Dear Ramona,
I'm coming to Hogwarts, meet me at Dumbledore's office after your last class of the day.
Father.
The last subject of the day is Potions. Ramona's potion bubbles dangerously, Ramona looks at the instructions again but doesn't know were she has failed. Ramona runs her fingers through her hair and sighs.
"Evanesco."
Grinding her teeth Ramona glares at Severus.
"It would have exploded," counters Severus while shrugging his shoulders.
This is yet another disastrous potion lessen for Ramona and coping with failure isn't something Ramona is comfortable with.
After James reminds Ramona of her father's letter that morning Ramona drops her bag, and walks to Dumbledore's office.
"Sugar quills," whispers Ramona.
The Map they have created is a lot more valuable now, the map now shows passwords. The four have put so many spells onto it, they have placed so much of their magic in the parchment it seems to have picked up on their personality.
After knocking Ramona enters after she has been called in by Dumbledore. Lyall is looking stern and closed off, which isn't a good sign to Ramona for it means her father is blocking his emotions strongly. Ramona takes a seat next her father, Dumbledore leaves to give them privacy.
The silence continues but Lyall doesn't seem to want to break the silence.
"Father, why have you come here?"
Lyall becomes as still as a statue, "Your mother, she had an accident. She died before I could even try to get medical help."
"Did I ever tell you how I met your mother?" asks Lyall, absent of any emotion.
Many times Ramona has heard the story but always from her mother, Ramona shakes her head for she wishes to hear the story from Lyall.
"I met your mother because of a Boggart. Your mother is ... was a recluse. She hated people, people scared her. So much that her Boggart form was a huge terrifying man. I changed the Boggart and she saw me as a hero, I had never met a muggle before and the image of what they were like was challenged. I had to tell her that, I told her the Boggart wasn't as dangerous as she thought but, she still loved me anyway. Thanks to that Boggart my life changed so profoundly ..."
Lyall looks to Ramona in the eyes but then finds he can't continue looking into Ramona eyes. Ramona takes her fathers hand to comfort him. With one more glance at her mothers headstone, Ramona sighs. Lyall can't stay anymore, too upset, so he appartes Ramona back to Hogwarts. Just outside the gates where Ramona will be able to enter back to Hogwarts with Dumbledore's permission.
As Dumbledore and Ramona walk back to the castle Ramona refuses to talk. It isn't until they are almost at the entrance when Dumbledore talks.
"My condolences. With your Newts so close, I think perhaps an extension would be wise?"
Ramona shakes her head, "Sir ... I can't. That would mean going to the ministry and they will use any excuse to ..."
To register me.
"There are ways Ramona, I'm your headmaster and I can give you an extension without involving the ministry."
Ramona occludes her mind strongly to not show emotions. The headmaster is playing a dangerous game, Ramona doesn't wish to be used or have special treatment. Ramona feels she is already in debt to the headmaster too much already without adding this.
"No thank you ... Sir."
"Very well," replies the Headmaster then gives a nod good bye and departs in a different direction towards his office.
Slowly making her way to the common she sees the three trouble makers studying in a circle. Sirius after noticing Ramona smiles in relief for Ramona has been gone for quite some time.
"What took you so long, Pete is making me going crazy. Making me re study WHAT I have already studied," huffs Sirius and gives a mock glare to Peter.
After sitting down Ramona grabs Sirius in a hug for comfort, tears escapes her eyes now. Ramona was trying to be so strong for her father but now she can't be strong. Sirius holds Ramona tighter and whispers, "What happened."
After Ramona explains what has happened the three no longer study but comfort Ramona through her pain.
After a successful a prank the four find themselves running away from the scene of the crime, with Ramona's strength from Moony she finds she has been separated from the group. Annoyed Ramona gets the map out to see where the others are. After Ramona looks to the map she gasps, 'mischief managed'.
Ramona tries hastily to put the map back in her pocket but her hand is grabbed by Filch. He grabs the map and lets go of her hand.
"So what do we have here! It's how you've been getting away with tormenting people with pranks, isn't it?" asks Filch.
Filch eyes the blank parchment with distrust.
"It's just a bit of parchment," counters Ramona, extremely angry. Ramona strengthens her mental shields to not give away how important the map is. Almost seven years of work. It can't be destroyed.
"Don't play me for a fool girl," replies Filch, Filch makes movements that suggest to Ramona that he is going to rip it in pieces. Ramona gasps without meaning to.
"AH HA, so it is important, confiscated Miss Lupin," says Flich, Filch pockets the map and leaves.