© Sunrisepainter: Because of Snape

Malfoy, Here We Go Again!

14 November XXXX

Dear Mum,

a lot had happened the last few days and I don't even know how to start this letter. You remember my last letter, right? I've already told abut the potion me and that Weasley have to brew together. One of the ingredients was some strange herb which is called "Cytrillkraut".

Professor Sprout had told us that we have to go into the Forbidden Forest in order to get the herb which only grows in the "Wolfscrag" at full moon. As you know me even better than I do, you probably figured by now that I didn't want to take the risk to go in there but Fred somehow persuaded me into it.

In the end, we went there during the last full moon and we kinda reached that scrag without any obstacles. You can't even imagine how I scared I'd been! Fortunately, Fred knew the forest well enough for us to always keep on the right track. However, I tripped over a trunk and hurt my ankle. Fred helped me and together we were able to climb the scrag and to obtain the herb eventually. We were almost back on the ground when suddenly danger crossed our way.

A wolf pack! They had encircled us like beastly soldiers! There were sharp teeth and claws everywhere. It was a complete drama as our last resort was in fact the scrag. Fred climbed up first and wanted to pull me up to him but one of the wolves was able to snatch my leg and wouldn't let go.

I just remember falling and everything turning into dust and darkness. I can't tell what happened afterwards. However, they've told me that all the wolfs attacked me but Fred was able to chase them away and guess what he used for it?

Dr Filibuster's Fireworks! Unbelievable, right?

Anyway, he saved my life with it and he even managed to bring me back to the castle. Don't worry, I'm fine, Mum!

Luckily, I wasn't bitten and they weren't even werewolves. However, don't get a shock when you see me during the holidays. I still have some minor scratches and wounds.

After this small adventure, somehow everything has changes. Indeed, I had become friends with Hermione, Angelina and Alicia before but everyone came to visit me in the Hospital Wing, even the twins. We've finally made up. As you see, a lot has happened and I feel like a complete different person now, although not everything about it seems to be positive.

I didn't even tell Hermione about it because it's kind of strange.

After this night in the forest I often get blazes of anger, mum. I don't get what this is all about. I don't know what's happening, something isn't right with me. The anger just wells up inside of me and sometimes, without a significant reason. My mind goes completely blank. I feel controlled by some unknown force. It scares me to death! Do you have an idea what's going on with me?

Did you experience something similar before?
Yesterday, I even picked a fight with Umbridge in her class and got detention. It was time that someone told her off but why had it to be me of all people? That's not my character at all!

I don't know what to do any more, mum. Everything is getting out of hand. I hope you can help me out and you can give me some advice without worrying about my situation too much. Don't worry, I can handle it as long as my friends support me. They're great.

Love you, mum

Hope

15 November XXXX

My dear daughter Hope,

your last letter made me worry a lot and I have to say that I was very surprised about the development. I'm very happy that you finally made some friends and that you've finally cleared all your difficulties with Fred and George Weasley. I'm also happy for you overcoming your mistrust in other people. Friendship is very important even thought you might get hurt or disappointed once or twice. However, there is also something that troubles me. It's that thing with your sudden outbursts.

I can't possibly tell you everything in this letter as it also involves some confidential family information. Who knows who else is going to read it...

I just can tell you this:

Something supernatural happened to you. It has a hereditary background which I'm going to explain to you one day. There is an unusual force inside of you which is awakening now. It's a power that is connected to the recent full moon. Be aware of even more strange things coming your way in the next few days. I hope you will be prepared for anything. Just talk to certain people about these things, the people you trust the most. Your secret might not be safe with everybody.

Moreover, I can just advice you trying to suppress your anger and avoiding any kind of emotional pressure. Else, you could get into a lot of trouble, as you already experienced with your teacher. I know that it is impossible to get not worked up about injustice but it would be better to find other ways to vent your anger.

Now, I have to change the subject to something else.

The St. Mungo Hospital is going to send me on a secret mission to Ireland during the Holidays. I am not allowed to take you with me which means that you have to stay with someone else. Your father was kind enough offering to take you in during my absence. I know you well enough that I can imagine you being very upset with his idea. You might think me crazy accepting his offer but in my opinion it would be a good opportunity to get closer to him and his new woman. After exchanging some owls with Humphry, we met and talked things over. In the end, I even accepted his apologize and we reconciled.

I did not tell you earlier as I wanted to surprise you.

Humphry had been quite disappointed when you did not answer his letter some weeks ago.

Of course, there would also be the possibility of you staying in Hogwarts during Christmas but I think it would be more meaningful if you would spend the Holidays with your father. You can talk things over and you have the chance to get to know him better. He is really not that bad as you make yourself believe. He is your dad after all. He made a mistake but he feels more than remorseful about the past. Pleasem think about it before refusing.

See you soon and I am kissing and hugging you a thousand times

Mum

"I can't believe it!" Hope sighed.

"What's wrong?" Hermione eyed her quizzically.

The two girls were in the library. Hermione was writing an essay for Potions and Hope was repeating the subjects she had missed the last few days. All windows were frozen, there was a moderate blizzard outside and in the fireplace a merry fire was crackling.

"Look for yourself." Hope answered and gave her friend the last letter she had received from her mother. Hermione scanned the lines and then, she looked at her older friend while frowning:
"So, she wants you to stay with your day during the holidays? And, what does she mean with "you don't have the same magic as other witches"?"

"To tell the truth, I don't get it either, Hermione. However, I don't think that's important to me right now. The part with me staying with my dad is much worse! I don't want to see him!"

"Just reject it then." Hermione proposed.

"Of course, that's what I'd like to do but didn't you read it more carefully? My mum absolutely wants me to get along with him better! As if he's serious about that, pshaw!"

"She can't force you, you know."

"No, but...the thing is..."

"You don't want to hurt her feelings." Hermione noted. Hope nodded her head.

"Well, I guess that there is no way out then. You have to face him sooner ot later."

"Figures." Hope mumbled depressed.

"Hey, chin up! We can write letters and when I'm back in England, I'm going to visit you or you visit me, aright?" Hermione suggested. Hope's face lit up:

"That would be great!"

"So, it's a deal?"

"Deal!"

"And if your dad upsets you, you tell me immediately and I'm going to come and get you." The younger one laughed.

"You're really the best!" Hope said and smiled. Hermione blushed.

Like this, the first week of December in Hogwarts just flew by. Hope thought that time was passing much too fast as the stay at her father's house was approaching.

She would have liked it if she could have been meeting her mother beforehand to talk her worries. As well as about her sudden rampages and how Hope should act around her dad and his new wife.

Mrs Shycates was absolutely right with her assumption of Hope experiencing more supernatural things. Apart from two more outbursts of anger in front of Professor Snape and another one because of Chloe Ryan, a cheeky little Ravenclaw who Hope could not stand at all, there occurred other incidents.

For example, one of the ugly bruises the wolfs left on her face disappeared from one day to the other without her using any magic on it. It was as if it never had been there in the first place.

Furthermore, Angelina's foul mood disappeared one morning. The captain of the Qudditch team was usually a morning grouch but that morning her grumpy face changed into a radiant smile as soon as Hope wished her friend would cheer up. Not Angelina could explain her sudden change of mood but somehow, Hope got the idea that it had something to do with her new "powers" as she suddenly had a headache as she always did after something strange occurred.

"Perhaps, you're one of these witches who can perform magic without using a wand." Hermione assumed when Hope told her about everything one day.

"I have no idea. Anyway, it's very creepy!"
"Let's look around in the library. Maybe, we can find some similar cases in the history section."

Hope nodded her head and swiftly said goodbye to her friend as she had hurry down to the dungeons. Fred and her were still working on their potion. The two of them got along quite well the last few days. They long forgot all about the thing with McLaggen. With her own eyes, Hope saw Fred and George announce to Cormac in the common room that they had won their bet. They were grinning mischievously as George handed the confused Cormac a pack of gag-drops.

"Take it. It's our stake, bon appétit!"

The whole Gryffindor common room, including Hope, had burst into laughter. She would never forget the look on McLaggens face!

On the last day before the Christmas Holidays, Hope and Angelina were on their way to Human Transfiguration when Draco Malfoy and his lackeys crossed their path.

"Oh no." Angelina mumbled.

"Let's get out of here." Hope whispered back as she was not in the mood to face a pubertal pack of Slytherins. However, it was too late already as Malfoy had already seen them.

"Would you look at that! It's the mudblood Johnson and her friend Shycates, the guardian of the poor!" He sneered and Pansy Parkinson, who was clued to his side like a leech, snickered. Crabbe and Goyle just smirked dumbly.

"Just just the heck up, Malfoy!" Angelina hissed angrily.

"There, there, show some respect in front of a real wizard, you worthless mudblood!"

"Watch you mouth!" Hope growled and whipped her wand out. Malfoy raised an eyebrow in mockery:

"It seems as today you don't have your doggy Weasley taking your things after you or is it not your own wand? Maybe, you should take another look at it, Shycates!" The Slytherins roared with laughter.

"You're right. Perhaps, this thing doesn't work. Perhaps, I should try it." Hope answered calmly. Malfoy looked at her in confusion and before he could react, he was already upside down dangling from the ceiling. Hope smirking glanced at his followers:

"And? Who's going to be the next test object?" All three of them paled and shook their head in unison.

Malfoy however had recovered from his shock and an evil smile formed on his face. Hope did not notice, thought. Angelina on the other hand saw that he was up to something but could not warn her friend in time.

"Expelliarmus!"

Hope was flung back trough the air a few metres. Immediately, Angelina was next to her on the floor.

"Are you okay?"

Still feeling dizzy, Hope nodded and angrily looked up to Draco Malfoy who used his attack to get back to the ground again. After doing a small gesture with his hand, his "friends" lined next to him and they surrounded the girls. All of them had a wand in their hand.

"How dare you attack a Malfoy like that?" The blond boy hissed.

"Pshaw, the Malfoys? The Malfoys are a bunch of crap! They're Death Eater! Criminals! You should go to prison! All of you!"

There it was again, that anger. Angelina clutched Hopes arm and shook her head to keep her from provoking Malfoy. However, it was too late as Malfoy was now boiling with fury as well.

"Don't talk about my family!"

Hope came back to her senses at once and realized that she had gone too far. She and Angelina would not stand a chance against four angry Slytherins. She had to come up with another plan. Fast. And then, it hit her.

"So, you want to make me believe your family isn't involved with Death Eaters?"
"That's none of your business!"

"So it's true after all."

"What?"

"You're parents are Death Eaters themselves."

"SHUT YOUR TRAP, SHYCATES!"
Boom! Whoosh!

"Run, Ange!" Hope yelled trough the smoke and the sparks. Then, she gripped the surprised Angelina by the arm and dragged her with her into the next corridor.

They just heard the Slytherin yell, squeak, jump around and cough.

While she had distracted the Malfoy with some useless talk, Hope had secretly searched for a Filibuster firecracker in her pockets to set them on fire. No one noticed up to the point that thing went off.

"Merlin! What was that, Hope?" Angelina hissed.

"Filibuster." Hope gasped as she was still out of breath. Then, she suddenly started to laugh. Just that moment, Fred, George, Lee and Alicia turned around the corner.

"There you are!" Alicia said in relied and frowned as she saw Hope laughing like crazy.

"What happened to you?"

However, the blond Gryffindor was not able to answer her as she was still too busy laughing her heart out. Angelina grimaced:

"We just happened to meet Malfoy and friends."

"And what's supposed to be so funny about that?" George asked and looked at Hope as if she did not have all her cauldrons.

"Have...him...air...upside down...and...then...me...attacked...were...too many...but...I...I...I..." She did not get to finish her sentence as she was taken by yet another fit of laughter.

"She threw a firecracker at them." Angelina explained annoyed.

"What?"

"Really?"
The twins seemed to be quite impressed.

"You should have seen Malfoy squeaking like a little girl or Crabbe and Goyle jumping around like gorillas doing ballet!", Hope giggled.

"Malfoy squeaked?"

"Man, why didn't you tell us beforehand? We would've gladly joined the fun." George said sulkily.

"I'm just relieved that nothing bad happened. Hope did play a very foul trick on Malfoy. I really thought he would curse us any moment!" Angelina shuddered.

"So, you're alright?" Lee asked. Angelina and Hope nodded.

"Let's go to Transfiguration then. We're already late." Alicia reminded them.

"Man, Malfoy is going to hold this up against you!", Fred said to Hope as they were walking next to each other, a little farther away from the group, "if I were you I would watch out for his revenge."

Hope just shrugged:

"It was his fault in the first place. Besides, I'm not scared of him. He's a coward anyway."

"I guess. However, there is something else I want to know. Why did you of all people carry a firecracker around? I mean, you as responsible prefect and all..."

Hope grinned and lowered her voice:

"Well, you see, after our little dilemma in the Forbidden Forest, I realized that these small things also might come in handy sometimes. Since then, I always take some with me. Just in case."

Fred laughed.

End of Chapter Eighteen.