Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lucy was reading her letter from home in her dormitory one early October night. Her mother was telling her how life was back at home...

Dearest Lucy,

We are all fine here. So don't panic when I tell you this news. Your father has been called up to fight in the war. Don't worry though please, he says that's his job. Not yours. I hope everything at Hogwarts is fine and I hope you're having a wonderful time. I know it's going to be a while until we see each other again as you have to stay for Christmas (which I think was very sensible of your headmaster). I'll try and send you a gift by owl. I hope the food is a bit better where you are my sweet as rations have began here. Eric is finding school quite difficult as boys not much older than him are going to war or work. He feels like such a burden, bless him. Eric has asked me to ask you if there are any spells to conjure up money. I do miss you dear, truly I do; I could do with your smile at times like this. Well I must go, I have plenty of work to do. I'll try and get Eric to write to you next time.

Much love from mother X

She closed the letter up as she let a small tear fall down. She missed them too, very much. Her father going to war was unexpected news for her but she supposed he would want to help as much as he can. Lucy wiped away all her tears before going back down to the common room. Barty Crouch was doing his homework as always, he was a 'big bookworm' according to his classmates. Lucy sitting by her friends as they were sat near the fireplace on this cold night. That's why most students were in the common room and not their dormitories.

"Was the letter sad?" Ruth asked; having guessed by her face.

"Yes. My father's gone to war to help out" Lucy paused as she wiped away more tears..."But mother said not to worry"

"I'm so sorry, Lucy. I can't imagine what that feels like" Ruth replied as she leaned over to give her friend a hug.

Lucy did have to get her comfort from her other friends. As Argus never seemed in the right mood to give her this sort of treatment despite her being his only friend. She knew there was no point in telling him anything like this as he would just suddenly switch on her before bringing the sympathy back on himself. She breathed in as she wiped away the remaining tears.

"Are you going home in December?" Lucy then asked her friends.

They gave a guilty looking nod. All three of them were as they weren't muggle-borns or in major cities. She just gave a forced smile so they don't feel bad, she would go home too if she could. It wasn't their fault, it was just the way things went sometimes.

"The Christmas feast will be wonderful, Lucy. You will get wizard crackers with chess and hats...I heard you even get music and dancing, Slughorn loves a good party. You and the others staying behind will be treated like royalty" Poppy spoke gently, trying to cheer her up.

"Yes. Me and Myrtle were talking about that...I'm lucky really, my family are on rations so I shouldn't be acting spoilt" Lucy said with a sad sigh.

"You just miss them, that's all" Victoria chimed in, giving her a gentle pat on her shoulder.

...

Sitting in the Slytherin dormitory were five boys as Tom Riddle sat on his bed with his nose in a book about Slytherin's history. Avery, Lestrange, Nott and Rosier were the other four lads he shared with. Rosier was Druella's younger brother and thus uncle of the future Bellatrix, Narcissa and Andromeda. Sweets were laid on the bed as Walburga and Druella had brought back the boys some sweets from Honeydukes. Lestrange was currently eating an acid pop. As Tom read his book, the other lads talked about more insignificant things.

"It's quidditch try-outs in the morning...Come and watch me lads, I'm going to try out for the beater role. Can't wait to knock some mudbloods into next week" Nott announced.

"We'll be there for that. Try and knock out the squib's brother too" Lestrange replied.

"You mean Archibald Filch?" Nott asked casually.

"Yes. That jumped-up braggart needs to be taken down. He's only good on his broomstick because his father buys him the latest model every season. What broomstick have you got?"

"Cleansweep One"

"Oh. Well try and knock him out anyway or better yet, break his broomstick. He wouldn't last five minutes on a school broom...That's a good idea actually, do that" Lestrange spoke with a small grin.

The boys briefly looked at Tom. He was just engrossed in that book as he began writing down notes from it. He didn't care about sports either, that's what his so-called friends learned quickly. Tom barely reacted to being stared at as he wrote down more notes about a chamber and a serpent. Rosier bent his head down slightly to read his notes as his bed was nearest. Tom closing his diary as he stared back at him.

"Do you want to watch Nott's try-out in the morning? You deserve a break...You gained so many house points already for us. Slughorn may as well lick your boots by this point" Rosier nervously spoke up.

"I don't have time" Tom quickly replied; putting an end to that.

His friends giving quiet sighs among themselves. As they went back to talking to one another about the try-out, girls and lessons. Tom opening his book again as he wrote down more notes. He was reading about the legend of the 'Chamber of Secrets' and the serpent that lives inside it. Rosier moving closer to his friends as he sat on Nott's bed. The four lads talking among themselves again while Tom wrote quietly in the corner, a nightly occurrence by this point.

...

For the first time, Lucy found herself walking to the quidditch pitch with Argus. As he finally managed to convince her to come and watch his brother. She needed some cheering up, even he could see that. She sat with an excited Argus in the stands, the Riddle gang (apart from Tom) were sitting inches away as they watched Nott. The four houses were recruiting for the new season. Archibald standing there with his 'Comet 180' rather proudly. The light rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of those there. Leofwine Jacks making sure everything went smoothly as the elderly wizard stood near the Gryffindor team. A whistle was heard being blown and this made the students trying out go up in the air. Nott held up a bat as he got ready to swing at the bludger. He swung with a purpose and the bludger hit the broomstick of an unsuspecting Archibald Filch. Making the Slytherin team erupt into laughter while clapping. Archibald storming over as he shouted some profanities. The Ravenclaw team having to pull him back. The Riddle gang laughing and pointing as they clapped, chanting...

"Nott is the beater of brooms! Nott is the beater of brooms!"

"I'll show them a beating!" Argus snapped as he went to get up.

Though Lucy had to grab onto him as she told him they aren't worth it. The boys jeering as they looked towards him. Nott landed back down after swinging another bludger towards one of the hoops. He was a good beater, the Slytherin team were quite pleased. Winky Crockett shaking his hand as he welcomed him into the team, he was the 'Captain of the Slytherin Team'.

"That's so unfair" Lucy spoke up as she held onto Argus still.

"My father worked so hard to buy Archie's broomstick...He didn't work hard just so some brute can destroy it!" Argus yelled.

The boys sniggering in response as they watched him get more irate. The Filch boys had bad tempers. Archibald was still yelling insults over at Nott and the Slytherin team as he held up his broken broomstick. Argus gently shoved Lucy away so he could get past. As he stormed past the Riddle gang and down to the pitch. He was seen shouting at Nott too. Lucy watching with vicarious frustration as the Slytherin team didn't even apologize. Archibald had found a bit more self-control as he pulled his brother back.

"He's not worth it, Argus. Trust me" Archibald told him firmly.

"Go mop a floor or something you filthy squib!" Nott shouted.

Making Argus rush back over towards him. The whistle was heard being blown again as Professor Jacks stormed over. Argus was seconds away from throwing his first punch before being grabbed by Jacks. Nott giving a nervous laugh as he looked at his teammates. Lucy watching through her fingers as she watched this scene unfold from the stands. Archibald began shouting again after this insult towards his brother.

"Shut your mouth! You pathetic little lout!" Archibald yelled back.

"Your brother is a squib and a blood traitor!" one of the Slytherins intervened.

The whistle was blown a third time by the elderly flying instructor. Though the final insult seemed to be the final straw. As Argus lunged at the fifth-year boy before held back once again by Archibald. The professor telling the Slytherin team to go now as their time on the pitch was up.

"Blood traitor. That was a good one" Lestrange said to his friends on the stands.

...

TBC