good game," Cedric said, holding out his hand.
"Good game, you flew well," Viktor said, shaking Cedric's hand.
Rachel smiled and approached them. "Can I speak with you two privately after you've had a chance to go in the locker rooms?" She had wanted to talk with Fleur as well, but she had already left the pitch.
Cedric looked back and forth between Rachel and Viktor. "Is this about what I think it's about?"
"Yes," Rachel said, assuming that he was assuming it was about the tournament.
"Let's meet back on the pitch after we have changed, it should be empty then," Viktor said.
"Thanks," Rachel said. "Good game, both of you."
"You too," Cedric said, turning away to go join his team.
"We won!" Scarlett said as she hurried up to them.
"Yes, you did well," Rachel said, smiling at Scarlett.
"Not like we can lose with Viktor on our team," Adrian said, grinning broadly.
"I've got notes, but that can wait until our next practice," Lucian said as he joined them.
"Me too, I have some ideas for some things we should practice," Rachel said.
"Let's just enjoy the fact that we won, even though we're not getting House points for it," Draco said.
"We can do that," Rachel agreed. "Good job, Miles!"
"Could be better," Miles said. "I let them get three goals."
"Don't worry about it, you did well," Rachel said quickly, even though Miles was shaking his head.
She went into the Slytherin girls locker room with Scarlett, listening as Scarlett recounted the game from her perspective.
"I think I need to work with Lucian on getting more range from my hits. When he hits the Bludger it goes much further than when I hit it," Scarlett said, getting lost somewhere in her jumper as she changed.
"We can work on that, but you're also new and you're much smaller than Lucian. You can build up to it," Rachel said. "Lucian has been doing this for five years now."
"I'll get there. I think it went really well today," Scarlett said. "I heard Draco saying that we're going to party in the common room. Are you coming?"
"I might drop by later on," Rachel said, finishing tying her shoes. "You're okay to go back to the castle by yourself?"
"Sure, I'm not a kid," Scarlett said. "I'm only a year younger than you. Hell, I'm taller than you."
"I know," Rachel said. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine, no one needs to worry about me. I'll see you in the common room," Scarlett said, bouncing to her feet.
"See you later," Rachel said, shaking her head. Scarlett was absolutely full of energy. Hopefully she'd learn enough about being a Beater this year that she could train the new Beater next year after Lucian finished at Hogwarts.
Rachel walked back out onto the pitch and found both Cedric and Viktor waiting for her. She looked around, but the stands had already emptied out and they were basically alone.
"What's this about?" Viktor asked.
"I wanted to tell you what to do with the egg. It's in Mermish, so you have to listen to it underwater. The clue tells us that the Merpeople are going to take something from us, and we have to go into the lake and we have an hour to retrieve it. Let me know if you want more ideas about the underwater part, because I have some ideas for that," Rachel said. She wasn't sure she'd tell them about Gillyweed, but she would suggest the Bubble-Head charm to them.
"You need to stop doing this," Viktor said.
"He's right, we both entered the tournament of our own free will, we're okay figuring it out on our own," Cedric said. "Not that we don't appreciate what you're trying to do."
Rachel shook her head. "No. I'm not letting anyone die."
"Try not to worry about it so much, they will not let us die," Viktor said.
"I don't think Professor Dumbledore, or the other Headmasters for that matter, will let anything truly bad happen to us, but thank you for the hint," Cedric said. "Do you need help with the clue?"
"No, I've pretty much got it covered. I'm going to tell Fleur though, so that everyone is even," Rachel said.
Viktor shook his head, but didn't say anything else.
"Are you alright to get back to the castle?" Cedric asked.
"I'm fine," Rachel said.
"Okay, I'll see you later then. Viktor, it was good to play with you," Cedric said, nodding to Viktor before leaving.
"Ready to go back? I think there's a party in the common room," Rachel said.
"Yes, though I think I will find Predrag and we will return to the ship," Viktor said.
"Predrag's your friend, the one you're always with?" Rachel asked as they started walking.
"Yes, he is my closest friend," Viktor said. "We have known each other since we were children."
"It's good that you both got to come here together," Rachel said.
"That is true. Can I ask you a question?" Viktor asked.
"Sure," Rachel said, although she had no idea what Viktor might ask her.
"Your friend, the girl with the curls like yours, is she going to the ball with anyone?" Viktor asked.
Rachel blinked. She hadn't known what to expect, but she wasn't expecting that at all. "Hermione? No, I don't think anyone has asked her yet."
"Do you think she would go with me?" Viktor asked.
"I don't know, but I don't think she would mind if you asked her," Rachel said.
"Will she be in the library today, do you think?" Viktor asked.
"It's possible, we do some research on Saturdays, but you might be better off catching her as she leaves the Great Hall after a meal," Rachel suggested.
"I will do that then. You do not mind if I ask your friend?" Viktor asked.
"I don't mind. I'm going to the ball with Theo," Rachel said.
"That is good, that you go with a friend. I will go find Predrag now. I will see you later," Viktor said as they neared the front of the castle.
"See you, good game today!" Rachel said, smiling and shaking her head to herself. Sometimes life was just weird.
On Saturday afternoon in mid December, directly after lunch, all the Slytherins years four and up gathered in the common room at Severus' direction. Many students from the lower years had also gathered to watch, curiosity getting the better of them.
Rachel folded her arms as she stood to the side with Millie and Theo. She did not want to learn to dance, even though she knew she needed to if she didn't want to make an idiot of herself at the Yule Ball. She'd asked Severus if she really had to do the opening dance and he had told her that it was best that she did and that it would not be as difficult as it sounded.
Severus entered the common room and looked around. "Please gather in the center of the room for a moment," he instructed.
It took a few minutes for everyone to move. Rachel watched as Severus raised his wand and then moved all of the furniture to the sides of the common room with one sweeping motion.
"Today we will be learning some of the basic dances that you will be expected to know while attending the Yule Ball. I will not have anyone in my House make a fool of themselves," Severus said as he moved across the room to where the gramophone was sitting. "Prefects, you will begin by demonstrating a slow waltz. Everyone else, to the sides."
Grateful that she wasn't a prefect, Rachel joined the rest of the fourth years to the side of the room and watched as Severus turned on the gramophone. The male prefects gave short bows, and the female prefects curtsied, though they looked a little odd since two of them were wearing trousers. Then the dancing began.
Rachel stared. She was supposed to learn how to do this? In two weeks? She thought she'd rather have another go with the dragon instead. "Can you really do this?" Rachel asked Theo quietly.
"Sure, this is the first dance people usually learn," Theo said. "It looks more difficult than it is. The main thing to keep in mind is moving with the tempo of the music. It all sort of falls in place after that."
Rachel doubted that. "If you say so."
The song ended and Severus restarted the gramophone. "Find a partner and we will begin again. For those of you who are doing this for the first time, I suggest you find someone who is familiar with the dance," he instructed.
Theo held out his hand. "Shall we?"
"Maybe you should go with Millie first, since she's danced before?" Rachel suggested, not wanting to go out there.
"You'll be dancing with Theo at the ball, go with him," Millie said. "Look, no one is paying attention, they're just focused on what they're doing. No one will notice if you don't know what to do."
"It will be fine, I'll show you," Theo said, holding his hand out to Rachel again.
Rachel looked at Millie and then back at Theo. "Okay," she said finally, taking Theo's hand.
They went out to where other students were gathering. Rachel saw Pansy and Draco together, along with Daphne and Blaise. Tracey was still partnered with Tristram, but Cassius was now partnered with Abigail.
"Okay, so we hold hands here," Theo said, moving Rachel's hand with his. "And then you put your arm around me like this, and I rest my arm here."
It wasn't quite like hugging, but it did leave them very close together. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes, this is right. We lead with our hands here, but I'll guide you," Theo said. "This is a slow waltz, so typically we'll step once on each beat except for a few instances, but don't worry about those for now. We're going to move counterclockwise around the floor."
"I'm going to make an idiot of myself," Rachel said.
"Don't worry about it. It's like Millie said, everyone is too busy focused on themselves to see what we're doing. Just follow my lead and it will be okay," Theo said. "Here, let's take a few steps before the music starts. You're going to step forward onto the base of your foot, then rise onto your toes, then back to the base. Three beats. Okay?"
"Okay," Rachel said, though she really had no idea what she was doing.
"Right foot first," Theo said. "In the direction of where our hands are pointing."
They stepped and Rachel felt oddly off balance, even though she could feel Theo's hand guiding her on her shoulder. "Are you sure I can't just deal with the dragon again?" she asked.
Theo laughed. "I hope I'm a much better dance partner than a dragon."
"Let's begin," Severus called and the music started once again.
The music seemed faster now that they were trying to move to it, even though it was the same song that had been playing before. Rachel felt a little less off balance now that she was continuing to step, but she was grateful that Theo was essentially pushing and pulling her to the right places.
"You're okay. Try to match your steps to the beat of the music," Theo said. "Listen to how one of the beats is louder than the others, that's when you first want to step, everything is in threes."
Rachel listened and she thought she understood what Theo meant. She focused on keeping time with the beat and it got a little easier. "I can't believe that people do this for fun," she said.
Theo smiled. "I don't know about for fun, but it's important for social functions. I imagine you'll wind up attending a lot of them when we're older," he said.
"I hope not," Rachel said.
"I don't know that you're going to have much choice. Like it or not, you're an important person and you're going to have a lot of sway over the Wizengamot once you're ready," Theo said.
"I don't think I'm ever going to be ready for that," Rachel said, allowing Theo to turn them so they didn't bump into the people in front of them. "Hogwarts doesn't seem to offer a class in political intrigue."
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will prepare you to take your seat," Theo said.
"Does everyone know about that?" Rachel asked. "I only found out this summer."
"Really?" Theo asked. "They didn't tell you?"
"I guess it never came up," Rachel said. "There's always something going on."
"That's true enough," Theo said. "But still, they should have told you. And yes, pretty much everyone is aware that Professor Dumbledore is holding the Snow seat until you're of age. Well, I suppose muggleborns probably wouldn't know, but anyone who pays attention to the Wizengamot would know."
"They really need to offer a class for people coming from the muggle world. Or at least a book. I want to write a book so that muggleborns aren't just left randomly finding these things out," Rachel said. "Did you know that Father Christmas was a real wizard?"
"Yes, of course," Theo said with a smile.
"I just learned that this summer too," Rachel said. "And Professor Snape had to explain to me how wizarding trials work."
"They're different from muggle trials?" Theo asked.
"Yes, they have solicitors who speak for the people who are charged with a crime. And they have a jury selected of random people instead of the Wizengamot. And they can't use Veritaserum, of course," Rachel explained, though that about exhausted her knowledge of muggle laws and courtrooms.
"Just random people? How are they supposed to know what the law says?" Theo asked.
"I don't know. I suppose they tell them the laws beforehand. The real problem is that anyone can say they're innocent, and they have to prove them guilty with evidence," Rachel said.
They came to a stop as the music ended.
"Well, I'm probably biased, but I think our system is probably better," Theo said. "And you just danced your first waltz and I don't think you even noticed."
Rachel smiled. "Well, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting."
"Good, next time we'll throw in a promenade or two," Theo said.
"Dance with Millie next so she has someone to dance with," Rachel said, leading the way over to where Millie was waiting.
"How was it?" Millie asked.
"Not bad, but now it's your turn," Rachel said.
Millie groaned theatrically but accepted Theo's hand as he led her out into the main area of the room.
Rachel smiled to herself and settled in to watch. Dancing wasn't too bad, she supposed, but she'd rather be watching than doing it.
"I'm going to go talk to Fleur," Rachel said, looking over at where the Beauxbatons students were finishing their dinner at the Ravenclaw table.
"We'll follow you, just like last time," Millie said.
"I really don't think that's necessary. It's just Fleur," Rachel said.
"And what if someone else saw you going off with Fleur and then followed you and ambushed you? We're pretty obvious that we go up to the third floor after dinner every night," Theo said.
Rachel sighed. "I don't think it's likely that I'm going to be attacked in Hogwarts. Surely someone would have tried by now if they were going to do it." She was glad they had been late to dinner and they were now the only fourth years sitting together. She didn't particularly want to have this conversation where people like Pansy and Draco could then report it to their parents.
"Or they're waiting for when we decide it's safe and you go off alone. Has Professor Snape said that it's okay for you to be alone in the hallways?" Theo asked.
"Not as such, but all the Durmstrang students are either here at the table or went down with the upper years to our common room," Rachel said, glancing up the table to where Viktor and his friend Predrag were still eating with a few of the seventh years.
"Professor Karkaroff is still at the staff table though, and we definitely don't want him following you," Millie said.
Rachel peered up at the staff table and saw that Professor Karkaroff was sitting next to Severus, though neither of them were speaking. "I feel bad that you have to follow me everywhere though. I'm sure you have things you'd rather be doing."
"Like what?" Millie asked.
"We're basically together all the time anyway, except for when you go off to Quidditch practice, and then you have Miles and Lucian looking out for you, and when you're with Professor Snape. We don't mind, Rachel. We just don't want you to be attacked or kidnapped or anything," Theo said, glancing around them.
"Besides, when we're going places as a group it keeps all of us safe. No one even thinks to try and bully any of us because they know they'll get seven wands drawn on them," Millie said. "I think you're about to miss Fleur though."
Rachel hopped up and hurried over to where the Beauxbatons students were gathering. "Fleur, may I speak with you privately for a few minutes?"
"Just for a few minutes, I have homework to do," Fleur said. She then turned to her sister and began speaking in French.
Gabrielle folded her arms and began speaking back in French, Fleur immediately speaking over her. Finally Gabrielle joined the other Beauxbatons students and left the Great Hall with them.
"Shall we speak then?" Fleur asked.
"Yes, is one of the classrooms on this floor okay with you?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, that is fine," Fleur said.
Rachel left the Great Hall with Fleur and tried to listen for where Millie and Theo were undoubtedly following them. She glanced behind herself once or twice but didn't see them either. It was a little disconcerting that it was so easy to be followed.
"You flew well at the game," Fleur said.
"Thank you. Chaser isn't my usual position, but it was okay. We appreciate you acting as referee for us. I understand you have some experience with Quidditch?" Rachel asked.
"My uncle is on the French National Team, I've been seeing Quidditch games since before I could walk. I have flown and played Quidditch too, but I prefer not to play on our school teams. I know Quidditch very well though," Fleur said.
"That's great, what position do you usually play?" Rachel asked.
Fleur smiled. "Seeker, of course."
Rachel started laughing. "How is it that all of the tournament champions are Seekers?"
"Clearly the Goblet is aware that it takes a certain je ne sais quoi to be a successful Seeker, an attribute found in champions," Fleur said.
Rachel didn't know about that but it was definitely a weird coincidence. "Alohomora," she said, unlocking the nearest classroom door, and then shutting it behind them once they were inside.
"I will set up the privacy ward, just in case," Fleur said. A moment later a silvery bubble briefly surrounded them. "There are many classrooms that don't seem to be used at Hogwarts. Why is that?"
"I think the population of the school used to be bigger. And the castle rearranges itself from time to time, so it might make some of the unused classrooms into other spaces the next time it changes," Rachel said.
"Beauxbatons is not like this. We do not have poltergeists and the staircases do not move. Also it is much warmer," Fleur said.
"Are there more students at Beauxbatons than there are at Hogwarts?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, there are nearly seventy students in my year, and that is about average, also we have some younger students who attend during the day," Fleur said. "You wished to tell me something?"
"Yes, about the golden egg. It's in Mermish and if you listen to it underwater you can understand it. The Merpeople in the lake are going to take something from each of us, and we have to go in the lake and get it back within an hour," Rachel explained. "I'm happy to try to help you with things, I've got an idea about the underwater part."
Fleur frowned as she seemed to consider this information. "Are you well?"
"What?" Rachel asked.
"You are telling me this and you seem very upset about the tournament," Fleur said. "That is understandable, because I believe you now, that you didn't enter your name in. No one would give away this information if they were trying to win."
"I don't care about winning, I just don't want anyone to die, or even to get hurt," Rachel said.
"Professor Snape, he is your father, is he not?" Fleur asked.
"My guardian," Rachel said.
"Your guardian then. He is close to you? He takes care of you?" Fleur asked.
"Yes, he does," Rachel said, wondering if Fleur thought that Severus had told her about this task too.
"Perhaps you should talk to him and tell him that you are upset. He might be able to help you worry less," Fleur said.
"You don't think being sent out to face off with dragons was cause for concern?" Rachel asked.
"Perhaps, but we all managed. These tasks, I do not think they give them to us beyond our abilities. They seem difficult at first, but once you examine them they are not so difficult," Fleur said.
"I heard you enchanted the dragon, that's pretty amazing," Rachel said.
"It was about knowing a dragon's strengths and weaknesses. Dragon hide, you cannot get spells past it. It was best not to face the dragon directly at all. You knew this too, as you hid yourself from the dragon. For the lake, we will find a way," Fleur said.
Rachel nodded. "Still, it's important that we know what we're facing, which is why I wanted to tell you in case you hadn't worked on the clue yet."
"Is there anything you need?" Fleur asked.
"No, I'm okay. But my offer to help if you need it is open," Rachel said.
"I can manage, but thank you. Goodnight," Fleur said, dispelling the privacy ward and exiting the classroom.
Rachel stepped outside the classroom and waited for a moment. Sure enough Theo and Millie both appeared from around the corner a moment later.
"So there has to be some spell that tells you if you're being followed, because I couldn't hear or see you at all," Rachel said.
"I don't know, that would be tricky to pull off. There's spells that tell you if someone enters a certain place, but I don't know how you'd do it while you were moving around. Something to look up in the library or ask Professor Snape about," Theo said.
"How'd it go with Fleur?" Millie asked.
"It went fine, though she seemed like she was sort of worried about me," Rachel said.
"Worried about you as in you're a threat, or worried about your well-being?" Theo asked.
"Worried about my well-being. She told me to talk to Professor Snape if I was worried about the tournament," Rachel said.
"Not bad advice," Millie said. "Are you worried about the second task? I know we haven't spent a lot of time working on preparing for it."
"It's okay, we planned to do that after Christmas anyway. And I'm a little bit worried, but not as worried as I was about the dragon. This seems more doable, unless we're missing something," Rachel said.
Theo shook his head. "I can't see that they expect you to fight the Merpeople or the giant squid. It seems fairly straightforward to me."
"I suppose one option would be for me to actually go down in the lake and try it out beforehand," Rachel said, though she wasn't particularly sure she wanted to do that.
"I think we should leave that in reserve until we've got the rest of the pieces worked out first," Theo said.
"Let's go see the rest of the group until curfew?" Millie asked.
"Sure," Rachel said. They were caught up on homework, so it would be nice to have an evening of just hanging around and chatting.
Rachel looked up from her Arithmancy book when the door opened and Luna came into the room. They hadn't been able to find Luna after they'd had breakfast in the Great Hall, which happened on occasion and she usually surfaced by lunch. If she hadn't shown up by lunch they would have gone looking for her.
"What have you got in there?" Ginny asked.
Luna came over to the table and set down a small cage that had clearly been built by hand out of thin sticks. "It's a nargle."
They all peered at the cage. There was a bottle cap inside, though nothing else that Rachel could see at least.
"I would have needed a thin mesh net of some kind to catch the wrackspurts, and the Muahorns are too big," Luna said.
"Okay then," Hermione said after a moment.
"Do you want me to go with you to the hospital wing again so Madam Pomfrey can look at you while you're seeing the nargle?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, please," Luna said.
"Is it okay if I come with you?" Hermione asked.
Luna nodded. "That's fine."
"We'll be back in a little bit," Hermione said.
They left the study room and began walking toward the main staircase.
"How did you catch a nargle?" Rachel asked.
"Oh, it was quite easy. First I needed a place to put it, so I built this cage. I said hello to Hagrid while I was outside collecting the materials. He said not to go too far into the Forbidden Forest, but there was plenty of what I needed near the edges. Then I went to my dorm room, because the nargles often visit there, and I built the cage and placed a bottle cap inside, because nargles do like odds and ends. If that hadn't worked, I would have used a spare sock. And then I waited, and when the nargle went inside, I shut the side of the cage," Luna explained.
"That seems fairly straightforward," Hermione said. "And it's still inside the cage? You can see it right now?"
"Yes, it's crouched down around the bottle cap. I should let it out when we're done. I don't think it likes being confined. Maybe I should feed it," Luna said, peering into the cage.
"What do nargles like to eat?" Rachel asked.
"I don't know, I've never tried to feed them before," Luna said. "You really can't see it? Even if you concentrate hard?"
They came to a stop on the second floor at the bottom of the staircase and both Hermione and Rachel stared into the cage again.
"No, I just see the bottle cap," Hermione said after they'd been watching for a minute or two.
"Same here, but you did a really nice job building the cage. You should show it to Hagrid, I bet he'd like to see it," Rachel said.
"Perhaps, but I don't think it would hold something that really wanted to be out of it," Luna said.
"I'm sure Hagrid would like to see it anyway," Hermione said. "Where did you learn to do that?"
"Oh, my father and I, we've set traps for various creatures before. Besides, I've always liked making things," Luna said.
Rachel smiled. "You're a very good artist. Maybe your father would let you put some of your art in The Quibbler."
"Sometimes I do, he lets me draw the pictures of the creatures that we can't get photos of," Luna said. "I'd like to learn to use a camera one day. Maybe you can teach me."
"There's not very much that I know, but I'd be glad to tell you what I do know. I also have a book on developing film if you wanted to read that," Rachel said.
"That would be nice," Luna said, coming to a stop as they reached the entrance to the hospital wing.
"Looks like no one is here, I think Madam Pomfrey is in her office," Hermione said. "Do you want me and Rachel to stay with you or wait here?"
"With me, please," Luna said.
"We can do that," Rachel said.
They went into the hospital wing and a moment later Madam Pomfrey came out of her office. "How can I help you girls?" she asked.
Rachel glanced at Luna and then looked back to Madam Pomfrey. "We came a while ago and you said you might be able to detect something different if Luna is looking at one of the creatures she sees."
"Yes, I'm glad to take another look, but I really think you should be seen at St. Mungo's, Miss Lovegood. Has your father made arrangements to take you?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
Luna shook her head. "No, ma'am. He didn't mention it in his latest letter to me."
Madam Pomfrey frowned. "Let me take another look at you, and I will have Professor Flitwick write to your father again. Come take a seat. Now you're seeing this creature right now?"
"Yes, ma'am. It's a nargle," Luna said, going and sitting on one of the hospital beds, holding her cage in her lap.
"Is this nargle bothering you?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"No, it's just sitting there. I don't think it likes being in the cage though," Luna said.
"Well, continue to look at it for a moment," Madam Pomfrey said and then began moving her wand.
Rachel and Hermione watched as Madam Pomfrey worked. Rachel recognized the movements of the standard diagnostic charm since she'd had it directed at her so many times, but she didn't recognize anything else Madam Pomfrey was doing.
"I still don't see anything out of the ordinary, Miss Lovegood, though as I've said before the advanced diagnostic charms they use at St. Mungo's may reveal something more. I do believe that if you are regularly seeing these creatures you should be checked by a specialist. In the meantime, please come here if the creatures are distressing you or if you notice any changes," Madam Pomfrey instructed.
"Yes, ma'am," Luna said, getting back to her feet.
"Does the magical world have no treatments for hallucinations?" Hermione asked.
"There are various treatments depending on the cause of the hallucinations, however without knowing the cause it would be a bad idea to prescribe any specific treatment. These sort of illnesses are generally attended to by a specialist, and sometimes by a Mind Healer," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Am I ill?" Luna asked, looking worried.
"I can't answer that with the information that I have, Miss Lovegood. There are a number of causes for hallucinations. Sometimes it is as simple as stress and lack of sleep. Other times there is an issue in the brain itself that is causing the hallucinations. If the hallucinations were bothering you or frightening you, we'd want to take more urgent action, but they seem relatively benign in nature," Madam Pomfrey said. "I will write to your father again and see if we can get you seen at St. Mungo's soon. Do you have any questions for me?"
"No, thank you," Luna said.
"Thank you for seeing us," Hermione said.
"Thank you," Rachel echoed.
"Go on then, and please come back if you need me for anything," Madam Pomfrey said.
They left the hospital wing together.
"Your father doesn't want you to be seen at St. Mungo's?" Hermione asked.
"No, I don't think so," Luna said.
"But why?" Hermione asked.
"He doesn't see anything wrong with seeing things that other people don't see," Luna said. "He just says that people don't pay enough attention."
"Your father seemed to like Professor Snape alright, didn't he?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, he said Professor Snape was rather amusing and that he's glad I have a professor like him," Luna said.
"What if Professor Snape wrote your father and asked if he could take you to St. Mungo's instead, while your father is out of the country?" Rachel asked. "I could ask Professor Snape to do it."
"Maybe. I suppose we could try. Would Professor Snape really do that?" Luna asked.
Rachel wanted to say yes, but she wasn't entirely sure. Luna wasn't in his House. "I can ask him at least. See what he says."
"Alright," Luna said. "I'm going to go back to my dorm and release the nargle so that it can rejoin its friends. I'll see all of you after lunch."
"Okay," Hermione said. "Let us know if we can do anything."
"Thanks," Luna said, giving them a small smile before she went to continue up the stairs that would lead to Ravenclaw Tower.
"I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed. I'd hoped Madam Pomfrey would be able to help," Hermione said.
"Me too," Rachel said. "I hope Professor Snape will be willing to take her to St. Mungo's."
"Yes. I wonder if whatever is going on for Luna is hereditary, if her father is seeing the same things that she does," Hermione said. "Some mental illnesses are."
"Maybe," Rachel said. "I don't know how we convince him to let Luna get help though."
"Me neither, but we have to at least try," Hermione said.
Rachel nodded. "I'll talk to Professor Snape tonight."
"Can I tell you something?" Hermione asked, looking nervous as they all settled around the table in their study room after lunch.
"Sure," Rachel said.
"Viktor Krum asked me to go to the ball with him," Hermione said, smiling, but still looking nervous.
"Well, what did you say?" Ginny asked.
"I told him yes. I wasn't sure if I should or not, but he was very sweet when he asked me, and no one else has asked me yet. Rachel, you don't mind, do you? I know you're friends with him and it's a little weird since you're competing against him in the tournament," Hermione said.
"I don't mind at all, I'm going with Theo," Rachel said, smiling at Hermione. "Viktor's actually rather shy, so I think it's a good thing that he asked you."
Hermione's smile was more genuine this time. "You wouldn't think someone as famous as he is, especially for Quidditch, would be really shy. He seems nice though."
"He's always been nice to me, he even offered to give me some lessons on Seeking," Rachel said.
"Seeking lessons with Viktor Krum! He must really think you're a good player if he's willing to train you," Ginny said with a grin.
"I don't know about that," Rachel said, feeling herself blush. "I think it's just because we're on the same team."
"You're a good player. I mean, I don't just think so, but objectively. You've never lost a game," Theo said.
Rachel shrugged. "A lot of it is just luck and I have a good broom. And training of course. You should see the way Viktor flies, it's like his broom is an extension of himself."
"Well, he is on a Firebolt," Neville said. "But you're right, the way he flies isn't like anyone else."
"If you say so," Theo said. "Do the rest of you have dates for the ball yet? If not, we should figure out something for Ginny and Luna so they can attend since they're third years."
"Oh, that's right," Hermione said. "I'm not sure who in our year in Gryffindor doesn't have a date yet."
Neville flushed red. "I was thinking of asking you, Ginny, but I don't know that you'd want to go with me. I mean, if there was someone else you wanted to ask you."
Ginny smiled. "I'd be happy to go with you, Neville. It's okay to ask me."
"Will you go to the ball with me?" Neville asked, still bright red.
"Yes, of course," Ginny said, though she was blushing now too.
"As for Luna, I don't know that it makes sense for her to go with a Ravenclaw, all things considered. Neville, do you know if Dean has a date yet?" Hermione asked.
"Not that I know of," Neville said.
"I was thinking maybe we could go together, Millie?" Luna asked.
It was Millie's turn to blush. She looked down at the table. "How did you know?" she asked quietly.
"Know what?" Luna asked.
Millie didn't look up. "That I like girls. I don't really want to date, not yet, but I don't want to go to the ball with a boy either."
There was a moment of silence. "Well that's perfectly alright," Hermione said.
"Of course it is," Neville said, Ginny nodding enthusiastically.
Rachel nodded. "It's okay, you like who you like," she said. It was a little odd, mostly in that she'd known Millie for three and a half years now and she hadn't known that about her. But maybe Millie hadn't known for a while either. Rachel wasn't sure how that worked. And it wasn't like they really talked about dating.
"It's okay, Millie," Theo said. "Do your parents know?"
Millie shook her head. "No one does. And I'd like to keep it that way, for now at least. Do you still want to go to the ball with me Luna, knowing that?"
"Yes, but don't you think people will know you like girls if we go to the ball together?" Luna asked.
"I figured people would think we were just going as friends. Which, I mean, we are. You're not worried people will think you like girls if you go with me?" Millie asked.
"No," Luna said.
"Just no?" Millie pressed, looking worried.
"People say a lot of things about me, I don't really mind," Luna said.
"Are your roommates still doing that?" Hermione asked.
"It's alright, at this point I'd rather they talk about me than to me," Luna said.
Hermione looked frustrated. "I want to help you, Luna. But I don't know how. Beyond going to Professor Flitwick and telling him that they're bullying you, I don't know what to do."
"You don't need to help me. They don't bother me," Luna said.
"How?" Neville asked. "It bothers me when people say that I'm stupid or that I'm bad at magic."
"I know they don't care about me, and they don't know me, so I don't really care what they say about me," Luna said.
"Who is saying that to you, Neville?" Theo asked, his shoulders squared and his eyes narrowed.
Neville looked down. "My Great-Uncle, mostly. Sometimes my Gran, though not so much that I'm bad at magic now that I've been getting such good grades at Hogwarts. When I'm around her, it's like I forget what I'm like around all of you, and I can't put words into sentences or stand up for myself. She just does what she wants to do."
Rachel bit down on her lip hard. She hadn't realized things were that bad for Neville at home.
"I'm sorry, Neville," Hermione said. She looked defeated. "I don't know what to do about that either. But you have to know that they're wrong. You're one of the best students in our year. You can cast a corporeal Patronus charm. You can do upper year magic. You're practically a genius in Herbology. They're wrong about you. We see the real you."
"Hermione's right. We know you're not stupid and so does everyone else here at Hogwarts," Ginny said with a firm nod.
Neville sighed. "I know that I'm not as smart as you are, but I do try. And I can see that I've gotten better over the years. I know how to study now and how to write an essay properly. And with practice I can do the magic. I'm even managing better in Potions, even though I still think Professor Snape is kind of scary in the classroom."
"You do fine in Potions, Neville. Professor Snape just has very high expectations. You are smart. I mean, none of us can match Hermione and Theo in terms of pure brain power, but you are smart," Rachel said.
"The only real difference between us is a natural inclination towards memorization and comprehension speed. At the end of the day, we're getting the same grades," Hermione said.
"And I have an advantage because I was receiving tutoring up until I started attending Hogwarts," Theo said. "I know this from experience. It's hard to not believe what your family tells you, but in the end you have to, because you're your own person and you're the one that has to live your life. We believe in you, Neville. And we want you to believe in you too."
Neville nodded. "I know. And it's easier when I'm here at Hogwarts to believe it. The summers are just long."
"I understand completely," Theo said.
There was a moment of quiet while everyone seemed to sit with their thoughts. Rachel found herself struck by how many problems she couldn't solve. She couldn't do anything about Theo's father. She couldn't stop Luna's roommates from being bullies. She couldn't stop Neville's Gran from being cruel to him. She couldn't stop the Death Eaters or keep the Dark Lord from coming back. There were just people in the world who wanted to hurt other people and it seemed like nothing could be done about that.
"Well, this probably isn't the right time to ask, but Neville or Theo, I was wondering if one of you might teach me how to dance? Professor McGonagall did a short lesson and demonstration for us, but I'd rather have more experience before dancing in front of the entire school," Hermione said.
"We can do that. Dancing is actually something I'm pretty good at," Neville said.
"We'd be happy to teach you. We don't have any music here, but we can practice the steps," Theo said.
"I could use a refresher course on dancing myself, I've only ever done it at home with my brothers," Ginny said.
"I suppose I should know how to do some dances, and I can show you some of mine," Luna said.
"Shall we dance?" Millie asked. "Here? Now?"
"Yes, let's," Theo said, standing up. "Here, let's push the tables to the side and there should be enough room for two pairs of dancers at once."
They all got up and moved the tables and chairs to the far end of the room and pushed the armchairs up against the fireplace.
"Neville, why don't you help Ginny, because you'll be dancing together at the ball, and I'll help Hermione, and we'll trade around," Theo instructed.
Rachel stood next to Millie and Luna at the side of the room and watched as they helped each other get situated.
"Rachel?" Millie asked.
"Yeah?" Rachel asked, turning to face Millie.
"It doesn't bother you that I like girls, does it? Because we're sharing a dorm?" Millie asked.
"It doesn't bother me," Rachel said honestly. She felt safe around Millie and she trusted her. She knew that Millie wouldn't ever try to hurt her.
"I'm glad. I'm kind of worried it would bother Pansy and Daphne, if they knew," Millie said.
"You don't have to tell them until you want to, if you tell them at all," Rachel said.
Millie nodded. "Probably not until I have to. I just don't feel like dating yet. We're too busy anyway."
"Yeah, I feel the same way about dating," Rachel said.
Millie smiled. "Okay. Thanks."
Rachel smiled back and gave Millie a one-armed hug because it seemed like she needed one.
"Severus?" Rachel asked.
Severus looked up from his meal. "Yes?" he asked when she didn't continue.
"There's something that has kind of been going on, and I was wondering if maybe you'd be able to help us with it, even though it's not your responsibility?" Rachel asked, fiddling with her fork while she watched him.
After all the various revelations he'd been through with Rachel he hadn't the vaguest idea what to expect from her with this sort of question. At least she was asking for his help instead of trying to deal with whatever it was on her own. "I'll try to help, and if I can't we'll see if we can find someone who can help. What's the problem?" he asked.
"It's about Luna," Rachel said.
"Is she still being bullied by her Housemates?" Severus asked, quickly thinking back to the classes where he had Luna. He had yet to see her Housemates converse with her, but he hadn't seen any other overt signs of bullying.
"Yes, but it's not that. I mean, that is a problem, and we're not sure what to do about it. Luna says it doesn't bother her, but it must, right?" Rachel asked.
"If Luna says that it doesn't bother her, then perhaps it doesn't. However I will speak with Filius again and let him know the situation hasn't improved," Severus said. Luna was a bit strange, perhaps it was true that she wasn't bothered by the situation, but that didn't mean it should be allowed to continue. "You said that the bullying wasn't the problem?"
"Luna is seeing things that the rest of us can't see. We've already taken her to Madam Pomfrey twice, and she can't find anything wrong with Luna. She suggested that Luna be seen by a specialist at St. Mungo's and she wrote to Luna's dad asking him to take her. But Luna's dad won't take her because he sees the creatures too and doesn't see anything wrong with it," Rachel explained, setting down her fork. "Luna says that the creatures she sees don't upset her, but we're worried that it means something is wrong and that she needs help."
"I think it would be wise for Luna to be seen by a specialist in that case, however since she is underage she would need her father's permission to be seen at St. Mungo's. We can't transfer students to St. Mungo's for treatment without permission from their parents except in cases where there is an urgent need," Severus said.
"Maybe you could take her? Her dad seemed to like you. What if you wrote him a letter and asked for permission to take her?" Rachel asked.
"That would typically be something for a student's Head of House to do," Severus said.
"But Madam Pomfrey and Professor Flitwick already wrote letters and Luna's dad didn't respond to them. He knows you, maybe he'd listen to you," Rachel said, chewing on her lower lip as she watched him.
"I will discuss the matter with Filius. If he is open to the idea of me contacting Mr. Lovegood, I will do so," Severus offered. "However, I don't know that I particularly have any more influence over Luna's father than Poppy or Filius do."
"Thank you," Rachel said. "It's good to at least try something. We just really want Luna to get help if she needs it. What if something is really wrong and we didn't do anything about it?"
"You're right that it's important to try to help," Severus said. "In the meantime, if there are changes in what Luna is seeing or if she's becoming distressed by what she's seeing, I want you to take her to Poppy again.
"We will, that's what Madam Pomfrey said too," Rachel said.
"Good. Eat your dinner," Severus said.
Rachel picked up her fork again and started spearing pieces of meat.
"Are you doing alright?" Severus asked after a few minutes.
"I'm okay. I'm not really looking forward to the Yule Ball. Theo and Neville have been helping us learn to dance, but I'm still really nervous about dancing in front of everyone," Rachel said.
"Theo asked you to the ball, did he not?" Severus asked. Theo had brought him his father's response two weeks ago and Severus had agreed that it was alright for Theo to ask Rachel.
"Yes, we're going together," Rachel said.
"Then I don't think you need to worry too much about the dancing, Theo knows what he's doing and will guide you through it," Severus said, pausing. This was an issue he'd been meaning to address and he still hadn't figured out how to go about it.
"Hermione is going with Viktor, Ginny and Neville are going together. And Millie and Luna are going together. That's okay, isn't it?" Rachel asked.
"Yes, that's fine," Severus said, assuming she was speaking of Millie and Luna. "I know there are certain prejudices in the muggle world against same sex couples, but in general people in the wizarding world don't have a problem with it except in the cases of when there is a single heir to a ancient pure-blood house and they are expected to produce an heir. There are ways to deal with that, of course, but it's seldom a public issue."
"If it's okay, and people are okay with it, why would people keep it a secret?" Rachel asked.
"Most people don't, that I'm aware of, but for young people who are just figuring things out, they might not be ready to tell people until they feel more comfortable with themselves. Do you know someone who is struggling with this?" Severus asked.
"Yes, but I can't tell you who they are, they want to keep it a secret for now," Rachel said.
Severus had a good idea of who it was already, but decided it was best to let Rachel keep her friends' secrets. "That's fine, though you can advise them if they wish for an adult to speak with they're welcome to come to me."
"Okay," Rachel said.
"There is something I wished to speak with you about, given the Yule Ball is upcoming," Severus said. "I know that in the past I have indicated that I will not interfere in who you chose to date, but in this instance I must. You cannot date Theo. He seems to be an upstanding and intelligent young man, but his father would not allow it."
"I wasn't planning on it," Rachel said. "We're just going to the ball as friends. And I know his father would never allow us to date. I'm a little worried as it is, just with going to the ball."
"Ignatius believes he is doing me a favor. I don't believe it will be a problem," Severus said. "As you grow older you will find that people will ask you on dates. I want you to know that you're allowed to say no to them. Or, if you wish to, you can tell them yes."
"I don't think anyone is going to ask me out on a date," Rachel said.
"I think it's likely that they will. You're becoming a young woman now," Severus said. "There are certain people that I would suggest that you turn down if they ask you."
"Anyone with a relative who is a Death Eater?" she asked.
"Yes, precisely," Severus said.
"Do I have to date?" Rachel asked.
"Not if you don't wish to, but I think you'll find that you will be more interested in dating as you grow older," Severus said.
Rachel shook her head. "I don't think so."
"Give it time," Severus said, though he was grateful for the reprieve. "And in the meantime, if you don't wish to date, simply politely turn down anyone who asks you. If they persist in bothering you after that, let me know and I will take care of it."
"Okay, but I really don't think it's going to happen," Rachel said, pushing away her mostly empty plate. "I keep thinking I'll be glad when the Yule Ball is over, but then there's the second task to think about."
"You can take a break, there's still plenty of time to work on the second task," Severus said.
"I'll be glad when this school year is over," Rachel said.
"You and me both," Severus said with a nod.
"Find anything you want?" Ginny asked, coming up to Rachel in the fiction section of Tomes and Scrolls, the bookshop in Hogsmeade.
"Not in particular. I already got the new Winfred Adams book, and the latest Horath Bogtrotter doesn't come out for a few more days," Rachel said.
"I saw the poster, I'm pretty excited. Horath has to catch his uncle in this one, don't you think?" Ginny asked.
"I don't know, I suppose it depends on how long the author wants to keep writing the books. I think he'll have to catch him eventually, it would be disappointing if he didn't," Rachel said.
"That's true. I'd like it if Horath caught his uncle, but then found out that there was another dark wizard who was actually running things. Like all this time, Horath thought he was going after the right person, but his uncle was just a smaller part of the problem," Ginny said.
Rachel thought that was a little too much like the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord for her tastes, but she could see the value in there being another villain after Horath's uncle. It would let the book series go on longer at least.
"There you are, we're going to be late to see Sirius and Remus if we don't leave soon," Hermione said.
Rachel glanced at her watch and saw that it was fifteen minutes to noon. "Okay. I'm ready if you are."
"I am, I already did my book ordering from Flourish and Blotts by Owl Order, so I'm all set for now. Where did the others get off to?" Hermione asked.
"They're here somewhere, they wouldn't have left without telling us," Rachel said, peering around.
"Neville said he was going to look at the Herbology section and I'd guess that Theo and Millie are in Charms or Defense. Who knows with Luna," Ginny said.
"Well, let's find them before we're late," Hermione said.
They didn't find Neville in the Herbology section, but they did find Theo and Millie in the Defense section as they were looking at various self defense guides.
"There's a spell in here for creating targets in the air you can cast spells at, I think that might be useful," Theo said.
"That does sound useful," Hermione said. "We should go, we're meeting with Sirius and Remus. Have you seen Neville or Luna?"
"Not since we came in here, let's split up and meet up front. We'll take the back of the shop if you take the front end," Theo said.
"Okay," Hermione agreed.
They wandered through the aisles for a few minutes before they found Luna sitting on the floor while she read out of a thick book.
"What did you find?" Ginny asked.
"A book about people who could see things other people couldn't see," Luna said. "I don't think I want to buy it, but there are some instances where people really were seeing things, and some where they weren't. In particular, people didn't used to believe in Billywigs, because they moved so quickly you couldn't see them. It wasn't until Philip Moores captured some in glass containers that people could see what they were."
"Interesting," Hermione said, reaching down to help Luna up from the floor. "I never thought of it that way before. We've got to leave to go have lunch with Sirius and Remus. Are you ready?"
"Yes," Luna said, putting the book back on the shelf. "Sirius is very interesting. He likes to make jokes, but at the same time he seems really angry."
Rachel had noticed that as well, though she hadn't put it quite into those words. "He has a lot of things to be angry about I suppose," she said.
Ginny nodded. "He's probably still grieving. He didn't really have the opportunity before going to Azkaban."
"That makes sense," Hermione said. "And I don't imagine Azkaban itself was particularly good for him either."
Rachel wondered if Sirius wouldn't benefit from seeing a Mind Healer or a therapist himself. He'd been through a lot.
"Alright, are we ready?" Theo asked, coming up to them with Millie and Neville.
"We're ready," Hermione said.
They left the shop and went back out into the snow, passing other students as they went in and out of shops. Rachel put on her hat and pulled her cloak closed. As fun as it was to go to Hogsmeade she'd be glad to be inside where it was warm.
They arrived at the Three Broomsticks just before noon and found Sirius and Remus already waiting for them.
"There you are," Sirius said, wrapping his arms around Rachel.
"Hi Sirius," Rachel said, waiting for a few moments before she wiggled to get free. "Hi Remus, how are you both?"
"Doing well, how about you, Rachel?" Remus asked.
"I'm fine. Glad for a Hogsmeade weekend before the holiday. Did I tell you I have to do the opening dance at the Yule Ball with the other champions?" Rachel asked.
"You'll do fine," Sirius said. "Who will you be dancing with?"
"Theo," Rachel said.
"Theo, huh," Sirius said, looking Theo up and down. "Don't be afraid to hex him in the stones if you need to."
"Sirius!" Rachel exclaimed, feeling her face turn red.
Sirius started laughing while Remus covered his face with his hand.
"Try not to take too much advice from your godfather," Remus said. "I'll wave down Rosmerta, we have a room reserved."
"And you will take good care of my goddaughter," Sirius said to Theo.
"I will, sir," Theo said.
"Sirius, it's just a dance, it's not like we're about to get married," Rachel said, still blushing.
They followed Remus and Madam Rosmerta back to the same private room where they'd eaten in the last Hogsmeade weekend and everyone got settled in around the table. Rachel quickly selected fish and chips from the menu again using her wand. She wondered why Hogwarts didn't serve more fish, even if they didn't want to have chips.
"Now, tell us, how are things at Hogwarts?" Sirius asked.
"Busy, mostly," Hermione said. "We're each taking ten classes, so that keeps us occupied, and Rachel and Ginny are both on their House Quidditch teams, and we're trying to prepare for the tasks of course."
"Karkaroff's behaving himself?" Sirius asked.
"Yes, the only time I've spoken to him is directly after the first task, when he thought I'd been getting help," Rachel said.
"Bravo to all of you, I'm told you all managed conjuring and Disillusionment charms and some corporeal Patronuses as well," Remus said.
"Well, some of us can manage the corporeal Patronus, I'm not sure why I'm having such trouble with it," Hermione said.
"It's a tricky spell. The real heart of it, what drives the Patronus, is the emotion that it's drawing from you. If there's even a hint of an emotion besides happiness you're not going to wind up with a corporeal Patronus. You can't logic it, you can't force it, you just have to feel it," Remus explained.
"I've noticed that as I've cast it more, it's less difficult to cast, even though I'm not putting as much emotion into it as I used to," Rachel said.
Remus nodded. "The confidence that you can do it helps too. And your mind grows more familiar with what memories work for that emotion for you. You're still feeling the genuine emotion, it's just not as pronounced as when you were learning to cast the spell."
"Now that we've heard Professor Remus in action, let's get back to Karkaroff. You said he judged you unfairly?" Sirius asked.
Rachel hadn't said that exactly, just that Professor Karkaroff had given her a low score.
"He judged everyone unfairly," Neville said.
"He really did," Millie said. "He gave Viktor full points even though he broke some of the dragon eggs."
"Well, as long as it's not just you who he was being unfair to," Remus said. "Keep an eye on him regardless."
"We are," Theo said. "And we're keeping an eye on the Durmstrang students just in case."
"Good," Sirius said.
Their conversation paused for a moment while Madam Rosmerta returned with plates and glasses of butterbeer trailing behind her. Rachel watched as she sent the food over to each person using her wand, but it didn't seem to be the Levitation charm, at least not the charm that they'd learned in class. She closed the door behind her on the way out.
"So, how is this second task going?" Sirius asked.
"We already know what it is, the Merpeople are going to take something from each of us and we have to go into the lake to get it back. We have an hour," Rachel explained.
"I assume the giant squid isn't going to be part of the equation," Remus said. "It's known to be fairly friendly, but avoid it if you can."
"Professor Snape said I shouldn't have to worry about fighting the giant squid or the Merpeople, but to look out for grindylows," Rachel said.
"Yes, avoid beds of weeds, and remember to target their fingers if they get a hold of you. I assume you're using a Bubble-Head charm?" Remus asked.
"Gillyweed, actually. Neville thought of it," Rachel said.
"Good, that's smart," Sirius said, nodding to Neville.
"Can you think of any threats that we're not thinking of?" Theo asked. "It seems fairly straightforward, but at the same time we could be missing something."
Sirius and Remus looked at each other, both of them frowning as they thought.
"There may be other obstacles. Perhaps you'll have to find your lost item inside Merpeople village, or they'll have a challenge or a riddle for you when you arrive," Remus suggested.
"I think the biggest challenge is supposed to be navigating the lake. It's going to be dark and cold down there and probably very easy to get lost. The Merpeople village is right at the bottom center of the lake, so keep going down and following the slope of the lake floor. You're not going to be able to see the surface once you get down that far, it will just look dark in each direction. You may want to practice using Gillyweed and seeing what spells you can get to work underwater," Sirius said.
"That's our plan," Hermione said. "I don't suppose either of you have any knowledge about casting spells underwater? I haven't been able to find much in the library."
"No, we never did go visit the Merpeople as students, one of my regrets, I assure you. However, there is a swanky pool in the prefect's bathroom, so you could potentially practice there if you can con one of the prefects into telling you the password," Sirius said.
"We already know it," Rachel said.
"That's my girl," Sirius said, smiling proudly.
"Also, perhaps a tether of some sort to attach to your wand so you don't accidentally drop it. Sirius and I can take care of that for you," Remus said.
"That's a good idea," Theo said.
"If anything else comes up, write to us and we'll see what we can find for you. And we'll keep thinking about it too," Remus said.
"How are you doing with the animagus meditations?" Sirius asked.
"We've been working on the second one for a little while now. It's different," Theo said.
"I like this one better. I feel like I know my mind better than I know my body," Luna said.
"That is the case for some people. With this meditation it's important that you recognize your thoughts while you're having them. First recognize the thought in its entirety. And then ask yourself where does the thought come from and follow it," Remus said.
"I can tell you, I mostly skipped this one, and I turned out fine," Sirius said.
"You were a dog for three hours because you couldn't figure out how to turn back. We were in the Forbidden Forest most of the night," Remus said.
Sirius grinned. "I got there eventually. But really, do practice it, but don't feel that you have to spend a lot of time on it. An awareness of your thoughts and how they connect to you is really what you want. The goal in the end is to separate your human mind from your animal mind, and for that you need to be able to go back to those thoughts that you innately recognize as yourself."
Rachel nodded. That made a lot of sense. She definitely didn't want to wind up stuck as an animal. She knew there were spells that could turn you back, but it would still be embarrassing.
"What if your animagus form is really small and someone steps on you?" Millie asked.
Sirius laughed. "Then you'd better turn back in a hurry. Once you're used to it you can basically go back and forth at will. See." Sirius stood up and a moment later there was a big black dog standing next to Rachel. Another moment later and it was Sirius again.
"I think you're better off staying somewhere you won't be stepped on if your form is very small. Your instincts as an animal will help guide you, but it's important to have an awareness of how your form appears in various situations. If your form is an animal not common to Britain, it's likely in most situations you're not going to be noticed as out of place, but the possibility is there," Remus said.
The hour they had for lunch passed quickly and what seemed like too soon they were standing up and saying goodbye.
"Rachel, come over here for a moment," Sirius said.
Rachel followed him to the side of the room, bracing herself for being hugged again.
"I wanted to give you this," Sirius said, handing her a small brown paper package.
"An early Christmas present? Thank you," Rachel said.
"No, you'll still get a Christmas present from me, this is more of a necessity. The package is a two-way mirror that will link you to me. The one you're holding used to be James'. I'm going to link it to you now. Hold still for a moment," Sirius said.
Rachel watched as he pulled out his wand. He held the tip against the package Rachel was holding and silently moved his lips as he worked. Then he brought the tip of his wand to Rachel's chest and said her name. A blue light arced between Rachel and the package.
"There, all done," Sirius said, putting away his wand. "Now, if you say my name into the mirror, I'll be able to hear it through my mirror. And if I say your name, you should be able to hear me. I'll try to have the mirror nearby on evenings and weekends so you can talk to me if you need to."
"Thank you," Rachel said. "I'll take really good care of it. I didn't know that wizards had telephones."
"Mirrors like this used to be more common but they fell out of fashion. James and I found the spell in the library and decided to use it so we'd have a way to stay in touch privately over the summer holidays and when we were in separate detentions," Sirius said. "Take care of yourself. Let me know if there are any problems, or if you just want someone to talk to."
"Thank you," Rachel said again. "Really. It means a lot."
Sirius nodded, looking like he understood completely.