Meddling With Potions

When The Dueling Club Reveals A Secret

Disclaimer: I only own Aurora and any other OC's. Remember, I will occasionally use quotes from both the books or movie, depending on the scene; I do know own direct quotes or phrases. UPDATE: I do not own any of the chapter pictures. All were found via Google. 

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"Thank you all for attending this unexpected staff meeting. I do apologize for the early Patronus, but as I've stated, there has been another attack." Sitting amongst the other staff members, Aurora shook her head, biting her nails as she listened to Albus speak of the incident the night before. By her side, Severus was silent, as was the other staff, their heads lowered in dismay, that yet another student had been petrified; the Potions Master knew it would only be worse as the year continued.

"Who was it this time, Albus?" Professor Flitwick asked from his raised chair.

Next to the Charms Professor, Minerva spoke and answered his question. "Colin Creevy, a First Year in Gryffindor."

"Oh dear..." the shorter man stated. Raising her head at the name, Aurora knew the student as he was in her course. Colin was an enthusiastic individual, having grown up in the Muggle world, always carrying his camera to capture his experiences while away at school.

"So what do we do now?" Madam Pomfrey spoke when an unsettled silence settled over the staff. "The mandrakes are still too young to brew the drought and it's not even the end of first term."

Raising his hand, Albus politely silenced the other staff members who began to speak their questions. "We share the same concerns. For now, with no culprit at hand, all we can do is be vigilant."

With Albus still speaking, Aurora felt the Headmasters words were off in the distance, her mind closed off with the new information at hand. With the research she'd done on her own in the past and recently, the witch knew Muggleborns were being targeted – or, were supposed to be targeted, as Mrs. Norris was of the feline category.

Looking across the table, Aurora watched Hagrid fidget, moving his fingers, gripping his hands; the half-giant was unable to sit still, and as he caught the witch's eye, Hagrid simply smiled, and she could do no more than slowly lift the corner of her lips. Aurora knew something was up with her longtime friend and questioned if he was nervous about the recent activity. Thinking back, she knew Hagrid had been expelled when he was a student at Hogwarts and returned to work as the Gamekeeper of the grounds when Albus became Headmaster several years later.

Can't believe his expulsion was almost fifty years ago, at least from what Hagrid's told me, she thought, turning her attention back to Albus. Watching the Headmaster speak of the increased night patrols, Aurora internally groaned yet knew it was all to protect the students.

Wait.

Her mind suddenly went blank and she slowly turned her eyes back to Hagrid just as he glanced at her.

Fifty years ago...the first attacks where students were petrified...and a young girl was murdered before all attacks ceased, with nothing occurring until a few weeks ago. Oh no...

Once the staff meeting concluded, the faculty went their separate ways, as they were not required to eat breakfast in the Great Hall on Sunday. Aurora stopped Severus just as they made their way towards the stairs to the dungeon. Grasping his arm, she pulled the male in her direction, his eyebrow raised in confusion. "Yes, Aurora?"

"I think I'm gonna go have tea with Hagrid. Is that alright?"

"You don't need my permission to do what you want Aurora." Kissing his cheek, Aurora left the male at the stairs, leaving through the front of the castle, scampering across the grounds where she was able to cross paths with the half-giant before he made it to his hut. "Hagrid!"