Coup de Foudre [Fred Weasley] [3]

⚡️ Chapter 17 ⚡️

Vega and Harry followed Professor Lupin into his office as he told them about how he had just taken in a delivery of a Grindylow for their next lesson. In the corner of his office 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. Vega kneeled down next to it to have a closer look at it.

"What's that?" Harry asked, eying the way Vega was looking at the creature in absolute fascination.

"Why doesn't Vega answer this question?" Lupin asked as he also watched the tall female awed by the creature. "You seem quite taken with it,"

"Grindylows are water demons," Vega told Harry, turning her head around to look at him. "They're found throughout Britain and Ireland in lakes. They feed on small fish and sea creatures and algae... but they also feed off of humans, usually small children. You should avoid stagnant pools if you want to avoid Grindylows... and if you're caught, you must break their strong grip,"

"Exactly," Lupin said, amused by her explanation. "I feel like I'll have an easy time in the up-coming class with Vega... but we shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas,"

The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weeds in a corner.

"Cup of tea?" Lupin asked Vega and Harry, looking around for his kettle. "I was just thinking of making one," Vega stood up from in front of the water tank.

"All right," Harry answered awkwardly.

Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.

"Sit down," Lupin said, 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?" Vega and Harry looked at him. Lupin's eyes were twinkling.

"How did you know about that?" Harry asked.

"Professor McGonagall told me," Lupin replied, passing both Vega and Harry a chipped mug of tea each. "You're not worried, are you?"

"No," Harry said. He thought for a moment of telling Lupin about the dog he'd seen in Magnolia Crescent but decided not to when he saw Vega peering over at him.

"Anything worrying you, Harry?" Lupin asked, and Vega turned to look at him next, wondering if the teacher figured out Harry's behaviour, too.

"No," Harry lied and Vega raised her eyebrows at him before looking away, taking a sip of the tea and eying the Grindylow brandishing a fist at them.

Vega looked around the office naturally, trying to see if there was anything she could figure out. She didn't expect anything to be there, in all honesty, as she was sure that Lupin had been a werewolf for a long time now. But she wanted to see if he was getting ready for the full moon tonight.

"Yes," Harry said suddenly, putting his teacup down on Lupin's desk. Vega looked back at him in wonder. "You know that day we fought the Boggart?"

"Yes," Lupin replied slowly.

"Why didn't you let me fight it?" Harry asked abruptly. Lupin raised his eyebrows.

"I would have thought that was obvious, Harry," Lupin said, sounding surprised. Harry, who had expected Lupin to deny that he'd done any such thing, was taken aback.

"Why?" Harry said again.

"Well," Lupin replied, frowning slightly, "I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort,"

Vega nodded lightly as she agreed with him but her attention snapped back when she realised that Lupin had said Voldemort's name. She had never heard someone do that – other than herself, Harry and Professor Dumbledore. Everyone else were too terrified of saying that name out loud like this.