Daughter of a Criminal

Flight of The Fat Lady

In no time at all, Defence Against the Dark Arts had become most people's favourite class. Only Draco Malfoy and his gang of Slytherins had anything bad to say about Professor Lupin.
'Look at the state of his robes,' Malfoy would say in a loud whisper as Professor Lupin passed. 'He dresses like our old house-elf.' But no one else cared that Professor Lupin's robes were patched and frayed. His next few lessons were just as interesting as the first. After Boggarts, they studied Red Caps, nasty little goblin-like creatures that lurked wherever there had been bloodshed, in the dungeons of castles and the potholes of deserted battlefields, waiting to bludgeon those who had got lost. From Red Caps they moved on to Kappas, creepy water-dwellers that looked like scaly monkeys, with webbed hands itching to strangle unwitting waders in their ponds. But worst of all was still Potions. Snape was in a particularly vindictive mood these days, and no one was in any doubt why. The story of the Boggart assuming Snape's shape, and the way that Neville had dressed it in his grandmother's clothes, had travelled through the school like wildfire. Snape didn't seem to find it funny. His eyes flashed menacingly at the very mention of Professor Lupin's name, and he was bullying Neville worse than ever. Ann was also growing to dread the hours she spent in Professor Trelawney's stifling tower room, deciphering lop-sided shapes and symbols, trying to ignore the way Professor Trelawney's enormous eyes filled with tears every time she looked at Harry, or for whatever Ann as well. And on top of that she didn't like Professor Trelawney, even though she was treated with respect bordering on reverence by many of the class. Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown had taken to haunting Professor Trelawney's tower room at lunchtimes, and always returned with annoyingly superior looks on their faces, as though they knew things the others didn't. They had also started using hushed voices whenever they spoke to Harry, as though he was on his deathbed. Nobody really liked Care of Magical Creatures, which, after the action-packed first class, had become extremely dull. Hagrid seemed to have lost his confidence. They were now spending lesson after lesson learning how to look after Flobberworms, which had to be some of the most boring creatures in existence.
'Why would anyone bother looking after them?' said Ron, after yet another hour of poking shredded lettuce down the Flobberworms' slimy throats. At the start of October, however, Ann had something else to occupy her, something so enjoyable it made up for her unsatisfactory classes. The Quidditch season was approaching, and Oliver Wood, Captain of the Gryffindor team, called a meeting one Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season. There were seven people on a Quidditch team: three Chasers, whose job it was to score goals by putting the Quaffle (a red, football-sized ball) through one of the fifty-foot-high hoops at each end of the pitch; two Beaters, who were equipped with heavy bats to repel the Bludgers (two heavy black balls which zoomed around trying to attack the players); a Keeper, who defended the goalposts, and the Seeker, who had the hardest job of all, that of catching the Golden Snitch, a tiny, winged, walnutsized ball, whose capture ended the game and earned the Seeker's team an extra one hundred and fifty points. Oliver Wood was a burly seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice as he addressed his six fellow team members in the chilly changing rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch pitch.
'This is our last chance â€" my last chance â€" to win the Quidditch cup,' he told them, striding up and down in front of them. 'I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it. 'Gryffindor hasn't won for seven years now. OK, so we've had the worst luck in the world â€" injuries â€" then the tournament getting called off last year …' Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. 'But we also know we've got the best â€" ruddy â€" team â€" in â€" the â€" school,' he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye. 'We've got three superb Chasers.' Wood pointed at Ann, Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell. 'We've got two unbeatable Beaters.'
'Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us,' said Fred and George Weasley together, pretending to blush. 'And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!' Wood rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. 'And me,' he added, as an afterthought.
'We think you're very good, too, Oliver,' said George.
'Cracking Keeper,' said Fred.
'The point is,' Wood went on, resuming his pacing, 'the Quidditch cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry and Ann joined the team, I've thought the thing was in the bag. But we haven't got it, and this year's the last chance we'll get to finally see our name on the thing …' Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic.
'Oliver, this year's our year,' said Fred.
'We'll do it, Oliver!'said Angelina.
'We got this in the bag!' said Ann
'Definitely,' said Harry. Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind or rain could tarnish Ann's wonderful vision of finally winning the huge, silver Quidditch cup. Harry and Ann returned to the Gryffindor common room one evening after training, cold and stiff but pleased with the way practice had gone, to find the room buzzing excitedly.
'What's happened?' Harry asked Ron and Hermione, who were sitting in two of the best chairs by the fireside and completing some star charts for Astronomy.
'First Hogsmeade weekend,' said Ron, pointing at a notice that had appeared on the battered old notice board. 'End of October. Hallowe'en.'
'Excellent,' said Fred, who had followed Harry and Ann through the portrait hole. 'I need to visit Zonko's, I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets.' Harry threw himself into a chair beside Ron, his high spirits ebbing away. Ann slumped into the chair next to Hermione, who seemed to read both Harry and Ann's minds.
'I'm sure you'll both be able to go next time,' she said. 'They're bound to catch Black soon, he's been sighted once already.'
'Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade,' said Ron. 'Ask McGonagall if either of you can go this time, I mean the next one might not be for ages â€"'
'Ron!' said Hermione. 'First of all Harry's supposed to stay in school â€"'
'They can't be the only third-yea-,' said Ron.
'And secondly Ann's dad is the dangerous criminal on the loose!' said Hermoine.
'Ask McGonagall, you two go onâ€"'
'Yeah, I think I will,' said Harry,
'Let's do it' said Ann. Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but at that moment Crookshanks leapt lightly onto her lap. A large, dead spider was dangling from his mouth. 'Does he have to eat that in front of us?'said Ron, scowling.
'Clever Crookshanks, did you catch that all by yourself?' said Hermione. Crookshanks slowly chewed up the spider, his yellow eyes fixed insolently on Ron.
'Just keep him over there, that's all,' said Ron irritably, turning back to his star chart. 'I've got Scabbers asleep in my bag.' Ann yawned. She was really tired, but she still had her own star chart to complete. She pulled her bag towards her, took out parchment, ink and quill, and started work. Harry did the same.
'You can copy mine, if you like,' said Ron, labelling his last star with a flourish and showing the chart towards Harry and Ann. Hermione, who disapproved of copying, pursed her lips, but didn't say anything. Crookshanks was still staring unblinkingly at Ron, flicking the end of his bushy tail. Then, without warning, he pounced.
'OY!' Ron roared, seizing his bag, as Crookshanks sank four sets of claws deeply into it, and began tearing ferociously. 'GET OFF, YOU STUPID ANIMAL!' Ron tried to pull the bag away from Crookshanks, but Crookshanks clung on, spitting and slashing.
'Ron, don't hurt him!' squealed Hermione. The whole common room was watching; Ron whirled the bag around, Crookshanks still clinging to it, and Scabbers came flying out of the top â€" 'CATCH THAT CAT!' Ron yelled, as Crookshanks freed himself from the remnants of the bag, sprang over the table and chased after the terrified Scabbers. George Weasley made a lunge for Crookshanks but missed; Scabbers streaked through twenty pairs of legs and shot beneath an old chest of drawers. Crookshanks skidded to a halt, crouched low on his bandy legs and started making furious swipes beneath the chest of drawers with his front paw. Ron and Hermione hurried over; Hermione grabbed Crookshanks around the middle and heaved him away; Ron threw himself onto his stomach and, with great difficulty, pulled Scabbers out by the tail.
'Look at him!' he said furiously to Hermione, dangling Scabbers in front of her. 'He's skin and bone! You keep that cat away from him!'
'Crookshanks doesn't understand it's wrong!' said Hermione, her voice shaking. 'All cats chase rats, Ron!'
'There's something funny about that animal!' said Ron, who was trying to persuade a frantically wiggling Scabbers back into his pocket. 'It heard me say that Scabbers was in my bag!'
'Oh, what rubbish,' said Hermione impatiently. 'Crookshanks could smell him, Ron, how else d'you think â€"'
'That cat's got it in for Scabbers!' said Ron, ignoring the people around him, who were starting to giggle. 'And Scabbers was here first, and he's ill!' Ron marched through the common room and out of sight up the stairs to the boys' dormitories. Hermoine marched off to the girls dormitory as well. Ann and Harry moved to a pair of couches and worked on their star charts, every now and again inquiring to see how the other was doing.
'Welp I'm done,' declared Ann when it had gotten close to midnight.
'Same,' said Harry
'Finally, it was getting late,' Ann added and with that they headed off to bed. Ron was still in a bad mood with Hermione the next day. He barely talked to her all through Herbology, even though he, Harry, Ann, and Hermione were working together on the same Puffapod. 'How's Scabbers?' Hermione asked timidly, as they stripped fat pink pods from the plants and emptied the shining beans into a wooden pail.
'He's hiding at the bottom of my bed, shaking,' said Ron angrily, missing the pail and scattering beans over the greenhouse floor.
'Careful, Weasley, careful!' cried Professor Sprout, as the beans burst into bloom before their very eyes. They had Transfiguration next. Harry, and Ann, who had both resolved to ask Professor McGonagall after the lesson whether they could go into Hogsmeade with the rest, joined the queue outside the classroom, talking in whispers trying to decide how they were going to argue their case. However they were distracted from their conversation by a disturbance at the front of the line. Lavender Brown seemed to be crying. Parvati had her arm around her, and was explaining something to Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas, who were looking very serious.
'What's the matter, Lavender?' said Hermione anxiously, as she, Ann, Harry and Ron went to join the group.
'She got a letter from home this morning,' Parvati whispered. 'It's her rabbit, Binky. He's been killed by a fox.'
'Oh,' said Hermione. 'I'm sorry, Lavender.'
'I should have known!' said Lavender tragically. 'You know what day it is?'
'Erâ€"The sixteenth of October' said Ann joining the conversation.
'That thing you're dreading, it will happen on the sixteenth of October!' Remember? She was right, she was right!' The whole class was gathered around Lavender now. Seamus shook his head seriously. Hermione hesitated; then she said,
'You â€" you were dreading Binky being killed by a fox?'
'Well, not necessarily by a fox,' said Lavender, looking up at Hermione with streaming eyes, 'but I was obviously dreading him dying, wasn't I?'
'Oh,'said Hermione. She paused again. Then â€" 'Was Binky an old rabbit?'
'N-no!'sobbed Lavender. 'H-he was only a baby!' Parvati tightened her arm around Lavender's shoulders.
'But then, why would you dread him dying?' said Hermione. Parvati glared at her.
'Well, look at it logically,' said Hermione, turning to the rest of the group. 'I mean, Binky didn't even die today, did he, Lavender just got the news today â€"' Lavender wailed loudly 'â€" and she can't have been dreading it, because it's come as a real shock â€"'
'Don't mind Hermione, Lavender,' said Ron loudly, 'she doesn't think other people's pets matter very much.' McGonagall opened the classroom door at that moment, which was perhaps lucky; Hermione and Ron were looking daggers at each other, and when they got into class, they seated themselves either side of Harry and Ann, and didn't talk to each other all lesson. Harry and Ann still hadn't decided what they were going to say to Professor McGonagall when the bell rang at the end of the lesson, despite all the strategizing and note passing, but it was she who brought up the subject of Hogsmeade first.
'One moment, please!' she called, as the class made to leave. 'As you're all in my house, you should hand Hogsmeade permission forms to me before Hallowe'en. No form, no visiting the village, so don't forget!' Neville put up his hand.
'Please, Professor, I â€" I think I've lost â€"'
'Your grandmother sent yours to me directly, Longbottom,' said Professor McGonagall. 'She seemed to think it was safer. Well, that's all, you may leave.'
'Ask her now,' Ron hissed at Harry and Ann.
'Oh, but â€"' Hermione began.
'Go for it, you two,' said Ron stubbornly. Harry and Ann waited for the rest of the class to disappear, then headed nervously for Professor McGonagall's desk.
'Yes, Potter, Black?' Harry took a deep breath.
'Professor, my aunt and uncle â€" er â€" forgot to sign my form,' he said. Professor McGonagall looked over her square spectacles at him, but didn't say anything. 'So â€" er â€" d'you think it would be all right â€" I mean, will it be OK if I â€" if I go to Hogsmeade?' Professor McGonagall looked down and began shuffling papers on her desk.
'I'm afraid not, Potter, now what about you Black' she said.
'Same here, my uncle didn't sign mine either,' said Ann
'You heard what I said. No form, no visiting the village. That's the rule.'
'But â€" Professor, my aunt and uncle â€" you know, they're Muggles, they don't really understand about â€" about Hogwarts forms and stuff,' Harry said, while Ron egged them on with vigorous nods.
'And my uncles been super busy with work, so he just naturally forgot,' said Ann
'If you said we could go â€"' Harry tried
'But I don't say so,' said Professor McGonagall, standing up and piling her papers neatly into a drawer. 'The form clearly states that the parent or guardian must give permission.' She turned to look at the pair, with an odd expression on her face. Was it pity?
'I'm sorry, Potter, Black, but that's my final word. You had better hurry, or you'll be late for your next lesson,'
There was nothing to be done. Ron called Professor McGonagall a lot of names that greatly annoyed Hermione; Hermione assumed an 'all-for-the-best' expression that made Ron even angrier, and on top of that they both had to endure everyone in the class talking loudly and happily about what they were going to do first, once they got into Hogsmeade.
'There's always the feast,' said Ron, in an effort to cheer them both up. 'You know, the Hallowe'en feast, in the evening.'
'Yeah,'said Harry, gloomily, 'great.'
'Wonderful,' Ann added, but Ann had been gloomy all year, this just dampened her spirits even more. And the Hallowe'en feast was always good, but it would taste a lot better if she was coming to it after a day in Hogsmeade with everyone else, and could go to bed after without worrying about her dad killing anyone. Nothing anyone said made her feel any better about being left behind. Ron half-heartedly suggested the Invisibility Cloak, but Hermione stamped on that one, reminding Ron what Dumbledore had told them about the Dementors being able to see through them. Percy had what were possibly the least helpful words of comfort.
'They make a fuss about Hogsmeade, but I assure you, two, it's not all it's cracked up to be,' he said seriously. 'All right, the sweetshop's rather good, but Zonko's Joke Shop's frankly dangerous, and yes, the Shrieking Shack's always worth a visit, but really, Harry, Ann, apart from that, you're not missing anything.'
On Hallowe'en morning, Ann awoke with the rest and went down to breakfast feeling thoroughly depressed, though doing her best to act normally, as she had all year.
'We'll bring you lots of sweets back from Honeydukes,' said Hermione, looking desperately sorry for Ann and Harry.
'Yeah, loads,' said Ron. He and Hermione had finally forgotten their squabble about Crookshanks in the face of Harry's disappointment, and Ann's depression getting worse. 'Don't worry about us,' said Harry, in what he hoped was an offhand voice. 'We'll see you at the feast. Have a good time.'
'Yeah we'll see you then,' added Ann. Ann and Harry accompanied them to the Entrance Hall, where Filch, the caretaker, was standing inside the front doors, checking off names against a long list, peering suspiciously into every face, and making sure that no one was sneaking out who shouldn't be going.
'Staying here, Potter, Black?' shouted Malfoy who was standing in line with Crabbe and Goyle. 'Scared of passing the Dementors?' Harry and Ann ignored them and made their way up the marble staircase, through the deserted corridors, and back to Gryffindor Tower. 'Password?'said the Fat Lady, jerking out of a doze.
'Fortuna Major,'said Harry listlessly. The portrait swung open and they climbed through the hole into the common room. It was full of chattering first- and second-years, and a few older students who had obviously visited Hogsmeade so often the novelty had worn off. 'Harry! Harry! Hi, Harry! Hiya Harry's girlfriend' It was Colin Creevey, a second-year who was deeply in awe of Harry and never missed an opportunity to speak to him or Ann who Colin assumed was Harry's girlfriend making conversations between the three even weirder.
'Aren't you going to Hogsmeade, Harry? Why not? Hey â€"' Colin looked eagerly around at his friends, 'you can come and sit with us, if you like, Harry, Ann can come too!'
'Er â€" no, thanks, Colin,' said Harry, who wasn't in the mood to have a lot of people staring avidly at the scar on his forehead.
'Yeah we've got to go to the library, got to get some Divintion work done.' Ann lied. After that, they had no choice but to turn right around and head back out of the portrait hole again.
'What was the point of waking me up?' the Fat Lady called grumpily after the two as they walked away.
'Good lie,' said Harry
'Thanks,' said Ann, smiling. Harry and Ann wandered dispiritedly towards the library, but halfway there Harry changed his mind; he didn't feel like working. So he and Ann turned around, as neither one wanted to be alone, and came face to face with Filch, who had obviously just seen off the last of the Hogsmeade visitors.
'What are you two doing?' Filch snarled suspiciously.
'Nothing,' said Harry truthfully.
'Nothing!' spat Filch, his jowls quivering unpleasantly. 'A likely story! Sneaking around in cahoots, why aren't you two in Hogsmeade buying Stink Pellets and Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms like the rest of your nasty little friends?'
'Our guardians didn't sign our forms,' said Ann as Harry shrugged.
'Well, get back to your common room where you belong!' snapped Filch, and he stood glaring until Harry and Ann had passed out of sight. But they didn't go back to the common room; they climbed a staircase, talking vaguely of visiting the Owlery to see Hedwig, and Gray. They were walking along another corridor when a voice from inside one of the rooms said,
'Harry, Ann?' Harry and Ann doubled back to see who had spoken and met Professor Lupin, looking around his office door. 'What are you doing?' said Lupin, in a very different voice from Filch. 'Where are Ron and Hermione?'
'Hogsmeade,' said Harry,
'You know the wizarding town that all the third-years went to today,' said Ann in a would-be casual voice.
'Ah,' said Lupin. He considered Harry and Ann for a moment. 'Why don't you come in? I've just taken delivery of a Grindylow for our next lesson.'
'An actual Grindylow?' Ann asked excitement showing on her face
'An actual one, yes Ann' Lupin chuckled.
'A what?' said Harry, even more confused. The two followed Lupin into his office. In the corner stood a very large tank of water.
'Oh wow, I've always wanted to see one, uncle Mason talks about them from time to time, being an Auor and all' said Ann studying the sickly green creature and its sharp little horns with its face pressed against the glass, pulling faces and flexing its long, spindly fingers.
'Water demon,' said Lupin, surveying the Grindylow thoughtfully. 'We shouldn't have much difficulty with him, not after the Kappas. The trick is to break his grip. You notice the abnormally long fingers? Strong, but very brittle.'
'Oh yes they're as strong as iron, aren't they?' asked Ann
'Yes they are Ann,' said Lupin, looking like he was reminiscing on something. The Grindylow bared its green teeth and then buried itself in a tangle of weed in a corner. 'Cup of tea?' Lupin said, looking around for his kettle. 'I was just thinking of making one.'
'All right,' said Harry awkwardly, as Ann nodded, still studying the Grindylow. Lupin tapped the kettle with his wand and a blast of steam issued suddenly from the spout.
'Sit down,' said Lupin, taking the lid off a dusty tin. 'I've only got teabags, I'm afraid â€" but I daresay you've had enough of tea leaves?' Harry and Ann looked at him, Ann finally taking her eyes off the Grindylow. Lupin's eyes were twinkling.
'How did you know about that?' Harry asked.
'Professor McGonagall told me,' said Lupin, passing Harry and Ann two chipped mugs of tea. 'You're not worried, are you?'
'No,' said Harry.
'Frankly Harrys almost died three times so I wouldn't worry about it too much,' Ann added. Harry chuckled.
'Well is there anything worrying either of you?'
Ann just drank her tea and watched the Grindylow brandishing a fist at her.
'Yes,' Harry said suddenly, putting his tea down on Lupin's desk. 'You know that day we fought the Boggart?'
'Yes,' said Lupin slowly.
'Why didn't you let me fight it?' said Harry abruptly. Lupin raised his eyebrows.
'I would have thought that was obvious, Harry,' he said, sounding surprised.
'Why?' he said again.
'Well,' said Lupin, frowning slightly, 'I assumed that if the Boggart faced you, it would assume the shape of Lord Voldemort.' Harry stared.
'Clearly, I was wrong,' said Lupin, still frowning at Harry. 'But I didn't think it a good idea for Lord Voldemort to materialise in the staff room. I imagined that people would panic.'
'I did think of Voldemort first,' said Harry honestly. 'But then I â€" I remembered those Dementors.'
'I see,' said Lupin thoughtfully. 'Well, well … I'm impressed.' He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry's face. 'That suggests that what you fear most of all is â€" fear. Very wise, Harry.' Harry didn't know what to say to that, so he drank some more tea. 'So you've been thinking that I didn't believe you capable of fighting the Boggart?' said Lupin shrewdly.
'Well … yeah,' said Harry. He was suddenly feeling a lot happier.
'To be fair I couldn't fight mine, and it was turning into a Dementor' said Ann. Then she stopped and thought for a moment. 'Professor Lupin, you know the Dementors â€"' She was interrupted by a knock on the door.
'Come in,' called Lupin. The door opened, and in came Snape. He was carrying a goblet, which was smoking faintly, and stopped at the sight of Ann and Harry, his black eyes narrowing.
'Ah, Severus,' said Lupin, smiling. 'Thanks very much. Could you leave it here on the desk for me?' Snape set the smoking goblet down, his eyes wandering between Ann and Harry and Lupin. 'I was just showing Harry and Ann my Grindylow,' said Lupin pleasantly, pointing at the tank.
'Fascinating,' said Snape, without looking at it. 'You should drink that directly, Lupin.'
'Yes, yes, I will,' said Lupin.
'I made an entire cauldronful,' Snape continued. 'If you need more.'
'I should probably take some again tomorrow. Thank you very much, Severus.'
'Not at all,' said Snape, but there was a look in his eye Ann didn't like. He backed out of the room, unsmiling and watchful. Harry and Ann both looked curiously at the goblet. Lupin smiled.
'Professor Snape has very kindly concocted a potion for me,' he said. 'I have never been much of a potion-brewer and this one is particularly complex.' He picked up the goblet and sniffed it. 'Pity sugar makes it useless,' he added, taking a sip and shuddering.
'Why â€"?' Harry and Ann began. Lupin looked at the two and answered the unfinished question.
'I've been feeling a bit off-colour,' he said. 'This potion is the only thing that helps. I am very lucky to be working alongside Professor Snape; there aren't many wizards who are up to making it.' Professor Lupin took another sip and Ann had a mad urge to knock the goblet out of his hands.
'Professor Snape's very interested in the Dark Arts,' Harry blurted out.
'It's a bit scary how interested he is,' Ann added
'Really?' said Lupin, looking only mildly interested as he took another gulp of potion.
'Some people reckon â€"' Harry hesitated, then Ann plunged recklessly on for her friend, 'Some people reckon he'd do anything to get the Defence Against the Dark Arts job.' Lupin drained the goblet and pulled a face.
'Disgusting,' he said. 'Well, Harry, Ann, I'd better get back to work. I'll see you at the feast later.'
'Right,' said Harry, putting his empty teacup down.
'Of course,' said Ann, setting her cup down as well.
The empty goblet was still smoking.