AUTOPHOBIA - G. WEASLEY

Third Year: Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff

✯ CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE ✯

❝He's a werewolf, isnt he?❞

November 7th, 1993.

ESTELLA WOKE UP to the sounds of a raging storm happening outside the castle. This wasn't good considering it was the day of the first quidditch match of the season, which they'd now be playing against Hufflepuff; with a Seeker they knew nothing about.

She sat up in her bed, pulling the curtains around it open, and glancing at her bedside clock to see that it had only just turned five.

Estella, however, wasn't the only one awake. She'd expected to be, but then got up to use the loo and found Hermione sitting on her bed, curtains open.

"'Mione, why are you awake?"

"Storm," said Hermione. "It's too loud. I don't get how Lavender and Parvati are sleeping through this."

Estella nodded. "I have to play in this later."

"They won't cancel?" asked Hermione, looking appalled.

"They've never cancelled quidditch because of the weather. You've read Quidditch Through the Ages and Hogwarts: A history, I thought you'd know this."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's obvious you've not read them. That's not in there."

"It might be," said Estella, "you should read them again. And I have read Quidditch Through the Ages, by the way."

Hermione invited her to have a seat on her bed, and Estella obliged. She saw now that Hermione had the homework Snape had set them sitting on her lap, and was holding a quill in her left hand. She sighed.

"I wouldn't bother finishing that. Dad's speaking to Dumbledore, we're not supposed to be learning it yet."

"Ah, well, Snape will kill me if it's not on his desk," said Hermione.

"Dad said we don't have to do it," Estella replied, "and it's his class."

"But Snape--"

"Dumbledore will be speaking to him. Trust me, we won't have to hand it in; don't waste your time."

Hermione sighed, laying the homework on her bedside table. She looked around the room and then placed a silencing charm around her bed, eyes locking with Estella's.

"Can I ask you a few questions?"

Estella raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I just...need to ask you some things," said Hermione. "Please?"

"Okay," said Estella, warily. "Go on, then..."

Hermione took a deep breath. "The reason you're so annoyed about Professor Snape teaching us about werewolves isn't just because we're not supposed to learn about them yet, is it?"

Estella's heart felt as though it dropped to her chest as she realised what her friend's questions were going to turn to. Hermione was a smart girl -- if anyone was going to figure out Remus' secret, it would be her. But Estella couldn't allow that to happen; this wasn't her secret to tell, and Remus would probably have a heart attack if he found out somebody knew, especially one of Estella's friends.