Author's Note- Hi guys. My grandmother passed away earlier this week and I stepped away from writing to be with my family. However, when I got back I did finish this chapter. I really like how this chapter turned out. Hope you guys like it to. On to the story!
Chapter 5: Enter the Guardian
Harriet
Sirius Black was a pain in Harriet's arse, and it wasn't just because he was after her head. Black's attack on the Fat Lady scared the living shit out the poor portrait. The Fat Lady absolutely refused to return to her post, no matter how much the Headmaster pleaded. As a result, the Headmaster replaced the Gryffindor portrait with Sir Cadogon. The stupid portrait changed the freaking password at least twice a day and complicated the passwords to a ridiculous proportion. If she had to deal with that portrait one more time…
Back to Black. Since the attack, the professors got an extra shot of paranoia added into their systems. Minerva insisted that Harriet move back into their quarters, which was probably the only positive outcome in this situation. The other professors kept creating excuses to chaperone her to her next classes, making her feel like a toddler. Don't even get her started about Percy Weasely. The Head Boy insisted on watching out for her because his mother ordered him to. She loved the Weaselys, really, she did, but she didn't want one following her every freaking minute. The only professor who didn't participate in the 'shelter Harriet to death' campaign was Professor Snape. But even he hovered. Granted his silent magical check over her when she entered class was far subtler and less embarrassing. However, Harriet hated being henpecked.
She had voiced out her frustration during one of her Patronus lesson with Professor Snape. They had just spent the last 45 minutes practicing and all she could produce was a silvery mist. The stress, anxiety and disappointment had reached Harriet's breaking point but she didn't explode. She didn't have to.
"Something the matter, Miss Potter?" He asked, curious as to why the young Gryffindor was sulking. His eyes looked her over with a calculating gleam. Harriet sank down into the desk chair before answering,
"I just want to get this right. I know that I'm doing everything right. I just want this to be all over with." The professor raised an eyebrow.
"To get what over with?"
"This entire situation with Sirius Black. It's because of him that those beasts are surrounding the castle. It's because of him that I relive my mother's death. It's-" She choked back a sob. "It's because of him that they're dead." She laid her head on the desk and fought back her tears. She wanted to cry, to yell, to scream. But what good would that do? Sure, it would make her feel better but it wasn't going to bring Mummy and Daddy back. Nothing would.
A hand warmed her left shoulder blade. It was that of a man, with long and callused fingers. Professor Snape had the hands of an artist. Skilled, strong and creative. That hand remained as rebellious tears trickle down her cheeks. Time passed until she stopped and looked back up at her professor. His other hand extended out a handkerchief. A black bordered was stitched into the snow white fabric. Also decorating the white handkerchief was the initials, S.T.S. Harriet debated over taking the fabric in her head until she decided to take it. As she wiped her eyes, the baritone voice spoke.
"You have come far, Miss Potter. Much farther than I anticipated. You are correct on your assessment of your skills. The reason for the Patronus charm's level of difficulty and its strength lies with you. It is the strength of the memory that you hold and desire that you have to protect that memory and those within it that calls upon the guardian. It will take time and patience but you will succeed."
Harriet blushed under the praise. Here was the strictest professor in Hogwarts and he complimented her. He believed in her skills. It amazed her on how much the older man had become such an important and permeant fixture in her life. People could tell Harriet left and right that everything would be alright. However, she only believed it if Professor Snape said it. Because in this past year, his meaningful words and silent actions gave her a far greater comfort than even Minerva could give her. So, Harriet clung to this and swore to never let go.
"Why did my parents trust Sirius Black?" A flash of anger entered the dour man's face. It wasn't directed at her.
"Perhaps it would be better for Minerva to discuss that with you." He suggested and moved to the fireplace.
"Why?"
"Because Minerva is far better suited for this discussion." And he waved her over to join him as they flooed back into her quarters. Minerva was grading when they arrived and smile at her when Harriet entered. But that quickly changed when she as her colleague.
"What happened?" The Scotswoman demanded. Professor Snape stood next to her and inspected her guardian.
"Miss Potter wonders about the past relationship between her parents and Black." Minerva's face deflated even more. She motioned for them to sit. They did.
"Harriet, this knowledge will be difficult for you to swallow. You will not like what I have to tell you. Are you sure you want to hear this?" Minerva asked. Her eyes pleaded with Harriet, telling her that she shouldn't know this information. But she had to know. She had to.
"Sirius Black was very close to your father. They met each other on the Hogwarts Express and became best friends. The hat sorted James and Black into Gryffindor. They and two other friends were inseparable. The four of them wreaked havoc on the school as the official school pranksters." Professor Snape's face turned murderous when she said that. Minerva noticed the reaction and gave him an apologetic look. Harriet asked her next question.
"How close were they?"
"Very close. Siri- Err, Black and James were like brothers. James named Black your godfather."
She couldn't move. Her breathing paused. An arctic chill entered her blood and froze her entire body solid. She heard nothing, saw nothing. The previous explosion of her emotion that had been smothered earlier roared back to life with hazardous results. It was only when her vision became black and her figure was held tightly against a broad chest that Harriet noticed what had happened.
The only think that save the room was Minerva's magic. The older professor had focused her magic to create a protective barrier on the majority of the room from the frostbite and ice shards that had formed from Harriet's magic. Harriet could see that some of the chairs and part of the walls weren't so lucky.
Her body trembled violently against Professor Snape as she clutched a fist full of his robes. His left hand glowed a calm lavender before he placed it on her head. A sense of euphoria entered her system and her emotional magic returned to its normal level. Minerva came forward and began to rub Harriet's back. The trio remained that way.
"He was supposed to protect me. He was supposed to love me. Why? Why did he kill them? Why did he try to kill me?" She whispered out. Minerva gentle pulled her into a hug.
"Miss Potter, I'll make it a point to say this now that I have always hated Sirius Black. I say this not to support his actions but to help you better understand his actions. Black's family value blood purity to the extant at which inbreeding became the norm for the Blacks. This action soiled that Black family and harvested a madness amongst many of the progeny. The Dark Lord also enjoyed the large amount of the support that the Black family offered to him. The possibility that Sirius Black fell to madness and the Dark Lord's influences did not surprise me as much as it did others. Even as a child, there was a cruel madness to him." Harriet didn't see it but Minerva's face filled with guilt as she remembered the tormented and bullied Slytherin. A Slytherin that stood before her as the better man.
"If he had a cruel madness, why did my father become friends with him?" The Potions Master was about to answer when Minerva rushed to answer.
"Love makes people blind to the flaws of others. James loved Black like a brother." Minerva glared at Professor Snape when he snorted loudly. Harriet wondered what he had to say but didn't dare ask.
"Now," Minerva started, "No more talk about Sirius Black. Go finish your homework. You have a match tomorrow and won't have you slacking on it." Minerva shooed Harriet into her room.
The first Quidditch match of the year was tomorrow and it was probably going to become historic. The Gryffindor Slytherin hatred reduced rapidly since Harriet extended the olive branch. Sure, there were some fights here and there but at least the two houses could be amicable with each other. So, let's see how the teams were going to react to one another, especially with the crappy weather.
Before the match, she had to finish Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Harriet was not looking forward to relearning about Hinkypunks. The downside to her tutoring with Professor Snape was that she was well ahead of her classmates. Her current tutoring textbook was OWL level. As the Gryffindors entered the classroom with the Slytherins, Harriet noticed that Professor Lupin wasn't at his desk. Hm, well, last night was the full moon. I wonder who's going to be teaching-
The door slammed open and the entire classroom jumped to look at it. Professor Snape marched into the room, the cape of his robes bellowing behind his tall figure.
"Your normal instructor is indisposed. Thus, I have been… asked to instruct you dunderheads in the seductive and imperative art of defense. Lupin failed to record or inform me of what section of your current curriculum you've completed." Professor Snape sneered out. Harriet quickly covered Hermione's hand and squeezed it very tightly, stopping her from opening her mouth. You'd think by now; Hermione would realize that Professor Snape hated to be interrupted.
"Thus, we are… improvising. You shall attempt to learn about a horrid, bone breaking monster that can live among us incognito." He moved towards Harriet's desk and nodded slightly at the vice grip she had on Hermione's had. The professor grabbed her textbook and turned to a rather familiar page.
"Turn to page 394. Today's discussion is on werewolves." He snarled out. Someday, Harriet would ask Professor Snape why he hated werewolves so much. Today was not that day.
"But, sir," Hermione had wretched herself free from Harriet's grip. Harriet looked apologetic to the Professor and to her fellow Gryffindors. For they were about to lose a lot of points. "we're not supposed to do werewolves yet, we're due to start Hinkypunks-"
Professor Snape slammed the book on Harriet and Hermione's desk, the crude and gruesome image of a werewolf facing towards the ceiling.
"Miss Granger," He snarled out, the anger in his eyes. "When you learn to keep that insufferable mouth shut and to pay attention to my classroom expectations, perhaps then you will not receive the zero that you have earned today. Also, twenty points from Gryffindor for speaking out of turn." His gaze turned to Harriet, and the anger lessened. He knew that she tried to stop her best friend and that was all that mattered. Professor Snape placed Harriet's book closer to her and glared up at the class.
"I expect silence as you review over the chapter. Next class, wither or not Lupin returns, I shall have essays from all of you. Written down should be the ways to recognize and kill werewolves, two parchment rolls in length. They are due Monday, on my desk or else you shall all receive a zero from not only this class but your next potions class. Now, get to work." Harriet was extremely happy that Ron had started to listen to her about not picking fights with Professor Snape. While Ron looked very upset over the Professor treatment of Hermione, the boy kept his head low and stayed out of trouble. After the class ended, everyone rushed to finish dinner, because the first Quidditch match of the year was about to begin.
The two teams flew around, battling roughly with windy storm that had blown in. Harriet silently thanked Professor Snape for demanding that she got her eyes fixed because Harriet's glasses kept fogging up. She was completely soaked to the bone and the wind was freezing her arse off. At least she wasn't the only one suffer. For some unholy reason, the entire school decided to brave the hurricane like weather to watch Quidditch. Honestly, if Harriet didn't have to be here, she would have said to hell with it and stayed in her room with a hot cocoa. Harriet was certain that she would get hypothermia at this rate. Draco chased after her as she searched for the Snitch, Gryffindor and Slytherin tied neck and neck. The crowd shouted their names, even though they couldn't properly see which team was which.
She thought she spotted the little gold ball next to what appeared to be a grim when the temperature dropped rapidly and the wind roared louder. It howled, wait, no, it screamed. The screams became shouting match.
"Not Harriet, please not Harriet-"
"Stand aside, you silly girl, stand aside now-"
"Take me, kill me instead-"
Her eyesight darkened but the cloaks that the plethora of Dementors presented a ghastly image that Harriet would never forget. As she started to lose her balance and fall, her mother sobbed out,
"Not Harriet! Please, have mercy, have mercy-" The final scream sounded out as her consciousness left her.
I'm falling forever; I've got to break through
Severus
Shit, that was Severus' first thought when he felt the temperature plunged. Then the memories of his father's belt, his mother's murdered body, his fifth year, and the acts that he committed for the Dark Lord swallowed him. Thankfully his Occlumency kicked in and drove those thoughts back. Severus watched in horror as the Dementors began to descend on his Slytherins. His doe patronus silently and swiftly drove away the preying beasts from his snakes. Then he heard the Headmaster bellow,
"Expecto Patronum! Arresto Momentum!" The large phoenix that flew over the field made sense but why had Albus spoken the last spell- No!
Severus watched in fear as Lily's daughter fell off of her broom and crashed into the thankfully muddy ground. Minerva screamed in anguish but that barely mattered to him. The pull on his magic decided to make another appearance. Later on, he would explain to the Headmaster that he was only performing his duty as Healer. For he didn't know the real reason for what compelled him to run to the Girl-Who-Could-Die. And how he was able to reach her so quickly.
Severus left Miss Potter under the watchful and protective eye of Minerva and Poppy later on that night. Miss Potter was lucky to still be alive. Had Severus not been able to reverse the damage done to her back, Miss Potter would have been either dead or paralyzed. Not that Oliver Wood cared. The little shit insisted that Severus was going to kill her. Luckily for Wood, the Weasely twins and Marcus Flint restrained the captain before Severus could dock points from him. He marched to his quarters, his wet cloak bellowing.
"Severus?" A timid voice behind him asked. Severus resisted the urged to murder as he turned to face Lupin, glad that he still towered over the wolf. Hm, it seems that Lupin has recovered from his 'illness'.
"What?" He hissed out and strengthened his glare.
"How is she?" Well, well, well, the wolf does care. How touching.
"So you're actually going to give a fucking damn about her now? Is that what you're going to do? You know what, Lupin. Go find out your fucking self." Severus turned to leave when the shabby man dared to grab his arm. In an instance, Severus gripped Lupin's neck and held him a good foot above the ground and on the wall.
"Don't you ever try to lay your shit ridden hands on me again, Lupin or else I'll cut them off with silver." Lupin nodded as quickly as he could. Severus dropped the monster to the floor and the wolf panted, trying to catch his breathe.
"Severus, please." Another large breath. "We need to protect Harriet from Sirius." Severus snapped.
"How can you say that murder's name with longing? So the crimes that he's done do not warrant your hatred? Did Black have you trained enough in his bed so that you can't hate him?" Lupin looked shocked before whispering,
"You knew about Sirius'-"
"Yes, and I knew about his unhealthy desire that he had towards Potter. It was extremely obvious during our fifth year. It was quite sickening to watch Black try to gander the attention of Potter when all Potter could see was Lily." Severus spitted out as he thought back to Black's stares of pure, unadulterated longing towards Potter. Severus noticed the stares during his third year but thought nothing of it. After all, it was a well-known fact then that Black dated girls. Later on it had become clear that Black's superfluous amount of women was a way to overcompensate his desire for Potter. God, just the thought of Black and Potter together almost made Severus fatally ill.
"I don't bat that way, you know."
"Well good for fucking you. Now what other shit do you plan to tell me about?" Severus knew that Lupin was hiding something, something big.
"I think I know how Sirius entered the castle."
"How?" Severus demanded, pulling out his wand. He didn't point it at Lupin yet but it was there if he needed to.
"We, that is, James, Peter, Sirius and I created a map. We called it the Marauder's Map." Wow, real original, Lupin. "It allowed us to find all of the secret entrances and to track everyone in the castle."
Lupin, you god damn fucking idiot. Severus pointed his wand at Lupin and Lupin raised his arms in surrender.
"I'm sorry, Severus. So very sorry."
"How many?"
"What?" God, Lupin should be the new definition of idiot.
"How many fucking maps did you and your idiotic brotherhood create?"
"Only one, but Finch confiscated it our Seventh Year. But by then, we already memorized all of the exits." Severus actually lowered his wand. Well, at least there was little miracle. If he could just find that map, he could close all of the entrances and keep Black out.
"I see. Accio it."
"What?"
"I understand that you may question your actual existence but at this moment, you are a wizard. Now Accio that blasted map and we'll start sealing all of the entrances. We'll leave one open as trap for Black. Then you get the pleasure of informing Minerva about all of this and how you let this little piece of information slide past you. I'm sure she'll be ever so happy that you endangered her ward by forgetting something as important as this." Severus smirked with satisfaction when he saw Lupin turn green. Unfortunately, Lupin recovered.
"Accio Marauder's Map." The pair waited. After a few minutes passed, a blank sheet of paper rushed to Lupin. Severus raised an eyebrow when saw the yellowed sheet.
"The phrase to activate it is 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.'"
"How fitting. Activate it. Knowing our history, that bloody thing would try to kill me if I tried to use it."
"No, we only had it trained to insult you. Though if you really want to-"
"Lupin, stop wasting our time."
"Right. Sorry."
Severus nearly laughed out loud when Minerva started shouting loudly at Lupin. They had returned to the hospital wing after closing every exit san the One-eyed Witch statue. Anyone who tried to use that exit would find themselves tied up, disarm, and hanging from a chandler until Aurors arrived to take them away. After Lupin repeated his tale to Minerva, she had turned deathly pale, then angry red.
"Never in all of my years have I ever heard of anything so outrageously stupid! Did you honestly think that not sharing this information would protect Harriet?! Why I should take you over my knee with my paddle! You risked Harriet's life because you didn't want to tell us about a secret you shared with a murder! Mr. Lupin, if you have another secret about Sirius Black, you better tell me this instant!"
Minerva just earn another notch of respect from Severus with her ability to render men scared shitless. Honestly, this was the best source of comedy Severus had enjoyed in ages.
"Um, well…" Lupin stuttered, scared beyond his wits.
"Well, what, Mr. Lupin?" It was a good thing that Severus casted the silencing charm over Miss Potter or else Minerva's excellent show would have awaken her.
"Sirius, James, and Peter were animagi." Severus and Minerva froze. A pregnant pause filled the room before Minerva shouted out, her Scottish brogue slipping out,
"What?! What on Earth are you talking about?!"
"You know about my, um, monthly gift. Well, they found out and wanted to be with me during my transformations. So they became animagi because the wolf viewed them as pack." Minerva was stunned speechless.
"What were their forms?" Severus asked for Minerva.
"Peter was a rat, James was a stag and Sirius was a Grim." Minerva harden her glare.
"Well Mr. Lupin, now that we finally know these lovely bits of information, I gladly pass them on to the poor Aurors stationed here. You are very lucky that the Headmaster is extremely forgiving. You will tell myself or Severus if you happen to remember anymore secrets. If not, I'll have you vacated from this castle." Lupin looked down but nodded. Well, that was probably the most entertaining thing I've watched all year. It was after Lupin left the wing that an idea struck Severus.
"Minerva?"
"Yes, Severus?"
"Perhaps Miss Potter would like to continue the family skill and become an animagus herself?"
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Harriet
Well, the first ever Quidditch tie happened after the first match. Minerva and Professor Snape decided that the Dementors' attack deemed it impossible for them to have a rematch. As a result, both Slytherin and Gryffindor won the match and received the same amount of points. The downside to the match, besides her crash landing, was that Harriet lost her Nimbus 2000. Her poor broom got into a boxing match with the Whomping Willow and lost. To make up for the loss, Minerva purchased Harriet a Firebolt! It was so beautiful and so awesome that Harriet couldn't wait to show the team. Oliver nearly fainted when he saw it while Katie and the twins insisted that they ride it next practice. Ron also envied her Firebolt but Harriet promised that he could ride it as long as she didn't have practice or a match. That cheered him up quickly.
Practice would probably be delayed though, because winter was moving in quickly. Harriet had to resort to wearing the thick stockings instead of her thin nylons. Harriet worried that it would get so cold that she would have to wear pants. She shuttered at the thought. While Harriet wore trousers for Quidditch, she loved her skirts and dresses and refused to part from them.
Christmas was approaching at a rapid rate and Harriet wondered over her Christmas shopping. Buying for Ron and Hermione was fairly easy. Using owl mail, she ordered Ron five packages of his favorite candy and that expensive medicine for poor Scabbers. For Hermione, she gave her a rather large gift card for all of the bookstore in Wizarding England along with a book called, "Time Turners and the Wizarding Body." Harriet was extremely worried about Hermione's health. Poor Hermione had lost a good stone because she had deemed food to be less important than completing schoolwork. Hopefully, Hermione will listen to the book and stop using the time turner so much.
Back to her dilemma. Harriet had no clue what to get Minerva. She loved her guardian so much that she had nearly called the older woman, Mama, multiple times. Harriet decided that Lily Potter would always be her Mummy but Minerva McGonagall would always be her Mama. But how to tell Minerva this? Harriet was glancing through some magazines in the library when she saw the perfect gift. But she need to figure out the birth dates of Minerva's deceased children.
Wait a minute, thought Harriet, I'll ask Madam Pomfrey. Harriet marked her page and checked out the book. When she showed the matron her idea, the nurse agreed to help her. Now that that gift was taken care of, she need to find a good gift for Professor Snape.
She didn't know wither he celebrated Christmas or not but she figured that she should give him a present. After all, he spent a good amount of his time with her and she didn't want him to feel like she didn't appreciate it. Harriet decided to ask her guardian for help.
"Minerva, does Professor Snape celebrate Christmas?" Minerva glanced up from her papers.
"Barely, but yes, he does. Why do you ask?"
"Because I want to get him a gift but I don't know what to get him." Minerva smiled softly at her ward before answering,
"Well, I always get him some form of liquor but I hardly think that is appropriate." They shared a giggle.
"Perhaps a book?"
"But he already has so many books. Hermione would have a heart attack if she saw his collection in his office."
"True. Hm, let's see…" They thought over a couple of ideas before Harriet struck gold.
"Minerva, can we go to Gringotts tomorrow? There's something in the Potter Vault that is perfect." She told Minerva about the item. Minerva agreed because they could easily floo into Gringotts and it was indeed the perfect gift for Professor Snape.
Christmas break had arrived and so had Christmas Eve. Harriet was one of the few students to have remained for the break. Ron and Hermione had gone home to visit their families but Harriet didn't mind. She had Minerva. She had a family.
Professor Snape decided to hold their last session before the new term on Christmas Eve. While a confusing decision, Harriet was happy because it would allow her to give him his gift. She carried it in her bag when she arrived at the classroom.
"Hello, Professor. How are you?"
"Well, Miss Potter. And yourself?"
"Great. What am I working on today?"
"The Patronus charm. I want you to think carefully, Miss Potter. Close your eyes and listen to what I say." She did as he asked.
"Good. Now calm your breath, clear your mind. Imagine that you are relaxing comfortably in bed. Yes, very good. Now think of people that make you happy. Think of what they mean to you. Think of your desire to protect and love them."
She thought of Ron and Hermione, her first friends. She thought of the Weaselys, the first family to love her. She thought of Hogwarts, her first home. She thought of Professor Snape, the first adult who truly tried to teach her defense. She thought of Madam Pomfrey, her honorary grandmother. She thought of Minerva, her adopted mother.
"Now cast it."
"Expecto Patronum." Harriet opened her eyes and casted the spell. The silvery mist became solid and a large raven formed. She couldn't stop smiling and staring at her beautiful Patronus. She failed to see the shell shocked expression on the Potions Master's face.
"He's beautiful." Harriet whispered when the bird nuzzled her.
"Indeed. Happy Christmas, Miss Potter." Harriet whipped around to look at the older man. He had an ever so small smile. It was slightly crooked but it suited him well and made him look younger. She liked his smile. She wished she saw it more often.
"Thank you, Sir. Wait here a moment." She turned her back to him and lifted a wrapped box out of her bag.
"Happy Christmas, Professor!" Harriet exclaimed as she passed him the box. She smirked when she saw his confused expression. He opened his gift.
Inside the box held twelve magically charmed vials. They were charmed to be shrinkable, enlargeable, self-cleanable, and indestructible. They were just sitting in the Potter vault collecting dust so Harriet figured to give them to Professor Snape. After all, he could always use more glassware.
Professor Snape glanced back up to stare at the student in front of him. He was shocked by the gift but clearly pleased with what he received.
"Thank you, Miss Potter." He spoke softly with a hint of a smile. She smiled back.
Christmas day arrived shortly afterwards and now it was time for Minerva to receive her gift. Harriet waited on pins and needles as her guardian carefully unraveled her gift. Minerva's eyes watered with tears as she read the card. It read,
Dear Minerva,
When I was five, I made the mistake of asking Aunt Petunia why I didn't have a mummy like the other little girls. I asked her why I couldn't wear pretty little dresses. I asked her why I lived in a cupboard when other girls got real beds to sleep in. Aunt Petunia yelled at me and called me an ungratefully freak who would have become a whore if it hadn't had been for her taking me in. She yelled that I was going to be a slut, just like her freakish sister. She yelled that my mummy never loved me and that she was happy that she was dead because she wouldn't have to be with me. I know now that Mummy did love me, so much so that she died to protect me. But as you know, Minerva, Mummy and Daddy are dead. They can't protect and love me well enough from Heaven. However, I have a Mama. My Mama signed a piece of paper to get me away from my abusive relatives. My Mama bought me dresses and skirts galore. My Mama loves me unconditionally and would do anything to protect me. If you don't want me to call you Mama, that's ok. I understand. Thank you for everything that you have done for me. I know I can't replace your babies and I don't want to but the bracelet I gave you has all of their birthstones. This way, we'll never forget about them. Happy Christmas!
Love,
Harriet Potter McGonagall, daughter of Minerva McGonagall
"Yes." Minerva whispered through tears. "I would like it very much to be called Mama." The pair hugged each other tightly.
The goblin made bracelet was beautiful. There were four stones set into the goblin platinum band. An emerald, to represent Alastrina, Minerva's first born daughter. An amethyst, to represent Graeme, her first born son. A sapphire to represent Malvina, her second daughter and third youngest. And finally, a diamond to represent Ross, her youngest born and her last son. Minerva wore it proudly.
Harriet was shocked when she opened the gift Mama got her. It was a book about becoming an animagus.
"Wait, does this mean what I think it means?"
"Aye, lass, you get to learn how to become an animagus after Christmas break is over." Harriet hugged Mama tightly and thanked her profusely.
Harriet wondered about the last gift, because there was no card. Mama was curious too but she was extremely cautious.
"Harriet, stay behind me. I'll unravel it." Mama flicked her wand and the package opened, revealing-
"Another Firebolt? Why would someone get me a Firebolt?"
"How odd. Dear, you wouldn't mind if I have Professor Flitwick inspect this, would you? I think it may be from Black."
"Go right ahead, Mama. Go right ahead."
Author's Note- Mes Amis, Chapter 5 a fini. Okay, let's save the French for the Goblet of Fire, shall we. Anyway, what do you guys think about how I'm doing my version of Sirius Black? I kinda like it. But just to let you guys know Mr. Remus Lupin will be in a relationship with Miss Tonks in the near future so Sirius will not be shipped with him. Well, I think that's enough spoilers for today. I hope that you guys enjoyed chapter 5. I love you all so much!
-V.I. Winthrop