ALULA (VOL. 3)

31- ann, annie, mum

ann, annie, mum

{1996}

12 Grimmauld Place

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Kreacher, it transpired, had been lurking in the attic. Sirius said he had found him up there, covered in dust, no doubt looking for more relics of the Black family to hide in his cupboard. Though her father seemed satisfied with this story, it made Alula uneasy. Kreacher seemed to be in a better mood on his reappearance, his bitter muttering had subsided somewhat and he submitted to orders in a more docile manner than usual, though once or twice Alula caught the house-elf staring at her avidly, but always looking quickly away whenever he saw that Alula had noticed.

Alula did not mention her vague suspicions to her father, whose cheerfulness was evaporating fast now that Christmas was over. As the date of their departure back to Hogwarts drew nearer, he became more and more prone to what Mrs Weasley called 'fits of the sullens', in which he would become taciturn and grumpy, often withdrawing to Buckbeak's room for hours at a time. His gloom seeped through the house, oozing under doorways like some noxious gas so that all of them became infected by it.

Alula didn't want to leave her father again with only Kreacher for company; in fact, for the first time in her life, she was not looking forward to returning to Hogwarts. Going back to school would mean placing herself once again under the tyranny of Dolores Umbridge, who had no doubt managed to force through another dozen decrees in their absence; there was no Quidditch to look forward to now that Harry (and the twins) had been banned, there was every likelihood that their burden of homework would increase as the exams drew even nearer; and Draco, well, Draco. In fact, if it hadn't been for the DA, Alula thought she might have begged Sirius and Lupin to let her leave Hogwarts and remain in Grimmauld Place.

Then, on the very last day of the holidays, something happened that made Alula positively dread her return to school.

'Harry, dear,' said Mrs Weasley poking her head into Harry and Ron's bedroom, where the pair of them were playing wizard chess watched by Hermione, Ginny, Alula and Crookshanks, 'could you come down to the kitchen? Professor Snape would like a word with you.'

Harry did not immediately register what she had said; one of his castles was engaged in a violent tussle with a pawn of Ron's and he was egging it on enthusiastically.

'Squash him - squash him, he's only a pawn, you idiot. Sorry, Mrs Weasley, what did you say?'

'Professor Snape, dear. In the kitchen. He'd like a word.'

Harry's mouth fell open in horror. He looked around at Ron, Hermione, Alula and Ginny, all of whom were gaping back at him. Crookshanks, whom Hermione had been restraining with difficulty for the past quarter of an hour, leapt gleefully on to the board and set the pieces running for cover, squealing at the top of their voices.