Azlyn, Nyx, and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The Marauders Map

Madam Pomfrey insisted on keeping Harry in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. He didn’t argue or complain, but he wouldn’t let her throw away the shattered remnants of his Nimbus Two Thousand that had been blown into the Whomping Willow.

Ron, Hermione, Az, and I were intent on cheering him up. Others were too. Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow cabbages, and Ginny Weasly turned up with a get-well card she had made herself, which sang shrilly unless you kept it shut under a bowl of fruit. The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday morning, this time accompanied by Wood, who told Harry (in a hollow, dead sort of voice) that he didn’t blame him in the slightest. The four of us left Harry’s bedside only at night.

Malfoy was almost beside himself with glee at Gryffindor’s defeat when Harry finally came back. He had finally taken off his bandages, and celebrated having the full use of both arms again by doing spirited imitations of Harry falling off his broom. Malfoy spent much of our next Potions class doing Dementor imitations across the dungeon; Az finally cracked and flung a large, slippery crocodile heart at Malfoy, which hit him in the face and caused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor.

“If Snape’s teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts again, I’m skiving off,” said Ron as we headed toward Lupin’s classroom after lunch. “Check who’s in there, Hermione.” Az suggested. Hermione peered around the classroom door. “It’s okay!”

Professor Lupin was back at work. It certainly looked as though he had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and there were dark shadows beneath his eyes; nevertheless, he smiled at the class as we took our seats, and we burst at once into an explosion of complaints about Snape’s behavior while Lupin had been ill.

“It’s not fair, he was only filling in, why should he give us homework?” “We don’t know anything about werewolves —” “— two rolls of parchment!” That was me. “Did you tell Professor Snape we haven’t covered them yet?” Lupin asked, frowning slightly. The babble broke out again.

“Yes, but he said we were really behind —” “— he wouldn’t listen —” “— two rolls of parchment!” Professor Lupin smiled at the look of indignation on every face. “Don’t worry. I’ll speak to Professor Snape. You don’t have to do the essay.” “Oh no,” said Hermione, looking very disappointed. “I’ve already finished it!”

We had a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had brought along a glass box containing a Hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he were made of wisps of smoke, rather frail and harmless looking. “Lures travelers into bogs,” said Professor Lupin as we took notes. “You notice the lantern dangling from his hand? Hops ahead — people follow the light — then —”

The Hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against the glass. When the bell rang, everyone gathered up their things and headed for the door, but — “Wait a moment, Harry,” Lupin called. “I’d like a word.” Harry doubled back as the rest of us went on for our break.

Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match at the end of November, and the team’s mood took a definite upturn. Gryffindor were not out of the running after all, although we could not afford to lose another match. Wood became repossessed of his manic energy, and worked his team as hard as ever in the chilly haze of rain that persisted into December. We saw no hint of a Dementor within the grounds. Dumbledore’s anger seemed to be keeping them at their stations at the entrances.

Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was a buzz of Christmas in the air. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights that turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. The students were all happily discussing our plans for the holidays. Ron, Hermione, Az and I had decided to remain at Hogwarts (Ron said it was because he couldn’t stand two weeks with Percy, Hermione insisted she needed to use the library, Az because her dad was already here, and I reminded them all that I had no family though it was all so that Harry wouldn’t be miserable).