Sirius's son

Charmed Necklace

Halfway through October came their first trip of the term to Hogsmeade. Rigel had wondered whether these trips would still be allowed, given the increasingly tight security measures around the school, but was pleased to know that they were going ahead; it was always good to get out of the castle grounds for a few hours.

But at the Hogsmeade morning, he woke up dangling upside down in midair as though an invisible hook had hoisted him up by the ankle.

"ARRGH!" Rigel had screamed. 

"Sorry!" yelled Harry, as Ron, Dean, and Seamus roared withl aughter, and Neville picked himself up from the floor, having fallen out of bed. "Hang on — I'll let you down —"

He groped for the potion book and riffled through it in a panic, then flicking his wand again, Rigel fell in a heap onto his mattress.

"Sorry," repeated Harry weakly, while Dean and Seamus continued to roar with laughter. 

"Next time," Rigel growled, "Use the alarm clock."

By the time they had got dressed, padding themselves out with several of Mrs. Weasley's hand-knitted sweaters and carrying cloaks, scarves, and gloves, Rigel's shock had subsided and he had decided that Harry's new spell was not amusing; but amusing enough for Ron to regale Hermione and Eliza the story as they sat down forbreakfast.

 ". . . and then there was another flash of light and Rigel landed on the bed again!" Ron grinned, helping himself to sausages.

Eliza was also giggling like mad while Hermione had not cracked a smile during this anecdote.

"Was this spell, by any chance, another one from that potion book of yours?" she asked. 

Harry frowned at her. "Always jump to the worst conclusion, don't you?" 

"Was it?" 

"Well . . . yeah, it was, but so what?" 

"So you just decided to try out an unknown, hand written incantation and see what would happen?" 

"Why does it matter if it's handwritten?" said Harry, 

"Because it's probably not Ministry of Magic–approved," said Hermione. "And also," she added, as Harry and Ron rolled their eyes, "because I'm starting to think this Prince character was a bit dodgy." 

"Oh come off it Hermione." Eliza waved off. "It's just a laugh."

"Dangling people upside down by the ankle?" said Hermione. "Who puts their time and energy into making up spells like that?" 

"Fred and George," said Ron, shrugging,

"My dad," Rigel added. "And, er —"

"My dad too," said Harry. He had only just remembered. 

"What?" said Rigel, Ron and Hermione together. 

"My dad used this spell," said Harry. "I — Lupin told us." 

"Remus told you," Rigel said suspiciously. 

"Maybe your dad did use it, Harry," said Hermione, "bu the's not the only one. We've seen a whole bunch of people use it, in case you've forgotten. Dangling people in the air. Making them float along, asleep, helpless." 

"That was different," Ron said robustly. "They were abusing it. Harry and his dad were just having a laugh. You don't like the Prince, Hermione," he added, pointing a sausage at her sternly, "because he's better than you at Potions —" 

"It's got nothing to do with that!" said Hermione, her cheeks reddening. "I just think it's very irresponsible to start performing spells when you don't even know what they're for, and stop talking about 'the Prince' as if it's his title, I bet it's just a stupid nickname, and it doesn't seem as though he was a very nice person to me!"