“Flight of the Fat Lady,” read Luna. “Well, that doesn't sound too good.”
“No, it doesn't,” Hermione said.
In no time at all, Defence Against the Dark Arts had become most people’s favourite class.
“With Professor Lupin there, and if the lessons – for third year at the very least – are anything like that first one, I can see why it's become the favorite of most people,” Hermione said.
Only Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins had anything bad to say about Professor Lupin.
“Of course it's him that has something bad to say,” Harry said. “Strangely enough, I'm not that surprised.”
“Look at the state of his robes,” Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Professor Lupin passed.
“I don't think it matters how his robes look like,” Hermione said.
“He dresses like our old house-elf.”
“He does not,” Harry said, remembering what exactly Dobby wore. There really was no way to confuse shabby robes with a pillowcase.
But no one else cared that Professor Lupin’s robes were patched and frayed.
“Why should we?” Hermione asked. “It's not the state of his robes that matter, it's what he can teach us about staying alive.”
His next few lessons were just as interesting as the first.
“I wish I could know what he's teaching us upper years,” Cedric said.
After Boggarts, they studied Red Caps, nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed,
“Lovely,” Hermione said,
in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had got lost.
“Even better,” Harry said, grimacing at that.
“There aren't any in Hogwarts, right?” Hermione asked.
“Maybe in the forest, but not in the actual castle,” Cedric said.
From Red Caps they moved on to Kappas, creepy water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys,
“Interesting description and accurate description,” Luna said.
with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds.
“So, basically, be careful when wading through an Kappa-infested pond,” Hermione said.
Harry only wished he was as happy with some of his other classes.
“Let me guess, Potions has become the worst class because of the fact that news about Neville's Boggart has travelled like wildfire throughout the school,” Cedric said.
“Most likely that and Divination,” Harry said. “Remember, I didn't care much for Divination., and the teacher seems determined to say that I'm being haunted by a Grim, and thus will die soon.”
Worst of all was Potions.
“Looks like you were right about Potions becoming the worst class to attend,” Hermione said. “Not that any of us really doubted you.”
Snape was in a particularly vindictive mood these days, and no one was in any doubt why. The story of the Boggart assuming Snape’s shape, and the way that Neville had dressed it in his grandmother’s clothes, had travelled through the school like wildfire. Snape didn’t seem to find it funny.
“Of course he wouldn't, the subject of any laughter is him,” Hermione said. “You could say he was the victim of a prank. A prank that he brought upon himself because of his attitude, but a prank none the less.”
His eyes flashed menacingly at the very mention of Professor Lupin’s name, and he was bullying Neville worse than ever.
“Like that's going to help any,” Hermione said, shaking her head. “If he hadn't made Neville fear him in the first place, there'd be no need for Neville to have to have a Boggart of him dress in his grandmother's clothes.”
Harry was also growing to dread the hours he spent in Professor Trelawney’s stifling tower room,
“Knew that class would also be among my most disliked classes,” Harry said.
deciphering lop-sided shapes and symbols, trying to ignore the way Professor Trelawney’s enormous eyes filled with tears every time she looked at him.
“Yeah, I'm definitely not taking that class,” Harry said.
He couldn’t like Professor Trelawney, even though she was treated with respect bordering on reverence by many of the class.
“Please let that be a gross exaggeration,” Harry said. “How can any one respect her, or reverence her.”
“It probably is,” Hermione said. “The whole of Gryffindor can't be that crazy.”
Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to haunting Professor Trelawney’s tower room at lunchtimes, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the others didn’t.
“Just shows how gullible they are,” Hermione said. “To actually believe anything that fraud says is idiocy.”
They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke to Harry, as though he was on his deathbed.
“Boy are they going to be surprised when it turns out that she's wrong,” Harry said. “I have no plans of dying until I am old.”
Nobody really liked Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the action-packed first class, had become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence.
“Poor Hagrid,” Hermione said.
They were now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after Flobberworms, which had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence.
“They are,” Luna said. “They don't do anything and need help being fed. I don't even know why anyone would bother looking after them.”
“Why would anyone bother looking after them?” said Ron,
“Apparently, your not the only one wondering,” Harry said.
after yet another hour of poking shredded lettuce down the Flobberworms’ slimy throats.
“I hope the class isn't going to always be like that,” Harry said. “I mean, if we can figure out how to keep Malfoy from ruining the class, then, hopefully, Hagrid won't lose his confidence.”
At the start of October, however, Harry had something else to occupy him, something so enjoyable it made up for his unsatisfactory classes.
“The Quidditch season is approaching,” Cedric said. “You know, I'm surprised that Wood waited until October to talk to you.”
The Quidditch season was approaching, and Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor team, called a meeting one Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season.
“At least we'll be awake this time,” Harry said.
“I have the feeing that Professor McGonagall made sure that Wood didn't go overzealous about it,” Cedric said.
There were seven people on a Quidditch team:
“We know this already,” Hermione said, sounding a bit bored.
“It seems to be one of the repeated things so far,” Luna said.
three Chasers, whose job it was to score goals by putting the Quaffle (a red, football-sized ball) through one of the fifty-foot-high hoops at each end of the pitch; two Beaters, who were equipped with heavy bats to repel the Bludgers (two heavy black balls which zoomed around trying to attack the players); a Keeper, who defended the goalposts, and the Seeker, who had the hardest job of all, that of catching the Golden Snitch, a tiny, winged, walnut-sized ball, whose capture ended the game and earned the Seeker’s team an extra one hundred and fifty points.
“Which means that their team will almost always win because of that,” Harry said.
Oliver Wood was a burly seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts.
“He's going to be desperate to win the cup, then,” Cedric said.
There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice as he addressed his six 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 told them, striding up and down in front of them.
“He must really want it,” Hermione said.
“I’ll be leaving at the end of this year. I’ll never get another shot at it.”
“I wonder if they're a way for him to come back and play a game once he graduates. And why does he need to win the Quidditch Cup?” Hermione said.
“I think it's because most national teams look towards the team that wins when scouting,” Cedric said. “After looking at those on the winning team, they look at those not on the winning team, checking out their individual abilities. I think Wood wants to be the first person they look at for a good team.”
“Gryffindor haven’t won for seven years now. OK, so we’ve had the worst luck in the world – injuries – then the tournament getting called off last year ...” Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat.
“Of course,” Hermione said, shaking her head as she remembered what his response as good news was in the previous book. The boy seemed to be obsessed with Quidditch.
“But we also know we’ve got the best – ruddy – team – in – the – school,” he said,
“The Gryffindor team does seem to be pretty good,” Cedric said. “In fact, the only time you lost was because you weren't there.”
punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye.
“Somehow, I don't like the sounds of that,” Harry said.
“We’ve got three superb Chasers.”
Wood pointed at Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell.
“We’ve got two unbeatable Beaters.”
“Stop it, Oliver, you’re embarrassing us,” said Fred and George Weasley together, pretending to blush.
“Of course they are,” Luna said. “I would have been surprised if they weren't joking about it.”
“And we’ve got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!” Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride.
“Great, he expects me to win every match we play now,” Harry said. “Nice of him to put that kind of pressure on me, since I'll probably begin to feel like it's my fault should I fail not to catch the snitch.”
“And considering that the Dementors are here this year, I have a feeling that something bad will probably happen, knowing your luck,” Luna said.
“They wouldn't come onto the grounds, though,” Cedric said. “At least, I don't think they will.”
“I'd rather not assume anything about the Dementors. I mean, I doubt that the Ministry meant for them to attack Harry, but look what happened on the train,” Luna said. “They attacked Harry.”
“And me,” he added, as an afterthought.
“He either doesn't believe he's worth saying he's good, doesn't think it's right for him to say it, or is fishing for complements there,” Hermione said.
“We think you’re very good, too, Oliver,” said George.
“Cracking Keeper,” said Fred.
“The point is,” Wood went on, resuming his pacing,
“He's making quite a speech, isn't he?” Harry said.
“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 ...”
Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic.
“Looks that dejected, huh?” Hermione said.
“Oliver, this year’s our year,” said Fred.
“We’ll do it, Oliver!” said Angelina.
“Definitely,” said Harry.
“I really hope that nothing like the previous two years happen,” Harry said. “I don't think Wood would survive if something did.”
Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week.
“That doesn't sound too bad,” Harry said. “I'll have time for homework and hanging out with my friends on a schedule like that.”
“Yeah, but what would happen if he increased it,” Hermione said.
“Don't ask that, because I'd rather not know,” Harry said.
“Of course, hearing about how Wood is in the first to books, it'll probably happen,” Luna said.
"Can't you let me dream that it won't?" Harry said.
The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind or rain could tarnish Harry’s wonderful vision of finally winning the huge silver Quidditch Cup.
“And I'm sure that how Wood is viewing it as well.” Cedric said.
Harry returned to the Gryffindor common room one evening after training, cold and stiff but pleased with the way practice had gone,
“That must've made Wood happy,” Harry said.
to find the room buzzing excitedly.
“Must be a Hogsmeade weekend,” Cedric said, thinking about how it was like in Hufflepuff when one would come up the last two years. He might not have joined in the excitement, but pretty much every student third year and above had done so.
“What’s happened?” he asked Ron and Hermione,
“I'm surprised you didn't guess,” Luna said.
“I probably forgot about it, especially since I can't go,” Harry said. “I mean, why would I want to make myself miserable by constantly thinking about it.”
who were sitting in two of the best chairs by the fireside and completing some star charts for Astronomy.
“First Hogsmeade weekend,” said Ron, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old notice-board.
“Do they post the notices the week before, or do they give it plenty of time for people to make plans?” Hermione asked.
“They give you around two to three weeks of planning to do,” Cedric said.
“End of October. Halloween.”
“I wonder if anything is going to happen this Halloween,” Hermione said.
“If it does, I'm going to think that Halloween is cursed for me whenever I'm in the wizarding world,” Harry said. “Particularly since something bad has, or will have happened every year I'm in the wizarding world, as far as I know.”
“Excellent,” said Fred, who had followed Harry through the portrait hole. “I need to visit Zonko’s, I’m nearly out of Stink Pellets.”
“He should be so lucky that Percy, or a teacher, didn't hear that,” Cedric said. “They would not be happy.”
“I do not doubt that,” Hermione said.
Harry threw himself into a chair beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing away.
“Yes, that would make me miserable,” Harry said.
Hermione seemed to read his mind.
“I doubt it's all that hard, since I'm sure that it's written on your face as well,” Hermione said. “I mean, you most likely came in all smiles, only to suddenly be unhappy. I can't see anyone not figuring it out.”
“Harry, I’m sure you’ll be able to go next time,” she said.
“You think I'd be able to go without a signed slip,” Harry said.
“Yes, I think you can convince someone to let you go,” Hermione said. “Especially if you happen to bring up the fact that your relatives have a problem with you having fun. I mean, a visit to them would show that your just not being bitter, that they really don't care for you and hate seeing you happy.”
“They’re bound to catch Black soon, he’s been sighted once already.”
“I think that's me being optimistic, particularly because of the fact that he's probably going to be even more careful about being seen that he already is, should he realize that he was seen,” Hermione said. “My guess is he probably wanted some food, maybe some clothes, and possibly to know what the date was.”
“True,” Cedric said. “He might've also needed to know where he was as well.”
“Wouldn't surprise me,” Hermione said. “Especially if he's making his way to Hogwarts.”
“Black’s not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade,” said Ron.
“Ah, he probably is,” Cedric said. “I mean, the guy is nuts.”
“Ask McGonagall if you can go this time, Harry, the next one might not be for ages –“
“And then what happens when the next one comes? Oh, yeah, he'll be telling you to bug Professor McGonagall to let you go on the next trip, and then do the same thing come the third trip, and so on, and so on,” Cedric said.
“Ron!’”said Hermione. “Harry’s supposed to stay in school –“
“He can’t be the only third-year left behind,” said Ron.
“Who says that there won't be anyone other third year left behind,” Cedric said.
“Apparently Ron does,” Harry said
“Ask McGonagall, go on, Harry –“
“As Hermione pointed you, your probably not going to be able to go anyway,” Cedric said. “Even if you could come up with a good excuse about why your form wasn't signed by your aunt and uncle, with Black on the loose, you'll still be told no.”
“Yeah, I think I will,” said Harry, making up his mind.
Harry rolled his eyes at his book self. He knew that it wasn't going to do much good for him to asked, even without the others talking about it.
Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but at that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto her lap. A large, dead spider was dangling from his mouth.
“I wonder if he knows that Ron's bothered by spiders,” Harry said.
“Does he have to eat that in front of us?” said Ron, scowling.
“Apparently he does,” Luna said.
“Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?” said Hermione.
“Probably,” Luna said.
Crookshanks slowly chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron.
“I have the feeling Crookshanks doesn't think to highly of Ron,” Hermione said.
“Just keep him over there, that’s all,” said Ron irritably, turning back to his star chart. “I’ve got Scabbers asleep in my bag.”
“Um, why is Scabbers in his bag?” Harry asked.
Harry yawned. He really wanted to go to bed, but he still had his own star chart to complete.
“If you don't have to hand it in tomorrow, I'm sure that you can get away with going to bed now,” Cedric said. Hermione looked like she wanted to say something, but, when thinking about, realized that it would probably be better if he did get some sleep, otherwise his work wouldn't be to the best it could be.
He pulled his bag towards him, took out parchment, ink and quill, and started work.
“You can copy mine, if you like,” said Ron,
“You better not,” Hermione said. “You should do your own work. After all. Plus, for all you know, he could have gotten quite a few of the answers wrong.”
labelling his last star with a flourish and shoving the chart towards Harry.
Hermione, who disapproved of copying, pursed her lips, but didn’t say anything.
“Somehow, it's probably an usual thing between them, and I've gotten tired of trying to keep them from doing it,” Hermione said.
Crookshanks was still staring unblinkingly at Ron, flicking the end of his bushy tail.
“He's going to pounce,” Luna said.
Then, without warning, he pounced.
“See,” Luna said.
“OY!” Ron roared, seizing his bag, as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deeply into it, and began tearing ferociously.
“He must really want Scabbers,” Hermione said.
“Which makes me wonder why,” Harry said.
“It could be that he senses that Scabbers is weak, and therefore, vulnerable prey,” Hermione said.
“GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!”
Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing.
“That's going to catch the interest of many people isn't it,” Hermione said.
“Most likely,” Cedric said.
“Ron, don’t hurt him!” squealed Hermione. The whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top –
“That would be kind of funny to see,” Harry said.
“CATCH THAT CAT!” Ron yelled, as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table and chased after the terrified Scabbers.
“Your cat really wants that rat,” Cedric said.
George Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed;
“That would have been funny to see,” Cedric said.
Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs and started making furious swipes beneath the chest of drawers with his front paw.
“It doesn't seem like anyone is interested in stopping the drama,” Luna said.
“Probably because it's fun to watch,” Cedric said.
Ron and Hermione hurried over; Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled Scabbers out by the tail.
“Ouch, that probably hurt him,” Luna said, though it was without any actual sympathy. The singe mindedness in which Crookshanks – who, based on the fact that he seemed to be very selective about who owned him, as well as seemed smart – went after Scabbers had Luna a bit suspicious. After all, while Scabbers might seem vulnerable, the fact that Ron was protecting him would've most likely seen the cat not trying to get to him so much.
And, among the wizarding world, it was common to breed cats with Kneazles, so that they would appear normal around Muggles, but also have the high intelligence that Kneazles were known to have. With Scabbers abnormal long life and Crookshanks attempts, Luna had the feeling that Scabbers might not be an actual rat. Of course, she wasn't going to mention this yet, since she wanted more evidence in case she was wrong.
“Look at him!” he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. “He’s skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!”
“I think Ron's forgotten that Scabbers was sick to begin with, before the cat came into the equation,” Harry said. “It's kind of what's started everything, in fact. Of course, that's not to say that Crookshanks hasn't been helping, but Ron shouldn't be blaming everything on your cat.”
“Crookshanks doesn’t understand it’s wrong!” said Hermione, her voice shaking. “All cats chase rats, Ron!”
“That's true,” Cedric said.
“There’s something funny about that animal!” said Ron,
“There's nothing funny about him,” Hermione said, already defensive of Crookshanks.
who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. “It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!”
“If it did, then it's not pure cat,” Cedric said. “It could have Kneazle blood in him, which would make him smarter than regular animals.”
“Kneazle?” Hermione said questioningly.
“A magical creature that tend to be bred with cats so that they look more normal,” Luna said. “They're wickedly smart, have good instincts, and can tell Animangi from regular animals. They are also good at finding unsavory or suspicious character.”
“And, when a Kneazle finds a person they really like, they are a lot like Phoenixes in that they make highly faithful companions,” Cedric said.
"Didn't you mention Kneazles before, in one of the previous chapters?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I do believe so, when Hermione first got Crookshanks, in fact," Luna said.
“Wait, if Crookshanks is part Kneazle, wouldn't that mean that there's something not right about Scabbers?” Harry said.
“Well, yes,” Luna said. “If Crookshanks is going after Scabbers, and not because he's hungry, then chances are that Scabbers is not a normal rat.”
“Oh, what rubbish,” said Hermione impatiently.
“I take it my book self doesn't know this information about Kneazles,” Hermione said.
“That, or you just didn't connect it to the way that Crookshanks is,” Luna said, remembering back to the chapter that Hermione had gotten the cat. “Remember, you said that part of the reason why you got Crookshanks is because of the fact that no one wanted him. Well, if Crookshanks has Kneazle blood in him, then he'll be rather aggressive to others until he takes a liking to someone. At least, that's how Kneazles are, and since most half-Kneazle, half-cats tend to take after a lot of the Kneazle part of them in everything but looks...”
“Then it's safe to assume that Crookshanks also would have gotten that instinct as well,” Hermione finished.
“Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d’you think –“
“That is a valid point, though,” Cedric said.
"If it's a Kneazle, it can't smell that good, though," Luna said.
“That cat’s got it in for Scabbers!” said Ron, ignoring the people around him, who were starting to giggle.
“He is entertaining,” Luna said.
“And Scabbers was here first, and he’s ill!”
“That doesn't mean that he has full right of being the only pet allowed there,” Harry said.
Ron marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys’ dormitories.
“Where he probably stayed the rest of the night,” Harry said.
Ron was still in a bad mood with Hermione next day. He barely talked to her all through Herbology, even though he, Harry and Hermione were working together on the same Puffapod.
“Which, of course, makes it hard not to talk to each other,” Cedric said.
“How’s Scabbers?” Hermione asked timidly,
“Why would you be timid?” Harry asked.
“He probably seems to have a frightful temper,” Hermione said.
“He better not snap at you. You're being nice and showing concern about his pet, after all,” Luna said.
as they stripped fat pink pods from the plants and emptied the shining beans into a wooden pail.
“He’s hiding at the bottom of my bed, shaking,” said Ron angrily,
“You know, this kind of tells you something,” Cedric suddenly said.
“What?” Harry asked.
“That it seems that Crookshanks is the only cat in the Gryffindor dormitories,” Cedric said. “Otherwise, Scabbers would never had a moments rest, and he'd most likely have to stay at home.”
"I wonder if Percy, when he had the rat, complained about it, or something," Hermione said. "I mean, I can't be the only Gryffindor girl who likes cats, and has one as a pet."
missing the pail and scattering beans over the greenhouse floor.
“That's not going to make Professor Sprout happy,” Cedric said.
“Careful, Weasley, careful!” cried Professor Sprout, as the beans burst into bloom before their very eyes.
“I wonder what they look like,” Hermione mused.
They had Transfiguration next. Harry, who had resolved to ask Professor McGonagall after the lesson whether he could go into Hogsmeade with the rest, joined the queue outside the classroom, trying to decide how he was going to argue his case.
“It won't work, no matter what you do,” Cedric said.
He was distracted, however, by a disturbance at the front of the line.
Lavender Brown seemed to be crying.
“Something bad must've happened,” Harry said.
Parvati had her arm around her, and was explaining something to Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who were looking very serious.
“What’s the matter, Lavender?” said Hermione anxiously, as she, Harry and Ron went to join the group.
“She got a letter from home this morning,” Parvati whispered. “It’s her rabbit, Binky. He’s been killed by a fox.”
“Poor Lavender,” Hermione and Luna said.
“Oh,” said Hermione. “I’m sorry, Lavender.”
“I should have known!” said Lavender tragically.
“Why would she have known?” Harry asked.
“I think it's the sixteenth of October,” Luna said. The other three looked a bit clueless as to what was so important about that day.
“Remember, it's the day that Trelawney said that whatever it was that Lavender was dreading would happened,” Luna said.
“Oh,” Harry said.
“I guess she was dreading a letter about what happened to her rabbit,” Cedric said.
“Seems that way,” Hermione said.
“You know what day it is?”
“Er –“
“The sixteenth of October! 'That thing you’re dreading, it will happen on the sixteenth of October!' Remember? She was right, she was right!”
The whole class was gathered around Lavender now. Seamus shook his head seriously.
“That's just going to help people believe that she's the real deal,” Luna said, shaking her head.
Hermione hesitated; then she said, ”You – you were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?”
“Oh, no,” Hermione said, looking down in shame.
“What?” Harry asked.
“Well, knowing how my book self feels about Trelawney, I'm going to be...very tackless so that I can prove that she's a fraud,” Hermione said. “I'm basically going to be disregarding how Lavender feels simply because I can stand the fact that Trelawney got something right.”
“Oh,” Harry said.
“Well, we can't really get on your case, because you are not your book self, and you obviously know that what your probably about to do is wrong,” Luna said.
“Well, not necessarily by a fox,” said Lavender, looking up at Hermione with streaming eyes, “but I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn’t I?”
“I think anyone who loves their pet dreads them dying,” Hermione said.
“Oh,” said Hermione. She paused again. Then –
“Was Binky an old rabbit?”
“N-no!” sobbed Lavender. “H-he was only a baby!”
Parvati tightened her arm around Lavender’s shoulders.
“I really wish I would stop asking these questions,” Hermione sighed, shaking her head at her behaviour.
“But then, why would you dread him dying?” said Hermione.
Hermione winced at that. That was a stupid and horrible question to ask, sine it didn't matter how long a person had a pet. After all, book her had Crookshanks for just a little over a month and a half, and she knew that she'd been in the same state as Lavender was if something had happened to him. There was no time limit on when you were allowed to love your pet.
Parvati glared at her.
“I deserve that,” Hermione said.
“Well, look at it logically,” said Hermione, turning to the rest of the group. “I mean, Binky didn’t even die today, did he,”
“It was the news of him dying that she dreaded, not when he'd die,” Cedric said.
“Lavender just got the news today –“ Lavender wailed loudly “– and she can’t have been dreading it, because it’s come as a real shock –“
“Um, that's wrong,” Harry said. “A person can be dreading something and still have it come as a real shock when it comes to pass.”
“Don’t mind Hermione, Lavender,” said Ron loudly, “she doesn’t think other people’s pets matter very much.”
“While that comment wasn't called for, I'm kind of glad he said it before I could make a bigger fool of myself,” Hermione said.
Professor McGonagall opened the classroom door at that moment, which was perhaps lucky;
“Ron and I are probably ready to murder each other,” Hermione said.
Hermione and Ron were looking daggers at each other, and when they got into class, they seated themselves either side of Harry, and didn’t talk to each other all lesson.
“At least you two aren't bickering,” Harry said.
Harry still hadn’t decided what he was going to say to Professor McGonagall when the bell rang at the end of the lesson, but it was she who brought up the subject of Hogsmeade first.
“Of course she would,” Cedric said.
“One moment, please!” she called, as the class made to leave. “As you’re all in my house,”
“I thought the classes were two houses in each class,” Hermione said.
“They usually are,” Cedric said. “I know my whole year is like that, at least, and I've heard that other years are also like that.”
“Then I wonder what's changed,” Hermione said.
“You know, this might also be why Professor Lupin only gave points to Gryffindor as well, because, like with this class, there's only Gryffindors in it,” Harry said.
“If that's true, then something definitely has changed,” Cedric said.
“you should hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Halloween. No form, no visiting the village, so don’t forget!”
“That right there should discourage me from even asking, since she pretty much makes it clear that only those with a signed form can go,” Harry said.
“With Ron there to encourage you to do it, I don't think you will be discourage,” Hermione said.
Neville put up his hand.
“Please, Professor, I – I think I’ve lost –“
“Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom,” said Professor McGonagall. “She seemed to think it was safer.”
'Not to be mean about Neville, but considering that he's described as a forgetful boy, I can see why she'd think it would be safer that way,” Harry said.
“Well, that’s all, you may leave.”
“Ask her now,” Ron hissed at Harry.
“Oh, but –“ Hermione began.
“Go for it, Harry,” said Ron stubbornly.
It's like I have an angel and devil on my shoulders, Harry thought. Hermione is the angel who wants to keep me from getting into trouble and from asking a question that'll most likely not get a favourable answer, while Ron is pushing me to get in trouble and ask said question.
Harry waited for the rest of the class to disappear,
“Rather not have an audience,” Harry said.
then headed nervously for Professor McGonagall’s desk.
“Yes, Potter?”
Harry took a deep breath.
“Professor, my aunt and uncle – er – forgot to sign my form,” he said.
“That right there probably wasn't the smartest thing to do,” Cedric said. “You might've had a better chance saying that they were Muggles who hate anything abnormal and magic, and that they like to keep you miserable.”
Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles at him,
“I wonder if she suspects that there's more to what you said,” Hermione said
but didn’t say anything.
“So – er – d’you think it would be all right – I mean, will it be OK if I – if I go to Hogsmeade?”
“Nice discussion,” Cedric said. “ 'My guardians forgot to sign my form, can I go to Hogsmeade anyway?' ”
Professor McGonagall looked down and began shuffling papers on her desk.
“I’m afraid not, Potter,” she said. “You heard what I said. No form, no visiting the village. That’s the rule.”
“But – Professor, my aunt and uncle – you know, they’re Muggles, they don’t really understand about – about Hogwarts forms and stuff,”
“And what, my parents – and the parents of all Muggleborns, for that matter – have suddenly turned into witches and wizards without our knowing,” Hermione said, arching her brow at him.
“Okay, that a stupid thing to say, considering that I'm not the only person who lives with Muggles,” Harry said.
Harry said, while Ron egged him on with vigorous nods. “If you said I could go –“
“But she doesn't say,” Cedric said. “She's your head of house, not your guardian.”
“But I don’t say so,” said Professor McGonagall, standing up and piling her papers neatly into a drawer. “The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission.”
“Which means I'm never going to be allowed to go,” Harry sighed. “It would've been nice to spend some time with you and Ron outside of the school.”
She turned to look at him, with an odd expression on her face. Was it pity?
“She knows how your guardians are,” Cedric said. “At the very least, she probably remembers how they were during her observations of them.”
“I’m sorry, Potter, but that’s my final word. You had better hurry, or you’ll be late for your next lesson.”
“I would have been better off not asking,” Harry said, sighing.
There was nothing to be done. Ron called Professor McGonagall a lot of names that greatly annoyed Hermione;
“Oh my god. He's getting angry just because Professor McGonagall wasn't bending the rules. If course it's going to annoy me,” Hermione said. “She doesn't deserve him doing that, at all.”
Hermione assumed an ‘all for the best’ expression that made Ron even angrier,
“You know, he seems to be the one whose the most angriest about me not being able to go,” Harry said. “Like it's a personal insult to him that I can't go.”
“Yeah, that is kind of ridiculous,” Hermione said. “But then again, it's also ridiculous that he butts into your conversations with others and answers for you as well.”
and Harry had to endure everyone in the class talking loudly and happily about what they were going to do first, once they got into Hogsmeade.
“That would be annoying,” Harry said.
“There’s always the feast,” said Ron, in an effort to cheer Harry up. “You know, the Halloween feast, in the evening.”
“Somehow, I don't think that's going to cheer me up,” Harry said.
“Yeah,” said Harry, gloomily, “great.”
The Halloween feast was always good, but it would taste a lot better if he was coming to it after a day in Hogsmeade with everyone else.
“You think being about to go to Hogsmeade would affect your taste buds,” Hermione said, sounding incredulous at the thought.
“Not really,” Harry said. “I'm just probably thinking it would.”
Nothing anyone said made him feel any better about being left behind. Dean Thomas, who was good with a quill, had offered to forge Uncle Vernon’s signature on the form, but as Harry had already told Professor McGonagall he hadn’t had it signed,
“Plus I doubt your Uncle would sign it using a quill,” Hermione said.
that was no good. Ron half-heartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak, but Hermione stamped on that one, reminding Ron what Dumbledore had told them about the Dementors being able to see through them.
“Which wouldn't help me much,” Harry said.
“No, it wouldn't,” Hermione said.
Percy had what were possibly the least helpful words of comfort.
“They make a fuss about Hogsmeade, but I assure you, Harry, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be,” he said seriously.
I think he's gotten tired of going to Hogsmeade,” Cedric said. “That's usually the only reason why someone would say something like that.”
“All right, the sweetshop’s rather good, but Zonko’s Joke Shop’s frankly dangerous, and yes, the Shrieking Shack’s always worth a visit, but really, Harry, apart from that, you’re not missing anything.”
“Yeah, that doesn't really make me feel better, but you've got to give Percy points for trying,” Harry said.
On Halloween morning, Harry awoke with the rest and went down to breakfast feeling thoroughly depressed, though doing his best to act normally.
“I doubt I really succeed though,” Harry said. “Particularly since people know I was depressed already, at least those in Gryffindor.”
“We’ll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes,” said Hermione, looking desperately sorry for him.
“Yeah, loads,” said Ron. He and Hermione had finally forgotten their squabble about Crookshanks in the face of Harry’s disappointment.
“That right there says that your really the only reason why were friends,” Hermione said. “I mean, the only reason why we're stopping our squabble is because of you.”
“Don’t worry about me,” said Harry,
“We are going to worry about you,” Hermione said. “It's useless to tell us not too.”
in what he hoped was an offhand voice. “I’ll see you at the feast. Have a good time.”
“It's kind of you to want us to have good time when you can't,” Hermione said.
He accompanied them to the Entrance Hall, where Filch, the caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no one was sneaking out who shouldn’t be going.
“I think your invisibility cloak would work well with that,” Cedric said.
“Staying here, Potter?” shouted Malfoy, who was standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle. “Scared of passing the Dementors?”
“No, just not allowed to go,” Harry said.
Harry ignored him and made his solitary way up the marble staircase, through the deserted corridors, and back to Gryffindor Tower.
“Somehow, I don't think you're going to want to be there,” Hermione said.
“Password?” said the Fat Lady, jerking out of a doze.
“Fortuna Major,” said Harry listlessly.
The portrait swung open and he climbed through the hole into the common room. It was full of chattering first- and second-years, and a few older students who had obviously visited Hogsmeade so often the novelty had worn off.
“Like I said, you probably don't want to be there,” Hermione said.
“Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry!”
“I think we know who that is,” Luna said.
It was Colin Creevey, a second-year who was deeply in awe of Harry and never missed an opportunity to speak to him.
“Aren’t you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey –“ Colin looked eagerly around at his friends,
“Somehow, I don't think what he's going to suggest is going to appeal to me,” Harry said.
“Which means you'll most likely turn right back around, since you also won't be rude to him,” Luna said.
“you can come and sit with us, if you like, Harry!’
“Er – no, thanks, Colin,” said Harry, who wasn’t in the mood to have a lot of people staring avidly at the scar on his forehead.
“I'm never in the mood for that,” Harry said.
“I – I’ve got to go to the library, got to get some work done.”
“Somehow, I don't think you're going to make it to the library,” Cedric said.
After that, he had no choice but to turn right around and head back out of the portrait hole again.
“What was the point of waking me up?” the Fat Lady called grumpily after him as he walked away.
“Apparently, she didn't like you going through her twice,” Hermione said.
Harry wandered dispiritedly towards the library, but halfway there he changed his mind; he didn’t feel like working.
“Knew you wouldn't be going to make it there,” Cedric muttered.
He turned around and came face to face with Filch,
“That's probably not a sight you really wanted, is it,” Cedric said.
“No, I probably don't want to see him,” Harry said.
who had obviously just seen off the last of the Hogsmeade visitors.
“What are you doing?” Filch snarled suspiciously.
“Nothing,” said Harry truthfully.
“He's not going to believe that,” Cedric said.
“Nothing!” spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. “A likely story! Sneaking around on your own,”
“He's not sneaking. It's daylight, and he is allowed to walk around the castle if he wants to,” Hermione said
“That's true, but Filch doesn't care about the truth,” Cedric said.
“why aren’t you in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?”
“Considering that he has a list of those allowed to go, He already knows the answer to that question,” Harry said.
Harry shrugged.
“Well, get back to your common room where you belong!” snapped Filch,
“I don't have to,” Harry said. “Since I'm allowed to be out of my common room, I will be out of my common room.”
and he stood glaring until Harry had passed out of sight.
But Harry didn’t go back to the common room; he climbed a staircase, thinking vaguely of visiting the Owlery to see Hedwig,
“I'm sure that she'd love a visit from you,” Luna said. “Of course, chances are that you don't make it there.”
and was walking along another corridor when a voice from inside one of the rooms said, “Harry?”
Harry doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door.
“What are you doing?” said Lupin, in a very different voice from Filch.
“He's just wondering because he's curious, while Filch was suspicious,” Harry said.
“Where are Ron and Hermione?”
“Hogsmeade,” said Harry, in a would-be casual voice.
“He'll probably want to know why your not there,” Hermione said.
“Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the teachers tell each other which students are not supposed to be there, so that no one can sneak out and go there after Filch leaves,” Cedric said
“Ah,” said Lupin. He considered Harry for a moment. “Why don’t you come in? I’ve just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson.”
“A what?” Hermione said.
“A what?” said Harry.
“Apparently, your not the only one who wants to know,” Cedric said to Hermione.
He followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water. A sickly-green creature with sharp little horns had its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers.
“Lovely,” Harry said.
“Water demon,” said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. “We shouldn’t have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas.”
“I suppose that's true,” Luna said.
“You know about them?” Hermione asked.
“I know what I've read about them,” Luna said.
“Same with me,” Cedric said. “There's a small bit about them in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, which is a book that you're told to get in your first year.”
“I remember,” Hermione said, “it was on the list that year.”
“Is that how you know about acromantulas and basilisks?” Harry asked.
“There is some part about them in the book,” Cedric said.
“Most of my information, however, comes from books that delve more into the creatures than that one does,” Luna said.
“Yeah, I only know what I read in that book, and I've only read the book a few times, and don't have it memorized,” Cedric said. “Luna here is the one whose more interested in Magical Creatures, and therefore, reads about that subject.”
“The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle.”
The Grindylow bared its green teeth
“Lovely,” Hermione said, a look of distaste on her face.
and then buried itself in a tangle of weed in a corner.
“Cup of tea?” Lupin said,
“I think you've found something to do now,” Hermione said.
“Yeah, talk to the new teacher,” Harry said. “Maybe I'll ask why he didn't let me face the Boggart.”
looking around for his kettle. “I was just thinking of making one.”
“All right,” said Harry awkwardly.
“I think this is the first time I've actually been willing to have tea with a teacher,” Harry said.
Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.
“Got to like being about to get some things done instantly,” Hermione said.
“Sit down,” said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. “I’ve only got teabags, I’m afraid –“
“That's fine with me,” Harry said, thinking about the Divination class described in the book.
passing Harry a chipped mug of tea. “You’re not worried, are you?”
"No, not really,” Harry said.
“No,” said Harry.
He thought for a moment of telling Lupin about the dog he’d seen in Magnolia Crescent, but decided not to.
“It was just a stray, after all,” Harry said
He didn’t want Lupin to think he was a coward, especially since Lupin already seemed to think he couldn’t cope with a Boggart.
“There is that too,” Harry said. “Though, considering that I wasn't ready, it's probably a good thing I didn't face the Boggart.”
Something of Harry’s thoughts seemed to have shown on his face, because Lupin said, “Anything worrying you, Harry?”
“Just wondering why you didn't let me face the Boggart, that's all,” Harry said.
“No,” Harry lied.
“You should just tell him,” Luna said.
He drank a bit of tea and watched the Grindylow brandishing a fist at him.
“I don't think it likes you much,” Cedric said.
“Actually, it probably doesn't like being stuck in an aquarium,” Luna said.
“Yes,” he said suddenly, putting his tea down on Lupin’s desk. “You know that day we fought the Boggart?”
“Yes,” said Lupin slowly.
“He's probably wondering what about that day is bugging you, since he probably expected it to be something else,” Hermione said. “In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he thought you were worried about Black, since he's apparently after you – of course, it's possible that the teachers have been told that you don't know, so that might not be it.”
“Basically, he probably was expecting something else to be bothering you,” Cedric said.
“Why didn’t you let me fight it?” said Harry abruptly.
Lupin raised his eyebrows.
“I would have thought that was obvious, Harry,” he said, sounding surprised.
“I wonder what he thinks is so obvious about it,” Hermione said.
“Whatever it is, he seems surprised that I didn't think of it,” Harry said.
Harry, who had expected Lupin to deny that he’d done any such thing, was taken aback.
“Most would deny it,” Harry said.
“True,” Hermione said, having had it done to her, and hearing stories about it being done to others.
“Why?” he said again.
“Well,” said Lupin, frowning slightly.
“He's probably realizing that whatever it is that he thought is obviously wrong,” Hermione said.
“I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort.”
“So we were right, he did think it would become Riddle,” Cedric said.
“He actually said the name,” Harry said.
“He did, didn't he?” Hermione said. “I wonder why. I'm not saying it's a bad thing that he did, but I do have to wonder why he would say it when no one else does, other than you and Dumbledore. And, from the sounds of it, the two of you have your reasons. I mean, you've beat him at least two time – unless you also count when you were a baby, in which case, it's three – and, as mentioned in the first book, he's scared of Dumbledore. So, what Professor Lupin's case?”
Harry stared. Not only was this the last answer he’d expected,
“Mostly because I didn't bother to actually think of a reason other than assuming he'd know what I feared the most,” Harry said.
but Lupin had said Voldemort’s name. The only person Harry had ever heard say the name aloud (apart from himself) was Professor Dumbledore.
“Clearly, I was wrong,” said Lupin, still frowning at Harry.
“Why is he still frowning?” Harry asked.
“I don't know,” Hermione said.
“He could wonder what you'd think of as more frightening since it's kind of hard to imagine someone more frightening than Riddle to you,” Luna said.
“But I didn’t think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialise in the staff room. I imagined that people would panic.”
“Um, not too sure, since I don't think anyone in your class knows what he looks like,” Cedric said. “Of course, if they assume that your afraid of Riddle, then they might panic if they see an unknown person standing in the room.”
“I did think of Voldemort first,” said Harry honestly.
“He's probably thinking right then that at least you're smart,” Hermione said.
[b“But then I – I remembered those Dementors.”
“I see,” said Lupin thoughtfully. “Well, well ... I’m impressed.”[/b]
“What's impressive able that?” Harry asked.
“I don't know,” Luna said.
He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry’s face. “That suggests that what you fear most of all is – fear.”
“It appears so,” Harry said, though he too was confused.
“Very wise, Harry.”
Harry didn’t know what to say to that, so he drank some more tea.
“Best thing to do, if he might expect an answer,” Cedric said.
“So you’ve been thinking that I didn’t believe you capable of fighting the Boggart?” said Lupin shrewdly.
“Well ... yeah,” said Harry.
“I wasn't quite sure of what else to think, since I didn't bother to try and think about any other reasons,” Harry said.
He was suddenly feeling a lot happier.
“The new teacher doesn't think I'm a coward. Of course I'm happier,” Harry said.
“Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors –“
He was interrupted by a knock on the door.
“Come in,” called Lupin.
The door opened, and in came Snape.
“What's he doing there?” Harry asked.
“Don't know,” Hermione said.
He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Harry, his black eyes narrowing.
“Okay, what's in the goblet, and what did Harry do now,” Cedric said.
"To him, I don't knave to have done anything. The fact that I exist is enough for him," Harry said.
“Ah, Severus,” said Lupin, smiling. “Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?”
Snape set the smoking goblet down, his eyes wandering between Harry and Lupin.
“He's suspicious about me being alone with Lupin,” Harry said. “I wonder why.”
“I was just showing Harry my Grindylow,” said Lupin pleasantly, pointing at the tank.
“Fascinating,” said Snape, without looking at it. “You should drink that directly, Lupin.”
“For some reason, I feel like he shouldn't,” Harry said.
“I don't think Snape will attempt to murder him,” Cedric said. “There's really no way he'd get away with it. Plus, if he planned on murdering Professor Lupin, he would have made some sort of excuse when he saw Harry there, since it wouldn't do to have a witness to the crime.”
“Yes, yes, I will,” said Lupin.
“I made an entire cauldronful,” Snape continued. “If you need more.”
“That makes it sound like something that Professor Lupin needs,” Hermione said. “Some sort of medicinal potion?”
“I don't know of any medicinal potion that would be smoking,” Cedric said.
“Maybe we'll find out at some later point in the book,” Harry said.
“Yeah, maybe,” Cedric said.
“I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thanks very much, Severus.”
“Not at all,” said Snape, but there was a look in his eye Harry didn’t like.
“He probably didn't mean it,” Cedric said. “Remember, your book self said that Snape was looking at him with the same look of loathing that he looked at you with. There's probably some bad history between the two.”
“But that doesn't explain why he hates me then,” Harry said. “I mean, I've never done anything to him, yet he automatically hates me. It doesn't make sense.”
“Maybe it's not you,” Luna said. “Maybe it's your father. I mean, you are said to look like him a lot, and Cedric did mention that his mother told him that they hated each other in school. Snape loathes you because he's a child in a man's body holding a grudge against a dead man, and using said dead man's son as an outlet for the grudge.”
He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful.
Harry looked curiously at the goblet. Lupin smiled.
“Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me,” he said.
“Dumbledore probably makes him do it,” Cedric said.
“I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex.” He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. “Pity sugar makes it useless,” he added, taking a sip and shuddering.
“It's a pity for every potion that tastes bad,” Cedric said. “Sadly, sugar can mess with the effects of the potion, which can have awful consequences.”
“Why –?” Harry began.
'I'm probably wondering why he needs to take that potion,” Harry said.
“Your not the only one,” Hermione said.
Lupin looked at him and answered the unfinished question.
“I’ve been feeling a bit off-colour,” he said. “This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren’t many wizards who are up to making it.”
“I don't think I've ever heard of a potion for simply feeling a bit off-coloured that was complicated to make and couldn't be substituted with another potion,” Cedric said.
Professor Lupin took another sip and Harry had a mad urge to knock the goblet out of his hands.
“Somehow, I don't think that'll do much good, especially since you heard him mentioning taking some the next day,” Hermione said.
“Professor Snape’s very interested in the Dark Arts,” he blurted out.
“You really don't want him to drink what's in that goblet, do you?” Cedric said.
“No, I don't,” Harry said.
“Really?’ said Lupin, looking only mildly interested as he took another gulp of potion.
“He most likely already knows that about Snape,” Cedric said.
“Some people reckon –“ Harry hesitated, then plunged recklessly on, “some people reckon he’d do anything to get the Defence Against the Dark Arts job.”
“Unfortunately, the fact that he hasn't gotten it yet means that he's not that desperate to take it,” Cedric said.
Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face.
“Disgusting,” he said. “Well, Harry, I’d better get back to work. I’ll see you at the feast later.”
“Right,” said Harry, putting his empty teacup down.
“You know, I wonder what you were going to ask him concerning the Dementors,” Hermione said.
“Apparently, I'm easily distracted,” Harry said
The empty goblet was still smoking.
“Is that something normal?” Harry asked.
“Not sure,” Cedric said. “I don't know that many complex potions and what signs that they're done are.”
“There you go,” said Ron. “We got as much as we could carry.”
“You didn't bring a bag?” Cedric asked rhetorically, knowing he wouldn't really get a correct answer, since none of them had lived this.
“It appears so,” Hermione said anyway.
A shower of brilliantly coloured sweets fell into Harry’s lap. It was dusk, and Ron and Hermione had just turned up in the common room, pink-faced from the cold wind and looking as though they’d had the time of their lives.
“Which is probably going to make me a little jealous,” Harry said.
“Thanks,” said Harry, picking up a packet of tiny black Pepper Imps. “What’s Hogsmeade like? Where did you go?”
“You really want to hear the details?” Hermione asked.
“I think I want to live through you two,” Harry said.
By the sound of it – everywhere.
“It isn't that big of a village, from what I've heard,” Cedric said. "So it's most likely easy to visit everywhere."
Dervish and Banges, the wizarding equipment shop, Zonko’s Joke Shop, into the Three Broomsticks for foaming mugs of hot Butterbeer and many places besides.
“I hope they can figure out a way to get you some Butterbeer,” Cedric said. “That stuff's good.”
“The post office, Harry! About two hundred owls, all sitting on shelves, all colour-coded depending on how fast you want your letter to get there!”
“Honeydukes have got a new kind of fudge, they were giving out free samples, there’s a bit, look –“
“I think we know whose telling you what,” Luna said.
“We think we saw an ogre, honestly, they get all sorts at the Three Broomsticks –“
“Wish we could have brought you some Butterbeer, really warms you up –“
“What did you do?” said Hermione,
“I'm probably noticing that his look has changed,” Hermione said.
looking anxious. “Did you get any work done?”
“I probably know the answer to that already,” Hermione said.
“No,” said Harry. “Lupin made me a cup of tea in his office. And then Snape came in ...”
He told them all about the goblet. Ron’s mouth fell open.
“Lupin drank it?” he gasped. “Is he mad?”
“Apparently, it's not just me who thinks that Lupin shouldn't drink the potion,” Harry said.
Hermione checked her watch.
“We’d better go down, you know, the feast’ll be starting in five minutes ...” They hurried through the portrait hole and into the crowd, still discussing Snape.
“We probably shouldn't be talking about it where anyone could hear,” Hermione said.
“But if he – you know –“ Hermione dropped her voice, glancing nervously around,
“At least I'm making sure no one is listening,” Hermione muttered.
“if he was trying to – to poison Lupin – he wouldn’t have done it in front of Harry.”
“Which is pretty much what was already said before,” Hermione said.
“Yeah, maybe,” said Harry,
“I don't think my book self quite believes that,” Harry said.
as they reached the Entrance Hall and crossed into the Great Hall. It had been decorated with hundreds and hundreds of candle-filled pumpkins, a cloud of fluttering live bats and many flaming orange streamers, which were swimming lazily across the stormy ceiling like brilliant watersnakes.
“That sounds like it looks wonderful,” Harry said.
The food was delicious; even Hermione and Ron, who were full to bursting with Honeydukes sweets, managed second helpings of everything.
“How do you know that I'm bursting with Honeydukes sweets?” Hermione asked.
“Uh, I don't know,” Harry said. “Do you think you are?”
“Considering that my parents are dentist who wouldn't be happy at me if I ate too many sweets, I doubt that I had a lot of them,” Hermione said.
Harry kept glancing at the staff table. Professor Lupin looked cheerful and as well as he ever did;
“The potion must be working then,” Hermione said.
he was talking animatedly to tiny little Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher. Harry moved his eyes along the table, to the place where Snape sat. Was he imagining it, or were Snape’s eyes flickering towards Lupin more often than was natural?
“Can't say, but I would imagine that, they might be doing that,” Cedric said. “After all, your book self is shown to have extremely good observation skills.
The feast finished with an entertainment provided by the Hogwarts ghosts. They popped out of the walls and tables to do a spot of formation gliding; Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor ghost, had a great success with a re-enactment of his own botched beheading.
“I guess he's not having a deathday party this year,” Hermione said.
“Seems that way,” Harry said.
“He probably doesn't have one every year,” Luna said. “It's very possible that he only has one every hundred years.”
"That, and he might have been turned off by the idea for a bit after what happened in the previous book," Harry said.
"That could be true," Luna said.
It had been such a good evening that Harry’s good mood couldn’t even be spoiled by Malfoy,
“That's good,” Cedric said.
“That would probably annoy him if he knew he wasn't having the effect he probably wanted on you,” Hermione said.
who shouted through the crowd as they all left the Hall, “The Dementors send their love, Potter!”
“He's going to keep mentioning them, isn't he?” Harry asked.
“Seems that way,” Hermione said. “You know what I just realized, this'll be the first Halloween where something doesn't happen.”
“We don't know that yet,” Cedric said. “The day isn't over yet, after all.”
Harry, Ron and Hermione followed the rest of the Gryffindors along the usual path to Gryffindor Tower, but when they reached the corridor which ended with the portrait of the Fat Lady, they found it jammed with students.
“Um, why isn't anyone going in? I mean, they can't all have forgotten the password,” Hermione said.
“Maybe the Fat Lady went to visit one of her friends, and didn't think about the time,” Cedric said.
“Why isn’t anyone going in?” said Ron curiously.
Harry peered over the heads in front of him. The portrait seemed to be closed.
“That does support what Cedric just said,” Hermione said.
“Let me through, please,” came Percy’s voice, and he came bustling importantly through the crowd.
“We'll find out what's going on, then,” Harry said.
“What’s the hold-up here? You can’t all have forgotten the password – excuse me, I’m Head Boy –“
“That doesn't mean that people are just going to respect you,” Cedric said. “I have a feeling that most people don't like him all that much, because he's all about rules, and doesn't seem to know how to have fun.”
And then a silence fell over the crowd, from the front first, so that a chill seemed to spread down the corridor.
“Seems you did kind of jump the gun on saying nothing bad was going to happen this Halloween,” Harry said.
“I was hoping that I wasn't, since this does make it seem like that day is cursed for you,” Hermione said.
“Hey, we still have four other books to read. I'm sure at least one of them will have a non bad Halloween for me,” Harry said.
They heard Percy say, in a suddenly sharp voice, “Somebody get Professor Dumbledore. Quick.”
“Seems like she didn't just go off to visit a friend,” Cedric said.
People’s heads turned; those at the back were standing on tiptoe.
“It does make sense that we all want to know what's going on,” Hermione said.
“What’s going on?” said Ginny, who had just arrived.
“I have the feeling it was more like she finally wrestled her way next to us,” Harry said.
Next moment, Professor Dumbledore was there, sweeping towards the portrait; the Gryffindors squeezed together to let him through, and Harry, Ron and Hermione moved closer to see what the trouble was.
“Oh, my –“ Hermione exclaimed and grabbed Harry’s arm.
“That doesn't sound good,” Harry said.
The Fat Lady had vanished from her portrait, which had been slashed so viciously that strips of canvas littered the floor; great chunks of it had been torn away completely.
“Oh, my indeed,” Hermione said. “Who would do such a thing?”
“Someone who wanted into the Gryffindor common room,” Cedric said. “And I doubt that person is a student, either.”
“Wait a minute, you don't think...” Hermione started to say.
“That Black got into the castle,” Cedric finished. “Yes, I do. He's the only person I can think of who would do an attack like that.”
“But why go to the common room?” Harry asked.
“I'd say he probably forgot about the day, but the lack of people in the hallways would've tipped him off that something was going on,” Cedric said, looking a bit confused. “I mean, most of the time, the only time the hallways are that empty when it's Halloween and everyone's enjoying the feast, or during the holidays, usually winter holidays, as, more often than not, people stay during the Easter one.”
“So that means he was planning on hiding out in the common room,” Hermione said.
“Yup,” Cedric said. “At least, that's what it seems like, though...well, I don't know about you guys, but I feel like I'm missing something of this puzzle.”
“Not just you,” Hermione said. “I feel like there's something missing as well.”
“Same here,” Harry said.
Dumbledore took one quick look at the ruined painting and turned, his eyes sombre, to see Professors McGonagall, Lupin and Snape hurrying towards him.
“They must've followed him when whoever went to get Dumbledore showed up,” Hermione said.
“We need to find her,” said Dumbledore. “Professor McGonagall, please go to Mr Filch at once and tell him to search every painting in the castle for the Fat Lady.”
“That'll be fun for him,” Cedric said sarcastically.
“You’ll be lucky!” said a cackling voice.
“Peeves,” Hermione said.
It was Peeves the poltergeist, bobbing over the crowd and looking delighted, as he always did, at the sight of wreckage or worry.
“What do you mean, Peeves?” said Dumbledore calmly, and Peeves’s grin faded a little.
“He doesn't dare to taunt Dumbledore, since Dumbledore could have him exorcized,” Cedric said.
He didn’t dare taunt Dumbledore. Instead he adopted an oily voice that was no better than his cackle.
“Ashamed, Your Headship, sir.”
“Even when he's not trying not to taunt someone, he still is disrespectful,” Cedric said, shaking his head.
“Doesn’t want to be seen. She’s a horrible mess. Saw her running through the landscape up on the fourth floor, sir, dodging between the trees. Crying something dreadful,” he said happily.
“That's just wrong that he's happy about having seen that,” Hermione said.
“Poor thing,” he added, unconvincingly.
“I wouldn't have believed him even if he had been convincingly,” Harry said.
“Did she say who did it?” said Dumbledore quietly.
“Most likely,” Hermione said. "Unless she didn't know who he was."
“Oh, yes, Professorhead,” said Peeves, with the air of one cradling a large bombshell in his arms.
“And here is were we find out if we were right about it having been Black,” Cedric said.
“He got very angry when she wouldn’t let him in, you see.” Peeves flipped over, and grinned at Dumbledore from between his own legs. “Nasty temper he’s got, that Sirius Black.”
“And were were right,” Harry said.
“That's the end of the chapter,” Luna said, handing the book over to Harry.