Not Again//Harry Potter [2]

17

Autumn was excited for Holiday break. She received a letter from Cameron saying Cayden's nightmares have gone down, and that everyone missed her, but she still couldn't return. There wasn't any reasons attached, but Autumn didn't want to return. Not when the potion was almost done. Also, they would still be at school, but without the stares and weird looks from everyone.

She and Harry were both tired of people moving around him in the corridors, as though they were about to sprout fangs or spit poison.  Ever since Harry was outed of talking to the snake and Autumn was outed of understanding him, people have been pointing and imitating snakes as they passed.

Fred and George, however, found all this very funny. They went out of their way to march ahead of the two down the corridors, shouting, "Make way for the Heirs of Slytherin, seriously evil wizard and witch coming through. . ."

Percy was deeply disapproving of this behavior. "It is not a laughing matter," he said coldly.

"Oh, get out of the way, Percy," said Fred. "They're in a hurry." 

"Yeah, they're both off to the Chamber of Secrets for a cup of tea with their fanged servant," said George, chortling.

Ginny didn't find it amusing either. "Oh, don't," she wailed every time Fred asked them loudly who he was planning to attack next, or when George pretended to ward the two off with a large clove of garlic when they met.

Autumn didn't mind too much. She knew that they both couldn't be the heir. But it made her think: What if she was really the Heir of Slytherin? She could speak Parseltongue and she didn't know her real family all too well. Maybe they were evil wizards who deemed the power onto her without letting her know. But their antics seemed to be aggravating Draco Malfoy, who looked increasingly sour each time he saw them at it.

"It's because he's bursting to say it's really him," said Ron knowingly. "You know how he hates anyone beating him at anything, and you're getting all the credit for his dirty work."

"Not for long," said Hermione in a satisfied tone. "The Polyjuice Potion's nearly ready. We'll be getting the truth out of him any day now." 

>>>

At last the term ended, and a silence deep as the snow on the grounds descended on the castle. They all enjoyed the fact that Autumn, Harry, Hermione, and the Weasleys had the run of Gryffindor Tower, which meant they could play Exploding Snap loudly without bothering anyone, and practice dueling in private.

Fred, George, and Ginny had chosen to stay at school rather than visit Bill in Egypt with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Percy, who disapproved of what he termed their childish behavior, didn't spend much time in the Gryffindor common room. He had already told them pompously that he was only staying over Christmas because it was his duty as a prefect to support the teachers during this troubled time.

Hermione shook Autumn awake from her sleep, saying the potion was almost ready.

Autumn quickly jumped out of bed and threw on a cozy sweater and some jeans. Right after, Hermione dragged her up to the boys dormitories carrying the presents they both got for the boys.

"Wake up," she said loudly, pulling back the curtains at the window.

"Hermione! Autumn! You're not supposed to be in here—" said Ron, shielding his eyes against the light.

"Merry Christmas to you, too," said Hermione, throwing him his present from the two. "I've been up for nearly an hour, adding more lace-wings to the potion. It's ready."

Harry sat up, suddenly wide awake.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive," said Hermione, shooing Scabbers the rat so that she could sit down on the end of Ron's four-poster. "If we're going to do it, I say it should be tonight." 

>>>

Christmas at Hogwarts was always enjoyable. Not only was the Great Hall decorated beautifully, the food was magnificent. The students that stayed were all bursting into carol's, to which Dumbledore led. Percy, who hadn't noticed that Fred had bewitched his prefect badge so that it now read "Pinhead," kept asking them all what they were sniggering at. 

"We still need a bit of the people you're changing into," said Hermione matter-of-factly. "And obviously, it'll be best if you can get something of Crabbe's and Goyle's; they're Malfoy's best friends, he'll tell them anything. And we also need to make sure the real Crabbe and Goyle can't burst in on us while we're interrogating him. I've got it all worked out," she went on smoothly, ignoring Harry's and Ron's stupefied faces. She held up two plump chocolate cupcakes. "I've filled these with a simple Sleeping Draught. All you have to do is make sure Crabbe and Goyle find them. You know how greedy they are, they're bound to eat them. Once they're asleep, pull out a few of their hairs and hide them in a broom closet."

Harry and Ron looked incredulously at each other.

"Hermione, I don't think—"

"That could go seriously wrong—"

"The potion will be useless without Crabbe's and Goyle's hair," she said sternly. "You do want to investigate Malfoy, don't you?" 

"Oh, alright, all right," said Harry. "But what about you and Autumn? Whose hair are you ripping out?" 

Autumn looked at Hermione, unaware of her plan for herself.

"I've already got mine!" said Hermione brightly, pulling a tiny bottle out of her pocket and showing them the single hair inside it. "Remember Millicent Bulstrode wrestling with me at the Dueling Club? She left this on my robes when she was trying to strangle me! And she's gone home for Christmas-so I'll just have to tell the Slytherins I've decided to come back."

"So, you found my ring, huh?"

Autumn felt her knees go weak. "Oh not now. . ." Autumn muttered as her vision turned black. Then, a familiar cozy house appeared.

"Oh Autumn..." Norace said. "Read my journal. You know you want to."

"I can't." 

"Why not? You've fixed it, you can read it."

"I-I won't."  Autumn looked away.

"Why not?" Norace asked in a different voice. "You wanted to for a long time, so why not now?"

"I don't know you. Maybe Dobby was right to jinx the book."

"Listen, Autumn. I made the book for you. Everything in that book will help you for each journey every school year. The entire thing. So please, just read it."

"Why? Why do you want me to so badly?" Autumn turned around to face him again. "Don't you know that it hurts? You being here? You're the only family I have left and seeing you hurts. I was prepared my whole life knowing I'd never see them again. But I wasn't prepared to know that I'd see you. I don't even know if you're real."

"Autumn, this will be my last message for you in this way. Are you ready?"

"What is it?"

"Come and find me."

After the visit to her great grandfather, Autumn felt herself get dizzy. She started to fall backwards.

"Autumn!" Harry yelled, as Ron and Harry caught her before she fell.

"What was all that about?" Ron asked. "And who were you talking to?"

"Y-You could hear me?" Autumn asked.

The three nodded.

Autumn looked at the ground embarrassed.

"Who were you talking to?" Harry asked.

"I'll tell you later." Autumn quickly moved herself from Harry's arms. "You three need to go to Malfoy."

"What? No!" Hermione said. 

"What about you?" Ron asked. 

"I need to do something." Autumn said.

"Autumn. . . You can't just not tell us what just happened." Harry said, walking back towards Autumn.

Autumn looked at the three of them. "I will," Autumn turned to face Harry, "I promise."