Raylynx's POV

It was about a week later, and I'd just finished teaching my seventh years a particularly tricky Runic translation. The Runes were mixed with a cross-locking code and based off of Egyptian hieroglyphs, which had been more sophisticated than it's Anglo-Saxon counterpart at the time. The hypothetical I posed to the class was based on a real curse that Bill Weasley had once had to break at an Egyptian tomb. He'd told me about it when I went and visited the Weasleys over the summer.

As I sat at my desk and switched out my seventh year notes for my third year notes, I noticed a quick flash of movement at my doorway. I kept my door open between classes, in case any students wanted to come in to talk to me. But this time, it was Remus who was carefully poking his head into my classroom to make sure he wasn't disrupting me. Upon seeing that I had a free period and that I was alone, he walked up to me. I looked at him a bit suspiciously, as there seemed to be an extra, unusual bounce in his step today. It reminded me of how he used to walk around after pulling off a prank with the other Marauders.

"I wanted to thank you for capturing that boggart," Remus said to me as he approached me. "My third years made good use of it."

"Oh, good," I said, and smiled at him. "I'm glad to hear your lesson went well."

"It went quite well," Remus replied. "In fact, er- something a bit… spectacular happened in class today."

I put down the paper I'd been holding in my hand and looked up at Remus. "Something spectacular?"

"Yes. You see, I had Neville come up and help me," Remus explained. "I remember you said it'd be good to cheer him up somehow, so I asked him to help me out with the boggart first. And his boggart, Raylynx, is Professor Snape."

"Is it?"

Remus nodded. "And I'm here to report that Neville was excellent and performed a very effective Riddikulus charm."

I raised my eyebrow at Remus. "Effective?" I repeated, unsure of what that meant in this context.

"Neville's Riddikulus Charm forced Snape into his grandmother's clothes."

As I knew Augusta Longbottom and could picture her trademark outfit perfectly in my mind, this piece of news brought me great delight. When I finally caught my breath, I had to wipe tears from the corners of my eyes. "Ah, it's a shame I missed it," I said regretfully. "I really would've paid a good deal of gold to see it in the flesh."

Remus wouldn't outright laugh the way that I did, but the sheer amusement sparkling devilishly in his eyes told me all that I needed to know.

"But wait a moment," I said, raising my eyebrow at Remus. "That's a very creative, clever response to a boggart. I wonder who could have suggested it, especially if Neville was the first student to have a go."

"Er, I may have… I may have nudged him in a particular direction," Remus said sheepishly. "But in my defense, it wasn't our of any particular desire to see Snape in such… such a state."

I bit my lower lip and shook my head as a wide smile spread on my face. "Always the mastermind, never the culprit," I teased him. He grinned a bit guiltily at me.

During my next class, which was, incidentally, with the third years, I ended the class by teaching them the Ancient Rune for "Vulture" (literally in Runes "Corpse - Bird") and as I passed by the students' desks to check their work, I gave Neville the slightest wink.


September faded to October. I spent many evenings in the Gryffindor common room, keeping Hermione company as she desperately tried to keep up with her studies. I started to become worried for her. She, like me, wasn't sleeping much.

I called her over once after Ancient Runes class. "Hermione, you know you're one of my brightest students," I told her.

She flushed and clutched her textbook to her chest.

"But are you doing all right with your class schedule? Professor McGonagall told me about your special circumstances," I said. McGonagall hadn't and I was sure I was going to have to pay dearly for this little lie if McGonagall ever found out I knew, but that wasn't important right now. I was seriously worried about Hermione. "At a certain point, it's not about intelligence or capability, it's simply about time and health. And you still need to sleep and eat to study, Hermione."

"So, even though you're such a great student, if you need to drop a class, you don't have to feel bad if it's Ancient Runes," I told her. "I promise I won't think less of you in any way-"

"Oh, no, Professor," Hermione said quickly, shaking her head so that her bushy hair went back and forth across her shoulders. "I would never drop Ancient Runes. And I'm - I'm doing all right."

"Very well," I said. "Well, off you go then. I'm sure you have enough challenges with getting to all of your classes without me adding to them."

Hermione flashed me a smile and raced off to Potions.


Hermione worked late into the evenings. Ron would often join her, though he was rarely as focused in his studies. He chatted with a lot of people who filtered in through the common room, sometimes jotting down notes or flipping through his books mid-conversation. Harry would often come in very late in the evening, with the rest of the Quidditch team. They would all be spattered with mud, but in high spirits.

One evening, Harry returned to the common room to find the room buzzing with excitement. "What's happened?" he asked Ron and Hermione, who were sitting in two of the best chairs by the fireside and completing star charts for Astronomy.

Ron pointed at the bulletin board and said, "First Hogsmeade weekend. End of October. Halloween."

"Excellent," Fred said. He and George had come in with Harry, as they had retained their positions as Beaters on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. "I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets."

I, in my Crookshanks form, was nearby. Hearing this, I wondered why on earth Fred was using Stink Pellets at school and in what manner he was acting that he was going through them so quickly. But only the small human part of my mind pondered that. My cat self was focused with all its being on the spider in front of me. I tensed. Wait for it. Wait… Now! I pounced and caught the spider between my front paws. I quickly caught it in my jaws before it could run away.

Behind me, the conversation continued as Harry sat beside Ron and Hermione.

"Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," Hermione said soothingly. "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 sharply. "Harry's supposed to stay in school —"

"He can't be the only third year left behind," Ron protested, indignant on Harry's behalf. "Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry —"

"Yeah, I think I will," Harry replied.

I paused. Just two days ago, I'd discussed giving permission to Harry to visit Hogsmeade with Professor McGonagall and Remus.

Remus and I had been assigned for guard duty and we had had to report to McGonagall afterwards. After we reported the all clear, I brought up the matter. "Professor," I said, addressing McGonagall, "you realize that I could sign Harry's Hogsmeade form for him. I'm his legal guardian, even if he doesn't know it."

McGonagall gave me a long look. Then, she said, "I think it would be in Potter's best interest to stay within the school grounds. I recognize that it is an unfortunate limitation, but both Professor Dumbledore and I have determined that it will keep Potter safe."

I sighed. Remus looked at me, expecting me to put up a fight, but I simply nodded. I did, however, take the opportunity to tease McGonagall. I looked at her and suggested, "Are you telling me that believe in certain death in tea leaves after all, Professor?"

Annoyed, McGonagall waved her hand at me, as if to shoo me away.

"What's this about certain death in tea leaves?" Remus asked mildly, as though we were discussing the weather.

Professor McGonagall told Remus about what had happened in Trelawney's first class, with Trelawney marking Harry out to die in the near future, and how Trelawney loved to perform this little tradition at the start of every year.

After that short meeting, Remus and I left McGonagall's office together. Remus glanced over at me and said, "I expected you to protest when McGonagall refused you."

"Don't get me wrong. I want to," I admitted. "But even though I would bet my life that Sirius is innocent, I can't bet Harry's. I don't have that right. That's not why Lily and James made me godmother."

Remus accepted my response with a nod. We both fell silent and went our separate ways to our respective offices.

With the spider dead in my mouth, I leapt lightly onto Hermione's lap.

Ron scowled. "Does she have to eat that in front of us?"

"Clever Crookshanks," Hermione crooned, "did you catch that all by yourself?"

I slowly chewed up the spider. I tried to make eye contact with Ron, but he turned away irritably and said, "Just keep Crookshanks over there, that's all. I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag."

My ears twitched. His rat is in his bag? My paws suddenly became itchy, as though they needed a jump.

Don't do it. C'mon now, I told myself. This is Ron's pet.

But I want to catch that rat. I need to catch that rat.

Why?

I'll know once I've caught him.

I pounced.

"Oy!" Ron roared. I had sunk my claws into his school bag and was tearing ferociously to get to the rat.

"Get off, you stupid animal!" Ron shouted, seizing his bag and shaking it fiercely.

"Ron, don't hurt her!" Hermione yelled.

Ron whirled the bag around. I now was clinging onto it just to hold on. But then, I saw a small figure fly out from the top of the bag. I immediately let go and twisted in mid-air towards the rat.

"Catch that cat!" Ron growled, as I sprang over the table and chased after Scabbers.

George, who was nearby, made a lunge for me, but I streaked by him. He did, however, slow me down, and Scabbers managed to streak under an old chest of drawers. I skidded unceremoniously to a halt and then made furious swipes with my paw at the small gap between the bottom of the chest of drawers and the floor. Suddenly, I felt a pair of rather frail, if not frantic, arms around my middle as Hermione heaved me away. Ron was on his stomach and he managed to fish Scabbers out from under the drawers.

"Look at him!" Ron said indignantly to Hermione, holding up Scabbers. I squirmed in Hermione's arms.

"He's skin and bone!" Ron said. "You keep that cat away from him!"

"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" said Hermione, and it was her shaking voice that made me restrain myself. I went limp in her arms. Hermione had to hold me tighter to keep me from sliding straight out of her arms and onto the carpet. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"

"There's something funny about that animal!" Ron said, trying to coax Scabbers into his pocket. "It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!"

"Oh, what rubbish," said Hermione impatiently, her temper back now that Ron was fighting her on logical grounds. "Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else do you think -?"

Ron barely heard her as he interrupted, "That cat's got it in for Scabbers! And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!"

Everyone in the common room was watching this debacle by now, and some were giggling at Ron. With his nose in the air, Ron marched through the common room and up to his dormitory. I mewed softly at Hermione, suddenly deeply apologetic. Hermione looked at me and said, "You shouldn't go chasing after other people's pets, you know. Let's stick to spiders."

She paused and amended, "Well, unless it's someone's pet, of course." I wanted to laugh, but Hermione sighed and put me down. I looked up at her and rubbed my head against her shin. She smiled a little before she turned back to the pile of homework before her.


It was Halloween. Remus had invited me for an "outing," as he put it. In reality, he had recruited me to help capture a grindylow for his next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. Hence, I found myself standing waist-deep in the Black Lake on this balmy autumn late afternoon.

"All right. It would be best if we succeeded quickly. It would be difficult to live this down if students were to come out and see us making fools of ourselves," Remus said.

Grimacing at the cold seeping through my robes to chill my legs and thighs, I looked up at Remus and questioned, "Yes, it would. And on that note, Remus, aren't you taking the "practical teaching" thing too far?"

"Don't get me wrong," I said, "I get that you want your students to have hands-on experience but this is a bit much, don't you think? I mean, you don't see me trapping all my students in Runic Circles."

"Perhaps you should," Remus said, wading into the water and coming towards me.

I looked apprehensively at the water rippling around me. In truth, I was afraid the Giant Squid or the Siren Queen would come after me. Those memories felt muted, somehow, as if they weren't real, as if those events never really happened to me, but some part of my mind warned me that somehow, I had in fact infiltrated the timeline of myth, and that should I find myself in the wrong situation, I would be powerless in the face of such supernatural forces.

"Remus," I said anxiously, "you should know, I'm not a big fan of water."

"Well, we don't have to go in any deeper," Remus consoled me. He pulled out a string of small dry, salted sardines. "I have bait."

"Just keep still, please," he instructed me, and carefully roped the sardines around my waist.

"No, wait a second," I protested. "This makes me- Remus, I'm the bait. Aren't I?"

"Well, something like that," Remus replied lightly. Then, he ducked behind me to hide his smile and to finish tying the sardines to me. "Lift your arms, please," he instructed.

"What do you mean, 'something like that'?" I said indignantly. "It's exactly like that." But I did as he instructed and lifted my arms up.

"Keep them up," he said. "You don't want the grindylows to get your fingers. They've got rather sharp teeth, if I remember correctly." As he finished setting up the "bait," he slowly waded a short distance away from me, closer to the shore.

"We should switch places," I called out. "This is unfair."

"We can," Remus said. "But do you remember anything about grindylows? Do you know how to save me if they drag me under?"

I thought about this for a moment, but I had to concede. "No," I admitted, rather sullenly.

"Then, I think the present arrangement is our best bet," Remus said, smiling slightly.

As we waited, I wondered aloud, "How do you remember so much information about dark animals?"

Remus shrugged. "It's not really memory, so to speak. My father worked for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He's an expert of magical animals, particularly dark creatures. So, I grew up around dark creatures – well, until I became one myself."

He paused, and for a moment, I was afraid he would sink into his depressive state, which he slid into so easily when he thought of his family. But then, he cracked a smile and commented, "You look like a scarecrow, Raylynx. A water scarecrow, if such a thing existed."

"I look ridiculous," I blurted out.

Remus grinned.

Suddenly, I felt a tug. Well, that was quick, I thought. I looked down to see a sickly green creature. I could just make out its teeth and small pointy horns on its head through the murky water. Sure enough, it tried to grab onto my leg to strangle it as it would a smaller creature. It would have broken my fingers for sure.

"Remus!" I called. "It's here!"

Remus pointed his wand at the spot in the water where splashes were coming up. A jet of light flew through the air and dove into the water, where the light translated into heat, and a jet of boiling hot water hit the grindylow. Stung, the grindylow blasted itself out of the water and nearly landed on my head. Just in time, Remus jerked his wand to the side and the grindylow was sent neatly into an open tank of water on the shore. Remus had brought the tank out from the castle and filled it with water and rocks and seaweed before I'd arrived. The tank was strangely familiar to me. It took me a minute to realize that it was the same tank that had contained a mermaid during the TriWizard Tournament.

Just then, I thought I heard a larger splash behind me. I turned, and I thought I saw a tentacle. I panicked, and swinging all my sardines with me, I desperately made for shore. I clutched Remus when I got near him and dragged him out with me. I wouldn't put it past the Giant Squid to harm him, too. Remus looked at me with an alarmed expression. He was quite surprised by how intense I was being, as he had no recollection of me having a fear of water.

"Sorry," I apologized, letting him go quickly.

He hesitated. "Are you… truly scared of water?"

I shook my head, but he still looked skeptical. His demeanor became far gentler. "Come back to my office with me. I'll make it up to you with a cup of tea."

"And chocolate?" I asked him, almost reflexively.

"And chocolate," he promised me.

I nodded and after disentangling myself from Remus' bait contraption, I started to walk back to the castle. Remus turned around and with a swish and flick of his wand, levitated the tank to follow us back up to the castle.


We entered the castle and headed up to Remus' office. We got the grindylow in and properly set up the tank in the corner of his office. Remus turned to close his office door when he spotted a small figure walking along the edge of the corridor alone. "Harry?"

Harry walked back to meet Professor Lupin.

"What are you doing?" Remus asked him.

I joined him at the door. Harry looked over at me. "Where are Ron and Hermione?" I inquired.

Harry paused. Then, in a forcibly casual voice, he said, "Hogsmeade."

Oh, that's right. Today is the first Hogsmeade visit of the year.

"Ah," Remus said, besides me. He considered Harry for a moment before saying, "Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson." I snorted at the word "delivery," but neither Remus nor Harry noticed my sarcastic input.

"A what?" said Harry with interest, as he followed Remus into his office.

Once Harry was inside, I gently closed the office door. I turned around to see Harry and Remus peering into the tank at the grindylow, which had pressed its face against the glass and was pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers at them.

"Water demon," Remus was telling Harry. "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 at them before retreating and burying itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner.

"Cup of tea?" Remus offered Harry. "I was just thinking of making one," he said, looking over at me.

"All right," said Harry awkwardly.

I started to walk over to Remus' kettle, but Remus shook his head and stepped in front of me. "I promised you," he reminded me, and gently pushed me towards Harry instead. Remus tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.

"Sit down," Remus said to both Harry and me. As he spoke, he took the lid off a dusty tin. "I've only got teabags, I'm afraid — but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?" I held back a laugh as Harry's head shot up and he looked over at Remus, who's eyes were twinkling.

"How did you know about that?" Harry wondered.

"Professor McGonagall told me," said Remus, passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. "You're not worried, are you?"

"No," said Harry, but his voice betrayed him. I could guess what he was thinking of – the black dog he had seen this past summer.

I hesitated, wanting Harry to share his thoughts, but not able to divulge how much I know about him. So, I went with a very general question. "Anything worrying you, Harry?" I asked.

"No," Harry said.

I looked at him with a gentle, knowing smile. He seemed a bit embarrassed because he looked away from me and observed the grindylow again.

Suddenly, he confessed, "Yes." He put the tea down on Remus' desk. "Professor Lupin, you know that day we fought the Boggart?"

"Yes," said Remus slowly.

"Why didn't you let me fight it?" said Harry abruptly.

Remus raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I would have thought that was obvious, Harry," he replied.

"Why?" Harry repeated.

I looked over at Remus, trying to make sure I was understanding what had happened, as I had been unaware of this incident. However, it was not difficult for me to piece together that Harry had stepped up to face the boggart and Remus had intervened, making Harry wonder if he was weaker than everyone else in class. But even without knowing anything else, I could easily guess why Remus had acted that way. If a boggart transformed into your greatest fear, Harry's greatest fear could easily be none other than Voldemort.

Remus frowned slightly as he explained, "Well, I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort."

But then, to my surprise, Remus went on to say, "Clearly, I was wrong. But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialize in the staffroom. I imagined that people would panic."

I looked at Harry in surprise. His greatest fear isn't Lord Voldemort?

"I didn't think of Voldemort," said Harry honestly. "I - I remembered those Dementors."

"I see," said Remus 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."

Harry didn't seem to know what to make of Remus' compliment, but I did. It impressed me also that Harry, despite having his life so deeply marked by the greatest Dark wizard of all time, still had the mental capacity to think about what gave him reason to be frightened. Harry's fear did not operate on pure alarm or anxiety. He was able to cognize what he was afraid of, and why. This was beyond most people, including myself, whose fears were gut reactions, some emblem of our fears, even if such fears were unjustified.

"So, you've been thinking that I didn't believe you capable of fighting the Boggart?" Remus guessed shrewdly.

"Well… yeah," Harry admitted. But he seemed a lot lighter now. With a bit more spirit, he said, "Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors-"

A knock on Remus' door rang out.

"Come in," called Remus.

Snape came in, carrying a goblet. Upon seeing Harry, he stopped in his tracks.

Remus managed a smile. "Ah, Severus. Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?"

Snape approached us and set down the smoking goblet, his eyes wandering between the three of us.

"I was just showing Harry my Grindylow," Remus said pleasantly, pointing at the tank.

"Fascinating," said Snape, without looking at it. "You should drink that directly, Lupin."

"Yes, Yes, I will."

"I made an entire cauldronful," Snape said. "If you need more."

"I should probably have some again tomorrow," Remus replied. "Thanks very much, Severus."

"Not at all," said Snape formally. Our eyes met for a brief second, and an unpleasant expression crossed his face before he left the room, throwing one last watchful look at Harry.

Harry was staring down at the goblet. Remus tried to explain as much as he could to reassure him, keeping his tone as light as possible. "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.

"Why -?" Harry began.

I shot Harry a look, but Remus was already answering, still in that same light tone. "I've been feeling a bit off-color," 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."

"Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts," Harry suddenly blurted out.

"Really?" said Remus, and it was only because I knew him so well that I could detect the careful control of his voice. He was quite good at faking this polite disinterest about matters which he was fully involved in and aware of.

I was less controlled, and nearly gave myself away with a laugh. I hastily took a sip of my tea to cover it up and promptly choked on it. I coughed loudly a few times. Over my cough, Harry continued, "Some people reckon – Some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defense Against the Dark Arts job."

Remus drained the goblet, carefully shielding his face from Harry to hide his amusement. But the bitter taste of the potion made his pull a genuine face of disgust afterwards. "Disgusting," Remus commented. "Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work."

"Right," said Harry, putting down his empty teacup. He eyed Remus' goblet, which was still smoking, with a great deal of distrust.

I wanted to reach out and ruffle Harry's hair because I knew that he was trying his best to protect Remus. But I simply said, "See you at the feast later."

Harry nodded and waved at me. "See you, Professor Kingsley."

When Harry left, I shook my head and laughed a little. "If that was his attempt at subtlety, it was a poor attempt," I said fondly. "I suppose it makes sense, in a way. Neither Lily nor James were subtle, and he certainly isn't."

Remus smiled. "Yes, that's what I was thinking, too."

Remus' eyes slipped past me and he looked thoughtfully into the air as he told me, "When I first saw Harry on the train, I remembered what you once told me – that he looks just like James. But then Harry opened his eyes, and they're…"

"They're Lily's eyes," I finished for him softly.

Remus nodded. Then, he reached behind him, picking up a small thing bar behind him. He held it out to me. "Chocolate, as promised," he said. "Thanks for your help today, Raylynx."

As I took it from him, I replied cheekily, "Yes, and if I ever need to trap someone in a Runic Circle for a few years, I'll call you over."

"It only sounds fair," he agreed. "But I would expect a great deal of tea and chocolate to be passed through the circle for those years."

I laughed lightly. "All right. Happy Halloween, Remus. I'll see you at the feast."


The Great Hall never failed to stun for a holiday. Hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins and orange streamers crossed the air, courtesy of Professor Flitwick. There was also a cloud of fluttering live bats, no doubt caught gently by Hagrid. Remembering seeing Lucius Malfoy in the hallway, I wondered if Hagrid was all right. I hoped he was. He'd only just started as a Professor, since his name was finally cleared last year thanks to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and there was no doubt in my mind that Hagrid was more than up to the task. He knew and loved magical creatures with an incredible gentleness.

As the feast began, the Hogwarts ghosts popped out of the walls to put on a show for us. Even the Bloody Baron joined it, and it was with great relief that Peeves didn't come in and purposefully mess things up. When the feast finished, everyone was in a good mood.

After all of the students had left the Great Hall and only the staff had remained behind to help clean up the decorations and make sure none of the students were milling about, Dumbledore approached Remus and murmured a question to him. Remus nodded and replied quietly. Dumbledore lifted his hand and briefly pressed it against Remus' shoulder before he made to turn away.

But at that moment, Oliver Wood came racing up to us. "Professor! Professor Dumbledore! Come quick, something's happened to the Gryffindor common room."

Near us, Professor McGonagall and Snape turned to regard Oliver. "What do you mean?" McGonagall asked him, startled by how frantic he looked.

"The Fat Lady's gone!" Oliver informed us in a breathless voice. "She's been attacked, or at least, I think so. Her portrait is all ripped up-"

The five of us Professors quickly followed Oliver back up to Gryffindor Tower. The students bunched together at the edges of the staircase to make room for us.

When the entrance to the common room finally came into view, I gasped, as did Professor McGonagall besides me. The Fat Lady was indeed gone. Her canvas had been slashed so viciously that pieces of it littered the floor. Dumbledore reached out and touched the gashes in the canvas. Then, he turned to the four of us and said, "We need to find her. Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr. Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady."

McGonagall nodded and was about to take off when suddenly, a voice above us cackled, "You'll be lucky!" We looked up to see Peeves bobbing over the crowd, looking quite happy at the scene before him.

"What do you mean, Peeves?" asked Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves' grin faded a little.

Peeves put on his best, under-practiced, formal voice, as he answered, "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. Poor thing."

In quiet voice, Dumbledore questioned, "Did she say who did it?"

"Oh yes, Professorhead," said Peeves, the mischievous delight coming back into his face. "He got very angry when she wouldn't let him in, you see." He flipped over in the air and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. "Nasty temper he's got, that Sirius Black."