XXIII. Memorable
Worth remembering or easily remembered, especially because of being special or unusual.
Jayla is enjoying the day, sitting in Potions a few days after her little incident with Buckbeak on the first day of the school year, happy to have a double lesson, one of her favourite subjects, though her sling is getting in the way since she still can't use her left arm. "Settle down, settle down," Professor Snape orders idly, walking to the front of the classroom as they make a new potion today, a Shrinking Solution. Draco sets up his cauldron next to Harry and Ron as he helps his cousin as his Potions partner, and he prepares their ingredients on the same table.
"Sir," Malfoy calls out, "sir, I'll need help cutting up these daisy roots because I have to give Jayla her medicine."
"Weasley cut up Malfoy's roots for him," Snape orders the redhead without looking up. Ron knows it's for his best friend, but another side of his brain says otherwise, going brick red in the face.
"You'll do anything to get out of doing work," Ron hisses at Malfoy, watching the blond teenage boy rummaging around in his cousin's bag to find the medicine bottle.
"Weasley, you heard Professor Snape cut up these roots," Draco teases him, and Ron seizes his knife, pulls the roots towards him and begins chopping them roughly so they are all different sizes. Draco finds the bottle and uncorks it, giving it to Jayla quickly and sees what Ron has done as Jayla gulps the medicine down, making a sour face, and Harry snickers at her, gaining her attention, and she rolls her eyes, making a face at him. "Professor," Draco drawls, "Weasley's mutilating our roots, sir," Snape approaches their table, staring down his hooked nose at the roots, and then gives Ron an unpleasant smile from beneath his long, greasy black hair.
"Change roots with Malfoy, Weasley," The Professor demands.
"But sir -!" Ron argues, having spent the last quarter of an hour carefully shredding his roots into equal pieces.
"Now," He repeats in his most dangerous voice. Ron shoves his beautifully cut roots across the table at Malfoy, then takes up the knife again.
"How's Hagrid?" Draco asks, breaking the silence and surprising the boys.
"None of your business," Ron replies jerkily without looking up.
"Do you think he'll still be a teacher for much longer?" Malfoy questions. "The Ministry's not very happy about my cousin's injury -."
"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you a real injury," He warns the bleach-blond Pure-blood.
"Can you both just stop being so loud," Jayla grumbles, rubbing her forehead to get rid of the headache.
"What's wrong?" Draco mutters, looking at his cousin and seeing her face scrunched up. "Do you have another headache?" Jayla nods as the headache worsens, and a few cauldrons away, Neville is in deep trouble. Neville regularly goes to pieces in Potions because it is his worst subject, and his greatest fear is Professor Snape, which makes things ten times worse. His potion, which is supposed to be a bright, acid green, has turned -.
"Orange, Longbottom," Snape snaps, ladling some up before splashing it back into the cauldron in front of everyone. "Orange. Tell me, boy, does anything penetrate that thick skull of yours? Didn't you hear me say, quite clearly, that only one rat spleen was needed? Didn't I state plainly that a dash of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to do to make you understand, Longbottom?" Neville goes pink and trembling as he looks on the verge of tears at the verbal assault.
"Please, sir," Hermione interrupts, "please, I could help Neville put it right -."
"I don't remember asking you to show off, Miss Granger," He coldly sneers at the bushy-haired teen, and Hermione goes as pink as Neville. "Longbottom, at the end of this lesson, we will feed a few drops of this potion to your toad and see what happens. Perhaps that will encourage you to do it properly." Snape moves away, leaving poor Neville breathless with fear.
"Help me!" Neville moans to Hermione.
"Hey, Harry," Seamus says, leaning over to borrow Harry's brass scales, "have you heard? Daily Prophet this morning - they reckon Sirius Black's been sighted again." Jayla groans, ducking her head as she can barely open her eyes due to the pain and raises her hand.
"What is it, Darkmore?" Snape questions, looking at the girl.
"I have a headache, sir," Jayla grumbles, gaining everyone's attention as they look at the young Darkmore Heiress.
"Malfoy, take Miss Darkmore to Madam Pomfrey," He orders him, and Draco nods, guiding his cousin from her chair and out of the classroom. The other students watch, growing worried about her as this is the 3rd time since the accident with Buckbeak she's complained about headaches.
"That's the 3rd time. Do you think she's okay?" Ron questions, looking at Harry, who seems deep in thought. "Hey, you okay?" Harry snaps out of it and looks at his best friend.
"Yeah, yeah. Jayla will be fine; it's probably just stress," Harry reasons. "You know she feels guilty about what's happening with Buckbeak."
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Potions class finishes, and Harry, Ron and Hermione climb the steps to the Entrance Hall from the Dungeons, wondering where Jayla is as she hasn't yet returned from the Hospital Wing. Harry can't help but think about what Goyle said in class about Sirius Black, while Ron is seething about the stunt Snape pulled with Neville and Hermione in class. "Five points from Gryffindor because the potion was all right! Why didn't you lie, Hermione?" Ron scolds her. "You should've said Neville did it all by himself!" He doesn't get a reply and looks around, but she's nowhere to be seen. "Where is she?" Harry turns, too, as the pair are at the top of the steps now, watching the rest of the class pass them, heading for the Great Hall for lunch. "She was right behind us," Ron frowns, and Goyle and Crabbe walk past them, smirking at Harry before disappearing.
"There she is," Harry announces, spotting Hermione panting slightly and hurrying up the stairs with one hand clutching her bag and the other seems to be tucking something down the front of her robes.
"How did you do that?" Weasley questions, looking at her in confusion.
"What?" Hermione asks, joining them.
"One minute, you were right behind us, and next moment, you were back at the bottom of the stairs again," He tells her, and before she can answer, she's saved.
"Hey, guys," Jayla makes the boys yelp in shock, turning to see her standing behind them without the sling.
"You don't have your sling," Harry mutters, looking at her. "Are you okay?" He asks her, looking at her with worry.
"Yeah, Pomfrey said it could be from the stress of everything. She gave me my check-up while I was there. All good again. Just in time for Quidditch, too. Unfortunately, I can't practise for another two weeks, which is a big pain." Jayla sulks, wanting to play so badly since she returned from summer. Suddenly, a seam split on Hermione's bag, which didn't surprise Harry as he could see that it was crammed with at least a dozen large and heavy books.
"Why are you carrying all these around with you?" Ron asks her, looking at the pile of books as Hermione picks them up with help from Harry and Jayla.
"You know how many subjects I'm taking," Hermione reminds him breathlessly. "Couldn't hold these for me, could you?"
"But -," Ron tries arguing, but Jayla shushes him as she places some books into his arms, and he looks over the books she hands him, looking at the covers. "You haven't got any of these subjects today. It's only Defence Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic and Transfiguration this afternoon."
"Oh, yes," She replies vaguely, but she packs all the books back into her bag just the same. "I hope there's something good for lunch; I'm starving," She adds, marching towards the Great Hall.
"D'you get the feeling Hermione's not telling us something?" He asks Harry.
"D'you get the feeling you wouldn't understand half of what she told you?" Jayla questions jokingly, walking off.
"That was uncalled for!" Weasley shouts, running after her, and Harry smiles, glad his friend is doing better after the last few eventful days.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Golden Quartet arrive for their first DADA lesson, but Professor Lupin isn't there when the class enters. Everyone sits down, taking out their books, quills and parchment, and the students talk among themselves when he finally enters the room. Remus smiles vaguely and places his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. He is as shabby as ever but looks healthier than he did on the train like he has had a few square meals. "Good afternoon," Lupin greets the class. "Would you please put all your books back in your bags? Today's will be a practical lesson. You will only need your wands." A few students exchange curious looks as the class puts away their books. They wonder what a practical lesson will entail. They had never had one in DADA unless they counted the memorable class last year when their old teacher brought a cage full of cornish pixies, set them loose, and left the Golden Quartet to handle it. "Right then," Professor Lupin says, when everyone is ready, "if you'd follow me." Puzzled and interested, the class gets to their feet and follows Professor Lupin out of the classroom.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
"If this is another Cornish Pixie, I am not going to be happy," Jayla grumbles, having a feeling about this class, and she isn't sure it's good.
"I'll protect you," Harry jokes, holding her hand and trying to fight the blush that creeps up his neck as Lupin leads them along the deserted corridor and around a corner, where they first see Peeves, the poltergeist, floating upside-down in mid-air and stuffing the nearest keyhole with chewing gum. Peeves doesn't look up, and Lupin is two feet away, then he wiggles his curly-toed feet and breaks into song.
"Loony loopy Lupin," Peeves sings. "Loony loopy Lupin, loony, loopy Lupin -." Rude and unmanageable as he almost always is, Peeves usually shows some respect towards the teachers. The students glance at the Professor to see how he will take this; to their surprise, he still smiles.
"I'd take that gum out of the keyhole if I were you, Peeves," He warns him pleasantly. "Mr Filch won't be able to get to his brooms." However, Peeves pays no attention to Lupin's words except to blow a loud, wet raspberry. Remus gives a small sigh and takes out his wand. "This is a useful little spell." He tells the class over his shoulder. "Please watch closely." He raises it to shoulder height, saying, "Waddiwasi!" and points it at Peeves. With the force of a bullet, the wad of chewing gum shoots out of the keyhole and straight down Peeves's left nostril; he whirls right way up and zooms away, cursing.
"Cook, sir!" Dean beams in amazement.
"Thank you, Dean," Professor Lupin replies, putting his wand away again. "Shall we proceed?" The class starts again, and the students look at the shabby Professor with increasing respect. He leads them down a second corridor and stops outside the staff door. "Inside, please." He instructs them, opening it and standing back.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The staff room, a long, panelling space full of old, mismatched chairs, is empty except for one teacher. Professor Snape sits in a low armchair and looks around as the class files in. His eyes are glittering, and a nasty sneer plays around his mouth. As Professor Lupin comes in and makes to close the door behind him, Snape says, "Leave it open, Lupin. I'd rather not witness this." He gets to his feet and strides past the class, his black robes billowing behind him. At the doorway, he turns on his heel and remarks, "Possibly no one's warned you, Lupin, but this class contains Neville Longbottom. I would advise you not to entrust him with anything difficult. Not unless Miss Granger is hissing instructions in his ear." Neville goes scarlet, and the Gryffindors glare at Snape, sticking up for their Housemate; it is bad enough he bullies Neville in his own classes, let alone doing it in front of other teachers. Professor Lupin raises an eyebrow at the man.
"I was hoping that Neville would assist me with the first stage of the operation," Lupin argues, "and I am sure he will perform it admirably." Neville's face goes impossibly redder as Snape's lip curls, but he leaves, shutting the door with a snap. "Now, then," He says, beckoning the class towards the end of the room, where there is nothing except an old wardrobe in which the teachers keep their spare robes. As Remus goes to stand next to it, the closet gives a sudden wobble, banging off the wall. "Nothing to worry about," The Professor assures his students calmly as a few teens jump backwards in alarm. "There's a Boggart in there." Most people seem to feel that this is something to worry about. Neville gives Professor Lupin a look of pure terror, and Seamus apprehensively eyes the rattling doorknob. "Boggarts like dark, enclosed spaces. Wardrobes, the gap beneath beds, the cupboards under sinks - I once met one that had lodged itself in a grandfather clock. This one moved in yesterday afternoon, and I asked the Headmaster if the staff would leave it to give my third years some practice. So, the first question we must ask ourselves is, what is a Boggart?"
"It's a shape-shifter," Hermione raises her hand and answers. "It can take the shape of whatever it thinks will frighten us most." Ron jumps, glancing at Hermione, not realising she is beside him.
"When'd she get here?" Ron whispers to Harry.
"Couldn't have put it better myself," Professor Lupin smiles, making Hermione glow. "So the Boggart in the darkness within has not yet assumed a form. He does not yet know what will frighten the person on the other side of the door. Nobody knows what a Boggart looks like when he is alone, but when I let him out, he will immediately become whatever each of us most fears. This means," He says, ignoring Neville's small splutter of terror, "that we have a huge advantage over the Boggart before we begin. Have you spotted it, Harry?" Trying to answer a question with Hermione next to him, bobbing up and down on the balls of her feet with her hand in the air, is very off-putting, but Harry has a go.
"Er - because there are so many of us, it won't know what shape it should be?" Harry guesses.
"Put your hand down," Jayla whispers to Hermione, not wanting her best friend to get off on the wrong foot with their new teacher.
"Precisely," Lupin says, and Hermione puts her hand down, looking a little disappointed. "It's always best to have company when you're dealing with a Boggart. He becomes confused. Which should he become, a headless corpse or a flesh-eating slug? I once saw a Boggart make that very mistake - tried to frighten two people at once and turned himself into half a slug. Not remotely frightening." This earns a laugh from some of the students. "The charm that repels a Boggart is simple, yet it requires force of mind. You see, the thing that really finishes a Boggart is laughter. What you need to do is force it to assume a shape that you find amusing. We will practise the charm without wands first. After me, please… Riddikulus!"
"Riddikulus!" The class exclaim together.
"It's this class that's ridiculous," Draco mutters softly, earning snickers from Crabbe and Goyle.
"Your haircut is ridiculous," Jayla jokes, turning back to look at her cousin and earning a few snickers from their classmates.
"Good," Lupin grins. "Very good. But that was the easy part, I'm afraid. You see, the word alone is not enough. And this is where you come in, Neville." The wardrobe shakes again, though not as much as Neville, who walks forward like he is heading for the gallows. "Right, Neville," Remus encourages him. "First things first: what would you say is the thing that frightens you most in the world?" Neville's lips move, but no noise comes out. "Didn't catch that, Neville, sorry," He chirps. Neville looks around rather wildly as though begging someone to help him.
"Professor Snape," Neville says barely above a whisper, making nearly everyone laugh, lightening the mood almost; even Neville grins apologetically. Professor Lupin, however, looks thoughtful.
"Professor Snape… hmmm… Neville, I believe you live with your grandmother?" Lupin questions.
"Er - yes," He answers nervously. "But - I don't want the Boggart to turn into her, either."
"No, no, you misunderstand me," The Professor tells him, smiling. "I wonder, could you tell us what sort of clothes your grandmother usually wears?" Neville looks at the teacher, startled by the question.
"Well… always the same hat. A tall one with a stuffed vulture on top. And a long dress… green, normally… and sometimes a fox-fur scarf." Neville answers.
"And a handbag?" Remus prompts.
"A big red one," He answers.
"Right then," Lupin says. "Can you picture those clothes very clearly, Neville? Can you see them in your mind's eye?"
"Yes," Longbottom answers uncertainly, wondering what is coming next.
"When the Boggart bursts out of this wardrobe, Neville, and sees you, it will assume the form of Professor Snape," Lupin forwarns the boy. "And you will raise your wand - thus - and cry 'Riddikulus' - and concentrate hard on your grandmother's clothes. If all goes well, Professor Boggart Snape will be forced into that vulture-topped hat, that green dress, that big red handbag." There is a great shout of laughter from the students. The wardrobe wobbles more violently. "If Neville is successful, the Boggart is likely to turn his attention to each of us in turn. I would like all of you to take a moment now to think of the thing that scares you most and imagine how you might force it to look comical…" The room goes deadly quiet, with everyone thinking of their most fearful moment and memory. Harry thinks of Lord Voldemort - a Voldemort returning to full power. But before he has a chance to plan a possible counter-attack on the Boggart vision of Voldemort, a horrible image comes floating to the surface of his mind… A rotting, glistening hand slithering back beneath a black cloak… a long, rattling breath from an unseen mouth… then a cold so penetrating it felt like drowning… Harry shivers, then looks around, hoping no one notices, but he sees Jayla looking at him and takes his hand back into hers. Many of the students have their eyes shut tight; even Ron is muttering to himself.
"Take its legs off," Ron mutters, as everyone knows the redhead's greatest fear is spiders.
"Everyone ready?" Professor Lupin asks the class. Harry feels a lurch of fear, tightening his hold on Jayla's hand. He isn't ready. How can you make a Dementor less frightening? But he doesn't want to ask for more time as everyone else nods and rolls up their sleeves. "Neville, we're going to back away," He informs the shy Gryffindor. "Let you have a clear field, all right? I'll call the next person forward… everyone back, now so Neville can get a clear shot -." Everyone retreats, backing against the walls, leaving Neville alone beside the wardrobe. He looks pale and frightened, but he pushes up his robe sleeves and holds his wand ready. "On the count of three, Neville," Lupin says, pointing his wand at the wardrobe handle. "One… two… three… now!" A jet of sparks shoots from the end of Remus' wand and hits the doorknob. The wardrobe bursts open. Hook-nosed and menacing, Professor Snape steps out, his eyes flashing at Neville. The poor boy backs away, his wand up, mouthing wordlessly. Snape bears down upon him, reaching inside his robes.
"R-R-Riddikulus!" Neville squeaks, and there is a noise like a whip-crack, making Snape stumble; he wears a long, lace-trimmed dress and a towering hat topped with a moth-eaten vulture, swinging a vast crimson handbag from his hand.
"I wish I brought a camera," Jayla laughs amongst the class, who roar with laughter; the Boggart pauses, confused.
"Parvati! Forward!" Professor Lupin shouts, turning on a record player that plays upbeat music, and she walks forward, her face set. The Boggart rounds her, and there is another crack, and where Snape stood is a bloodstained, bandaged mummy; its sightless face is turned to Parvati, and it begins to walk towards her very slowly, dragging its feet, its stiff arms rising…
"Riddikulus!" Parvati cries, and a bandage unravels at the mummy's feet, beginning to entangle, falling face forward, and its head rolls off.
"Seamus!" Remus roars over the music, and Seamus darts past Parvati. Crack! Where the mummy was a woman with floor-length black hair and a skeletal, green-tinged face - a banshee. She opens her mouth wide, and an unearthly sound fills the room, a long, wailing shriek which makes the hair on the other students' heads stand on end…
"Riddikulus!" Seamus shouts, and the banshee makes a rasping noise and clutches her throat; her voice is gone. Crack! The banshee turns into a rat, which chases its tail in a circle, and then - crack! - becomes a rattlesnake, which slithers and writhes before - crack! - becoming a single, bloody eyeball.
"It's confused!" Lupin shouts, informing the classroom. "We're getting there! Dean!" Dean hurries forward. Crack! The eyeball becomes a severed hand, which flips over and creeps along the floor like a crab.
"Riddikulus!" Dean yells, and there is a snap with the hand getting trapped in a mousetrap.
"Excellent! Ron, you next!" Ron leaps forward. Crack! Quite a few students scream. A giant spider, six feet tall and covered in hair, advances on Ron, clicking its pincers menacingly. For a moment, Harry thinks Ron has frozen. Then…
"Riddikulus!" Ron bellows, and the spider's legs vanish. It rolls over and over; Lavender Brown squeals and runs out of its way, stopping at Jayla's feet. She raises her wand, ready, but freezes. Crack! Everyone watches, expecting to see something different as the Boggart transforms into an open flame. Draco watches his cousin, growing worried for her as she raises her hand without her wand toward the fire, but she seems to come to her senses and runs out of the staff room.
"Jayla!" The Gryffindor students and Draco shout after her.
"I'll go after her," Ron volunteers as he's already had his go and Professor Lupin jumps out of his surprise and nods, allowing him to leave. Harry looks after his friend, growing worried and looks at the flames as they disappear. Crack! Concern flickers through Remus' face. The flames disappear, transforming into a… Dementor. The music fades in Harry's ears as he raises his wand, then… freezes, transfixed. The Dementor looms closer and closer when Lupin steps between them, snapping his wand.
"Here!" Professor Lupin shouts suddenly. Crack! The Dementor vanishes. For a second, everyone looks wildly around to see where it is. A roiling mist appears, which becomes clouds. Then they see something glowing within them, white, silvery and round… hanging in front of Lupin, who says "Riddikulus!" almost lazily. Crack! "Forward, Neville, and finish him off!" Lupin instructs as the Boggart lands on the floor as a cockroach. Crack! Snape is back. This time, Neville charges forward, looking determined.
"Riddikulus!" He shouts, and they have a split second's view of Snape in his lacy dress before Neville lets out a great "Ha!" of laughter, and the Boggart explodes, bursting into a thousand tiny wisps of smoke, and is gone.
"Excellent!" Remus cries as the class applauds. "Excellent, Neville. Well done, everyone. Let me see… five points to Gryffindor for every person to tackle the Boggart - ten for Neville because he did it twice - and five each to Hermione and Harry."
"But I didn't do anything," Harry argues.
"You and Hermione answered my questions correctly at the start of the class, Harry," He tells him lightly. "Very well, everyone, an excellent lesson. Homework: kindly read the chapter on Boggarts and summarise it for me… to be handed in on Monday. That will be all." The class leave the staff room talking excitedly; Harry, however, isn't feeling cheerful. Professor Lupin deliberately stopped him from tackling the Boggart. Why? Is it because he saw Harry collapse on the train and thinks he isn't up to much? Does he believe Harry will pass out again? But no one else seems to notice anything.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
"Did you see me take that banshee?" Seamus shouts excitedly as the other students walk down the corridor, heading back to the classroom.
"And the hand!" Dean says, waving his own around. "And Snape in that hat!"
"And my mummy!" Parvati exclaims.
"I wonder why Professor Lupin's frightened of crystal balls?" Lavender wonders thoughtfully.
"That was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson we've ever had, wasn't it?" Bem questions, returning to the classroom to get their bags.
"He seems a very good teacher," Hermione approves, though she worries about her best friend, who ran out of the staff room. "But I wish I could have had a turn with the Boggart -." She spots her friends walking towards her and pulls Jayla into a hug.
"What would it have been for you?" Ron questions, sniggering. "A piece of homework that only got nine out of ten?"
"Leave her alone, Ronald," Jayla warns him, hugging Hermione, and they head to their next class. "Or I will send all of Aragog's children to your room."
"You wouldn't dare!" He yelps, looking at the young Heiress in fear.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
At the end of the day, Jayla sits in the armchair in the Common Room with a book in her lap, but she doesn't pay much attention to it as she stares at the flames in the fireplace when Harry sits beside her, taking the book. "What are we reading?" Harry inquires, looking at the book cover. "The Return of the King. Nice. What chapter are we on?" He looks at the bookmark, seeing a new one he doesn't recognise. It's blue, which he knows is her least favourite colour, purple being her top favourite. The bookmark is made of thick cardboard, which Harry thinks makes it look cheap, but he won't tell Jayla that as he looks at the simple pen drawing of a sapling. "Chapter Six: Many Partings. When the days of rejoicing were over at last, the Companions thought of returning to their own homes. And Frodo went to the King as he was sitting with the Queen Arwen by the fountain, and she sang a song of Valinor while the Tree grew and blossomed. They welcomed Frodo and rose to greet him, and Aragorn said:
'I know what you've come to say, Frodo: you wish to return to your own home. Well, dearest friend, the Tree grows best in the land of its shires, but for you, in all the lands of the West, there will ever be a welcome. And though your people have had little fame in the legends of the great, they will now have more renown than many wide realms that are no more.'"
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
After their first DADA lesson, Draco and his gang of Slytherins have nothing good to say about Professor Lupin. "Look at the state of his robes," Malfoy says in a loud whisper when Remus passes. "He dresses like our old House-elf." Harry always smiles when Jayla snaps at her cousin, telling him to be quiet whenever she overhears him badmouthing the new DADA Professor. Harry stays with Jayla throughout Defence Against the Dark Arts, sitting with her in class, though she seems better after running out of the lesson and him reading to her that night.
Jayla was happy to move on from Boggarts because it was Red Caps, nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed, in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had got lost. From Red Caps, they move on to Kappas, creepy water-dwellers that look like scaly monkeys with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds.
Harry only wishes he was as happy with some of his other classes. Worst of all is Potions. Snape is in a particularly vindictive mood these days, and no one is in any doubt as to why. The story of the Boggart assuming Snape's form and how Neville dressed it in his grandmother's clothes has travelled through the school like wildfire. Snape didn't seem to find it very funny, unlike some of the students. His eyes flash menacingly at the mention of Professor Lupin, and Snape is bullying Neville worse than ever. Jayla teases Harry about his growing dread of Divination class with Professor Trelawney and her stifling tower room, deciphering lop-sided shapes and symbols, trying to ignore how her enormous eyes fill with tears every time she looks at him. It isn't like he dislikes Professor Trelawney, as everyone has some sort of respect for her, especially Parvati and Lavender, who haunt the tower room at lunchtime. They always return with annoyingly superior looks as though they know things the others don't and use hushed voices whenever they speak to Harry as if he's on his deathbed, and Jayla reminds her friends that only true Seers can see into the future like her Mother.
Nobody really likes Care of Magical Creatures because it's become highly dull after their first class with Buckbeak and Jayla being attacked, who seems so at ease around every creature and talks about spending time with the other animals. The Golden Quartet sees how Hagrid has lost his confidence and seems cautious around Jayla after what happened in his first class. Lesson after lesson is learning how to look after Flobberworms, which, to some, is the most boring creature in existence.
"Why would anyone bother looking after them?" Ron questions after another hour of poking shredded lettuce down the Flobberworms' slimy throats.
"I've been trying to convince him to go onto something else when we look after the others, but he's scared about what's going to happen." Jayla replies, smiling softly, having spent a few spare hours with the kind half-giant, and Harry sometimes joins them.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry has something else to occupy him at the beginning of October, something so enjoyable it makes up for his unsatisfactory classes. The Quidditch season is approaching, and Oliver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor team, calls a meeting one Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season. Seven people are on a Quidditch team: three Chasers, two Beaters, a Keeper, and the Seeker. This season, the Chasers are taking it in turn as last year when Jayla joined as a substitute, and everyone loves her and her crazy ideas.
Oliver is in his final year at Hogwarts, and there is a quiet desperation in his voice as he addresses his seven fellow team members in the chilly changing rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch Pitch. "This is our last chance - my last chance - to win the Quidditch Cup," He tells them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it. Gryffindor haven't won for seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the world - injuries - then the tournament getting called off last year…" Wood swallows as though the memory still brings a lump to his throat. "But we also know we've got the best - ruddy - team - in - the - school," He says, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eyes. "We've got four superb Chasers." Oliver points at Alicia, Angelina, Katie and Jayla. "We've got two unbeatable Beaters."
"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us," The Weasley twins joke, pretending to blush, making the others snicker at their playful antics.
"And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Wood rumbles, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. "And me," He adds as an afterthought.
"We think you're very good, too, Oliver," George assures their Captain.
"Cracking Keeper," Fred agrees.
"The point is," Oliver continues, resuming his pacing, "the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing…" He speaks so dejectedly that even Fred and George look sympathetic.
"Oliver, this year's our year," Fred promises, though he knows he can't promise him that they'll win every game, but he knows the team will try extra hard, knowing how much it means to Wood.
"We'll do it, Oliver!" Angelina exclaims, trying to lift his spirits as everyone on the team hates the gloomy look on his face at the beginning of every year.
"Yeah, abso-freakin-lutely!" Jayla agrees, nodding frantically and fist-bumping Katie as they sit beside each other.
"Definitely," Harry nods, all full of determination; the team starts training sessions three evenings per week, though Jayla has to go lightly because of her shoulder. The weather gets colder and wetter, and the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind or rain can tarnish Harry's remarkable vision of finally winning the massive, silver Quidditch Cup.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry and Jayla return to the Gryffindor Common Room one evening after training, cold and stiff but pleased with how the practice has gone, to find the room buzzing excitedly. "What happened?" Harry asks Ron and Hermione, sitting in two of the best chairs by the fireplace and completing some star charts for Astronomy.
"First Hogsmeade weekend," Ron tells him, pointing at a notice on the battered old notice board in the corner of the Common Room. "End of October. Halloween."
"Excellent," Fred beams, following Harry and Jayla through the portrait hole. "I need to visit Zonko's; I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets." Harry throws himself into a chair beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing away, and Jayla sits on Hermione's lap.
"Harry, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," Hermione assures him as if reading his mind. "They're bound to catch Black soon; he's been sighted once already."
"Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade," Ron tells him, trying to cheer his best friend up. "Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry; the next one might not be for ages -."
"Ron!" The girls snap at him.
"Harry's supposed to stay in school -," Hermione warns them, wanting to keep him safe and away from Sirius Black.
"He can't be the only third-year left behind," Ron argues. "Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry -."
"Yeah, I think I will," Harry agrees, making up his mind. The girls open their mouths to argue, but at that moment, Crookshanks and Hades leap lightly onto Jayla's lap. A sizeable dead spider is dangling from Crookshanks' mouth as Hades tries taking it from him.
"I want to leave it on Ronnie's bed," Hades whines, making Jayla giggle.
"Does he have to eat that in front of us?" Ron scowls.
"Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?" Hermione asks, watching Crookshanks slowly chew up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron.
"Be glad Hades didn't put the spider in your bed like she planned," Jayla teases him, making the redhead glare at the black-furred cat.
"Just keep him over there, that's all," Ron replies irritably, returning to his star chart. "I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag." Harry yawns. He wants to go to bed, but he still has his homework to complete. He pulls his bag towards him, removes his parchment, ink and quill, and starts working. "You can copy mine if you like," Ron offers, labelling his last star with a flourish and shoving the chart towards Harry.
"I wouldn't," Jayla warns them as Hermione purses her lips in disapproval but says nothing. Crookshanks stares unblinkingly at Ron, flicking the end of his bushy tail. Then, without warning, he pounces.
"OY!" Ron roars, seizing his bag, as Crookshanks sinks four sets of claws deeply into it and begins tearing ferociously. "GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!" Ron tries to pull the bag away from the ginger cat, but Crookshanks clings on, spitting and slashing.
"Ron, don't hurt him!" Hermione squeals and Jayla jumps from her lap, holding Hades as she wiggles around, trying to defend her friend. The whole Common Room watches as Ron whirls the bag around, Crookshanks still clings to it, and Scabbers comes flying out of the top.
"CATCH THAT CAT!" Ron yells as Crookshanks frees himself from the remnants of the bag, springing over the table and chasing after the terrified Scabbers.
"GET AWAY!" Scabbers shouts, running along the floor. Jayla watches the rat and holds Hades close as if something feels wrong. George lunges for Crookshanks but misses; Scabbers streaks through twenty pairs of legs and shoots beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skids to a halt, crouching low on his bandy legs and making furious swipes beneath the chest of drawers with his front paw. Ron and Hermione hurry over; she grabs her cat around the middle and heaves him away as Ron throws himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulls the rat out by the tail.
"Look at him!" Ron growls furiously at Hermione, dangling Scabbers before her. "He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!"
"Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!" Hermione argues, her voice shaking. "All cats chase rats, Ron!"
"There's something funny about that animal!" He snaps, trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. "It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!" Jayla looks at the redhead and the rat in his hands back to her best friend and the ginger cat.
"Oh, what rubbish," Hermione brushes it off impatiently. "Crookshanks could smell, Ron, how else d'you think -."
"That cat's got it in for Scabbers! He gangs up with Hades on Scabbers!" Ron shouts, ignoring the people around him, who are starting to giggle. "And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!" Ron marches through the Common Room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys' dorm.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Ron is still in a bad mood with Hermione the next day. He barely talks to her through Herbology, even though he, Harry, Jayla and Hermione are working together on the same Puffapod. "How's Scabbers?" Hermione asks timidly as they strip fat pink pods from the plants and empty the shining beans into a wooden pail.
"He's hiding at the bottom of my bed, shaking," Ron replies angrily, missing the pail and scattering beans over the greenhouse floor.
"Careful, Weasley, careful!" Professor Sprout cries as the beans bloom before their eyes.
"Yeah, Ronald, careful." Jayla warns him, sticking up for her best friend.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Golden Quartet have Transfiguration next. Harry, who has resolved to ask Professor McGonagall after the lesson whether he can go into Hogsmeade with the rest, joins the queue outside the classroom, trying to decide how he will argue his case. He is distracted, however, by a disturbance at the front of the line. Lavender seems to be crying with Parvati's arms around her and is explaining something to Seamus and Dean, who looks very serious. "What's the matter, Lavender?" Hermione asks anxiously as they join the group.
"She got a letter from home this morning," Parvati whispers, comforting her friend. "It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a fox."
"Oh," Jayla sighs. "I'm sorry, Lavender."
"I should have known!" Lavender cries tragically. "You know what day it is?"
"Er…" Everyone mutters.
"The 16th of October! 'That thing you're dreading, it will happen on the 16th of October!' Remember? She was right, she was right!" She sobs, and the whole class gathers around Lavender now. Seamus shakes his head thoughtfully.
"You - You were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?" Hermione questions hesitatingly, making Jayla shake her head furiously to get her to shut up.
"Well, not necessarily by a fox," Lavender replies, looking up at Hermione with streaming eyes, "but I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn't I?"
"Oh," Hermione mutters, pausing again. "Was Binky an old rabbit?"
"N-No!" She sobs. "H-He was only a baby!" Parvati tightens her arm around her friend's shoulders.
"But then, why would you dread him dying?" The bookworm wonders, making Parvati glare at her. "Well, look at it logically," She turns to the rest of the group. "I mean, Binky didn't even die today, did he? Lavender just got the news today -." Lavender wails loudly. "- and she can't have been dreading it because it's come as a real shock -."
"Don't mind Hermione, Lavender," Ron thunders, wanting as much attention as possible, "she doesn't think other people's pets matter very much." Professor McGonagall opens the classroom door at that moment, which is perhaps lucky as Hermione and Ron glare daggers at each other. When they enter the class, they sit on either side of Harry and Jayla but don't talk to each other during the lesson.
Harry still hasn't decided what he will say to McGonagall when the bell rings at the end of the lesson, but she luckily brings up the subject of Hogsmeade first. "One moment, please!" She calls as the students leave. "As you're all in my House, you should hand Hogsmeade forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting the Village, so don't forget!" At that moment, Nevill raises his hand.
"Please, Professor, I - I think I've lost -," Neville stutters, looking close to tears.
"Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom," She assures him. "She seemed to think it was safer. Well, that's all, you may leave."
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Jayla smiles, thinking about the first Hogsmeade trip, squealing inside her head. "What's got you so happy?" Ron asks her, and she spins around.
"I can not wait to go to Hogsmeade!" Jayla exclaims and jumps around.
"Why? Got something exciting to do?" Harry questions, wondering what has her so excited.
"Oh…" She stops, her mood quieting. "I - I'm meeting someone there."
"A boy?" He asks, surprised.
"Uh… yeah. I met him while I was in America." The young Heiress reveals, shocking everyone, even Hermione.
"You never told us!" Hermione exclaims, glancing at Harry, who looks heartbroken.
"I'm keeping it a secret. Everyone knows everything about everyone. I don't want people talking about my love life; I just want to see where it goes first." Jayla tells them, pleading with them.
"So who is it?" Ron asks, but Jayla doesn't answer, walking off and leaving them behind. "So she's not going to tell us who her secret boyfriend is?"
"Who's got a boyfriend?" Seamus asks, stepping up to them as they enter the Great Hall.
"No one," Hermione answers, glaring at Ron and Harry to remain silent about what they just heard.
"Yeah, no one." Ron agrees surprising Harry, who shakes his head and stomps into the Great Hall to have lunch but doesn't see the young Darkmore Heiress anywhere, and a certain Hufflepuff boy is also missing at that exact moment. Still, Harry's mind isn't on anyone else; his thoughts are on a girl with black and white hair who apparently has a secret boyfriend she met in America and is going on a date with on Halloween.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
It's finally Halloween, and the Clock Tower Courtyard is a buzz with students, third years and older, clutching their permission forms, some passing a glowering Filch. "Remember!" Professor McGonagall says, gaining the mass of students' attention. "These visits to Hogsmeade Village are a privilege. Should your behaviour reflect poorly on the school in any way, that privilege shall not be extended again." Harry gingerly approaches her, but before he can even utter a syllable. "No permission form. No visiting the Village. That's the rule, Potter."
"Yes, Professor, but I thought if you said I could go -," Harry argues, really wanting to go spend the day with his friends and maybe spy on Jayla and her secret boyfriend.
"But I don't say so. A parent or guardian must sign, and since I am neither, it would be inappropriate." She reminds him with a flicker of pity in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Potter. But that's my final word." Harry looks at his friends, watching him expectantly from across the courtyard, and shakes his head. Their faces fall, and he waves them goodbye, but they rush to comfort them. Jayla pulls him into a quick hug and adjusts the strap on her dark brown shoulder bag that goes with her ankle boots.
"We'll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes," Hermione promises, looking desperately sorry for him.
"Yeah, loads," Ron agrees, he and Hermione finally forgetting their squabble about Crookshanks in the face of Harry's disappointment.
"Don't worry about me," Harry assures them in an offhand voice, though his friends can hear the upset. "I'll see you at the feast. Have a good time."
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Hermione, Ron and Jayla arrive at Hogsmeade and the young Heiress spots Cedric waiting for her. "Sorry, I have to go. I'll see you later. We can meet at the Three Broomsticks in a few hours. Get me some sweets from Honeydukes, and I'll pay you back." Jayla says quickly, walking away.
"Wait, can't we meet him!" Ron yells after her as she heads down the street, ignoring him. "Who the hell is this guy?"
"Leave her alone. She's allowed to go on a date," Hermione tells him calmly, though she still doesn't know who the secret boy is yet.
"You don't know either," He realises, looking at her.
"Oh, shut up, Ronald," She snaps, storming off with Ron running after her, heading for the post office.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
"Staying here, Potter?" Malfoy shouts, standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle while waiting for the next carriage to Hogsmeade Village. "Scared of passing the Dementors?" Harry ignores him and makes his solitary way up the marble staircase, through the deserted corridors, and back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asks, jerking out of a daze.
"Fortuna Major," Harry answers listlessly, and the portrait swings open, allowing him to climb into the Common Room through the hole.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Common Room is full of chattering first and second years and a few older students who are obviously visiting Hogsmeade, so often the novelty has worn off. "Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry!" Colin shouts, never missing an opportunity to speak to him. "Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey -," Colin looks eagerly around at his friends, "you can come and sit with us if you like, Harry!"
"Er - no, thanks, Colin," Harry replies, not in the mood to be around many people as they stare avidly at his scar. "I - I've got to go to the library, got to get some work done."
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry turns right back around and heads back out of the portrait hole again. "What was the point of waking me up?" The Fat Lady grumbles grumpily after him as he walks away. He pays her no mind as he wanders dispiritedly towards the library, but halfway there, he changes his mind, not feeling up to working anymore. He turns around again and is met with Filch, who has just seen off the last Hogsmeade visitors.
"What are you doing?" Filch snarls suspiciously.
"Nothing," Harry answers truthfully.
"Nothing!" He spits, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. "A likely story! Sneaking around on your own, why aren't you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?" Harry shrugs. "Well, get back to your Common Room where you belong!" He snaps and stands glaring until Harry passes out of sight.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry doesn't go back to the Common Room; instead, he climbs a staircase, thinking vaguely of visiting the Owlery to visit Hedwig, and walks along another corridor when a voice from inside one of the rooms, "Harry?" He doubles back to see who spoke to him and sees Professor Lupin looking around his office door. "What are you doing?" Lupin asks, in a very different voice from Filch. "Where are Ron, Hermione and Jayla?"
"Hogsmeade," Harry answers in a fake casual voice.
"Ah," He nods, considering Harry for a moment. "Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson."
"A what?" Potter questions, feeling a phantom slap from Jayla at the stupid question.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Jayla sits across from Cedric alone as they enjoy a cup of hot chocolate, walking around the outskirts of the Village, enjoying each other's company. "How's your shoulder?" Cedric asks her, breaking the silence.
"It's better. Thank you for the Get Well Card," Jayla smiles, interlocking her fingers with his.
"I'm surprised you knew it was from me," He jokes. "Considering you had a lot of cards and treats waiting for you, I imagine."
"I did." She agrees, teasing him and laughing when she sees the look of shock on his face. "I liked the message, though. 'Hi, Jayslay. I hope your shoulder gets better before Quidditch so I can beat you and your team. From Ceddy.' I think you'll find, Gryffindor will win."
"We shall see. But I don't want you hurting your shoulder during practice because you're overworking yourself," The Hufflepuff boy warns his girlfriend.
"I won't. Katie and Harry always remind Oliver to take it easy on me. But I can assure you I am in peak condition." The Gryffindor girl tells her boyfriend and almost trips, but Cedric catches her in time, wrapping his arms around her middle.
"Peak condition, huh?" Cedric teases her, looking her in her eyes and getting lost in the moment.
"I spilled my hot chocolate," Jayla pouts, making Cedric laugh.
"I thought we were having a moment," He questions, steadying them.
"I keep thinking Mason is going to pop out at any moment to ruin our moments." She reasons, leaning closer. "But I guess I ruined the moment this time." She leans closer, making their lips touch in a sweet kiss.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry follows Lupin into his office. In the corner stands a vast tank of water. A sickly green creature with sharp little horns has its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers. "Water Demon," Lupin says, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. "We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle." The Grindylow bares its green teeth and buries itself in a tangle of weed in a corner of the tank. "Cup of tea?" Remus asks, looking around for his kettle. "I was just thinking of making one."
"All right," Harry agrees awkwardly, watching Lupin tap the kettle with his wand, and a blast of steam pours suddenly from the spout.
"Sit down," He tells him, taking the lid off a dusty tin. "I've only got teabags, I'm afraid - but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?" Harry looks at him, seeing a twinkle in Remus' eyes.
"How did you know about that?" Potter asks him, looking at the Professor.
"Professor McGonagall told me," Remus informs him, passing the boy a chipped mug of tea. "You're not worried, are you?"
"No," Harry answers, thinking momentarily about telling Professor Lupin about the dog he saw in Magnolia Crescent but decides against it. He doesn't want Lupin to believe he is a coward, especially since Remus already seems to think he can't can't cope with a Boggart. Harry's thoughts appear on his face because the Professor sees through him.
"Anything worrying you, Harry?" Lupin asks his student.
"No," Harry lies, drinking some tea and watching the Grindylow brandishing a fist at him, "Yes." He answers truthfully, suddenly, putting his tea on the desk. "You know that day we fought the Boggart?"
"Yes," He answers slowly.
"Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors -" The Boy-Who-Lived questions but gets interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in," Remus answers and the door swings open, allowing Snape to stroll inside, carrying a goblet with faint smoke from the top. The dungeon bat stops at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing in anger. "Ah, Severus," The DADA Professor smiles. "Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?" Snape sits the smoking goblet down, his eyes wandering between Harry and Lupin. "I was just showing Harry my Grindylow," Remus informs the grumpy Professor pleasantly, pointing at the tank.
"Fascinating," Snape mutters without looking at it. "You should drink that directly, Lupin."
"Yes, yes, I will," He agrees.
"I made an entire cauldron full with the help of Miss Darkmore," The Potion Master informs them, surprising the Defence teacher and Harry. "If you need more."
"I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thank you very much, Severus," Lupin fakes a smile while inside; he is beginning to panic that Jayla may know what he really is.
"Not at all," Snape replies, but there is a look in his eye that Harry doesn't like as the dungeon bat backs out of the room, unsmiling and watchful. Harry looks curiously at the goblet, but Lupin just smiles.
"Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me," He says. I have never been much of a potion brewer, and this one is particularly complex." He picks up the goblet and sniffs it. "Pity sugar makes it useless," He adds, sipping and shuddering.
"Why -?" Harry begins, making the Professor look at him and answer the unfinished question.
"I've been feeling a bit off-colour," Remus informs him. "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. Or students, apparently." Professor Lupin takes another sip, and Harry has an idea to knock the goblet out of his favourite Professor's hands but thinks about Jayla, knowing she'd have no part in poisoning him, even after the Boggart incident.
"Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts," Potter blurts out, unable to stop himself.
"Really?" Lupin muses, looking only mildly interested as he takes another gulp of potion.
"Some people reckon -," He hesitates, then plunges recklessly on, "some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defence Against the Dark Arts job." Lupin drains the goblet and pulls a face.
"Disgusting," Remus grimaces, thinking of the horrible aftertaste.
"Right," Harry mutters, putting his empty teacup down. The empty goblet is still smoking.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Jayla walks back into Hogsmeade and spots her friends about to enter Honeydukes and races to catch up with them. "Mione! Ron!" She calls out to them, gaining their attention, seeing her in her denim shorts and cute owl tee covered by a pink cardigan.
"Finally done with your secret date?" Ron teases her, opening the door for the girls.
"Yes. It was lovely." Jayla answers, walking into the sweet shop.
"Still not going to tell us who it is?" He questions, looking around at the dozens of sweets lining the walls.
"I think I'm in sweet heaven," She mutters, making Ron nod in agreement.
"Honestly you two." Hermione sighs, shaking her head at the pair.
"We should get some for Harry," The Darkmore Heiress announces, rushing to get a couple of bags for herself and Harry, beginning to fill them with all manner of sweets.
"She's never going to tell us who her secret boyfriend is," Ron grumbles, joining Jayla as they fill their bags with sweets.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
Harry and Lupin venture out of the classroom and go to the wooden bridge, seeing some boys zooming about on their brooms, tossing a ragged Quaffle back and forth. "Well, don't feel too bad. I was roundly disappointed the first time I went." Remus lies to cheer up Harry.
"Really?" Harry asks him, not believing him even a little.
"No." He answers. "I was just trying to make you feel better. Honeydukes' sweets are the best in the world. Their Pepper Imps are so strong you smoke at the ears. And Zonko's Joke Shop may be dangerous, but you can't beat their Stink Pellets."
"Not to mention The Shrieking Shack," Potter nods glumly, "which, according to Hermione, is the most severely haunted building in Britain."
"Yes, that too…" Lupin mutters, thinking of his past.
"Professor, can I ask you something?" Harry questions, something eating at him.
"You'd like to know why I stopped you from facing that Boggart," Remus answers, already knowing what the boy wants to ask. "I should think it'd be obvious. I assumed the Boggart would take the shape of Lord Voldemort." Harry frowns, and Lupin studies him curiously. "But clearly… I was wrong."
"I did think of Voldemort first," Harry reveals. "But then, I remembered that night on the train… and the Dementors…"
"Well, well. I'm impressed. That suggests that what you fear most of all is… fear. Very wise," The DADA Professor muses, looking at the boy.
"Before I fainted… I heard something. A woman. Screaming," The young Wizard informs him, looking out into the distance.
"Dementors force us to relive the worst memories of our lives. Our pain becomes their power," The Professor tells him, standing next to the boy as they look out from the wooden bridge.
"I think it was my Mother. The night she was murdered," Harry mumbles, his mood dampening further, and looks up, finding his teacher studying him.
"The first time I saw you, Harry, I recognised you immediately," Remus tells him. "Not by your scar. But your eyes. They're your Mother Lily's." Nodding, he sees Harry staring at him in shock. "Yes. I knew her. She was there for me at a time when no one else was. We used to talk for hours. She was not only a singularly gifted Witch but an uncommonly kind woman. She had a way of seeing the beauty in whoever she met, even - and perhaps most especially - when that person couldn't see it in themselves…" Lupin moves away, crossing the bridge and gazing out in the opposite direction as if lost in a memory as he talks about his old friend and blinks, smiling. "Which perhaps explains her affection for your Father. James had, shall we say, a certain talent for trouble. A gift, rumour has it, he passed on to you." He turns, eyeing the teenage boy affectionately, like a kind uncle, and Harry smiles. "I could tell you stories - and there are many about your parents, Harry - but know this… They lived. Every moment of every day. You should know that. That's how they'd want to be remembered." He returns to stand beside the boy and places his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Thank you, sir," Harry smiles.
"Well, Harry, I'd better get back to work. I'll see you at the feast later," Remus announces before walking off.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
That evening is the All Hallows Eve Feast, and Harry joins Hermione and Ron at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall while they wait for Jayla, who sneaked off to the seventh floor once they returned to the castle. Jayla kneels in front of the red and black candles, about to pray, when she hears the doors open, making the teenage girl swirl her head to see the figure of a man, skinny beyond anything she's ever seen. Jayla scrambles to her feet as the man stumbles on unsure feet towards her, and he becomes clear; she notices the dirt-covered striped prison jumpsuit that falls from his bony body. "Sirius Black?"
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The Great Hall buzzes with tales of Hogsmeade as students swap stories, sample sweets, and send soap bubbles of all shapes, sizes and colours into the air. A marionette of a Harlequin cavorts atop the Gryffindor table, moving its limbs in response to the strands of light that extend from Neville's fingertips. Seamus passes his hand through the beams of light, making the Harlequin collapse, upsetting poor Neville. "And the post office! It's about 200 owls, all sitting on colour-coded shelves, depending on how fast you want your letter to go!" Hermione boasts, trying to cheer up Harry about missing out on going to Hogsmeade and waiting for Jayla.
"And Honeydukes is brilliant! Sugar Quills, Flaming Whizbees - and blood-flavoured lollipops for Halloween!" Ron exclaims, and Harry nods, picking quietly at the table, and Hermione sighs, wishing Jayla was there with them to help cheer their gloomy friend up.
"But, I mean, after a while, it got a bit boring. Don't you think, Ron?" She lies, trying to stop Ron.
"Huh?" He questions, glancing at her and earning a scolding look. "Oh. Yeah. Dead depressing. Hang on. I almost forgot. Jayla got you some sweets," He takes out a large bag of sweets, making Harry break out into a grin.
"I'm glad you had a good time. Really. And I'll have to thank Jayla for these," Harry smiles, eyeing the big bag of sweets. "Where is she anyway?"
"Probably seeing her secret boyfriend again," The youngest Weasley boy jokes, earning a slap from Hermione.
"Don't be stupid," Hermione scolds him, and Harry pops a Pepper Imp into his mouth.
"Oh, careful of those, they'll make your…" Ron warns Harry, but it's too late as smoke curls from his ears and nose. "Never mind."
"Pepper Imp?" Jayla asks as she stands behind Harry, startling her friends.
"Where'd you go?" He asks, watching as she sits next to Harry.
"I had something to do," She answers vaguely, thinking about her sudden encounter with Sirius Black. "Oh! I nearly forgot." She grabs her bag and pulls out a glass travel mug resembling a mason jar with a handle that says Live, Laugh, Love on the front. "Fresh butterbeer."
"Oh, Jayla, you are the best." Harry beams, bringing her into a side hug. "How did you find this?"
"I found it in America. I was going to use it for my new favourite addiction. Vanilla Lattes. But I think you need the pep in your step." She smiles, wrapping her arm around his middle. "Enjoy."
"Everyone though she was mental for ordering two butterbeers." Ron jokes, watching Harry unscrew the top and take a large gulp, seeming to enjoy himself.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The feast ends, and the Golden Quartet climb the stairs with a crowd gathering on the Seventh Floor landing. "What's the hold-up? Only Neville ever forgets the password," Ron grumbles, wanting to go to bed.
"Hey!" Neville exclaims in offence, making them turn to see the boy standing behind them with Dean and Seamus.
"Let me through, please." Percy shouts, pushing past. "Excuse me, thank you, I'm Head Boy…" He stops dead. "Back! All of you! No one is to enter this dormitory until it has been fully searched!" The Golden Quartet exchange dark glances when Ginny pushes through the crowd toward them.
"The Fat Lady… she's gone," Ginny exclaims in shock, wrapping her arms around Jayla, who pats her back comfortably.
"Probably stuffing her face with the apples in that still life on the second floor again." Ron jokes, earning a snicker from the boys.
"No. You don't understand -." She tries to say, and Hermione gasps, grabbing Harry's arm, and they see the Fat Lady's portrait has significant vicious slashes through the canvas with bits hanging from the frame.
"Who could do something like this," Jayla gasps, knowing Sirius is possibly responsible for this devastating act and looking around, seeing all the paintings in the Grand Staircase muttering, crying and screaming around them.
"Mr Filch," Dumbledore calls as he appears, rushing towards the torn portrait. "Round up the ghosts. Tell them to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady." Suddenly, there is a scream, and the students dash to the landing, where all the paintings whisper fearfully. Filch's rheumy eyes peer up, searching the upper shadows, then narrow, seeming to spot something.
"There'll be no need for ghosts, Professor…" Filch announces, extending a crooked finger up high near the ceiling where the Fat Lady trembles in fear in the landscape. Everyone rushes to see the poor painted figure with Percy shouting in protest as people push past him in their hast.
"Dear lady. Who did this to you?" Dumbledore asks her softly, staring at the poor woman as she cowers behind a hippo in another painting of a herd of hippos grazing unbothered by everything.
"Eyes like the Devil he's got," The Fat Lady replies in a quivering trance. "And a soul as dark as his name. It was him, Headmaster. The one they talk about. He's here. Somewhere in the castle. Sirius Black!" She cries, ducking behind the hippo as the Gryffindor students murmur amongst themselves, and Jayla grabs Harry's hand as everyone moves down the stairs.
"Secure the castle, Mr Filch," The Headmaster orders the caretaker. "The rest of you… to the Great Hall."
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
The teachers rush across the castle. They secure Hogwarts with haste, the Clock Tower doors groaning as they close with tumblers falling into place one after another. The windows all sport iron spikes, sharp as razors, rising instantly and more wards to keep the students safe within the castle walls, even from outside, as the lights of the Great Hall go out as the Dementors linger on the outskirts of the castle grounds, growing ever closer as if sensing a stir within Hogwarts.
⒴⒠⒜⒭ ⑶
In the dark Great Hall, there is a sea of blue sleeping bags filled with students, most of them asleep apart from Harry as he lies awake, staring at the cluster of stars glimmering above his head. A gentle creak sounds through the Hall, and Harry's eyes shift, spotting Snape passing through the doors and stepping up to Dumbledore. "I've done the dungeons, Headmaster. No sign of Black. Nor anywhere else in the castle." Snape reports.
"I didn't really expect him to linger," Dumbledore retorts, walking along the middle of the Great Hall.
"Remarkable feat, don't you think? To enter Hogwarts castle on one's own. Completely undetected…" He remarks, hinting at his previous thoughts as the Headmaster gazes at the slumbering students, refusing to take the bait from the dungeon bat. "You may recall, prior to the start of term, I did express my concerns when you appointed Professor -."
"I do not believe a single Professor inside this castle would have helped Sirius Black enter it, Severus." The Headmaster argues, already done with the conversation.
"What about a student?" The Potion Master questions, glancing at a sleeping Jayla and Albus follows his gaze.
"Impossible." Dumbledore disagrees, and there's a dark glitter in Snape's eyes as Dumbledore gazes over the slumbering students. "No… I feel quite confident the castle is safe. And I'm more than willing to let the students return to their Houses. But tomorrow. For now, let them sleep…" He stares down at Harry, who shuts his eyes and feigns sleep. "It's astonishing what the body can endure when the mind allows itself to rest."
HAPPY HALLOWS EVE!