Reflections - Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 16

Kirra found herself worrying about Hogwarts more and more as the end of the holidays approached; of course she was excited to see everyone again, to play Quidditch, even to stroll across the vegetable patches to the Herbology greenhouses, but she was worried about the dangers that came along with it. 

The three Slytherins however couldn't be more excited. It would be a treat just to leave this dusty, musty house, where half of the cupboards were still bolted shut and Kreacher wheezed insults out of the shadows as you passed, though they were careful not to say any of this within earshot of Sirius.

The fact was that living at the headquarters of the anti-Voldemort movement was not nearly as interesting or exciting as they would have expected before they'd experienced it. Though members of the Order of the Phoenix came and went regularly, sometimes staying for meals, sometimes only for a few minutes' whispered conversation, Mrs. Weasley made sure that they were kept well out of earshot (whether Extendable or normal) and nobody, not even Kirra, seemed to feel that they needed to know everything that was being discussed at the meetings that they weren't allowed to attend.

On the very last day of the holidays Kirra was finishing packing her bags when Mattheo entered their bedroom carrying a couple of envelopes.

"Booklists have arrived," he said, and passed one of the envelopes to Kirra, placing a kiss on the top of her head. "About time, I thought they'd forgotten, they usually come much earlier than this. . . ."

Kirra shot Mattheo a small smile, putting her gloves in before zipping the bag up. She then opened her letter: It contained two pieces of parchment, one the usual reminder that term started on the first of September, the other telling her which books she would need for the coming year.

"Only two new ones," she said, reading the list. "The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, by Miranda Goshawk and Defensive Magical Theory, by Wilbert Slinkhard."

Crack.

Fred and George Apparated right beside Kirra. She was so used to them doing this by now that she didn't even seem fazed, she was too busy looking at her paper in surprise

"We were just wondering who assigned the Slinkhard book," said Fred conversationally.

"Because it means Dumbledore's found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher," said George.

"And about time too," said Fred.

"What d'you mean?" Mattheo asked, looking at them with confusion. 

"Well, we overheard Mum and Dad talking on the Extendable Ears a few weeks back," Fred told Kirra and Mattheo, "and from what they were saying, Dumbledore was having real trouble finding anyone to do the job this year."

"Not surprising, is it, when you look at what's happened to the last four?" said George.

"One sacked, one dead, one's memory removed, and one locked in a trunk for nine months," said Mattheo, counting them off on his fingers. "Yeah, I see what you mean."

"What's up with you, Potter?" asked Fred.

Kirra did not answer. Mattheo looked around. Kirra was standing very still with her mouth slightly open, gaping at her letter from Hogwarts. "What's the matter?" said Mattheo in concern, moving around Kirra to look over her shoulder at the parchment.

Mattheo's confused look turned to a wide grin, "Prefect?" he said, staring proudly at the letter. 

"Prefect?" George leapt forward, seized the envelope in Kirra's other hand, and turned it upside down. Kirra saw something yellow and black fall into George's palm.

"No way," said George in a joking voice.

"There's been a mistake," said Fred, snatching the letter out of Kirra's grasp and holding it up to the light as though checking for a watermark. "No one in their right mind would make little miss trouble maker a prefect. . . ."