Window into the Past

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Harry had caught Ron up on everything Sirius had told us. About Karkaroff.

"It has to be him, Malfoy's dad know him, that has shade all over it," Ron said as Harry was trying to tie a letter to Biscuit's leg. "Stay still," I scolded Biscuit.

"Why does he hate me?" Harry complained. "Because I'm the evil witch who took his early retirement away," I grumbled.

"Could your mum be linked to him?" Ron wondered. "I have no idea," I admitted. "Oh Biscuit! You bastard, stop being so frustrating!"

I held him down as Harry finished tying the knot. "Now take this to Sirius, you annoying bird," I muttered impatiently.

"If that was the first task, I'm worried about what's going to come next," Hermione mumbled, leaning against the wall of the Owlery.

"Trust me, so am I," Harry shuddered. "Okay, let's bring positivity back into the room shall we?" I clapped my hands together. "Party!"

The four of us left and headed to the common room. It was a proper buffet there, mountains of food and drinks spread out over the table. I opened a bottle of Butterbeer and started chugging it.

"Harry!" Lee Jordan shouted. "Are you going open the egg?"

"He has to figure it out by himself," Hermione reminded him. "Well, I didn't get by that dragon alone," Harry smiled at me. "If it wasn't for Joy, I'd be a goner."

"Open it, Harry!" Fred encouraged him. "Open it! Open it!" the entire common room began chanting.

Harry opened the egg and this horrible wailing noise came out. I covered my ears and I winced. "CLOSE IT!" I shouted. I wasn't sure how loud I was.

Harry shut the egg. "You're going to face a banshee!" Seamus predicted. "Or the Cruciatus Curse," Neville pointed out. "That's illegal," George pointed out.

"Jam tart anyone?" Fred offered. "Where did you get these?" Hermione asked Fred. "I didn't do anything, I got them from the kitchens, the house elves are very helpful."

"How did you get in?" Hermione wondered. "Simple, tickle the pear on the painting," George told her. "You going to start a strike or something?"

A few people laughed. "You going to force clothes and salaries on them?" Fred wondered.

I knew house elves found that as an insult.

***

Winter was finally here. Snow dusting all over the entire school. I had a black beanie on my head as we walked to Care of Magical Creatures.

"Ooh, this looks like fun," a high pitched voice said. "Oh not her, hide me," Harry came closer to me and hid his face with my scarf.

"Who are you?" Hagrid asked her. "Rita Skeeter, Daily Prophet reporter," she introduced herself.

"Didn't Dumbledore say you weren't allowed in the school anymore?" Hagrid grumbled.

"What are these?" she asked him, completely ignoring his last remark. "Blast-Ended Skrewts," Hagrid told her. "They're very interesting," Hermione piped up. "Right Harry?"

Harry glared at her, after she gave him away. "Harry! You're here!" she beamed. "Is this one of your favourite lessons?"

"Yes," Harry answered her. "Lovely," Rita muttered. She looked at Hagrid. "Been teaching here long?"

"It's my second year," he told her. "Don't suppose you'd want to do an interview would you? About these Bang-Ended Scoots?"

"Er yeah, why not?"