The next few weeks were, to his utmost surprise, completely and utterly normal.
Well, as normal as life could be when possessing reality-altering magical powers, attended school in a labyrinth-like castle in the Scottish Highlands and were cursed with having Gilderoy Lockhart as one of your professors.
And it was the aforementioned prat who ruined everything for Harry Potter who, despite his rather limited life experience, knew enough to decide that walking into the Great Hall for breakfast and finding it bedecked in red hearts, pink flowers and toga-clad dwarves stomping around delivering cards was decidedly not normal.
"What's going on?" Harry asked nobody in particular as he followed Daphne and Tracey to their usual places at the Slytherin table in a daze.
"Lockhart," Daphne stated with a shudder as she shooed a cherub away from the pile of toast and took two for herself.
"That's rude," Tracey admonished the cherub, who was making a rude hand gesture toward Daphne as it flew away. "How early did the ponce get up to do all this?" She pondered aloud, waving her hand toward all the frivolity around them.
"Is Valentine's Day a big deal in the wizarding world?" Harry wondered, feeling a strange panic settle into his gut. "There was nothing like this last year."
"Last year we didn't have Lockhart haunting the place," Daphne answered with a shrug as she buttered her toast and then had to defend it when Tracey leaned heavily across Harry in an attempt to liberate it.
It was during this speech that Lockhart, dressed head to toe in lurid red robes, got to his feet and explained why he had lost his mind, thanked the 46 students who had already sent him Valentine's Day cards and suggested that they spend their Sundays asking Professor Flitwick for advice on how to cast Entrancing Enchantments and Snape how to brew a Love Potion.
Harry, after glancing at Snape's foul visage, was for once entirely on the man's side as he looked like he was only moments away from murdering Lockhart.
"Look, Weasley's got one," Daphne pointed out, causing the other two to swivel their heads toward the Gryffindor table where a grumpy-looking dwarf had just dumped a card on the table in front of the female Weasley before retrieving a handful of pink confetti from a pouch attached to its toga and showering the crimson-faced girl with it.
"Look over there, at the little mousey-looking kid," Tracey spotted, nodding with her head toward the end of the Gryffindor table.
Harry and Daphne both peered in the direction she indicated. "Which one, Trace? There's about four mousey-looking kids there."
"The one that always has a camera," Tracey distractedly added, receiving noises of understanding from the other two when they immediately spotted which one she meant. The boy, Creevey if Harry remembered right, was peering over a copy of the Daily Prophet toward Ginny Weasley nervously. They looked back and forth between the two first years as Weasley opened and read the card before she glared furiously at Creevey who began to sink lower and lower into his seat.
"Poor kid," Tracey chuckled as she returned her attention to trying to steal Daphne's breakfast.
Daphne let out a sigh as she allowed one of her expertly buttered slices of toast to be plucked away by her annoying friend, who cheered in victory. "I'd be so embarrassed if I were her. Imagine the whole Hall watching that happen to you."
Harry felt the strange panic in his gut suddenly vanish and he relaxed into his seat. "Yeah, it would be awful," He agreed as he took Daphne's other slice of toast for himself. "Thankfully nobody will-"
"You Harry Potter?" A gruff voice sounded from the other side of the table, cutting him off. The three of them all lifted themselves slightly off their seats to peer over the table where a dwarf was waiting with its hands on its hips for an answer.
Harry didn't even have to think about his answer. "N-"
"Yes, this is Harry Potter," Tracey, the traitor, announced from his side. Harry turned in horror toward his widely grinning and entirely unrepentant former friend, who nodded her head again toward the dwarf. Harry looked back toward it to find it clambering atop the bench on the other side of the table. The Dwarf pulled a card from its pouch but, rather than pass it to Harry so he could banish it toward Timbuktu and hopefully never think on it again, it opened the card, cleared its throat and began to recite the contents in a much-too-loud voice.
"Your hair is as dark as night,
and your smile is as warm as day.
You give Dark Lords a dreadful fright,
when you draw your wand to slay.
Oh, how I wish you were mine,
with your eyes as green as grass.
I want you to be my Valentine,
because you're a mighty fine piece of-"
"No!" Harry suddenly shouted, rousing from his stupor and waving his hand toward the dwarf which suddenly found itself silenced by a thick cloth wrapping around its mouth. Around him, he could hear laughter, snickers and, from his right side, rapid hyena-like giggles from Tracey.
Turning slowly from the furious-looking dwarf that was marching toward Lockhart to complain of mistreatment, Harry fixed the girl on his left with an accusing stare. "Eyes as green as grass?"
Daphne, who had been scanning the Hall like a bird of prey for the perpetrator, turned suddenly toward him, her neck making an audible click and her eyes frantic. "It wasn't me! I'll swear it in front of the courts! You have to believe me, Harry,"
So earnest was she in her denial that Harry found himself nodding along with her. "Okay, but if it wasn't you..." He trailed off when something in his brain suddenly clicked. He saw Daphne's eyes alight in realisation at the same time as his and, as one, they both turned toward the Ravenclaw table and the likely culprit.
Indeed, Astoria was currently leaning heavily against Luna's side to help herself stay upright as she howled loudly in uproarious, proud laughter. Harry stared at her for almost a minute before she finally recovered, breathing heavily and wiping tears from her eyes. The girl was still grinning when she pushed herself away from Luna and met his gaze, though it faltered when he narrowed his eyes and mouthed a warning to her.
"Run."
After Harry, once he had given her a headstart, had caught Astoria hiding in the trophy room and buried her in conjured confetti - which she was furious to discover was incredibly difficult to completely remove from her long hair - the group decided to visit Hagrid to avoid the ridiculous atmosphere of the castle.
The door to his hut opened wide after Daphne's knock to display the exuberantly smiling man, who cheerfully ushered them inside and immediately began to make them all cups of tea.
"What's got you in such a good mood, Hagrid?" Harry asked the man as he was served a steaming cup.
"Yeah, did you get your own Valentine or something?" Astoria asked, carefully not looking at Harry when he snapped his head toward her with a glare.
"No, no, nothin' like tha'," Hagrid waved off. "I got a letter this mornin'," He stated proudly.
The group all shared looks when the man did not elaborate further. "And...?" Tracey prompted once Hagrid had taken his seat heavily.
"'t'were from the Minister," Hagrid began. "They've ex-exon-cleared me!"
"Cleared you? For what?" Daphne questioned.
Hagrid looked a bit sheepish as he explained. "Well, I were expelled, see. From Hogwarts in me third-year. They thought I'd opened the chamber o' secrets an' killed poor Myrtle, but when he came back an' Harry here killed 'im," He glanced at Harry then with utmost fondness. "Professor Dumbledore - great man, Dumbleore - told the minister tha' it were proof tha' V-V-he was the one tha' opened it las' time, so they've cleared me!"
"Well, that's great news, Hagrid!" Harry exclaimed, delighted for his friend, who had never admitted to them before just why he had been expelled. "So what does this mean?"
"I can use me wand again!" Hagrid burst happily. "An' I can pick back up with me learning where I left off. I'll have ter self-study, but the professors have all bin nice enough ter offer ter help when they're free."
"We'll help you too, Hagrid," Luna promised.
"Yeah, you can borrow my textbooks if you like," Astoria offered. "So you can review stuff you might have forgotten."
"And next year we can tell you what we're learning in case the books miss anything," Daphne added.
"And whatever assignments we have, wouldn't want you missing out on those either," Tracey joined with a grin.
Hagrid beamed at them all, his eyes watery. "Thank yeh all, tha's very kind o' yeh, but I wouldn' wan' ter put yeh out-"
"Don't be silly, Hagrid, of course we'll help," Harry interrupted. "What was your best subject?"
"Care o' Magical Creatures," Hagrid supplied proudly. "I were alright at charms before tha', but when I started care in third year I was righ' at home."
Daphne nodded. "Well, we can't help you with that yet, but we can start with Charms now if you like?"
"'course!" Hagrid agreed excitedly, reaching with one large arm toward the fireplace and a stick that, now that Harry noticed it, looked much more like a fire poker than a wand. He retrieved the wand, meaning Luna, who was closest, had to duck and Astoria, who was beside her, to jump backward onto Daphne's lap to avoid injury.
"Watch where you're pointing that, you nearly took my eye out!"
The group spent the rest of the morning, and the start of the afternoon, helping Hagrid to review what he remembered from his first two years before he had been expelled, as well as filling in the gaps in his memory with what they had learned, or were currently learning. Hagrid was an eager student but struggled to replicate the spells they demonstrated. Harry, who had already sensed Hagrid's magical power, or lack of it, before quietly signaled to the others not to worry about it and remain patient.
It was while they were taking a break and enjoying a plate of biscuits that there was a knock on the door. Hagrid stood and bustled over in two steps to the door to, after opening the door and greeting the man happily, invite Professor Dumbledore into his cramped hut.
"Hi, sir."
"Good afternoon, Harry, how wonderful to see you."
"Hey, Professor,"
"And a good afternoon to you as well, Miss Greengrass,"
"Hello, Headmaster,"
"Miss Davis, a pleasure as always."
"Good afternoon, Professor Dumbledore,"
"It's lovely to finally meet you in person, Miss Lovegood. Please give your father my best wishes the next time you see him."
Astoria, for reasons known only to herself, decided to forgo a traditional greeting and instead saluted the man. It didn't surprise Harry one bit when the Headmaster cheerfully returned the gesture as if it were perfectly normal before settling into the vacated seat that Hagrid happily insisted he take.
After the large man had served the Headmaster his tea (with six spoonfuls of sugar), the man began to speak. "I hope my visit isn't interrupting anything of import?"
"No, these five were jus' helping me get back up ter speed with the classes I missed, now tha' I've got me wand back an' can start learning again," Hagrid explained, giving each of them another glowing smile.
Dumbledore looked between the five of them proudly. "Why, what a wonderful gesture. Please, take 10 points each for your kindness." After each of them had thanked him, he turned fully toward Hagrid. "That is partially the reason for my visit, Hagrid. Silvanus asked to speak to me before dinner to express his wish to retire at the end of the school year."
"Tha's a shame, Silvanus is a good 'un," Hagrid mused before taking a sip from his bucket-like mug of tea.
"Indeed. To lose a Professor of his calibre is usually a rather stressful time, what with the need to find an able replacement. This time, however, I do believe there is such a person already present in the castle," Dumbledore continued in a casual tone, his eyes twinkling. The five children, in varying order, all gasped in surprise when they realised what the Headmaster meant, but Hagrid, bless him, looked clueless.
"He means you, Hagrid," Daphne explained quietly, her eyes shining brightly with happiness for their friend.
Hagrid frowned at her momentarily before turning to the Headmaster. "Yeh don' mean it, Professor Dumbledore, sir? Yeh wan' me ter teach Care?"
"I can think of none better for the post, my friend. Now that you have been cleared and your criminal record expunged, you are no longer restricted from taking a teaching post here. Silvanus realised this and has taken the opportunity for a well-earned retirement in which to spend more time with his remaining limbs, knowing that he would be leaving his subject and students in good hands."
"I-I don' know wha' ter say, Professor," Hagrid stammered.
"Say yes, you dolt," Astoria advised before ducking away from Daphne's admonishing hit and inadvertently moving directly into Tracey's. Whilst the girl rubbed the back of her head mutinously, Hagrid nodded frantically.
"Yeh, professor, if yeh're sure?"
"I am sure, Hagrid. Minerva has been kind enough to offer her expertise in crafting a lesson plan, ready for next September. We can discuss your salary and other such benefits at a later date, I wouldn't want to intrude any further today," The Headmaster spoke as got to his feet.
"O' course, professor, an' thank yeh. Thank yeh so much," Hagrid spoke gratefully, offering his large hand to the old man.
Dumbledore accepted the handshake, though most of his forearm was taken up by Hagrid's large hand, and waved away his thanks. "Not necessary, Hagrid. I should be thanking you, as your prompt acceptance of the position has saved me a potential headache." Once Hagrid had released his hand, the Headmaster stepped toward the door and nodded his goodbye to the five children, who all waved at him.
After Hagrid had closed the door behind him, he fell back into his chair heavily and stared dazedly into his mug. "I can' believe it. Me, a professor! Oh, me old dad would be so proud."
"I'm sure he would be, Hagrid," Harry agreed gently.
The large man suddenly snapped out of his daze and turned his beetle-like eyes toward them. "Yeh'll take it, yeah? Nex' year, as one o' your electives?"
Whilst Daphne nodded immediately, Harry chuckled and pointed his thumb at her. "Hagrid, I've been resigned to taking Care since the first week I knew her. And I wouldn't miss your class for the world."
"Me too," Tracey added.
"I'll take it next year as well, it should be fun," Astoria joined in, whilst Luna simply nodded.
Hagrid's smile was almost blinding as he looked between them all. "Oh, I'll have ter start me lesson plans! I can show yeh all the Unicorns, the Hippogriffs, maybe the Thestrals...I could ask Aragog if he wouldn' mind bein' studied!"
The five children all exchanged looks. "Who's Aragog, Hagrid?" Daphne asked.
"Me friend, bin with me over fifty years. Found 'im when he were jus' a baby in second year."
Harry, suddenly feeling somewhat apprehensive, prodded in a worried voice. "And...what is Aragog, Hagrid?"
"An Acromantula," Hagrid stated as if it were perfectly ordinary to be friends with a giant spider. "I've never told yeh 'bout 'im? I should take yeh ter meet 'im, an' his children, they'd love yeh!"
"Yes please," Daphne and Luna immediately agreed together.
"No thanks," Astoria and Tracey begged off as one.
Harry, who had no strong opinions either way, soon found himself receiving the full attention of all four of his friends as each of them tried to persuade him to their side to break the deadlock.
Daphne batted her eyelashes and took his hand in each of hers as Astoria, whose face had gone incredibly pale, immediately teared up, her bottom lip jutting out and wobbling adorably. Tracey tried to communicate with her face alone how insane it would be to visit an Acromantula in the Forbidden Forest, whilst Luna's eyes grew somehow larger than usual and her appearance gave off the impression that all she wanted in the world was to visit Aragog and Harry could be the gallant hero who granted her wish.
Harry, wisely in his opinion, turned away toward Hagrid, effectively ignoring all four of them. "Maybe you should ask him first? He might not be up to visitors, especially if he has children,"
Hagrid rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "Yeh could be righ', Harry," Astoria and Tracey perked up happily. "I'll ask 'im when would be bes'," Astoria and Tracey deflated whilst Daphne and Luna grinned excitedly.
Astoria crossed her arms across her chest determinedly. "I'll just make sure I've got detention all week. Snape might actually be useful for once in his life."
As it turned out, there was no need for Astoria to get herself a detention to avoid the visit to Aragog the Acromantula, and it was all thanks to Tracey.
They had just been leaving their double period of Transfiguration on Tuesday morning when the girl, who had been packing away her things, 'accidentally' knocked her bookbag off her desk, spilling its contents all over the floor. Harry and Daphne, the good friends that they were, held back to help her gather her things which left the three of them as the last students in the classroom.
"I'm so sorry, guys! I got barely any sleep last night, I'm so clumsy today!" Tracey bemoaned as she frantically stuffed textbooks into her bag. Indeed, she had knocked over two goblets of pumpkin juice that morning and her eyes were droopy and accompanied by dark circles underneath.
"It's alright, Trace. We've got a free period and dinner next, we can go back to the dorm so you can have a nap," Daphne offered as she placed Tracey's scattered parchment into piles.
"I thought you wanted to see Hagrid at dinner and see if he's asked Aragog if we can meet him?" Tracey questioned as Harry passed over her inkwells.
"It can wait until tomorrow,"
Tracey shrugged and hefted her bag, thankfully full again with her things, onto her shoulder before leading the way toward the door. "I suppose you're right, I doubt an Acromantula has a busy schedule."
A sharp voice rang out from behind them, causing all three to freeze in place. "What did you just say?"
Slowly, they turned to meet the pale, disbelieving face of Professor McGonagall, who they had all forgotten was still present in the room. Tracey wilted under her gaze. "Err..."
"Did you, or did you not, just mention Hagrid arranging a meeting with an Acromantula?" The Professor questioned, her lips thin and nostrils flared.
"Err..."
Professor McGonagall drew herself up to her full height, her eyes flicking between each of their faces and seeing their panicky, guilty faces. "I see. If you will excuse me, I need to have a word with our future Care of Magical Creatures Professor. Please close the door behind you when you finally vacate my classroom."
As soon as the woman had stalked from the room in search of their large friend, Daphne whirled on Tracey furiously. "Nice going, Trace! Now we're never going to be allowed to meet him!"
Tracey was red-faced and ashamed. "I'm sorry, Daph! I didn't think!"
Daphne glared at her for another moment before spinning on the spot and ripping the door open. "Come on, let's get you to bed. Hopefully, your brain will finally start working afterward."
Harry found himself walking beside Tracey in Daphne's wake. He glanced over at her morose face and bumped his shoulder lightly with hers. "It'll be okay, Trace. She won't be mad for long."
Tracey, the very picture of doe-eyed sadness, shrugged pathetically and said nothing. Harry, deciding on simply silently supporting his friend, continued in step beside her as they reached the third floor, where they spotted Astoria and Luna waiting outside of the Charms classroom with the Gryffindor first-years.
As soon as Astoria spotted them her eyes fell on Tracey with an upward questioning tilt of her chin. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Tracey's miserable expression morph into a grin, and when he turned fully toward her he saw that her eyes were sparkling with pride and triumph.
Instantly, it all clicked into place for Harry and he couldn't help but be impressed when he realised that Tracey had planned to reveal the information to Professor McGonagall and her apologetic act was just that. Before he could voice his admiration, however, he saw a blur of motion in his peripheral vision and had to dart out of the way as Astoria raced toward Tracey.
"Thank you!" The younger girl exclaimed as she wrapped her arms tightly around the older. "You're my new favourite person. Congratulations."
"Told you it would work," Tracey chuckled before pushing Astoria away. "Now sod off, I really did force myself to get no sleep last night so Daph didn't suspect I was lying."
Astoria nodded and pushed herself to her tiptoes to kiss Tracey loudly on the cheek before scampering back toward her yearmates as the door to the Charms classroom opened and disappeared inside, leaving Harry to turn to Tracey. "Well done."
Tracey preened, her cheek red. "Pretty flawless performance, if I do say so myself."
Harry nodded. "Oh yeah, if it hadn't been for that little interaction just then I'd have never suspected a thing. There's just one small problem, though."
"What's that?" Tracey asked with a frown.
Harry nodded toward the end of the corridor and the waiting blonde girl. "She saw the whole thing."
Tracey paled as soon as she spotted Daphne's carefully blank face and paled further still when she began walking slowly and dangerously toward them. "Harry, save me."
Harry lifted his hand to his chin contemplatively. "I could. I really could. But..."
"But?" Tracey questioned frantically, her eyes kept firmly on the approaching storm.
"You sold me out to the dwarf. Good luck, Trace, she's going to be mad at you for ages."
"Bugger."
Luckily for Tracey, Daphne's anger abated after treating her friend to creative threats, stony silence for the rest of the day and then trouncing her during their training that evening. Hagrid faced no repercussions other than a stern telling off and he sheepishly told them that Friday that Aragog was unavailable for visitors for the foreseeable future.
For the next few weeks, classes continued, the weather turned milder and life was completely normal and peaceful for all of them.
Every week Harry and Sirius sent letters back and forth, where Harry learned that Sirius was settling in well at their home and was getting along well with Daniel and Marie, as well as reconnecting with his friend from school and also his cousin Tonks, whilst Harry would let him know how he was getting on at school. Harry found himself greatly looking forward to the Easter break and seeing the man, as well as his family, again.
And so it was that when two sheets of parchment appeared on the notice board in the common room one morning in early March Harry and Daphne both happily joined the queue for the list stating that they would be going home for the break.
However, Tracey did not and, along with a first-year girl and a sixth-year boy, signed on to stay at the castle rather than go home. Harry and Daphne both shared worried looks which they quickly had to mask when Tracey joined them in their queue and they tried to talk about cheerful topics as they waited to sign their own names to the leaving list. For the rest of the day, their friend was quiet and not at all like her usual self and only communicated in one-word answers and facial expressions alone.
Harry and Daphne both knew enough to suspect their friend's home life wasn't entirely happy, but they both struggled with whether they should broach the topic with her or not. As it turned out, the decision was made for them when Tracey lightly nudged Harry to get his attention that night as dinner was winding down.
"Hey," She started in a small voice when both he and Daphne turned to her. "Can-can we not go to the room tonight? I...I want to talk to you guys."
"Sure," Harry agreed softly. "Are you ready now?" He asked, glancing down at her empty bowl.
When she nodded Daphne got to her feet. "I'll let Tori and Luna know, wait for me at the doors?"
Harry and Tracey rose to walk over to the doors to the Hall, where Harry watched Daphne move to the Ravenclaw table to have a quick whispered conversation with her sister, who looked uncharacteristically serious. When she had finished and rejoined them, the three friends travelled in silence toward their common room.
Arriving in Tracey's room by unspoken agreement and settling onto her bed, Harry and Daphne both faced the nervous brown-haired girl, who was fiddling with the corner of her bedsheet. "I'm, err, I'm sorry for being quiet today."
"That's fine," "It's alright."
When Tracey just nodded at their quick acceptance and fell silent, the two of them shared a look before Harry shuffled closer. "Trace, what's wrong?"
"Is this about the sign-up sheets?" Daphne prompted gently, receiving a small nod.
"It's just...it's...you both have trusted me with so much, so I want to tell you..." Her words were hesitant and she steadfastly refused to look up at either of them.
Daphne reached out to take the hand that was not busy playing with the bedsheet. "You don't have to tell us anything if you don't want to, Trace. You're our friend, of course we trust you, but that doesn't mean you have to feel like you need to return the favour or something."
Tracey nodded slowly. "I know. I just..." She shook her head suddenly and looked up at them. "My parents- well, it would be pretty pointless going home for Easter." When they both tilted their heads at her she explained. "They're both always so busy with work, and when they are home they don't want to spend any time with me, just in case that means they had to be around each other. So I just figured that if I'm going to be alone at Easter I may as well stay at the castle. At least then I can visit Hagrid, or spend my time in the library."
"You could come home with us," Daphne offered as she moved closer to wrap an arm around Tracey's shoulder. "Mum and Dad would love to have you."
Tracey shook her head. "No, that's okay. It's Harry's first break with Sirius, they need time to get to know each other and I can't intrude on that."
"You wouldn't be intruding! And you're right, Harry will be spending a lot of time with his godfather and that means I'll just be left with Tori for company, you wouldn't subject me to that, would you?" Daphne pleaded gently, earning a chuckle from their friend.
"She's not that bad," Tracey denied even as a small smile bloomed into life on her face.
"Yes she is," Daphne disagreed. "Come on, I'll write Mum and Dad, they'll say yes immediately." When Tracey still looked unsure, she lifted her head to Harry. "Tell her, Harry."
"Daph's right, Trace, you should come home with us. And I'd love for Sirius to meet my other best friend," He told her sincerely.
Tracey grinned widely. "Really?"
"Really."
Tracey leaned further into Daphne's one-armed hug and reached out with her hand for Harry to take as she nodded. "Okay, if your Mum and Dad say it's fine."
"They will," Daphne assured.
"This must be what it feels like to be wanted," Tracey joked with a wry smile, which dropped when her joke went down like a lead balloon. Daphne's hold on her shoulder tightened while Harry looked alarmed.
"What does that mean?" He asked, even though he was sure he already knew the answer. His free hand joined his other in holding onto Tracey's as she grimaced and sat up.
"Err, well, that. My Mum and Dad...they never wanted me, and they still don't, really," Tracey stammered. "They didn't mean to have me but, well, 'accidents happen' as my Mum is so fond of saying."
Daphne swallowed. "I'm sure that's not what she means, Trace," She tried, though it sounded unconvincing even to her own ears.
Tracey shook her head. "No, that's exactly what she means. I know all about how I managed to be here. It's not hard when they argue loudly about it whenever they get into the wine cellar." She paused to look between them both, seeing their open and patient faces. "My Dad was married to a woman called Mavis Rowle before Mum. He's about a decade older than my Mum, they met when she joined his Department right out of Hogwarts when Dad was still married. Well, Dad's wife ended up dying when she got caught up in an attack on the Alley. Apparently Mum 'consoled' him while he was mourning." She twisted her lips bitterly. "Dad took comfort in her, even though she was a muggleborn, but like Mum says 'accidents happen' and she got pregnant with me. 'course, Dad then had to marry her to avoid a scandal."
"Why?" Harry asked, causing both girls to turn to him. "Why did he have to marry her?"
"Having a child out of wedlock is heavily frowned upon in the circles my Dad was part of. Though, when he married a muggleborn those circles rejected him anyway so I don't know why he even bothered," Tracey explained. "I don't know if my Mum even liked Dad, I think she just wanted a leg up in her career. Dad was the Deputy Head even then, and her boss, but when she got pregnant with me and Dad married her she got the old Pureblood name she wanted. And now look at her, Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, even with her 'lowly birth'." She paused to glance at them both. "Her words, not mine. Despite the fact she is one, she looks down on muggleborns more than anyone."
Tracey sighed heavily and they were both saddened to see tears form in her eyes. "I get it, I do, I get that they didn't want to have me, but I'm here now and it's like I don't even matter to them. Dad tries a little, but he was never interested in having children, even with his first wife, but Mum?" She scoffed. "If there's ever a woman who had no right being a mother, it's Victoria Davis." She swallowed heavily as Daphne pulled her into another one-armed hug. "I just - they didn't even care about my report last year. I expected Mum to be disappointed about me getting a Poor in Defence, but it's like she didn't even read it." Tears fully rolled down the girl's cheek and she shuddered against Daphne's side. "I just want them to love me," She whispered in a small, broken voice. "They've never said they do, either of them."
"We love you," Harry told her quickly as he shuffled further up the bed to her other side. "We love you, Trace."
"Absolutely," Daphne said from her other side. "We want you to be our friend forever, and we want you to come home with us for Easter, and we want to stuff you so full of chocolate eggs that you won't be able to walk back onto the train." She told her earnestly, earning a watery chuckle from the other girl, who reached up to wipe her cheeks with the sleeve of her robes.
"You promise?"
"I promise."
The next day after classes had finished Tracey shared her story with the other two girls as they sat in a circle in the abandoned classroom that was quickly becoming theirs, though she was much more composed this time.
"Is that why you looked so miserable yesterday?" Astoria questioned when she had finished her tale.
"I did not look miserable," Tracey denied, though when they each vehemently disagreed she relented. "Alright, I looked a little miserable. Only a little."
"It's okay to be sad sometimes, Tracey," Luna said wisely. "I feel sad some days when I think about my mum. She died two years ago when she was experimenting on a spell. It was quite awful to see."
The others all stared at her. They had known that Luna only had her father but hadn't learned until now just how her mother had died, or that Luna had witnessed it. "I'm sorry, Luna, that's awful." Harry consoled.
"Yes, it is, but it is easier now," Luna accepted easily. "Life is not so lonely anymore."
"We know what you mean," Daphne told her, pointing to Astoria and herself. "We spent our entire childhoods at home with just Mum and Dad. Harry was the first person my age I had a full conversation with."
"Me too, when she brought him home for Christmas that year." Her sister agreed.
"Orphan," Harry supplied, raising his hand. "My mum's family treated me like dirt for ten years and I was bullied by my cousin and the other kids at school. Daphne was my first-ever friend."
"I guess we're all a little broken," Tracey observed, which strangely caused them all to smile at each other. Which, after a few moments, was clearly too saccharine for Astoria's tastes for she ruined the moment by jumping to her feet and pointing at Tracey.
"I demand a duel for calling me broken."
Tracey shrugged and pushed herself up. "You're the most broken out of all of us, but fine, if that's what you want."
Whilst the two of them moved to one side of the room to begin their duel, Luna drifted toward her own corner and retrieved a half-finished assignment to work on, leaving Harry and Daphne to shuffle to the other side of the room and sit against the wall beside each other.
As they watched Astoria fire rapid Bludgeoning Curses toward Tracey, Daphne smiled happily and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I've made a pretty good group, don't you think?"
Harry looked down at her blonde head. "Excuse me, you've made a good group? What makes you think you get to take the credit for this?"
Daphne lifted her head to frown at him. "This is all thanks to me, Harry."
He lifted his eyebrow at her. "Explain."
"Well, I let you share my compartment on the train, so we became friends first thanks to me."
"After I'd spoken to you first in Madam Malkin's, which may I say was like trying to get blood from a stone."
"Whatever. Then I introduced you to my sister who attached herself to us like a limpet."
"...I'll give you that one."
"Then we became friends with Tracey-"
"I became friends with Tracey, who you hated at first."
"...alright, fine, but she's closer to me now."
"What on earth makes you think that?"
Daphne paused their argument to shout across the room at the topic of their discussion. "Trace! Who's your best friend?"
Tracey, who was shielding admirably against Astoria's onslaught, didn't even deign to turn her head toward her as she replied. "Harry!"
"See?" Harry said smugly, crossing his arms in satisfaction.
Daphne narrowed her eyes. "Oh, if only it wasn't too late to call Hedwig back with that letter."
"So, Tracey's mine."
"And Luna is my sister's best friend, which also makes her mine. I've got you beat two to one."
Harry turned back to the battling pair. "Tori! Who's your favourite sibling?"
"You!" Astoria called back as she broke through Tracey's shield and sent her to her knees.
Harry turned back even more smugly to Daphne's stunned face. "Tori's mine now, which means Luna is as well. I suppose that means I've got you beat three to none?"
Daphne opened her mouth several times to answer, all in vain, before she smiled sweetly and leaned against his shoulder again. "We've made a pretty good group, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I do."
The two of them sat in companionable and enjoyable silence as they watched Astoria toy with Tracey for another few minutes before ending the duel by disarming the older girl, trapping her in a Body-Bind and then casting a tickling charm on her for good measure.
While Tracey's frantic pleas for mercy interspersed with her giggles rang around the room, Daphne lifted her head to look up at him.
"I'm your favourite, right?"
"You never have to ask, Daph."
Daniel and Marie, as Daphne had promised, sent their reply back the next morning at breakfast.
Whilst Harry dutifully fed slices of bacon to Hedwig and Tracey stroked her chest as good subjects should, Daphne announced the verdict. "They said yes, they're delighted to have you stay with us, and apparently Sirius already went out last night to buy fifteen more eggs."
"Fifteen?" Harry questioned, inadvertently pausing in his feeding of their feathered overlord and having to duck out of the way of an angry peck. He hastily resumed passing slices of bacon to the imperious owl as he continued. "From just him, or all three of them?"
"Hopefully just him," Daphne replied with an anticipatory glint in her eyes. "Imagine all that chocolate!"
"Bloody hell," Harry groaned. "I only just finished my eggs from last Easter, and they were just from Daniel and Marie."
"I know, and I'm still disgusted with you for taking so long, you clearly don't appreciate good chocolate," Daphne responded before turning her attention to her owl. "Stop stealing my minions."
"Brrk."
"And don't talk back to me, either. Now shoo, go and get some rest, girl."
Hedwig narrowed her eyes at her owner before taking flight and soaring from the room, though not without clipping Daphne heavily with I her wing as she did. As soon as the snowy owl had gone Astoria appeared with Luna in tow and dropped onto the bench opposite them.
"What did they say?" She questioned without preamble.
"They said yes," Daphne reported.
"Of course they did," Astoria answered. "It's somehow become a family tradition to take in strays."
"Hey!" Both Harry and Tracey protested.
Astoria ignored them and turned to Luna. "I suppose if you ever grow tired of traversing the continent with your Dad you can stay with us as well, though we'll have to start charging at this rate."
"You really know how to make a girl feel welcome, Tori," Tracey grumbled.
"I know, it's a gift," Astoria grinned cheekily.
"Is it too late to stay at the castle?" Tracey asked, turning to Daphne. "I suddenly don't feel like putting up with your baby sister any more than I have to already."
"You love me," Astoria argued.
"I loathe the very sight of you," Tracey denied without looking away from her older sister.
"No, it's too late, Trace. Dad's already set up another bed for you in my room." Daphne replied.
"Though I'm sure if we write back quickly he can move it to my room so we can share instead?" Astoria offered with a toothy smile.
Tracey shuddered. "As if I'd ever be able to relax enough around you to fall asleep. The day that happens is the day I've truly lost my mind," She turned to the boy next to her. "And if that ever happens, I want you to kill me. End my suffering. Free me, Harry."
He nodded solemnly. "I will."
"Should you perhaps inform Professor Snape that you will no longer be staying at the castle?" Luna pointed out. "You did sign up to stay, after all."
Tracey blanched and turned her head toward the malevolent face of their Head of House, who was glaring at them all, likely ever since two Ravenclaw students had invaded the Slytherin table. "...do I have to? I'm sure he won't notice if I'm not in the castle."
"Probably best that you do, Trace," Harry advised sympathetically. "Even if he didn't notice, Professor McGonagall would and she'd mount a search and rescue for you." Tracey nodded unhappily at his words and, with a huff, got to her feet and began shuffling slowly, ever so slowly, toward the Head Table.
"It's like watching someone walk to the gallows," Harry observed as they tracked her progress.
"Look at Snape, if looks could kill she'd be a ghost by now," Daphne added.
The closer Tracey got to the Potions Master the more pronounced his glare became and his spindly, pale fingers clutched at his coffee mug tighter and tighter, but just as Tracey arrived at a reasonably close distance from the man she suddenly pivoted to her right and moved along the table, circumventing their Head of House entirely and making her way toward Professor McGonagall instead. Somehow, Snape's face descended into an even more foul glare at losing the opportunity to be cruel to one of his students.
"Smart," Daphne commented.
"Very wise," Harry concurred.
"Couldn't have come up with a better idea myself," Astoria claimed before turning away now that any potential excitement had been averted. "Come on Luna, we've got Herbology first and breakfast ends in a few minutes."
Harry and Daphne got to their own feet with the two younger girls and, after retrieving Tracey's bag for her and waving Astoria and Luna off, waited patiently at the doors for her to return and head to double Charms.
When she did, skirting carefully away from Snape's murderous glare as she passed him, her expression was optimistic. "She says that they'll need to ask my parents for permission."
"What do you think they'll say?" Harry asked as he passed her bag over.
"They'll be fine with it, what difference does it make to them if I'm here, there and everywhere," Tracey shrugged as they set off toward the Grand Staircase.
Daphne hummed and cocked her head to the side. "That was an oddly catchy line, Trace - here, there and everywhere. Someone should write a song with that."
"Sure, Daph."
Two days later Professor McGonagall visited them at the Slytherin table during lunch to tell them that she had managed to get in touch with Tracey's father, who had given his blessing for her to stay with the Greengrass for the Easter break.
Tracey was in a jubilant mood for the rest of the day, not even complaining when they ended up spending most of that Saturday afternoon in the library completing their Potions and Astronomy essays, nor when she was beaten soundly by Daphne, Astoria and then Harry (even with the rest of the girls as partners) in their duels that night.
"At least I beat Luna," She shrugged uncaringly as the three second-years made their way back to the common room with five minutes to spare before curfew. However, as soon as they stepped foot into the common room they were accosted by an impatient sixth-year prefect.
"You three, with me," Gemma Farley demanded without so much as a greeting. "Come on, I haven't got all night." She continued before turning and prowling toward a corner table.
The three of them exchanged baffled looks before trailing after the girl who had clearly expected them to do so. When they arrived at the table, Farley was already seated and holding five pamphlets. She glanced up at them when they remained standing and rolled her eyes. "Sit down, this could take a while," She ordered, waving her hand, and two of the pamphlets, toward the seats opposite her.
They sat, Harry in the middle, and gave the prefect their full attention. "What's this about?" Harry asked once both girls had surreptitiously kicked him.
"This," She splayed the pamphlets out on the table facing them. "is information on what electives you can take next year." She pointed at the furthest left pamphlet. "Ancient Runes," She moved on to the next and along the line, "Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, Divination," She sighed exasperatedly when she reached the final pamphlet. "Muggle Studies."
All three made noises of understanding when she finished. "And I am here to answer any questions you might have and offer advice. Now, are there any courses you have a strong inclination towards?"
"Care," They all answered as one, Daphne much louder than the other two, who both turned their heads toward her with smirks.
Farley nodded and picked up the third pamphlet. "Care of Magical Creatures, taught by Professor Kettleburn, though there are unsubstantiated rumours that he might be considering retirement at the end of the year," The three second-years made a point of not reacting. "The subject, as the name suggests, focuses its curriculum on various magical creatures and how best to care for them, though also teaches you how to avoid and, if necessary, subdue the more dangerous creatures. It's a useful class to take if you harbour ambitions of a career in Law Enforcement, as a Magizoologist or if you want to take a Defence Mastery." She finished her speech by sliding the pamphlet across the table toward them, which Daphne quickly picked up.
"Do you take it?" Harry asked as he leaned over to read the pamphlet over Daphne's shoulder.
"Yes," Farley responded. "I want to become a Healer so it seemed prudent to take a class that studied things my future patients might have received injury from."
A spark of realisation went off in Harry's mind when he heard the word 'Healer'. "Wait, are you related to the Madam Farley who works in St. Mungo's?"
"She's my mother," Farley nodded. "And she doesn't just 'work' there, she's the Matron - that means Head Healer - of her own ward, Potter."
"Sorry," Harry said, holding up his hands. "She was the one who healed my godfather."
"I'm aware," She answered shortly, so Harry dropped the subject. He took the pamphlet from Daphne, who made a noise of outrage, and spread it open so Tracey, who was sat on his other side, could read it too.
Farley was surprisingly patient as she waited for them to finish reading. Once Harry had closed the pamphlet after receiving nods from both girls and slid it back across the table she gestured with her hands toward the others. "Are there any other subjects that already interest you?"
The three shared glances before shaking their heads, so Farley sighed and picked up the pamphlet for Ancient Runes. "The Study of Ancient Runes is just that, studying ancient runes. You'll learn about different ancient runes from a variety of cultures and decipher their meanings to modern English." Harry felt what little enthusiasm he had had for the subject vanish in an instant. He'd always been awful during French classes at Primary School. Farley noticed the look on his face, which must have been mirrored by the two girls on either side of him for she dropped the pamphlet. "I'll speak frankly - it's a dry subject and has no real practical use, though it has an undeserved reputation as being more than it really is. If you don't enjoy puzzles that rarely have an answer, don't take it."
Harry found himself more than open to taking her advice and nodded, seeing his friends do the same from either side of him. Farley shrugged and moved the pamphlet for Ancient Runes to one, lonely side of the table before picking up the next. "Arithmancy, the study of numbers and how they can help predict the future. It also-"
"Hold on, predict the future?" Harry interrupted, though he wilted when Farley speared him with a glare. "Err, sorry. It's just, isn't that Divination?"
"We're talking about Arithmancy, Potter. Interrupt me again and you'll wish you hadn't." She threatened, though when Harry merely frowned at her she gave him a little smile. "To be perfectly honest, it has its similarities to Divination, though it is a bit more useful. It also, as I was about to say before being rudely interrupted, includes the study of Numerology. It's a required subject if you want to become a Curse-Breaker, though I believe it's merely so the goblins know any potential employees can slog through utterly boring subject matters with their brains intact."
Tracey raised her hand hesitantly, asking for permission to speak, which Farley granted with a gleam in her eye. "Err, do you take it? And Runes? You speak about them both as if you do, and regret it."
"Yes, I took both subjects," Farley nodded. "And dropped them both as soon as I had my O.W.L.S. to focus on more important classes. I merely offer my thoughts, take them as you will. You might find you enjoy the subjects if you choose to take them."
"You have to take two classes minimum, right?" Harry asked, receiving another nod from Farley. Harry looked down at the pamphlets and felt worry bubble in his gut. So far, only Care of Magical Creatures sounded interesting to him so he hoped that either Divination or Muggle Studies, or both, were more appealing than the other two.
"Now, Divination next, seen as you were so eager to discuss it earlier, Potter," Farley spoke, pausing to eye him for a moment. "In Divination you will learn how to divine future events and gain insights into the future from such methods as reading tea leaves, gazing into crystal balls and, if what I overhear from Flint and Selwyn is any indication, keeping a log of your dreams." Farley sighed slightly and sat back in her seat. "As you now know, I never took this subject myself, but you are welcome to ask some of the older students who have for advice. All I will say is that I have heard that the class is taught by a woman, Professor Trelawney, who is more interested in theatrics and drinking sherry than being a good instructor. Again, take my words as you will."
Farley slid the pamphlet over to them before picking up the final one. "Muggle Studies - I'm sure you can all guess what this subject entails. Potter, Davis, as you both have Muggle heritage the class will be useless to you. Greengrass, from the complaints I sometimes hear from the muggleborn students who took the class for an easy pass, the subject is perhaps the worst taught in Hogwarts and the information is almost centuries out of date, so if you have a burning passion to learn muggle culture you're better off asking your friends or any muggleborns you might know. Again, take it if you'd like, but you two," She nodded toward Harry and Tracey. "Will probably struggle more than her," She nodded toward Daphne. "If what I hear is true the misinformation could confuse you."
Having finished her explanations, Farley sat back in her seat and stared impassively at the three of them. Daphne, who had been thumbing through the pamphlets as she gave her speeches was the first to speak. "So, to sum up, four of the subjects are either useless, boring or both whilst Care is the only one worth taking?"
"I hope I have been helpful to you, Greengrass," Farley shrugged with a barely perceptible grin. "Listen, take Care of Magical Creatures like you all want, but you still need another class. Have a look through those pamphlets, owl your parents, ask any Professors you trust to give honest advice, whatever. You may find one of the others interests you, in which case fabulous, but if you don't just pick one that you think you can get through for the next three years and drop it when finish your O.W.L.S." She got to her feet and stepped back from the table. "Take these, they're yours. You'll need to provide Professor Snape with your chosen subjects at least one week before the school year ends on June 26th. Now, with my duty to you done I'll leave you to discuss things."
Without a goodbye, the brunette sixth-year walked away toward the couches and her own friends, leaving the three of them sitting at the table and staring down at the pamphlets.
"So, Care and...?" Harry started listlessly.
"Not Muggle Studies," Tracey decided instantly.
"I agree," Daphne provided. "Divination could be interesting if it weren't for the teacher, though Farley may have been exaggerating, Runes sounds awful as well as useless and Arithmancy...it sounds boring but it might be the only other option we have."
"Alright, so we're left with Care-," Harry took the pamphlet for Care of Magical Creatures and placed it in front of him on the desk. He then slid the pamphlet for Muggle Studies over to sit with the one for Ancient Runes to be forgotten about and moved the ones for Arithmancy and Divination closer. "-and one of these two."
"I vote Arithmancy," Daphne said.
"I vote Divination," Tracey countered, before squeezing her eyes closed and lifting her fingers to her temples. "In fact...I'm getting a vision. A vision of us sitting around a crystal ball with an empty bottle of sherry next to us."
Daphne rolled her eyes. "Sure, Cassandra. What do you think, Harry?"
Harry picked up both pamphlets in either hand and made a show of moving them up and down as if weighing them. "Hmm, boring, dry and sounds like trying to predict the future using Maths," He lifted the pamphlet for Arithmancy higher. "Or a drunk teacher making us sift through tea leaves and write our dreams in diaries." He lowered Arithmancy and lifted Divination. "Choices, choices." He muttered sarcastically.
"Well, which is it?" Tracey prompted, both girls apparently deciding to leave it up to him. Harry narrowed his eyes and thought furiously for a moment, or at least that's what it appeared he was doing to his two friends.
In all actuality, he was playing a quick game of 'eenie-meenie-minie-mo'.
"Arithmancy," He declared after a moment, dropping the pamphlet for it next to the one for Care and throwing the one for Divination toward the discard pile.
"Yes!" Daphne crowed.
"Malfoy's taking Arithmancy," A quiet voice sounded from behind them. They all whirled to look upon Pansy Parkinson, who had overheard them on her way to her room. "So if you don't want to be stuck with him for another class, don't take it." With her advice given she turned and resumed her journey without another word.
The three of them turned back to the table and Harry instantly banished one pamphlet and summoned another. "Divination it is."
"Yes!" Tracey crowed. "I told you, Daph. Hopefully in the future you'll think better of doubting my powers."
"I will curse you."
Tracey screwed her eyes closed. "I'm getting another vision...yes, yes you will."
Of course, they didn't make their decision that day and wisely discussed it with others.
Astoria was no help whatsoever and bemoaned the lack of choice awaiting her next year. Luna advised taking Ancient Runes, which they had already discarded, as they could then take part in the puzzles posted in The Quibbler each month. Hagrid had taken Care and Muggle Studies and, when discussing the latter, was astonished to learn that muggles did not, outside of a few oddballs, still believe that the earth was flat, showing how out of date the subject was. Sirius, in a letter, advised he had taken Care, Muggle Studies (to spite his family) and Arithmancy and echoed Farley's comments on the latter. Daniel and Marie had both taken Care, Ancient Runes and Arithmancy and said that only Care was in any way enjoyable.
All of which meant that two weeks later they were still completely undecided. However, as they were now on the Hogwarts Express and rapidly approaching King's Cross Station, the three second-years had agreed to completely forget all about it to better enjoy their break.
Of course, that didn't mean they'd forgotten about all of their worries.
"What if they've changed their minds?" Tracey questioned anxiously around the fingernail she was biting harshly. "What if they've decided that they don't want me to stay anymore? What if-"
"You know what, you're right, Trace. You caught us," Astoria said suddenly, interrupting the girl's ranting and diverting her attention toward her. "Our cunning and devious plan to get you all the way to the station before yelling 'surprise!' and sending you back to Hogwarts alone has been rumbled. How disappointed will Mum and Dad be, they were so looking forward to your heartbroken face that they even bought some new film for the camera."
Tracey simply stared at her for a beat before her face broke. "Really?!"
"No, you dribbling idiot," Astoria burst, her eye twitching.
Tracey nodded and went back to biting her fingernails. Daphne, who was sitting on the other side of the compartment with Harry and Luna, pushed herself up from where she had been lying against Harry's arm and stretched her back. "Trace, do you really think Mum and Dad will have changed their minds? Dad's too nice to do that to you and Mum is even more stubborn than Astoria."
"Nooo," Tracey answered convincingly. "But what if-"
What if never came for Tracey's next worry was cut off by the train's whistle announcing their imminent arrival at the Station. Indeed, the train was visibly slowing as it approached the platform and they each got to their feet. Harry, as the tallest, had the job of taking each of their weightless trunks from the racks above them and shrinking them down ready to pass to their owners once the train had stopped. Next, Daphne and Astoria, who possessed the best mean faces, had the job of clearing a path down the corridor through the other students who had the idea of getting to the doors first whilst Tracey performed her task of keeping a firm grip on Luna to ensure they didn't lose their smallest member in the chaos.
Luna seemed perfectly happy with her designated job of looking cute and adorable and completed it with aplomb.
When the train had come to a complete stop and the door they had chosen opened theirs was the first group to step off the train and onto the platform. They moved through the sea of excited parents and older siblings to find a small clearing in which to look around for their own families.
Luna spotted her father first - after a close call when the girl had nearly run headlong toward Lucius Malfoy before he had turned around and shown his face - and, after a round of goodbyes and hugs, vanished into the crowd. The remaining four struggled to spot Daniel and Marie, or Sirius, in the crowd that was rapidly growing as more and more students poured out of the train.
"If only we were taller," Daphne complained. "Then we could - watch it!" She suddenly snapped at a plump, middle-aged red-haired woman who had encroached upon their space and pushed them all closer together.
"I'm sorry, dear," The woman said regretfully.
"You know, she might be on to something," Tracey murmured to Harry, who turned to her with a confused expression.
"What, bump into people and hope it's the ones we're looking for when they turn to shout at us?"
"No, not her, Daphne! One of us needs to be taller," She said meaningfully, moving her eyes toward the back of Astoria's head. Harry understood immediately and, as one, they both crouched as much as the little space around them allowed and grabbed a thigh each.
Astoria screamed when she suddenly grew four feet. "AHH! Put me down put me down put me - There they are! Over by the-AHH!" She screamed again when Harry and Tracey promptly dropped her, though at least Harry was kind enough to grab her hand and drag her through the crowd toward the direction she had pointed.
After a short but violent battle charge led by Daphne through the thick crowd - in which both Greengrass siblings made ample use of their sharp elbows - they finally managed to emerge from the thicket in front of the three adults waiting for them.
"There you all are, we were worried you'd gotten lost," Marie exclaimed when she spotted them, her face relieved. She smiled at her children and opened her arms to Daphne, who was closest.
"Harry!" Sirius greeted happily and opened his arms to his godson while Daniel hugged his youngest daughter. Tracey was left standing alone for only a moment before Marie broke away from her oldest and walked over to her.
"Hello again, Tracey dear. We've really been looking forward to having you," Marie told her with a kind smile before she leaned in closer to whisper conspiratorially. "It's lucky you came, Daniel was getting a bit big for his boots at finally not being outnumbered by females anymore. You've tipped the scales back in the correct direction, dear."
"Eh, no problem," Tracey giggled, already feeling more at ease, but before she could say anything more Astoria broke away from her father's hug to interrupt the one between Harry and Sirius.
"Why are you not wearing your collar?" She demanded of the man, who stepped away from his godson with a sigh. Astoria began tapping her foot loudly against the concrete floor as she wagged the index finger of her right hand at him. "Bad boy! Very bad boy! What am I going to attach this to?"
All eyes swiveled toward Astoria's left hand, which held within it a long, pink dog lead that she had just produced from somewhere in her robes. She grinned and moved it around slowly to show it off better.
"What do you think? Took me a week of Transfiguration to get it just right, but I think our new puppy is worth the effort."
Merry Christmas.