PHANTOM FIGURES | harry potter

21. the dementor

     Aspen was upset. She was also slightly hurt.

     Why did Harry not say anything? No letter. No call. Nothing.

     He could have stayed with her, Margaret wouldn't complain. But instead he went to the Leaky Cauldron, and the only reason Aspen knew that was because she ran into him when Jasmine and her were shopping for third year.

     It was unsafe, there was a murderer out there. A wizard one. After watching the news report about Sirius Black she researched all she could about magical prisons. Azkaban is what it was called. Located on an island in the North Sea, built in the fifteenth century, very high security; which confused her on how Black managed to escape.

     The two girls had been drinking their tea served by the landlord, innkeeper, and barman of the Leaky Cauldron, Tom, when Aspen noticed a familiar head of messy hair in the back corner, observing other customers and guests.

     His movements were smooth and natural, as though he knew what to do every second and had created a routine there. He stacked his bowl on top of the plate and placed his utensils in the curve, his glass to the right of the pile. The boy moved to the counter to place his coins down but Tom slid them back to him immediately.

     Jasmine was clueless to what happened, she was still speaking, "I heard Trelawney is a looney, that's what a girl named Penny Haywood told me, but she graduated in our first year. Did you know she was the most popular girl in her year? Who do you think is most popular in our year? Either you or Hermione probably, because of your reckless behaviour and being so close with Harry, which he is definitely the most popular boy for obvious reasons, of course. I'm hoping Care of Magical Creatures will be easy, I really don't want to end up like Professor Kettleburn-"

     Aspen watched him as he exited the pub. She was too scared to say anything.

     "-Aspen what do you think?" Jasmine took a large sip from her cup.

     "Erm, sorry, what?"

     "Do you think Nott would look better with purple or pink hair?" the Hufflepuff repeated her question.

     Pondering, analysing the images in her head, she answered, "Pink. Why are you asking anyway?"

     "Either mess with his shampoo or I just jinx it." Jasmine huffed, "Stupid prick was bragging to me about his trip to Rome, which I did not ask about."

     "He's odd,"

     "You got that right for sure." They finished their drinks and Jasmine glanced at their school supplies list. "We'll get books first, The Monster Book of Monsters sounds exceptionally interesting."

     The employee looked terrified when the two girls listed what they were looking for. He called for the manager, who was shoving on a pair of thick black gloves, and he picked up a large, knobbly walking stick, and proceeded toward the door of the Monster Books' cage.

     It was brutal, Aspen didn't understand how Hogwarts was allowing such a dangerous textbook. The books were biting at the manager and each other, papers were flying everywhere, you could tell the worker was not having a good time.

     When he had secured the two books and had them bound together through magic, the manager gave them to the students.

     "Thanks," Aspen winced as she noticed a bite mark when the worker took off his protective gloves. "We appreciate it."

     They went looking for Intermediate Transfiguration, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Three, and the rest of their books before leaving Flourish and Blotts with everything tucked under their arms.