Off the Pitch

Chapter 8: All Hallows' Eve

The next few weeks at Hogwarts were pretty boring. We had loads of school work to do, and besides Quidditch practise, I didn't really have time for anything else. It was Friday before Halloween, and I was struggling to write my essay about Obscurials. 

"I think I'm gonna go and ask professor Lupin for help", I told Fred and George and headed out through the painting. I made my way to the second floor and knocked on Lupin's door. Nothing happened so I knocked again, this time slightly louder. 

"What are you doing?" a cold voice asked behind me. 

I turned around. It was professor Snape. "I'm looking for professor Lupin", I answered honestly, yet Snape still looked at me with suspicion. "I need help with my essay." 

"Unfortunately", Snape said but didn't look one bit upset, "professor Lupin isn't here." 

"What do you mean?" I frowned. "Isn't here as in isn't in his room or isn't at Hogwarts?" 

"He is gone for a few days", Snape answered bluntly and stared at me without blinking. 

"Again?" I marveled. Snape didn't say a word; he simply turned away with a swing of his cloak and walked away, leaving me baffled in the empty corridor. 

I decided to stop by the library to see if I could find anything useful there. 

"Hermione, hey", I said as I recognized her brunette hair. "Here again, huh?" 

The younger witch turned around and her face relaxed when she realized it was me. 

"Oh, hey", she smiled. "Right back at you – here to raid the Restricted Section again?" 

I let out a laugh. "No, not this time. Looking for something to help me with my essay." 

I noticed the book she was holding. "Werewolves again? Are you writing a book yourself?" 

She smiled and then replied with an uncomfortable tone: "Professor Snape filled in for Lupin today and assigned an essay about them." 

"He's gone again", I thought out-loud. 

"You've noticed it too", Hermione remarked. 

I considered my words carefully before saying: "The same time as last month." 

Hermione bit her lip and stared into the nothingness. 

"Anyway", I interrupted the silence that had followed our short conversation, "I need to find a book about Obscurials." 

"Ooh!" Hermione's eyes lit up. "I just saw one before, hold on a second... right here!" 

She handed me a book called To Heal an Obscurial – Real or Myth? 

"Thanks!" I flashed her a smile. "Good luck with your assignment." 

"Likewise", she replied and waved me goodbye as I walked out of the library. 

The morning of Halloween turned out to be the coldest one of the month yet. The sky was clear but it was freezing outside. I finished my essay and Harry, Wood, the twins and I decided to have an unofficial Quidditch practise by the five of us. Although it was cold, the weather couldn't have been more beautiful: it was tranquil and the sun was shining, making the frosty grass glisten. We played and fooled around for two hours in the crisp morning air, and then headed back to the castle for breakfast. Our cheeks were red and hands freezing, but we felt happy as ever. 

"We were thinking", Fred leaned towards me as we sat down, and lowered his voice. "You know, since it's Halloween..." 

"What do you say about a fun little adventure after the feast tonight?" George finished his sentence for him with a significant smile on his face.