Chapter 58: Adieu Greyback and Good Riddance!

I woke up seeing Nikki talking to Jeremiah. They looked at me and smiled. I wonder what they had up their sleeve.

"So what happened while I dozed off?"

"Oh nothing…" Nikki acted like she was checking her nails, "There were just rumors worthy of the Daily Prophet rubbish…"

Jeremiah shook his head, smiling, "The girls said that you were too uptight that's why you over exhausted yourself…. and the only thing that could cure you was to have a boyfriend and get laid…"

Ianthé smiled, "If they only knew…"

"What was the exact reason anyway?"

"Oh, sleep deprivation… You know my usual nocturnal activities… plus there was an emergency that required my expertise…"

Nikki and Jeremiah nodded.

"Anyways, cuz, I have to go… So long, ladies…" Jeremiah waved goodbye.

"So when are you going back to your own room?"

"Later, before dinner I guess… I miss the treacle tart..."

"Ernie told me he'll cover for your patrols and you should get some rest… If we didn't know, he was too happy that he did not have any competition during Potions…"

"And did he manage to get Slughorn's attention?"

"No.. By far, I had the potion nearest to your standard.."

Ianthé snickered.

"You should have seen his face… I think we should muck up our potions just once to let him win…"

"I guess…"

Madam Pomfrey walked in, "Good, you're awake."

Ianthé smiled.

"This is no joking matter, dear. You have managed to overwork yourself…."

Nikki looked as if she was intruding on something personal, "I better wait for you outside…"

Ianthé nodded.

Madam Pomfrey continued her sermon, "When Professor Krum brought you here, I feared you did not take precautions…"

"I did. We were careful about everything… Anyways, if you found your Healing stock a bit depleted, I'm to blame…"

Madam Pomfrey frowned.

"It's your former regular and his friends… They needed medical assistance. Professor Weasley called me at around one in the morning…"

Madam Pomfrey gasped, "Are they okay?"

Ianthé nodded, "Hermione's got small cuts but I healed it. Ron got a broken leg, I cleaned and bandaged it. I also gave him Skele-Gro."

"What about Harry Potter?"

"His scar was a bit of a problem. I couldn't heal it with simple spells so I gave him a piece of thick gauze with pickled murtlap essence. At least, it stopped bleeding."

Madam Pomfrey nodded, "You should have also given him Blood Replenishing Potion…"

"I did. The one I made in Potions class. Professor Slughorn told me to give my batch to you but I forgot about it…"

"Good… St. Mungo's already owled me. They told me you could be certified as soon as you graduate."

Ianthé smiled, "Thanks so much!"

"If I were the one in charge, I could have certified you.. Dear, it's just a title. You could heal anyone in need, just like what you did."

Ianthé shrugged, "I guess my instincts kinda kicked in when I saw them hurt…"

"That's what Healing is about. Having the presence of mind even in times of panic…" Madam Pomfrey checked Ianthé's eyes, "Very well, you're cleared…"

Ianthé slowly got up and put in her necktie and robes.

"Dear, I suggest you rest for a week or so… Let the Head Boy substitute for you…"

Ianthé shook her head, "I can't do that, but I probably could have someone with me during patrols…"

"I can't force you into complete bed rest but take it slowly. Am I clear?"

Ianthé nodded as she slung her bag on her shoulder.

Nikki sat on the floor while waiting for her outside the ward.

"Ready to go?"

Ianthé nodded.

They walked towards the Great Hall. The seventh year students, who witnessed Ianthé fainting, looked at them when they walked towards the Ravenclaw table.

One of their classmates sat closer to them, "Hey, how did it feel being in Professor Krum's arms? All of us wanted to know…"

Ianthé tried not to laugh at her, "How am I supposed to know? I lost consciousness… I just learned he carried me when I woke up…"

Her classmate sighed and left them. She walked towards a group of girls who obviously wanted the scoop about being in the professor's arms.

"So, how did it really feel?" Nikki whispered as she smiled mischievously.

Ianthé blushed, "Not you!"

"Nah… I'm just curious with all the whole making out and intimacy thing….."

"You need to find that out for yourself…" Ianthé smiled naughtily.

"By the way, George told me everything that happened. Are they okay?"

Ianthé shrugged, "I guess they should be fine… Anyways, I told them the truth about our friendship with the twins. Ron knew you as 'Charlie's girlfriend'."

Nikki smiled, if not, widely, "Really?"

Ianthé nodded.

Nikki's eyes twinkled at the news.

"Hey," Ianthé waved her hand in front of Nikki, "Don't go all trance-like on me…"

Nikki looked at her as she ate a spoonful of mashed potato, "I'm not…"

"Charlie should see you eating like that…"

"He does… I don't eat like a girl sometimes but I think it's part of my charm…."

"Charm? You mean that 'I'm a tough and intelligent girl so don't mess with me.'?"

"Hey, he found it attractive…"

"Maybe he thought dating a dragon is sexy…"

Nikki giggled, "Dead sexy…"

Ianthé glanced at the staff table and saw Viktor talking to Professor Slughorn.

"I think he's trying to invite Viktor to his little soirees…"

Nikki shrugged, "It's not that bad, I guess… I mean, you need to relax a bit…."

"I'll think about it… if he goes, I go…"

I checked on the Shrieking Shack together with Viktor. George already gave me the responsibility of keeping and using the Marauders Map, the bewitched map of Hogwarts. I already contacted Ginny and she agreed with my plans. I enlisted the help of my very reliable F&G society and all of them agreed with my decisions to merge with the DA.

Razilia swooped down and landed on the Ravenclaw table.

"Thanks," Ianthé took out the letter from the owl's leg. She was drinking pumpkin juice while reading the letter. She coughed a bit.

Nikki looked at her concerned.

"Sorry, went down the wrong pipe…" Ianthé stood up and walked towards the staff table.

"Professor McGonagall?"

"Yes, Miss Herze?"

"I need to see you about the nightly patrols…" Ianthé looked at the headmistress meaningfully.

"Meet me in my office after your first class," the headmistress looked at her straight in the eye.

Ianthé nodded and went back to the table.

"What is it about?" Nikki asked.

"Oh nothing… Just a problem with the patrols and stuff…."

"Okay…"

Ianthé was the last one to leave the class.

"Miss Herze?"

"Yes, Professor?" Ianthé turned to Viktor.

"Give me a few minutes, okay?"

Ianthé nodded and left the classroom to go to the Headmistress' office.

Ianthé entered the Headmistress's office. She found Professor McGonagall with her eyes closed as if in deep thinking.

"Do sit down, Miss Herze," Professor McGonagall, still with her eyes closed, waved her hand and conjured a soft chair.

Ianthé sat down.

After a few minutes of deafening silence, the door opened once again.

"Headmistress…" Viktor Krum walked towards Ianthé and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I believe Miss Herze has some news for us," Professor McGonagall opened her eyes and looked at Ianthé intently.

She nodded and took out the parchment from her pocket.

It read:

The leader of the pack is dead. It had been killed by a Muggle hunter last night. The pack is in chaos and it may disband soon.

"This means that Greyback is dead," Ianthé smiled.

"This means that the werewolf army Voldemort is trying to build is now in pieces. It's easier to fight them this way or perhaps change their minds," Viktor suggested.

"Your perception is rather right, Professor Krum. However, what if a new leader will rise worse than Greyback?"

"Nice to burst our happy bubble, Professor," Ianthé smiled ruefully as Viktor massaged her shoulders.

"We have to face the facts that it might be possible..."

"The best idea is to destroy their pack before a new leader is recognized," Viktor walked to be beside Ianthé and leaned on the chair she was sitting on.

"I better relay that to the family," Ianthé stood up.

"I think that's exactly what they're doing…" Viktor smiled.

Professor McGonagall gave her a piece of parchment and a quill.

Ianthé quickly wrote the message and rolled it. She gave it to the owl beside the headmistress and it soon took off on the window opened by Viktor.

"Professor, what about the Ministry? Aren't they doing anything?"

Professor McGonagall's nostrils flared, "The only thing they do is bury their heads on the grounds and endlessly whispering to themselves that this is just a terrible nightmare. The Minister is making attempts that are moronically futile, and to think he was the former head of the Aurors…"

Ianthé shook her head, "I don't believe it! I mean, most Ministry officials are supposed to be intelligent and brilliant… They graduated from this school, did they not?"

"They lived in thirteen years of bliss, I'm afraid… And they don't want to let that feeling go… That's why they chose to be blind from all of these…"

"I must get back, Professor…" Ianthé stood up.

"I also have a class to teach, Headmistress," Viktor waited for Ianthé to walk towards the door.

"Very well… You two must be careful," the professor looked at them from behind her spectacles.

Ianthé and Viktor nodded at the same time.

Viktor opened the door to let Ianthé pass.

They both stepped out of the revolving staircase.

"I… better go…." Ianthé stammered, "Professor Krum."

Viktor smiled at her and nodded.