Chapter 24: The Package Unveiled
Umbridge talked to me after our first Defense against the Dark Arts class. Of course, I kissed up to her, even mentioning my mother's name. I am positive that I thoroughly impressed Toadstress and she is out of the way for our plans for the joke shop. I proceeded with testing our products; Granger almost caught us one time (as the Polyjuiced set of twins) but we managed to get away. I manage to exchange letters with Viktor, but one fine morning, he surprised me with a gift.
"Look, Ianthé," Nikki pointed to an eagle owl flying to their direction, "It's Razilia."
Razilia, the eagle owl, dropped a package with an attached letter.
"It's from Viktor," Ianthé opened the letter.
Nikki opened the package, "Ianthé, is this what I think it is?"
Ianthé looked in the box. Inside was a bottle of clear pinkish fluid.
"No way! Attar of roses is expensive!" Nikki examined the bottle.
"Viktor, according to this letter, wants me to have this a late you-know-what present!"
"You-know-what?"
Ianthé got closer to Nikki and whispered in her ear, "Engagement present!"
"Oh….right," Nikki nodded, "So what do you plan to do with that?"
"Donate a few drops to that pimple vanisher we tried and tried to formulate…"
"Yeah! Remember, I wrote to you about having a problem regarding pure rose oil?"
"One of our problems solved!" Ianthé placed the bottle back in the box as they walked towards their next class.
Few weeks had passed. Our fellow fifth years are growing restless, because of what Umbridge is teaching in Defense against the Dark Arts. It's total cow dung! It's as of we attend that class just to sit there and stare at the book. I use my time constructively by scribbling a few more plans for the joke shop. Harry Potter's generous donation helped a lot. I'm still trying to convince Uncle Alfonse to let the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes buy the shop, and my hard work might pay off soon.
"Ianthé, I heard from Michael Corner that there would be a secret student meeting called by Harry Potter in Hogsmeade this weekend!"
"And where did he hear that?"
"Remember? He's going out with Ginny Weasley."
"Do you think we can go? The snag lies on the git sitting over there." Ianthé discreetly pointed at a boy with platinum blonde hair sitting in the Slytherin table.
"Polyjuice?"
"Do you think the twins would agree? They want to go to Zonko's."
"Let's find them tonight and discuss this with them."
"Hey, I suddenly remembered!" Ianthé put her forehead on the library table, "The package from Uncle Alfonse! He told me the package might help me this year, especially with that toad!"
We got to our dorm room as fast as possible. I opened my trunk and pulled out the still-wrapped package. I tore the wrapper and saw books. Yes, I was surprised Uncle Alfonse bought me books. Defense books to be exact. Another letter was inserted in one of the books.
Dearest Théa,
This is a matter of urgency. You must read the books, as these will help you not only in you OWLs but also in surviving that ask you delegated to yourself. Take good care of yourself and watch your back. Be careful of who you trust and keep an eye on the white ferret.
Edmond
"What task? Who's the white ferret?"
"There's something I didn't tell you. It's about You-Know-Who."
"You're a Death Eater?"
Ianthé slapped Nikki's arm, "Of course not! Wait…"
She ran to shut the hangings of her four-poster bed and put Silencing charm on them.
"When I got back from Bulgaria, there had been a family meeting. We're going to fight You-Know-Who, although secretly. You-Know-Who believes our family is at their side, but I proposed we play both sides. I presented myself as the perfect representative of the family on Dumbledore's side. I must also notify them if I suspect You-Know-Who recruiting students as Death Eaters."
"These books will help you?" Nikki picked up a book entitled Stealthing for the Stealthy: A Complete Guide to be Invisible by Vladimir Spyhawk.
"Probably… Look, these books are what might be included in our OWLs, and some are for self defense…"
"Hey, there's a book here on Animagus transformation…"
"Remember the Canary Creams? We can formulate a potion that would help us transform into Animagi for a limited time…"
"That's the white ferret?"
"Actually, the white ferret comment of Edmond might pertain to two things. I'm dead sure that he wants me to watch Malfoy closely. He might have also given that as a clue to the Animagi part."
"Do you know your Animagus form?"
Ianthé nodded, "The summer after first year, Uncle Alfonse made me drink a potion that would determine my Animagus form. I look like a Siberian Husky."
"Really? Is your Animagus form large?"
"A bit…."
"Then, we can formulate, using the base for the Canary Cream, to make ourselves Animagi, even temporarily… Just to escape those sticky situations…."
"Good idea!"
We failed to go to the secret meeting in Hog's Head so Fred and George filled us up on what transpired there. Apparently, Little Miss Know-It-All by the name of Hermione Granger isn't satisfied with Umbridge, so she developed a group to be taught by no less than the Boy Who Lived himself Harry Potter. That's not a bad idea, at all. The four of us, the twins, Nikki and I, discussed that Nikki and I could go to the next secret meetings to get the hang of the whole thing. I want to find a way to talk to Dumbledore, and I just have the perfect idea.