Loyalties | Barty Crouch Jr

The Bright and The Brainless

August 25, 1978 - Friday

As the summer holiday came to an end, Leonora and Illyria anxiously awaited their O.W.L results. Leonora was confident she did well, while on the other hand, Illyria had a deep pit in her stomach, growing each day as the end of August drew closer, just waiting to see her horrid results. She feared her parents would be furious.

With exactly one week left until they would be back on the Hogwarts Express heading back to school, they were sure to be receiving news of their results soon.

"Where have you been?" Illyria asked as Leonora crept back into the house from Malfoy Manors backyard gardens. The girl had been standing by the door waiting for what felt like an hour for her friend to return.

Leonora's eyes widen in shock for a moment, as she hadn't expected the girl to be waiting for her to return. She didn't think Illyria had seen her leave. As inconspicuously as possible, she hid Illyria's mother's wand behind her back. "I've just been in the back garden enjoying the fresh air." She stared at her friend, who didn't look convinced. "Summer is coming to an end, after all."

"No," Illyria said, beginning to shake her head lightly, "you haven't been in the gardens. I saw you walking off into the forest by yourself. I went to follow, but you had already disappeared into the trees. So," she stopped for a moment to take a breath and narrow her eyes, "what were you doing?"

Leonora swallowed as her friend stared into her eyes, her arms crossed in determination. "I've been collecting potions ingredients." She answered quickly, hoping the answer sounded convincing enough. "I just don't want you worrying about me being out in the forest." Lying to her friends was, in her eyes, the worst thing she could do, but she had to. 

The truth was, she had been out practicing for the past three days, transforming into her animagus form. The pain had lessened since her first transformation, though it still hurt her quite a bit when her body transformed into one of a fox. After time, she figured the pain would disappear completely, which in her mind, was a wonderful incentive to keep practicing.

"Collecting potion ingredients?" Illyria asked, staring blankly at the girl. "You look like you've rolled around in mud. You're filthy, and your hands!" She screeched, reaching out and grabbing both of Leonora's hands, holding them in her own. "They're caked in dirt!" She then reluctantly dropped the girls' hands and met her eyes, sadness swirling in her own. "Are you lying to me?"

Leonora sighed. "No, Illyria. I'm telling you the truth. I've been out collecting ingredients."

"Then where are they?" She questioned, scanning Leonora with her eyes to spot where they might be hidden. "You aren't carrying any sort of bag, and you have no pockets. So where are the ingredients?"

"Illyria," Leonora sighed again, deeper this time, "could you just drop it? I had a hard time out there, hence why I'm so filthy," she motioned down to her body, finally realizing how dirty she actually was. "I just want to shower and change, not be interrogated. Does that sound alright?"

"Fine," Illyria spat, still not convinced of the girl's lies. She spun on her heel, beginning to walk away. "Go shower and change. But when you're done," she turned her head around to face Leonora, "my mother and father want us to meet them in the sitting room."

Leonora ran a hand through her hair as the girl left, shaking her head. She kicked her shoes off and reached down to grab them, not wanting to leave a trail of mud through the Manor. They appeared to be a lot filthier than she had expected. Her nose scrunched as she examined them.