Fred cleared his throat as he looked back at the book and frowning as he read the title. "Flight of the Fat Lady…Well I'm sure this will be just delightful."
"What happened to her? She never leaves he post." Lily said with some concern.
In no time at all, Defence Against the Dark Arts had become most people's favourite class. "Because it was bloody brilliant."
"That's not what it says." Adhara points out, grinning when Fred smacked her hand away.
"Well I'm just making sure people know, I'm sure Harry was thinking it anyway." Fred shrugs unashamedly.
Only Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins had anything bad to say about Professor Lupin.
'Look at the state of his robes,' Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Professor Lupin passed. 'He dresses like our old house-elf.'
"Oh sod right off with that, he's brilliant." James scoffed.
"It's not his fault he has no taste whatsoever." Romulus grinned at the older version of his brother.
"Malfoy's a git, I would have loved having you as our teacher Moons." Sirius grinned, nudging Remus with his shoulder.
But no one else cared that Professor Lupin's robes were patched and frayed.His next few lessons were just as interesting as the first. After Boggarts, they studied Red Caps, nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed, in the dungeons of castles and the portholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had got lost. From Red Caps they moved on to Kappas, creepy water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds.
Harry only wished he were as happy with some of his other classes. Worst of all was Potions. Snape was in a particularly vindictive mood these days, and no one was in any doubt why. The story of the Boggart assuming Snape's shape, and the way that Neville had dressed it in his grandmother's clothes had travelled through the school like wildfire.
"Bet he bloody loved that," Charlie grinned, "he deserves that and worse."
"We wanted that to be our Hallowe'en costume that year." Zania said with a grin.
"But we agreed we might not recover from how disgusting it would be to look like him." Adhara continued.
Snape didn't seem to find it funny even if other people-like the Black and Weasley twins-found it hilarious. His eyes flashed menacingly at the very mention of Professor Lupin's name, and he was bullying Neville worse than ever
"Oh come on how is that going to help? The poor kid is terrified of you Severus that's what caused the boggart in the first place." Lily huffed, looking absolutely furious.
"He's an evil git, at this point I just want to be there when he gets fired." George huffed.
Harry was also growing to dread the hours he spent in Professor Trelawney's stifling tower room, deciphering lop-sided shape and symbols, trying to ignore the way Professor Trelawney's enormous eyes filled with tears every time she looked at him. He couldn't like Professor Trelawney, even though she was treated with respect bordering on reverence by many of the class.
Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to haunting Professor Trelawney's tower room at lunchtimes, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things that the others didn't. They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke to Harry, as though he was on his deathbed.
"Nah he just has a death wish," Leon joked, turning to Harry and laughing when he saw the betrayed look on his face, "what? Am I wrong?"
"Yes," Harry answered, forcing himself not to laugh as well, "you are, prick."
"What a dreadful woman, its no laughing matter to predict someone's death." Mrs Weasley frowned, shaking her head and giving Leon a disapproving look.
"Multiple people deaths actually." Zania added cheerfully.
Nobody really liked Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the action-packed first class, had become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence. They were now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after Flobberworms, which had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence.
"Why would anyone bother looking after them?" said Ron, after yet another hour of poking shredded lettuce down the Flobberworms' slimy throats, Leon was also feeding a Flobberworm with the expression of a kicked puppy, Harry knew he was looking forward to learn about all kind of interesting-and to any sane person, dangerous-creatures and being forced to look after the most dull creatures Hagrid could find was taking its toll on him.
"That sucks, poor Hagrid." Lily sighed, shaking her head lightly.
"Poor Leo, so excited to finally be close to creatures that could eat him whole." Ginny teased, looking at the boy who was now pouting at the book.
"You had a dog to keep you entertained, you can suck it up mate." Ron snorted.
At the start of October, however, Harry had something else to occupy him, something so enjoyable it made up for his unsatisfactory classes. The Quiditch season had begun and Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor team, called a meeting one Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season.
"Hell yes, Quidditch!" Sirius and James immediately cheered, startling Lily and Remus who were sitting right next to them.
"I hate you." Remus groaned, pushing Sirius away.
Oliver Wood was a burly seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice as he addressed his six fellow team members in the chilly changing rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch pitch.
"This is our last chance- my last chance- to win the Quidditch Cup," he told them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it."
"Gryffindor haven't won for seven years now. OK, so we've had the worst luck in the world- injuries- then the tournament getting called off last year..." Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. "But we also know we've got the best - ruddy - team - in - the - school," he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye.
"Oh hey he's just like you James. You sure you're an only child Harry?" Sirius asked jokingly
"Positive."
"We've got three superb Chasers." Wood pointed at Angelina Johnson, Adhara and Zania Black who smiled at him. "We've got two unbeatable Beaters."
"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us," said Fred and George Weasley together, pretending to blush.
"And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride.
"And me," he added, as an afterthought.
"We think you're very good, too, Oliver," said George.
"Cracking Keeper," said Fred.
With every name the people in the room cheered, particularly the twins since Fred made sure to emphasize each name as he read.
"The point is," Wood went on, resuming his pacing, "the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing..."
"What!? You haven't won in two years? Why?" James cried, looking at his red-faced son.
"Situations out of his control." Hermione said quickly, not wanting to linger on this for too much.
Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic.
"Oliver, this year's our year," said Fred.
"We'll do it, Oliver!" said Angelina.
"Yeah, don't you worry, Ollie" said Zania
"Definitely," said Harry.
Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind or rain could tarnish Harry's wonderful vision of finally winning the huge silver Quidditch Cup.
"Definitely your son James." Lily chuckled, taking James hand when the man simply looked proudly at his son.
One evening, after Harry returned from training to the Gryffindor common room, very cold and stiff but also very pleased, he found the room buzzing excitedly.
"What's going on?" he asked Ron and Hermione, who were sitting in two of the best chairs by the fireside and completing some star charts for Astronomy.
"First Hogsmeade weekend," said Ron, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old bulletin board. "End of October, Halloween."
"Excellent," said Fred, who had followed Harry through the portrait hole. "I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets."
"Yeah, and you need to stop using mine, what if I need them?" Adhara said stretching and glaring at Fred "there could be an emergency"
"But Addie! Sharing is caring!" they continued to argue until they were out of sight.
Harry threw himself into a chair beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing away. Hermione seemed to read his mind.
"Whoops, sorry mate." Ron said lightly, looking at Harry with an apologetic smile.
"It's fine, you guys deserved the fun even if I couldn't go." Harry reassured him, giving a shrug, it's not like he hadn't gone later on after all.
"Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," she said. "They're bound to catch Black soon. He's been sighted once already."
"Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade," said Ron. "Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry. The next one might not be for ages —"
"Ron!" said Hermione. "Harry's supposed to stay in school —"
"He can't be the only third year left behind," said Ron. "Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry —"
"Yeah, I think I will," said Harry, making up his mind.
"Nooo, she'll never let you go." Sirius groaned.
"Absolutely not, you're better off forging the signature than asking her for permission." Zania points out, leaning forward so she could rest her head on top of George's, looking at the book in Fred's hands.
"Zania." Lupin sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Oh right, I meant you shouldn't forge the signature but you could have!" Zania grinned as the twins snickered and Mrs Weasley glared at her in disapproval.
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but at that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto her lap. A large, dead spider was dangling from his mouth.
"Eugh, does he have to eat that in front of us?" said Ron, scowling.
"Have you ever met a cat?" Remmy snorts, "They eat all kind of shit in front of everyone."
"They're great." Teddy nodded, grinning when Lily agreed with him.
"They're menaces." Sirius scoffed.
"Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?" said Hermione.
Crookshanks; slowly chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron.
"Just keep him over there, that's all," said Ron irritably, turning back to his star chart. "I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag."
Harry yawned. He really wanted to go to bed, but he still had his own star chart to complete. He pulled his bag toward him, took out parchment, ink, and quill, and started work.
"You can copy mine, if you like," said Ron, labelling his last star with a flourish and shoving the chart toward Harry.
Hermione, who disapproved of copying, pursed her lips but refused to say anything, something Harry was quite thankful for.
"If you copy you'll never learn." Percy points out, raising an eyebrow at the four friends.
"Perce, everyone copies off of everyone." Bill tells him matter-of-factly. "Sometimes that's just life.
Crookshanks was still staring unblinkingly at Ron, flicking the end of his bushy tail. Then, without warning, he pounced.
"OY!" Ron roared, seizing his bag as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deep inside it and began tearing ferociously. "GET OFF, YOU STUPID BLOODY ANIMAL!"
Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing.
"Ron, don't hurt him!" squealed Hermione; the whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top —
"Jesus what the hell is wrong with your cat?" Sirius asked incredulous, glancing at Hermione who was looking very pointedly at Harry, Ron, and Leon, all three of them wondering if Crookshanks somehow could feel that Scabbers was more than just a simple rat.
"CATCH THAT CAT!" Ron yelled as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table, and chased after the terrified Scabbers.
George Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed;
"Valiant effort nevertheless." Zania said, patting George's shoulder absentmindedly.
"Thanks, gotta protect the family rat somehow." He joked back.
Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs, and started making furious swipes beneath it with his front paw.
Ron and Hermione hurried over; Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled Scabbers out by the tail.
"Look at him!" he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. "He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"
"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" said Hermione, her voice shaking. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"
"She's got a point, you can't blame a cat for following nature." Lily said with a nod, looking at Ron with a sad smile. "Maybe just keep Scabbers in your room, he'd be safer there."
"There's something funny about that animal!" said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. "It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!"
It was in that moment that Leon came through the portrait hole, going over to where Harry was still sitting.
"What happened?" he asked sitting next to Harry
"What do you think? Scabbers was attacked" Harry shrugged but looked at his friends worryingly as they continued fighting, by now all the people in the common room had stopped listening.
"As if a bunch of nosy teenagers would miss the opportunity to hear some drama." Charlie shook his head amused.
"Oh, what rubbish," said Hermione impatiently. "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think –"
'That cat's got it in for Scabbers!" said Ron, ignoring the people around him, who were starting to giggle. "And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!"
Ron had marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys' dormitories; Harry sighed as he watched him disappear and continued his homework
"Where were you anyway?"
"Hmm? Oh, I just went for a walk" said Leon and Harry had the impression that he was hiding something, but decided not to push him, after all, it wasn't his business.
"Well that's not a suspicious answer at all," Charlie grinned, looking at the boy next to him, "you like being mysterious?"
"Well I would like to know I have a mysterious aura, I work very hard on it after all." Leon answered with a smirk.
Ron was still in a bad mood with Hermione next day. He barely talked to her all through Herbology, even though he, Harry, Leon, and Hermione were working together on the same Puffapod.
"How's Scabbers?" Hermione asked timidly as they stripped fat pink pods from the plants and emptied the shining beans into a wooden pail.
"He's hiding at the bottom of my bed, shaking," said Ron angrily, missing the pail and scattering beans over the greenhouse floor.
"Ron, she was trying to be nice. It's not good to hold on to grudges." Mr Weasley shook his head at his son.
"I know I was just…angry." Ron tried to explain, scratching the back of his head.
"Careful, Weasley, careful!" cried Professor Sprout as the beans burst into bloom before their very eyes.
They had Transfiguration next. Harry, who had resolved to ask Professor McGonagall after the lesson whether he could go into Hogsmeade with the rest, joined the line outside the class trying to decide how he was going to argue his case. He was distracted, however, by a disturbance at the front of the line.
Lavender Brown seemed to be crying. Parvati had her arm around her and was explaining something to Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who were looking very serious.
He turned to Leon who also looked confused, and Ron who didn't really seem to care.
"What's the matter, Lavender?" said Hermione anxiously as the four of them went to join the group.
"She got a letter from home this morning," Parvati whispered. "It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a fox."
"Oh," said Hermione, "I'm so sorry, Lavender."
"I should have known!" said Lavender tragically. "You know what day it is?"
"No, come on no," Remus groaned, "don't tell me this is about Divination."
"Okay, we won't tell you." Harry nodded, nodding at Fred.
"Err —"
"The sixteenth of October!' That thing you're dreading, it will happen on the sixteenth of October!' Remember? She was right, she was right!"
"Damn it."
The whole class was gathered around Lavender now. Seamus shook his head seriously. Hermione hesitated and Leon just looked confused at Harry for an explanation; then she said, "You — you were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?"
"Oh no, Hermione don't," Bill shook his head, "I know Divination is rubbish but you don't try to win against a girl who just lost her pet."
"It is rather insensitive." Percy agreed, though he gave Hermione a sympathetic smile when the girl started to look upset.
"I know that now." Hermione answered sulkily.
"Well, not necessarily by a fox," said Lavender, looking up at Hermione with streaming eyes, "but I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn't I?"
"Oh," said Hermione. She paused again. Then —
"Was Binky an old rabbit?"
"N — no!" sobbed Lavender. "H — he was only a baby!"
Parvati tightened her arm around Lavender's shoulders.
"But then, why would you dread him dying?" said Hermione.
There were a few flinches around the room as Fred read that last part, Hermione hiding her face in her hands as she recognize how insensitive she sounded. Even if she didn't believe in Divination she could recognize now that back then had not been the moment to try and prove she was right.
Parvati glared at her.
Leon moved closer to Harry and whispered in his ear "What's going on?"
"Trelawney and her predictions" Harry answered, he heard Leon snort but he stayed quiet
"Well, look at it logically," said Hermione, turning to the rest of the group. "I mean, Binky didn't even die today, did he? Lavender just got the news today —" Lavender wailed loudly. "– and she can't have been dreading it, because it's come as a real shock —"
"Don't mind Hermione, Lavender," said Ron loudly, "she doesn't think other people's pets matter very much."
"You're both tactless prats aren't you?" Adhara said amused, looking at the two friends who were now both hiding their faces. "How have you not been challenged to more duels?"
"Because duels are forbidden." Lupin raised an eyebrow at the twins.
"And dangerous!" Mrs Weasley added, looking at the four who made their best angel faces.
"Please tell me you've been in duels, that sounds so amazing." Romulus whispered in awe, looking at the twins and then at his little brother.
"Is it just me or is World War Three beginning" Leon said sighing
"Sorry mate, it's not just you" Harry patted his shoulder
Professor McGonagall opened the classroom door at that moment, which was perhaps lucky; Hermione and Ron were looking daggers at each other, and when they got into class, they seated themselves on either side of Harry and Leon and didn't talk to each other for the whole class.
"It's simply awful when you two fight." Harry sighed, leaning back on the couch.
"Mostly because you're not shy about it, it's very awkward." Leon added.
Harry still hadn't decided what he was going to say to Professor McGonagall when the bell rang at the end of the lesson, but it was she who brought up the subject of Hogsmeade first.
"One moment, please!" she called as the class made to leave. "As you're all in my House, you should hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting the village, so don't forget!"
Neville put up his hand.
"Please, Professor, I — I think I've lost —"
"Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom," said Professor McGonagall. "She seemed to think it was safer. Well, that's all, you may leave."
"Poor Neville, it sounds like he has his mother's memory problems," Lily chuckled, "Alice was always very smart but always forgot about her homework or where she put her stuff."
"Ask her now," Ron hissed at Harry.
"Oh. But —" Hermione began.
"Go for it, Harry," said Ron stubbornly, Leon rolled his eyes and ignored the three of them, putting his things away.
"You knew it wasn't going to work, didn't you?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Oh yeah, absolutely. Why would McGonagall agree?" Leon pointed out, "I actually agree with the twins, he would have better luck forgi…." He stopped as he saw the look Mrs Weasley was giving him. "Obeying the rules and not going?"
"You're so dead when we get to you sneaking out." Ron whispered to Harry, trying not to laugh.
Harry waited for the rest of the class to disappear, and then headed nervously for Professor McGonagall's desk.
"Yes, Potter?" Harry took a deep breath.
"Professor, my aunt and uncle — err — forgot to sign my form," he said.
Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles at him but didn't say anything.
"So — err — d'you think it would be all right mean, will It be okay if I — if I go to Hogsmeade?"
Professor McGonagall looked down and began shuffling papers on her desk.
"I'm afraid not, Potter," she said. "You heard what I said. No form, no visiting the village. That's the rule."
"But — Professor, my aunt and uncle — you know, they're Muggles, they don't really understand about — about Hogwarts forms and stuff," Harry said, while Ron egged him on with vigorous nods. "If you said I could go —"
"But I don't say so," said Professor McGonagall, standing up and piling her papers neatly into a drawer. "The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission." She turned to look at him, with an odd expression on her face. Was it pity?
"She probably feels genuinely sorry you can't go." James tells him with a sigh.
"There's always next year, I'm sure you'll be able to go then." Lily tried to comfort her son, who tried to look anywhere but at her.
"I'm sorry, Potter, but that's my final word. You had better hurry, or you'll be late for your next lesson."
There was nothing to be done. Ron called Professor McGonagall a lot of names that greatly annoyed Hermione and Leon; Hermione assumed an 'all-for-the-best' expression that made Ron even angrier, and Harry had to endure everyone in the class talking loudly and happily about what they were going to do first, once they got into Hogsmeade.
"That's awful." Teddy frowned. "I remember third year, no one in my year stayed behind."
"Same with us." Sirius nodded.
"And everyone talks about it for weeks afterward as well." Fred points out, shaking his head before winking at Harry. "It's why it's so hard to stay away."
"There's always the feast," said Ron, in an effort to cheer Harry up. "You know, the Halloween feast, in the evening."
"Yeah," said Harry gloomily, "great."
The Halloween feast was always good, but it would taste a lot better if he was coming to it after a day in Hogsmeade with everyone else. Nothing anyone said made him feel any better about being left behind. Dean Thomas, who was good with a quill, had offered to forge Uncle Vernon's signature on the form, but as Harry had already told Professor McGonagall he hadn't had it signed, that was no good.
"See? What did I say?" Adhara grinned, not withering at the look given by the three adults in the room, Lupin definitely was trying not to look amused.
Ron half-heartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak, but Hermione stamped on that one, reminding Ron what Dumbledore had told them about the Dementors being able to see through them.
Percy had what were possibly the least helpful words of comfort.
"They make a fuss about Hogsmeade, but I assure you, Harry, it's not all it's cracked up to be," he said seriously. "All right, the sweetshop's rather good, but Zonko's Joke Shop's frankly dangerous, and yes, the Shrieking Shack's always worth a visit, but really, Harry, apart from that, you're not missing anything."
"That has to be the worst attempt at cheering someone up I've ever heard Perce." Charlie snickered and turned to his brother who had turned red.
"I was trying to help, everyone was talking about how great Hogsmeade was so I thought saying something negative would be good." Percy attempted to defend himself, though hearing himself like that definitely made him change his mind.
"It's fine, I appreciated that you tried anyway." Harry told him, as unhelpful as it had been at least it was good that people kept trying to cheer him up.
All together Harry was feeling more and more depressed by the minute until Leon came up to him in the middle of the day in the common room, sitting in front of him unceremoniously.
"I have something that may, or may not cheer you up" he said getting comfortable in the chair "either way it'll get you mind off of Hogsmeade"
"What is it?" Harry asked
"I can't tell you, I have to show you" Leon said, smirking at him before standing up "it's your call; you can stay here feeling miserable, or come with me"
"Again with the mystery." Charlie points out with a grin.
"Well I couldn't tell him in the middle of the common room. If Hermione or Ron heard me I'd never hear the end of it." Leon points out.
Leon started walking and got out of the common rooms without waiting to check if he was being followed, Harry sighed but eventually decided he had nothing to lose and was genuinely curious over what Leon could have to show him. He followed him into a room without any idea where they were, he tried asking Leon but he only smiled and told him not to worry as he opened the door and told him to go inside.
Harry turned to look at him before stepping in, the inside of the room looked like a bedroom with a bed and couch by the corner, but on the floor there were a lot of toys and trays of food.
"Leon, what is this?" Harry asked looking around the room, but instead of answering Leon gave a loud whistle and before Harry could ask again a big black blur appeared from under the bed and jumped on his friend.
"Oh you introduced him to your dog. That's actually nice." Charlie nodded with a grin.
"Oi, what's that supposed to mean? I'm the nice one!" Leon complained, gasping when all three of his friends snorted, as well as his sisters.
"You are most definitely not the nice one, Harry is the nice one." Ron points to the boy in question.
"Children please, let's just continue please." Mr Weasley sighed.
"Hello there boy, did you miss me?" he laughed when the dog licked his face
"That…that's a..." Harry didn't say what he was thinking, it couldn't be a Grim, and Leo wouldn't be so friendly with an omen of death even as crazy as he was.
"Again, what's that supposed to…" Leon complained.
"Norbert." Harry interrupted, staring at Leo right in the eye, holding eye contact for a moment as Leon started to blush before he looked away and pouted.
"Point taken."
"A stray I found some time ago," Leon said smiling while petting the dog " I named him snuffles"
"When did you find him," Harry asked amazed, walking closer to them and sitting down next to him.
"Hmm a little while after our first Defence class" he answered still smiling, Harry looked at him blankly
"You've been hiding him all this time" Leon nodded
"Pretty much yeah," Leon said, then when he saw Harry was about to say something he said hurriedly "but, you know, I didn't tell you because I thought it would cause trouble, you know with Ron being a superstitious prick, and Hermione scoffing at him all the time, and what with her having a cat that's trying to eat Scabbers, I thought it better not to add a dog to that whole problem"
"That would quickly turn into a cartoon." Lily points out amused.
"Add a terrified teen to the mix and I would love to watch that." Romulus points out as well, grinning at Lily and giving her a high-five.
"I guess you're right" Harry sighed even if he wasn't completely happy with the answer and smiled at the dog who was licking Leon's face, looking almost as if trying to console him.
Harry hesitated for a moment before he extended a hand and began petting it, the dog looked at him and barked happily.
"He's very smart, sometimes it feels as if he understands you know" Leon said smiling sadly "when I found him, he looked starved, even skinner than he is now, absolutely awful."
Harry looked at the dog then, it was still very skinny and Harry couldn't imagine it being any skinnier but knowing it must have been really bad and of course he knew that after seeing such a pitiful sight Leon wouldn't have been able to turn away.
He looked up from the dog to Leon who still had a sad smile on his face, Harry couldn't help but notice how pale he looked…how sick he seemed.
"Cheers mate."
"Sorry Leo."
"You should go to Madam Pomfrey, you looked like you could use a Pepper up." Harry said before he could stop himself
"I reckon I must look awful," Leon sighed "that's part of why I brought you here, you know how sick I get sometimes, and I'm going to need someone to care for Snuffles if I can't, and honestly? I can't think of a better person to do it"
"Alright, yeah sure, I'll take care of Snuffles, you take care of yourself" Leon beamed at Harry and the dog barked before licking Harry's face. Idly Harry wondered just what exactly he was agreeing to.
"You agreed to taking care of Snuffles Harry, weren't you paying attention?" George asked amused.
"You're a good friend Harry." Lily tells him with a smile as Harry blushed.
"Absolutely." Leon agreed.
On Halloween, Harry awoke with the rest and went down to breakfast, feeling thoroughly depressed, though doing his best to act normally.
"We'll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes," said Hermione, looking desperately sorry for him.
"Yeah, loads," said Ron. He and Hermione had finally forgotten their squabble about Crookshanks in the face of Harry's difficulties.
"And you two as well." James added, smiling at the four friends and feeling incredibly thankful that his son had such great friends in his life. Just like the Marauders were for him.
"Don't worry about me," said Harry, in what he hoped was at, offhand voice, "I'll see you at the feast. Have a good time."
"We'll see you later mate, you can take care of Snuffles while we're gone" said Leon clapping him in the shoulder, whispering the last part with a wink.
He accompanied them to the entrance hall, where Filch, the caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no one was sneaking out who shouldn't be going.
"Staying here, Potter?" shouted Malfoy, who was standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle. "Scared of passing the Dementors?"
"What a bloody prick." Bill huffed, shaking his head. "What does he eve get out of bothering you?"
"Nothing, his life is just that sad." Ron rolled his eyes, looking angrily at the book.
Harry ignored him and made his solitary way up the marble staircase, through the deserted corridors, and back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Password?" said the Fat Lady, jerking out of a doze.
"Fortuna Major," said Harry listlessly.
The portrait swung open and he climbed through the hole into the common room. It was full of chattering first-and second-years, and a few older students, who had obviously visited Hogsmeade so often the novelty had worn off.
"Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry!"
It was Colin Creevey, a second year who was deeply in awe of Harry and never missed an opportunity to speak to him.
"Aww, you got a little admirer." Sirius teased with a grin, glancing at Harry.
"A tiny little nuisance." Ron said with a grimace, he had been in far too many of Colin's photos to really like the boy.
"Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey —" Colin looked eagerly around at his friends — "you can come and sit with us, if you like, Harry!"
"Err — no, thanks, Colin," said Harry, who wasn't in the mood to have a lot of people staring avidly at the scar on his forehead. "I — I've got to go to the library, got to get some work done."
"Well at least he's nice." Lily points out, though her heart wasn't in it.
"Pretty sure he's got a crush on Harry." Leon said thoughtfully.
"He definitely has a crush on Harry." Ginny agreed.
After that, he had no choice but to turn right around and head back out of the portrait hole again.
"What was the point of waking me up?" the Fat Lady called grumpily after him as he walked away.
Harry wandered dispiritedly toward the library, but halfway there he changed his mind; he didn't feel like working. He turned around and came face-to-face with Filch, who had obviously just seen off the last of the Hogsmeade visitors.
"What are you doing?" Filch snarled suspiciously.
"Nothing," said Harry truthfully.
"Nothing!" spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. "A likely story! Sneaking around on your own — why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?"
Harry shrugged.
"That's rude, you're not usually one for mischief." Hermione frowned, especially at the looks on Ron's, Harry's and Leon's faces.
"He's just paranoid," Zania shrugged, "He's always telling us the same thing."
"Yes, it's a wonder why anyone would doubt your good intentions." Bill said with a smile, laughing lightly at Zania's nod.
"Well, get back to your common room where you belong!" snapped Filch, and he stood glaring until Harry had passed out of sight.
But Harry didn't go back to the common room; he climbed a staircase, thinking vaguely of visiting the Owlery to see Hedwig, or maybe go to visit Snuffles, and was walking along another corridor when a voice from inside one of
the rooms said, "Harry?"
Harry doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door.
"Moony to the rescue!" Sirius and James cheered, much to the amusement of everyone in the room.
"What are you doing?" said Lupin, though in a very different voice from Filch. "Where are Ron and Hermione?"
"Aren't you a teacher? Teachers are supposed to know about Hogsmeade weekends right?" James asked his friend with a raised brow.
"I didn't keep track of Hogsmeade weekends at first." Lupin explained, not mention how he had focused more on the anniversary of his friend's death and the full moon to really pay attention to that.
"Hogsmeade," said Harry, in a would-be casual voice.
"Ah," said Lupin. He considered Harry for a moment. "Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson."
"A what?" said Harry.
He followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers.
"Water demon," said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle."
The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner.
"Sneaky, giving him the answers to the lesson Professor Lupin?" Romulus asked with a grin.
"Using an opportunity to teach, it's different." Lupin defended himself, glancing at Harry with a gentle smile.
"Cup of tea?" Lupin said, looking around for his kettle. "I was just thinking of making one."
"Yeah, all right," said Harry awkwardly.
"Come on Har, you spent a summer with the man." George grinned, looking at him.
"No need to be so awkward!" Fred continued.
"He's still a teacher though," Ron says, pointing at the man in question, "That's different than staying at a friend's house for the summer."
"Can we stop discussing how Awkward I am?" Harry asked, glaring at the three Weasley brothers.
Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.
"Sit down," said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. "I've only got teabags, I'm afraid — but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?"
Harry looked at him. Lupin's eyes were twinkling.
"How did you know about that?" Harry asked.
"He knows everything." Zania said
"He has his way." Adhara agreed with a grin.
"I mean he probably asked the other teachers? I doubt this is some secret only the students know." Percy interrupted, looking at the twins with a raised eyebrow as they pouted.
"You just have to take the fun out of everything don't you Perce?" Adhara sighed.
"Professor McGonagall told me," said Lupin, passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. "You're not worried, are you?"
"No," said Harry.
He thought for a moment of telling Lupin about the dog he'd seen in Magnolia Crescent but decided not to. He didn't want Lupin to think he was a coward, especially since Lupin already seemed to think he couldn't cope with a Boggart.
Something of Harry's thoughts seemed to have shown on his face, because Lupin said, "Anything worrying you, Harry?"
"No," Harry lied.
"Oh no, that's not going to work, Moony is always able to tell when you're lying." Sirius points out, patting the young Remus in the back.
"Seven years with you lot trained me, and I have no doubt they helped." Remus said, pointing at the twins and Leon.
"I'm an innocent bystander in all of this!" Leon complained.
"Snuffles?" Harry asked unimpressed, grinning when Leon blushed and whispered 'That's fair'.
He drank a bit of tea and watched the Grindylow brandishing a fist at him. "Yes," he said suddenly, putting his tea down on Lupin's desk. "You know that day we fought the Boggart?"
"Yes," said Lupin slowly.
"Why didn't you let me fight it?" said Harry abruptly.
Lupin raised his eyebrows.
"I would have thought that was obvious, Harry," he said, sounding surprised.
Harry, who had expected Lupin to deny that he'd done any such thing, was taken aback.
"I wouldn't lie to you, specially over something like that," Lupin said lightly, turning to Harry, "honesty is often the best approach, no matter to whom you're speaking."
"Why?" he said again.
"Well," said Lupin, frowning slightly, "I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort."
Harry stared. Not only was this the last answer he'd expected but Lupin had said Voldemort's name. The only person Harry had ever heard say the name aloud (apart from himself) was Professor Dumbledore.
"That's ridiculous, turning a name into a taboo. People really don't say Voldemort's name?" Romulus asked, looking around the room. "I mean people say Hitler's name and he sounds like he'd be friends with this guy."
"Wizards can be rather superstitious, even Muggleborns are taught not to say his name." Hermione explained, "I didn't get it at first but if I said his name people looked shocked or scared so I just…stopped."
"Dumbledore once said that fear of a name increases fear of a thing itself." Harry nodded, not seeing the pained smiles on his mother and father's face.
"Clearly, I was wrong," said Lupin, still frowning at Harry. "But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic."
"I didn't think of Voldemort," said Harry honestly. "I — I remembered those Dementors."
"I see," said Lupin thoughtfully. "Well, well… I'm impressed." He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry's face. "That suggests that what you fear most of all is — fear. Very wise, Harry."
"Definitely got that from Lily." Sirius said, glancing at James and Lily with a smirk.
"Absolutely." James agreed, putting an arm around Lily and not even looking upset at Sirius teasing.
Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he drank some more tea.
"So you've been thinking that I didn't believe you capable of fighting the Boggart?" said Lupin shrewdly.
"Well… yeah," said Harry. He was suddenly feeling a lot happier. It was in that moment that Zania came through the door, not bothering with knocking as she made her way inside. Like an animal."
"Fred! It doesn't say that." Adhara pouted, hitting the boy's shoulders.
"Are you sure? That sounds about right." Ginny chimed in, laughing at the betrayed look on Zania's face.
"I trusted you!"
"Children! Behave, we all want to finish this chapter today." Mrs Weasley said, looking at the kids as though daring them to speak up and nodding once they all shut up.
"Oh, hey there Harry, what are you doing here?" she asked sitting down next to him, leaning forward against the table.
"Can't go to Hogsmeade, don't have the permission slip," Harry shrugged "why are you here?"
"Didn't fancy going out tonight," she shrugged and turned to look at Lupin with a smile, "so…you made tea?"
"Yes I did, would you like some?" Lupin asked amused, preparing a cup when Zania nodded.
"Shame it's not chocolate, I sure could use some." Zania sighed and took the cup that Professor Lupin was offering, thanking him lightly.
"I'll have one ready next time then." He said with a chuckle, reminding Harry of Leon something fiercely, and drank some of his tea
"Yeah, you better" she answered before turning to Harry
"I'm surprised you don't have chocolate ready to go," Sirius hummed, "you and Peter were always the ones with the bigger sweet tooth."
"I still am, not as much perhaps but I definitely am." Lupin answered.
"So Harry, what do you say about joining my sister, Gred, Forge and me in a little Halloween prank"
"Do it, do it." Sirius and James cheered.
"Oh don't." Lily begged.
"Lils, you should have been prepared for that when you married James." Remus joked with a light smile.
"You know, most people wouldn't invite a fellow student to participate in a prank right in front of a teacher," Professor Lupin said lightly though his eyes were twinkling "or even mention mischief come to think of it."
"Oh, but Harry here need some fun" Zania answered "and you don't really count; or what? Are you going to give detention?"
"I should," Lupin said flatly, "but, I can't exactly give you detention for something you haven't done."
"That's the spirit," Zania laughed, "so? What do you say Har? Wanna help?"
"Of course he won't give you detention, once a prankster always a prankster." Sirius smirked over at Remus, who was trying very hard not to smirk.
"Yeah sure, not like I have something better to do" Harry shrugged but before he could continue to ask just what she was planning he was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," called Lupin.
The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing.
"Ah, Severus," said Lupin, smiling. "Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?"
Snape set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between Harry, Zania and Lupin.
"Ugh do we really need to hear about this git?" Sirius complained.
"I was just having a little chat with this two," said Lupin pleasantly
"Yes of course," said Snape, without looking at them, merely focusing on Lupin now. "You should drink that directly, Lupin."
"Yes, Yes, I will," said Lupin.
"I made an entire cauldronful," Snape continued. "If you need more."
"Ah yes, I should probably have some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus."
"Not at all," said Snape, but there was a look in his eye Harry didn't like. "And when you see your son tell him to come see me, his is done as well"
"Of course, I'll remind Leon as soon as he comes back, thank you" Lupin answered, Snape then backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful.
"What in Merlin's name was that?" Romulus frowned, "Why is a man like that a teacher? Why is he so suspicious?"
"There's nothing nearly as suspicious as the book makes it seem, I promise." Lupin tells him gently, nodding at Fred to continue before anyone could ask anything else.
Harry looked curiously at the goblet. Lupin smiled.
"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me," he said. "I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex." He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. "Pity sugar makes it useless," he added, taking a sip and shuddering.
"Yeah, doesn't seem pleasant at all" Zania said looking at the goblet.
"Why —?" Harry began. Lupin looked at him and answered the unfinished question.
"I've been feeling a bit off-colour," he said. "This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it."
"Leon has been feeling ill too?" Harry asked
"Yes, I'm afraid we really are a lot alike and not only in looks I suppose" Lupin sighed sadly before taking another sip and Harry had a crazy urge to knock the goblet out of his hands.
"You dramatic prick." Leon laughed amused, shaking his head at Harry's embarrassed face.
"And that's James, he's always been rather protective of people he likes." Lily said softly, glancing at her son fondly.
"Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts," he blurted out before thinking.
"Subtle." Bill laughs.
"Really?" said Lupin, looking only mildly interested as he took another gulp of potion, Zania snorted but Harry ignored her.
"Some people reckon —" Harry hesitated, then plunged recklessly on, "some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defence against the Dark Arts job."
Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face.
"Disgusting," he said. "Well, Harry, Zania, I'd better get back to work. See you at the feast later."
"Right," said Harry, putting down his empty teacup, when they left he empty goblet was still smoking.
"Why is it so ominous!" Romulus cried, looking at his little brother worryingly.
Outside Zania put a hand on his shoulder, getting his attention on her.
"Don't worry about it, okay? Forget about the goblet, it's only a potion like a Pepper up but stronger," Harry nodded but he could still feel apprehensive, Zania smiled "now come along, I'm going to need your help. You're keeping watch so you won't get in trouble."
"Again, very subtle." Bill raised an eyebrow at Zania. "Better than Harry but still pretty obvious."
He did stay with Zania for a little but when Adhara came back an hour later he excused himself, he wasn't sure he wanted to be part of this prank, not with the twinkle of mischief in their eyes that promised a lot of trouble for everyone; so he went upstairs to spend some time with Snuffles, taking some of the food that Adhara offered him with a heartfelt thanks before going to the same room he had gone with Leon the previous day. He was attacked by Snuffles the moment he passed through the door, falling on his ass as the dog sniffed and nuzzled at his neck.
It was a while before he could urge the dog to move away, giving him the bits of steak he got from Addie and sitting down to relax until it was time to go to the feast.
"Finally the feast!" James grinned. "Hallowe'en's feast is always awesome."
"There you go," said Ron. "We got as much as we could carry."
A shower of brilliantly coloured sweets fell into Harry's lap. It was dusk, and Ron, Leon and Hermione had just turned up in the common room, pink-faced from the cold wind and looking as though they'd had the time of their lives.
"Thanks," said Harry, picking up a packet of tiny black Pepper Imps. "What's Hogsmeade like? Where did you go?"
By the sound of it — everywhere. Dervish and Banges, the wizarding equipment shop, Zonko's Joke Shop, into the Three Broomsticks for foaming mugs of hot butterbeer, and many places besides.
"Hogsmeade really is quite amazing, there's not many purely wizardly towns in Britain." Lily explained with a smile. "I remember my first visit almost as well as I remember my first time in Diagon Alley."
"Everyone does, they're great experiences even if you're born into the magical world." Sirius agreed easily enough.
"Hopefully you'll get to see it soon Harry." Lily smiled at him sadly, though she looked curious at Harry trying to avoid her gaze as he nodded.
"Yeah, hopefully." He mumbled.
"The post office, Harry! About two hundred owls, all sitting on shelves, all color-coded depending on how fast you want your letter to get there!"
"Honeydukes has got a new kind of fudge; they were giving out free samples, there's a bit, look —"
"We think we saw an ogre, honestly, they get all sorts at the Three Broomsticks —"
"Wish we could have brought you some butterbeer, really warms you up —"
"Those are two very different conversations happening at once." Mr Weasley chuckled, knowing very well which one was his son talking.
"What did you do?" said Hermione, looking anxious. "Did you get any work done?"
"No," said Harry. "Lupin made me a cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came in…"
He told them all about the goblet. Ron's mouth fell open.
"Lupin drank it?" he gasped. "Is he mad?"
"I assure you, I'm not." Lupin said with a smile.
"Well…" Sirius and James started, laughing as the younger Remus slapped them both upside the head.
"Relax, it's not poison" Leon said, rolling his eyes before smiling at Harry "but thanks for mentioning it, I had forgotten about all about it, I'll have to go meet Professor Snape later."
Hermione checked her watch. "We'd better go down, you know, the feast will be starting in five minutes." They hurried through the portrait hole and into the crowd, still discussing Snape.
"But if he — you know —" Hermione dropped her voice, glancing nervously around, "if he was trying to — to poison Lupin — he wouldn't have done it in front of Harry and Zania."
"Or under Dumbledore's nose?" Bill points out, even if he hated Snape as much as the others he could still admit it was very unlikely that Snape would attempt to murder someone in the school.
"Yeah, maybe," said Harry as they reached the entrance hall and crossed into the Great Hall. It had been decorated with hundreds and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins, a cloud of fluttering live bats, and many flaming orange streamers, which were swimming lazily across the stormy ceiling like brilliant water snakes.
The food was delicious; even Hermione and Ron, who were full to bursting with Honeydukes sweets, managed second helpings of everything, and Leon who didn't normally eat that much had managed a second and even third serving.
Harry kept glancing at the staff table. Professor Lupin looked cheerful and as well as he ever did; he was talking animatedly to tiny little Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Harry moved his eyes along the table, to the place where Snape sat. Was he imagining it, or were Snape's eyes flickering toward Lupin more often than was natural?
"You're incredibly paranoid." Teddy hummed thoughtfully, remembering the Harry in his time that had never quite shaken the habit of always looking around every corner twice.
"Aren't you a little too distrustful of Snape? I mean the guy looks like an arsehole but he doesn't seem like a cartoon villain." Romulus said, looking at Harry with a raised brow.
The feast finished with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts. They popped out of the walls and tables to do a bit of formation gliding; Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had a great success with a re-enactment of his own botched beheading.
It had been such a pleasant evening that Harry's good mood couldn't even be spoiled by Malfoy, who shouted through the crowd as they all left the hall, "The Dementors send their love, Potter!"
"Oh that child needs some good discipline." Mrs Weasley frowned, none of her children would ever dare make fun of another person over something as heinous as a Dementor. Not even her twins, she was certain of it.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed the rest of the Gryffindors though Leon left to talk with Professor Snape, telling them that he would be back in a few minutes, but when they reached the corridor that ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students.
"Why isn't anyone going in?" said Ron curiously.
Harry peered over the heads in front of him. The portrait seemed to be closed.
"Let me through, please," came Percy's voice, and he came bustling importantly through the crowd. "What's the holdup here? You can't all have forgotten the password — excuse me, I'm Head Boy —"
"Of course not all of them forgot the password, you should assume something is wrong instead of assuming someone made a mistake." James points out, turning to Percy who was trying very hard not to look at the man.
"It's not unusual for people to make a mess in the halls during Halloween, I had no idea…" Percy tried to justify, though he didn't seem to be able to finish the sentence as he remembered what had actually happened.
And then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor. They heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, "Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick."
"Better reaction." Bill nodded approvingly, though everyone that hadn't been in Hogwarts back then were starting to look very worried.
People's heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe.
"What's going on?" said Ginny, who had just arrived.
A moment later, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping toward the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione moved closer to see what the trouble was.
"Oh, my —" Hermione grabbed Harry's arm.
The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait, which had been slashed so viciously that strips of canvas littered the floor; great chunks of it had been torn away completely.
"Oh no." Lily gasped, covering her mouth. "What happened to her?"
"A very dramatic dog." Leon whispered to Harry, smiling at the quiet snort.
Dumbledore took one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes sombre, to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin, and Snape hurrying toward him. Leon came up to Harry, Ron and Hermione, looking at the portrait of the Fat Lady with wide eyes.
"We need to find her," said Dumbledore. "Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."
"You'll be lucky!" said a cackling voice.
"Oh now's not the time you absolute menace." Sirius growled, worried about the Fat Lady's fate and Harry's own. As much as he liked Peeves on the day to day there was no denying the poltergeist was terrible to have around in an emergency.
It was Peeves the Poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage or worry.
"What do you mean, Peeves?" said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves' grin faded a little. He didn't dare taunt Dumbledore. Instead he adopted an oily voice that was no better than his cackle. "Ashamed, Your Headship, sir. Doesn't want to be seen. She's a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful," he said happily. "Poor thing." he added unconvincingly.
"That foul creature, how can he not take this seriously!" said Mrs Weasley with a glare towards the book.
"Did she say who did it?" said Dumbledore quietly.
"Oh yes, Professorhead," said Peeves, with the air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." Peeves flipped over and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."
Everyone present gasped looking at Peeves unbelieving.
The room grew silent as the last sentence seemed to sink in. The Marauders from the past and Lily were staring at Sirius while the man grew stone-faced. They had been told Sirius was innocent sure, but why would he do that if he was nothing more than an innocent victim in the whole affair. More and more he began to doubt how true that could be but before he could spiral too far into his self-loathing he felt a hand entwining with his.
Looking up at Remus quickly while Teddy cleared his throat.
"Well, that was it for the chapter. Maybe we should all take a break and grab a bite?" The time-traveller asked, looking around as slowly people began to move from their seats awkwardly.
The two boys from the future stared as the others filed into the kitchen or started whispering amongst themselves, Teddy worrying over what to do when he felt Remmy nudge him gently.
"I have an idea." He whispered, taking out from his bag a small blue crystal ball, which seemed to be encasing an old clock. "We might need to bring in someone else. To help in the more difficult chapters and…"
"And? You're planning something." Teddy frowned, not liking the look on his friend's eye.
"We can't change things if we don't involve more players, important players." Remmy whispers as he holds onto the crystal ball, watching it glow as his magic intermingled with it. "And I know just who to invite…"
Another Chapter down and the next is a break one, so tell me what you guys think. What would you like to see in the future? And who else would you like to see? I got a fair idea on who to bring but I'd love your suggestions.
I'll try to keep posting once every fortnight or so, hopefully during christmas break I'll have more time to write but for now I hope you enjoy!