The Simple House of Duffrey

(14) Miller Family Reunion

As the rest of the months of classes passed I felt like I was achieving my goals, at least some of them. While I was keeping my grades well above passing I hadn't yet resolved to make my two friends buddies or to tell either of them about my family curse. I had also begun watching the house points more closely this year. It was probably since I was finally contributing to the Gryffindor jar filled with rubies. For every above-average answer I gave in History of Magic, dealing with the Wizarding Wars and practical spell applications in Defense Against the Dark Arts I was earning five or more points at a time.

This year that meant that Gryffindor was already in second place not only in the house cup but also in Quidditch. My Flying class had become a forum for the woes of school Quidditch this year. Apparently Ravenclaw's captain had graduated last year and a suitable replacement couldn't be agreed upon. They were already trailing behind in fourth place for points as well. It was Slytherin who was ahead on house points with Hufflepuff in third.

It had been predicted as either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff against Slytherin for the years final match. Honestly, I had yet to embrace the house spirit that was Quidditch fandom. Though my sister Mary had been a fan for a while. I still had the extended drawstring bag she had given me in first year. She had it seemed spent some time replenishing the books inside before this year. Unfortunately, none of them had proved useful for my new quest of Thomas Miller.

My first two trips to the Library alone hadn't revealed anything thus far in the books related to Ministry history. It was far too late in the year to write to Mary about looking through that encyclopedia for the Miller's entry. No whatever I needed to find should be here. I pulled off title after title related to Ministry history and affairs but I couldn't find that title or phrase in any of its history thus far.

Finally, on the last Saturday of the month I was putting back a stack of Ministry history manuals when Sam spotted me through the hallway exit. Doing a double take she stood around for a few moments before deciding that her curiosity was enough to warrant some shushing from the Librarian.

"Anna?" came a voice from behind me in the book aisle as I quietly returned some unhelpful texts to their shelves. Sam watched me for a moment and then took the top two copies of Ministries Might to place back at the end of the row for me. "Are you researching something for classes that are almost over?"

"No, this is just something for me." With my last two in hand she followed me to the end row farthest from the reference desk where Wizarding Management Methods belonged. I truly had gone far and wide thus far with my search.

"Sam I'm not sure how to..." I began tentatively hoping to make good on being more honest with my two friends.

"Oooo!! You went to that mystery party everyone's talking about didn't you." She interjected with a few bounces on her heel. My mouth went slack with surprise.

"No, well yes I did, but this is something..." Stumbling a bit my answer was once again met by her zealousness. I was happy we were far from the Librarian's earshot.

"So, what happened at the party, something good, did you discover some major secrets that your verifying now?" She leaned into me holding my shoulders and simply bursting at the seams wanting to know. I was glad that she wasn't upset about my being invited and not her. Sam was a wonderfully grounded person after all.

I began to spill the most recent layers of my secrets. "Alright, I did get an invitation and down to the entrance in the labyrinths I met up with Stephen". She crinkled her nose at this detail but I continued. "He insisted that it was dangerous so we went together".

"As a couple?!" She blurted out loudly which issued a warning thump from the Librarian's reference desk.

"As friends" I quickly responded, cautiously leaving out the part about holding hands. "Anyway, at the doorway there was this list where they checked your invitation and announced your name. Well when it was my turn they said something about my family that I'd never heard before". I took in a big gulp of air preparing to continue as I repositioned us to a table and chairs where we could know if someone was ease dropping.