Freddie retrieved Ziggy from her office, along with her purse and Daniel's record player, before Disapparating to Spinner's End. She hadn't spent much time there the last couple of months and a layer of dust coated everything in the sitting room. She'd thought about going back to Hogwarts, but she knew Snape had work to do...and he hadn't seemed like he really wanted her there this morning.

She tried not to dwell on Snape's dynamic moods. She decided to give the house a good cleaning, since it was almost summer and he might be spending more time there. She set up the record player, put on her favorite Eagles album, and got to work with her wand.

She had just finished dusting the sitting room when her stomach growled loudly. Ziggy had been chasing one of his toys across the room and he stopped abruptly to meow at her.

"Yeah, I guess we both need some lunch, huh?" she said, stowing her wand in the pocket of her jeans. She'd changed back into her Muggle clothes before she started cleaning. She headed into the kitchen, turning the music up as she passed so she could still hear it. She opened the refrigerator but was disappointed with the selection. Expired milk, old cheese and vegetables, and a carton with just two eggs left in it. There were a few cans of grape soda and she popped the top on one as she closed the fridge. She sipped the fizzy drink while searching the cabinets. She hadn't been grocery shopping in a while, preferring to take her meals at the restaurants in London that were close to the hospital. There were some canned foods in the cabinet, but nothing looked particularly appealing.

"I guess we'll have to go out for lunch," she said to Ziggy, who had leapt onto the counter and was standing on his hind legs to peer into the cabinets with her. "And I can pick up a few groceries as well. Do you want to come with me? We can go to Diagon Alley. There are plenty of restaurants where-"

Freddie was interrupted by a tapping at the kitchen window. Surprised, she saw it was a small owl with an envelope clamped in his beak.

"Hello there," she said as she opened the window curiously. "Are you looking for Severus?"

But the owl dropped the envelope into her hand with a doleful hoot. It had 'Freddie Gray' written on the front. It wasn't Snape's small, cramped handwriting or Ada's elegant cursive. It was a narrow, slanted font she didn't recognize. Curious, she quickly opened the envelope.

Miss Gray,

Please come to my office this evening after dinner, if you are available. There is someone I would like you to meet.

-Albus Dumbledore

"Dumbledore," she said aloud wondrously. "I wonder who he wants me to meet? Someone from the Order? I hope it's not Sirius Black..."

The little owl in the window hooted again. It seemed to be waiting on something.

"Oh, I should let him know I'll be there. Can you hang on a sec?" she asked the owl. He blinked and hooted softly. Freddie summoned her bag from the other room and quickly dug out a bit of parchment and a self-inking quill. She scribbled a note to the headmaster, letting him know she'd be there around 7:30. Dinner at Hogwarts ran from 5-7 so she figured that was plenty of time for him to have finished eating. She rolled up the parchment and the owl took it in his talons. He hooted his goodbye before taking flight from the windowsill.

"Guess we're going back to Hogwarts tonight," Freddie said to Ziggy. "You'll get to see your friend again. I wonder if I'll get to see Ada? ...Hey, maybe Ada could have lunch with us! We could go to Hogsmeade. It can't hurt to ask. Come on, Zig."

She slung her bag over her shoulder. She went to turn the record player off, then decided to bring it with her. With the Undetectable Extension Charm on her purse the record player fit in easily enough without adding to the weight. She gathered Ziggy in her arms and Disapparated.

#

When they appeared outside the Hogwarts gate Freddie noticed there were a lot more students out on the grounds than there had been that morning. She didn't want any of them to see her and wonder who she was. After thinking a moment she let Ziggy down then transformed into her Animagus form. Ziggy circled her, purring happily, and she gave him an affectionate lick.

Let's go find Ada, she thought silently and together they headed across the grounds towards the Beauxbatons carriage.

It was clear Dumbledore had canceled classes for the day, just like Snape had said, but she wasn't sure if the Beauxbatons students would be in class or not. As they passed the Whomping Willow she saw a couple of girls in Beauxbatons uniforms giggling as two Ravenclaw boys tried to impress them by getting close to the violent tree. Neither of the girls was Ada so Freddie trotted towards the carriage with Ziggy close behind.

She was nearing the carriage when the door opened and Ada stepped out, followed by a blonde girl Freddie didn't recognize. Ada spotted her immediately and quickly turned to her friend.

"Je te vous plus tard, Madeline," she said in rapid french. "Je vais rencontrer quelqu'un."

"Qui? A boy?" the girl named Madeline asked with a mischievous grin.

"No, just a friend. I'll see you later."

"Bien. Have fun, Ada."

Ada waited until her classmate walked away in the direction of the lake before approaching the kneazles.

"What's up, Freddie? Hey Ziggy."

Freddie flicked her tail and headed in the direction of the Sundial Garden. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Ada had understood. She was pleased to see the girl was following her.

When they reached the circle of tall stones Freddie made sure they were alone before transforming back to her human form.

"Bonjour, Adalene," she said with a smile.

"Bonjour, Winifred. What are you doing here? I thought you'd be at work."

"I was, but Master Hawkins sent me home. She told me to take a day off after what happened at the Triwizard Tournament. I didn't get much sleep last night."

"What time did Snape get back?"

"Around 3 this morning. We didn't get to sleep until after 4. I missed breakfast and lunch, so I thought I'd come see if you'd like to go to Hogsmeade with me? Will Madame Maxime let you go you think?"

"Oo yes I'd love to go!" she said enthusiastically. "And I will not even ask her. She is down at Monsieur Hagrid's anyway."

"Hagrid? Really?"

"Oui. I think perhaps they are dating. They have been spending a lot of time with one another since we first arrived. They were even together at the Yule Ball. They are sort of perfect for one another, I think. She is a very large woman."

"Hey, you didn't see Snape with anyone at the ball did you?" Freddie asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "He didn't even tell me about it."

"No, he wasn't with anyone," Ada chuckled. "He caught Fleur in the garden with Roger Davies though. He is one of your handsome Ravenclaw boys and from my understanding they were in quite a state of undress when Snape caught them." She giggled helplessly and Freddie smiled. She could only imagine Snape's reaction to catching students having sex in the bushes. "Roger got a month of detention and Madame Maxime chewed Fleur out for hours the next day. I thought she was going to cry."

"They should've picked a better hiding spot," Freddie chuckled. "Won't you get in trouble if you go to Hogsmeade without asking?"

"Only if I get caught and I will not get caught," she said haughtily. She pulled out her wand and tapped herself on the head with it. Freddie watched as her friend vanished from the Disillusionment Charm. "I can get some of my Muggle clothes from the carriage and change when we reach the village. No one will know I am a Beauxbatons student."

"Clever," Freddie remarked. "I have extra clothes in my bag if you want to wear those."

"Perfect," Ada said. "Are you going to change back into a kneazle?"

"Actually I think I'll do the charm, too," Freddie said, drawing her wand. "That way we can still talk on the way, as long as no one is around."

"Bien," Ada said once Freddie had applied the charm. "Hold my hand so I know where you are."

Freddie felt the girl's hand on her shoulder, trying to find her invisible hand. She chuckled as she took Ada's hand in hers and laced their fingers together.

"Allons-y," Ada said cheerfully and together they headed back towards the gate with Ziggy following along behind them.